Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

Fascism has gotten a facelift, and we’ve got tech oligarchs, religious extremists, and ethnonationalists to thank. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, co-authors of End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World, sit down with Stacey to unpack how certain groups of fascists believe the end times of our society are not only inevitable, but are invested in precipitating our collapse while ensuring they are the elite few destined to survive. They also discuss the “wealth-rapture,” how extreme economic inequality has created fertile ground for fascists to thrive, and how this new brand of fascism can be stopped if we fight for empathy, equality, and universal rights during this administration and beyond.

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You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Can we make injustice unprofitable? Author and former president of Color Of Change Rashad Robinson joins Stacey to discuss how we can come together to confront authoritarianism, make it harder for bad actors to profit from harming individuals, and hold corporations accountable. They explore the connection between the fight for a stronger economy and a functioning democracy, why voters of color particularly in the South are not a monolith, and why bipartisanship is a legal ethos, not simply a political strategy. Robinson also discusses his new book,  From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter—and Win, and why visibility, protests, hashtags, and media attention aren’t the same as building real power. 

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Also, last week, three red states sued three blue states in the Supreme Court of the United States. Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas want the Court to strike down the abortion shield laws in California, Massachusetts and New York. Those are the laws that protect doctors who prescribe abortion pills by telehealth to patients in states that have banned abortion. Here’s how you can help: 

Commit. Know what’s coming. Read your own state's shield law, if you have one. Twenty-two states and D.C. do. If your state is one of them, it's in the Supreme Court's crosshairs now, even if it isn't named in this case. If you have one of these states' attorneys general, ask them publicly whether they plan to defend the law or file a brief supporting it. And bookmark this podcast so you can share it with others.

Deny. Don't let them justify this violation of civil rights. Whether it’s at your dinner table or in your group chat, a familiar pattern is about to unfold. Cousins will say these doctors are dealing drugs. Friends will say that shield laws allow criminals to be sheltered from consequences. Wrong. These doctors are practicing legal medicine under FDA rules the Supreme Court left in place in May. Support the organizations defending them, like the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, and the abortion funds that help women pay for care. Visit the National Network of Abortion Funds to donate and directly support access to abortion care.

Elect. On November 3rd, four states will vote on abortion directly. In Missouri, voters will decide whether to repeal the abortion rights amendment they passed just two years ago. Nevada and Virginia will vote on putting abortion protections in their constitutions, and Idaho will vote on whether to restore access through viability. If you live in one of those states, vote, and bring three people with you. If you don't, find a campaign in one of them and call or text voters from home. Also, remember, most states will elect state leaders  on Nov. 3. Look at your own ballot for attorney general and governor, because those are the offices that decide whether a shield law gets defended or a doctor gets extradited. Send your friends emails about what’s happening, and remind them that this is not a drill. 

This week, Stacey opens the show with a warning about why Americans need to closely watch Brazil’s elections on October 4th and what it means as we fight back against authoritarianism here at home. Then she gets into AI: the daily headlines about how fast the technology is developing, a growing list of incidents where AI has gone outside of human control, and the snail's pace at which Washington is dealing with the problem…. are all painting a very grim picture. So can AI still be stopped?

This week, Stacey is joined by Susan Rice, a former United Nations Ambassador, National Security Advisor to Barack Obama and Domestic Policy Advisor to Joe Biden. Ambassador Rice lays out the case for how we can still regulate AI, why the UN is stuck in gridlock on global issues of this magnitude, and why voters making their voices heard is so critical this November.

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How could the Supreme Court’s decisions shape the 2026 midterms? What are the current threats posed by ICE? How can we build communities rooted in connection rather than fear?

Lawyer and Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman joins Stacey to discuss the Supreme Court cases to watch ahead of opinion season, whether a ruling could come before the midterms in a case involving ICE and polling places, and her new book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, a practical guide to reclaiming our power and taking action during extraordinary times.

Stacey also discusses the freedom of the press or lack thereof, as the White House continues its efforts to reshape the media landscape and what that means for the administration’s broader agenda.

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You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Is the AI apocalypse already underway and will we get meaningful regulation before it’s too late?  How did the “four horsemen” of the right-wing legal movement lay the groundwork for today’s conservative Supreme Court? Will JD Vance continue to position himself as the Republican Party’s next leader?

Host of Runaway Country and MS NOW Senior Political Analyst Alex Wagner joins Stacey to discuss the growing fight over AI and data centers, the GOP’s midterm convention, the census coming under attack, and the decades-long conservative campaign to reshape the Supreme Court that she explores in her new book, The Steal.

Then, in honor of Assembly Required’s 100th episode, Stacey answers listener questions about everything from politics and the state of the world to books, TV, and beyond.

Learn & Do More:
1. Be Curious: Tune into Alex Wagner’s Crooked Media podcast, Runaway Country, and pick up a copy of her illuminating new book, The Steal.

