Immigration debates feel uniquely modern — but they aren’t.

In the 1850s, millions of Irish and German immigrants arrived in the United States seeking opportunity, democracy, and freedom from famine, political persecution, and economic collapse. What they found was not universal welcome — but suspicion, fear, and organized political backlash.

In this mini-episode, I explore the rise of the Know Nothing Party, an anti-immigrant political movement built on nativism, anti-Catholicism, and fears about jobs, culture, religion, and political power. We’ll look at how the movement gained traction, how violence shaped elections — including the deadly Baltimore election riots of 1856 — and how immigration anxieties became central to national politics.

Most importantly, we’ll examine the historical pattern: immigrant groups once seen as incompatible with American democracy eventually becoming fully integrated into it.

History doesn’t tell us what to think — but it does give us context.

And context matters.

This is a mini-episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast — where we explore the past to better understand the present.

#KnowNothingParty
#AmericanHistory
#ImmigrationHistory
#Nativism
#1850s
#IrishImmigration
#GermanImmigration
#USPolitics
#ElectionViolence
#Journalism
#TheJournalismOfEverything

What does protest look like in 2026?

In this episode, independent journalist Darisse Smith speaks with Peter, the founder of Coqui—a crowdsourced, live-map community alert app designed to help people stay informed about ICE and police presence in their neighborhoods in real time.

Peter explains how Coqui works similarly to Waze, but instead of traffic or potholes, users can report nearby ICE activity, upload photos, confirm reports through community verification, and communicate locally—without confrontation and while remaining anonymous.

Together, we discuss:

• Whether sharing information can itself be a form of protest

• How fear affects undocumented and documented immigrants alike

• Why situational awareness matters for everyday life—work, school, pharmacies, and small businesses

• Claims that apps like this endanger law enforcement, and what the evidence actually shows

• Free speech, anonymity, and the role of technology in modern civic action

• Immigration data, crime statistics, and how media narratives shape public perception

This conversation is not about encouraging confrontation. It’s about visibility, humanity, and choice—and what it means to live in a country where some people are afraid to move freely in their own communities.

As always, this episode challenges listeners to seek multiple sources, question messaging, and examine how power and policy affect real lives.

If it affects your life, it’s worth examining.

#Immigration
#ICE
#CivilLiberties
#FreeSpeech
#Technology
#CommunitySafety
#CurrentEvents
#Politics

• (00:00:00) - Welcome & Why Immigration Is Personal
• (00:03:45) - Fear, Enforcement, and the Reality on the Ground
• (00:06:10) - Introducing Peter & the Coqui App
• (00:08:00) - “It’s Like Waze, But for ICE”
• (00:12:30) - Crowdsourcing, Misinformation & Safety Controls
• (00:16:45) - Why Peter Built This App
• (00:20:30) - Protest vs. Awareness: What Is This, Really?
• (00:25:10) - Does Tracking ICE Endanger Agents?
• (00:30:00) - Tech, Speech, and Government Pushback
• (00:34:45) - Personal Risk, Threats & Why He Keeps Going
• (00:39:00) - Patriotism, Power, and Who America Is For
• (00:44:20) - Real Stories: When the App Helped
• (00:48:30) - Immigration Data vs. Political Narratives
• (00:54:10) - Final Thoughts: Why This Matters Now
• (00:59:10) - Closing & Where to Find More

What is driving Donald Trump’s foreign policy in his second term—and is it rooted in strategy, history, or impulse?

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, independent journalist Darisse Smith speaks with Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Kupchan previously served on the National Security Council in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, advising presidents on U.S. foreign policy and global security.

The conversation examines the rapid escalation of Trump’s second-term foreign policy—from U.S. military actions in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, to renewed efforts to acquire Greenland and mounting pressure on NATO allies. Kupchan explains how “America First” has evolved in Trump’s second term, why it looks less restrained than before, and how elements of the Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny are resurfacing in modern geopolitics.

We explore whether Trump is attempting to revive a 19th-century vision of American power in a 21st-century world shaped by cyber threats, globalization, pandemics, and climate change—and what that means for U.S. alliances, global stability, and America’s long-term credibility.

Topics include:

• How Trump’s second-term foreign policy differs from his first

• Venezuela, Greenland, and the limits of military power

• NATO, Europe, and America’s shifting role in the world

• Neo-isolationism vs. global entanglement

• What allies are doing to manage uncertainty—and what comes next

A deep, historically grounded conversation about power, geography, alliances, and whether the United States can ever truly “pull up the drawbridge.”

#USForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #TrumpForeignPolicy #AmericaFirst
#InternationalRelations #GlobalPolitics #NATO #Venezuela #Greenland
#NationalSecurity #ForeignPolicyPodcast #PoliticalAnalysis
#TheJournalismOfEverything #CharlesKupchan

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast, I sit down with retired U.S. Army Colonel Ron Gallimore — Cold War officer, parachutist, engineer commander, Iraq veteran, and the senior leader who oversaw my own deployment — for a candid, boots-on-the-ground conversation about duty, morality, leadership, war, and the Constitution.

We talk about:

• What the military oath actually requires
• Can soldiers refuse illegal orders — and how realistic is it?
• What 9/11 looked like inside Army command
• Why some leaders get away with bad decisions
• How the Venezuelan strike raises questions of war crimes and accountability
• Why civilians misunderstand the chain of command
• Why America’s military culture is mission-focused — and why that matters
• Whether someone who has never served should run the Department of Defense

From Korea liaison missions in Iraq to Fort Bragg’s airborne culture and the complexities of Iraq’s collapse, Gallimore takes us inside the moments most Americans never see — where ethics, survival, and loyalty collide.

Stay to the end — his response to whether non-military politicians should run the Pentagon is blunt, uncomfortable, and timely.

Let me know what you think:

Do you believe service members can disobey illegal orders?
Was the Venezuela operation a justified strike — or a war crime?
Should Pete Hegseth be Secretary of Defense?

Comment, rate, and share — the debate starts here.

— Darisse Smith
Journalist & Host, The Journalism of Everything Podcast

#PeteHegseth #Venezuela #JournalismOfEverything #MilitaryEthics #VeteransVoices #ColonelGallimore #IllegalOrders #MilitaryOath #ChainOfCommand #IraqWarStories #NationalSecurityTalk #LeadershipInWar #DefensePolitics #USMilitaryCulture #MoralityAndWar #WarCrimesDebate #MilitaryLeadership #PoliticalPodcast #VeteransPodcast #ForeignPolicy #HistoryAndConflict

• (00:00:00) - Opening: A Message to Soldiers Sparks Outrage
• (00:02:01) - What the Military Oath Actually Says
• (00:04:02) - Can You Really Disobey an Illegal Order?
• (00:05:45) - Meet COL Ron Gallimore
• (00:08:00) - How We Met: Baghdad, Mosul, and a Trial by Fire
• (00:12:01) - 9/11 Inside the Army: “We Thought It Was an Exercise”
• (00:15:30) - “You’re Not Retiring — You’re Going to Bragg.”
• (00:18:00) - What Makes a Paratrooper Legend
• (00:19:45) - Leadership vs. Blind Obedience
• (00:24:00) - My Lai, Moral Failure, and Who Takes the Blame
• (00:26:45) - Combat Reality: The First Bullet Changes Everything
• (00:29:00) - Convoys, IEDs, and My Wake-Up Call
• (00:31:30) - Training Iraq’s Army: “They Wanted TVs, Not Doctrine”
• (00:33:45) - Americans Aren’t Wanted Everywhere — and Don’t Understand It
• (00:36:46) - The Brotherhood of Combat Veterans (1% of America)
• (00:38:00) - Illegal Orders Explained: A Practical Test
• (00:41:00) - Would Senior Officers Push Back?
• (00:44:30) - Responsibility at 22: Holding Lives and Millions in Assets
• (00:46:45) - Venezuela Strike: Who Gets Held Accountable?
• (00:49:00) - Should Civilians Run the Pentagon?
• (00:52:01) - Can America Lead Without Looking for War?
• (00:54:30) - Why Iraq Collapsed and Nobody Saw It Coming
• (00:56:00) - Closing: What Do YOU Think About Illegal Orders and Leadership?

Today I’m talking with Andy Haynes — stand-up comedian, writer, podcaster, and sharp cultural commentator whose work blends humor, honesty, self-deprecation and social critique. Andy has appeared on Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Comedy Central, Roast Battle, and more. His comedy often explores politics, culture, identity, and the uncomfortable truths we don’t always want to say out loud. In this conversation, we break down how comedy has changed, why some jokes “land” differently today, and how comedians navigate the tension between free speech, responsibility, and backlash. Andy offers a candid look at punching up vs. punching down, the post-Trump comedy landscape, the rise of “culture-war comedy,” and what comics owe their audiences in an era of rapid political polarization.

We also talk about:

✔️ When jokes have real-world consequences

✔️ Why certain groups became “off-limits”

✔️ Comedy’s backlash to wokeness ✔️ How free speech became a political weapon

✔️ What it’s like to perform for veterans, working-class crowds, and online audiences

✔️ Why comedy became more divisive — and whether it can course-correct

✔️ How social media changed what it means to be a comedian today

Andy’s honesty, depth, and perspective make this one of the most insightful conversations I’ve had about the state of comedy, culture, and America.

