THE OFFICIAL MEA CULPA WITH MICHAEL COHEN ARCHIVE

EXCLUSIVE!!! Robert Kennedy Jr. Vs. Michael Cohen…If You Thought He Was Crazy Just Wait Until Your Hear This Interview

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back Michael Smerconish, the host of the TV program on CNN fittingly called "Smerconish." He is also the host of The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM. He’s been nationally syndicated in more than 100 markets and has authored seven books: two New York Times best sellers, and his novel TALK! was optioned for television by Warner Brothers. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Smerconish was about to embark on a new tour called "Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking," a one-man show commemorating his 30th anniversary in talk radio. A taped version of that presentation was aired worldwide as a one-hour CNN special in 2020. Nowadays he is focused on pointing out the foibles of the MAGA mob while trying to find a middle ground in our divisive nation; hoping somehow that this nation can find a way to come back together before the 250th Anniversary of this nation. 

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back legendary politician turned political analyst, Michael Steele. Steele made history when he became the first African-American candidate to be elected to statewide office in Maryland, where he served as lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007, and when he was chosen to be the first African-American chairperson of the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2011. Steele’s abilities as a communicator and commentator have been showcased daily on MSNBC where he has become a fierce opponent of Donald Trump and the MAGA agenda. He’s also appeared on Meet the Press, Face the Nation, HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, and The Daily Show to name a few. In addition to his work in television, Steele can be heard each week on his radio show on SiriusXM or on the Michael Steele Podcast which has become a must listen for those on both sides of the aisle. He joins me today as former President Trump awaits news charges from the DOJ and special prosecutor Jack Smith and much, much more. 

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend Malcolm Nance. Nance has spent a significant amount of time this year on the frontlines of the Ukraine War and has a lot to say about the current situation there as well as what's happening inside Russia with the likes of the Wagner Group. He’s also a fierce critic of Donald Trump and the danger he poses to democracy. You may know Nance as the globally renowned expert on terrorism, extremism, and insurgency from his stunning new book, “They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency.” It became a New York Times best-seller as was his last book, the Plot to Hack America. He’s the counter-terrorism analyst for NBC and MSNBC. And Nance is considered one of the "Great African-Americans in Espionage” by the International Spy Museum. 

Transcribed - Published: 31 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes David Corn back to the show, legendary newsman David Corn. Corn is the Washington DC Bureau Chief of Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSMBC. Corn and Michael Isikoff “co-authored, “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump”. He’s also the author of four New York Times best-selling books and was the long-time Washington editor for “The Nation”. For a good read, check out “Our Land” — his twice-weekly newsletter that covers everything from news of the day to entertainment, but all told in Corn’s no bullshit style. Corn has been published multiple times, but his latest bestseller,” American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy” is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the unprecedented times we live in.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend Malcolm Nance. Nance has spent a significant amount of time this year on the frontlines of the Ukraine War and has a lot to say about the current situation there as well as what's happening inside Russia with the likes of the Wagner Group. He’s also a fierce critic of Donald Trump and the danger he poses to democracy. You may know Nance as the globally renowned expert on terrorism, extremism, and insurgency from his stunning new book, “They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency.” It became a New York Times best-seller as was his last book, the Plot to Hack America. He’s the counter-terrorism analyst for NBC and MSNBC. And Nance is considered one of the "Great African-Americans in Espionage” by the International Spy Museum. 

Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There’s pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn’t have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst. And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center” a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. His articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represented a clear and present danger to democracy. His latest piece for MSNBC lays out how Jack Smith can defeat Trump and put him behind bars. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Having spent time in Eastern Europe as the Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Eisen cares deeply about the region and is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin’s war has ended. But today it’s all indictment talk. And Norm is ready to put the bracelets on little Donny for good. 

