The Politics of New America

Why Republicans Don’t Need to Be Popular to Win

Haunted Mouse Productions — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:38:16 -0400

The Republican Party is polling poorly.
Parts of its coalition are fracturing.
Special elections suggest vulnerability.

And yet — there is still a path to victory.

This episode examines the structural realities that often matter more than approval ratings: Senate geography, turnout asymmetry, voter access laws, and party discipline.

Midterms are not referendums on popularity alone.
They are shaped by institutional design.

If Republicans hold power in November, it may not be because voters are satisfied. It may be because the system itself still tilts in their favor.

Part one of our midterm analysis series.
Next week: the Democratic path.

Politics of New America
A weekly institutional briefing for people who don’t want Twitter takes.

A podcast by Haunted Mouse Productions
https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica

America Alone

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:52:38 -0400

Welcome back to The Politics of New America. Nathan and Producer Josh are back to talk about America's withdrawal from the world order it created, and how its dependant nations in Europe and beyond are struggling to find a new way forward.

The Politics of New America explores the radical new era of American politics and its effects on the world.

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Elections, Shutdowns, & the Dems’ Factory of Disappointment

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:47:43 -0400

Democrats win big, then cave on the shutdown. Nathan & Josh unpack margins that matter, why affordability could be the only winning play, and what SCOTUS might do to Trump’s tariffs. Final 2025 ep—back in January.

Host: Nathan Stone • Producer/Co-host: Josh Carmody
A Haunted Mouse Production.

Content note: explicit language.

00:00 Cold open
01:30 Election wins (VA, NJ)
07:45 NY: Mamdani & affordability
30:00 Shutdown tradeoffs
41:45 What SCOTUS could change
47:15 Programming note + cross-promo
52:00 Sponsor: Start with Leverage Assistant — try them free for 1 month.
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The History of SNAP: How Food Stamps Feed America

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0400

America has never been hungrier. Over 42 million citizens struggle to afford enough to eat. For decades, America's food stamp program, now known as SNAP has helped many of those suffering from hunger, now the ongoing government shutdown threatens to fully halt the initiative and leave one out of every eight citizen wondering how they're going to feed themselves and their families.

Special guest Gabrielle Hill-Desjardins brings her expertise on International and Domestic development to the discussion of the history of America's food stamp program and helps examine the current state of affairs.

Consult the resources below If you would like to support efforts to help the hungry during the government shutdown or are in need of support for yourself or your family.

https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food

https://mealconnect.org/

https://www.fns.usda.gov/national-hunger-hotline

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/food-banks-how-to-help-government-shutdown/story?id=126972747

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Woe Canada

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:19:38 -0300

There have been few examples of closer relationships between nations than Canada and the United States. The two share common origins, language and culture. Now the Trump administration is using its immense economic influence to punish its northern neighbour for perceived slights large and small.

Join us as we look at the unequal trade war between Canada and the US and discuss the seemingly no-win scenario that Canadians find themselves facing. We also explore the lasting impact of America’s abandonment of diplomacy and soft power on its international relations.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

America's Love Affair With Extra Judicial Killing

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 19:38:27 -0300

The American attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug cartel boats have killed at least 27 people and launched a wave of international condemnations. How can trump legally deploy America's military to attack foreign civilians at whim? Join us as we uncover America's modern history of extra judicial killings and trace the origins back to the aftermath of 9/11.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American Federal Government in this era of radical change.

The History of Antifa

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:01:04 -0300

The Trump administration is attempting to paint the American anti-facist movement as a terrorist threat as dangerous as any the nation has faced.

In a recent presidential roundtable, Trump, his cabinet, and right wing influencers took turns calling for the dismantling and destruction of Antifa. The discussion was high drama political theatre that sought to create a fictional version of the movement to serve as a target of the government’s wrath.

In this episode we look at the origins and history of the American Antifa movement and demonstrate that it is far from the violent leftist revolutionary movement that Trump is trying to sell.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of rapid change.

