Gaslit Nation

An empowerment book for women and girls shouldn't have to include how to survive sexual assault, domestic violence, and being drugged. But in a society that protects the Epstein class and the Cornell 7, it's an infuriating necessity. 
In this week's bonus episode, Andrea shares a sobering reading from her upcoming book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women. Alongside chapters on fundraising, marketing, and finding your creative power and voice, she had to write a chapter that should not have to exist: resources for survivors. It's an urgent call-to-action that we must stop excusing predatory behavior as "boys will be boys." 
This week's bonus show, available in full for our communities on Patreon and Substack that power Gaslit Nation, we get a deep dive on the exciting new leadership of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, American elections to watch, Russia's tentacles in the Trump regime, and more. Thank you to everyone who makes Gaslit Nation possible – we could not make this show without you! 
Events at Gaslit Nation:
Join our speakeasy benefit for Ukraine October 15 from anywhere! Or come in person. Get your tax deductible ticket, grab a VIP gift bag, enjoy refreshments, inspiring conversations, live French jazz, and a sneak peak of Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women. Your ticket supports Razom for Ukraine, an impactful humanitarian aid organization. Get your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/people-power-ukraines-unreasonable-women-tickets-2002002955733

Help build the rage wave! Join our Gaslit Nation x Indivisible phonebank for Angie Nixon for US Senate in Florida. Come phonebank, get a quick training, for your chance to win fun prizes and help elect Angie Nixon to the Senate: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/1022879/

Olga Lautman is joining Andrea on her book tour this fall. Come say hi: https://www.andreachalupa.com/unreasonable/

Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com

There's hopium, and then there's the law. Republicans slipped on their own banana peel when they had Jack Smith testify in MAGA's lawless quest to punish law enforcement and other investigators for rightfully trying to contain corrupt career criminal, trust fund nepo baby, convicted felon, and p*d*ph*le Donald Trump. 
Gaslit Nation and Mueller, She Wrote have had our disagreements over the years. But we both agree that the 2028 Presidential Primary–yes, we will have a primary–must center Jack Smith for Attorney General. He is the only person who has proven the will to stand up to the Kremlin Klown Kar. Every candidate must also be on the record of who they would consider for Attorney General. And they must each say on the record whether they will ensure that Donald Trump gets rightfully prosecuted for both trying to violently overthrow our democracy on January 6 and stealing a Sizzler Buffet-worth of highly confidential national security documents for enemy spies and other dangerous opportunists to feast on at Mar-a-lago. 
How can Trump still be prosecuted after leaving office? In this episode, we break it all down, and also discuss ways to take on the Cornell 7/Epstein class, and how to Trump-proof our democracy, learning from the mistakes of Merrick Garland. 
To join the discussion and shape the show at our Monday salons, grab a discounted membership at Patreon and Substack. Patreon members can give the gift of membership. 
Join us Thursday, October 15 in New York City or online from anywhere in the world, for our speakeasy benefit for Razom for Ukraine, with a live performance by French singer-songwriter Marine Futin and a silent auction where you can bid to work one-on-one with Andrea on your own book, film, or creative idea. 
Ukraine needs our help: Jared Kushner is palling around with Putin in Moscow and pushing a land-for-peace deal, which didn't work with Hitler and won't work with Putin. The evening also celebrates Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire. Pre-order by November 10 from your local bookstore or Bookshop.org, forward your receipt to GaslitNation@gmail.com, and we'll mail you a thank-you gift and a signed book plate. 
If you're in the North East, come meet us on the book tour, with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman joining several stops. Tickets and tour dates are here: https://www.andreachalupa.com/unreasonable/
Join our October 28 phone bank with Indivisible for Angie Nixon for US Senate in Florida: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/1022879/
Gaslit Nation is funded by our listeners, and we could not make this show without you. Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism in these tough times.
Show Notes
Want a plan to bash the patriarchy? Live your most creative life and help build a better world with Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807202/a-reasonable-guide-for-unreasonable-women-by-andrea-chalupa/
Speakeasy Benefit for Razom for Ukraine, Thursday, October 15: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/people-power-ukraines-unreasonable-women-tickets-2002002955733
Book tour dates with Olga Lautman: https://www.andreachalupa.com/unreasonable/
Andrea and Allison Gill on Merrick Garland: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit/posts/we-people-vs-163208046
Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters (Senate Judiciary Committee): https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/oversight-of-jack-smiths-abuse-of-authority-and-the-targeting-of-republicans-and-related-matters
Jack Smith Defends Handling of Trump Probes at Heated Senate Hearing (CBS News): https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/jack-smith-trump-senate-judiciary-committee-hearing/
Senator Mixes Up Iowa Hawkeyes With Atlanta Hawks During Jack Smith Hearing (Straight Arrow News): https://san.com/cc/senator-confuses-atlanta-hawks-with-iowa-hawkeyes-during-jack-smith-hearing
Judge Dismisses Charges Against Trump in D.C. Election Case After Jack Smith Request (CBS News): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-smith-dismiss-charges-trump-d-c-election-case/
Can Trump Face Criminal Trials After Leaving Office? What to Know (Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/01/14/can-trump-face-criminal-trials-after-leaving-office-what-to-know-as-jack-smith-argues-he-couldve-been-found-guilty/
Ukraine's Refusal to Give Up Territory to Russia Stalls Peace Deal, Trump Envoy Says (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-refusal-to-give-up-territory-to-russia-stalls-peace-deal-trump-envoy-says/
EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:
Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit and GaslitNation.Substack.com for our community

New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon or Substack!