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back Maz Jobrani. The actor and comedian who starred on the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour, a groundbreaking tour of the US and Middle Eastern countries, where it sold out 27 shows in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Kuwait and Amman. The Axis of Evil Comedy Central Special premiered in 2007 as, arguably, the first show on American TV with an all-Middle Eastern/American cast. He is also the author of the best-selling memoir, “I’m Not a Terrorist But I Play One on TV.” In addition, Maz is a frequent host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.” And a popular TED speaker. His latest comedy special, “The Birds and the Bees” was filmed at Hollywood’s legendary Comedy Store and is available for download on YouTube. Leading up to the election and its aftermath, Jobrani’s Twitter feed delivered much-needed laughs during an especially tense time for me as we awaited this nation’s fate. Now as we find ourselves in the De Ja Vu of yet another Donald Trump indictment, it's time to bring him back and hear his view on what’s in store for all of us. 

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes our old friend, Harry Litman, the former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Litman is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. Harry can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast. You’d be smart to subscribe to the “Talking Feds” YouTube channel. New episodes are posted daily. But today Harry is here to give us the rundown on all things Trump indictment. He is especially interested in Judge Cannon and the damage she could potentially do to the prosecution’s case. 

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes Reed Galen co-founder of The Lincoln Project and an independent political strategist. A veteran public affairs and political commentator with more than 20 years of experience, Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies in need of high-level counsel in the fields of strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado – Before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain’s presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. As founder of the Lincoln Project, Galen has led the group's vision and created some of its most memorable attacks against Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and others. He is now focused on not only ridding the nation of Trump. But punishing those willful collaborators who think they can sit in the middle rather than use this indictment to finally rid the party of this disease. 

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes Tristan Snell. The former New York Assistant Attorney General famously lead the civil prosecution in the Trump University case for the state of New York against the Trump Organization. The 2013 case found the Trump Org guilty; forcing them to pay out $25 million in restitution. Snell spent years scaling the walls of the Trump Organization, largely creating the playbook for defeating Donald Trump in court. Ultimately, he said, it’s about the receipts, not the witnesses. To beat Trump you need indisputable proof, a smoking gun and that only comes from having the documents to prove it. Snell is the founder of Main Street Law and appears as a commentator on CNN, and serves as a contributing writer for the Washington Post. His work as a lawyer and founder has been featured in a wide array of media outlets, from the New Yorker to the Atlantic to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He joins me today on Mea Culpa as the nation goes on indictment watch for the Mango Mussolini. Snell believes that the government has the goods this time and Trump may actually go to prison. Listen in.

Transcribed - Published: 24 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes podcaster, radio host, and columnist Joe Walsh. Walsh was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 from Illinois’s 8th District. He also ran for president and then blew up his life when he spoke out against the MAGA cult and gave Trump the bird. To quote Joe, Republicans “have become fully radicalized and anti-democracy.” Joe’s podcast, “White Flag” strives to find a path to unite, not divide us politically, but he pulls no punches in his latest book, “F*ck Silence: Calling Trump Out for the Cultish, Moronic, Authoritarian Con Man He Is.” He has of late, railed against the GOP establishment who voted for Trump in 2020 and believe the rest of us simply forgot their actions. He is also deeply worried about the future of the GOP and the idea that there is no longer space for a sane, anti-Trump candidate who supports small government and fiscal conservatism. What happens next is anyone’s guess. 

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2026

Holy $hit!! CNN is reporting that there is an audio recording of Trump bragging about being in possession of a top secret document detailing a plan to attack Iran. If true it blows apart hi entire defense and could be what ultimately sends him to prison.  Asha Rangappa joins Michael to analyze the fallout.

