We're Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends

Epizodai

• Meet the Palestinian-American Comedian Who Says It's Okay to Play the 'Muslim Card' 17.06.2026 38min

  This episode is sponsored by Shopify. To get their $1/month trial, go to https://shopify.com/mehdi When it comes to 'We're Not Kidding' guests, Mehdi has sat down with multiple, multi-talented, multi-hyphenates — but none have been as multi as today's guest. Nina Kharoufeh is a Palestinian-American, a hijab-wearing Muslim, a standup comedian, an amateur boxer, and a children's book author. But if you ask Nina, she'd likely say her most important role is being an outspoken defender of Palestine. She joined Mehdi in DC to talk about her eclectic career journey and the backlash she's received for criticizing Israel since Oct. 7.  Nina is also the author of the children's book 'I'm a Princess Too' about a young Muslim girl who gets cast as a princess in the school play but then is bullied by her peers for wearing a hijab. On top of all of that, Nina is also an amateur boxer who has competed in fights at Madison Square Garden. "If you could challenge anyone in the world to a fight, who would it be?" Mehdi asks. "Amy Schumer," Nina says. The two also discuss: Nina's time working at SiriusXM and (gulp!) FOX News. Why it's always OK to "play the Muslim card." DJ Khaled's silence on Israel's genocide in Gaza. Getting caught going to a pro-Palestine rally by her mom when she was 12. Whether George W. Bush was better than Donald Trump. How Mehdi turned up in the Epstein files (it's not bad, we promise!)… This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Nina Kharoufeh Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer: Frank Cappello Editor: Liam Mann Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Special thanks: Randa Jumean   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
• Superpower vs. Kryptonite - Which Dem Has the Best Shot in 2028? 09.06.2026 1val 1min

  The 2028 U.S. presidential election is just over two years away — which means we already have to start talking about it. In a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' in New York City, Mehdi was joined by author, political commentator, and host of the 'Fast Politics' podcast Molly Jong-Fast, where they sought to answer the one burning question of every politics (and comic book) nerd: Which of the Democratic presidential hopefuls has the greatest superpower – and what is their 'Kryptonite' that could tank their candidacy? Together, they break down Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's celebrity status, who the sleeper hit of the Democratic primary could be, and discuss why, if she runs, Kamala Harris will probably lose…again. "When you lose, shouldn't you just go away?" Mehdi asks. "That's why I think [Kamala Harris] is not going to run again," Molly says. They also take questions from the live audience in New York on whether social media is to blame for young people being drawn in by right-wing pundits like Tucker Carlson, why the media rarely covers labor issues, and whether Trump has an exit strategy in Iran (spoiler: he doesn't). The two also discuss: The Jan. 6 rioters' billion-dollar payout from the Trump administration. Marco Rubio and JD Vance's 'Apprentice'-style tryout for Trump's backing in 2028. How much right-wing political content is actually astroturfed. This episode was co-produced by On Air Fest and On Air Presents as part of their yearlong programming. This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Molly Jong-Fast Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer: Frank Cappello Editor: Liam Mann Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
• 'Everyone Is Lying to You for Money' - Ben McKenzie on His New Crypto Documentary, Corporate Dems, and 'The O.C.' 07.05.2026 55min

  This episode is sponsored by Incogni. For 60% off your first order, go to https://incogni.com/mehdi Would you be surprised to find out that one of the leading investigators into the cryptocurrency industry is… a former teen heartthrob from the early 2000s TV series 'The O.C.'? Ben McKenzie became famous for playing bad boy Ryan Atwood in the hit 2003 drama, but he may end up being remembered for his work investigating and speaking out against the opaque crypto industry.  Ben is the writer, director, and star of the new documentary, 'Everyone Is Lying To You For Money', which documents his years-long look into the scammy, fraudulent, and oftentimes criminal world of cryptocurrency. He met up with Mehdi in Washington D.C. to talk about his new film and what drove him to make it. Mehdi and Ben unpack the film's globetrotting story — from Miami, to El Salvador, to London — as Ben follows the (figurative) money. Ben explains what exactly cryptocurrency is and uncovers why its evangelists want you to buy it so badly.  The two also discuss: How 'The O.C.' introduced an entire generation to class politics. Why Ben is supporting Brad Lander for Congress over Dan Goldman.  If taking corporate PAC money should be a litmus test for Democrats. Which Democrats have a shot at the presidency in 2028… This interview was published 10 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Ben McKenzie Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
• Could Riz Ahmed Be the First Brown James Bond? 20.04.2026 1val 4min

