American Fever Dream

Did you know that the chemicals in your brain might determine what political party you feel aligned with? Guest Keegan Tatum, an expert in political psychology, is here to explain the psychological differences between liberals and conservatives, as well as how religion and emotional biases factor into our political ideology. He also explains how having an overly active disgust mechanism can create anti-trans and anti-gay sentiments. V and Keegan also debate if conservatives have a humiliation kink, and if we can change our brain chemistry. Follow Keegan: TikTok Instagram YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024

After weeks of speculation, President Biden announced that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race -- leaving all eyes on Vice President Kamala Harris, the new likely democratic presidential nominee. Sami & V discuss Biden’s selfless decision, as well as the flood of endorsements and donations she received in the hours after the news broke, including their theory on why the Obamas have not endorsed her yet, as of recording time. They also talk about Trump’s reaction (or lack thereof) to the news and run through the pros and cons of the most likely VP picks. Finally, what’s with all the coconuts and what do brats have to do with the election? Find out in the episode. AMERICAN'T 56:00 - If you don't like Kamala...start planning for 2028. Attacking her at this point only hurts our chance to beat Trump in 2024. We can do this, but it will take all of us. And as Jess Craven says, we are excited AF for Kamala Harris. Want to learn more about VP Harris? Listen to our episode, The Case For Kamala. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2024

Sami & V take a look at the history of assassination attempts on US presidents and how these attempts, successful or not, shaped American politics. They also talk about the shared motives that many of these men have, like their desire for attention and recognition. This episode also touches on the history of the electric chair...and how masturbation might have played a role in one of these attempts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2024

V and Sami break down the shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, and talk about what could have gone wrong, security failures, and odd choices that were made by the Secret Service. They also share what we know about the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and his background. Then they move on to the RNC and the unceremonious way JD Vance was introduced as Trump's VP pick, and end the episode on debunking the term Blue MAGA. MAIN NEWS 13:00 It's impossible to not talk about the shooting at Trump's rally in Butler, PA that happened Saturday evening.... so let's talk about it. Sami & V break it down -- what happened, how did it happen, and could it have been prevented? We'll also talk about the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and what the FBI has learned about his motives.33:00 JD Vance was announced as the Republican vice president pick at the RNC, and it seemed like Trump was both surprised and confused (as were we!) V & Sami discuss what a Trump/Vance ticket for 2024 means for Americans, as well as how this could play out in future elections. IN OUR DOWN BALLOT ERA 47:00 Money plays a significant role in elections, but it doesn't guarantee victory. Despite the fact Republican state leadership has raised a record breaking second quarter haul for their down ballot races, six Democrats have raised over $46 million in the second quarter for their down ballot races too. And where there are donations, there are voters! AND FINALLY... 50:00 Have you heard the term Blue MAGA? Sami & V talk about the difference between Biden critics and "stans," and how the later can actually cause more harm to the Democratic party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2024

This week Sami is in Philadelphia promoting her new book, Democracy in Retrograde, with her co-author Emily Amick. (Out now!) While in town, she spoke with Pennsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro about the importance of democracy and the steps being taken to ensure free and fair elections, including creating a task force led by Republican Al Schmidt, to protect local poll workers and stop the spread of misinformation. Governor Shapiro also emphasizes the importance of increasing voter participation by creating policies like automatic voter registration, and encourages people to vote out politicians who suppress the vote. (We're looking at you, DeSantis.) This episode was recorded live at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, visit www.theweitzman.org to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2024

Project 2025 is officially in the mainstream news, and Sami and V compare its ideologies to that of Agenda 47, and the 7 Mountains Mandate. They also discuss Nazis marching in Tennessee and how the US could follow the UK's elections last week and pull a "Taccy V." MAIN NEWS 5:00 Project 2025, tied to the Heritage Foundation, is gaining mainstream attention, and both the Vice President and Taraji P. Henson are warning American's to start paying attention. Sami & V also dive into the 7 Mountains Mandate and their strategy to turn America into a Christian nation by capturing the 7 pillars of society that they’ve identified: family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government. And last but not least, V tells us about the British voting trend affectionately called the "Taccy V' or the tactical vote, and how this might be the key for Democrats in 2024. IN OUR DOWN BALLOT ERA 48:15 Voter suppression via the ADA. Sami & V talk about how many Republicans misuse the Americans with Disabilities Act to force the closure of polling places that are not entirely ADA accessible, and what we can do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2024