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back Joe Trippi. Heralded on the cover of The New Republic as the man who “reinvented campaigning,” Trippi pioneered bringing politics into the digital age. Most recently, he’s brought his campaign savvy to the Lincoln Project where he serves as a senior advisor. With Trump a target of Federal Prosecutors and State DA’s, Trippi is targeting the MAGA machine that continues to prop up divisive politics. Lately, his scorn is being directed at Ron DeSantis, who the GOP hoped to dress up as a more palatable Donald Trump but instead got a zombie hall monitor with a mean streak. You can listen to Joe’s podcast, “That Trippi Show,” everywhere podcasts are found or see him on MSNBC, CNN and NBC. Today we’re going to talk to him about Ron DeSantis, fake campaign ads and of course the 2024 election. Listen closely, this man is the maestro of campaign politics.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back from the wilds of Boca Raton, Florida. Lev Parnas Lev is a Soviet-born businessman who along with Rudy Giuliani and Igor Fruman played a central role in the campaign to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump’s political rivals, including Hunter Biden. Parnas was thrown into Trump's first impeachment drama, but he ended up working with federal prosecutors against Giuliani and the former president. Parnas is currently serving a 20-month sentence for Campaign Finance, Wire Fraud, And False Statements Offenses, and is speaking to us today while on home confinement. Lev is a truth-teller and unafraid to remember the things that most folks wish he would forget. Sorry folks but there’s a hashtag that Parnas deploys that says it all, “LEV REMEMBERS.” What that means for Rudy Giuliani and the allegations against him from Noelle Dunphy that include sexual assault and the selling of pardons could prove problematic for AMERICAS FORMER MAYOR. And then there’s Ron DeSantis who in typical Ron DeSantis fashion is trying to distance himself completely from the fact that he took a lot of money from Lev Parnas. Sorry buddy. But LEV REMEMBERS. 

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend, Brooklyn Dad Defiant, or simply BDD. BDD is a left-wing political commentator on Twitter, YouTube, and various other social media platforms. His outspoken defiance and often humorous take on the Trump administration have earned him over 1.2 million Twitter followers. Since the riots at the Capitol on January 6, BDD has used his platform to bring attention to GOP lawmakers like MTG, Cruz, Jordan, and Biggs, asking that they face consequences for their actions in connection to the insurrection. In addition, he is keeping watch over Kevin McCarthy and the GOP Congress over what he sees as the far-right hijacking of our legislature and courts to push through a damaging, extremist agenda. He calls himself a proud papa who is perpetually pissed. He’s a fascinating guy. BBD and Michael dig deep into Rudy, DeSantis and what's in store for Trump.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our friend and intrepid newsman, Ali Velshi. Host of “Velshi” and seemingly the favorite fill-in host of every other MSNBC Prime Time News Show. Velshi also reported live from the frontlines of the George Floyd protests, he was drenched during hurricane Ian. And dodged incoming fire from Russian artillery when he fearlessly reported live from the frontlines in Ukraine. A concerned citizen of the world, Velshi seems to be everywhere there is an injustice. He has been a contributor at CNN, Al Jazeera America, and NBC to name a few. Velshi is also a prolific writer and has written books, articles, and columns for newspapers and monthly publications throughout the northern hemisphere. 

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes Emily Jane Fox. Fox is a national correspondent at Vanity Fair and a cohost of the popular podcast “Inside the Hive”. She is the best-selling author of Born Trump and a chronicler of characters from Washington to Hollywood — But Fox will go anywhere where great characters can be found.

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes one of our favorite people from the Lincoln Project, Tara Setmayer. Setmayer is a former CNN political commentator, a contributor to ABC News, and a former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She's appeared on ABC's The View, ABC's Good Morning America, and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. Setmayer was named a Harvard Institute of Politics Spring 2020 Resident Fellow. Also in 2020, she joined The Lincoln Project as a senior advisor. Setmayer hosts the live show "The Breakdown" alongside co-founder Rick Wilson, on the organization's streaming channel, LPTV. Michael and Tara dig deep into the media and its effect on the elections, Trump's denials, and George Santos. 

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes legal scholar and advocate, Jennifer Taub. Taub is the author of the best-selling book, ”Other People's Houses." And is formerly an associate general counsel at Fidelity Investments. She is considered a leading expert on the Financial Crisis of 2008, and she’s a frequent commentator on corporate governance and financial reform matters. Taub is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School (where she is currently a visiting professor) Taub is also a professor at Vermont Law School, where she teaches Contracts, Corporations, Securities Regulation, and White Collar Crime. Taub’s advocacy promotes transparency and opposes corruption. As she likes to say, it’s all about following the money.

