We're Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends
We're Not Kidding is a show where funny people talk about serious things, hosted by Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan and regularly featuring internationally acclaimed comedian Bassem Youssef.
Episodes
Superpower vs. Kryptonite - Which Dem Has the Best Shot in 2028?
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 th
'Everyone Is Lying to You for Money' - Ben McKenzie on His New Crypto Documentary, Corporate Dems, and 'The O.C.'
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 h
Could Riz Ahmed Be the First Brown James Bond?
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
Can You Trust Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson on Israel? Mehdi and Bassem Debate
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 interv
Who'll Win the 'MAGA Podcast Wars'? Krystal Ball and Mehdi on Ben Shapiro vs. Tucker Carlson, AIPAC, and Iran
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
Two Muslim Journalists Walk Into a Podcast - Mehdi and Ayman Mohyeldin on Iran, Gaza, and Media Bias
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 t
Meet the Palestinian-American Influencer Exposing 'Genocidal' Israelis Online
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 Israe
How This Atheist Podcast Star Learned to Love Palestine, Oppose AIPAC, and Defend Muslims
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 shaki
Will They Denaturalize Us? - Former 'Daily Show' Comedian Aasif Mandvi on Trump, ICE, Gaza, and Being an Immigrant
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
'They Make Genocide Jokes' - Israeli Comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi on Racism, Zionism, and Palestinian Liberation
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 l
'Jewish and Muslim Safety Are Intertwined' - Comedian Ilana Glazer on Mamdani's Victory and the Weaponization of Antisemitism
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
'Succession' Star on Gaza, Iran, and the 10 Rich People Who 'Run Everything'
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 w
'Israel's Sugar Daddy' – Mehdi and Bassem on Trump, Kimmel, Mamdani, and Two Years of Genocide
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 i
EXCLUSIVE: Israel is 'Gaslighting' Us, Says 'Andor' Star After Trip to Occupied West Bank
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
EXCLUSIVE: Mark Ruffalo Says 'Boycott, Divest, Sanction, and Prosecute' Israel
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 again
'I Don't Give a Sh*t What DJ Khaled Thinks' - Anees on Political Music, Cancel Culture, and Zohran Mamdani
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 m
'Put a Trump Tower in Iran' - Maz Jobrani on Middle East Wars and the US Immigrant Experience
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 t
Unpacking the 'Insane' Premise of Zionism, with Mehdi and Alana Hadid
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 condition
'The Immigrant Dilemma' - Yasmin Elhady on Muslim Matchmaking, Comedy, and Looking Different
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
'Sane Fascists or Insane Fascists?' - Molly Jong-Fast on the President's Mental Health Issues
It's been almost four months (!) of Donald Trump's second term and it's become nearly impossible to keep track of the president's unhinged behavior. Fortunately, Mehdi and political analyst Molly Jong-Fast, host of the 'Fast Politics' podcast, take on the task of rounding up Trump's most insane recent moments on this week's 'We're Not Kidding'. They also call out the media for its lax coverage of
The 'Bullsh*t' of Bill Maher — Gianmarco Soresi on Israel, Antisemitism, and 'Anti-Woke' Comedy
It's been one whole year since the launch of 'We're Not Kidding', and for our anniversary episode Mehdi is joined by comedian and internet superstar Gianmarco Soresi. As a half-Italian, half-Jewish comedian, Gianmarco has become famous for the viral social media clips of his standup comedy, as well as his outspoken criticism of Israel. He and Mehdi unpack how the silencing of pro-Palestine voices
'ICE is a Terrorist Agency' - Cynthia Nixon on Deportation Raids, Gaza Attacks, and Trump's War on Higher Education
On this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by award-winning actor, activist, and Zeteo contributor Cynthia Nixon for an impassioned conversation about rising fascism under Donald Trump and the lawlessness of ICE, which Cynthia calls a "terrorist agency." Mehdi and Cynthia unpack Trump's assault on US higher education, the 'disappearings' of international student activists, and the lack of
United States of 'Hypocrisy' – Bassem and Mehdi on College Students, Free Speech, and Gaza
It's been almost two months since Mehdi and Bassem co-hosted 'We're Not Kidding' together and A LOT has happened since then. As two naturalized US citizens, Mehdi and Bassem co-host again, starting off the conversation discussing the Trump administration's arrests of international residents in the US who dare to criticize Israel. The two also discuss Israel breaking the ceasefire deal (Bassem co