In this very special 4th of July episode, Sami and V discuss the case for Kamala Harris as the potential Democratic presidential candidate, highlighting her voting record as a Senator, her advocacy for LGBTQ rights, and her stance on Israel-Palestine. They also consider how embracing Harris and giving her more spotlight is the clearest path to a victory against Donald Trump in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2024

Back from Vidcon, V and Sami are comparing Project 2025, the Nazi's, Theocracy and Saudi Arabia, and where a win for Trump this fall would leave us. V and Sami also explore what the current round of Supreme Court rulings mean, and how this might be the end of #vanlife. TEMP CHECK: What are the realities of Project 2025? Everyone is quick to compare it to Nazi Germany, but is the reality more a Theocracy like Saudi Arabia? President Biden gives a mild speech after the Supreme Court’s decision to rule (6-3) that Donald Trump has immunity from being prosecuted for election interference & AOC says she’ll introduce articles of impeachment. Other laws being passed across the country include: rollbacks on child labor laws, age of consent laws & punishing people for sleeping in cars/public spaces MAIN NEWS: Sami and V go deeper into the 6-3 Supreme Court ruling, including Sotomayor's dissent and how this would have affected past presidents' actions. They also talk about the Chevron Deference and what that means for organizations like the FDA, Title IX, and Veteran Affairs. AMERICAN/T: Why you should vote for a Democrat even if you're not excited about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2024

Sami and V are joined by host and creative director at MSNBC Live, Luke Russert, to talk about his book Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself. “Give them the best and the world will take care of the rest.” Luke shares how his grandparents’ and parents’ legacies shaped not only his career but his worldview. There is no correct way to grieve. Luke shares how his life has changed after the passing of his father and how he has navigated his grief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2024

04:45 TEMP CHECK: Will this week’s headlines give you a fever or make you freeze? 24:45 MAIN NEWS: Now that Louisiana has posted the 10 Commandments in every classroom, Sami and V discuss how extreme conservatives are spreading the Christian Dominionist Movement and how they want to completely rewrite the Constitution to create a more evangelical America. 50:15 DOWN BALLOT: It’s Election Day, and the primary race between Jamaal Bowman and George Latimer has now become the most expensive in history as well as controversial due to the Within Our Lives protest. 1:03:20 AMER-I-CAN’T: Hyper-capitalism in journalism is baring its fangs now that journalists are revealing they acquired important information while researching and how their contracts kept them from disclosing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2024

00:00 Sami and V are joined by authors Lisa Lerer & Elizabeth Dias of the new book The Fall of Roe: the Rise Of A New America, to discuss the decades of work done by anti-abortion groups to finally overturn Roe. 11:00 V wonders if American politicians had been more comfortable with using the word ‘abortion’ and didn’t shy away from these conversations, would it have been harder for conservatives to chip away at reproductive rights? 20:20 Everyone knows that religion affects politics, but less discussed is how politics has actually changed religion, and how that has played into recent elections. 24:20 Can Roe be put back? Lisa and Elizabeth’s book theorizes about how we go about getting our reproductive rights back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2024

00:00 Welcome to your guide on media literacy. V and Sami explore how social media is used in hybrid warfare to manipulate public opinion through disinformation and emphasize the need to rebuild social trust. 16:00 How can you spot a bot? In a few easy steps you too can spot disinformation through fake accounts, false engagement, and artificial intelligence. 50:00 Don’t forget to mind the gap. Sami and V give listeners the tools to combat problematic accounts and how to find reliable information. 1:00:00 Where does this leave trad media? While traditional media can still be used as a reliable source of information, listeners should be wary of their overlords. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2024

1:20 Sami and V are joined by Representative Ro Khanna to share his economic philosophies and proposed changes to the legislative and judicial branches, which already have bipartisan support among voters (though not lawmakers!) 9:00 They discuss the threat of AI to elections and discourse, and what regulations are needed around to rebuild trust in political information on social media. 16:30 They dive into Rep. Khanna’s Political Reform Resolution, which presents a comprehensive roadmap to achieving broad political reform for the federal government through things like court term limits and a binding code of ethics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2024