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes Norm Eisen. There’s pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn’t have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin’s war has ended.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes one of the most recognized journalists in the country, Jeffrey Toobin. Toobin is the chief legal analyst for CNN Worldwide and a staff writer for the New Yorker. Before joining CNN, he worked for six years as a legal analyst for ABC News. He has written articles on and provided legal analysis for several significant cases including the O. J. Simpson murder case, the Kenneth Starr investigation of the Clinton White House, and the trials of Michael Jackson and George Zimmerman. As an author, he has written a number of best-selling books including, The Real Story of the Sex Scandal that Nearly Brought Down a President, The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, and The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court. His book, The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson, inspired the television series, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. The series went on to bag nine Emmy awards. Michael and Jeffrey dig into the homegrown terrorism, Fox News, and Biden's age. 

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back fellow podcaster and political junkie, Brian Tyler Cohen. No relation to me, but Brian is among the most-watched progressive political commentators on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. He also hosts one of the top-ranked political podcasts in the US, No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen, with guests that include Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff, Cory Booker, Ted Lieu, Andrew Yang, Beto O’Rourke, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell, Ed Markey, and Joe Biden’s chief of staff Ron Klain. We always look forward to hearing Brian’s perceptive point of view. Michael and Brian discuss Fox News, January 6th, and Biden's announcement to make another run. 

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes the legendary politician turned political analyst, Michael Steele. Steele made history when he became the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in Maryland, where he served as lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007. He was chosen to be the first African-American chairperson of the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2011. Steele’s abilities as a communicator and commentator have been showcased daily on MSNBC. He’s also appeared on Meet the Press, Face the Nation, HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, and The Daily Show to name a few. In addition to his work in television, Steele can be heard each week on his radio show on SiriusXM. Steele, a prolific writer, is also the author of “Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda", but don’t hold that against him.  Michael and Mr Steele dig deep into the GOP, Fox News and the culture wars.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back one of the most dialed-in journalists of the last several decades, Jane Mayer. Mayer has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1995. As the magazine’s chief Washington correspondent, she covers politics, culture, and national security. Previously, she worked at the Wall Street Journal, where she covered the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, the Gulf War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1984, she became the paper’s first female White House correspondent. She is the author of the 2016 Times best-seller “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right,” She also wrote the 2008 Times best-seller “The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals,” which was named a National Book Award finalist. She is the co-author, with Jill Abramson, of “Strange Justice,” also a National Book Award finalist, and, with Doyle McManus, of “Landslide: The Unmaking of the President 1984-1988.” She has won numerous prizes and awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Reporting. Michael and Jane dig into Clarence Thomas and the Supreme Court, GOP's scary policies, and Trump's legal woes. 

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2026

Mea Culpawelcomes back Rick Wilson, longtime Republican political strategist, infamous negative ad-maker, and commentator. Since 2015, he's been a leading conservative critic of Donald Trump. His regular column with The Daily Beast is a hilarious and spot-on must-read in the political community. He is also a founding member of the Lincoln Project. Rick’s been published in The Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, The London Spectator, Rolling Stone, The New York Daily News, USA Today, The Bulwark and beyond and he’s constantly called upon for sharp political insights on the national news networks, including CNN and MSNBC. He’s also a fan favorite on Real Time with Bill Maher. A 30-year veteran of politics, Rick got his start in the 1988 Presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush. Rick is also a best-selling author, his latest book is “Running Against the Devil” and his #1 New York Times, best-seller, “Everything Trump Touches Dies” which quintessentially defined the Trump and Michael and Rick dig deep into Clarence Thomas, Fox News, and all of Trump's pending cases and DeSantis.

Transcribed - Published: 11 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes our old friend, Harry Litman, the former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Litman is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. Harry can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast. You’d be smart to subscribe to the “Talking Feds” brand new YouTube channel. New episodes are posted daily. But today Harry is here to give us the rundown on all the legal battles currently raging in Washington. 

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes Frank Figliuzzi to help us figure out the legal ramification of everything going on in Washington DC. Figliuzzi is a national security contributor and regular columnist for NBC News and MSNBC. At one time, Figliuzzi was the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, where he served for 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the entire government. He is also the author of the national bestseller “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence.” Michael and Frank talk about the Tennesee, the Supreme Court, and the indictment.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There’s nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn’t have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his strict anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin’s war has ended. So, let’s go now to my conversation with Norm Eisen. Michael and Morm really dug into the indictment and all the other Trump cases on the horizon.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back, intrepid newsman, Ali Velshi. Host of “Velshi” and seemingly the favorite fill-in host of every other MSNBC Prime Time News Show. Velshi also reported live from the frontlines of the George Floyd protests, he was drenched during hurricane Ian. And dodged incoming fire from Russian artillery when he fearlessly reported live from the frontlines in Ukraine. A concerned citizen of the world, Velshi seems to be everywhere there is an injustice. He has been a contributor at CNN, Al Jazeera America, and NBC to name a few. Velshi is also a prolific writer and has written books, articles, and columns for newspapers and monthly publications throughout the northern hemisphere. Michal and Ali discuss the NRA, TicTok, and Trump's indictment. 

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back to the show one of our favorite people from the Lincoln Project, Tara Setmayer. Setmayer is a former CNN political commentator, a contributor to ABC News, and a former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She's appeared on ABC's The View, ABC's Good Morning America, and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. Setmayer was also named a Harvard Institute Resident Fellow. And in 2020, she joined The Lincoln Project as a senior advisor. Setmayer hosts a great live show called "The Breakdown" alongside Rick Wilson, you can find it on the Lincoln Project’s streaming channel, LPTV. Michael and Tara dig into foreign policy, culture wars, and the GOP's stand with Trump.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes David L. Marcus. Marcus has worked as a foreign correspondent, education reporter, and columnist at the Boston Globe, Miami Herald, Newsday, and U.S. News. David L. Marcus has worked as a foreign correspondent, education reporter, and columnist at the Boston Globe, Miami Herald, Newsday, and U.S. News. As South America bureau chief for the Dallas Morning News, he shared the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, for a series about violence against women. David wrote two books about education and parenting, What It Takes to Pull Me Through and Acceptance. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, and GQ magazine to name a few. Marcus is the cousin of the infamous lawyer, Roy Cohn. He wrote a quintessential piece about Cohn for Vanity Fair shortly after his death. Davis and Michael discuss Roy Cohn's relationship and influence on Trump and Rubert Murdoch and how it plays out today.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back, the Brooklyn Dad Defiant, or simply BDD. BDD is a left-wing political commentator on Twitter, YouTube,  and various other social media platforms. His outspoken defiance and often humorous take on the Trump administration have earned him almost a million Twitter followers. Since the riots at the Capitol on January 6, BDD has used his platform to bring attention to GOP lawmakers like MTG, Cruz, Jordan, and Biggs, asking that they face consequences for their actions in connection to the insurrection. He calls himself a proud papa who is perpetually pissed. Michael and BDD dig deep into the culture wars, the Dobbs decision, and DeSantis.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2026

Today we welcome back to our show, Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and an independent political strategist. A veteran public affairs and political commentator with over 20 years ’ of experience, Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies needing high-level counsel in strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado – Before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain’s presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. Michael Reed dig deep into Trump's claim that he was being indicted yesterday and DeSantis ant woke act and what that means for the 2024 GOP nomination.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back to the show, legendary newsman David Corn. Corn is the Bureau Chief of Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSNBC. Corn and Michael Isikoff “co-authored, “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump”. He’s also the author of four New York Times best-selling books and was the long-time Washington editor for “The Nation”. For a good read, check out “Our Land”. His twice-weekly newsletter that covers everything from news of the day to entertainment, but all told in Corn’s no-bullshit style. Corn has been published multiple times, but his latest bestseller,” American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy” is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the unprecedented times we live in. David and Michael take about the Georgia investigation, and what's coming for Trump on all the different legal fronts.