  This episode is sponsored by Ellydee. To sign up, go to ellydee.ai/mehdi Riz Ahmed is the man of the moment. The Oscar and Emmy award-winning actor is currently on the press tour for not one but two new projects: his TV series 'Bait', and a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. But the tour wouldn't be complete without joining his former school mate and fellow school play actor Mehdi for a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' in New York City. The two dig into Riz's new roles, the state of Muslim representation in popular culture, and making political art. They also take questions from the audience, but first they share a few choice anecdotes from their teenage years. The two also discuss: Neil Patrick Harris' recent ridiculous comments about making "apolitical" art.  Why "getting in the room" doesn't matter if you let the room change you. The lasting significance of his films 'Four Lions' and 'The Long Goodbye' given the UK far-right political scene.  And how Riz got banned… from UK grocery store Tesco's! They also take questions from the audience about why some Muslim entertainers have stayed silent on Gaza, the best ways to resist fascism, the power of political storytelling, and whether Riz's aunties call him up to chastise him about some of his.. erm… spicier on-camera scenes. This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Riz Ahmed Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Special thanks to: Stephen Wentzell & Leena Fraihat   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
• Can You Trust Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson on Israel? Mehdi and Bassem Debate 14.04.2026 41min

  It's been six months (!) since Bassem Youssef joined Mehdi for an episode of 'We're Not Kidding', and since then Israel has started two new wars, right-wing podcasters have turned on Donald Trump over his war with Iran, and centrist Democrats have mounted a cancellation campaign against leftist streamer Hasan Piker. But before they get to any of that, they dig into Epstein and Mehdi's viral interview with the so-called "Professor Jiang," the two get into a friendly argument over which terms and ideas qualify as religious tropes and how the weaponization of antisemitism by Zionists has diluted the meaning of the word.  The two also debate whether right-wingers like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson can be trusted allies for calling out Israel's genocide in Gaza and Donald Trump's war with Iran, or if they're just opportunists who see the writing on the wall for the MAGA movement. "Why don't you like Candace Owens or Tucker Carlson?" Bassem asks Mehdi, who explains his position on the two. The two also discuss: Zionists cracking down on free speech and civil liberties. Why "Pax Judaica" is an antisemitic trope and "Greater Israel" is not.  US citizen Moshe Katz who recently died in Lebanon fighting for the Israeli military.  Why Bill Maher is… just the worst. This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Bassem Youssef Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
• Who'll Win the 'MAGA Podcast Wars'? Krystal Ball and Mehdi on Ben Shapiro vs. Tucker Carlson, AIPAC, and Iran 20.03.2026 43min

  If you're as terminally online as the rest of us at Zeteo, you may have noticed that conservative podcasters are at war with each other. Ben Shapiro is attacking Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson is attacking Ben Shapiro, and everyone is attacking Mark Levin. So for this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by Krystal Ball, co-host of the massively popular online news show 'Breaking Points', to unpack all of the MAGA drama.  The two also get into how Donald Trump's disastrous war with Iran is creating even MORE rifts within the Republican party, Israel and Netanyahu's role in instigating the war, and why we shouldn't totally trust defectors like Trump's now former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent. "They are very comfortable saying, 'Israel, Israel, Israel. It's all Israel's fault,'" Krystal says. "But at the end of the day, this is Donald Trump's war. He's not a baby. He's the most powerful man on the planet." The two also discuss: Krystal's famous hardball interview with Sen. Elissa Slotkin. How AIPAC's brand has become "completely toxic" with Democratic voters. Why podcasts will be important for 2028 presidential candidates. And whether Gavin Newsom will be brave enough to appear on 'Mehdi Unfiltered' or 'Breaking Points'... Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Krystal Ball Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo
• Two Muslim Journalists Walk Into a Podcast - Mehdi and Ayman Mohyeldin on Iran, Gaza, and Media Bias 06.03.2026 47min