The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon or Substack!

As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world.

Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com

Fascism is toxic masculinity, and the cure starts at home. Comedian, recovering Catholic and proud girl dad Pete Dominick, host of Stand Up! with Pete Dominick, turns the mic on Andrea to talk about her new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire, and how her family's Ukrainian immigrant wisdom holds the key for how we overcome a patriarchal nightmare of complicit silence and cover-ups: "when they throw you out the door, climb back in through the window."
The Cornell 7 are the Epstein Class–the elite criminal impunity of male dominance destroying our planet. Andrea and Pete discuss what men can actually do, starting with Pete's rule that, "the standard you walk past is the standard you accept." They also discuss the darker truth of the "Cornell 7," the frat rapists accused of drugging and gang-raping a young woman in 2024, an investigation that has been reopened thanks to the survivor bringing a lawsuit. They also discuss why liberal blue cities may be raising the next generation of the Cornell 7/Epstein Class, and how to stop it. 
They cover the historical context of male dominance culture, including Christian nationalism, how women were founders of the Christian church before being pushed aside, why Mary Magdalene was arguably the first Pope and how her story–for the most part–survived 2,000 years of patriarchal revisions. They also discuss Iceland's general strike by women that ushered in a female-driven revolution, the MAGA threat against the growing psychedelics market being fast-tracked by Trump's FDA, and the divine feminine experiences widely reported at the heart of indigenous medicinal experiences, and much, much more. 
The world is ending. The world has always been ending. So Gaslit Nation adopts its official policy, coming soon to a t-shirt: STFU and build something. It's a rallying cry to stop doomscrolling and start planting seeds of hope and change. Progress is thanks to our unleashed creativity, defiance, and beautiful imaginations. 
And if you want to help us build something–a resistance to Putin–get your tax deductible ticket to Gaslit Nation and Razom's Speakeasy Benefit October 15 in New York City – you can join and be part of the festivities from anywhere: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/people-power-ukraines-unreasonable-women-tickets-2002002955733?
Gaslit Nation is funded by our listeners. We could not make this show without you. Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism in these tough times.
If you pre-order Andrea's new book and forward your receipt to GaslitNation@gmail.com, we will send you a pre-order thank you gift and a signed book plate to easily stick on to your book so that you have a signed copy.
A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women shows how to overcome the emotional exhaustion deliberately caused by fascist movements and turn our rage and grief into meaningful projects you and the world need.
For your gift, pre-order A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women from bookshop.org 
Show Notes
Join us for a speakeasy benefit for Razom for Ukraine: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/people-power-ukraines-unreasonable-women-tickets-2002002955733?
Want a plan to bash the patriarchy? Live your most creative life and help build a better world with Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807202/a-reasonable-guide-for-unreasonable-women-by-andrea-chalupa/
Stand Up! with Pete Dominick: https://sitdownwithpete.substack.com/
Razom for Ukraine: https://www.razomforukraine.org
A good overview of the Cornell 7: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd2tYudlnHl/?img_index=1
Cornell rarely expels students in sex assault cases https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/09/29/cornell-sexual-assault-rape-expelled-data-exclusive/92007157007/
Frat brothers rape 300% more. One in 5 women is sexually assaulted on campus. Should we ban frats? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/24/rape-sexual-assault-ban-frats
District attorney reopens case of alleged Cornell University 'gang rape' (ABC News): https://abcnews.com/US/district-attorney-reopens-case-alleged-cornell-university-gang/story?id=136806149
New York prosecutors reopen investigation after student files lawsuit (CNN): https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/us/cornell-university-sexual-assault-lawsuit-hnk
50 years ago, the women of Iceland took a day off, and inspired the world (National Geographic): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/icelandic-womens-strike
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the world's first elected female president (France 24): https://www.france24.com/en/20200731-vigdis-finnbogadottir-the-world-s-first-elected-female-president
36 Bankers, 96 Years In Jail (Reykjavík Grapevine): https://grapevine.is/news/2018/02/07/36-bankers-96-years-in-jail/
Why Only One Top Banker Went to Jail for the Financial Crisis (Better Markets): https://bettermarkets.org/newsroom/why-only-one-top-banker-went-jail-financial-crisis/
The lie that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute persisted for centuries (America Magazine): https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2024/06/28/mary-magdalene-theater-review-gospel-248254/
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle, by Karen L. King (Polebridge Press): https://www.westarinstitute.org/product/the-gospel-of-mary-of-magdala
Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter, by Colleen Dulle: https://www.amazon.com/Struck-Down-Not-Destroyed-Reporter/dp/0593728424
Trump signs order fast tracking review of psychedelics for mental health (NPR): https://www.npr.org/2026/04/18/nx-s1-5789859/psychedelic-treatments-mental-health
Trump orders FDA to fast-track reviews of psychedelic drugs after lobbying podcaster (Fierce Biotech): https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/trump-orders-fda-fast-track-reviews-psychedelic-drugs-after-lobbying-podcaster
D. J. Taylor: Orwell's Voice (The Orwell Foundation): https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/articles/d-j-taylor-orwells-voice/
Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas Wedding Was Secretly Bankrolled by a Russian Oligarch (ProPublica): https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-wedding-bankrolled-russian-oligarch-umar-kremlev-putin
Gospel of Mary Magdalene https://www.theculturium.com/gospel-of-mary-magdalene/
The Forgotten History of Mary's Gospels https://time.com/4083110/marys-gospels/
'The good of the world partly depends on unhistoric acts' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/10/the-good-of-the-world-partly-depends-on-unhistoric-acts
Psychedelics and the Embodied Feminine https://maps.org/news/bulletin/psychedelics-and-the-embodied-feminine/
EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:
Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit and GaslitNation.Substack.com for our community

New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon or Substack!

The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon or Substack!

As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world.

Don't call it a blue wave. It's a rage wave. The Trump family crime spree has destroyted countless lives. People are fighting back. As MLK warned: don't sleep through a revolution. Join one of the many events from Gaslit Nation as we countdown to the midterms and plants seeds of hope and change beyond.
Events at Gaslit Nation:
October 5th 1pm ET: Substack Live with Leah Greenberg of Indivisible to answer your questions about the midterms

October 13 2:45pm ET: Substack Live with Leigh McGowan/Politics Girl 

October 15th 6:30pm ET: Speakeasy Benefit for Razom for Ukraine – join from anywhere. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/people-power-ukraines-unreasonable-women-tickets-2002002955733

October 28 3pm ET: Get out the vote at the Indivisible Gaslit Nation Phonebank for Angie Nixon: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/1022879

A Reasonable Guide North East Book Tour! https://www.andreachalupa.com/unreasonable/

Congratulations Russiagate skeptics! The US is now on its way to becoming a Russian-style oligarchy, with the help of traitors and useful idiots across the political spectrum. (Not to mention giant evil corporations and complicit politicians, like Gavin Newsom, who let the Ellisons consolidate even more power and disinformation weapons). This week, investigative journalist David Corn of Mother Jones joins Gaslit Nation to discuss his new must-read book How Russia Won: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and the Fight for America.
To those who can't accept facts, like basic history and geography, Russiagate was never a hoax. It was a ten-year covert operation by the Kremlin, using the same active measures used on formerly colonized states, like Georgia and Ukraine. David and Andrea discuss the 966-page bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, which most people missed, because it came out during the hellscape of the 2020 pandemic and election as Trump laid the groundwork for his violent January 6 coup. In that report, several Republican leaders in Congress, including current Trump/Kushner lapdog Marco Rubio, made clear that the Kremlin did everything in their power to help bring Trump to power, and in turn, Trump did everything in his power to cover-up that crime for Putin. We also discuss the smoking gun of Russiagate: longtime Kremlin operative Paul Manafort, Trump's longtime friend and neighbor in Trump Tower, and the close associate for many years of Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian intelligence officer. 
Again, to the skeptics: way to go, guys! You got what you wanted: Russia pouring gasoline on our own homegrown crises, making everything worse. Gaslit Nation openly calls on Fox News, Joe Rogan, and even the weird hold-outs at The Intercept to feature David and his new book, How Russia Won. To hear our full conversation, where we go into the very different reasons why people across the political spectrum refused to believe Russiagate or had their own agendas, and a deep dive on the Kremlin's active measures, subscribe on Patreon or Substack to hear the full discussion. Discounted annual memberships are available, and you can give the gift of memberships on Patreon. Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you. 
 
Show Notes:
Important event! Razom for Ukraine x Gaslit Nation are holding an exclusive sneak peak of Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women, and live podcast-taping. Every ticket and silent auction item supports Razom's invaluable life-saving humanitarian work in Ukraine. Get your tickets here to be a part of an unforgettable night in NYC -- no matter where you live -- join virtually or in person. Tickets and details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/people-power-ukraines-unreasonable-women-tickets-2002002955733
Fascists try to emotionally exhaust us. A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire is your playbook for fighting back. Master how to overcome the burnout by turning your grief and rage into meaningful projects you love and the world needs. A Swiss Army knife for women (a favorite target of authoritarians), this inspiring book is for anyone ready to create purpose in chaotic times. 
Pre-order A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women by November 10th and forward your receipt to GaslitNation@gmail.com. We'll send you a thank-you gift and a signed book plate to make your first-edition personally inscribed.