Best Peter Shamshiri Podcasts (2025)

1
Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Lopez-Mendoza 49:29

Play Pause

7h ago49:29

49:29

I think we can all agree that the Constitution guarantees every individual certain unalienable rights–oh wait, sorry, getting a call. Right. Sorry. Okay. Yea. Got it. Hey, so I think we can all agree that immigration law is different from other laws, and the Constitution doesn’t really apply there. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hea…

1
Rhiannon Interviews Mahmoud Khalil 43:05

3d ago43:05

43:05

On this episode of Popular Cradle, (Rhiannon’s other podcast!), she interviews Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by ICE for more than 100 days earlier this year. You can find Popular Cradle wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBy Prologue Projects

1
Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition 38:32

7d ago38:32

38:32

Feels like we should be able to collectively wrestle with the problems of a system by which 14 million people will die in the next five years because one man can decide to withhold a bunch of money that Congress said needed to be spent, but unfortunately, because of the law, and what the law says, no one can sue about it. Good luck with figuring th…

1
Free Speech, Chilled to Perfection [TEASER] 4:45

14d ago4:45

4:45

By Prologue Projects

1
How To Win Friends And Influence People 1:10:00

19d ago1:10:00

1:10:00

Live like Dale Carnegie, neg like Calvin Coolidge. Where to find us: Our Patreon Our merch! Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Self-help Messiah: Dale Carnegie and Success in Modern America The Positive Thinkers Age of industrial violence 1910-1915 : the activities and findings of the Unit…

1
2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Preview 59:08

28d ago59:08

59:08

You are getting very sleepy…you are getting very sleepy…HEY! Wake up. It may look like the slate of cases for this Supreme Court term doesn't have many fundamental constitutional rights hanging in the balance, but don’t be lulled into thinking any of this is low stakes. Voting rights, trans people in sports, the death penalty—they’re still on that …

1
Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo 57:16

1M ago57:16

57:16

Papers, please. The hallmark of fascist states of eras past and your favorite movie about authoritarianism is now also the official policy of the United States, with the Supreme Court’s blessing. But don’t worry, you (probably) won’t be stopped, unless you kinda look Hispanic or shop at Home Depot! I feel safer already. If you're not a 5-4 Premium …

1
Thomas Chatterton Williams' "Summer of Our Discontent" 1:31:42

1M ago1:31:42

1:31:42

Peter and Michael discuss a book that's light on facts and long on sentences. Where to find us: Our Patreon Our merch! Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Book Review: ‘Summer of Our Discontent,’ by Thomas Chatterton Williams Police shootings database 2015-2024 From the archive, 22 March 19…

1
Welcome to Law School 2025 1:10:59

1M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

Kudos to everyone who is starting law school in this economy and during an authoritarian regime. In this annual episode, Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael share their wisdom on how to survive law school. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and …

1
Step Your Pussy Up Under Fascism [TEASER] 4:45

2M ago4:45

4:45

It's okay to be scared. It's hard not to succumb to the nihilism of the second Trump administration. But that is precisely what he and his administration want you to do. Please don't fall for it. Instead, own your power, make them fear you, and for God's sake, STEP YOUR PUSSY UP! If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode!…

1
Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic 48:44

2M ago48:44

48:44

Federal law says that Medicaid recipients have the right to choose their healthcare provider. One problem, though–what if a Medicaid recipient chooses to go to Planned Parenthood to get healthcare? In that case, federal law doesn’t really say what it means. Federal law is silly like that sometimes! If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hea…

1
McMahon v. New York 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

Don't be sad, little Johnny, Trump just took the Department of Education to live on a big farm with so much space to run around and play in, and all the treats the Department of Education could ever dream of. The Department of Education will miss you, too, Johnny, but we promise she's so much happier now. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're …

1
Trump Brings the War Home [UNLOCKED] 57:30

2M ago57:30

57:30

California has become a testing ground for Trump's police state ambitions. In Los Angeles and across the country, he’s merging the military and the police into one entity, with its guns aimed inward. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and…

1
He's Just Not That Into You 1:00:09

3M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

How one comedian's offhand advice launched a decent TV episode, a mediocre book and a terrible movie. Where to find us: Our Patreon Our merch! Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Susan Faludi's "Backlash" For Women Who Count on Men to Be Jerks Bridget Jones’s Legacy Single Women in Popular …

1
Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton 55:48

3M ago55:48

55:48

Please have your driver's license, social security card, or any other highly personal private information ready to share if you wish to rub one out to online porn. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/suppo…

