Texas’s Radical Roots—With David Griscom
David Griscom joins Danny and Derek to explore Texas’s overlooked history of populism and socialism—and what it might mean for the left in the state today.
The Nation Podcasts
Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
Why SCOTUS is Climate Action’s Biggest Threat w/ Elie Mystal / A People’s Climate
That’s why The Nation’s justice correspondent Elie Mystal thinks the Supreme Court should matter to everyone who cares about climate and environmental justice. The Court can block laws, limit the government’s ability to regulate polluters, and prevent communities from holding powerful companies accountable. In this episode of A People’s Climate, Shilpi Chhotray talks with Mystal about what happens when some of the biggest climate battles are being decided by a few unelected judges.
Mystal explains how the Supreme Court has changed, why its decisions have such far-reaching consequences for climate policy, and what recent cases like Loper Bright and Suncor Energy reveal about the stakes. He and Shilpi also discuss what can be done to change the Supreme Court, including stronger ethics rules, term limits, and expanding the number of justices.
Note: At the time of recording, Justice Samuel Alito had not recused himself from Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, which is discussed in this episode. On September 28, 2026, Alito recused himself from the case.
Key Topics
- The Supreme Court & climate: Why the Court has become such an important battleground over climate laws, environmental protections, and corporate accountability.
- The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court can block or change major climate policies through emergency rulings—without hearing full arguments or explanations.
- Loper Bright & the EPA: What overturning Chevron deference means for regulating polluters and protecting the environment.
- Fossil fuel accountability: What the Suncor Energy case could mean for efforts to hold oil and gas companies responsible for climate-related harms.
- Supreme Court ethics: Questions around conflicts of interest, financial ties, recusals, and the lack of a binding ethics code for the justices.
- Reforming the Court: What could be done to change the Supreme Court, including term limits, stronger ethics rules, and adding more justices.
- Climate & political power: Why understanding the courts is essential to understanding where climate policy gets made—and where it can be blocked.
Resources
- Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America by Elie Mystal
- Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution by Elie Mystal
- Contempt of Court podcast hosted by Elie Mystal
- The Inside Story of Five Days That Remade the Supreme Court
Credits
Presented by Counterstream Media and The Nation
Powered by Wildseeds Fund
Host: Shilpi Chhotray
Executive Producer: Mindy Ramaker
Engineer: Dennis Maxwell
Project Manager: Asia Simms
Elie Mystal
Elie Mystal is The Nation's justice correspondent and a columnist; host of its legal podcast,Contempt of Court; and author of the weekly newsletter “Elie v. U.S.” He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at Type Media Center and the author of the New York Times best-sellers Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution and Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Search Results placeholder
Democratic US Congressional candidate James Talarico addresses supporters in Houston on July 19, 2026.
(Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)Danny and Derek speak with David Griscom, cohost of Left Reckoning and author of The Myth of Red Texas: Cowboys, Populism, and Class War in the Radical South, to talk about the all-but-ignored history of left-wing politics in Texas. Topics include: the current state of Texas politics, the Farmers’ Alliance and the People’s Party, the Texas Socialist Party and its newspaper The Rebel, the role of religion in Texas socialism, and the prospects for socialism in modern-day Texas.
Along with the book and podcast, be sure to also check out David’s Substack, The Rattler.
Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: TheNation.com/subscribe
The Nation Podcasts
Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
War Breaks in Tigray, Brazil Elections, Houthi/Ansar Allah Attacks Hit Saudi Airports / American Prestige
Derek has returned, but he keeps trying to get Danny to go to some seminar led by a charismatic “mentor” he encountered in his travels. In this week’s news: war breaks out in Ethiopia’s Tigray region (0:43); Flavio Bolsonaro wins the first round of Brazil’s presidential election as the right makes major gains (6:46); in Yemen, the government’s counteroffensive against Ansar Allah stalls (9:51), the group attacks airports in Saudi Arabia and Yemen (12:40), and Saudi Arabia seeks outside military support (13:42); the U.S. prepares to resume its war against Iran as the Islamic Republic intensifies attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz (17:44); in Japan, a U.S. Marine’s arrest for alleged murder sparks protests against the American military presence on Okinawa (22:18); Sudan’s military advances in North Kordofan (25:20) and Sudanese military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rejects peace talks (28:06); in Mali, Tuareg rebels withdraw from Kidal as government forces retake the town (29:54); the U.S. and the WHO seek information about suspected plague cases at a Russian lab (29:54); Russian attacks across Ukraine kill at least 25 (32:57); Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calls a snap election (35:00); the U.S. bombs another alleged drug boat in the Caribbean (37:12); and Trump creates a new AI task force called the Super Intelligence Force (38:12).
Note: Since recording, Trump has said that the U.S. will not attack Iran before the November midterm elections.
Watch a replay of last night’s livestream with journalist Michael Fox about Brazil’s elections.
Subscribe and check out our History of Modern Palestine series with Rashid Khalidi.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Search Results placeholder