  Mehdi and Ayman Mohyeldin have a lot in common: They were both born in the same year, they're both immigrants and naturalized US citizens, they're both Muslim, and they both worked at Al Jazeera and then MSNBC (now MS NOW). As Mehdi says to his former colleague, "I look at you and I feel like I'm looking at a taller, better looking, Arab version of myself." Ayman joins Mehdi in Washington DC for the latest episode of 'We're Not Kidding' to discuss their careers in TV journalism, the failures of Western media on Gaza, and the new US war with Iran. The two discuss Israel's role in instigating the war, Benjamin Netanyahu's decades-long obsession with toppling the Iranian regime, as well as the media's unwillingness to name Israel as an influence on US foreign policy. "Israel has said it wants regime change in Iran for 40 years, but you couldn't say that until Marco Rubio came out and said that," Ayman says. As one of the only American journalists who lived in Gaza during the 2008-09 war, Ayman brings a perspective on the region that few other mainstream journalists are able to. The two talk about Ayman's history of reporting on the conflict, what has changed (and sadly not changed), as well as the shortcomings of most Western media outlets in offering balanced coverage.  The two also discuss: Beginning their journalism careers in the post 9/11 era. Double standard attacks levied against Muslim journalists. Bari Weiss and her "Iran expert" Douglas Murray. Which Republican lawmakers are "dumb as shit." And Mehdi quizzes Ayman on the French national soccer (sorry, football) team…   Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends   Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews   Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan   Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Ayman Mohyeldin Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo
• Meet the Palestinian-American Influencer Exposing 'Genocidal' Israelis Online 20.02.2026 36min

  Since Oct. 7, 22 year-old Palestinian-American influencer Hamzah Saadah has gained international notoriety for doing something that no mainstream news outlet would dare to do: asking regular Israelis what they think about Palestine. The results have been shocking, as Hamzah's interviews with civilians and soldiers alike demonstrate a comfort and willingness to use "genocidal rhetoric" across Israeli society. Hamzah now joins Mehdi for a live taping of 'We're Not Kidding' at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah to discuss his work on social media and take some questions from the audience.  Before Oct. 7, Hamzah was a gaming influencer, musician, and magician (yes, you read that right) with nearly 8 million followers across social media. But once Israel's genocide began in Gaza, Hamzah made the decision to use his massive following to expose the anti-Palestinian rhetoric of some Israeli soldiers. The two also discuss: Receiving threats for their political work. Larry Ellison and censorship on TikTok. The time the police showed up at Hamzah's house at 3:00am. How to change the minds of audiences. How old Mehdi is, again, and again, and again. 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Recorded at The Muslim House® Produced by the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau with the support of the Doris Duke Foundation. Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Hamzah Saadah Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo
• How This Atheist Podcast Star Learned to Love Palestine, Oppose AIPAC, and Defend Muslims 06.02.2026 59min

  As one of the co-hosts of the massively popular podcast 'I've Had It', Jennifer Welch has made a name for herself as a sharp-witted, foul-mouthed, uncomfortable-truth-bomb-dropping political commentator. Whether you've seen social media clips of her ranting about Donald Trump's poorly applied makeup or watched her eviscerate Sen. Cory Booker on AIPAC during their viral interview, Jennifer is shaking up the way liberal media thinks about political punditry. Now, she joins Mehdi on 'We're Not Kidding' to talk about her political journey and rise to fame.  Once an "MSNBC liberal" from the Bible Belt, Mehdi and Jennifer discuss her evolution on issues like corporate influence on the Democratic party and Israel-Palestine. They also get into the recent dump of Epstein files, including Elon Musk's "pathetic" attempt to get an invite to Epstein's island on Christmas, and how Joe Biden and the Democrats once again fumbled the ball. "Merrick Garland had these files for four f*****g years and didn't do anything with it!" Jennifer says. The two also discuss: - How atheism influences Jennifer's politics (and religion influences Mehdi's!). - Why Trump appeals to evangelical Christians. - Scott Jennings, Jesse Watters, and why Republican men are "submissive." - Whether Epstein was a Mossad spy. - Which national Democrats should be "remodeled" and which should "retire." Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Find Jennifer: 'I've Had It': https://ivehaditpodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizzwelch/?hl=en Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Jennifer Welch Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• Will They Denaturalize Us? - Former 'Daily Show' Comedian Aasif Mandvi on Trump, ICE, Gaza, and Being an Immigrant 30.01.2026 40min

  Aasif Mandvi broke more glass ceilings than you probably realize. If you watched 'The Daily Show' during the post-9/11 era, you likely already know the comedian and actor for his biting commentary on Islamophobia, George W. Bush, and the 'War on Terror'.  But did you know he was the political comedy show's first non-white cast member? Or that he served as the "Senior Middle East Correspondent" and "Senior Muslim Correspondent" even though he's not from the Middle East or a practicing Muslim? Now, Aasif joins Mehdi on the new episode of 'We're Not Kidding' in front of a live audience at the Sundance Film Festival for a wide-ranging conversation about being fellow immigrants, Muslim representation, Gaza, Donald Trump, ICE, Zohran Mamdani, as well as take some questions from the audience. Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Find Aasif: Twitter: https://x.com/aasif Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasif Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Aasif Mandvi Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• 'They Make Genocide Jokes' - Israeli Comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi on Racism, Zionism, and Palestinian Liberation 09.12.2025 39min

