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Useful Idiots with Katie Halper and Aaron Maté

Useful Idiots, LLC
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Genocide Convention

Useful Idiots is an informative and irreverent politics podcast with journalist Aaron Maté and podcaster/writer Katie Halper. Episodes feature analysis of the political news of the week and exclusive interviews, with humor, commentary and dissection of why both Republicans and Democrats suck. Join Aaron and Katie as they examine important stories that have slipped through the cracks and what the m... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes387Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Useful Idiots

Latest Episodes

Go to our sponsor venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.

Visit www.functionhealth.com/USEFUL and use gift code USEFUL25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.

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Go to our sponsor venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.

Visit www.functionhealth.com/USEFUL and use gift code USEFUL25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.

more

Go to our sponsor venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.

Visit www.functionhealth.com/USEFUL and use gift code USEFUL25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.

more

Come see Aaron speak tonight (March 30) at a panel in Montreal: "The Struggle Continues: The Fight For Palestine Across Borders"

www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/the-struggle-continues-the-fight-for-palestine-across-borders

Go to our sponsor h... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Pepe Escobar
Columnist at The Cradle and independent geopolitical analyst focused on Eurasia
The Cradle
Episode: Pepe Escobar & Aaron Maté on Israel, America & Iran War: BRICS vs The West
Sana Saeed
Journalist and former Al Jazeera correspondent
Al Jazeera (former)
Episode: SOMEONE'S LYING: Trump Says Iran Negotiations Are Going Great. Iran Hasn't Heard From Him.
Hala Jaber
Award-winning journalist and West Asia specialist; Beirut-based
Former senior correspondent for The Sunday Times
Episode: US Iran Failure Accidentally EXPOSED by Pete Hegseth
Sami Al-Arian
Director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Episode: US Iran Failure Accidentally EXPOSED by Pete Hegseth
Thomas Friedman
New York Times columnist
The New York Times
Episode: Fanfiction Fearmongering: Watch the Worst People We Know Sell You the War on Iran
Behrooz Ghamari
Iranian academic, former political prisoner, author
University/Academic affiliations mentioned; written works on Iran
Episode: Israel SHOCKED After Iran Mounts “Surprise” Resistance w/ Iranian Professor Behrooz Ghamari
Negar Mortazavi
Iran Podcast host; Middle East Policy Council; Center for International Policy
Center for International Policy; Middle East Policy Council; Iran Podcast
Episode: Iran Update with Iran Experts Negar Mortazavi and Trita Parsi
Trita Parsi
Co-founder and Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute
Quincy Institute
Episode: Iran Update with Iran Experts Negar Mortazavi and Trita Parsi
Ali Alizadeh
An Iranian political analyst, host of Jeddah, discussing international affairs
Jeddah
Episode: Israel’s Plan BACKFIRES, Iranians Rally Around Government

Hosts

Katie Halper
Co-host and writer known for her irreverent and informed commentary on political issues and critiques of mainstream narratives.
Aaron Maté
Co-host and journalist recognized for his critical analyses of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran and Palestine.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 6.3k ratings
  • Such a fan-boi

    Honestly - you guys are saving my brain. I’m thankful. A very helpful - extremely informed show !!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lola Britawater
    Canada10 days ago
  • Like brietbart for the left

    Too much rhetoric and spin, a lot of junk info. Poorly produced. Good guests though.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    m0risan54
    United Statesa month ago
  • Thanks for teaching us!!

    Thank you for explaining the details & context that legacy fails to do!!

    Yours truly, Leslie Poplawski of @ink7 RecessAwareness on Twitter,

    I care about all child rights-especially the rights that lead to fulfillment & true inner joy such as the right to play, leisure & creativity.

    Article 31 CRIN UnitedNations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 🙏✌️🕊️☮️✨👧👶🏽🧒🏿👦🖍️📝📚🧸🛴🦽🎺🎨🩰🏄🏽‍♂️🤸🏼‍♂️⛸️🛝

    And anti-war anti-death penalty anti-USA intervention Etc…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lesliepopleslie
    United States4 months ago
  • Fun, engaging and FEW ads!!