13:00 TEMP CHECK: Will this week’s headlines give you a fever or make you freeze? 45:00 MAIN NEWS: Sami and V define the term ‘Manufactured Consensus’ and how social media has been used to sway popular opinion towards believing that a third party has more support than we think. Not sure how to spot a bot? Make sure to tune in next week for an in depth media literacy lesson. 1:01:40 DOWN BALLOT: Our down ballot girlie of the week goes to The Working Families Party, which is going about the third party thing the right way, while striving to build a multiracial party of working people to transform our country. 1:06:00 AMER-I-CAN’T: Why is the rent so high? Because corporate landlords are fixing it! Pre-Order Democracy In Retrograde: https://shorturl.at/7xQO2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2024

7:55 TEMP CHECK: Sami and V are back this week to check your temperature on 6 new headlines. Have you ever heard of auto-brewery syndrome? 33:40 MAIN NEWS: After reviewing Trump’s convictions, Sami and V uncover how social media could be the end to elections and how foreign interference poses a significant threat to democratic processes (and also the Olympics). 1:01:30 DOWN BALLOT: Representative Kathy Manning was gerrymandered out of her district, but her bill Right to Contraception Act which will be voted on in the senate tomorrow and if passed will guarantee the right for people to obtain contraceptives. 1:03:07 AMER-I-CAN’T: Two UT Austin professors are suing to win the right to fail students for having an abortion, and to refuse to employ a teaching assistant if they have had an abortion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2024

2:00 Sami and V are joined by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to discuss the impact of New York becoming the first state to create a paid family leave program for prenatal care. 8:00 A $1 billion plan was put forward to overhaul New York state’s mental health system, allocating $1.6 million specifically for maternal mental health initiatives. They discuss what happens when mental health issues and law enforcement interface, and how future plans in New York seek to reduce incidents. 24:00 Looking to flip six New York House seats, Governor Hochul reinforces that voter engagement is crucial in upcoming state races to ensure that our democracy is upheld and life-saving legislation is passed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2024

2:30 TEMP CHECK: New take on Temp Check where we cover 8 wild headlines. Does your fever spike or sink? 25:15 MAIN NEWS: In honor of Memorial Day, they sound the alarm against the treatment of veterans and the proposed changes to veterans’ benefits under Project 2025. But don’t worry, Biden dropped a new fiscal budget with $369 billion for the DoD and VA. 43:00 DOWN BALLOT: Our Down Ballot bestie this week goes to VoteVets.org. Vote Vets elevates the voices of veterans and military families through progressive legislative policies and electoral endorsements that impact the lives of active service members and their families. 44:30 AMER-I-CAN’T: Sami and V air their frustrations with the lack of etiquette around voice notes and the changing nature of communication among the different generations. How do you use voice notes? Let us know at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2024

Topics: Representative Colin Allred discusses his vision for a more equitable Texas and his campaign to unseat Ted Cruz, stressing the need for a more engaged and representative leader. Allred shares his journey from being an NFL linebacker to a lawyer and now a representative, driven by a desire to represent all 30 million Texans. Sami and V ask Allred to address looming issues such as the Texas power grid, paternity leave, and the near-total ban on abortion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2024

4:27 TEMP CHECK: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister, and six passengers were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash on Monday, one month before the next election. Was it foul play or an inevitable accident? 20:30 MAIN NEWS: After uncovering the brutality of P. Diddy’s assault on Cassie Ventura and Sami, V exposes the deadly problem of not believing women, the uniquely American “Boyfriend Loophole,” and the need for comprehensive legislation like the Violence Against Women Act. 43:40 DOWN BALLOT: Our down-ballot girlies of the week are the organization Run for Something, community leader Dulce Vasquez, veterans Marche and Marquetta Johnson, and accomplished Afro-Latino organizer Brandon Fletcher Dominguez. 48:07 AMER-I-CAN’T: Sami and V rant about the state of American healthcare highlights the inefficiencies, lack of communication, and disregard for patient care that they recently witnessed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2024

Topics: Sami is joined by Sharon McMahon, the author of “The Small and the Mighty,” to share how history can be constructed and verified as accurately as possible. Sharon stresses the importance of local journalism and how it has been the backbone of America’s microcultures. How different generations navigate gathering information, disseminating it, and learning that the best way to be right is to be wrong first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2024