Will TrumpRx Really Lower America's Sky High Prescription Drug Costs?

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:32:46 -0300

Lowering prescription drug costs for Americans was one of Trump's populist campaign promises. Now that promise has taken shape as TrumpRx, a website launching in 2026 that intends to connect American's with direct to consumer prices for prescription drugs. Could this new initiative finally bring down America's sky high prescription drug costs? And will Trump's bullying tactics finally benefit everyday American's by bringing the big pharmaceutical companies to heel?

Also on the show, we look the implications of Hegseth's military meeting and how it could force thousands of women and people of colour out of the armed forces. We also check in on the government shutdown and the hyper partisan messaging coming from federal agencies.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change. Straight talk, sharp takes — and the context you need to see how politicians keep rewriting the rules of democracy.

Trump vs The UN: How America’s Exit Is Breaking Global Power

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:16:13 -0300

Trump's speech to the United Nations was bizarre, insulting, and perfectly encapsulated his government's disdain for the organization. Since Trump took office, his administration has slashed UN funding, sometimes in ways that violate the constitution. In this episode we explore the fallout of Trump's speech, the decline of American soft power, and the impact of the massive budget cuts on the workings of the UN.

In this episode of Politics of New America, Nathan and Josh break down:

The escalator/teleprompter fiasco—and why the spectacle matters
Trump’s ranting, rambling speech
Bioweapons/“lab leak” claims revived on the UN stage
Global fallout: Colombia’s Petro torches Trump at the UN
China fills the vacuum
The looming U.S. government shutdown—and how it could be used to gut agencies

Straight talk. Sharp takes. Politics explained.

🎧 Full episode on YouTube, Spotify + Apple: https://linktr.ee/politicsofnewamerica

Subscribe for more clear, fearless political analysis.

#UN #Trump #ForeignPolicy #USPolitics #UnitedNations #SCOTUS #GovernmentShutdown

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

SCOTUS Moves Closer To Giving Trump Control Of Independent Agencies

Haunted Mouse Productions — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0300

The Supreme Court made use of its controversial Emergency Docket to quash a federal court order that stopped Trump from firing an FTC commissioner. In doing so the judges signalled their willingness to throw out protections that keep Independent Federal Agency heads from being fired without cause by the president. This decision threatens to destroy the independence of dozens of important agencies like the FTC, FDIC, and even the Federal Reserve.

Join us as Nathan discusses where this ruling came from and the coming legal battle to determine if Trump can bend these agencies to his will.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

Trump’s $1 Million Visa: The Gold Card for the Rich

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:45:09 -0300

Congress is surrendering more of its power to the president. In this episode we look at two events from last week that illustrate the diminishing roll of the house and senate.

The announcement of The Trump Gold Card visa for wealthy immigrants is very on brand for the president. For "a gift" of one million dollars to the federal government, rich immigrants can receive expedited approval to live and work in the United States. It's a plan that the Whitehouse says will bring in billions to the treasury. It's also a clear power grab by the executive branch as Congress, not the president, constitutionally controls immigration law.

The US senate confirmed 48 of Trump's federal appointees in one vote after the Republican majority changed the rules to shut out their Democrat opponents. In doing so, the senate weakens its own power to influence how presidents choose their nominees going forward.

In this episode:
- Senate rule change → 48 confirmations in one vote. Republicans lowered the bar to a simple majority and batch-approved sub-cabinet posts and ambassadors.
- “Trump Gold Card” fast-track immigration. An executive-order pathway offering expedited visas for the ultra-wealthy—positioned as phase one before a “Platinum” tier.
- Executive power vs. Congress. Both moves centralize authority in the White House and sidestep Congress’s role over confirmations and immigration.
- FCC pressure as playbook. The Kimmel saga shows how loyal appointees can weaponize agencies without formal orders.
- Why it matters long-term. Normalizing simple-majority, batch confirmations + EO-driven immigration policy erodes checks and balances.

