What's good is Gene Demby. And somehow we are almost at the end of 2025. We did it,

y'all. We did it. But I'm not going to lie. It's been a pretty challenging. That's what we're

for it. Challenging year for NPR and local stations. But despite the loss of federal funding

for public media and despite the attacks on the free press everywhere, we are still here for you. We're still exercising our First Amendment rights. And with your support at NPR and at Code Switch, we're planning to stick around. We're not going nowhere. We're going to keep bringing you the independent, fearless reporting and conversations you count on us for. If you're already an NPR Plus supporter, we are so grateful for you. Thank you for rocking with us. If not, I mean, what you're

waiting for? Please join the community of public radio

supporters right now, but for the end of the

year at plus.mpr.org.

Sign up for NPR Plus,

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Visit plus.mpr.org today, and thank you.

Just a heads up, there's some salty language in this episode, including some racial slurs.

All right, on to the show.

Hey, everyone, you're listening to Code Switch, the show about race and identity from NPR.

I'm B.A. Parker.

And I'm Gene Demby.

Gene, it's been a heck of a year.

Heck a. She says what understatement. President Trump's National Guard deployments have been

...