  Noam Schuster-Eliassi is what some people might call a 'unicorn'.  She's an anti-Zionist, Jewish-Iranian Israeli who speaks fluent Arabic and grew up in a tiny village in Israel called the 'Oasis of Peace', where Jews and Palestinians voluntarily choose to live together. Noam is now the star of the new documentary 'Coexistence, My Ass!', which won the Special Jury Award at Sundance film festival last year. The film explores her political evolution from growing up as an Israeli poster-child of the "coexistence movement" to becoming a standup comedian determined to dismantle apartheid within Israel.  The two also discuss the contradiction of liberal Israelis who are critical of Netanyahu's anti-democratic government yet don't extend the same consideration to Palestinians living under apartheid, as well as the barrage of hasbara that Israeli society was exposed to after October 7.  Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Find Noam: Twitter: https://x.com/ShusterNoam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noam_joon/ Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Noam Shuster-Eliassi Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• 'Jewish and Muslim Safety Are Intertwined' - Comedian Ilana Glazer on Mamdani's Victory and the Weaponization of Antisemitism 07.11.2025 44min

  On the day after Zohran Mamdani's historic election win, what better 'We're Not Kidding' guest could we ask for than New York City icon Ilana Glazer? The Jewish-American comedian, activist, and 'Broad City' creator joined Mehdi in midtown Manhattan to talk about what Mamdani's victory means for the future of US politics. The two also discuss the recent failures of the Democratic party and whether Mamdani's win has the power to finally push party leadership to embrace its populist flank. "Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries were not there celebrating last night," Ilana says. "A Democratic mayor won. They should be there celebrating." They also talk about someone else who was definitely not celebrating on election night — Debra Messing and her very public Instagram crash out. Ilana opens up to Mehdi about her feelings around the modern Jewish identity, particularly since Oct. 7. The two also discuss the weaponization of antisemitism by figures like Jonathan Greenblatt (who has already announced the Anti-Defamation League's 'Mamdani Monitor' to purportedly "keep Jewish New Yorkers safe"), while simultaneously ignoring the dangers of right-wing antisemitism espoused by people like Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. Finally, Mehdi asks Ilana about speaking out against Israel's genocide in Gaza and the risks of receiving backlash or being censored. Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends Find Zeteo: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan Credits: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Ilana Glazer Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• 'Succession' Star on Gaza, Iran, and the 10 Rich People Who 'Run Everything' 14.10.2025 49min

  If you were a fan of the HBO series 'Succession' — then do we have a treat for you. On this new episode of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by Iranian-American actor Arian Moayed who played the scene-stealing character Stewy Hosseini on the hit HBO show. Mehdi and Arian unpack the ways our reality mirrors the fictional world of 'Succession', like how pro-Israel billionaire Larry Ellison, the world's second richest man, is buying up media companies Paramount, CBS News, and TikTok. Mehdi also challenges Arian to a new rapid-fire question game called, "Real Billionaire or 'Succession' Character?" As two naturalized US citizens, Mehdi and Arian discuss the recent military-style ICE raids in Arian's hometown of Chicago and the fears that many immigrant communities are feeling in the Trump era. Mehdi and Arian also get into the recent political history of Iran, including the 1979 revolution which led to Arian's family immigrating to the US when he was a child. Arian, an outspoken critic of the Iranian government, explains the importance of Iranian representation and self-determination and offers his own analogy for why Western governments should stay out of Iran's affairs.  Finally, the two discuss the two-year anniversary of Oct. 7 and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As Arian was one of the earliest signatories on the Artists 4 Ceasefire letter in October of 2023, Mehdi asks if he feared retribution from Hollywood and the entertainment industry for being pro-Palestine. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan FIND ARIAN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianmoayed Waterwell: https://www.waterwell.org/ CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Arian Moayed Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• 'Israel's Sugar Daddy' – Mehdi and Bassem on Trump, Kimmel, Mamdani, and Two Years of Genocide 30.09.2025 1val 4min