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The Politics of New America explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

Political Violence and Government Shutdowns

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:17:49 -0300

In the wake of the Charlie Kirk killing, we explore the rising tide of American political violence and how the country is at risk of normalizing such attacks.

In the second half of the show we look at the looming threat of a federal government shutdown and explain why these shutdowns are a uniquely American phenomenon.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

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Can Trump Legally Postpone Elections?

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:46:04 -0300

Democrats are sounding the alarm over what they say are Trump’s plans to postpone or cancel the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential elections.

Join us as we delve into the constitutional legalities around federal elections and America’s history of holding elections in times of crisis to answer the question: What can Trump legally do to interfere with the normal election process?

In the second half of the show we look at the soul searching amongst federal democrats as the party deals with a crisis of faith among their base.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

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Flag-Burning Is Still Legal — So Why Is Trump Pretending It’s Not?

Haunted Mouse Productions — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:44:20 -0300

In a showcase of the limits of presidential power, Trump's executive order titled: "Prosecuting the Burning of The American Flag" does nothing of the sort, as flag burning is a constitutionally protected form of protest. The document descends into absurdity as it pushes the Department of Justice to find other crimes to charge flag burners with. Join us for a discussion on what, if anything, this executive order actually does and a look at the unintentionally humorous history of attempts to criminalize flag burning in the US.

In the second half of the show, we check in on the immigration file after a Pew Research report that shows more than a million immigrants left the US since Trump took office.

Episode Breakdown:
- Flag-burning EO ≠ ban: Trump’s executive order can’t criminalize flag burning—First Amendment still protects it.
- What it does do: Tells DOJ to target other crimes (e.g., incitement) that occur while someone desecrates a flag—symbolic, not substantive.
- Trial balloon? Why this EO may be a test to push courts to revisit long-standing free-speech rulings.
- Enforcement surge: Deportations and detentions are up; daily arrests rising even as official quotas lag.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the United States federal government in this era of radical change.

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The SCOTUS Shadow Docket: A Conservative Lawmaker's Best Friend

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:05:31 -0300

Created for situations where time is of the essence, the Supreme Court's shadow docket allows the justices to weigh in on matters of extreme urgency without requiring a full trial. Since Trump's first term, the shadow docket is being used more and more frequently to remove obstacles to the president's agenda. New data reveals an overwhelming bias towards conservative rulings through the shadow docket and highlights the dangers of an increasingly compliant Supreme Court.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.

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Unitary Executive Theory and Trump’s DC Militarization

Haunted Mouse Productions — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:47:46 -0300

Once a fringe belief, the Unitary Executive Theory is being used by the Trump administration and right-wing political analysts to justify handing the president absolute authority over federal agencies. Expansion of presidential power threatens to further marginalize congress, the courts, and American democracy.

In this episode we look at the history of the Unitary Executive Theory and how it’s being invoked in the present. Then we take some time to explain how Washington DC’s strange history allows for Trump to militarize the city over a fictional emergency.

The Politics of New America explains and explores the policies of the American federal government in an era of radical change.

Gerrymandering: A History of Voter Suppression

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:11:14 -0300

Gerrymandering is an American tradition dating back to the nation’s founding. Join us as we look back at how Gerrymandering took root in the US, the humorous story of how it got its name, and its continued devastating impact on American democracy.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the American federal government in this age of radical change.

The Military Money Pit

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:03:50 -0300

The US accounts for close to 40% of the world’s military spending, but it never seems to be enough. Maintaining the globe’s mightiest armed force is becoming unsustainably expensive. Join us as we look at the over inflated and fiscally disastrous state of the US military and how the Trump administration is making a big problem even worse.

Welcome to the Politics of New America. We explore and explain the policies of the American federal government in this age of radical change.

Trump Orders Homeless Americans Institutionalized

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:46:26 -0300

President Trump's latest Executive Order seeks to institutionalize thousands of Homeless Americans without their consent. It also forces states to abandon their current homelessness initiatives or face funding cuts and criminal investigations. Join us as we break down the order piece by piece to look at the context and consequences of this new aggressive approach toward America's ever worsening homelessness crisis.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American federal Government in this era of rapid change.