2. Solve Problems: Step three in the Ten Steps to Authoritarianism is capturing the other branches, which, as we learned today, has been a project of the right for decades. The Brennan Center for Justice fights to make elections fair, preserve our civil liberties, and end mass incarceration in Congress, the states, and the courts. Visit BrennanCenter.org  to support their work on Supreme Court reform, reforms to improve the confirmation process for federal judges, and promoting fairness in state courts.

3. Do Good: With so much of our judicial system under right-wing control, vulnerable communities are under attack. Women’s Equity Center and Action Network educates, engages, and activates women of color to lead social change efforts. Visit WomensEquity.org to learn more about their efforts to facilitate social justice and equal opportunity, and sign up for “Mobilize Monday,” where they highlight opportunities to take action against injustice.

Also, as we grapple with how to regulate AI advancements, we need to acknowledge the powerful tools at our disposal at the local level. 

1. See if your ballot has a Public Service Commission race and take action. Nine states elect their utility regulators, and they're on the ballot on November 3rd — Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. In Georgia, Districts 3 and 5, elected statewide. Last November, Georgia Democrats flipped two of these seats because the bills are too high. The commission sits at three to two. Two seats decide who sets the rate you pay and whether a data center pays its own freight. Find out if there is a race and tell your friends and family to vote for candidates who support AI regulation.

2. Show up to your utility commission hearing. Demand that data centers pay their own infrastructure costs rather than passing them onto the consumer. A utility commission hearing is one of the few places left in American government where showing up still has an effect. Why? Because the industry shows up every single time and you don't. If you're there to watch them, the elected officials see you too.

3. Use your county commissions. When a data center comes to your planning commission, the question is not yes or no. Read the fine print and demand details. Ask for a separate rate class and written indemnity so you don't cover stranded costs. Ask for a water disclosure and a decommissioning bond. Quiz your county leaders and teach them what they need to know. Will you vote for a separate rate class for large loads, so my bill doesn't subsidize theirs? Would you refuse to sign an agreement not to enforce this state's AI laws?

You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Happy Star Trek Day, to all those who celebrate! In honor of the show’s 60th anniversary, Stacey sits down with fellow super fan, actor, comedian, writer and host of the podcast Starter Trek, Tawny Newsome. They talk about their personal fan origin stories, what the show has taught them about both science and fiction, and why Star Trek’s legacy is so important to highlight in our current political climate. They also talk about the recent loss of two icons, Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem.

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You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

What does the Meta case mean for the future of social media and how children use these platforms? Could the Paramount merger ultimately push the company out of California, putting thousands of jobs at risk? And what’s happening with ICE raids and detention facilities now that immigration enforcement is no longer dominating the headlines?

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Stacey to discuss Meta’s landmark settlement over allegations that its social media platforms were designed in ways that put children at risk, the $17.1 billion payout,  what the case could mean for the future of social media and other tech companies, and why Attorneys General are critical to the fight against authoritarianism.

U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District also joins the show to discuss her legal fight after an appeals court rejected her challenge to charges stemming from alleged assaults at ICE facilities, what she witnessed at Delaney Hall, and why congressional oversight of ICE detention facilities is so critical.

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You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Is the South the new epicenter of American politics? National Association of Black Journalists President, The 19th Editor-at-Large, and host of Crooked’s new podcast Long Play, Errin Haines sits down with Stacey to unpack why the South is so fundamentally misunderstood and why expanding our imagination of what the region looks like could be key to winning Democratic elections. They also discuss the NABJ “Thumbs-Down Awards,” the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI, and the growing threat of media censorship.

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What is the future of the Democratic Party? How will redistricting shape voters’ power in the South? What are the latest primary results telling us about the political moment we’re in? Kamala D. Harris, 49th Vice President of the United States, joins Stacey to share what she’s hearing from voters on the ground as she travels through the South. They also talk about the new attitude Democrats need to win elections, fight back against Trump, and stop his authoritarian agenda.

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1. BE CURIOUS: Sometimes it feels like we are overloaded with information, have a million articles open in tabs, and don’t know where to begin. Your homework is to pick one that piques your curiosity and sit down to read. And with news and reading on the decline, if you haven’t already subscribed to support your local newspaper, please consider doing so.

The Ten Steps Campaign works with partner organizations across the country dedicated to uplifting their communities, and I would like to take the opportunity to rally support for their excellent work here today. Visit 10stepscampaign.org to find out what kind of democracy defender you are and get connected.

2. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Run for Something Civics is a nonprofit organization that encourages young people to step up and run for office and helps support them with a free Future Candidates course. Visit runforsomethingcivics.net to sign up for training or to donate.

3. DO GOOD: Above All is an organization dedicated to building a world where abortion care is affordable, available, and supported for everyone who needs it. Visit aboveall.org to learn more about their work and donate.