Podcast
The Cycle- On Substack
Hosted by Rachel "The Doc" Bitecofer · EN
On The Cycle, political strategist Rachel Bitecofer speaks with today's headline makers about politics.
thecycle.substack.com
thecycle.substack.com
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
This is America
May 20, 202500:26:52Tap to summarizeThis week Rachel and Aaron translate Trump’s Marie Antoinette “Let Them Eat Tariffs" moment. Plus, an alarming shakeup in the national intelligence community with echoes from history. In Trump’s DOJ if you can’t charge ‘em, shame ‘em.LINKS:* Trump post: Wal-Mart should ‘EAT THE TARIFFS’* Associated Press: Gabbard fires 2 top intelligence officials and will shift office that preps Trump’s daily brief* NBC’s Meet the Press: Interview with Mike Pence (May 18, 2025)* Fox: Sunday Morning Futures: Interview with Kash Patel & Dan Bongino (May 18, 2025)* USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Trump banner* NBC News: DOJ 'weaponization' group will shame individuals it can't charge with crimes* CNN: James Comey’s ‘weird’ social media approach lands him in hot water* VIDEO: Rep. Swalwell presses HS Secretary Noem on doctored photo* The Cycle on Subtack: Trump's Executive Orders Serve One Sinister Purpose* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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He Wanted to Kill Woke, Not The Free Market
May 19, 202500:51:44Tap to summarizeMy conversation with Richard Hanania, author of The Origins of Woke and contributor on Project 2025 is one of the most important conversations I’ve had on this show. Important for you and important for his audience too. If you want to know why I say that, you’ll have to give it a listen because I’m way too smart to lay it out here for you! You’ll learn from the conversation Hanania’s break with the Trump Cult over the insanity of DOGE and Trump’s tariffs has produced a predictable backlash from MAGA.There is only one rule of MAGA Fight Club and its never, ever insult the boss or admit he’s wrong. Last week Hanania put up a really compelling article on his own Substack you can find right here titled: What I Got Wrong About Trump. Again as a political behaviorist, let me reiterate that two things are particularly hard psychologically for anyone to do (and most can’t do at all) and those two things are:* admitting you got something wrong* Breaking with your own “tribe” to do so. Show Richard Hanania some grace folks, and give his mea culpa a read: Get content you won’t find anywhere else. Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
May 13, 202500:22:48Tap to summarizeTrump pushes socialist price controls for pharmaceuticals, refugee status for white people and free flights out for everyone else. Rachel and Aaron also dive into the effort to suspend the U.S. Constitution, and compare how Trump’s chaotic presidency parallels the rise of Vladimir Putin. Plus…Da Pope offers inspiring words for the world.LINKS:* Trump wants drug price controls (* Trump bashes price controls on Truth Social (August 2024)* White House: TO ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS: BOOK YOUR FREE FLIGHT NOW* Cardinal Prevost (Pope Leo XIV) tweet re: JD Vance (Feb 3)* Bannon’s War Room: Marjorie Taylor Greene* Rachel on white South African refugees* OANN on Twitter* Pope Leo XIV: “Evil will not win”* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game* The Cycle on Substack Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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Living History with Mr. Beat
May 8, 202500:31:15Tap to summarizeHistory is certainly echoing now!Folks, I’m returning to my conversational pods with interesting people talking about interesting s**t. I’m kicking things off by living by example and doing a crossover show with THE Mr. Beat, who hosts a very popular You Tube channel. There’s a whole world out there that doesn’t engage with or see any of the political content that are the staples of our lives. AND that world is much, much bigger than our world. This is why we’re seeing a concerted effort by Democrats to do something they have always feared: have real conservations with real people on media people actually watch. Don’t forget, the average daily audience of MSNBC is 700,000 people. That’s about .000000001% of the country watching Deadline, in case you’re wondering why people voted for fascism. In fact, on Monday you’re going to get a very important announcement about the future of The Cycle and the cool s**t we’re going to be dropping as the year progresses. Anyhoo, Mr. Beat was kind enough to come have a conversation with me about what my new major thesis: American history is actually just one book with different chapters, those chapters being: * The Great Compromise (AKA: The Constitution* The Expansion of the American West * Civil War* End of Reconstruction and the introduction of Jim Crow* The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960sANNNNDDDD Chapter 6: Whatever the F**k it is That This MAGA Thing is Going to End With.Because that book is still be written. Right now. By us. Now, before any of you get too excited about that you should know this is what I’m noodling on in terms of my next book proposal: preemptively titled as Living History. Once I go to sell it, it will end up with a 15 word subtitle so I’m going to enjoy my two word title until they pay me money to get over it. As subscribers to The Cycle y’all are the very first people to hear about this new project which is still in its early planning stages. Back to Mr. Beat, who figured out he could make more money swinging history videos on You Tube than he made after 11 years of being a high school history teacher (which you should read as a testament to how shitty teacher pay it is). He is also a published author of The Power of Our Supreme Court: How Supreme Court Cases Shape Democracy and you should check it out! I hope you enjoy our crossover conversation! You can subscribe to Mr. Beats You Tube You right here! AND of course you can share and subscribe to The Cycle here! Did you learn something new from today’s conversation? Don’t be a knowledge hoarder!! Hit share! Do you appreciate my fusion of political science, data, history, economics, and culture?? Subscribe now!!! Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