We Don’t Need No (Department Of) Education

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:17:40 -0300

The Supreme Court has given the Trump administration the green light to continue its dismantling of the Department of Education. At the same time the federal government is pulling billions out of school programs. We discuss the effects of these cuts and how the most vulnerable children will face the greatest impact.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American Federal Government in an era of radical change.

The Coming Death Of The Voting Rights Act

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:45:08 -0300

A key victory that sprung from the Civil Rights Movement, The Voting Rights Act has long protected black and minority voters from racist policies designed to weaken their political power and silence their voices. Now after decades of conservative attacks on the act, the supreme court has the opportunity to kill some of its strongest voter protection measures. Should they succeed, Americans will lose the ability to challenge discriminatory voting rules and Gerrymandering.

The Politics of New America explains and explores the policies of the American federal government in this era of rapid change.

Unmaking American Citizenship

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:43:41 -0300

People from all over the world have long sought American citizenship as a way towards a better life. The rights, privileges and protections guaranteed by citizenship could only be removed in special and rare circumstances, until now. The federal government is stepping up efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized immigrants for offenses as minor as traffic violations. At the same time, birthright citizenship, long constitutionally enshrined, risks being overturned and creating millions of stateless children.

This episode dives into details of the Trump administration's legal attacks on naturalized citizens and American children born to undocumented parents.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policy of the American federal government in an era of radical change.

The Pro-Corruption Agenda?

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:43:45 -0300

President Trump has used executive orders to weaken enforcement of regulatory crimes and corporate corruption in the name of making American businesses more competitive globally. On this episode we explore Trump's policies around corruption and corporate crimes. We examine two executive orders that weaken the federal government's ability to prosecute companies who violate long standing corruption laws. Then ask, will these measures help American businesses or make things a lot tougher for them?

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policies of the American Federal Government in this era of radical change.

The Supreme Court Does Its Part For Trump's Mass Deportation Plans

Haunted Mouse Productions — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0300

The Supreme Court has quashed a lower court order that sought to make sure the Trump administration wasn't sending deportees to unsafe nations. While the decision isn't final, the SCOTUS judges have made removing detained immigrants much easier for now. Meanwhile the massive detention infrastructure needed to house the ten of thousands of people scooped up in ICE raids is being worked on all over the nation. Old prisons with terrible reputations are being re-opened and new facilities are being built. Get up to date on all of this, plus Alligator Alcatraz, in this Weekly Brief.

The Politics of New America explains and explores the policies of the American federal government in this era of radical change.
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Trump Goes To War, America Comes Along For The Ride

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0300

War is on everyone's mind this week, so we dive into the Israel-Iran conflict and how it's highlighting tensions among Trump's advisors. Then we discuss the question: How is it the President of the United States can drag the nation into military conflict without congressional approval and is there any check on the president's power as commander and chief? Learn how American presidents have long fought wars without declaring them and sidelined congress along the way.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the actions of the United States federal government in this era of radical change. Join us as we breakdown the Trump administration's policies and add context to the headlines.

The 1940's Law That's Criminalizing Millions Today

Haunted Mouse Productions — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0300

The Alien Registration Act was passed in an era of fear leading up to America's entrance in the Second World War. Today it's being used to trap undocumented immigrants by forcing them into a no-win scenario where they end up being criminalized no matter what they do. On this episode we look at how this law came into being, how the Trump Administration is using it, and the many pitfalls and dangers to anyone registering under the act.

The Politics of New America explores the policy and actions of the United States Federal Government in this era of radical change. Find us online at https://hauntedmouseproductions.com/thepoliticsofnewamerica/

ICE vs Reality

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0300

In light of the increasing frequency and intensity of ICE raids, we look at the massive challenges facing the agency in carrying out the Trump administration’s deportation policy.