  It's been six months since Mehdi and Bassem Youssef last recorded an episode of 'We're Not Kidding', so needless to say they had a lot to catch up on. And what better place to host their reunion than ArabCon 2025 in Dearborn, Michigan? During this very special LIVE taping, the duo get candid about the Trump administration's recent attacks on free speech, the potential of a Zohran Mamdani victory in New York City, and how much the world has changed (and sadly not changed) since Israel began its genocide in Gaza almost two years ago. Finally, the two take questions from the audience about the use of social media platforms complicit in genocide, whether either of them would travel to Israel for work, and how to build momentum for the BDS movement ('Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions'). Mehdi also gets asked a couple of pointed questions about condemning Hamas' attack on Oct. 7 and the killing of Israeli civilians — you don't want to miss his response. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan= FIND BASSEM: Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Bassem Youssef Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• EXCLUSIVE: Israel is 'Gaslighting' Us, Says 'Andor' Star After Trip to Occupied West Bank 22.09.2025 46min

  SPOILER ALERT: This episode includes plot details for the TV series 'Andor'. On this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi once again gets to do his two favorite things: have a substantive conversation about politics and fanboy on nerd culture. That's because this week's guest is award-winning Irish actor Denise Gough, who came to prominence on the 'Star Wars' TV series 'Andor' playing an intelligence officer in service of the fascistic Empire. But in real life Denise's politics are deeply anti-imperial as an outspoken advocate for Palestine and the people of Gaza.  Mehdi speaks with Denise about her breakout role on 'Andor' playing "one of the most compelling fascists [he's] ever seen on screen," and unpack the parallels between 'Andor' and the rise of fascism across the West right now. But unlike 'Star Wars', the "good guys" in many historical conflicts are often vilified by those in power. "It's very impressive when the good guys are doing it," Mehdi says. " But who defines who the good guys and the bad guys are?" The two then discuss Denise's advocacy work and the historical connection between Ireland and Palestine. "[Ireland] lived under occupation for hundreds of years," Denise says. She goes on to recount her recent trip to the occupied West Bank and witnessing Israel's apartheid firsthand. "I've seen things that are undeniable," a visibly emotional Denise says. From the military checkpoints and fences in Hebron, to Palestinian homes barred in steel to protect against settler attacks, to handmade jewelry carved from Israeli military tear gas canisters. "There isn't a person in the world that would be able to convince me what is happening there is a democracy." SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan FIND DENISE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisegough1/?hl=en CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Denise Gough Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Special thanks: Khaleel Rahman
• EXCLUSIVE: Mark Ruffalo Says 'Boycott, Divest, Sanction, and Prosecute' Israel 15.09.2025 52min

  On this week's 'We're Not Kidding' Mehdi sits down with an actual superhero. No, not the Incredible Hulk from Marvel's 'The Avengers' —  he's a pretend super hero. The real-life superhero we're referring to this week is the award-winning Hollywood actor and activist Mark Ruffalo. For over two decades, Mark has been one of the most politically courageous actors in Hollywood, having spoken out against the fracking industry, US imperialism, Donald Trump, and the genocide in Gaza.  The two talk about Mark's political evolution, from being raised in a household with three different religions to getting involved in the anti-war movement during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. When discussing Trump's second term and rising fascism here in the US, Mark doesn't mince words when it comes to the tepid opposition from Democratic party leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Mark says, before also launching into a scathing critique of the notoriously pro-Israel House Democrat Ritchie Torres. Finally, Mehdi asks Mark about his years-long advocacy for Palestine and the elaborate "propaganda machine" deployed by Israel and its allies, as Mark is no stranger to being attacked for his pro-Palestine views. Now almost two years into Israel's genocide in Gaza, Mark gets deeply emotional when discussing the human cost of the conflict. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Mark Ruffalo Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Special Thanks: Khaleel Rahman
• 'I Don't Give a Sh*t What DJ Khaled Thinks' - Anees on Political Music, Cancel Culture, and Zohran Mamdani 18.08.2025 38min