15:55 TEMP CHECK: Vice President Harris spoke at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ annual legislative leadership summit and imparted some honest words to the group. 24:30 MAIN NEWS: Sami and V give a rundown of the MANY threats to the 2024 election, from AI and disinformation, to election denial, to voter suppression by Trump’s army of poll-watching volunteers. Plus, what the hell is an incidental election and what are the odds of one happening? 58:07 DOWN BALLOT ERA: Our villain of the week is Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over Trump’s Fulton County, Georgia election interference case and is running for reelection. 1:00:00 AMER-I-CAN’T: Senator Katie Britt of Alabama created the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed Act, which proposes to establish an online government database listing agencies and pregnancy care providers, but excluding abortion-related services. It also collects your health and pregnancy information…what could go wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2024

Topics: Sami and V are joined by the hosts of Strict Scrutiny to talk about how the Supreme Court’s handling of important cases like Mifepristone and EMTALA raises concerns about standing and the potential impact on reproductive rights. They predict the risks of the Supreme Court undermining federal supremacy over state law as constitutional principle and what the long term ripple effects are. What can we do about it? Sustained public attention and pressure are crucial in influencing the court’s decisions and how democratic political officials should be pushed to take action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2024

12:45 TEMP CHECK: V and Sami take the nation’s temperature after Drew Barrymore’s “Mamala Controversy” and how her interview with Vice President Harris became cringe-worthy and even inappropriate. 29:17 MAIN NEWS: Project 2025 outlines Trump’s policy plans, which aims to consolidate executive authority and implement conservative policies, potentially hinting to an authoritarian government. 50:53 DOWN BALLOT ERA: Our down ballot girlie of the week goes to Caroline Gleich. Caroline has climbed Mt. Everest and is now running for Senate in Utah to fill the seat Mitt Tomney once occupied. 53: 20 AMER-I-CAN’T: Noelia Voight, recently resigned Miss USA, brings attention to mental health concerns and the pressures faced by pageant contestants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2024

Samantha Vinograd, senior national security counselor and assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention at the DHS, joins Sami and V to talk about how the council is approaching Holocaust denialism and the lack of Holocaust education. Lawmakers proposed the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism into federal anti-discrimination laws. Samantha discusses antisemitism in the context of the recent campus protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2024

5:40 TEMP CHECK: V and Sami check the temperature on the Columbia University protest, clarifying the motivation behind the protests and discussing how they’ve expanded nationwide. 25:45 MAIN NEWS: Why does it seem like every headline is about a court case? They highlight the latest developments at SCOTUS, criminal cases, and more… while reflecting on America’s long standing reputation of being one of the most litigious countries in the world and how Americans use the legal system to solve (and cause!) all sorts of problems. 39:55 DOWN BALLOT VILLAIN: This week goes to Eric Hovde, who has released several ageist remarks on Fox Radio while running for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin against Tammy Baldwin. 45:30 AMER-I-CAN’T: Dollar Tree announced that it is closing 600 of its Family Dollar store locations in 2024. V reveals the top three reasons why a Dollar Store may be a detriment to your neighborhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2024

Topics: President Biden signed a bill that will force TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest from its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. V updates us on the details of this bill and the consequences TikTok will face if they do not cooperate. Sami is joined by Jesse Washington, film director of Hip-Hop And The White House, a documentary that examines the relationship between the emergence of hip-hop, how it arose as a result of public policy, and the power of hip hop to make political statements and mobilize audiences. You can stream Hip-Hop And The White House on Hulu today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2024

2:40 TEMP CHECK: Sami and V check the nation’s pulse after Taylor Swift’s double album release and the discourse that followed. 10:00 MAIN NEWS: This week, Maine joined The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). Under the proposed compact, each state would allocate all its electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote for president, regardless of how individual states voted in an election. 21:30 DOWN BALLOT GIRLY OF THE WEEK: Goes to the first South American-born immigrant to serve in Congress, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Mucarsel-Powell is running for the Florida Senate against current senator Rick Scott who has been a long time fixture in Florida politics. 31:00 OUR DOWN BALLOT VILLAIN OF THE WEEK: Goes to Louis DeJoy and his attempt to privatize the USPS through the “Delivering for America” plan which is a roadmap to destroying rural, indigenous communities that are too small to have private shipping offices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2024