1
Mahmoud v. Taylor 1:02:27

3M ago1:02:27

1:02:27

Because the conservatives on the Supreme Court are lowkey homophobic, they have made it easier for parents of kids in public schools to opt out of topics that make them uncomfortable. LGBTQ books, no thank you— evolution, not for my kids. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episo…

1
Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" 57:44

3M ago57:44

57:44

Did you know that in the split-second it took you to read the title of this episode, your subconscious already figured out that it was going to be extremely good? Peter and Michael talk about Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink," a book that is mostly cute scientific anecdotes but also indirectly resulted in millions of taxpayer dollars being wasted on fraud…

1
Portrait of a John Roberts on Fire [TEASER] 4:45

3M ago4:45

4:45

These “boys” and in some cases “gals” keep proving us right! The 2024-2025 Supreme Court term was a beautiful illustration of this podcast’s entire thesis: this is an institution untethered by law, beholden only to right-wing ideology, and led by a real dipshit Chief Justice. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To …

1
Trump v. CASA, Inc. 1:03:09

4M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

CTRL+F for “birthright citizenship” in this majority opinion, and you only get two hits. That’s because Amy Coney Barrett spends thousands of words telling you that the President's evisceration of birthright citizenship from the Constitution isn’t really about birthright citizenship, it’s about nationwide injunctions. If you're not a 5-4 Premium me…

1
The Supreme Court Goes Full TERF [TEASER] 1:01:53

4M ago1:01:53

1:01:53

This is most of the episode but if you want to hear the last 20 minutes, support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

1
United States v. Skrmetti 1:09:09

4M ago1:09:09

1:09:09

The Supreme Court has made life more difficult for trans children, who are already among the most marginalized groups in the country. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prolog…

1
"In Covid's Wake" Part 2: Wrong About The Right 1:10:19

4M ago1:10:19

1:10:19

Last episode we met two Princeton political scientists who are bad at virology. Today we learn that they are also bad at political science. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Lawrence Wright’s “The Plague Year” Jonathan Howard’s “We Want Them Infected” How the Pandemic De…

1
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lying About Lockdowns 57:47

4M ago57:47

57:47

Two political scientists look back at a deadly pandemic and ask, "could we have done even less?" Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Lawrence Wright’s “The Plague Year” The 2019 WHO report 30‐day mortality following COVID‐19 COVID-19: examining the effectiveness of non-pha…

1
The DOGE Cases 54:02

4M ago54:02

54:02

The Supreme Court allowed the 20-somethings at DOGE to access your Social Security information. What's the worst that could happen? If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue…

1
Trump v. Wilcox 41:50

4M ago41:50

41:50

The Supreme Court just made it easier for Trump to fire heads of independent federal agencies. Unitary executive theory, anyone? If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Pr…

1
Bonus: The Lab Leak Goes Mainstream 1:21:09

5M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

By popular demand we are releasing last month's Patreon bonus episode on the main feed! We chart the transformation of the lab leak from an unfounded theory promoted by right-wing cranks to an unfounded theory promoted by liberal journalists. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Tha…

1
Copaganda with Alec Karakatsanis [TEASER] 4:45

5M ago4:45

4:45

Crime rates are at historic lows, yet year after year, people say that they feel unsafe and believe crime is rising. You can thank the news media with help from corporations and law enforcement narratives. We speak with civil rights lawyer Alec Karakatsanis about his new book, Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News. If you're not a…

1
Jones v. North Carolina Prisoners' Labor Union 43:00

5M ago43:00

43:00

If the Supreme Court can take away constitutional rights from one minority group, it can do it to any of us. Yes, even podcasters. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue …

1
No Due Process, Yes Jumbo Plane [TEASER] 4:45

5M ago4:45

4:45

Since taking office, Trump has moved quickly to implement his authoritarian agenda. Now, he is asking the Supreme Court to limit the judicial branch by preventing individual judges from blocking his orders. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack communi…

1
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier 51:26

6M ago51:26

51:26

The Supreme Court has been stripping away students' free speech rights for decades. They don't want you to think for yourself or speak your mind. You might end up making podcasts like this. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode and also lame! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community,…

1
United States v. Zubaydah 56:47

6M ago56:47

56:47

Following the 9/11 attacks, both liberal and conservative justices contributed to the rise of some authoritarian powers that the Trump administration is now wielding today. ERRATA: Henry Blodget is no longer the CEO of Business Insider. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episode…

1
The Let Them Theory 53:44

6M ago53:44

53:44

Peter and Michael discuss The Let Them Theory, a self-help guide to seeking bliss through unmitigated complacency. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: How to stop screwing yourself over Mel Robbins and Plagiarism Let her? Army wife claims Mel Robbins stole her idea for blo…

