This week on The Stakes, Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney sit down with Dr. Steven Hassan, one of the world’s foremost experts on cults. As America faces growing extremism and political radicalization, Dr. Hassan helps us understand the psychology behind cult-like devotion, how manipulation spreads, and what it takes to break free. From his personal story as a former cult member to his decades of research and activism, Dr. Hassan brings unmatched insight into the dangers of authoritarian control—and how we can fight back with truth, compassion, and resilience. 📺 Watch The Stakes with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney every Thursday live at 7:30 PM ET. 👉 The Seneca Project is one of the few groups unafraid to stand our ground, and we cannot continue this fight without you. Are you with us? SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our latest broadcasts, content, and new ads. The Seneca Project is an unapologetic movement—by women, for women—driven by the relentless power of our collective voice. We are galvanizing voters to rise up against the assault on women’s freedoms, the erosion of democracy, and the dangerous threat posed by Donald Trump’s presidency. With courage and conviction, we transform our outrage into action, using compelling content, rapid-response videos, and impactful ads to spark the emotional urgency that drives change.

The Stakes hiatus is over! Tara and Michelle were back this week with a jam-packed episode of The Stakes. From the recent school shootings, Pam Bondi’s threats to free speech, doxxing democrats, and the public fallout after the death of Charlie Kirk, there was so much to discuss.  The highlight? Our friend Gay Valimont joined us!  Gay is a former Florida congressional candidate and longtime gun violence prevention leader.  Her personal journey—including caring for her late husband and son—drives her passion for humane, community-focused politics. Through her newly founded Political Action Committee, Engage, Y’all!, Gay is providing funding, training, tools, and boots-on-the-ground support for people ready to run for office in overlooked communities across the South.  We talked about all of this and more on this week’s episode. Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!  SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our latest broadcasts, content, and new ads. The Seneca Project is an unapologetic movement—by women, for women—driven by the relentless power of our collective voice. We are galvanizing voters to rise up against the assault on women’s freedoms, the erosion of democracy, and the dangerous threat posed by Donald Trump’s presidency. With courage and conviction, we transform our outrage into action, using compelling content, rapid-response videos, and impactful ads to spark the emotional urgency that drives change.

WATCH THE STAKES 7:30 PM ET THURSDAYS ON YOUTUBE Guest ✨ Cait Conley — Democratic candidate for Congress in New York’s 17th district. A U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate, Cait served in Iraq and Afghanistan before working at the Pentagon and in national security. Now she’s running to bring integrity, service, and real leadership back to Congress in one of the most competitive swing districts in the country. FOLLOW CAIT CONLEY https://caitconley.com/ https://www.instagram.com/caitconley/ https://x.com/CaitforNewYork Guest ✨ Ilyse Hogue — Co-founder of The All-American and one of the sharpest democracy strategists in the country. As the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Ilyse has long been a leading voice in the fight for reproductive freedom. Today she’s focused on defending democracy itself, with a particular focus on the impact of gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the fight to secure mail-in ballots. FOLLOW ILYSE HOGUE https://x.com/ilyseh https://www.instagram.com/ilyseh 📺 Watch The Stakes with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney every Thursday live at 7:30 PM ET. The Seneca Project is one of the few groups unafraid to stand our ground, and we cannot continue this fight without you. Are you with us? 👉 SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our latest broadcasts, content, and new ads. The Seneca Project is an unapologetic movement—by women, for women—driven by the relentless power of our collective voice. We are galvanizing voters to rise up against the assault on women’s freedoms, the erosion of democracy, and the dangerous threat posed by Donald Trump’s presidency. With courage and conviction, we transform our outrage into action, using compelling content, rapid-response videos, and impactful ads to spark the emotional urgency that drives change.

Guests Professor Corey Brettschneider and Democratic Strategist Julie Roginsky -- from the fight to save democracy to the takedown of CNN’s favorite fragile pundit, Scott Jennings.

