chuckmertz.bsky.social

NEW LIVE HELL! Tuesday, Eve Fairbanks on “The Myth of the Police State" in @thedialmag.bsky.social's "How We See It." Wednesday, @illinoisstateu.bsky.socials Curtis White and "On Resisttance: A Manifesto"(@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social/@melvillehouse.bsky.social). www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

In today's 'Virus Monologue,' it's that time when Floridians screamed 'bloody murder' for being asked to wear masks indoors during COVID, revealing their consistency in refusing to do something for the greater good because they have the right to be selfish. Enjoy! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Ukraine's deadliest day, Iran war to restart, Israel tortures with US tasers, Indonesia's deadly haze, coral reefs face collapse, Earth heating up fast, Google illegally cuts down 250K trees for datacenter, Macron bans protests as 11/5 general strike looms. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

You may have heard of the 1937 self-improvement classic, "Think and Grow Rich." But on This is Hell! we've done a lot of thinking and, somehow, it's done the opposite. Find out why on today's bonus ep. Plus, an October '01 talk on Big Oil's Taliban dealings. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

A beautiful evening for This is Hell! Office Hours at Cary's Lounge, 2251 West Devon, from 6 to 9.

The power outage is over. We're back Thursday on Patreon when Chuck boasts about his success at not having success. We'll also share a 2001 talk on Big Oil's Taliban negotiations before 9/11. This week's guests Thomas Frank and Eve Fairbanks have kindly rescheduled. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

THIS IS HELL! Power out at our studio and office. Rescheduling this week's guests now for next week. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

10/20: Thomas Frank, "The Creativity Con: How Innovation Became America's Biggest Racket" (@penguinpress.bsky.social). 10/21: Eve Fairbanks, “The Myth of the Police State” in @thedialmag.bsky.social's "How We See It: The World Looks at America in the Age of Trump." www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

The NEW Question from Hell!: "What will it take for US students to protest like their counterparts in Europe?" The person with our favorite answer gets a random postcard in the mail with a personal note from me! We announce our favorite at end of Wednesday's live stream. Leave your answer below.

At sunrise every Sunday we post the "Sunday Funnies and Not So Funny!", the most hellish news stories of the last week. Become a member and start every week with the "Sunday Funnies and Not So Funny!" and keep our completely listener supported show free! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Six years ago, with a pandemic raging and an uprising being met with police and white supremacist violence, Trump's approval numbers were tanking heading into the November 2020 presidential election. As he always, Trump doubled-down on hate. Keep us free and join! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

This is Hell! Patreon patrons get early access to next week's Question from Hell! when it's announced at the end of our weekly bonus podcast on Thursday. This week, we asked an old QfH!, albeit in a reworded format. Members, here's next week's QfH! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Earth’s instability, the mother of all bombs, Gaza blockade, police attack on students now in Albania and Portugal, reporters arrested for covering Palestine protest, Antifa raids in Holland, Meta interfering in Brazil election, and the FBI's "terrorist." www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

This is not a good week. I'm compiling Friday's "9 Circles of Hell" and, so far, we have 27 hellish candidates for the most hellish news of the week. Support This is Hell! at patreon.com/thisishell to get bonus content.

Your bitter blind broke gap-toothed host reclaims his weekend which is not as freeing as I hoped. Also, a 2006 talk with @greggrandin.bsky.social on the upcoming mid-terms which he feared @thedemocratsmv.bsky.social were going to blow as they did in '86. Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

The email bag is bursting so on This is Hell! today we're relieving the pressure by sharing what we're being told by listeners from around the world. We caught this image of a listener in the wilds of Nova Scotia with a This is Hell! camping mug. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

@js-tan.bsky.social and Clarissa Redwine on "Against Tech Oligarchy: Worker Resistance in the World’s Most Powerful Industry" (@haymarketbooks.org). We also had 'This Week's Hangover Cure,' 'Rotten History' and shared your answers to the 'Question from Hell!' www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Tuesday, live at 10AM CDT and podcast after @js-tan.bsky.social and Clarissa Redwine join us to discuss "Against Tech Oligarchy: Worker Resistance in the World’s Most Powerful Industry" (@haymarketbooks.org). Wednesday, our guest is YOU! Click below for details. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

NEW Question from Hell! "What should Iran nuke next?" Leave your answer below. We announce our favorite at the end of Wednesday's This is Hell! Winner gets a free random postcard from your bitter blind broke gap-toothed host with a personalized message to you. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Become a member and start every week with the Sunday Funnies and Not So Funny. This week, we begin with some history lessons, laugh at Trump, offer plenty of warnings, and goof on anti-socialism. Join now to keep our website and 13-year archive free to everyone! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Today's 'Virus Monologue' livestreamed and podcast on June 19, 2020, but never aired as Northwestern University and WNUR's studios were in lockdown. At the time, conservatives were complaining about cancel culture after cancelling culture for generations. Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Everywhere there is money to be made from wholesale imperial murder, this bastard is to be found. Along with the conman at the top, the perfect personification of a malignant empire. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/09/w...

While the world wages wars, police beat students, democeacy and dissent being criminalized, lies becoming truth, an epidemic of rape and sex abuse, the "unjustified" shooting of someone attmepting to escape ICE... Trump and Putin are attacking the ICC. Read 'em all! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Two new pieces today: Latest from the ongoing border wall standoff in Lochiel. A person remains in the tree on the Mexican side, despite Border Patrol cutting down their platform last night. www.lookoutnews.org/lochiel-ariz... and an essay on fascism: johnwashington.substack.com/p/the-quicks...

