On the radio show this week we cover the urgent importance of advancing gun safety policies. We cover tips for talking across political points of disagreement, building trust, overcoming polarization, and how these efforts can help strengthen democracy. We hear from an economist about why the prices that matter most to you are rising. We discuss a new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers, and how communities can organize and fight back to protect public schools and critical thinking. 

SPECIAL GUESTS: Po Murray, Newtown Action Alliance, @NewtownAction, @newtownaction.org‬; Joan Blades, Living Room Conversations, MomsRising, MoveOn, @LivingRoomConvo, @MoveOn, @moveon.org‬; Kathryn Anne Edwards, keds_economist, @kedseconomist.com‬; Randi Weingarten, AFT, @AFTUnion, @aft.org. 

On the radio show this week, we cover the cuts to our health care pushed through by Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, with many of the most harmful cuts delayed until after the midterms. We dive into Trump’s cuts to public education -- and tips on fighting school funding cuts and privatization efforts. We discuss the militarization of policing and the use of false crime narratives for political repression, and how the care infrastructure counter these trends. We close the show covering National Breastfeeding Month, and why lactation support and paid family/medical leave can help families bond and heal and help our economy thrive. 

SPECIAL GUESTS: Natasha Murphy, Center for American Progress, @amprogress, @americanprogress.bsky.social‬; Ameshia Cross, EdTrust, @EdTrust, @edtrust.bsky.social‬; Monifa Bandele & Tina Sherman, MomsRising,  MamásConPoder, @MomsRising, @MamasConPoder, @momsrising.org, @mamasconpoder.org

This week the show comes to you directly from Netroots Nation in New Orleans where rising and visionary leaders come together to help build a better world.

On the radio show this week, we cover justice for Epstein survivors, and why we must believe women. We dive into how catastrophic health care cuts will hurt moms, seniors, and hardworking families to line the pockets of billionaires — and what you can do about it.  We discuss how art can save lives, and the importance of performance and creativity in social justice. We hear about the legislative timeline and ongoing congressional budget battles and where we need to raise our voices in the coming days. 

SPECIAL GUESTS: Nicole Regalado, Ultraviolet, ‪@ultraviolet, @ultraviolet.bsky.social‬; Joi Chaney & Vaishu Jawahar, Protect Our Care, @ProtectOurCare, @protectourcare.org; Claudia Alick, Calling Up Justice, @callingupjustice.bsky.social‬; Amy Matsui, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, @nwlcaf, @Nwlcactionfund.org‬ 

On the radio show this week, we dive into the power of Pride and its roots in protest, plus get tips on how to continue to learn and grow as an LGBTQIA+ ally. We also hear about the massive economic value of unpaid care work, totaling $1.1 trillion annually. We cover how you can be a part of the nationwide FamiliesFirstNow.org activations on July 26, the first day members of Congress are home on recess after the disastrous Big Bad Betrayal Bill was signed into law with its huge cuts to Medicaid and other key programs. And we discuss the transformative power of personal storytelling in creating social change, and how to find the courage to tell your own story. 

*Special Guests include: 

• Preston Mitchum, PDM Consulting, @prestonmitchum;

• Kate Robbins & Jessica Mason, National Partnership for Women and Families, @npwf;

• Alida Garcia, Twin Impact, @leedsgarcia;

• Hailey Adkisson, Growing Juniper and Simply Complex Stories.

On the radio show this week, we hear from Congresswoman Suzan DelBene about the devastating impacts of Trump's Big Bad Betrayal Bill on families, on our economy, and on health care access. Then we cover the legal battle against the Medicaid cuts targeting Planned Parenthood, and how your personal story can make a big difference. After that, we cover HUGE grassroots victories in North Carolina, demonstrating how persistent community organizing can create meaningful change. We close the show discussing the upcoming Families First activations across the nation on July 26th as a powerful way for communities to unite and resist harmful policies. Check it out at www.FamiliesFirstNow.org 

SPECIAL GUESTS: Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01), @RepDelBene, @repdelbene.bsky.social‬; Shireen Gorbani, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah; @PPFA, @ppfa.org; Beth Messersmith, MomsRising & MamásConPoder, @MomsRising, @MamasConPoder, @momsrising.org, @mamasconpoder.org; Ai-Jen Poo, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Caring Across Generations; @domesticworkers, @caringacrossgen, @domesticworkers.bsky.social, @caringacross.org

On the radio show this week, we cover the negative repercussions from gutting healthcare through the passage of the Trump and Republican leadership’s recent reconciliation bill; we cover what happened in Washington DC this last week and how it impacts you; we dive into Black Women’s Equal Pay Day; and we close the show lifting up the momentum that the push to pass Paid Family/Medical Leave is gaining. 