Tara and Michelle are joined by investigative reporter Vicky Ward, renowned for her groundbreaking coverage of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Ward is the host and co-producer of the acclaimed podcast and docuseries Chasing Ghislaine and a New York Times bestselling author whose work has exposed the dark intersections of power, privilege, and abuse. Vicky is also the author of The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy, co-written by James Patterson. This episode was recorded on July 31, 2025 and aired August 1, 2025. ********************************************************************** The Seneca Project is one of the few groups unafraid to stand our ground, and we cannot continue this fight without you. Are you with us? SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our latest broadcasts, content, and new ads. The Seneca Project is an unapologetic movement—by women, for women—driven by the relentless power of our collective voice. We are galvanizing voters to rise up against the assault on women’s freedoms, the erosion of democracy, and the dangerous threat posed by Donald Trump’s presidency. With courage and conviction, we transform our outrage into action, using compelling content, rapid-response videos, and impactful ads to spark the emotional urgency that drives change.

This week on The Stakes, Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney are joined by former U.S. Attorney, legal analyst, and Host of Talking Feds Podcast Harry Litman to break down the latest headlines—from the renewed focus and legal implications on Jeffrey Epstein. We also talk about Trump and MAGA's gutting of PBS, and episode of South Park that everyone is talking about -- including us! Talking Feds Podcast: https://www.talkingfeds.com/ Talking Feds Substack: https://harrylitman.substack.com/ Follow Harry on Twitter: https://x.com/harrylitman 📺 Watchlist Picks: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018) – A deeply moving documentary about the life and legacy of Fred Rogers. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) – A dramatized film starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, based on the true story of journalist Tom Junod. Watch The Stakes with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney every Thursday live at 7:30 PM ET. The Seneca Project is one of the few groups unafraid to stand our ground, and we cannot continue this fight without you. Are you with us? 👉 SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all our latest broadcasts, content, and new ads. The Seneca Project is an unapologetic movement—by women, for women—driven by the relentless power of our collective voice. We are galvanizing voters to rise up against the assault on women’s freedoms, the erosion of democracy, and the dangerous threat posed by Donald Trump’s presidency. With courage and conviction, we transform our outrage into action, using compelling content, rapid-response videos, and impactful ads to spark the emotional urgency that drives change.

America is in distress. Tara and Michelle are flabbergasted by the detainment of California Senator Alex Padilla and discuss the implications of the shocking moment before moving on to the No Kings protests scheduled for June 14.

The Stakes May 22 at 7:30 PM ET with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney

There's a new POPE and he's....from the Chicago? Anti-MAGA? We're in for a treat.

Trump's First 100 Days, Democrats' capitulation, Gretchen Whitmer, JD Pritzker, and more.

We dove into the pro-natalist movement — the push to “persuade” women to have more children, and how it’s tied to eugenics, tech-world obsession, religious extremism, and Opus Dei’s role in selecting the next Pope.

The Florida State Shooting, El Salvador prison, RFK, Jr., and the ongoing chaos.

Trump Targets Critics, Markets React to Tariffs, Democracy on the Brink

The SignalGate scandal, Elise Stefanik’s failed UN nomination, and the chaotic state of democracy.

A powerful and deeply personal episode about the echoes of history in our present. With democracy under threat and authoritarian rhetoric on the rise, what can we learn from those who have lived through it—or inherited the stories of survival?

America has crossed the red line. The warning signs have been there, but now we are living through a moment that will define the future of our country. What we do next will determine everything.

Trump's off-the-rails Oval Office press conference, rants about eggs, approval ratings plummeting, and GOP budget cuts.

Special guest Marcus Flowers from Hold The Line PAC joins The Stakes, as we expose Trump’s latest betrayal of America’s veterans.

Dr. Vin Gupta joins The Stakes to break down the state of America’s health—measles outbreak, tuberculosis, bird flu update, vaccine access, and the policies shaping our future.

Join us as we break down who Yarvin is, why Silicon Valley extremists are listening to him, and why his influence on the right should scare the hell out of all of us.