Trying to remove millions of people from the US by force requires a tremendous manpower, legal shortcuts, and billions upon billions of dollars. That's not enough to stop the federal Government. Find out how the groundwork for mass deportation is being laid on this episode of The Politics of New America.

The New Travel Ban and You

Haunted Mouse Productions — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0300

The Travel Ban returns from the depths of Trump's first term, but don't be mistaken, this new one is a whole different beast. Listen to this Weekly Brief for a quick breakdown of who will be affected by the new travel ban, how it compares to the old one, and what to look out for going forward.

The Politics of New America explores and explains the policy of the American federal government in this era of rapid change. Join us as we shed light on the actions of the Trump administration and dive into how American politics got the way it is today.

Is Trump's National Guard deployment an illegal use of presidential power?

Haunted Mouse Productions — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0300

President Trump has ordered the deployment of National Guard troops in California to protect and assist ICE agents carrying out his immigration crackdown using the powers given to him in Title 10 of the United States legal code. The deployment’s legality is under heavy scrutiny with legal challenges expected to come thick and fast. Today we breakdown how the president took control of the National Guard, the legal issues surrounding it, and what might happen next.

When MAGA Went Global

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:19:46 -0300

Poland's recent presidential election was decided by a razor thin margin. Did the American conservative movement tip the scales to secure the election of the right wing, nationalist presidential candidate? And is this just the first of many elections where American conservatives will influence foreign voters? Join us for a look at the powerful political machinery that is the Conservative Political Action Conference, it's worldwide reach, and the people behind it.

How Trump Killed Corporate Pride

Haunted Mouse Productions — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:06:06 -0300

The population of Americans that Identify as LGBTQ+ is higher than ever, but major corporate sponsors are pulling out of Pride Month events across the nation. Join us as we explore how the Trump administration's policy and language around LGBTQ+ issues, specifically Transgender rights, has scared off major corporate donors. We also think about what Pride might look like in the post rainbow-capitalism world.

Pardon Me Mr. President

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0300

Nathan breaks down the history of the presidential pardon and how Trump has seen it fit to hand them out in his 2nd term.

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Is the Take It Down Act a double-edged sword?

Haunted Mouse Productions — Fri, 30 May 2025 06:00:00 -0300

The Take it Down Act has come into law with near unanimous support from both Republicans and Democrats, but the new rules to protect the public from revenge porn and deepfakes could also be weaponized to harm innocent online creators and businesses. Join Nathan as he discusses the good and the bad of the Take It Down Act in the inaugural Weekly Brief.

The FCC at War

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 26 May 2025 10:52:57 -0300

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is going after CBS, NBC, NPR, and other media outlets as the agency pursues a dangerous new policy of aggressively attacking critics of the Trump Administration. Peek behind the curtains at the FCC as we discuss the agency's 5 commissioners, each with their own conflicting political goals. Then look ahead to the future as we reveal why the Trump FCC is just getting warmed up and why the worst is still to come.

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Fertilization President: Natalism For America

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 19 May 2025 10:15:52 -0300

Nathan breaks down the current American natalism movement and what the birth crises means for the world.

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How To Impeach a President

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 12 May 2025 08:38:29 -0300

Nathan takes Josh through a history lesson on past Presidential impeachments and exactly just what it takes to remove a sitting president.

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Trump's Posse

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 05 May 2025 09:18:53 -0300

Nathan discusses Trump’s recent plans to send troops to the border.

Emergency America

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 05 May 2025 08:56:55 -0300

Nathan defines the term “National Emergency,” the term’s history, and the sweeping powers a National Emergency grants the President. An overly tired Josh is also present.

The Smithsonian Conflagration

Haunted Mouse Productions — Mon, 05 May 2025 08:46:09 -0300

Nathan explains the consequences of Trump’s executive order Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.

Trailer

Haunted Mouse Productions — Fri, 02 May 2025 14:28:15 -0300

Journalist Nathan Stone and Producer Josh Carmody invite you to sit down for deep dives on the rapid changes happening in Trump’s new America.