TEMP CHECK: Sami and V discuss the 4B movement which renounces dating men, marriage, sex with men, and having children. It originated in South Korea in 2019 with 4,000 members, but now TikTok has caught wind and amassed over 60K videos with some form of #4B. MAIN NEWS: In the midst of his trial, Donald Trump drops a sneak peek of what we can expect from his desired second term, starting with a brilliant plan to devalue the US dollar on purpose. IN OUR DOWN BALLOT ERA: We are here to shout out the Vote Mama Lobby and a candidate submitted by a listener: Maxi Glamour, who is running to be the first non-binary committee member of the 3rd Ward of St. Louis, MO. AMERICAN’T: To lower its rat population, New York City lawmakers have proposed an ordinance that will provide free and unfettered access to contraception for the city’s rats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2024

We’re switching/SWISHing it up this week, with our mini-sode today and our main episode out on Thursday, because there is just so much rolling news right now. Today, Sami and V are joined by Kara Swisher, tech journalist, Pivot co-host, co-founder of Recode, and New York Times bestselling author of Burn Book. Her memoir chronicles her decades-long career covering the rise of Silicon Valley, what they’re like up close, how they’ve helped and how they harmed us.Topics: Congress is finally starting to move into action to regulate big tech companies, but will it be effective? A look into why these companies have become too rich and too powerful to regulate properly. Earlier regulation for apps like TikTok could help prevent total bans. Kara emphasizes that despite its popularity, TikTok must adhere to American regulations and values the same as any other broadcast network. The consequence of dominance in the industry by a few huge companies has led to the demise of traditional news outlets and the spread of misinformation. How will news businesses adapt their business models? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2024

Topics: The king of subprime car loans, Don Hankey, stepped forward to offer Trump his $175 million bond — but will he even be allowed to pay it? State Attorney General Letitia James is questioning whether Hankey's insurance group, Knight Company, is qualified to issue bonds in New York and that's even if the funds are legitimate. Following the Supreme Court’s mention of the Comstock Act, Sami and V dive deep into 19th century moralist Anthony Comstock, uncovering his motivations for creating the 1873 Comstock Act, and how Republicans are leveraging the act to restrict abortion access. Along the way, we’ll also learn about V’s deep love for the Victorian Age. And, over in Michigan, Representative Elissa Slotkin holds a slender lead over the Trump-supported former Representative Mike Rogers in the state’s contested Senate race. Elissa's campaign has been promoting her “Opportunity Agenda,” which aims to achieve health equity, gun safety in schools, and more funding for child care centers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2024

Topics: Republicans call President Biden anti-Catholic because he dared to acknowledge Trans Day of Visibility, which fell on the same day as Easter Sunday Family members of the late labor leader César Chavez tell RFK Jr. to stop using their dad’s likeness for clout. A major dive into Beyonce’s new album Cowboy Carter and its history lessons, plus a legendary (and definitely untold) story from V about Dolly Parton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2024

Topics: Sami is joined by Emily Amick to provide an update on Kate Middleton and how the public reacted to the conclusion of the royal conspiracies. V interviews Julie Kay, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Abortion Coalition of Telemedicine (ACT), on how the Supreme Court is attempting to limit abortion access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2024

Topics: Run For Something’s latest research revealed that 61% of young democrats say they are most likely to turn out to vote if there is a young progressive candidate running. NBC hires Ronna McDaniel as an on-air commentator and faces major backlash. Truth Social has made a surprise IPO on the NASDAQ and its biggest investor is the company founded by TikTok’s savior Jeff Yass, Susquehanna International Group. A deep dive into RFK Jr. and his independent campaign In Our Down Ballot Era: Democratic State Senator Eva Burch reveals in a speech on the Senate floor that she is planning to get an abortion due to her pregnancy being no longer viable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2024

Topics: An overview of Emily Amick’s Substack piece: Kate Middleton & the Conspiratization of Modern Mass Communications Identifying how conspiracies become discredited to cover up truth. Is it malevolence or is it just messiness? Pre-order Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2024

