The Hysteria team is off this week. But we’re excited to bring you a recent episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams.

In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, we’ve watched Republicans erode American democracy with alarming speed. While this political moment may feel unprecedented, it isn’t new. America has dealt its share of far-right movements, fascist provocateurs, and anti-democratic threats. But time and again, heroes have risen to meet those moments. In this episode, Stacey unpacks how we’ve fought fascism before – and won. She’s joined by the host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism.

Subscribe to Assembly Required wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Learn & Do More:

Be Curious: History can be an extremely useful tool to help us navigate the present. Pick up Rachel Maddow’s book Prequel — now available in paperback anywhere books are sold. Also pick up the Assembly Required Recommended Read: The Dictator’s Learning Curve by William Dobson.

Solve problems: The best thing we can do right now is show up and use our voices. There are two key ways to do this. First: call your representatives! Democrat, Republican, Independent — it doesn’t matter. Tell them where you stand and why it matters. Second: get involved locally. Join a protest, volunteer to support a community that is particularly vulnerable right now, donate to a grassroots group in your area. Change starts with showing up, so let’s get to work.

Do Good: Not only has Trump waged a war on books, he’s waged a war on independent businesses. So if you’re interested in reading any of the books I mentioned today, or want to pick up our weekly recommended reading, purchase them at a local bookstore. If there isn’t a local option near you, or you just prefer the convenience of online shopping, check out small businesses that operate online — like Octavia’s Bookshelf.

Erin and Alyssa discuss the latest on the fertility clinic bombing in Palm Springs, the horrific consequences of Georgia’s strict 6-week abortion ban, and the Liver King. Then The Atlantic’s Sophie Gilbert joins to chat about her new book Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, they talk about everything from the impact of Spice-Girls-feminism to the rise of the #girlboss. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert

Georgia mother says she is being forced to keep brain-dead pregnant daughter alive under abortion ban law (NBC News 5/15)

25-year-old suspect in fertility clinic bombing left behind ‘anti-pro-life’ writings, officials say (AP 5/18)

Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ as retailer expects prices to increase (CNN 5/17)

Walmart Selling Solid Gold Bars Is the Recession Indicator We Didn’t See Coming (Rolling Stone 5/16)

Judge overturns Michigan’s 24-hour waiting period before an abortion (CNN/AP 5/13)

The Tech Guys Are Fighting. Literally. (NYT 5/16)

The ‘Manosphere’? It’s Planet Earth. (NYT 2/1)

The Liver King story chillingly shows how bad role models are manufactured (The Independent 5/13)

The new American pope is here, Trump is fast-tracking white South African refugees, the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial has begun, and Erin and Alyssa are here to break it down. They also do a deep dive into wellness influencer Casey Means, who might just be the next U.S. surgeon general. They wrap up with a conversation about Karoline Leavitt’s super mom status and Adidas’ new down syndrome accessible shoe program.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

“She Was Tearful About It”: The Nuances of Casey Means’s Medical Exit and Antiestablishment Origins (Vanity Fair 5/9)

Casey Means: influencer, RFK Jr favorite – and Trump’s pick for surgeon general (The Guardian 5/11)

How a post #MeToo law opened the floodgates for allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs (NPR 5/7)

The trial of Sean Combs: What you need to know (NPR 5/12) 

Quakers march against Trump’s crackdown on immigrants, carrying on a long tradition (LA Times 5/11)

Episcopal Church says it won’t help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status in US (AP News 5/12)

Pope Leo XIV calls for Gaza ceasefire in first Sunday message (Al Jazeera 5/11)

Pope calls for journalists to be released from prison (BBC 5/12)

Erin and Alyssa are together IN PERSON to discuss the latest news from the Texas bill that would mandate wastewater testing for mifepristone, to how Janet Mills’ resistance to funding cuts paid off, to a preview of the papal conclave. Then Parker Molloy, author of The Present Age newsletter, joins for a conversation about the problems with the mainstream media’s coverage of the Trump administration’s attacks on transgender youth. Finally, in Sani-Petty they discuss podcasts that are keeping them sane. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

The Debt Gala

Assigned Media

Erin in the Morning

'We won': Maine Gov. Mills celebrates state's legal settlement with USDA over funding freeze (WMTW 5/2)

NIH cancels participation in Safe to Sleep campaign that decreased infant deaths (Stat  4/30)

Former Vice President Pence defends Constitution after getting Profile in Courage Award (AP 5/5)

Bizarre Texas Bill Wants to Test the Water for Birth Control, Abortion Pills (Jezebel 4/23)

Major News Outlets Can't Bring Themselves to Call Conversion Therapy What It Is (The Present Age 5/5)

Who are the main contenders to be the next pope? (Al Jazeera 5/5)

Vatican to deactivate mobile phone signal ahead of secret meeting to elect new pope (CNN 5/6)

Erin and Alyssa unpack how the suspension of the de minimis exemption will affect our shopping habits, Trump’s exploitation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and conservative women’s media desire to “make America hot again.” Then the Pitt’s Katherine LaNasa, aka Nurse Dana, joins to talk about the making of America’s favorite TV show and where she drew inspiration from for her kick ass character. They finish up with a very petty examination of Bill Belichick’s age-gap relationship.

