David & Stu... Unhinged!

David & Stu

“David & Stu . . . Unhinged!” offers a unique glimpse into the world's most pressing (and most trivial) issues through the eyes of two of Greenwich Village’s jaded residents, who are usually pissed off about something. From allowing people to legally sh** on our sidewalks to "discrimination" against fat people, David Simonetti, a writer and attorney, and Stu Richel, a critically acclaimed actor, screenwriter, and Vietnam War vet, offer an acerbic yet civilized perspective on politics and life in New York City. Occasionally veering into the abyss of rage, like Stu's unbridled contempt for Jane Fonda and David's rage about those who ask for ice cream samples, the duo from two different generations will enchant you with their common-sense reactions speckled with off-the-rails humor, anger, and dismay.

  1. 2d ago

    108: Mamdani Unwelcomed, ICE Overreach, Musk Unmasked, & Cocaine Campus

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. Mamdani Unwelcomed: Mayor Mamdani insists that he plans to attend the 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremonies, despite objections from victims’ families and critics who argue that his past rhetoric, associations, and comments about terrorism make his presence at Ground Zero deeply inappropriate. Unfortunately, this mayor is too arrogant and self-absorbed to realize this. ICE Overreach: ICE appears to be widening the net, with one report estimating that roughly half of 92,000 arrests in June and July involved people with no criminal record. That may create positive headlines for the diminishing MAGA base, but this type of overreach clearly has gone too far. Even a Fulbright scholar with a PhD in pharmacy, a pending asylum claim, and a respected job at Johns Hopkins has been ensnared in this latest Trump leviathan. Musk Unmasked: Alex Gibney’s new documentary Musk, previewed at the Venice Film Festival, offers a blistering look at Elon Musk’s carefully manufactured mythology, from disputed personal claims and the Tesla “founder” story to federal scrutiny over Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. We discuss how the film portrays Musk as less visionary genius than a reckless self-promoter and why Trump’s decision to let him anywhere near government data and national security infrastructure was its own act of stunning incompetence. Cocaine Campus: Fifteen years after the Sandusky scandal, Penn State has a new scandal on its hands involving a cocaine trafficking ring operated out of two fraternity houses, with 13 current or former students among the 14 defendants. In addition to the students, the father of an alleged ringleader, a once-prominent Pittsburgh attorney whose practice apparently included “transportation,” is named as a defendant. Sadly, this seems very on-brand for Penn State. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  2. Sep 6

    107: Canyon Chaos, Trump’s Harpy, Golf Traitors, & Trashy Tennis

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, we cover the floods at the Grand Canyon, speculation about Trump’s bizarre relationship with Natalie Harp, the demise of LIV Golf, and the vulgarity of the U.S. Open. Canyon Chaos: Floods, fires, and washed-out footbridges have battered the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, turning one of America’s most majestic landscapes into a disaster area. Stu will look back at the damage through a personal lens, from dinners at the old lodge to hikes along Bright Angel Creek, and explore the consequences when the country’s grandest scenery starts looking disturbingly fragile. Trump’s Harpy: We further dissect the uproar over Senator Jon Ossoff’s joke about Trump sycophant and slut Natalie Harp, and her unusual access to Trump, including online speculation that she is Trump’s dementia caregiver and even changes his diapers. This entire Natalie story highlights further the bizarre functioning of the MAGA White House, where loyalty and paranoia reign supreme. Golf Traitors: LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed rival that lured PGA stars with massive guaranteed contracts, may now be headed for bankruptcy. If the reports prove true, the defectors who chased the money could soon be crawling back to the PGA. In light of their greed, these players should not be allowed to come back to the PGA. Trashy Tennis: At the U.S. Open, tennis increasingly feels like the background music to a luxury influencer convention. From celebrity posing and VIP “hospitality” to spectators more interested in selfies than serves, the tournament has become a very New York spectacle of money, status, and performative exclusivity, while Wimbledon provides a far more dignified event that focuses on tennis. It is rather unfortunate that the U.S. Open has become a sad commentary on the values of New York City residents. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  3. Aug 23