    This show is very entertaining with two accomplished hosts who discuss the unfortunate state of the world and the lies of media in plain, fun language. There are also very few ads, compared to other podcasts that shove the same annoying ads every 5 minutes, so you don’t need to keep the phone nearby to skip long ad segments. Also smash that like button.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ommar365
    Sweden5 months ago
  • Please remove Matt Taibi’s name and photo from the hosts?

    This is an excellent podcast. I love Katie and i love Aaron (and all three Matés). I appreciate their takes on current events. But Please dont make me think of Taibbi every time i listen. Am very disappointed in him. I used to read him avidly in Rolling Stone and helped me tolerate the Dubya era.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Usergdhdu$;
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback indicates a desire for fewer advertisements, suggesting that the current volume may disrupt the listening experience.
Many enjoy the lighter, humorous undertones that make complex political topics more accessible.
Listeners applaud the informative and engaging content, appreciating the candid discussions about political hypocrisy and failures in the media.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#178
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#120
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#238
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#104
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#235
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
Philippines/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pepe Escobar & Aaron Maté on Israel, America & Iran War: BRICS vs The West
Q: What is the role of China and Russia in supporting Iran currently, and how visible is their involvement compared with what is publicly acknowledged?
China and Russia are actively supporting Iran beyond public declarations, including military-technical collaboration, missile and Beidou-based intelligence support, and high-level coordination that involves the presidents and defense ministries, though some aspects remain discreet and not publicly disclosed.
Pepe Escobar & Aaron Maté on Israel, America & Iran War: BRICS vs The West
Q: Do you see a fundamental shift in how the global financial system operates with BRICS and Petro-Yuan taking a more active role, and what could that mean for sanctions regimes?
Yes, a de facto new operating system is already in play, allowing parallel payments and settlement channels that bypass SWIFT and the petrodollar, which could erode Western financial dominance and force a reevaluation of sanctions as more countries participate in BRICS-led financial architecture.
Pepe Escobar & Aaron Maté on Israel, America & Iran War: BRICS vs The West
Q: Inside the Strait of Hormuz, what has changed in terms of movement and access for ships now that Iran is asserting new payment and routing mechanisms?
The new mechanisms, centered on Petro-Yuan and tied to Chinese influence, have introduced a governance layer that makes crossing more selective and contingent on Iranian terms, with brokers and IRGC involvement becoming more prominent, and restrictions tightening even for previously approved routes.
Israel’s Plan BACKFIRES, Iranians Rally Around Government
Q: What do you think Iran needs to do to counter the US-backed narrative?
There's a need for transnational cooperation among governments to resist foreign interventions, especially in the context of U.S. aggressions.
Israel’s Plan BACKFIRES, Iranians Rally Around Government
Q: What is your assessment of these talks, and do you think there's a chance of an actual deal being reached?
Ali Alizadeh hopes for a deal between Iran and the US, suggesting Iran has rational offers that could guarantee US concerns.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Useful Idiots

What is Useful Idiots about and what kind of topics does it cover?

An engaging and irreverent exploration of current political events, characterized by sharp analysis and witty commentary. The discussions often revolve around U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian issues, and civil rights, with hosts bringing on journalists and experts to provide unique insights into complex topics, including the geopolitical challenges in the Middle East and the implications of U.S. sanctions. Noteworthy is the podcast's emphasis on critiquing both Republican and Democratic narratives, highlighting the failures and hypocrisies of mainstream media and political leaders. This approach appeals to listeners who appreciate a candid and humorous take on serious subjects, making it both informative and entertaining.

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Which podcasts are similar to Useful Idiots?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Useful Idiots:

1. The Katie Halper Show
2. The Chris Hedges Report
3. Bad Faith
4. Rania Khalek Dispatches
5. System Update with Glenn Greenwald

How many episodes of Useful Idiots are there?

Useful Idiots launched 7 years ago and published 387 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Useful Idiots?

Recent guests on Useful Idiots include:

1. Pepe Escobar
2. Sana Saeed
3. Hala Jaber
4. Sami Al-Arian
5. Thomas Friedman
6. Behrooz Ghamari
7. Negar Mortazavi
8. Trita Parsi

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