Trump is ending this tariff loophole for low-cost packages. Here’s what that could mean for consumers (PBS 4/24)

Trump’s Tariffs Prompt Wave of Lawsuits as States and Businesses Fight Back (NYT 4/27)

The Women Who Want to Make America Hot Again (Glamour 4/25)

Now comes the ‘womanosphere’: the anti-feminist media telling women to be thin, fertile and Republican (Guardian 4/24)

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Donald Trump has waged a war on children, and activist and founder of Moms First, Reshma Saujani, joins to discuss how the administration's policies harm mothers. Erin and Alyssa also cover Pete Hegseth’s leaky group chats, RFK Jr.’s plans to create a registry of autistic Americans, and the future of the Take It Down Act. They wrap it up in the sanity corner with praise for Jack Shlossberg’s TikTok and uplifting news from the Professional Women's Hockey League. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

What to Know About Pope Francis’ Death (NYT 4/21)

Elon Musk says he's taking a step back from DOGE after Tesla "blowback" (AXIOS 4/22)

Trump backed a bill on nonconsensual intimate images — but he fired its enforcers (The 19th* 4/17)

Exclusive: The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary (NPR 4/21)

Internal budget document reveals extent of Trump’s proposed health cuts (WaPo 4/16)

Kennedy Claimed Autism ‘Destroys’ Lives. Autistic People Disagree. (NYT 4/18)

White House Assesses Ways to Persuade Women to Have More Children (NYT 4/21)

Larry David: My Dinner With Adolf (NYT 4/21)

RFK Jr. is gutting the CDC, Elon Musk has a breeding fetish, Speaker Mike Johnson does not want new mothers to vote in Congress, and Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are here to break it down. They also dive into how Trump’s tariffs are impacting the luxury goods economy and whether anyone wants to buy a Louis Vuitton bag made in Texas. They wrap up in the Sanity Corner with some petty commentary about Cheryl Hines and JD Vance.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His ‘Legion’ of Babies—and Their Mothers (WSJ 4/15)

Rep. Pettersen says it was 'difficult' decision to bring infant son to House floor to fight for proxy voting (ABC 4/2)

CDC's cruise ship inspectors laid off amid bad year for outbreaks (CBS News 4/10)

HHS taps anti-vaccine activist to look at debunked links between autism and vaccines, sources say (NBC NEWS 3/26)

'A pretty stark moment for us,' Milwaukee health officials denied federal assistance in ongoing lead crisis (ABC Wisn 4/14)

Samantha Bee joins Alyssa Mastromonaco to discuss the latest on Trump’s tariffs, I.C.E. 's partnership with the I.R.S., and Laura Loomer in the Oval Office. They also have an honest conversation about their journey through menopause, which is a struggle for everybody, even Oprah. Then Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett joins for some real talk about D.O.G.E., the stock market, and Elon Musk.  

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Listen to Samantha Bee’s How To Survive Menopause special here

I.R.S. Agrees to Share Migrants’ Tax Information With ICE (NYT 4/8)

Between tariffs and survival, American business owners are doing alarming math (NPR 4/7)

Trump Family’s Cash Registers Ring as Financial Meltdown Plays Out (NYT 4/5)

White House advisers have kept Laura Loomer at bay for months. Then, Trump invited her in (CNN 4/5)

‘I screamed and the world listened’: how astronaut Amanda Nguyen survived rape to fight for other victims (The Guardian 3/5)

Samantha Bee joins Hysteria to talk reproductive health funding, special elections, and the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. They don’t feel bad for criticizing Kristi Noem’s outfits, and they do feel a little bad that Elise Stefanik lost her cabinet position. Sam also gets in touch with her Canadian roots and gives the inside perspective on how America’s craziness is affecting our neighbors to the North. Then comedian Kiran Deol chats with Alyssa about some more hopeful, uplifting news stories. They wrap up with a Sanity Corner discussion of Shen Yun and figure skating.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Watch Kiran Deol's special starting April 9th - https://www.comedydynamics.com/catalog/kiran-deol-joysuck/

Alysa Liu figure skating (Instagram)

Shen Yun: The Dark Side of a Dance Troupe (NYT 4/2)

Canadians Know Americans. They Don’t Want to Be One. (NYT 3/22)

Comic Amber Ruffin cut from White House correspondents’ event after angering Trump team (AP 3/31)

Inside Trump's shock decision to pull the plug on Elise Stefanik's nomination (NBC News 3/28)

Taxpayers had to foot Kristi Noem’s huge travel bill last year, new data shows (Independent 3/30)

Human rights groups rebuke Kristi Noem’s visit to El Salvador prison: ‘political theater’ (The Guardian 3/27)

Usha Vance Greenland Plans Changed After People Refused to Meet Her: Report (Newsweek 3/28)

Newly Approved Tartan Design Memorializes Those Persecuted Under Scotland’s Witchcraft Act (The Wild Hunt 2/19)

Monica Lewinsky and Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow join for a very special episode of Hysteria. Mallory and Alyssa discuss Trump’s systematic dismantling of the Department of Education, Lisa Murkowski’s scathing read of the Republican Party, and their media diets. Then Monica shares behind-the-scenes stories from her new podcast and what reclaiming means to her. They wrap up with a petty rant about Usha Vance and a wholesome story of community coming together.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

USDA cancels $500M in food deliveries, leaving food banks scrambling (WaPo 3/24)

Greenland’s leader says US officials’ visit is ‘highly aggressive.’ Trump says it’s ‘friendliness, not provocation’ (CNN 3/24)

GOP Senator Slams Republicans for Being “Afraid” of Elon Musk (The New Republic 3/19) 

Trump demands Maine governor apologize — or the state will face consequences (Politico 3/22) 

‘A dark day’ for American children: Trump issues order to kill the Department of Education (The 19th 3/20)