NEW Bonus This is Hell! Chuck makes his case for the 2020s sucking worse than most decades but finds reasons for hope (kinda), and a talk from 25 days after 9/11 with grieving parents who lost their son that day and were opposed to the War on Terror. Keep us free! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

NEW FREE HELL! Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club's Cal Robinet of the @minnesota15.bsky.social on their case, immigration, labor, free speech, anarchism, democracy, colonialism, racism, inequality, liberation and everything else we're being told to not talk about. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

New Free Hell! @phillydsa.bsky.social's @resistrun.bsky.social discusses the connection between US wars, Gaza's genocide, and the rape culture at Cornell. Join to keep us free and 100% listener supported while getting bonus content all week! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Tuesday, @phillydsa.bsky.social's @resistrun.bsky.social discusses “There is No Socialism Without the End of U.S. Empire,” and “The Case for Dismantling the Israeli State." Wednesday, we'll speak with Cal Robinet of the @minnesota15.bsky.social. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

As the world burns you can begin every week with "The Sunday Funnies and Not So Funny" brought to you by This is Hell! for subscribing to completely our always free and 100% listener supported, commercial- and corporte founrdation grant-free program. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

New Old Free Hell! Four years ago today, we spoke with Lyndsie Bourgon about her book, "Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America's Woods" (@littlebrown.bsky.social). Join now to keep us 100% listener supported and get bonus content all weekend long. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

A response to the WSJ Editorial Board's whining that Alito recused from Suncor v. Boulder: don't be mad at watchdog groups for wanting ethics rules enforced. Be mad at Alito for prioritizing his investments over his ability to impartially do his job

Before the far-right co-opted the Movement for Black Lives and rebranded it 'Woke,' before liberals exploited the movement and joined progressives in abandoning it, there was hope for reform if not abolition like there has been since there's been police. Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

US coups, Russia's nuke warning and stunning war dead, Yemeni food shortage, campus cops' "unlawful force" against pro-Gaza students, Cornell's terrible sex assault record, widespread sex trafficking by retail mogul, and melting sea Ice "is a now problem." Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Free Hell! Two years ago today, @icijaponesport.bsky.social's @matthewdtaylor.bsky.social joined @thisishellradio to discuss "The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy" (@broadleafbooks.bsky.social). Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

New Old Free Hell! On October 1, 2018, This is Hell! hosted the great mystery novelist Walter Mosley. He was on back then to discuss his latest, a non-fiction work called "Folding the Red into the Black" (@orbooks.bsky.social). Join now for bonus content all week! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

I'm celebrating my birthday with a gift for you: free access to this week's special Patreon podcast featuring a live in-studio conversation on the past, present and futue of the Chicago tavern with Cary's Lounge now former owner Pete Valavanis! If you like, share. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Nine years ago today, Henry Giroux was warning us about President Trump ushering in a new era of American authoritarianism when. we discussed his book, "The Public in Peril" (@routledgebooks.bsky.social). Listen now -- and it's free! Help keep us free. Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

If you missed this from past guest @smaurizi.bsky.social -- or any of her most recent writing -- Stefania's reporting and analysis is must read as always. www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/08/29/a... Also, here's our interviews with her and they're free! thisishell.com/interviews?s...

On this day in 2020, we discussed "The End of the Megamachine: A Brief History of a Failing Civilization" (@simonschusteruk.bsky.social) with author Fabian Scheidler. ... and it's free! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

This week, 'A Brief History of Failing Civilization,' 'Trump and the Menace of American Authoritarianism,' 'Developing a Viable Untopia for Human Survival in the 21st Century,'
'The Christian Movement That's Threatening Democracy.' And 'Tree Thieves.' It's free! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Start your week with The Sunday Funnies and Not So Funny! Join now to see them all! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

In the latest 'Virus Monologue' it's June 16, 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic reveals deadly police violence which leads to an uprising demaning for reform that @democrats.org manipulated and abandoned while the Republicans stayed deep in denial. Join now! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

The Circles include AI trying to kill us all while stealing our work and targeting suckers at gambling sites. Also, Wall Street bubble is bursting, Israel bulldozes olive trees before harvest, a food crisis, El Nino, a threat to all life, and baby teeth. www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Chuck debunks the 'self-made man' - and it's always a dude - then considers what that reveals about individual freedom. We also share a 2012 talk with Brian Miller and Mike Lapham on “The Self-Made Myth" (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social/@bkpub.bsky.social ). www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Early this morning, our scheduled guests' rental car was broken into and eveeything was stolen including the laptop they needed for our interview. We're cworking to confirm them for when we return to our regular schedule Tuesday, October 6. Back tomorrow on Patreon www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

@telesurenglish.net.web.brid.gy's Brian Mier on Brazil's many corruption scandals, the coup against @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social by @flaviobolsonar.bsky.social and @jairbolsonaro0.bsky.social, as well as western media's Brzil disnformation campaign. It's free! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Tuesday, @telesurenglish.net.web.brid.gy's @brianmier247.bsky.social on Brazil's scandals as we approach Brazil's vote between @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social and Bolsonaro. Wednesday, JS Tan and Clarissa Redwine on "Against Tech Oligarchy." @genek3.bsky.social). www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

The Question from Hell! is: 'With the inevitable rise of AI, what would you like AI to destroy?' Leave your answer below. Our favorite is announced at end of our live Wednesday show. Winner gets a free random postcard from Chuck with a personalized message for you!

Start every week with the Sunday Funnies and Not So Funny while supporting 100% listener-supported, commercial- and corporate foundation grant-free This is Hell! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...

Before progressives abandoned calls for police reform, before they called 'woke' "crazy," real change was actually being discussed in the legacy media. Demands were so great even establishment Democrats pandered to antiracism. Join to return to that "crazy" time! www.patreon.com/thisishell/p...