'Ethno-Nationalist, Hard-Right Whackjobs' - Nish Kumar on Fascism, Starmer, and Being Both Brown and English
They first bonded over their shared love of Nando's — now Mehdi and UK comedian Nish Kumar reunite to talk about their shared contempt for the Trump administration. The two sat down in Washington DC to discuss UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's disastrous visits to the White House and the childish behavior of US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD
Politics, Sport, and Free Speech Hypocrisy, with Jemele Hill
Live from New York — it's 'We're Not Kidding'! This past week, Mehdi traveled to the 'On Air Fest' in Brooklyn for a very special LIVE taping of 'WNK' with award-winning sports journalist and broadcaster Jemele Hill. You may remember Jemele from the first Trump administration, when political 'nepo baby' and then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called for ESPN to fire Jemele for
Is Trump 'Daddy'? – with Bassem Youssef
Mehdi is once again joined by 'We're Not Kidding' powerhouse Bassem Youssef for a raw and honest conversation about the state of the world. To steal a phrase from MAGA Republicans speaking about Donald Trump — "Daddy is home." Mehdi and Bassem unpack the first few weeks of Trump's second term, including the escalating violence in the West Bank occurring during the "fake" Gaza ceasefire. The two a
Taking On the Tech Oligarchs, with Taylor Lorenz
'We're Not Kidding' is back! After a not-very-relaxing holiday break, Mehdi is joined by tech and online culture journalist (and new Zeteo contributor!) Taylor Lorenz to discuss the new age of American oligarchy. Trump is back in office and his inauguration was a star-studded showcase of spineless tech billionaires. Mehdi and Taylor also unpack the dumbfounding blunder of Democrats' TikTok ban, w
"Holy Sh*t, We're Being Lied To": Huda Kattan, CEO of Huda Beauty, Speaks Out
If you've followed Mehdi's career, you know he's interviewed heads of state, members of Congress, homicidal mercenaries, and even terrorists. But this may be Mehdi's most intimidating guest yet — Huda Kattan — the superstar beauty influencer, activist, reality TV show host, and founder and CEO of international beauty brand 'Huda Beauty'. Funnily enough, Huda was also nervous to sit down with one o
The One Where Hasan Minhaj Meets Mehdi Hasan
Hasan Minhaj and Mehdi Hasan don't just share a common brown name… actually, that may be all they have in common. One loves to debate, the other avoids it like the plague. One is obsessed (sorry, Mehdi) with Twitter, the other avoids it like the plague. And one knew months ago that Trump was going to win, and with record levels of Black and Brown support. They also talked about Joe Rogan and diagn
Democrats Need To Get A Spine - Amanda Seales & Francesca Fiorentini on Harris' Loss, Joe Rogan, and Trump 2.0
Following the (depressing) results of the 2024 US presidential election, Mehdi is joined by comedians Amanda Seales and Francesca Fiorentini for a (funny) post-post-mortem on Democrats' historic shellacking. They discuss the Harris campaign's many mistakes, from cozying up to Republican neocons, to abandoning Bernie Sanders-style populism, to inexplicably hiding their only cool person, Tim Walz. "
'Election Anxiety' and Fears of a 'Civil War', with Nick Offerman
It's less than a week until the 2024 US presidential election and who better to discuss the government with than 'Parks and Rec' star and comedian Nick Offerman. The last time Mehdi spoke with Nick about current events was back in May 2021, right before Nick was to testify before Congress about the Covid-19 vaccine. More recently, Nick released a couple of comedic songs to encourage Americans to v
Bassem Youssef, Unlike You've Ever Seen Him, on Hope, Despair, and A Year of Genocide
If you've been tuning into Zeteo's flagship podcast, 'We're Not Kidding' for the last six months, you're going to find this one is a very special episode. Bassem Youssef returns to WNK for an intimate and heartfelt conversation – one unlike you've ever seen on this show. It's also a version of Bassem none of us, including Mehdi, have ever seen before. "I'm from a very, very, very deep point of de
A Palestinian and a Jew Walk Into a Podcast - Sammy Obeid & Matt Lieb Reflect on the Oct. 7 Anniversary
In the latest episode of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by comedians Matt Lieb and Sammy Obeid to discuss the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas and Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza that followed. Matt, a Jewish-American, and Sammy, a Palestinian-American, share their personal experiences over the past year, including how they've managed to maintain their sense of humor t
Make Nando's, Not War - with Nish Kumar