*Special guests include:  Nicole Jorwic, Chief Program Officer @ Caring Across Generations, @CaringAcrossGen. @‪caringacross.org: Elyssa Schmier, MomsRising, @MomsRising @MamásConPoder, @momsrising.org, @mamasconpoder.org; Monifa Bandele, MomsRising, @MomsRising @MamásConPoder, @momsrising.org, @mamasconpoder.org; Dawn Huckelbridge, Paid Leave for All, @PaidLeaveforAll, @paidleaveforall.bsky.social‬

DESCRIPTION:  On the radio show this week, we highlight a buzzing bee activation at the US Capitol where parents and kids protested the "Big Bad Betrayal Bill," a Republican budget proposal which could kick 16 million people off healthcare and lead to an estimated tens of thousands more deaths per year. We celebrate Pride Month with "Parenting with Pride," a new resource offering support against hostile school environments and book bans for LGBTQ+ families. The show also details the disastrous impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on people with disabilities. Finally, we hear from the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) about how data provides a crucial reality check against misinformation, as well as about the $64 billion annual economic cost of abortion restrictions and persistent wage gaps, underscoring the vital role of storytelling and data in these ongoing fights.

SPECIAL GUESTS: 

Felicia Burnett, MomsRising and MamásConPoder, @MomsRising, @MamásConPoder, @momsrising.org, @mamasconpoder.org; Nadine Smith, Equality Florida, @equalityfl, @equalityfl.bsky.social‬; Maria Town, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), @AAPD, @aapd-disability.bsky.social‬; Dr. Jamila Taylor, Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR), @IWPResearch. 

On the radio show this week we dive into the definition of fascism, its impact on immigrant families and our communities, and how YOU can protect students in your community.  We hear about the One Big, Betrayal Budget Bill and its harmful effects on public education through harmful voucher proposals Republicans have snuck in as yet another benefit for the wealthiest families. Next, we cover the devastating consequences of voucher programs in Florida, showing how they undermine public schools and why we don’t want to follow Florida’s lead as a nation. We close celebrating Pride Month and discussing the ongoing challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, particularly regarding health care access.

Special Guests include:

• Beatriz Beckford, MomsRising and MamásConPoder, @MomsRising, @MamásConPoder, @momsrising.org, @mamasconpoder.org; 

•  Liz King, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, @civilrightsorg, @civilrights.org; 

• Damaris Allen, Families for Strong Public School (Florida), @Strongflschools, @Strongflschools; 

• Shannon Minter, National Center for LGBTQ Rights (NCLR), @NCLRights @ShannonMinter5, @nclrights.bsky.social‬

On the radio show this week, we dive into wins for Paid Family Medical Leave at the state level, as well as the decades-long fight for a national paid family medical leave program and recent legislative wins like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP Act. We hear about the economic impact of unpaid care work, with mothers contributing an estimated $450 billion in unpaid labor annually and facing significant wage gaps and workplace discrimination, particularly mothers of color. We cover the challenges of family separation, the lack of legal representation for unaccompanied minors, and the cruel Trump practices that are unfairly terrorizing immigrant families and communities. We discuss strategies to close the wage gap between men and women (and between moms and dads), and how closing the wage gap would boost the overall economy.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Sharita Gruberg, National Partnership for Women and Families, @npfw; Kate Bond, Institute for Women's Policy Research, @IWPRResearch; Jennifer Hojaiban, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), @supportKIND, @supportkind.org; Deborah Vagins, Equal Rights Advocates & Equal Pay Today, @debvagins, @EqualRightsAdv, @EqualPay2dayOrg