Mark Hays, Associate Director of Americans for Financial Reform, joins The Dangerous Ones to expose one of the most underreported corruption stories in America today: Donald Trump’s plunge into crypto. From meme coins to a shady new stablecoin, Trump is building a parallel financial system designed for influence peddling, foreign cash, and zero accountability. Hays walks us through the mechanics of the grift, the bipartisan bills enabling it. Yes, we’re looking at you, GENIUS Act and the very real threat this poses to our democracy and economy.

Forget the hype. Hays dismantles the illusion that crypto is decentralized or democratic and shows how it’s become a perfect vehicle for modern-day bribery and financial instability. We connect the dots between Trump, foreign autocrats, and a regulatory system asleep at the wheel. If you're not alarmed yet, you will be. This episode is your firewall before the next financial meltdown and a call to action before it’s too late.

What happens when the guy who wrote “Everything Is Awesome” for The Lego Movie sits down with The Dangerous Ones in 2024, when nothing feels awesome anymore? Oscar and Grammy-nominated songwriter Shawn Patterson joins us to talk about his unexpected journey from cult comedy and cartoon scores to writing one of the biggest earworms in pop culture. From childhood piano plinking to a seat at the Oscars, Patterson walks us through the surreal highs and weird industry lows that come with success in Hollywood.

But this conversation goes deeper than music. Patterson is also a fierce pro-democracy voice who brought his scoring talents to The Lincoln Project during the 2020 election and isn’t afraid to rage against the machine or the Mango Mussolini currently dismantling democracy. We talk art, activism, messaging, and why real change happens when people stop shouting and start listening to their neighbors. This one’s got everything: fame, fear, fascism, and a never-before-heard demo of “Everything Is Awesome.” Buckle up.

In this explosive episode of The Dangerous Ones Podcast, Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) environmental attorney, climate champion, and fierce democracy advocate joins hosts Jim Drastic, Tiffany Drastic, and Nick Knudsen to expose the blatant corruption and alarming scandals of Trump’s second term. Levin calls out Trump's shocking "Flying Bribe" controversy involving Qatar's luxury jet gift and unpacks the disastrous "big beautiful" budget scam that strips healthcare, SNAP benefits, and funding from America’s most vulnerable.

From insider stock trading abuses on Capitol Hill to the quiet giveaways to corporate gun lobbies hidden in the GOP budget, Levin passionately lays out how the Republicans are attacking working families while enriching billionaires. Beyond policy, this episode dives deep into the human stories impacted by MAGA extremism from the heartbreaking deportation of the Gonzalez family after 35 years in America, to deadly human smuggling tragedies off the California coast.

Levin shares personal insights, solutions like the bipartisan Dignity Act for immigration reform, and highlights the urgent need to protect Social Security, veterans' rights, and environmental policies gutted by Trump 2.0. With a powerful mix of policy critique, emotional storytelling, and grassroots calls-to-action, Levin reminds listeners why fighting back against corruption, cruelty, and chaos in Washington matters now more than ever.