Podcast
The Drain
Hosted by The Drain · EN
The Drain is a podcast covering California news and culture. Hosted by Kempa (founding editor of VOICES: River City) and Max (a.k.a. Sweet Palma, cofounder of Seeking Derangements), we discuss the liberal California hegemony through a leftist lens, just steps from the state Capitol.
Free episodes (The Drain) every Wednesday. Premium episodes (The Plug) every Saturday at: patreon.com/thedrain
Tips/Pitches/Questions to thedrainpodcast@gmail.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thedrain.bsky.social, https://bsky.app/profile/palma.ltd, https://bsky.app/profile/yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
California's presidential hopefuls and the perfidious Turk
Apr 1101:11:48Tap to summarizeHasan Piker has somehow dominated liberal and rightwing discourse in recent weeks, to the point that leftists are just making fun of the mainstream for their obsession with the leftist streamer. Today we're discussing Democrats' and conservatives' manic rantings against Piker, and looking at two of California's presidential hopefuls--progressive U.S. Representative Ro Khanna and eely Governor Gavin Newsom--who would be happy to go on his show (eat your heart out, CIA asset/U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin). Governor Newsom, you might remember, recently stepped back on his statement that Israel is an apartheid state--presumably because he is vying for zionist groups' funding in his 2028 presidential run. We talk about that, through the lens of Sacramento Bee columnist Robin Epley's phenomenal takedown of the governor (free link). We also take a look at some of the debacles in the California governor's race. Note: this was recorded before the Swalwell news broke, but rest assured we'll be covering that in the coming week. Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms. Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com. We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
Transcribe →*Preview* The Drain🕳️'s official 'Why?' Combinator Challenge
Mar 3100:05:11Tap to summarize**This is a preview of our premium show, The Plug. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/thedrain.** For this week's episode, Palma and Kempa are exploring the what and why of one of San Francisco's foremost venture capital projects: Y Combinator. Venture capital has become the scourge of San Francisco culture. And Y Combinator stands at the forefront of that cancer. We take a look at some of the dumbest shit that ghouls like Garry Tan and his ilk have been willing to invest in. We're sure you'll enjoy. Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms. Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com. We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
Transcribe →California's broken representative democracy, with Caledon Myers of the ProRep Coalition
Mar 2700:56:52Tap to summarizeToday we're joined by Caledon Myers, founder and Executive Director of the ProRep Coalition, which is fighting to bring proportional representational democracy to California and beyond. You might have read his case for a new form of governance in Cal Matters or the San Jose Mercury News (free link). That's because he's been working with experts for years to analyze just why the United States' first-past-the-post electoral system (as well as California's top-two "jungle" primary system). We discuss just what's broken here at home, and what steps we can take to make our democracy actually reflect the diversity of its constituents. Want to join the fight? Sign up at the ProRep Coalition's website to stay tuned for their next steps. A lot is on the horizon... Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms. Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com. We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social
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*Preview* Show hole (Hole show)
Mar 1900:05:09Tap to summarize**This is a preview of our premium show, The Plug. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/thedrain.** It finally happened. On The Drain's one-year anniversary, we visited the Lake Berryessa Glory Hole. That's right: Kempa and Sweet Palma wrangled up their two favorite guest hosts, Kat and El Güero, to take a trip out to the Monticello Dam's Morning Glory Spillway last weekend. We originally planned to record an episode off one of the hiking trails below the dam. And, in fact, we did trek our supplies out a good mile looking for a nice, shaded spot--but that just wasn't in the cards for the crew. That said, it was a lovely, odd little hike, with a phenomenal snake greeting us on the walk back. We were also joined by Joe Biden! Here's our patron-only episode on all the fun we had. If you're not a patron yet, sign up for as little as $5 per month! It'd be a lovely anniversary gift for the crew. Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms. Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com. We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social
Transcribe →Drainiversary episode!
Mar 1401:16:23Tap to summarizeHello friends, Kempa here. I'm publishing a somewhat overdue episode while preparing for the crew's Hole Hajj to the Lake Berryessa Glory Hole (patron-only recording on that forthcoming). It's a good one. For our one-year anniversary, Palma and I are discussing some of our faves, including: President Donald Trump's obsession with California in his marathon-length State of the Union California Democratic Party head Rusty Hicks's plea to loser Democrats in the state gubernatorial race to take a step back after polls show two Republicans leading the pack alongside three Dems. Why leftists should not put their time or money into the state gubernatorial race The major topics that ought to be nonstarters with Democratic candidates (including Medicare for All, Israel, and the billionaire tax) Thank you so much for your love in our first year of existing. We've got so much more coming for you in 2026, including some phenomenal guests <3 Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms. Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com. We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social
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