It’s News Day Tuesday! Sam and Emma speak with writer and editor Gareth Gore about his new book Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. First, Sam and Emma run through updates on Trump’s visit to Allentown in the wake of his fascist rally in New York, the Harris Campaign, polling, Florida’s abortion amendment, attacks on ballot boxes in Washington, Nevada’s election rules, Steve Bannon’s release from prison, fallout from Bezos’ rule over the Washington Post, and Israel’s banning of UNRWA, before expanding on the overwhelming backlash to Tony Hinchcliffe’s set at Trump’s fascist rally in NYC, and a potential connection to one Joe Rogan. Gareth Gore then joins, diving right into the story of his research into the collapse of a Spanish bank that led him to uncover the outrageous and extensive financial connections between Opus Dei, said bank, and myriad “hospitality” schools across the globe that routinely trafficked women, before stepping back to unpack what Opus Dei is and its process of radicalization under Spanish Priest (and founder) Josemaría Escrivá in early 20th Century Spain to become the reactionary, militant, elite-connected, and Papal-doubting organization that we see today. After briefly expanding on the expansive state of Opus Dei’s connection to the contemporary US conservative movement, particularly in the Courts and Media, Gore steps back to analyze the rise of Opus Dei in the US, walking through its first few decades of struggle before its lingering presence around elite institutions finally took off, and exploring its central motive (from its roots in Spain) of pervading elite networks to grow its political power, with the ultimate goal of imposing their theocratic rule. Gareth also walks Sam through the story of Opus Dei’s “Hospitality Schools,” as a central example of their emphasis on abusive and exploitative hierarchy, and the overwhelming backlash to his reporting from Opus Dei-affiliated groups and individuals, before wrapping up by assessing the role the organization is playing in the ongoing US elections, with tight ties to both GOP Mega-Donor Leonard Leo and Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance.
And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma dive a little deeper into the widespread reaction to Tony Hinchcliffe’s wildly racist speech at Trump’s MSG rally, tackle the Supreme Court’s newest “Independent State Legislature” case out of Pennsylvania, and unpack the depths of bigotry behind Ryan James Girdusky’s astonishing threat to Mehdi Hasan on CNN. Kari Lake can’t get past that whole “refusing to concede an election” thing, Thomas from New Jersey discusses the ongoing attack against Hasan and co., and Cole from Little Rock explores an ongoing conversation with his Christian Zionism grandmother-in-law. John from San Antonio bums us out with his election predictions, plus, your calls and IMs!