Wide Awake America by Nadine Smith
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I’m Nadine Smith—a former journalist who couldn’t resist the pull to dig deeper and help people make sense of the forces quietly eroding our democracy. Here, I bring together the sharpest minds for conversations that are refreshingly free of trite soundbites and talking-over-each-other chaos. Think smart people speaking plainly about things that actually matter—to you, your family, our country, and the world.
As the Executive Director of Equality Florida, the statewide LGBTQ education and advocacy group on the frontline resisting anti-democratic attacks, I’ve spent decades at the crossroads of journalism, advocacy, and human rights. I’ve tackled everything from fighting Anita Bryant’s legacy of hate to leading efforts that brought marriage equality to Florida. I’m excited to bring the insights and experience I’ve gained in activism and journalism to this platform. Source
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| Scope | International |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesLaurels and Sugar Daddies
The New York City Pride March kicks off in 14 days, but the nation’s biggest homage to gay history may be unfolding on the White House lawn. Of course we all know that ancient Greek athletes grappled in the nude, their oiled bodies gliding smoothly as they brought their opponent to submission. But did you know this was the primary social space for wealthy men looking for toned and flexible young sexual partners?
When “Help” Becomes a Weapon
For the past week, I’ve been getting urgent pop-ups from Facebook asking if I need support. They open with a warning icon and my name. “Nadine, can we help?” The message assures me that only I can see it. It offers to connect me to a friend, suggests coping tools, and links to a crisis line. The tone is careful and protective. The first time, I ignored it. I assumed Meta was being hypervigilant given the scrutiny over the mental health impact of its platforms.
A Modest Proposal: Restore the People’s House
It is a truth self-evident that a man who worships himself will eventually demand a temple. And so he built one: a ballroom of glass and gold, more suited to a casino than to the seat of a republic. The so-called renovation of the White House was not an act of service but a performance of ego. It stands as proof that when democracy grows weak, a vain man will always try to crown himself.
Fourth of July, High Noon
Wide Awake America: Conversations that Shape Tomorrow Dive into the heart of today’s most pressing cultural, political, and social issues with Wide Awake America. Hosted by acclaimed journalist and activist Nadine Smith, this podcast features in-depth conversations with thought leaders, change-makers, and disruptors who are shaping the future of democracy, equity, and justice.
BREAKING:Gay Asylum Seeker Release from El Salvador Gulag
Andry Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan asylum seeker disappeared by the Trump administration and held in a notorious Salvadoran prison, has finally been released—part of a prisoner swap that sent him back to Venezuela instead of reuniting him with his family in the U.S. Andry came here legally in 2024 after fleeing anti-LGBTQ+ persecution. He passed his credible fear interview, then showed up to a scheduled immigration check-in and was detained and deported.
J.D. Vance: A Heartbeat from Power, Soulless and Owned
In 2016, J.D. Vance was warning friends that Donald Trump might be “America’s Hitler.” He called Trump “reprehensible,” a “cynical fraud,” and dismissed MAGA as “cultural heroin.” That was the Vance of Hillbilly Elegy fame — a man who claimed to speak for forgotten rural communities while presenting himself as a truth-teller against demagoguery. Fast forward to today: Vance is not just Trump’s most loyal foot soldier — he is Vice President of the United States.
Human Safari: Inside Russia Drone Attacks
I watched a documentary last night that I didn't want to watch. I thought it would leave me emotionally battered, maybe sleepless, carrying images I couldn't shake. Instead, I found myself oddly hopeful. Inspired, even. Resolute in a way I hadn't expected.
A Certain Kind of Hero
Florida’s State Board of Education spent the week doing what has now become routine: using state power to harass, intimidate, and silence free speech while insisting they’re defending it. Their latest target was Alachua County School Board member Tina Certain, hauled in over a Facebook comment she made about Charlie Kirk. Kirk’s murder was horrific.
Smart People Can Believe Dangerous Things. Here's Why.
How can otherwise intelligent friends, family, or coworkers fall for absurd claims or cling to conspiracies that collapse under even basic scrutiny? It is not ignorance, and in some ways, that makes it worse. Once someone ties a belief to their identity, intelligence becomes a tool for defending the error rather than correcting it. The Greeks had a word for this refusal to learn, even when the truth is right in front of you: Amathia. It doesn’t simply mean ignorance.
Trump’s Mobster Shakedown in Venezuela
It is possible to share the relief felt by Venezuelans who were brutalized under Maduro and still recognize the danger of what Trump has done. Relief at the fall of one corrupt boss does not mean the system has been dismantled. Replacing one mobster with another is not justice. Regime change decided by a single man does not become legitimate simply because the target was corrupt or widely hated. Once power operates this way, the rules stop mattering.