Episode 564: Anders Breivik Part II - Mommy’s Little Monster

Dive into the intriguing parallels between history and current events with Rachel Maddow in the thought-provoking podcast "Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News." In the inaugural foray titled "Riot at the Gates (Again)," Maddow, alongside renowned guests like Yale professor Alice Kaplan and journalist Jonathan Katz, navigates a captivating analysis of the tumultuous 1934 fascist coup attempt in France and its chilling resemblance to the January 6 Capitol riot in the United States. Through their rich dialogues, they explore the perils that such political events pose to the very core of democratic institutions and the echoes of this threat reverberating through time.

This episode stands not only as a profound examination of the past but also serves as a stark reminder of democracy's ongoing battles. With articulate contributions from guests like Joe Scarborough and Isaac-Davy Aronson, the discussion delves into the importance of confronting and understanding historical events to fortify democratic principles in contemporary times. They highlight how movements like France's Popular Front and FDR's New Deal offer historical lessons in uniting against fascism—lessons that resonate powerfully in the predicaments facing leaders and citizens today. Join Maddow and her guests as they evoke the importance of historical insight in the quest to cultivate and maintain democratic resilience in an ever-changing political landscape.

In a fervid discourse on "The Ben Shapiro Show," host Ben Shapiro, alongside legal powerhouse Alina Habba and a host of insightful guests, confronts the contentious nature of media coverage in the wake of a Nashville shooting and other extremist acts. Venturing into sensitive territory, Shapiro challenges the consistency in how the media reports on violent acts perpetrated by different groups, proposing that a significant bias exists which skews the public's perception of such events.

Continuing beyond the media narrative, Shapiro delves into the societal and political ramifications of protest movements and questions the Biden administration's selective attention to hate crimes and public safety. He meticulously unpacks the complexities of international relations through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while also forecasting the shifting dynamics within U.S. electoral politics as the nation navigates Trump's ongoing legal saga and the future of the Democratic party leadership. Throughout the episode, Shapiro weaves in endorsements and promotional offers, tailoring each to resonate with his audience's core values.

In The Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray argues that Western society is consumed by an ideology that’s obsessed with social justice and identity politics. This ideology insists that certain groups (notably women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals) endure widespread prejudice and oppression, and that they should therefore receive sensitivity, accommodations, and apologetic behavior from the social majority. Murray believes this ideology is hard to challenge without suffering public ridicule and shaming.

Ultimately, Murray argues that we need to combat this ideology, restore constructive opportunities for civic disagreement, and depoliticize our personal identities. Otherwise, our society could become even more fragmented and chaotic, and conceivably violent.

In this guide, we’ll examine the development of this harmful ideology, its effects, and its internal contradictions. We’ll also explore ways to detoxify society and reduce the influence of this ideology. In our commentary, we’ll compare Murray’s ideas to those in other books that discuss wokeism, intersectionality, and identity politics, such as The Coddling of the American Mind and American Marxism.

Immerse yourself into the chilling narrative of one of America's notorious serial killers, Joel Rifkin, in Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart's "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast". Our hosts expertly unravel the life of Rifkin, from his troubled upbringing marked by severe bullying to his disturbing transformation into a serial killer - shattering his comfortable home life and leading him on a dreadful path of crime.

In the latter part of the story, Kelley and Urquhart dig deeper into the grotesque methodologies of Rifkin's murders, taking us on a terrifying journey into the lives of his unfortunate victims while tracing the consequent legal proceedings that led to a hefty 203-year prison sentence. As you delve into this heart-wrenching episode, be prepared to witness a haunting portrait of evil incarnate, a bleak testament of the duality that resides in the human psyche.

On the Shawn Ryan Show, join former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan as he sits down with Victor Marx, known as the world's fastest gun disarmer, to uncover the gripping story behind his remarkable skill and his dedication to healing. In a candid conversation, they delve into Marx's tumultuous past marked by severe childhood abuse and the incredible journey that led him to become a symbol of protection and an advocate for at-risk children through his organization, All Things Possible Ministries.

Discover how Victor Marx's resilience and mastery of composure allowed him to rise above his early life trauma, transforming pain into purpose. His tale weaves through the dark alleys of substance abuse and mental health struggles, leading to a path of recovery grounded in therapeutic intervention, nutrition, and unwavering faith. This episode is not merely a chronicle of personal redemption but a powerful testimony to the strength of forgiveness and the profound impact of extending grace, even to those who have caused deep-seated scars.

Join Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart as they venture into the shadowy psyche of Edmund Kemper, the notorious "Coed Killer," in "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast." With chilling precision, the co-hosts recount his brutal crimes and early displays of malcontent, painting a portrait of a disturbed individual shaped by an abusive childhood and societal missteps. By starting the episode with Kemper's own unnerving words, they construct an atmosphere that is both captivating and cautionary, ensuring listeners are acutely aware of the explicit and haunting journey ahead.

As they weave through Kemper's life—from his contemptuous relationship with his overbearing mother to his cunning double life that fooled even law enforcement—Ash and Alaina offer profound insights into the criminal mind. They dissect institutional failures and naivete that allowed Kemper to exploit the system, examine his impact on forensic psychology, and end with reflections on the precarious balance between normalcy and the hidden darkness within. This gripping episode not only lays bare the extremes of human behavior but sets the stage for future explorations of mystery, beginning with a teaser of the perplexing Dyatlov Pass incident.

Louie Zamperini was one of the brightest prospects for the 1940 Olympics in track and field. But when WWII started, his life would take a much different path. The story of Louie’s struggles as a young loner, a rising star, a Pacific POW, and a man trying to reclaim his life after years of torment is as unbelievable as it is inspiring. Through Louie’s tale, the depths of the human soul and will to survive are examined. As Louie spirals out of control because of trauma and becomes obsessed with a plot to kill the man who tortured him, he learns that a man is not defined by his history, but rather by the manner in which he seeks a future. Unbroken reaches into the heart of terror and shines a light on what it means to triumph.

A Promised Land is Barack Obama’s memoir of his early political career and the first two years of his presidency. Obama takes us on his journey from relative obscurity as a biracial kid from Hawaii to becoming a transformative figure as the nation’s first African-American president. At every step of his career, Obama was guided by a deep faith in the fundamental unity of Americans; the potential and promise of America; the necessity of compromise and seeking common ground; and above all, the power of the democratic system to heal our divisions and effect real change for ordinary people.