Topics: Discussing the rising issue of “Moral Narcissism”. A primer on what’s happening in Haiti Shouting out Democratic candidates that voted against the TikTok ban. The gap in our court system that allows hypothetical court cases to make it to the Supreme Court without consequence. Come back on Thursday for a minisode where V, Sami, and @emilyinyourphone chat about missing Kate Middleton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2024

Topics: After predicting some possible options for TikTok saviors, Kellyanne Conway is beginning to lobby on behalf of TikTok in Congress. Trump posted a $91.6 Million dollar bond on Friday to cover the financial penalty that he owes Jean Carroll. Texas down ballot results for Greg Casar, Jasmine Crockett, and Jessica Cisneros. Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna has proposed bipartisan legislation in congress that would allow members of congress to vote remotely for six weeks after they give birth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2024

Topics: Sami and V share their takes on Trump and Biden’s respective popularity following Super Tuesday. The TikTok ban is back on the legislative table and Congress is getting serious about heavy regulatory fines to ban it from app stores. Will TikTok be saved by a buyer? Sami throws out some potential candidates. You can watch the bills consideration and debate LIVE Thursday, March 7, 2024 2:00 P.M. at https://energycommerce.house.gov/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2024

Topics: Caitlin Clark is changing sports for a generation The Supremes fall in line to help Donald Trump win the election Unpacking Vice President Kamala Harris’s call for a ceasefire + reactions A Hunter Biden hearing without full frontal nudity An extra thicc and juicy downballot era segment in honor of Super Tuesday, featuring Brian Derrick of Oath, who breaks down why North Carolina really, really, *really* needs to elect a Democratic governor this November Learn more about Oath at Oath.Vote Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2024

In today’s mini-sode V chats with author and journalist, Taylor Lorenz. They detail Taylor’s interview with Chaya Raichik during which she revealed herself as the creator of LibsofTikTok. FULL INTERVIEW Taylor’s Book: Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet Topics: How Taylor came to discover LibsofTikTok creator, Chaya Raichik. The severity of Raichik’s content and the concern of copy cats. The timeliness of Taylor’s book Extremely Online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 February 2024

Today’s episode includes an exclusive interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, where she reacts to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling on frozen embryos and the death of Nex Benedict. To jump to the interview, listen at 49:24. Other topics in this show include: Symptom management of late-stage capitalism: why is the internet hiding news from us and why do CEOs want us eating cereal for dinner? Why don’t we know exactly what happened to Nex Benedict? We guide you through the confusing coverage. For the first time *ever* in the United States, someone was convicted for a hate crime for murdering a transgender woman. The Kochs pull their money from Nikki Haley as she enters her delulu era Veepstakes is in full swing – here’s who we *don’t* think Trump will pick A Missouri law prevents pregnany women from divorcing their spouse – which is why MO Rep. Ashley Aune is our downballot girlie of the week V interviews Vice President Kamala Harris about wide-ranging threats to reproductive rights: from how anti-abortion legislation impacts members of the military to fears around IVF accessibility. V and the Vice President also offer words of support to the LGBTQ community following the death of Nex Benedict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2024

Another week of nightmare fuel to unpack in today's episode of American Fever Dream, including: Alabama’s Supreme Court rules that frozen embryos should be considered people. Here are the implications for IVF. Where is Ivanka Trump lately? The hottest new wedding venue is decommissioned prisons What we know about the killing of Nex Benedict Why a California conservative is making decisions about Oklahoma school libraries Alexei Navalny’s “sudden death syndrome” Who’s in their downballot era this week? It’s New York State Senator Tamra Brouk, whose legislation ensures more women have access to life-saving doula services Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2024

In the first episode of American Fever Dream, V. Spehar of Under The Desk News fame officially joins the Betches News family in our premiere episode of our signature news and politics podcast dedicated to keeping you responsibly informed, sufficiently amused, and ready to stay engaged for the long haul.This week’s topics include: What’s going on with politics on social media? The Super Bowl political intersections you didn’t see and Nancy Pelosi’s Vegas field trip The race to replace George Santos in Long Island and why we’re in our downballot era this year A shooting at Joel Osteen’s Texas megachurch raises questions about the prosperity gospel Would you let ChatGPT write your performance review? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2024

