Welcome back to hashtag sisters-in-law with Jill Mine Banks, Barb McQuaid, and me, Joyce fans.

Kim will be back next week, but we're already missing her,

especially with all the news this week. Before we dive into the show, a reminder, you can still

grab our resistance minototes and t-shirts online, but they're selling out fast, so don't

wait. Go to politicon.com slash Merck. In this week's show, we'll discuss the crazy

Texas gerrymandering effort being pushed by Republican Governor Abbott in Texas. We'll talk about

the debacle at DOJ as Pam Bondi tries to stand by her man while he faces dissent from within his

own base over the Epstein files.

And finally, we'll talk about an unusual challenge to Trump's so-called alligator alcatraz

that has succeeded, at least for now. When we were talking about topics this week, Jill was

bemoaning the fact that there just wasn't anything positive on the horizon, but at least

here, despite the context, there's a little bit of hope. Y'all, before we dive in, though,

can I ask y'all for some advice? Is that okay? Yeah, we'd love to. You know, this maybe speaks

to how sort of boring and nerdy I am, but I have finally

finished my book. As of last night, I sent in the final, that final proofread version has

gone back to the publisher. I feel like I lost about 20 pounds last night. But I've been, so I've been hiding up in the woods

in Maine because I learned that trying to do this with my family around me demanding dinner and

my dog wanting to go for a walk was sort of difficult. So I'm up here with only my daughter's cat.

I was all alone when I finished. Some of the kids are coming in tonight.

I'm flying home tomorrow. What do I do to celebrate? I'm just so exhausted. I sort of want to go to

bed for a week, but I feel like I should celebrate. Y'all both have best sellers. What did you guys do to

celebrate when you finish? You know, a mine happened.

...