This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out Podcast By Rachel Bitecofer & Aaron Murphy cover art

This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out

This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out

By: Rachel Bitecofer & Aaron Murphy
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From the front lines of protecting democracy, political analysts Rachel Bitecofer and Aaron Murphy, authors of Hit 'Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game (Crown, 2024), host a brief, weekly look at "what you need to know" about Trump 2.0. They're checked in for the checked out.

This is America is a callback to William L. Shirer's groundbreaking This is Berlin broadcasts from the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Subscribe to Rachel's The Cycle on Substack at thecycle.substack.com.

Hit 'Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game:

hitemwhereithurts.com.

Rachel Bitecofer & Aaron Murphy 2025 Political Science Politics & Government World
Episodes
  • Episode 29: The Dog That Hasn't Barked

    Episode 29: The Dog That Hasn't Barked
    Nov 18 2025

    This week Rachel and Aaron dive into the hurricane of Donald Trump’s chaos – from Jeffrey Epstein… to an unprecedented affordability crisis… to a new health care crisis… to an identity crisis for MAGA. Plus, a lesson for Democrats on how to message affordability. And another underwater poll for Donald Trump, “the dog that hasn’t barked.”

    LINKS:

    • The Cycle on Substack: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
    • AP/NORC Survey: Trump’s approval rating remains low during government shutdown
    • Axios: The affordability crisis, once Biden's, is now Trump's
    • Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
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    30 mins
  • Episode 28: No Faux King Way

    Episode 28: No Faux King Way
    Oct 21 2025

    This week Rachel and Aaron unpack the GOP’s framing of thousands of peaceful “No Kings” protests as “Hate America” rallies. How, exactly, did Republicans lose control of the narrative–at least for a weekend? Plus, why House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear-in America’s newest member of Congress. And what do Venezuelan boat strikes have to do with disgraced Congressman George Santos?

    LINKS:

    • ABC’s This Week: Jonathan Karl interviews Speaker Mike Johnson
    • NBC’s Meet the Press: Kristen Welker interviews Senator Rand Paul
    • ABC News: Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva on ‘delay tactics’ in being sworn into Congress
    • The Cycle on Substack
    • Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
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    25 mins
  • Episode 27: The F-Word

    Episode 27: The F-Word
    Oct 7 2025

    This week, why we shouldn’t be afraid of using the other F-word: fascism, especially as the Right shatters political norms, turns citizens into public enemies, and politicizes the military. Rachel and Aaron discuss a Democrat who joked about violence, a Republican who preaches it, a billionaire who builds it into the algorithm, and a movement now summoning generals for loyalty oaths. Plus: The political strategies and public polling behind the government shutdown. Who, exactly, is getting the blame?

    LINKS:

    • France24: Elon Musk: The voice of the far right in Europe?
    • Stephen Miller’s cousin on Facebook: “the face of evil”
    • The Cycle - Substack: We’re Deep in the Shit Now: The Only Way to Win the Shutdown Was Not to Play
    • Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
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    27 mins
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