    106: Don’s Diapers, Korea Tantrum, Ossoff Rising & Jailhouse Jeans

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, we cover speculation about Trump’s health, his attacks on South Korea, and how a junior Senator from Georgia has effectively taken MAGA down with powerful critiques. We will conclude with another prison story. Don’s Diapers: We discuss online speculation about Trump’s health from his swollen ankles and visible bruising to rumors about exhaustion, decline, and yes, the internet’s favorite diaper conspiracy. We try to separate what is actually known from what is merely being whispered, while questioning whether the Trump team is engaged in a massive cover-up about his health and whether he will even make it to the end of his term. Korea Tantrum: Instead of cleaning up his Iran mess, Trump launched another verbal grenade at South Korea, an ally that once sent more than 300,000 troops to Vietnam, more than any other U.S. partner. Trump’s latest tantrum further highlights his bizarre diplomacy where he attacks steadfast allies and cozies up to crazed dictators as he tries to revive his “friendship” fantasy with Kim Jong Un. Ossoff Rising: Senator Jon Ossoff is having a moment, and Trump is helping. We will discuss how the Georgia senator has turned from low-profile Democrat into one of Trump’s sharpest prosecutors, skewering the Iran mess, MAGA evasions, and Trump’s usual personal attacks without sounding like the usual left-wing Democrat. Jailhouse Genes: Stu has always been fascinated by prison life, and he will cover how a 1972 stint teaching and performing inside Coxsackie Correctional Facility helped spark a lifelong fascination with maximum-security prisons. Apparently, prison life is a family hobby since his sister also did some volunteering in Bedford Hills, where Jean Harris was imprisoned after murdering her lover, the Scarsdale Diet doctor. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  4. Aug 16

    105: Cart Coward, Corrupt Commute, Mamdani’s Mess & Mob Medicine

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, David and Stu will discuss the outrageous and cowardly Trump retreat from the NATO Summit in Turkey, as well as some local New York stories about a corrupt police officer, Mamdani’s incompetence, and a mob family drama. Cart Coward: Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One after intelligence indicated a potential Iranian threat to his aircraft during his exit from the NATO Summit, while journalists and other personnel remained aboard the original plane, reportedly unaware that Trump had been transferred to a smaller military aircraft. This disgraceful episode shows the striking contrast between Trump’s carefully cultivated image of toughness and his private cowardice, which is another example of his moral failure as a man and president. Corrupt Commute: Jennifer Lackard, the former Deputy Police Commissioner of Mount Vernon, New York, went on a joy ride around town with her felonious husband and gang-banger son committing crimes. This tale further reminds us how Mount Vernon politics continues with rampant corruption and makes New York state a national punchline with its dysfunctional leadership. Mamdani’s Mess: Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax rollout has become a master class in government incompetence. Mamdani arrogantly pitched this as a bold plan to make the wealthy pay more taxes, yet he implemented it in a Trumpian manner, which caused a judge to temporarily block it in an embarrassing spectacle highlighting what ensues when NYC residents elected a neophyte socialist as Mayor. Mob Medicine: Carmine Agnello, grandson of John Gotti, claimed he wanted to donate a kidney to his mother, Victoria Gotti, who is reportedly battling end-stage renal cancer. A judge approved his request, but the surgery has not moved forward due to medical complications. We will explore this organized crime story, family loyalty, and whether the judge made the right call here. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  5. Aug 9