  Mehdi is joined by Palestinian-Lebanese-American singer-songwriter-rapper Anees to talk about his activism on Gaza and his belief in the power of music to influence politics.Anees tells Mehdi about his winding career path of going to law school, passing the bar exam, and delivering pizzas for 10 years. After getting his big break during an Instagram livestream with superstar Justin Bieber, Anees made the leap from up-and-comer to professional musician.  Growing up in a half-Palestinian, half-Lebanese household with a father who worked in civil rights, Anees explains to Mehdi how making political music isn't even a conscious choice for him. Though when it comes to other famous musical artists, including a well-known Palestinian (cough cough, DJ Khaled), Anees has his own thoughts as to why some celebrities choose to stay out of the political fray.  When discussing US lawmakers and Israel, the duo unpack the mixed signals coming from progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and whether purity tests on the left are helpful or harmful. Finally, Mehdi and Anees discuss the possibility of Zohran Mamdani winning the New York City mayor's race and the shockwaves it would send to the political establishment.  SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan FIND ANEES: Website: https://www.aneesofficial.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anees/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anees?lang=en CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Anees Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Special thanks: Khaleel Rahman
• 'Put a Trump Tower in Iran' - Maz Jobrani on Middle East Wars and the US Immigrant Experience 14.07.2025 49min

  In the last 20 years, Middle Eastern representation in American culture has gone from absolutely horrendous to… somewhat decent. Instead of TV shows like '24' and 'Homeland', we now have 'Ramy' and 'Mo'. But before ANY of that, there was Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani, this week's co-host of 'We're Not Kidding', who has been paving the way for Middle Eastern comics since the late 90s.  In this heartfelt conversation, Maz tells Mehdi about his lifelong struggle of representing his home country while trying to assimilate to American culture. Maz also discusses the challenges of beginning his comedy career during the post-9/11 era, and being a part of the groundbreaking 'Axis of Evil' comedy tour during a time of rampant Islamophobia in the US.  Maz and Mehdi also unpack Donald Trump's "inhumane" immigration policy of mass detentions and deportations. As an outspoken advocate for immigrant rights, Maz slams the Trump admin for its abject cruelty and stupidity.  SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan FIND MAZ: Twitter: https://x.com/MazJobrani Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mazjobrani TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mazjobrani CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Maz Jobrani Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Outlining: Khaleel Rahman Research: Selma Zuaiter
• Unpacking the 'Insane' Premise of Zionism, with Mehdi and Alana Hadid 24.06.2025 1val

  Last week, Mehdi and Zeteo concluded our five-city tour, so we obviously had to end with a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' and audience Q&A with returning co-host Alana Hadid — an activist, designer, and Creative Director of the Palestinian film company Watermelon Pictures.  Mehdi and Alana also discuss Israel's now 20 month-long genocide in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian conditions on the ground, including the Israeli military's regular killings of Palestinians seeking food at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites. The two also speak about the recent ICE raids in Los Angeles and the massive protests that erupted in response, Ted Cruz making the US-Israel relationship "Instagram official" during his Tucker Carlson interview, and the success of the documentary film 'The Encampments' produced by Watermelon Pictures and Macklemore, featuring now freed political prisoner Mahmoud Khalil. Also be sure to check out the Q&A that begins 32 minutes into the episode. Zeteo subscribers asked Mehdi and Alana important questions about the weaponization of religion, Israel's pinkwashing, and Benjamin Netanyahu's endgame — one questioner even challenged Mehdi's own political views!  SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan FIND ALANA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanzybear/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alanahadid?lang=en Watermelon Pictures: https://www.watermelonpictures.com/ CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Alana Hadid Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
• 'The Immigrant Dilemma' - Yasmin Elhady on Muslim Matchmaking, Comedy, and Looking Different 11.06.2025 44min

  Since the launch of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi has sat down with some of the most multi-talented multi-hyphenates working in entertainment and media. But few wear as many caps as this week's guest co-host, Yasmin Elhady — a Libyan-Egyptian-American standup comedian, lawyer, and co-host of the popular Hulu TV series 'Muslim Matchmaker'. But before she was a famous TV host, Yasmin tells Mehdi about her experience as a Muslim immigrant growing up in Alabama and the bullying she encountered. Mehdi and Yasmin also discuss the ways in which Muslim representation in American culture has gotten better over the last several decades, but how there's still room for improvement. As the co-host of the TV series 'Muslim Matchmaker', Yasmin tells Mehdi how important getting the opportunity to show a different side of Muslim life meant to her. Yasmin also explains to Mehdi why she chose the dual path of lawyer and comedian, how her matchmaking career began with finding a wife for her brother, why she thinks Colonel Gaddafi was the "gayest dictator who's not gay" and whether Mehdi bears a resemblance to the 1980s-era McDonald's mascot, The Hamburglar.  SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan FIND YASMIN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminelhahahady/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yasmin_elhady CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Yasmin Elhady Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali