Current Affairs Unfiltered

In this episode, Paige discusses the last month(!!!) of breaking news, including the White House Correspondents dinner shooting, the influence of Trump on primaries, and the state of the Supreme Court's voting rights decisions. Plus! Why we actually might need to bring back USAID. 

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

In this conversation, Rich Barton, a fellow with Unite America, discusses the evolution and impact of primary elections on political polarization and governance. He explores how the Citizens United ruling has influenced campaign finance, the decline of party establishments, and the fear lawmakers have of being primaried. Barton advocates for open primaries as a solution to the current issues within the electoral system, highlighting evidence from states that have implemented reforms such as Alaska and California. He expresses hope for future reforms and the potential for a more representative political landscape.

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

Read 'The Primary Solution'

Read more from Rich:

EPISODE RERELEASE!! This is an episode from way back when (before I truly figured out the audio on my mic so excuse the quality). BUT now that Overlap is released nationwide, it deserves to see the light of day once again.

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige is joined by Katya, the co-founder of Overlap—the app that's making civic engagement way less confusing and a lot more personal. We'll talk about how a couple of 23-year-olds decided they were done feeling politically hopeless and built a tool to fix it.

Katya shares how Overlap is helping users actually understand their political reps, track legislation, and figure out where they stand—without the usual noise. We get into everything from app specifics like memory retention and clean UX, to what it takes to stay unbiased in a chaotic political world. Plus, we talk about why political engagement doesn’t have to be boring, and what it looks like when tech meets democracy in a smart, user-friendly way.

If you’ve ever felt lost trying to “get involved,” this episode’s for you.

Download Overlap here!

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

This week Paige sits down with John Beccia, a candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’s 6th District, to talk about what it means to run on working-class values in a chaotic political moment. John, a Lynnfield father and business leader, shares why he decided to step into politics and how his campaign is rooted in representing everyday people who feel ignored by Washington. Drawing on his background in the private sector, he explains how building businesses and creating jobs shaped his understanding of the economy and affordability pressures facing families.

The conversation explores why cost of living, consumer protection, and economic fairness are central to his platform. John also speaks candidly about the threat posed by Donald Trump to democratic institutions and why defending democracy is a core motivation for his campaign. He outlines a vision for leadership that prioritizes accountability, stability, and governing over political theater. Throughout the episode, John emphasizes making government work for people again — not corporations or partisan interests. This episode offers insight into how lived experience, democratic values, and practical solutions can shape a new kind of congressional leadership.

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

Meet Savanna & Emily, co-founders of Pink Poster Club. Pink Poster Club is a grassroots organization founded in response to political frustration after Trump was inaugurated. They discuss the importance of community engagement, the role of art in activism, and the need to make activism joyful and approachable. Savanna and Emily offer the roadmap for community building and share insights on sustaining growth, navigating challenges, and the lessons learned throughout their organizing journey. They emphasize the significance of small steps in community building and envision a future where civic engagement is vibrant and inclusive.\

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

Follow Pink Poster Club on Instagram:  @pink.posterclub 

Watch their candidate forum and other interviews on YouTube

Get involved with Pink Poster Club Website

In the News: Evanston RoundTable, Daily Northwestern and Evanston Now have documented many Pink Poster Club events. CNN also wrote about ICE's presence in Evanston and Pink Poster Club's role in community action. 

Interested in starting your own version of Pink Poster Club? Read Garrett Bucks' piece on us in The White Pages: We still don't need a "Joe Rogan of the left." We just need a thousand Pink Poster Clubs

In this solo episode, Paige breaks down the escalating(descalating?)  conflict with Iran and the confusing back-and-forth coming from the Trump administration. After negotiations collapsed, the U.S. moved toward a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, raising questions about escalation and what the actual strategy is. She also examines the latest wave of sex scandals and alleged crimes involving members of Congress. The moment raises broader questions about accountability, power, and how misconduct is handled inside American political institutions. Paige also tackles why online political voices actually play a meaningful role in shaping narratives. And lastly, we'll get religious with Pope Leo as he begins speaking out on global conflicts and criticizing the Trump administration’s rhetoric. The new pope has made it clear he isn’t intimidated by political pressure, creating an unusual moment where religion, geopolitics, and American politics intersect.

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

In this episode, Paige speaks with Keira Havens, executive director of Citizens Impeachment, about the growing grassroots push for impeachment and the role ordinary citizens play in holding elected officials accountable. Havens explains how citizen activism can pressure Congress to act, even when political institutions appear frozen by partisanship and political risk. The conversation also explores why many lawmakers avoid difficult constitutional questions and what it means to demand courage from political leaders. Additionally, Keira discusses the courage candidates endorsed by their PAC who are focused on bringing impeachment on day one. 

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Liz Minnella comes on to help break down the chaotic Illinois 9th Congressional District primary and what it revealed about modern campaigning. We examine the role social media played in shaping narratives around the race and how online discourse often diverged from what voters were experiencing on the ground. We'll also look at the impact of massive outside spending, including AIPAC-backed funding, and why money alone didn’t ultimately decide the outcome. The conversation explores the tension between digital activism and traditional organizing, and why trusted local voices still matter. Liz also addresses the gendered dynamics that emerged during the race, including calls for certain candidates to step aside. The episode also touches on other key races shaping the state, including the Illinois Senate race as well as several state Senate and House contests. 

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

Follow Liz on Instagram

Subscribe to Liz's Substack

Follow Leanne on TikTok

In this conversation, Alan Bradstock, a candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District, discusses his extensive background in public service, including his time in the U.S. Army and the FBI, and how those experiences shaped his views on leadership, democracy, and the urgent need to rebuild trust in government. He emphasizes the importance of an economy that rewards hard work rather than wealth, the removal of big money from politics, and restoring real accountability within our institutions. Alan also shares personal reflections on fairness and equality, including how being the father of a transgender teen has informed his values, and closes with a hopeful vision for America rooted in unity, competence, and bipartisanship.

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige

Learn more about Alan

Donate to Alan's campaign

Follow Alan on Instagram

In this solo episode Paige breaks down a chaotic few weeks in global and domestic politics. She covers the escalating Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict and what it signals about leadership and risk. Closer to home, Paige walks through key primary elections in Illinois and Texas, a judge halting RFK Jr.’s vaccine overhaul, leadership instability within the government (aka Kristi Noem has a worse day than you), and the ripple effects of a partial shutdown.

Follow me on Instagram!

Subscribe to my Substack

Learn more about Paige