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Today’s video is sponsored by NordProtect.
Amped Up with Cliff Schecter isn’t meant to be a victory lap. It’s more like a working session — three people trying to make sense of a political moment that keeps getting more dangerous, more dishonest, and frankly more exhausting.
That was the spirit of today’s show.
David Shuster and I started where we pretty much have to start right now: with the glaring hypocrisy of a Republican Party that campaigned for years as “anti-war” and “America First,” and now seems perfectly comfortable flirting with escalation abroad as long as it distracts from chaos at home. None of this is subtle anymore. It’s loud, sloppy, and familiar — which almost makes it worse.
Before we dove all the way in, we took a minute to talk about something practical: protecting yourself in a digital world that’s getting messier by the day.
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Your identity is worth protecting—especially now.
—Cliff
From there, David laid out what’s actually happening with Venezuela — and why the administration’s talking points don’t hold up under even minimal scrutiny. This isn’t about drug interdiction. It isn’t about safety. It’s about oil, power, and a president who’s always looking for a pressure release valve when the walls start closing in.
David does what he always does best: calmly walks through the reporting, flags what’s real versus what’s spin, and keeps the focus on consequences rather than theatrics. It’s a skill I wish more people in media still valued, and I’m grateful to get to do this show with someone who brings that kind of discipline to the conversation.
Then Hal Sparks joined us, and as usual, he brought perspective that cuts across politics, culture, and history — without pretending any of this is normal or acceptable. Hal has a way of making big, unsettling ideas feel accessible without sanding off the danger. We talked about Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior, the impulse to “wag the dog,” and what happens when ego, grievance, and power collide.
The conversation turned heavier when we talked about Rob Reiner — his work, his decency, and the ugliness of seeing tragedy turned into another opportunity for cruelty. Hal and David both shared personal reflections that reminded me why this stuff matters beyond headlines. It’s not about scoring points. It’s about recognizing humanity, even when the political climate keeps trying to beat it out of us.
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From there, we addressed the Epstein files — because ignoring them isn’t an option. Trump’s reaction alone tells you how serious this is. When a politician is willing to absorb political damage rather than allow transparency, it’s not because the truth is harmless. David explained what Congress will see, what can and can’t be hidden, and why this issue isn’t going away — no matter how hard some people want it buried.
We wrapped by talking about accountability, fatigue, and the uncomfortable reality that change doesn’t usually come from one dramatic moment. It comes from pressure, persistence, and people refusing to pretend things are fine when they’re clearly not.
I don’t pretend we have all the answers on this show. Half the time, I’m just trying to keep up with the news like everyone else. But I do know this: conversations like these — honest, informed, and human — matter.
If you watched live, thank you for spending part of your day with us. If you’re watching later, we’re glad you’re here. We’ll keep doing our best to cut through the noise — even when it’s uncomfortable, even when we’re tired, and even when we’d rather be wrong than silent.

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