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Getting Hammered®

Laissez-Faire Media

A sharp, funny politics podcast for people who want the news without the crashout.

Each week, Getting Hammered® takes a hammer to the headlines, breaking down politics, media spin, and cultural meltdowns with skepticism and fun. Overcaffeinated and Underprepared®, moderately right and moderately reliable, we never take ourselves too seriously. But keep you informed on serious topics with no panic and no partisan loyalty tests. Just laughs, well-earned side-eye, and occasional libations.

Sponsorship and partnership inquiries: lfaire.media@gmail.com

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24 episodes
weekly
Avg 55 min
English

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Wednesday · 1 hr 14 min
The Plague Year and The Wave Year?
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about the plague in Russia, the rioting in France, the spying in Germany, and the IRGC's midterm election message for Americans. They also cover a strangely close race in Minnesota, thanks to a strong campaign from Michelle Tafoya and an anti-incumbent feeling about all the fraud her opponent Peggy Flanagan oversaw. Plus, Peggy Flanagan cuts a weird ad and Angela Paxton might have cut a weirder one! They check them out. And finally, a miracle flight saved from disaster near the anniversary of Oct. 7 and some bad news about the DSA and Mamdani's plan to combat anti-Semitism. There are two big Getting Hammered announcements you'll want to stay tuned for. This episode is sponsored by XX-XY Athletics. Shop at http://xx-xyathletics.com/hammered and use code HAMMERED for 20% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 30 · 1 hr 17 min
Midterm Mediocrities Walk Into a Lesbian Bar
Vic Matus and Mary Katharine Ham talk about the many possible scenarios for the midterms, the freak-outs, the polls and panic, the money and the maps. They cover a foiled terror plot in Briton and spotlight a TV host's epic rant on it. An Iran update, an examination of the sexual assault allegations at Cornell, and they can't not talk about the lesbian bar that has finally made the Left say no to be being bullied over Zoom by they/thems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 25 · 30 min
Bonus: Maud Maron on NYC Schools and the Damage Nikole Hannah-Jones Did
Because she can't stop thinking about Nikole Hannah-Jones, Mary Katharine Ham interviews Maud Maron, NYC public-school parent and former head of the Manhattan School Board. She has been at odds with NHJ on school policy for the 10 years of her activism and walks us through exactly what the NYT writer advocated for and how it hurt other children's educations in her city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 23 · 1 hr 14 min
Nikole Hannah-Jones Mugged By Reality, But Still Can't ID the Suspect
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about the sad story of Nikole Hannah-Jones' daughter's education and all the lessons it did not teach her mother. They discuss the UN General Assembly meeting and all Trump has on his plate, plus his love for Mamdani and the State Dinner for Xi. In other ideological insanity news, Spanberger is still not moderate, an unsettling number of Democrats polled are okay with military coups... for democracy, and are Vic and I tracking our kids? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 16 · 1 hr 14 min
The Street Preachers of the AI Apocalypse
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about the very coordinated, sudden turn of Very Serious concern about AI progress, cover Sen. Ossoff's dumb ideas for dealing with it. They explain regulatory capture, talk about Donald Trump's $5K check idea, and discuss whether the RNC's midterm convention did anything to change the election season. Also, is brunch dead?? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 9 · 1 hr 8 min
Socialists Say the Darnedest Things
Mary Katharine Ham and Victorino Matus talk about the socialist gathering over the weekend and all the loony things they said while wearing their masks, and whether the loony things matter. They also do a long commemoration of 9/11, the inspiring stories of heroism, personal stories, and what the attack and response would look like if it happened today. Also, what the heck is happening in Seattle, and how should one react when his wife gets her hair cut? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 2 · 1 hr 14 min
El-Sayed Steps on Rakes and Michelle O Has Hot Takes
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about Vic's college drop-off adventure with his oldest, Abdul El-Sayed's many foibles as a symbol for the fight inside the Democratic Party (content warning for Hasan Piker quotes, sorry!), the stupidity of the Lake Ontario dust-up and Canada trade stand-off, though hat's off to Sec. Bessent for his trolling elevated to art, the threatened strike and crazy salaries of the Seattle Teachers' Union. And MK explains how the southern schools saved football from the bad decisions of the Northeast and Midwest and simultaneously saved themselves from enrollment issues other schools are facing. Plus, a little Dolly news, and Michelle O's weird parenting takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 26 · 58 min
Saying Goodbye and Thank You To Dolly
Jenna Lee of SmartHERNews joins Mary Katharine Ham this week and the two talk about Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Fresh out of a slightly unhinged, emotional carline kid pick-up in her Dolly shirt, MK pays tribute to the icon, legend, and downright funny lady who moved us in so many ways. Jenna talks about the make-up advice she got from the lady herself (!) while MK reminisces on a tip she got from another country music star. They talk about their favorite Dolly songs, especially the ones that got them through tough times. Also, huge shoutout to Dollywood. You should all visit! What a lady. What a life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 19 · 1 hr 16 min