May 6, 202500:32:32Tap to summarizeThis week Rachel and Aaron investigate the three words that hit hardest from Donald Trump’s recent interview on Meet the Press, and the one word missing from the New York Times’s editorial criticizing his first 100 days. Plus the Lord of the Shadows, Stephen Miller, wants you to know MAGA has BIG plans for your children and grandchildren. Don’t miss an eye-opening comparison between Trump’s “Lord of Shadows” and the Nazi Party’s youth indoctrination programs. LINKS:* NBC’s Meet the Press: Full interview with Donald Trump* NBC News: Fact-checking Donald Trump’s May interview with ‘Meet the Press’* 60 Minutes: How law firms targeted by Trump are responding to White House pressure* Marc Elias: Democracy Docket* SNL: ‘Lord of the Shadows’* Stephen Miller: ‘Children will be taught to love America’* New York Times: Editorial: There Is a Way Forward: How to Defeat Trump’s Power Grab* Mike Pence Receives JFK Profile in Courage Award* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game* The Cycle on SubstackLove This is America? Tell someone else you love about it by hitting the share button!This is America thanks our paid subscribers and urges you to consider supporting independent media by upgrading to a paid subscription today! Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
Apr 22, 202500:26:16Tap to summarizeAs another texting scandal jolts the Pentagon into “full-blown meltdown,” Rachel earns national attention for her internet sleuthing skills and gets vindicated in the aftermath of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Plus, she and Aaron take a close look at the first rule in fighting tyranny… and share a masterclass from a European internet troll.LINKS:* Politico Opinion: Former Top Pentagon Spokesperson Details ‘Month From Hell’ Inside the Agency* The Daily Beast: Rachel catches bad White House photoshop job* George Carlin: Methods of Execution* SplitTicket.org tweet: The story of Wisconsin's Supreme Court election was turnout* Timothy Snyder on Substack: Obeying in Advance* European Parliament Member Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy trolls Trump’s New York* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game* The Cycle on SubstackThe Cycle- On Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
Apr 15, 202500:22:24Tap to summarizeThis week Rachel and Aaron change up the format to take a deep dive into the arrest and deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, imprisoned in El Salvador without due process despite a U.S. Supreme Court order to “facilitate” his return. The case has chilling parallels to what happened in Germany between 1933 and 1945. This is a warning from history worth understanding.In Nazi Germany the Gestapo didn't even have to watch everyone: your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even family members had the power to destroy you. Much of the terror came from not knowing, you know, who was watching or listening. History doesn't replicate like DNA but it does repeat. LINKS* The Persecution and Murder of the European Jews by Nazi Germany, 1933–1945* Full news conference: Trump and President Bukele of El Salvador* Rep. Steven Horsford blasts U.S. trade rep after Trump tariff pause* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
Apr 9, 202500:22:36Tap to summarizeTrump’s planned destruction of America’s economy is a pivotal political moment. This week Rachel and Aaron offer advice for “normies” who are just now waking up to the mess. Plus, a reading of the tea leaves after the recent special elections, how to send us your best signs for this month’s next nationwide protests, and why was this week’s show a little late? We’ve got an exciting reason!LINKS:* The 50501 Movement (April 19th protests)* Sen. Rand Paul’s resolution to “Reassert Congressional Authority Over Tax Policy”* Project 2025 Tracker Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
Apr 1, 202500:26:58Tap to summarizeIt's Election Day! Will it be a difficult one for MAGA in Wisconsin and Florida? Plus, Rachel and Aaron get into the nitty gritty over Third Term Gate… and Signal Gate. The Trump Tax, er “Liberation Day,” prompts Aaron to move up his car shopping timeline. Musk gives away millions. And what's the one issue voters associate most with the Democratic Party? The answer may surprise you...LINKS:* NBC News: Trump won’t rule out seeking a third term in the White House* The Intercept: In Trump’s America, You Can Be Disappeared for Writing an Op-Ed* The Tufts Daily: Op-ed coauthored by Rümeysa Öztürk* The Cycle on Substack: Voters Have No Idea What Democrats Stand For* The New York Times: Marine Le Pen Barred From French Presidential Run After Embezzlement Ruling* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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This is America
Mar 25, 202500:25:12Tap to summarizeThis week Rachel and Aaron chase the firetrucks to the dumpster fire of the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress who’re trying to defend it. How do you explain an unprecedented security breach involving secret war plans accidentally shared with a news editor? Where do voters draw a line in the sand? Plus, a closer look at why Elon Musk is trying to break the Overton Window. And are spring breakers really this… dumb?LINKS:* The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans* New York Times: Musk Is Positioned to Profit Off Billions in New Government Contracts* Campaign Website: Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court* Greenland’s Prime Minister: “Taking over our country over our heads”* CNN: Angry voters confront GOP lawmaker at town hall in Washington* LibertyHangout.tv on YouTube: Spring Breakers Fail American History Trivia* Rachel at The Cycle: What is the Overton Window and Why is Elon Musk Breaking It?* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game Get full access to The Cycle- On Substack at thecycle.substack.com/subscribe
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