    104: Pirro’s Pool, Plastic Paradise, Fatal Flight, & Low T Pete

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, David and Stu dive into a mix of politics, travel, government incompetence, and aviation disasters, bringing plenty of opinions along the way. Pirro's Pool – The Reflecting Pool prosecution has unraveled after the Justice Department acknowledged the damage resulted from a flawed government renovation rather than criminal vandalism. David and Stu examine how the case came together, why it collapsed, and why Jeanine Pirro now finds herself under fire after the failed prosecution. Plastic Paradise – David recaps his first trip to Las Vegas with his daughter. Great shows from Kelly Clarkson and the Backstreet Boys couldn't completely distract from the Strip's manufactured glamour, endless resort fees, fake landmarks, mob history, and the spectacle that defines modern Vegas. The conversation also detours into the Grand Canyon Skywalk controversy and the legal battles surrounding it. Fatal Flight – An Argentine flight instructor's decision to jump from a training aircraft, forcing his student to land alone, leads to a broader discussion of aviation mysteries and tragedies, including Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and other cases in which investigators concluded or suspected that a pilot intentionally brought down an aircraft. Low-T Pete – Pete Hegseth's effort to install Gen. Christopher LaNeve as Army Chief of Staff has reportedly run into resistance from Republican senators. David and Stu discuss what the setback says about Hegseth's influence at the Pentagon and how it contrasts with his carefully cultivated tough-guy image. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  6. Aug 2

    103: Fauci’s Diaries, Barriers Broken, Hollow Victory, Harrowing Hike

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, we examine Trump’s false claims about stopping all drug trafficking, two major sports achievements, Fauci’s recently released diaries, and a harrowing hiking trip in Montana. Fauci’s Diaries: Newly released diary entries show Dr. Anthony Fauci tracking not just the pandemic, but his own sudden celebrity, including the thrill of becoming “the most famous” man in America. History should judge this charlatan harshly, and these diaries provide a glimpse of Fauci’s enormous ego and dishonest messaging. It seems this lauded public health official was not really the calm scientist we saw on TV, but like a teenage influencer enjoying the spotlight a little too much. The damage he caused was considerable, and he should be held accountable, but instead he got a pardon from low IQ Joe and then pleaded the Fifth repeatedly when he was testifying before the Senate about his malfeasance. Barriers Broken: In the sports world, there have been two remarkable achievements. First, the mile world record fell again, adding a new chapter to one of athletics’ most iconic stories, the quest that began with Roger Bannister’s historic breaking of the four-minute mile in 1954. Second, a 21-year-old golf phenom captured a PGA Tour title in just his third start, defeating the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer by three strokes. His stunning rise is a reminder that talent, hard work, and belief can turn big dreams into reality. Hollow Victory: Trump’s claims of having effectively ended drug trafficking are hollow, misleading, and contradicted by the realities of how cartels operate. While fentanyl deaths and border seizures may be down, the traffickers have likely adapted rather than disappeared, and Trump’s maritime drug-war claims are more political theater than proven success. It also raises serious concerns about the legality of reported boat strikes, suggesting that the administration’s law-and-order posture may itself have crossed legal lines. Harrowing Hike: Three friends tried to climb Granite Peak before dawn. Seven hours in, David Cifaldi, a 32-year-old wound nurse, slipped and impaled himself on his own trekking pole, then hiked roughly 10 miles back down with it still in him while his friends kept him moving and everyone else from panicking. A wilderness nightmare turns out to be a story about composure, loyalty, and the world’s worst hiking accessory. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  7. Jul 19

    102: Rubio's Gambit, Ivanka Antoinette, Caitlin's Struggle, Mamdani's Broken Record

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, we examine four segments, including Marco Rubio’s broad portfolio of work, including running Venezuela; Ivanka Trump’s luxurious lifestyle and greed; the WNBA’s treatment of a star player; and how Mamdani’s soaring rhetoric doesn’t match his record as mayor. Rubio’s Gambit: Marco Rubio appears to be testing a high-stakes foreign-policy experiment in Venezuela: improving public safety, reopening commercial life, and trying to steer military rule toward democracy. It is a fascinating and potentially risky exercise in political statecraft. If it works, could it also become the kind of headline-making success story that strengthens Rubio’s case for the presidency here at home? Ivanka Antoinette: Ivanka Trump has gotten involved in a Kushner-backed luxury resort project on environmentally sensitive land in Albania, making her a modern “Ivanka Antoinette.” This behavior is a symbol of extreme privilege, political access, and elite detachment. Also, her conspicuous luxury development contrasts unfavorably with other presidential children who pursued philanthropy, public service, or private careers. Once again, the Trump clan doesn’t ever miss the opportunity to get involved in ethically troubling and politically tone-deaf endeavors, which is emblematic of a worldview where power becomes a gateway to escaping ordinary people rather than serving them. Caitlin’s Struggle: The WNBA is suddenly enjoying the Caitlin Clark boom, which entails bigger crowds, better ratings, and more money, while also watching its new marquee attraction get roughed up on the court and dragged through the off-court culture wars. Clark, a straight white superstar in a league where race, identity, and resentment are never far from the conversation, has become both a revenue engine and a punching bag. At some point, the league may want to try protecting the product it is so happily monetizing. Mamdani’s Broken Record: Zohran Mamdani has built a political brand around big promises, soaring rhetoric, and the repeated claim that New Yorkers have been waiting “for too long” for change. But how much has actually changed? We look at the gap between the slogans and the results from free buses and city-run grocery stores to universal childcare, rent freezes, housing costs, and the city budget. For a mayor who keeps promising long-overdue transformation, New Yorkers may still be waiting “far too long” for delivery. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

  8. Jul 12

    101: Lutnick’s Larceny, Trump’s Taint, Mayor Messiah & Lander’s Laxity

    Welcome to David & Stu… Unhinged! As always, we'd like to thank Clara Wang for creating the fantastic artwork for this podcast. This week on David & Stu Unhinged, we examine four stories ranging from the sleazy Howard Lutnick’s ethical compromises; Trump’s interference and jinx of Team USA; Mamdani’s presumptuous July 4th address; and left-wing Brad Lander’s lax oversight of NYC finances. Lutnick’s Larceny: Howard Lutnick’s sleaze tour rolls on as we unpack the latest ethics scandal, which involves a $1.6 billion federal investment in USA Rare Earth that somehow benefits his old firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, now conveniently run by his sons. Lutnick is already tainted by his lies about his relationship with Epstein, his disgraceful treatment of 9/11 victims, and a family-business conflict of interest that is strong enough to trigger a Senate investigation and hopefully put an end to Lutnick’s years of graft, corruption, and greed. Trump’s Taint: The World Cup should rise above politics, so naturally, Trump dragged it into the swamp. His cozy FIFA ties and reported push to reverse a U.S. player’s ejection turned a soccer dispute into another showcase of ego, favoritism, and international embarrassment. Then Team USA lost to Belgium because Trump jinxes everything he touches. Mayor Messiah: Zohran Mamdani apparently thinks being mayor of New York City means being appointed national philosopher-in-chief, using a Fourth of July address to lecture America on its own meaning before proving he can make City Hall answer the phone. We unpack the ego, the sermonizing, and the very New York delusion that a mayor six months into the job should be delivering a national manifesto instead of fixing potholes, subways, housing, bureaucracy, and the basic machinery of city government. Lander’s Laxity: A New York City plumbing supervisor reportedly pulled in more than $450,000 in annual pay, including over 2,500 hours of overtime, raising obvious questions about how closely public-housing payrolls are being monitored. And where is the city's comptroller, sleazy Brad Lander, while this is happening? Running for Congress, naturally. We hope you tune in, and please leave comments. We welcome all feedback, including any critiques. Connect with David & Stu: • Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@DavidStu...Unhinged • Email David & Stu: davidandstuunhinged@gmail.com and share your comments, concerns, and questions. • We encourage all to visit our website (https://www.rageworksnetwork.com/show/david-stu-unhinged/), and please leave comments for our consideration.

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About

“David & Stu . . . Unhinged!” offers a unique glimpse into the world's most pressing (and most trivial) issues through the eyes of two of Greenwich Village’s jaded residents, who are usually pissed off about something. From allowing people to legally sh** on our sidewalks to "discrimination" against fat people, David Simonetti, a writer and attorney, and Stu Richel, a critically acclaimed actor, screenwriter, and Vietnam War vet, offer an acerbic yet civilized perspective on politics and life in New York City. Occasionally veering into the abyss of rage, like Stu's unbridled contempt for Jane Fonda and David's rage about those who ask for ice cream samples, the duo from two different generations will enchant you with their common-sense reactions speckled with off-the-rails humor, anger, and dismay.

Information

  • Creator
    David & Stu
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 David & Stu
  • Show Website
    David & Stu... Unhinged!