The Nicole Sandler Show

And we're back.. It's the start of the first full week of the new year 2026 and nothing is normal. I hope everyone got some good rest and relaxation because it's unlikely we'll have more of that for a while. We begin the week on a Monday and, if it's Monday, it's Jonathan Larsen of his two important substack newsletters: The Fu%&ing News and Jonathan Larsen where he does important, original reporting. Jonathan was all over the Venezuela attack early Saturday morning, and we will certainly discuss that today. We'll try to ease into it slowly because, in addition to bringing you the truth about what's happening, we must take care of ourselves if we're going to survive this shitstorm. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Let’s get this new year started! We’re back for the first live show of 2026 as Marcy Wheeler joins me to kick it off with a new Emptywheel Friday! Today, we’ll talk about what happened over the holiday break (Epstein files, Jack Smith deposition, Mamdani swearing in as NYC Mayor, etc). And Marcy will walk us through the article she posted this morning at emptywheel.net, “Where We Go From Here: 10 things we can do in 2026 to hold Trump accountable”. Here we go…. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today For the final show of 2025 (good riddance), I opted to feature some past moments from the show over the years that still resonate today, sharing a little bit of everything - including a visit or two from Bernie Sanders, and my appearance on Rock & Roll Jeopardy. I've been sick over the holidays, so please excuse my voice as I introduce the various segments I'll share. Today is also the 10th Anniversary of my wedding to David. I actually did a live show that afternoon. So I'll share a few minutes of that program to kick things off... and then we'll take off on a journey through the past with perhaps a peek into the future. Happy New Year everyone. May 2026 bring us an end to the D'ump insanity and begin our march back into democracy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I only met and interviewed Tom Petty once. Unlike most of the artist interviews I did during my music radio years, he did not perform live for us. He just came into the studio at Channel 103.1 (KACD and KBCD in Los Angeles) on April 30, 1999 and hung out with me for a while on the air. He was promoting the album that had just been released, ECHO. Following that interview, we'll move ahead about 20 years to July 26, 2019 for an interview with Jon Scott about his book, TOM PETTY AND ME. Jon Scott was a record promoter for MCA records who really is the man responsible for Tom Petty breaking through by getting the label to change its plans to drop the record and getting him airplay. In fact, at what turned out to be Petty's final concert, on Sept. 25, 2017 at the Hollywood Bowl, Tom thanked Jon Scott for that from the stage as he introduced "I Won't Back Down". Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're in the final stretch of 2025, and I can't wait to put this shitty year behind us. If you remember back around a year ago, Trump promised he'd end the Russian war again Ukraine in a day, after taking office again. Well here we are, a year later and he hasn't. But he's still kissing up to Putin, siding with him over Zelinksyy and Ukraine and selling out western Democracies to push Putin's authoritarian agenda. I figured today would be a good day to refresh our memories about Trump's entanglements with Russia and its dictator. So we'll go back to January of 2021 for my interview with Craig Unger about his then-new book AMERICAN KOMPROMAT. Then I thought we'd look back a decade... actually, 10 years ago yesterday. It was Dec 28, 2015 for a chat with my old friend, Joel Silberman, who was a media strategist, consultant to politicians and celebrities and so much more, Joel Silberman. Joel joined me for a weekly segment when we'd cut through the media bullshit. And 10 years ago, there was plenty of it, but nowhere near what we're dealing with today. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Since music heals, and we could all use some healing right about now, I thought today would be a good day to dig back into my archives to my music radio days in Los Angeles for some favorites.Today I take you back to Sept of 1996 with Jackson Browne. And then, to May of 1999 with Gregg Alexander of New Radicals. Healing, indeed. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I had planned on just playing some non-traditional Christmas music today, but my plans changed when I read the awful news yesterday that my friend Howie Klein died. Regular listeners/viewers of this show are familiar with Howie, as he appeared with me on Thursdays, going back probably 15 years. We talked about politics, as that's been his focus since he retired from Warner Brothers and his position as president of Reprise Records. His career in the music business was monumental, starting at NY's Stoneybrook University where as head of student activities, he booked bands to perform on campus. And the rest is history, which we'll discuss a bit on today's show. When he turned to progressive politics, Howie began blogging at DownWithTyranny.com, and co-founded & ran the Blue America PAC, identifying potential candidates and raising money for the best progressives running. I have dozens or more episodes with Howie, going back to 2009. I'll share some of those today as we remember my friend, Howie Klein. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's Christmas Eve, so we're spending it with the Marsh Family! I first found them on YouTube in the early days of the pandemic, and was fortunate enough to meet them here, on our show, on March 26, 2021. They came back for Christmas Eve (we recorded on 12/21/21, but aired it on 12/24), and again, the following year on December 21, 2022. I thought that today, we'd share a bit of each of those three appearances, and start the show with their newest video. Yes, The Marsh Family is still going strong... and my, how those kids have grown! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For my second of this years' holiday shows, we look back at 2021, beginning with Inauguration Day when Joe Biden was sworn in (and the orange pig left). Then, since today is Festivus, we revisit our 2021 celebration with a bunch of listeners/viewers on Zoom, airing our grievances and Feats of Strength... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

2025 was a rough year all around. It took too many precious souls from us way too soon, On May 1, the amazingly talented singer/songwriter Jill Sobule was tragically killed in a house fire. She was so much more than her wonderful music. She was a truly special person, and she was my friend for around 30 years. We kick off two weeks of holiday shows featuring moments from my radio past, and kick it off today with a celebration of Jill Sobule. I pulled together a few of her on-air appearances with me from 2000, 2020 and 2021. Please visit jillsobule.com to learn more about this very special person who was taken from us way too soon. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today is the last time we'll spend an hour plus with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net in 2025... We'll return on Friday January 2, 2026. That is, unless the orange fascist does something unthinkable, in which case we'll jump back in. Both Marcy and I are hoping to take some down time to relax, unplug, and regroup, but with things as they are these days, we just don't know. Today, we discussed Four Ways to Fight Fascism, taken from Marcy's post this morning at emptywheel.net. And a discussion of some of the more important news that's broken since we spoke last week. Needless to say, this was a long one... but you can pause and come back anytime.... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As anyone who's listened to this show for a while knows, Lisa Graves is my favorite go-to expert on the courts, the laws and the many ways this administration acts as if the laws don't apply to them/him. As we near the end of the year, there are many illegal actions D'ump has been trying to invoke. Thankfully, there are many who abide by our laws trying to stop him. And then there's the issue of due process, which the orange one thinks doesn't exist for us mere humans. Lisa also published her first book a few months ago, Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and his Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights. Although the year is ending, the SCOTUS term goes through June, and there are still many cases to be heard, and lots of decisions to be handed down, including the fate of the tariffs... Lisa Graves is our guest today with so much to discuss. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we near the end of the year, the administration is showing cracks at the seams, and sadly, things are getting scarier. I've long realized that the news goes down easier when you can inject some humor into it. Thankfully, John Fugelsang is our guest today to add that spoonful of sugar to the sour notes. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We have 15 days left in 2025. But many of us take time off around the holidays, so we're really counting the days until the end of the week... I'll be taking some time off for the holidays, but won't know my complete schedule until I talk it over with Marcy Wheeler. But I'll try to let you know in the next day or two. This week got off to a shitty start. Yesterday, we spent a lot of time talking about Rob Reiner, for good reason. I still can't believe he's gone. Then last night, my husband David sent me Brian Karem's Substack column, "Shoebootie" - which I was planning on sharing with you today. Lucky for us all, when I reached out to him, he was able to join us today so he can tell you about it himself. Good thing too, because I'm still not feeling great, so I almost shared my episode of Rock & Roll Jeopardy with you... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It was an awful weekend filled with horrific news of mass murder of Jews in Australia, another on-campus shooting at Brown University, the murder of an American film icon and the attempt by the narcissistic US president to inject himself into something that had nothing to do with him and more... Jonathan Larsen of thefuckingnews.substack.com is here for our regular Monday get together to try to make sense of the senseless and cruelty. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thank goodness this week is nearly over, as yesterday alone was exhausting. And I'm truly grateful that we have Marcy Wheeler of Emptywheel.net each Friday to help us figure out all that transpired, or most of it anyway. There were hearings and pardons and lies, oh my! And more evidence that D'ump's mind is deteriorating even faster than before... I'm really not feeling well today, so I'm keeping the write-up short and sweet. It's all in today's show, so sit back, put on some headphones and listen. It's all there! I hope to be back to my usual feisty self on Monday.... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today on the show, we recap the two big hearings on Capitol Hill today. The split screen made me feel even sicker than I already do! First, a Senate hearing on the future of the ACA's extended subsidies and the votes. Nothing good happened there. The House Oversight Committee hearing was ostensibly about the global threats the US is facing, but Kristi Noem was in the hot seat, so you can guess where this hearing went... Later in the hour, I speak with Tommy Dorfman, a long-time EDM music/event planner/DJ and club owner who's been waging at 15-year battle against Ticketmaster and Live Nation. It's not over till it's over... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One of my favorite columnists, Will Bunch, national opinion columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, took a road trip. Last week, he left Philly and showed up in New Orleans, along with ICE. Yeah, on purpose. He reported on the ugliness these unqualified goons spread in their wake. Will returned home to PA just in time to hear Dump's word and brain salad that he spewed over the people who went to hear him for 90 minutes at the Mount Airy Casino, which itself has a shameful, storied past. Will joins me today with some of his observations. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Back in 2012, People for the American Way put out the campaign button on today's show graphic. They knew it then, but the Democrats never pushed the issue enough. It was and still is the Supreme Court, stupid! The Extreme Court yesterday heard a case that will likely give the guy in the Oval Office even more power than he's already grabbed. And the case they heard today could likely open the campaign contribution floodgates even wider than they already are. Law Dork's Chris Geidner joins me today to help us understand WTAF it all means! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mondays are inevitable and, these days, so is a lot more fucking news. On Mondays, I'm joined by Jonathan Larsen of The Fucking News, who injects humor and the necessary expletives to accurately present so much of what we're forced to endure every day... the Boat Murders, the Immigrant mistreatment and bigtry and racism, the Extreme not-Supreme Court, the lies, illegal pardons, D'ump's ego and more... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy