Best Nicholas Duck Podcasts (2025)

1
Michael Scherer: Inside RFK Jr.’s Rise 45:50

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2h ago45:50

45:50

Charlie Sykes speaks with The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer about his in-depth cover story on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now one of the most influential—and divisive—figures shaping American science policy. Scherer discusses Kennedy’s complicated personal history, his fraught relationship with scientific institutions, and his unexpected alliance with Dona…

51
134. The Motherlode (Bre-X Minerals) 1:19:25

21h ago1:19:25

1:19:25

A tiny Calgary-based exploration company ignites a global market frenzy when it discovers the world's largest gold deposit before collapsing into one of the biggest frauds in mining history. Prelude: The "Bushman of the Shuswap" flees society after uncovering a massive conspiracy. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENE…

51
133. The Fabulist (George Santos) 1:46:47

13h ago1:46:47

1:46:47

A newly elected congressman is expelled and prosecuted for financial crimes after his elaborate web of personal and professional lies unravels. Prelude: JP Maroney's inventive "digital marketing arbitrage" is revealed to be a Ponzi scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠P…

1
Terry Moran: Patriotism, Power, and a Perilous Moment 50:01

1d ago50:01

50:01

Charlie Sykes and journalist Terry Moran examine a week that showcased two starkly different Americas—from Dick Cheney’s solemn, apolitical funeral to the president’s public calls for executing political opponents. They discuss the escalating authoritarian rhetoric, the Ukraine “surrender plan,” the White House’s embrace of MBS, and the alarming si…

1
Susan Glasser: Lame-Duck is Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose 44:28

1h ago44:28

44:28

Charlie Sykes and Susan Glasser break down a stunning Oval Office moment in which Donald Trump defended Mohammed bin Salman and derided a reporter for asking about Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. They explore Trump’s escalating attacks on the press, the gold-plated symbolism of his Oval Office, and the deepening corruption and impunity shaping his presid…

1
Playlunch: Keith to It's Raining Men (Liam Bell) 46:01

23m ago46:01

46:01

Liam from Playlunch pulls back the curtain on one of the wildest bands in Australia. We talk writing & filming for Keith, Station Rat, The Boys, touring, Barry Hall, Like A Version, and how they stormed the 2025 charts and it was all kinda by accident. They're creative, they're loveable, a little unhinged, they're Playlunch.…

1
Matt Bennett: Lessons Democrats Can’t Ignore 44:32

8d ago44:32

44:32

Charlie Sykes sits down with Third Way’s Matt Bennett to break down why Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s New York City victory is not a roadmap for Democrats in swing states. Bennett argues that national Democrats must prioritize persuasion over ideological purity—and avoid language and policies that alienate working-class voters. Centrists like Mikey Sherril…

1
The Streisand Effect Cover-Up 48:17

29m ago48:17

48:17

Charlie Sykes breaks down why Donald Trump appears increasingly panicked over the Epstein files—and why the attempted cover-up is only making the story bigger. In a solo Q&A episode, he tackles subscriber questions on everything from GOP fractures to the role of the military, free speech, pardons, and the future of accountability. Hosted on Acast. …

1
Harry Litman: The Epstein Files Fallout 47:09

1h ago47:09

47:09

Charlie Sykes and legal analyst Harry Litman break down why the newly released Epstein files have Donald Trump and his allies unusually on edge. They discuss the political stakes behind the looming House vote on releasing the full Epstein cache, as well as Trump's sweeping pardons and efforts to rewrite the narrative of January 6th. The conversatio…

1
Lee Harding: Wasabi & Australian Idol 42:24

1d ago42:24

42:24

Remember Wasabi? The 2006 Aussie pop-punk anthem that went nuclear after Lee Harding’s breakout on Australian Idol. In this episode, Lee opens up about his wild Idol days infront of Kyle Sandilands, Andrew G and co, what really happened after the show, and the truth behind his fight with the record label. Love it or hate it, was wasabi a one-hit wo…

1
Nicholas Grossman: No, The Dems Did Not Win The Shutdown 48:34

8d ago48:34

48:34

Charlie Sykes talks with political scientist Nicholas Grossman about the Democrats’ sudden surrender after weeks of holding the line against Trump’s budget demands. They break down why the timing baffled strategists, what the fold reveals about the party’s “normal democracy mindset,” and how it may reshape Democratic leadership. The conversation al…

1
Adam Kinzinger: The Last Republican 42:22

4d ago42:22

42:22

Charlie Sykes sits down with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss his new documentary The Last Republican and the personal and political fallout from his stand against Donald Trump. Kinzinger reflects on January 6th, his deep contempt for Kevin McCarthy’s capitulation, and how small acts of cowardice reshaped the GOP. The conversation also …

1
Jonathan Rauch: SCOTUS, the Blue Wave and the Future of Democracy 47:19

7d ago47:19

47:19

Charlie Sykes and Jonathan Rauch dissect a surprising Supreme Court challenge to Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff powers and what it could mean for the limits of presidential authority. They also break down the recent “blue wave” election results, the shifting loyalties of younger and minority voters, and the growing ideological fractures inside the …

1
Daniel Drezner: Baseball, Billionaires and the Breakdown of the GOP 44:18

2d ago44:18

44:18

Charlie Sykes is joined by political scientist Daniel Drezner for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with baseball’s most thrilling World Series in years and ends with America’s political curveballs. They unpack Trump’s Great Gatsby–style party amid a government shutdown, the pardoning of a crypto billionaire, and the GOP’s flirtation with ext…

1
Simon Bazelon: Deciding to Win 46:04

24d ago46:04

46:04

Charlie Sykes talks with Simon Bazelon, lead author of Deciding to Win, a new report urging Democrats to refocus on economic and public safety issues. Bazelon argues that since 2012, highly educated donors and advocacy groups have pushed the party away from the bread-and-butter concerns of working-class voters. The conversation explores how Democra…

1
Ben Wittes: Who Is The Administrator of DOGE? 52:36

27d ago52:36

52:36

Charlie Sykes talks with Lawfare’s Ben Wittes about the erosion of congressional power, Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape the civil service, and the growing danger of a one-man government. They unpack Trump’s $230 million claim against U.S. taxpayers, the ethical chaos inside the Justice Department, and how judges are grappling with lies from the …

1
Anne Applebaum: Americans Are Not Angry Enough Yet 44:58

9d ago44:58

44:58

Charlie Sykes is joined by historian and journalist Anne Applebaum to discuss the accelerating erosion of democratic norms in the United States. They explore how corruption, institutional fragility, and authoritarian habits are reshaping American politics, and why complacency is our greatest danger. Applebaum warns that the midterms may determine w…

1
Justin Wolfers: The Erosion of Democratic Institutions 43:14

1M ago43:14

43:14

Economist Justin Wolfers joins Charlie Sykes to unpack the puzzling disconnect between Wall Street’s optimism and Main Street’s uncertainty, and what that says about America’s economic direction. They dive into Trump’s tariffs, Argentina’s bailout, and how “crony capitalism” tilts the playing field toward big corporations. Wolfers also reflects on …

1
Adam Kinzinger: Trump Tales a Wrecking Ball to the White House 43:48

1M ago43:48

43:48

Charlie Sykes and Adam Kinzinger take stock of another chaotic week in American politics, from Donald Trump’s demand for $230 million in taxpayer money and his controversial White House renovations, to Speaker Mike Johnson’s embrace of Trump’s culture-war theatrics. They also discuss the rise of the “No Kings” movement, the corporate backlash over …

1
Jim Acosta: No Kings and Trump's AI Jet 30:39

1M ago30:39

30:39

Charlie Sykes and Jim Acosta unpack the massive “No Kings” rallies, Trump’s inflammatory AI video targeting protesters, and the unsettling normalization of authoritarian behavior from the Oval Office. They discuss the divide between Trump’s rhetoric and reality, the media’s response to his attacks, and how both parties face a long road ahead in def…

1
Tim O'Brien: Trump is a Chaos Agent in a Chaotic World 44:23

1M ago44:23

44:23

Charlie Sykes sits down with Bloomberg Opinion’s Tim O’Brien to talk about the chaos and consequences of Donald Trump’s second term. From the “No Kings” rallies and the weaponization of the IRS to fears of a politicized military, they examine how America’s democratic institutions are holding up—or falling apart. They also talk about whether a new r…

1
Tom Nichols: Free Press, JD Vance, and the MAGA Right 51:00

1M ago51:00

51:00

Charlie Sykes welcomes Atlantic writer Tom Nichols for a conversation about the Pentagon’s unprecedented expulsion of the press and what it means for democracy and transparency. They also unpack the MAGA movement’s growing hostility toward free speech, Trump’s chaotic foreign policy moves, and JD Vance’s defense of young right-wing bigots. Hosted o…

1
Rob Hart: Chicago Under Siege 40:44

1M ago40:44

40:44

Charlie Sykes turns his attention from the Middle East to the Midwest, where escalating ICE raids, federal court battles, and National Guard deployments have put Chicago at the center of a national storm. WBBM anchor Rob Hart joins to break down the reality on the ground—what’s true, what’s political theater, and how local leaders like J.B. Pritzke…

1
David French: Trump’s Expanding Power 47:18

2M ago47:18

47:18

Charlie Sykes is joined by David French to unpack a week of alarming developments — from Trump’s threatened invocation of the Insurrection Act and deployment of troops to Chicago, to the stunning announcement of a Qatari military base on U.S. soil. Together, they explore how rhetoric, legality, and raw power collide in a presidency that continually…

1
Bonus: The Foundation (New Era Philanthropy) 33:32

1M ago33:32

33:32

A prominent Christian businessman operates a massive, "too-good-to-be-true," charity-based Ponzi scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠ CONSUME: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠ –––-–------------…

1
Jaret Reddick (Bowling for Soup) 18:56

1M ago18:56

18:56

I flew all the way to Texas to find out what really happened to pop-punk — from the guy who lived it. Jaret Reddick isn’t just the frontman of Bowling for Soup — he’s also the voice of Phineas Flynn, Chuck E. Cheese, Jimmy Neutron and the man behind 1985 and Girl All the Bad Guys Want. We went deep on how a small-town Texas band blew up worldwide, …

1
Susan Glasser: TrumpSchmerz 40:26

2M ago40:26

40:26

New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser joins Charlie Sykes to talk about what she calls “TrumpSchmerz” — the constant state of worry that hangs over America in the Trump era. They discuss the weaponization of government power, the collapse of political norms, and whether the country’s institutions or its people will stop the slide toward authoritari…

3M ago1:37:55

1:37:55

A proposed libertarian paradise in the Chilean countryside devolves into a spectacle of betrayal and broken promises. Prelude: Lazarus Long's Principality of New Utopia. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–-------------------------------…