Like a bad penny, Trump is back in office–in part because of the xenophobic hate he spewed during the campaign and, sadly, the millions of Americans who embraced that hate. Much of it was aimed directly at immigrants, and now the felon-President is turning that hate into policy. Our guest today is one of those standing in Trump’s way. Hassan Ahmad is an immigration attorney in Virginia and a former candidate for Congress.

Los Angeles is experiencing an unprecedented tragedy. Thousands and thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed by wildfires, and its not even fire season. Millions of people have been impacted, losing not just their homes and what they represent, but the contents of those homes and the communities they love. Kasey Lansdale has been in the middle of it all working to make a difference. Kasey is a writer, musician, and publisher who has been collecting, organizing, and distributing critically needed donations throughout the affected areas.

For the entirety of our existence as a nation, the United States has denied the full power of equal citizenship to women. Today, we have taken a huge step toward correcting that injustice.

We’ve got a powerhouse of a panel with us today. Zakiya Thomas is President and CEO of the ERA Coalition. Jessica Neuwirth is a board member of the ERA Coalition. Carol Jenkins is Chair of the Fund for Women’s Equality, and Sophia Armen is the co-founder and Co-director of Feminist Front.

For most of human history, power has come from landholding. How land is allocated–or taken and reallocated–determines who controls entire cultures. In his new book Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies Michael Albertus takes us through how it happens and what it means for all of us.

Late last year, President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100. President Carter exemplified a life of service, and we spend this episode looking back at just some of the remarkable things that made President Carter who he was.

If nothing else, this year has been momentus--potentially decisive as it pertains to the futre of American Democracy. All along, we've talked with the experts about issues which are driving that democracy and those of us governed by it. Here are just a few of our favorite segments from 2024.

One of the most important things President Biden can do before the end of his administration is to direct the Archivist to publish the Equal Rights Amendment. To discuss why this matters, we’ve invited Kate Kelly back to the show. Kate is Senior Director for the Women’s Initiative at American Progress.

Donald Trump has vowed to do away with the department of education. This will have wide-ranging impacts on students across the country. To talk about what it all means, we’ve invited Sari Beth Rosenberg back to the show. Sari is a public school teacher in New York City, a founder of Teachers Younify, and a member of the American Federation of Teachers.

Kash Patel, Trump's FBI Director-Designate, has an enemies list--patriots he wants to prosecute for upholding the law and American values. Turns out, it looks a lot like our guest list. This week, we hear from three of our guests who are on the list: Nina Jankowicz, Adam Schiff, and President Biden.

Hi Friends,

While Alyssa was starring in Chicago on Broadway, she took some time away from the podcast - but now she's back! We catch up on the election, the role of art in times of strife, self-preservation, and a whole lot more.