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back to the show, politician, radio talk show host, podcaster, and former Republican, Joe Walsh. Walsh was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 from Illinois’s 8th District. He also ran for president and then blew up his life when he spoke out against the MAGA cult and gave Trump the bird. To quote Joe, Republicans “have become fully radicalized and anti-democracy.” Joe’s podcast, “White Flag” strives to find a path to unite, not divide us politically, but he pulls no punches in his latest book, “F*ck Silence: Calling Trump Out for the Cultish, Moronic, Authoritarian Con Man He Is.” So let’s go now to my conversation with Joe Walsh. Micheal and Joe dig into the possibility of Trump getting the GOP nomination, Fulton County, and the weaponization of the DOJ.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There’s pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn’t have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin’s war has ended. Michael and Norm dig into Trumps legal woes for and possible upcoming indictments.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back Rick Wilson, longtime Republican political strategist, infamous negative ad-maker, and commentator. Since 2015, he's been a leading conservative critic of Donald Trump. His regular column with The Daily Beast is a hilarious and spot-on must-read in the political community. He is also a founding member of the Lincoln Project. Rick’s been published in The Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, The London Spectator, Rolling Stone, The New York Daily News, USA Today, The Bulwark and beyond and he’s constantly called upon for sharp political insights on the national news networks, including CNN and MSNBC. He’s also a fan favorite on Real Time with Bill Maher. A 30-year veteran of politics, Rick got his start in the 1988 Presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush, and since has produced groundbreaking advertising and provided strategic counsel to political campaigns across the nation and around the world. Rick is also a best-selling author, his latest book is “Running against the Devil” and his #1 New York Times, best-seller, “Everything Trump Touches Dies” which quintessentially defined the Trump era. Michael and Rick dig into the politics of the GOP, the democrats, and the House. 

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back a very special guest, John Dean. For those of you who lived through Watergate, his name is synonymous with the political intrigue of the 1970s. Dean served as White House Counsel for President Richard Nixon from July 1970 until April 1973. In that position, he became deeply involved in events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and the subsequent scandal and cover-up. Referred to as the "master manipulator of the cover-up" by the FBI, Dean’s testimony before the House was watched by some 80 million Americans. Granted immunity, Dean laid out in stunning detail and intricacy how the President not only knew about but orchestrated the break-in and burglary of the DNC. He ultimately was sentenced to one year in Federal Prison but emerged from the experience as a changed and soulful individual. Dean renounced his former politics and started a second life as an author and speaker. He’s penned five books about Watergate and 10 books in total; including his most recent tome, Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and his Followers. Dean is now the last man standing from that era, He is the last connection between this nation’s authoritarian past and present. Michael and John dig deep into Watergate, January 6th, and DOJ.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes friend and fellow lawyer,  Katie Phang. Phang became a legal analyst for NBC Universal in 2017 and is currently a political commentator, podcaster, and television host. Catch the excellent Katie Phang Show, which sheds light on the intersection of law, politics, and culture locally and nationally. It airs weekends on MSNBC and you might also find her filling in for Chris Hayes or Ari Melber on MSNBC. Let’s go now to my conversation with Katie Phang. Michael and Katie dig into all of Trump's legal woes.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend Malcolm Nance. Nance has just returned from the frontline in Ukraine and has a lot to say about the current situation there. You may know Nance as the globally renowned expert on terrorism, extremism, and insurgency. Nance’s stunning new book, “They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency” was a New York Times best-seller as was his book, the Plot to Hack America. He’s the counter-terrorism analyst for NBC and MSNBC. And Nance is considered one of the "Great African-Americans in Espionage” by the International Spy Museum. Micheal and dig deep into Putin and Russia and where things stand with China.

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes Lev Parnas to the show. Lev is a Soviet-born businessman who along with Rudy Giuliani and Igor Fruman played a central role in the campaign to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump’s political rivals, including Hunter Biden. Parnas was thrown into Trump's first impeachment drama, but he ended up working with federal prosecutors against Giuliani and the former president. Parnas is currently serving a 20-month sentence for Campaign Finance, Wire Fraud, And False Statements Offenses, and is speaking to us today while on home confinement. Micheal and Lev dig deep into the Trump crime syndicate. 

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2026

It's our distinct honor to have Fred Guttenberg as our guest today on Mea Culpa. Fred is the father of Jaime, a 14-year-old girl killed during the Parkland mass shooting in 2018. Fred began his public life directly after the murder of his beautiful daughter when he decided to attend a public vigil in Parkland. While there, the Mayor asked him to speak. His words shook a nation and he has not stopped ever since. Michael and Fred discuss gun violence, gun control, and the state of politics in Florida. 

