Hysteria

In our 32nd episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin and Alyssa dive deep into the past of the bigoted big mouth, Rush Limbaugh. From having a face for radio, to his obsession with “feminazis” to spouting disinformation about smoking and covid to his very last days, this may be one of our most deplorable guys yet.

Journalist and activist Kat Abughazaleh joins Hysteria to talk about her firsthand experience standing up to ICE and how to show up for immigrants in your community. Erin and Alyssa also get into updates from Minnesota and the death of Renee Good, the status of the Epstein files, and how Trump used his first year of presidency to line his own pockets. Then they have a discussion about the TV sh...

Erin and Alyssa break down how misogyny, ICE, and Renee Good’s death are all inherently intertwined and why the Trump administration is targeting the Twin Cities. Then, Moms First founder Reshma Saujani joins for some good news: Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s historic plan for universal childcare in New York. They also discuss dark money in the political influencer economy, Bo...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest Epstein files drop, what happens now that the Obamacare subsidies have expired, Bari Weiss’ new town hall series, and Trump’s crusade against federal childcare funding. Plus they recap the new Netflix show Members Only: Palm Springs and wrap up with Sani-Petty.

In this new series from Lovett or Leave It, Rachel Lindsay joins Jon Lovett to talk about what it’s like to go from being a lawyer, to Bachelor contestant, to the first Black woman to be the Bachelorette. Can you actually find love on these shows? Can you ever trust that it’s real? And what role to do fireball shots play in the process? Plus Rachel reflects on the moment she realized producers ...

This week Erin and Alyssa update us on what some of the worst f*cking guys have been up to in 2025. From Elon Musk, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Marjorie Taylor Greene and more, find out who they think reigns as the worst f*cking guy of 2025. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here (https://youtu.be/m1c1IUNKaNQ) . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crook...

Erin and Alyssa dish on the Vanity Fair profile on Trump’s inner circle, America’s embarrassing response to yet another wave of gun violence, and Erika Kirk’s media blitz. Then they break down all the ways Project 2025 has rolled back the rights of women and lgbtq people this year. They wrap up Solicited Advice, I Feel Petty, and a live reaction to the new Melania Trump documentary trailer. Fo...

Erin and Alyssa break down Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bullsh*t on 60 Minutes, Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center Honors, and Melania’s embarrassing attempt at a children’s storytime. Then comedian Kara Klenk joins for a petty discussion about Angel Trees and performative charity. They also dish some Solicited Advice on celebrating the holidays on a budget, dating in your 20s, and the very bes...

In our 30th episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin and Alyssa dive deep into the past of the unqualified a** kisser, Kash Patel. From lying about being the lead prosecutor on the Benghazi case, to being a top contender for biggest Trump simp, to his totally normal, not suspicious, relationship with his twenty-something girlfriend, to his unbearable performative masculinity as FBI Director, this may ...

The Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten, joins Hysteria to give some holiday and hosting advice, including potluck wisdom, host gift etiquette, and the best topics for dinner party discussion. Erin and Alyssa also get into some petty news stories, including Trump’s mystery MRI, Karoline Leavitt’s nasty Thanksgiving feast, and the University of Oklahoma student who flunked a paper after includ...

Erin and Alyssa are joined by their producer, Caroline Reston, for a Hysteria Thanksgiving special. They answer juicy questions from the conversation tin, dish out solicited advice on holiday woes, and do an extra petty edition of Sanity Corner.

Erin and Alyssa dive into the past of moronic conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones. From the conspiracy theory bible that inspired Infowars, to spreading 9/11 false flag propaganda that grew his following, to having vein-popping tantrums that would terrify most cardiologists, to owing the Sandy Hook families 1.4 billion dollars, this may be our most hysterical man-baby-guy yet! For a closed-caption...

Erin and Alyssa give a big update on Epstein news, from Congress’s measure to compel the DOJ to release the files, Megyn Kelly’s disgusting (and confusing) pedophilia apologia, and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Makeover-Apology Tour. Then CNN’s Abby Phillip joins to discuss her new book A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power, and the state of the media landscape one ...