Betches News (formerly The Betches Sup) is excited to announce the newest podcast from Betches Media: American Fever Dream! From under the desk to in your ears, V. Spehar joins Betches Media in a new podcast dedicated to curing the collective malaise brought on by our chaotic political environment. Every week, Spehar and co-host Amanda Duberman (news director, Betches) will tenderly guide you through the biggest moments in politics and pop culture with a healing dose of perspective and humor. Rather than spiral over the latest unprecedented event, the hosts dig for the 2024 political tea you *really* want to hear while offering all the information you need to be an empowered citizen, without the side of despair to keep you up at night. Tune in every Tuesday, starting February 13th, 2024 and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2024

On this the final episode of Soft Black Woman for 2023, host Dr. Akilah Cadet welcomes your favorite financial hype woman, Berna Anat, to help break down the news. Be sure to subscribe to our new podcast feed so you don’t miss an episode of Soft Black Woman in 2024.Co-host: @heyberna, Berna AnatFollow The New Feed: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JY2EXoszc2MqjuqeLNvxS Apple: https://apple.co/3r8mRjJ Topics: A judge found Trump committed fraud in building his real-estate empire. The WGA Strike is over Taylor Swift’s star power sends Travis Kelce’s jersey sales soaring Drake Fans react to controversial lyrics on Slime You Out *NSYNC returns Colin Kaepernick wants to get back on the field with the New York Jets Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott vowed to end to birthright citizenship Megan Thee Stallion wants you to check on your friends, including the ‘strong’ ones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2023

Topics: GOP primary candidates assemble once again to compete for the smallest L Reflecting on chaotic moments, favorite guests, and lessons learned What’s next for the Betches Sup podcast The Betches Sup podcast will be on hiatus until early 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 September 2023

Topics: What’s in the “tentative deal” struck by writers and studios? Our writers debrief on the imminent end of one strike while another heats up. What does Kevin McCarthy want more, his job or a functioning government? Did Senator Bob Menendez engage in sweeping corruption, or just leave a little extra cash lying around? Are Men Ok? We deliberate over this cringey comment from the Greek Prime Minister Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 September 2023

On this episode of Soft Black Woman, host Dr. Akilah Cadet welcomes comedian and content creator TaTa Sherise. Be sure to subscribe to our new podcast feed so you don’t miss an episode of Soft Black Woman. Co-host: @tatasherise, TaTa Sherise Follow The New Feed: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JY2EXoszc2MqjuqeLNvxS Apple: https://apple.co/3r8mRjJ Topics: Halle Berry calls out Drake for using a picture of her to promote his new single Maren Morris says she’s quitting country music because of Trump era culture wars A Black Texas student was suspended for his loc hairstyle Jann Wenner (Rolling Stone magazine) made racist and sexist comments while promoting his new book “The Masters” Rihanna and A$AP Rocky introduced their newborn son, Riot Rose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2023

Topics: What we’ve been binge-watching lately How Rupert Murdoch should spend his retirement Why the government spending negotiations are like a disorganized Bachelorette party The Senate changes its dress code. But are some clothes simply too casual for the gravity of governing? Angelica Ross details Emma Roberts’ transphobia on the “American Horror Story” set Milly and Alise share heart-warming and hilarious anecdotes in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2023

Topics: Did Lauren Boebert give a handy at the theater? What’s unique about the auto workers’ strike. The Republican governor and VP hopeful accused of having an affair with a Trump aide. Why young voters are putting pressure on Biden to take more radical action on climate change. Drew Barrymore finally changes course and pauses her talk show. A Rolling Stone co-founder makes controversial and ill-informed statements about “inarticulate” women and Black performers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2023

On this episode of Soft Black Woman, host Dr. Akilah Cadet welcomes documentary filmmaker and producer, Isara Krieger to talk about the latest trending pop culture and news headlines of the week. Plus, they tell us how they’re prioritizing softness in their own lives. Be sure to subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode of Soft Black Woman, out every Friday. Co-host: @isara.krieger, Isara Krieger Follow The New Feed: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JY2EXoszc2MqjuqeLNvxS Apple: https://apple.co/3r8mRjJ Topics: Soft Black Woman will be taking a break starting September 29th and returning in its own feed in 2024. Isara’s documentary, The Highest Standard follows three students as they make a leap across the education gap. Recapping the MTV Video Music Awards. Dictionary.com adds box braids to its lexicon. Lauren Boebert was escorted out of Beetlejuice after causing a disturbance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 September 2023