Podcast
Hosted by A.R. Hoffman & Rebecca Sugar
A.R. Hoffman (Associate Editor of the Sun) and Rebecca Sugar (Columnist at the Sun) will be joined by buzzy and thoughtful guests to break down the week’s news, share their hot takes and long views on where it's all heading, and keep you sane all the while.
Episode 51
In this episode we analyzed all things Iran: the status of the battle, cooperation between America and Israel, Trump's political calculus, the Middle East chessboard, and potential next steps. We also took Texas's temperature after two dramatic primaries, vented about Britney Spears, and wondered how low Tucker can go.
In this interview we spoke with Jesse Brown, an award-winning Canadian journalist and the founder and editor of Canadaland, one of the country's most influential independent media organizations.
He explained how antisemitism and anti-Zionism have exploded since October 7, where the roots of the crisis lie, and what can be done to beat back the forces of hate and extremism.
In this episode we had a wide ranging conversation with the editor at large of Reason and the host of the Reason Interview podcast, Nick Gillespie. We debated immigration, tariffs, AI, whether the world is getting better or worse, Gen Z pessimism, government censorship, and possibilities for the 2028 election.
Episode 50
In this episode we took the measure of President Trump's State of the Union, debriefed on the tariffs decision, took stock of a dramatic week in Mexico, vented about a snowball fight against the police, and reviewed a landmark India-Israel visit.
In this interview we spoke to Jennie Bradley Lichter, the President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. We reviewed the post-Dobbs landscape, debated the meaning of life, speculated about the midterm elections, and discussed the hard questions that makes this such a passionate subject of debate.
Episode 49
In this episode we digested the shocking news of a royal arrest, took stock of the military build up in the Middle East, reviewed the highlights from Munich, vented about Mayor Mamdani's budget gambit, and lamented how Europe can't shake antisemitism.
In this interview, we heard from the legendary financier and philanthropist Michael Milken about the meaning of the American dream as the country approaches its 250th birthday celebrations. We discussed the future of medicine, technology, AI, and how to rediscover the dynamism that has defined American history.
Episode 48
In this episode we discussed the latest in the search for Nancy Guthrie, debriefed Pam Bondi's time before Congress, talked about 'Hot Girls for Zohran' and conspiracy theories, broke down the latest seismic ruling on immigration, and compared and contrasted NYC and DHS.
In this interview we got the inside scoop on a landmark legal case about gender transition with the reporter who was there for every minute of the trial. Benjamin Ryan is an independent health and science reporter and a contributor to The New York Sun. Here’s how a jury held a psychologist and a plastic surgeon liable for $2 million for an operation on a young girl- and what it could mean nationwide.
Episode 47
In this episode we took a whirlwind tour of the Epstein Files, considered the Clintons, went down south to check in on Fulton County, reported on a disturbing lab bust out West, and vented about a miscarriage of justice in England.
Episode 46
On the episode we debated the news out of Minnesota, reviewed how Mamdani did in his first snowstorm, took the early temperature of the new TikTok, analyzed the trends pointing to war in Iran, and reported on a car ramming in Crown Heights.
In this interview we spoke to a senior fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations, Ray Takeyh, about an extraordinary month in Iran. We discussed the possibility of regime change, America's role, the regional implications, how Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are positioning themselves, and what to watch for going forward.
Episode 45
On this episode we analyzed all the drama in the Alps, from Gavin Newsom to Greenland and everything in between. We also caught up on some radical new developments in the Old Dominion, fretted over elections, taught Ms. Rachel a lesson on antisemitism, broke some ice on ICE, and reported on China's long game on birthright citizenship.
In this interview we talked to constitutional law professor Ilan Wurman about what might happen with birthright citizenship, broke down the issues with Trump's invocation of the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, and got the scoop on the president's power over the Fed.
Episode 44
In this episode we gamed out the scenarios in Iran, discussed the clash between the UK and X, wondered about the left's silence, debated the Greenland endgame, and took a look at the latest rankings of universities — and gasped at where they are.
In this interview we connected with International Crisis Group's senior editor for the Andes Region, Phil Gunson. Phil is based in Caracas, and he shared his on the ground reporting and analysis of what's been going on in Venezuela over the past week that shook the world.
Episode 43
In this episode we explained how to think about Venezuela, broke down the chaos in Minnesota, took stock of what Americans ought to be eating, reported on a revolt at Breads bakery, and took stock of the conspiracy against fans of a Tel Aviv soccer team.
Episode 42
In this episode we took the temperature of the Iranian street, wondered what a wealth tax would do to Big Tech in California, debated the prospects for peace in Ukraine, explained why Somaliland matters, and offered a eulogy of sorts for Brigitte Bardot.
Episode 41
In this special holiday episode we toured the GOP’s increasingly chaotic big tent, wondered what in the world happened with Elise Stefanik, revisited the 2020 election in Georgia, took the measure of Zohran Mamdani’s team, and hunted for a politically endangered species at Yale.
In this episode, Rebecca Sugar spoke with AI expert Afshin Khadangi, at the University of Luxembourg, about his research into the “synthetic trauma” of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini and Claude and how “hostile user interactions” are altering the LLM experience.