The Fancy Dorm Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk college drop-off as Vic's is impending, the ludicrously designed dorm rooms they are seeing, and a recap of MK's 1,000-mile roadtrip. They talk Woke 1.0, primary updates, news from long-deployed Navy ships, some good news on violence and prescription drug prices, the death of Jason Arday, and a lifeguard comes to the White House! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 12 · 1 hr 14 min
Get In, Loser, We're Freezing Eggs and Taxing Millionaires
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss new revelations about Dr. Anthony Fauci's concerns about the COVID vaccine causing miscarriages in the first trimester, as MKH reminisces about the immense social pressure and shaming pregnant women faced for declining the shot, as she did in early 2021. They also talk about AOC's egg-freezing journey (recorded before news broke that she broke up with her fiance), and how it's a soft presidential announcement, then we join her as she laughs off "Woke 1" without taking any accountability. They discuss Megan Romer's DSA disarray, and the excuses being made for Jason Arday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 5 · 1 hr 25 min
The Proximity To Whiteness
Vic Matus and Mary Katharine Ham discuss Mamdani's groceries, the non-prosecution of the non-vandalism of the Reflecting Pool, the Iran war or lack thereof, Michigan and Wisconsin socialism, Texas looking iffy, whether we should cancel Thanksgiving with Francesca Hong, and a rant about the Gen-Zers after we heard about their parents calling their bosses again. We have to stop this. Also, MK and Vic confess the life skills they didn't have when they left home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 29 · 1 hr 8 min
I Am Annoyed Anew: The Fauci Diaries
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss Dr. Anthony Fauci's journal and what it reveals, the White House Correspondents Dinner and why it's destined to always be awkward, Mamdani and his big aspirations to arrest foreign leaders and start state grocery stores, and updates from Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 22 · 1 hr 19 min
A News Odyssey
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss the lay of the land for 2026 elections, give updates on Senate primaries in Maine, South Carolina, and Michigan, try to figure out Trump's recent speech, keep tabs on the bad lettuce, and offer thoughts on the Odyssey controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 15 · 1 hr 20 min
A Bison Attacks and a Farewell to Sen. Lindsey Graham
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about the untimely passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, the viral bison attack at Yellowstone and the cool grandpa at the center of it, and Senate race updates in Michigan, Maine, and South Carolina. They also pick favorite Sam Neill movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 8 · 1 hr 18 min
Graham Platner's Rape Allegations, Dem Reax, and Socialists Rise!
Vic and Mary Katharine talk about Graham Platner's latest scandal (content warning), who wants him gone and who wants him to stay, along with the rise of socialists throughout the nation in deep-blue House Districts. They also cover America 250, Mamdani's and Trump's opposing views of America, and the FIFA controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 1 · 5 min
#Todayin1776 and Today: We're Celebrating the Improbable Birth of America!
This week's episode of Getting Hammered comes in the form of a bunch of readings from our Founders throughout June of 1776. Check the feed through June as we learn about George Washington's travails, watch the Lee Resolution pass the Continental Congress, see delegations argue with their hometown politicians over how they should vote, and hear why Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration! I'll add the the feed as we get closer to July 4th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 24 · 1 hr 12 min
Which Is Shallower: Socialists or the Reflecting Pool?
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss the ongoing-ish deal with Iran, and what all the actors are up to, the controversy at the Reflecting Pool, which is important to new one-issue fountain voters, Ro Khanna's wealth confiscation fantasies, the rise of the socialists in New York City, and the McD's apple pie, back on the menu! A sad goodbye to Georgia politico, tough lady, and damn good Dawg, radio host Martha Zoller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 17 · 1 hr 5 min
And Iran, Iran So Far Away, From This Deal?
Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss the Iran deal, what might be in it and what's not, and whether we are better off than before the war started. They talk UFC night at the White House, the charming Euros of the World Cup, Wemby, Brunson, and a touching tribute to Gene Shalit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 12 · 8 min
#Todayin1776: John Adams Explains Why Jefferson Was Chosen To Write the Declaration
This is from John Adams' later autobiography, but is based on contemporaneous notes, so we'll count it. It gives a great, and frank, assessment of his and Jefferson's strengths and weaknesses, plus a digression on the power of oratory and the power of shutting up, which many public figures could learn from today. The gist is "talk less, write more," if I may borrow from "Hamilton." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 10 · 5 min
#Todayin1776: Maryland Delegates Write Home For Opinions on Independence
This bit of the journals of the Continental Congress from June 10, 1776 illustrates how some delegations were confused as to how to proceed on behalf of their colonies on the question of independence. They're trying to collect advice in time for the June 28 postponed decision on the Lee Resolution after the Declaration has been written. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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