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend, Harry Litman, the former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Litman is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. Harry can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast. Today Harry is here to give us the rundown on all the legal battles currently raging in Washington. Micheal and Harry dig into the Manhattan DA investigation, the State of the Union, Jack Smith, and the special counsel.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back Tristan Snell. The former New York Assistant Attorney General famously lead the civil prosecution in the Trump University case for the state of New York against the Trump Organization. The 2013 case found the Trump Org guilty; forcing them to pay out $25 million in restitution. Snell spent years scaling the walls of the Trump Organization, largely creating the playbook for defeating Donald Trump in court. Ultimately, he said, it’s about the receipts, not the witnesses. To beat Trump you need indisputable proof, a smoking gun and that only comes from having the documents to prove it.” Nowadays, Snell is the founder of Main Street Law and appears as a commentator on CNN. He also serves as a contributing writer for the Washington Post, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. To name a few. Tristan joins Michael today in discussing Biden's potential run, women's rights, and if the Stormy Daniels case will ultimately be the case that takes Trump down. 

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2026

Mea Cilpa welcomes our good friend Frank Figliuzzi to help us figure out the legal ramification of everything going on in Washington DC. Figliuzzi is a national security contributor and regular columnist for NBC News and MSNBC. At one time, Figliuzzi was the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI. He served 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the entire government. He is also the author of the national bestseller “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence.” Michael and Frank dig into bad cops, gun legislation, and the justice department.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

Mea culpa welcomes one of our favorite people from the Lincoln Project, Tara Setmayer. Setmayer is a former CNN political commentator, a contributor to ABC News, and a former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She's appeared on ABC's The View, ABC's Good Morning America, and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. Setmayer was named a Harvard Institute of Politics Spring 2020 Resident Fellow. Also in 2020, she joined The Lincoln Project as a senior advisor. Setmayer hosts the live show "The Breakdown" alongside co-founder Rick Wilson, on the organization's streaming channel, LPTV. Michael and Tara Dig into the up police violence, the cult of Trump, and who will get the Republican nomination. 

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back Jack Cocchiarella. He’s a Gen Z activist and Democratic Digital Strategist. While still in college, he worked to get Charlie Crist elected Florida Governor in the Midterms, a noble effort indeed. Jack has 340,000 followers on Twitter and is a politically astute young person that we can all learn from. Michael and Jack dig deep into the Desantis, voting, the GOP, and the future of democracy.

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Elie Honig, acclaimed author of the National Bestseller, “Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr broke the prosecutor's code and corrupted the Justice Department”. Honig is also a CNN Senior Legal Analyst, and a former federal and state prosecutor. You may also know him from his popular podcasts, “Up Against the Mob” or “Cafe Brief”. As a New Jersey federal prosecutor, Honig directed significant criminal cases against street gangs, arms dealers, and even a few corrupt politicians. He was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Where he successfully prosecuted more than 100 members of La Cosa Nostra, including bosses and other high-ranking members of the Gambino and Genovese organized crime families. Honig leverages all his prosecutorial experience to keep the public informed and as fodder for his excellent new book “Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It”. Michael and Elie discuss Rupert Murdock, the Supreme Court, and which case is likely to bring Trump down.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2026

Mea Culpa welcomes for the very first time, Nicolle Wallace of The Nicolle Wallace Show. Wallace is a one-time political operative turned television host and best-selling author. She is currently the anchor of the MSNBC news and politics show, Deadline: White House, and a former co-host of The View alongside her friend and fellow activist, Rosie Perez. Once upon a time, she was a member of the White House staff under George Bush and she campaigned with John McCain during his 2008 bid for the presidency against Barack Obama. Wallace has written 3 best-selling books, including “Madam President” released in 2015. And most recently Wallace was an executive producer on the MSNBC primetime special "Ukraine: Answering the Call", which also served as a fundraiser to support Ukraine in the midst of the Russian invasion. Michael and Nicole, dig deep into the GOP's future, Trump's presidential bid, and McCarthy's reign.

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2026