Tell me in the comments: Do you think comedy changed for better or worse — and why? —

ABOUT ANDY HAYNES Andy is a stand-up comic, writer, and actor based in New York. His credits include Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Comedy Central Presents, The Pete Holmes Show, Adam Ruins Everything, and multiple digital series. He hosts the podcast Beautiful Boys with Mike Cannon. —

If you enjoyed this interview, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations about journalism, culture, and politics.

#AndyHaynes #StandupComedy #ComedyPodcast #ComedyCulture #PoliticalComedy #FreeSpeech #CancelCulture #PunchingUp #PunchingDown #Wokeness #CultureWar #MediaBias #TheJournalismOfEverything #PodcastInterview #ComedyDiscussion #TruthInComedy #AmericanCulture #SocialCommentary

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Andy Haynes
• (00:02:05) - Social Media, Comedy & the New Hustle
• (00:07:10) - The Reality of Starting Out in Comedy
• (00:11:30) - Andy’s Origin Story: Bill Hicks, Campfires & Open Mics
• (00:17:00) - How Comedy Changed After 2016
• (00:22:25) - Comedy, Free Speech & Consequences
• (00:26:45) - Journalism, Media Power & What Comes Next
• (00:31:00) - Veterans, War & Comics Learning to Listen
• (00:36:00) - The American Working Class & Liberal Blind Spots
• (00:41:30) - Can Comedy Open Political Dialogue?
• (00:45:40) - Final Thoughts & Closing

What happens when entertainment loses its purpose?

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast, host Darisse Smith and comedian Andy Haynes take on a surprising question: Should comedy just entertain, or should it mean something?

Inspired by a raw and unforgettable quote from Sean Penn — “If I just need entertainment, I’ll go buy an eight ball and two hookers” — Darisse and Andy explore the fine line between art that comforts and art that challenges. They unpack how modern comedy, social media, and Hollywood have shifted from thought-provoking storytelling to algorithm-driven distraction — and what we lose when entertainment becomes hollow.

Join this insightful, funny, and deeply human conversation about the purpose of art, empathy in humor, and the changing face of American entertainment.

Is comedy supposed to make us think — or just make us laugh?

#AndyHaynes #DarisseSmith #TheJournalismOfEverything #ComedyAndCulture #SeanPenn #FreeSpeech #MeaningfulComedy #PodcastInterview #EntertainmentIndustry #ArtAndMeaning #MediaAndSociety #PoliticalComedy #GeorgeCarlin #LarryFlynt #FirstAmendmentRights

• (00:00:00) - Opening Quote: “If the First Amendment Will Protect a Scumbag Like Me…”
• (00:00:45) - Who Was Larry Flynt?
• (00:02:00) - The Rise of Hustler Magazine
• (00:03:15) - Pushing the Limits of Decency
• (00:04:00) - Violence and Retaliation
• (00:05:01) - Politics, Parody, and Outrage
• (00:06:02) - The Lawsuit: Hustler v. Falwell
• (00:07:03) - The Supreme Court’s Landmark Ruling
• (00:08:00) - How the Case Changed Comedy
• (00:09:15) - Introducing Andy Hayne
• (00:10:30) - Social Media, Censorship, and Comedy’s New Reality
• (00:14:00) - When Jokes Become Political
• (00:25:00) - The Role of Comedy in a Divided America
• (00:44:00) - Shared Humanity and Perspective
• (00:56:01) - Closing Reflection: George Carlin’s “American Dream”
• (01:03:00) - Outro: The Price of Truth

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast, host Darisse Smith interviews Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Barry Siegel, chair of UC Irvine’s Literary Journalism Program and director of its Center for Storytelling. Together, they explore the evolving role of journalists in America, the meaning of FAKE NEWS, and what it really takes to uphold truth in an age of partisanship and polarization.

Siegel shares rare insights into the pressure of getting stories right under tight deadlines, how fact-checking evolved at major newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, and why an independent press is the backbone of any functioning democracy. The two also dive deep into the decline of traditional media, the impact of the internet on journalism, and Thomas Jefferson’s timeless defense of a free press.

It’s a fascinating and candid discussion about truth, storytelling, and survival in modern journalism—perfect for anyone who cares about free speech, ethics, and the future of news.