In the latest episode of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi's in London (again!) and this time chatting with the Nando's-loving comedian and host of 'Pod Save the UK' Nish Kumar. We promise you will laugh – and maybe even cry of laughter. Nish and Mehdi lead with that - their shared love of Nando's - and how, as Nish describes, it's the only thing uniting a fragmented British society right now. The two
"We've Hit a Tipping Point" - Riz Ahmed on Protest, Joy, and the Power of Story
Mehdi is joined by Oscar-winning actor and producer Riz Ahmed for a high school reunion (yes, they went to school together back in London in the 1990s!) and catch up on life, work, and how the world has changed for brown folks since their childhood. They talk about Riz's journey as an actor — from playing stereotypical roles to now creating his own work and championing the work of up-and-coming fi
'We're Not Kidding' LIVE! - Alana Hadid & Mehdi on Palestine and the Fight for Liberation
On this week's special LIVE episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' filmed in front of a studio audience in the Washington DC area, Mehdi is joined by activist, influencer and fashion designer Alana Hadid, who has been one of the most vocal advocates for the people of Gaza over the past nine months. Alana's family is arguably the most famous Palestinian family on Earth, and the Hadids have received a ton
"I Will Do the Right Thing for those Children in Gaza." - Hollywood Star Rob Delaney Speaks Out
On this week's episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' Mehdi travels to London to speak with U.S. comedian, writer, and actor Rob Delaney, who has lived in the UK for the last 10 years. In this powerful, wide-ranging, and at times emotional conversation, Rob speaks with Mehdi about how the tragic loss of his 2 year-old son in 2018 drove him to speak out against Israel's brutal assault on Palestinian child
The Missing 'Beheaded Babies' - Mehdi & Bassem Debunk Oct. 7 Lies
On this week's bonus episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' Bassem Youssef joins Mehdi for an honest and critical conversation about Oct. 7, and the avalanche of Israeli propaganda and lies that followed Hamas' deadly attack. Bassem and Mehdi discuss and debunk a number of lies and distortions about the events on the day, from Israel's controversial "Hannibal directive," which led to the Israeli military
"Revolutionaries, Not Reformists" - Mehdi and Amanda Seales talk Biden vs Trump, Gaza, and… Jerry Seinfeld
On the new episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' Mehdi is joined by stand-up comedian, actor, and social justice advocate Amanda Seales for an unfiltered conversation about Palestine, and the cultural backlash for speaking out against genocide and U.S. imperialism. Amanda, who has Palestinian family members, has been a vocal proponent for Palestinian liberation over the last eight months, at great profe
Gaza, Police Brutality and Batman with Mehdi and W. Kamau Bell
Stand-up comedian, best-selling author and acclaimed TV host W. Kamau Bell joins Mehdi as co-host of 'We're Not Kidding' this week. They discuss the student protestors, who join a long line of American anti-war demonstrators, as well as the police's use of brute force against them. Mehdi and Kamau also examine the censorship of pro-Palestinian voices in the media and Hollywood, why Batman is polit
Red Cows and Religious Extremists, with Bassem & Mehdi
Bassem Youssef is back with Mehdi to co-host the third episode of 'We're Not Kidding.' They talk about the religious extremists, from the illegal settlements in the West Bank to the hallways of the U.S. Congress, who are trying to bring about the end of times - as well as a bunch of red cows that wield a lot of spiritual power. And they disagree on a few things too. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT
On Taylor Swift and Intifada
Palestinian-Lebanese-American comedian, Sammy Obeid, who rose to fame because of his viral jokes on Palestine and his Netflix show 100 Humans, joins Mehdi to guest host the second episode of 'We're Not Kidding.' They dive into the student protests, DNA tests, pushing back against misinformation with comedy, the power of slogans, and doing 1001 nights of stand-up. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT IND
How Mehdi and Bassem Cope with What's Happening in Gaza
In the very first episode of the new Zeteo podcast, 'We're Not Kidding,' Mehdi and guest co-host Bassem Youssef sit down and talk about what their brown parents make of their career choices, becoming famous for the right reasons, pushing back against the media's coverage of Gaza, and Mehdi's new hoodie. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscri
Announcing 'We're Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends'
Introducing Zeteo's flagship podcast, 'We're Not Kidding,' a show where funny people talk about serious things, hosted by Zeteo founder and CEO Mehdi Hasan, and regularly featuring internationally acclaimed comedian Bassem Youssef. Each episode, Mehdi is joined by a renowned guest for a sometimes lighthearted, sometimes vulnerable conversation about topics they can't discuss anywhere else.
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