1
Movie Review: The Firm [TEASER] 4:45

6M ago4:45

4:45

The Firm, the legal thriller starring Tom Cruise, shows us that big law is sometimes worse than the literal mob. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This epi…

1
Introducing... Fiasco: Iran-Contra 43:02

6M ago43:02

43:02

New from Prologue Projects and Pushkin Industries: it's a new edition of Fiasco: Iran-Contra, widely available for the first time ever. New episodes of Fiasco release Mondays, available wherever you get your podcasts. Pushkin+ subscribers can listen to the full season of Iran-Contra, ad-free, now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podc…

1
Trump v. J.G.G. 51:59

6M ago51:59

51:59

The Supreme Court under Trump 2.0 is engaging in their favorite pastime: finding convoluted procedural reasons to rule in his favor. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologu…

1
Department of State v. Muñoz 51:10

7M ago51:10

51:10

Finally, the Supreme Court gets to live its dream: being xenophobic and homophobic at the same time. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was pro…

1
Authoritarian Creep(s) [TEASER] 4:45

7M ago4:45

4:45

The Trump administration has moved at breakneck speed to suppress free speech, mass deport hundreds of individuals without due process, and target judges who dare cross him – moves straight out of an authoritarian playbook. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to …

1
Josh Hawley's "Manhood" [TEASER] 53:11

7M ago53:11

53:11

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

1
Steve Harvey's "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man" 58:53

7M ago58:53

58:53

Are you a single lady struggling to find love with a man? Don't fret! A twice-divorced game show host who thinks conversation is for women is here to help. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

1
Mobile v. Bolden 50:21

7M ago50:21

50:21

While a law may have discriminatory or racist effects—such as diluting the Black vote in a city and rendering those votes essentially meaningless—this does not necessarily mean it was created with malicious intentions. The Supreme Court says that we should assume good faith and not presume that some laws are enacted with racist motives... Sure... I…

1
San Francisco v. EPA 42:03

7M ago42:03

42:03

How much poop is in our water? The Supreme Court says “not enough.” If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyf…

1
The Powell Memo [TEASER] 4:45

7M ago4:45

4:45

Before he was ever a Supreme Court justice, Lewis Powell was an enterprising corporate attorney representing tobacco companies and calling on CEO’s to get off their asses and flood American politics with money. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack com…

1
Of Boys And Men 1:22:42

8M ago1:22:42

1:22:42

Who's to blame for the crisis of American masculinity? On the right, politicians tell men that they being oppressed by feminists and must reassert their manhood by supporting an authoritarian regime. And on the left, users of social media are often very irritating to people who write airport books. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other…

1
McCutcheon v. FEC 56:44

8M ago56:44

56:44

Presidential candidates raised more than $1.6 billion in the 2024 election cycle, but if you think flooding politics with money is bad then you don’t understand FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Thanks to this Supreme Court decision, that pesky problem of an individual donor not being able to give more than $117,000 to political campaigns because of stupid campai…

1
NIFLA v. Becerra 42:53

8M ago42:53

42:53

Crisis pregnancy centers can provide misinformation about healthcare and perform medical procedures without requiring a licensed doctor. Yes, all of that is legal, thanks to the Supreme Court. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, …

1
Your Trump 2.0 Questions, Answered [UNLOCKED] 1:08:44

8M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

This episode was available early to Premium members. If you'd like that kind of perk, consider joining at fivefourpod.com/support. What do you do if ICE comes to your door? How will Trump enforce his anti-trans orders? Are there risks to podcasting in the age of Trump? You asked some really dark questions, and we have answers. To hear this and othe…

1
Trump’s Opening Salvo 56:40

8M ago56:40

56:40

Trump’s blitzkrieg of executive orders has left many of us scrambling. The policies are cruel and reactionary, but do they amount to a constitutional crisis? If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-…

1
Your Trump 2.0 Questions, Answered [TEASER] 4:45

9M ago4:45

4:45

What do you do if ICE comes to your door? How will Trump enforce his anti-trans orders? Are there risks to podcasting in the age of Trump? You asked some really dark questions, and we have answers. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode, including this one with helpful tips on how to survive Trump 2.0! To hear this and…

1
TikTok v. Garland 56:34

9M ago56:34

56:34

The Supreme Court says that you don’t have a constitutional right to post short form videos of cute cats. Is it time for a revolution? You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. …

1
You Are A Badass 58:58

9M ago58:58

58:58

Peter and Michael dissect Jen Sincero's "You are a Badass," a book that answers the question: What if "The Secret" was written in the painful, try-hard style of "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck"? Featuring a surprise digression about Sincero's other, even worse books. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenanc…