Mea Culpa

In this episode of the podcast, Michael Cohen and Brian Karem take a hard look at the growing divisions tearing through American politics and society. From escalating global conflicts to deepening partisan warfare at home, the country feels more fractured than ever.

Michael and Brian break down the dangerous consequences of a nation increasingly defined by political tribalism, misinformation, and leaders who profit from keeping Americans angry at one another. They ask the big question: when a country stops listening to itself, what happens next?

If history tells us anything, it’s that a divided nation is a vulnerable one.

Because in moments like this, one thing becomes painfully clear... divided we are doomed.

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Michael’s first guest in this new era is Malcolm Nance, a globally recognized intelligence and national security expert, bestselling author, and former U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer specializing in counterterrorism and intelligence operations.

Nance has spent decades analyzing global threats, advising on national security, and providing insight into geopolitical strategy. He is also the author of several influential books on extremism, cybersecurity, and international security.

In this powerful conversation, Michael and Malcolm break down the latest political developments, and discuss the rise and fall of Kristi Noem.

Happy listening.

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Today on Mea Culpa, we’re revisiting a conversation from August with Army veteran, former congressional candidate, and democracy advocate Marcus Flowers. Together, we examined Donald Trump’s accelerating authoritarian instincts, from secret meetings with Vladimir Putin and sidelining U.S. allies to weaponizing the Department of Justice against critics. Grounded in Flowers’ military and national security experience, this conversation remains strikingly relevant as we break down how culture wars, fear, and political spectacle are used to consolidate power, erode democratic norms, and normalize retaliation against dissent.

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Today on Mea Culpa, I’m revisiting a conversation with Ally Sammarco, political strategist, consultant, and content creator, to look back at Trump’s speech before Congress one year ago, and why it offers critical insight into his State of the Union address this week. Together, Ally and I broke down the dangerous patterns in Trump’s rhetoric, governing style, and reliance on fear and spectacle, and it reveals how little has actually changed. This look back puts the current moment in context, showing what Trump signals to his base, how he frames power, and why revisiting these warnings matters now more than ever.

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Today on Mea Culpa, I’m revisiting a November conversation with journalist and author Vicky Ward, whose reporting on Jeffrey Epstein long predated the current document releases. When we first spoke, the Epstein transparency bill had just passed; now, with portions of the files finally public, this conversation carries new weight. Ward has explained the threats Epstein made against her, her husband, and her unborn children, and explains the intimidation used to silence scrutiny. As more disturbing details emerge from the files, revisiting voices that warned us early, and exposed the government’s repeated failures of accountability, feels not just relevant, but necessary.

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