Show notes
Meseidy and Rachel dive deep into the unfolding scandal surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner—a progressive darling whose deleted Reddit posts and controversial Nazi-adjacent tattoo have Democrats scrambling. From his anti-work communist manifestos to his involvement with socialist paramilitary groups, Platner’s past is catching up with his political ambitions. The hosts contrast the left’s defense of Platner with their relentless attacks on Republicans like Pete Hegseth, exposing the glaring double standard in American politics. They also tackle Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones’s text message scandal, Abigail Spanberger’s defensive interviews, and Jen Psaki’s bizarre comments about JD and Usha Vance. With Bernie Sanders still warning about oligarchy after 32 years and progressives embracing candidates they would have canceled last year, this episode reveals the left’s desperate strategy heading into 2026.Episode HighlightsMaine’s Nazi Problem: Progressive Senate candidate Graham Platner faces dual scandals—deleted Reddit posts revealing communist sympathies and a chest tattoo closely resembling the Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol used by concentration camp guardsSocialist Militia Leader: New reporting exposes Platner’s role recruiting for and training members of the Socialist Rifle Association, a far-left paramilitary group, during the 2020 unrestThe Double Standard: While Pete Hegseth faced weeks of scrutiny over a Jerusalem cross tattoo falsely labeled as extremist, Democrats are defending Platner’s actual Nazi-adjacent imagery as a “drunk mistake”Virginia’s Violence Problem: Attorney General candidate Jay Jones continues his campaign despite text messages joking about killing political opponents and their children, with Democratic leaders refusing to call for his withdrawalThe New Progressive Playbook: As younger, more radical candidates like Platner and Mom Donnie gain traction, Democrats are abandoning their purity tests in favor of a “win at any cost” mentality that mirrors Trump’s political strategyUpgradeSupport Rivera and Reeves for early, ad-free episodes! Get full videos, crystal-clear audio, and exclusive content a day before YouTube. Join now to stay ahead and help us stay independent. Upgrade today!Get 30% off for 1 yearFollow Us On Youtube!YouTubeGet R&R Merch!Our official merchandise store is NOW OPEN! 🛍️ We've launched with our first four items to get things started, including coffee mugs, oversize t-shirt and a tote bag. You can check out everything available right now.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates04:03 The Rise of Graham Platner09:48 Controversial Reddit Posts and Political Implications19:36 Tattoo Controversy and Public Perception22:48 The Politics of Forgiveness25:51 The Changing Landscape of Political Accountability29:20 The Extremes of Political Ideology30:59 Grassroots Movements and Political Dynamics38:03 The Role of Media in Political Scrutiny43:55 The Reckless Politics of Jay Jones46:56 Normalizing Political Violence50:58 The Rise of New Political Candidates54:10 The Importance of Affordability in Politics56:47 Critique of Political Rhetoric and Media01:03:30 The Ongoing Fight Against OligarchyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