Progressives are way behind in building a media architecture that supports our movement. The good news is that we have an opportunity to experiment, innovate, and deliver products that cut through the noise and actually make a difference. Erin Ryan hosts Meredith Lynch, creator of The Moment, Tara McGowan, founder and publisher of COURIER Newsroom, Stephanie Valencia, co-founder of Equis and La...

Live from Crooked Con, WA Rep. Pramila Jayapal joins Hysteria to share her wisdom on resistance and offer insight into how Democrats can become a “proposition party,” not just the opposition party. Then comedian Suzanne Lambert takes the stage to share some solicited advice on dating in D.C., dealing with conservative men, and workplace fashion. They wrap up with a petty discussion about Republ...

The 2024 election closed the book on the old way of thinking about political geography. Famously blue areas moved right. So did famously red ones. We need a new strategy that works as well in supposedly safe states like New Jersey as it does in tossups like North Carolina and Wisconsin. Alyssa Mastromonaco hosts Rep. Sarah McBride (D–DE), Rep. Janelle Bynum (D–OR), Anderson Clayton, chair of th...

In our 28th episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin and Alyssa dive deep into the past of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. From stealing orphaned children’s dog, to becoming Trump’s lapdog, to her shady involvement with the Epstein files, to role-playing as Trump’s personal lawyer, this may be our most theatrical sycophant yet! View a complete list of sources here (https://docs.google.com/document/d...

Democrats won big in off-year elections across the country on Tuesday, and Erin and Alyssa give the rundown on all the victories that are giving us hope. They also round up the latest MAGA bullsh*t from Trump’s social security changes to Nancy Mace’s airport freakout. Then they provide some Solicited Advice on dealing with workplace bitterness and how to conquer your pushup goals. They wrap up ...

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joins to discuss the end of SNAP Benefits, ICE raids, and how NYC’s progressive swing affects the rest of the purple state. Astrologer Chani Nicholas also stops by to share insights on the stars, Scorpio season, and what to expect in the sky in 2026 (watch out for August!). Then Erin and Alyssa react to Cheryl Hines’ deeply strange appearance on charisma black hol...

Erin and Alyssa dive into the past of the father of white Christian Nationalism, Jerry Falwell. From founding Liberty University, to taking advantage of pregnant teens, to spreading his bigoted and homophobic beliefs like wildfire, this is may be our most shameless guy yet. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here (https://youtu.be/2ppcoFL4KnM) . For a transcript of this epis...

Being an American right now is a wild ride. Every day brings a new controversy, with breathless media narratives and the same loud voices rushing in to score political points. Then another Truth Social post drops and the circus moves on. But all that noise is drowning out the actual story. On Crooked Media’s new podcast Runaway Country, veteran journalist Alex Wagner talks to the voices at the ...

Erin Ryan and guest host Reshma Saujani (Mom’s First) poke holes in Trump’s flimsy IVF plan, discuss RFK Jr.’s creepy obsession with teenage boys’ sperm counts, and the realities of women leaving the workforce. They also get into the insanity of Trump’s ballroom construction and dissect the differences between the moms with boys and Boy Moms.

Erin and Alyssa react to the strangest of Trump’s second “routine yearly checkup” of 2025, the sweeping federal layoffs impacting the CDC, and Katie Porter’s PR nightmare. Then they check in on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s new anti-republican schtick and what will become of Alex Jones now that the Supreme Court has rejected his appeal. The show concludes with a salute to the late Diane Keaton and a...

This week, Erin and Alyssa dive into the past of United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. From his sexist ideologies to his drunken antics, cheating scandals to Fox News career, embarrassing failures to incompetent leadership, this is definitely our most inebriated and moronic f*cking guy of all time. Sources: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trumps-pick-for-defense-sec-spent-his-col...

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley dishes on her new book, becoming a feminist, and what #MomTok is really like off-screen. Erin and Alyssa also cover Trump’s Ghislaine Maxwell amnesia, Bari Weiss’ CBS News takeover, and the future of the Democratic Party. Finally, in the Sanity Corner, they sound off about the new Taylor Swift album and warn against Instagram Reels Greek yogurt...

The Republican-run government has shut down, Trump is using misinformation to blame Democrats, and Erin and Alyssa explain what’s at stake. Then they dive into Ezra Klein’s recent bad takeapalooza, on everything from Charlie Kirk’s legacy to pro-life Democrats. And, of course, there’s the latest Epstein files news, some races to watch in Virginia, and a big week for creeps, overall. They wrap u...