Listen to learn:

• Why Barry Siegel believes the press must “empower the powerless and oppress the powerful”

• How the term fake news became a political weapon

• What the fall of classifieds and rise of the internet did to journalism

• Why independent media is essential to democracy

• Whether truly balanced news can still succeed today

#JournalismPodcast #BarrySiegel #FreeSpeech #PressFreedom #MediaEthics #FakeNews #DarisseSmith #Storytelling #PulitzerPrize #LosAngelesTimes #UCIrvine #IndependentPress #Democracy #NewsMedia #PodcastInterview #TheJournalismOfEverything

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: Pulitzer Prize Journalist Barry Siegel
• (00:01:00) - The Mission of Journalism: Empower the Powerless
• (00:03:00) - The Emotional Toll of Staying Informed
• (00:04:00) - “Fake News”: Myth or Manipulation?
• (00:06:00) - Fact-Checking, Deadlines, and Fear of Mistakes
• (00:09:00) - Accuracy vs. Perspective
• (00:11:30) - The Evolution of Journalism Since the 1970s
• (00:13:00) - The Collapse of the Newspaper Business Model
• (00:15:00) - The Rise of New Storytelling Platforms
• (00:16:30) - From Shared Narratives to Polarized Realities
• (00:18:31) - Confirmation Bias and Media Comfort Zones
• (00:19:32) - Journalism Meets Marketing
• (00:21:00) - From Reporter to Author: Selling the Story
• (00:22:30) - Is American Journalism Unique?
• (00:26:31) - Thomas Jefferson and the Free Press
• (00:28:00) - Jefferson’s Call for Self-Regulation
• (00:29:01) - Freedom of the Press and Speech Under Threat
• (00:32:02) - Can Democracy Survive Without an Independent Press?
• (00:33:03) - Should the Media Criticize Government Without Limits?
• (00:37:00) - Responsibility, Consequences, and Judgment Calls
• (00:38:01) - Can Balanced News Still Succeed Today?
• (00:40:02) - The Role of Voice and Perspective
• (00:41:03) - Closing Thoughts: The Future of Storytelling

“Our media is not free. It’s the enemy of the people.” — Donald Trump, January 6, 2021

What happens when a U.S. president calls the press “the enemy”? In this powerful episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast, host Darisse Smith investigates how Donald Trump’s sustained attacks on journalists have reshaped American democracy — and how history warns us of the dangers ahead.

From Trump’s early use of “fake news” in 2016 to his executive order cutting funding for NPR and PBS, this episode explores the chilling pattern of censorship, retaliation, and propaganda that has taken root in the United States.

You’ll hear from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Barry Siegel, chair of UC Irvine’s Literary Journalism Program, as he discusses what it truly means to “empower the powerless and oppress the powerful,” and why an independent press is the backbone of democracy.

Darisse also connects the modern assault on journalism to its historical roots — from Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” to the First Amendment’s founding vision — reminding us that free speech and a free press aren’t partisan luxuries. They are the essence of freedom itself.

“If you believe the media should be censored, you are not a patriot. You stand for authoritarianism.”

This is one of the most urgent and thought-provoking episodes yet — a deep dive into how truth, power, and journalism intersect in 2025.

Listen, share, and subscribe to support independent journalism.

Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack.

#TheJournalismOfEverythingPodcast | #FreedomOfThePress | #DemocracyUnderTrump | #FakeNews | #BarrySiegel | #PulitzerPrize | #DarisseSmith | #IndependentMedia | #FirstAmendment | #Authoritarianism | #PressFreedom | #JournalismMatters | #MediaEthics | #ThomasPaine | #CommonSense | #TrumpAdministration | #Censorship | #NPR | #PBS | #TruthMatters #FirstAmendmentRights #FreedomofthePress

• (00:00:00) - Trump Declares the Media the Enemy
• (00:01:01) - The Origin of ‘Fake News’
• (00:04:30) - Trump’s First ‘Fake News’ Tweet
• (00:06:31) - Executive Order: Defunding NPR and PBS
• (00:08:32) - The AP Ban and the Collapse of Press Pool Access
• (00:10:33) - Pentagon Pledge: Signing Away Press Freedom
• (00:12:34) - Why a Free Press Matters
• (00:14:00) - What Happens Without a Free Press
• (00:15:01) - Guest Interview: Pulitzer Winner Barry Siegel
• (00:18:02) - Journalism Then vs. Now
• (00:32:03) - The Fragmented Narrative
• (00:40:04) - Global Context: Journalism in Democracies vs. Authoritarian States
• (00:42:05) - Can You Have Democracy Without a Free Press?
• (00:45:06) - Beyond Journalism: The War on Speech
• (00:48:07) - Can Journalism Still Be Balanced?
• (00:57:08) - Reflection: The Patriotism of Truth
• (01:00:00) - Reflection: The Patriotism of Truth
• (01:03:01) - Closing Thoughts: The Message Matters
• (01:05:02) - Outro: Subscribe and Stay Curious