This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out cover art

This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out

This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out

By: Rachel Bitecofer & Aaron Murphy
Listen for free

About this listen

From the front lines of protecting democracy, political analysts Rachel Bitecofer and Aaron Murphy, authors of Hit 'Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game (Crown, 2024), host a brief, weekly look at "what you need to know" about Trump 2.0. They're checked in for the checked out.

This is America is a callback to William L. Shirer's groundbreaking This is Berlin broadcasts from the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Subscribe to Rachel's The Cycle on Substack at thecycle.substack.com.

Hit 'Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game:

hitemwhereithurts.com.

Rachel Bitecofer & Aaron Murphy 2025 Political Science Politics & Government World
Episodes
  • Episode 28: No Faux King Way

    Episode 28: No Faux King Way
    Oct 21 2025

    This week Rachel and Aaron unpack the GOP’s framing of thousands of peaceful “No Kings” protests as “Hate America” rallies. How, exactly, did Republicans lose control of the narrative–at least for a weekend? Plus, why House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear-in America’s newest member of Congress. And what do Venezuelan boat strikes have to do with disgraced Congressman George Santos?

    LINKS:

    • ABC’s This Week: Jonathan Karl interviews Speaker Mike Johnson
    • NBC’s Meet the Press: Kristen Welker interviews Senator Rand Paul
    • ABC News: Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva on ‘delay tactics’ in being sworn into Congress
    • The Cycle on Substack
    • Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Episode 27: The F-Word

    Episode 27: The F-Word
    Oct 7 2025

    This week, why we shouldn’t be afraid of using the other F-word: fascism, especially as the Right shatters political norms, turns citizens into public enemies, and politicizes the military. Rachel and Aaron discuss a Democrat who joked about violence, a Republican who preaches it, a billionaire who builds it into the algorithm, and a movement now summoning generals for loyalty oaths. Plus: The political strategies and public polling behind the government shutdown. Who, exactly, is getting the blame?

    LINKS:

    • France24: Elon Musk: The voice of the far right in Europe?
    • Stephen Miller’s cousin on Facebook: “the face of evil”
    • The Cycle - Substack: We’re Deep in the Shit Now: The Only Way to Win the Shutdown Was Not to Play
    • Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Episode 26: Thin Red Line

    Episode 26: Thin Red Line
    Sep 23 2025

    This week Rachel and Aaron discuss the Trump Administration’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, his martyrdom, and what’s next on the march into authoritarianism. Plus, a trip to the front lines of Trump’s tariffs: rural America. Why are farmers feeling the pinch first? And Trump crosses a thin red line by ordering the U.S. Department of Justice to target his political enemies, facts be damned.

    LINKS:

    • Substack - The Cycle: From Goebbels to Google: Same Shit, Different Century
    • Truth Social: Trump says opponents are “guilty as hell” – without evidence
    • Hot Mic: “Our brand is in crisis”
    • Imperial March in Washington, DC
    • Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.