Erin and Alyssa dive into the past of Epstein’s right hand woman: Ghislaine Maxwell. From her father Robert Maxwell’s shady business endeavors and questionable death, to schmoozing her way to the upper echelons of Manhattan’s elite social scene, to trafficking minors for the most famously despicable sex pest of all time, this may be our most depraved, power-hungry pervert yet. For a closed-cap...

Candace Owens and her conspiracy theories are propelling her to the top of the podcast charts, and Erin and Alyssa are here to remind you of her ultra-conservative, racist, and wildly problematic past. They also dive into Trump’s dangerous “Autism Announcement,” how Kentucky’s 50/50 custody law is harming women and children, and the Department of Education’s plans for the Semiquincentennial. Th...

One week after the death of Charlie Kirk, Erin and Alyssa discuss how the media, elected officials, and FBI Director Kash Patel have (mis)handled the ongoing investigation. They also catch up on the latest Epstein files news, Proposition 50 in California, and New Mexico’s unprecedented new childcare initiative. Then they discuss the thorny taboos and ethics surrounding commercial surrogacy. The...

Editor at large of The 19th* News, Errin Haines, joins to discuss the unexpected candor of Kamala Harris’ upcoming book, the latest consequences of RFK Jr.'s quackery, and the upcoming WNBA playoffs. They wrap up in the Sanity corner with a celebration of pumpkin spice latte season, the Stud Budz, and E. Jean Carroll’s latest win in court.

Introducing our hit YouTube series This F*cking Guy to our podcast feed!  Each episode, Erin and Alyssa pick one of America's worst people and catch you up to speed on the messes they've made, dig into their horrible pasts and expose what losers and clowns they really are. Think of it as half history, less than half roast, with a hearty sprinkling of 'why are you like this' on top. This week'...

Taylor Swift is engaged, Trump is tormenting the Federal Reserve, Texas Republicans are trying to mandate Christian teachings in public schools, and Erin Ryan and guest-host Megan Gailey are here to talk about it. Then they unpack how the debate of what spaces should be child-free might just be anti-women. Next, KCRW’s Evan Kleiman joins to discuss the state of public media, the impact of ICE r...

The Hunting Wives star Katie Lowes joins to give the scoop on Netflix’s latest soapy sapphic mystery, her friendship with Shonda Rhimes, and learning to shoot a gun on set. Erin and Alyssa also discuss Melania’s pathetic attempt at diplomacy, Gavin Newsom’s Trump-trolling social media blitz, and why women are leaving the workplace. They also sound off on the male NFL cheerleader culture war and...

And Just Like That writer and producer Samantha Irby joins to discuss the final season, the internet backlash, and what she really thinks about Aidan. Erin and Alyssa also dish on Pete Hegseth's praises for his bigoted pastor, Donald Trump’s messy takeover of DC’s police, and how school choice is ruining education funding in Arizona. They wrap with a scathing roast of Katie Miller’s ridiculous ...

This week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stood with the Texas Democrats in their fight against corrupt Republican gerrymandering. Today, she joins Hysteria to talk about fighting fire with fire, her own redistricting plans for New York, and how her state is handling Trump 2.0. Erin and Alyssa also discuss Trump’s atrocious plans to build a White House ballroom, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy...

America’s got a long and shameful history with eugenics, and, while history doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes. As white supremacist ideology permeates everything from Silicon Valley startups to domestic policy in 2025, is it really that far-fetched to notice it in that American Eagle “good jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney? This week, Akilah Hughes joins Erin to break it all down. They also dis...

JD Vance meets with Rupert Murdoch shortly before the bombshell Wall Street Journal piece on Trump’s letter to Epstein, Trump’s swollen ankles raise new questions about his health, Andrew Tate is accused, yet again, of assault, and Coldplay concerts are ground zero for cheating. Then Erin and Alyssa find some sanity in Indigo Girls concerts and podcasts about the history of Mongols. Plus, autho...

E. Jean Carroll joins to dish on beating Trump in court, what it was like to go camping with Fran Lebowitz, and how to give the best advice. Erin and Alyssa also round up the latest Epstein files insanity, Elon Musk and Greg Abbott's “intimate” emails, and the future of student loans. Then they take a trip to the sanity corner to discuss Lena Dunham’s new show Too Much, and children’s TV theme ...

After the devastating floods in central Texas, Erin and Alyssa reflect on the tragic loss of life, what went wrong, and what it means to “politicize a tragedy.” Then, journalist T.J. Raphael joins for a discussion about her new podcast, Liberty Lost, a heart-wrenching investigation into the dystopian birthing home run out of Liberty University. They wrap up in the Sanity Corner to rave about Su...

Chelsea Clinton joins Hysteria to discuss health advocacy in the MAHA era and the state of reproductive healthcare under Trump 2.0. Erin and Alyssa also get into the latest on Charlie Kirk’s misogynistic agenda, the tacky Bezos/Sanchez Venetian wedding, and whether doomsday preppers are onto something. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here (https://youtu.be/sKWh47_cu7g) . ...

Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan joins Hysteria to share about the tragic shootings in her state and honor the legacy of her friend and colleague, State Representative Melissa Hortman. Erin and Alyssa also discuss the latest on RFK Jr.'s vaccine quakery, new (bad) discrimination rules in VA hospitals, and their skepticism of Amy Coney Barrett’s drift to the left. They wrap up wit...

Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis joins Hysteria to talk about ICE, protests, and where California stands amidst threats from Trump. Erin, Alyssa, and Comedian and friend of Hysteria Kara Klenk also discuss Trump’s Super Sweet Seventy-Ninth birthday parade, the No Kings protests, and Evie Magazine’s Father’s Day gift guide.

Erin and Alyssa break down the Big Beautiful Bill, how a new change to EMTALA will threaten the lives of pregnant people, and Trump supporters' complaints about getting what they voted for. Then a conversation about how some people would like to see “modesty” come back in style– for better or worse. Then they wrap up in the Sanity Corner with their initial thoughts on And Just Like That and Lov...

The Hysteria team is off this week. But we’re excited to bring you a recent episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams. In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, we’ve watched Republicans erode American democracy with alarming speed. While this political moment may feel unprecedented, it isn’t new. America has dealt its share of far-right movements, fascist provocateurs, and anti...

Erin and Alyssa discuss the latest on the fertility clinic bombing in Palm Springs, the horrific consequences of Georgia’s strict 6-week abortion ban, and the Liver King. Then The Atlantic’s Sophie Gilbert joins to chat about her new book Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, they talk about everything from the impact of Spice-Girls-feminism to the rise ...

The new American pope is here, Trump is fast-tracking white South African refugees, the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial has begun, and Erin and Alyssa are here to break it down. They also do a deep dive into wellness influencer Casey Means, who might just be the next U.S. surgeon general. They wrap up with a conversation about Karoline Leavitt’s super mom status and Adidas’ new down syndrome accessibl...

Erin and Alyssa are together IN PERSON to discuss the latest news from the Texas bill that would mandate wastewater testing for mifepristone, to how Janet Mills’ resistance to funding cuts paid off, to a preview of the papal conclave. Then Parker Molloy, author of The Present Age newsletter, joins for a conversation about the problems with the mainstream media’s coverage of the Trump administra...

Erin and Alyssa unpack how the suspension of the de minimis exemption will affect our shopping habits, Trump’s exploitation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and conservative women’s media desire to “make America hot again.” Then the Pitt’s Katherine LaNasa, aka Nurse Dana, joins to talk about the making of America’s favorite TV show and where she drew inspiration from for her...

Donald Trump has waged a war on children, and activist and founder of Moms First, Reshma Saujani, joins to discuss how the administration's policies harm mothers. Erin and Alyssa also cover Pete Hegseth’s leaky group chats, RFK Jr.’s plans to create a registry of autistic Americans, and the future of the Take It Down Act. They wrap it up in the sanity corner with praise for Jack Shlossberg’s Ti...

RFK Jr. is gutting the CDC, Elon Musk has a breeding fetish, Speaker Mike Johnson does not want new mothers to vote in Congress, and Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are here to break it down. They also dive into how Trump’s tariffs are impacting the luxury goods economy and whether anyone wants to buy a Louis Vuitton bag made in Texas. They wrap up in the Sanity Corner with some petty comment...