Jen talks with champion of voting rights Marc Elias to review developments in the court cases facing Trump relating to aggressive actions by his lawyers, his threatening behavior, and the attempts to move Georgia cases to federal court.  Then, they lay out the Republican war on voting rights through their efforts to influence elections by gerrymandering, the rogue legislatures like Alabama’s ignoring the courts, and attacking early voting.  However; they find hope in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election win, how courts are stepping up to defend democracy, and our individual power to stand up for our most important values.

Twitter | Democracy Docket | Elias Law Group | Defending Democracy Podcast

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by Amb. Dennis Ross to explore the recent developments shaking up middle eastern politics.  They cover the cross demographic and widespread protests in Israel against attempts by hard liners to take control of the judiciary and what it means for the country’s future.  Then, they dive into Netanyahu’s efforts to create a breakthrough deal to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, even though it might mean concessions to Palestine.  If successful, it has the potential to solidify peace with the Sunni countries.  Will it finally bring about a lasting transformation in the region?

Twitter | The Washington Institute |Georgetown | Author of “Be Strong and of Good Courage” & Other Books

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

With Trump racking up another indictment in Georgia, Jen sits down with legal maven Rep. Dan Goldman to dive into the charges he faces.  During their conversation they explore how RICO prosecutions work to bring down criminal enterprises and why it strengthens the possibility of conviction, and explain why the jury pool won’t be corrupted by politics or wild rhetoric from Donald.  They also emphasize the need to ground the law in objective reality, and shut down comparisons to the Biden family– especially when the Trump family has exhibited far more evident corruption.  Will this be the case that finally holds the former president to account?

Twitter | Campaign Site | Act Blue

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen welcomes NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen to discuss the modern media ecosystem and how the classic both sides approach and opinion free corporate coverage is failing us with repeated coverage centered on crisis.  They also examine the pressures on journalists from institutions, and more importantly what it will take to fix things.  Will re-establishing truths over savviness with a focus on transferring knowledge from a position of expertise be enough to tame the rising populist passions that rely on misinformation to spread?

Twitter | Mastodon| PressThink.org | NYU 

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen brings on legal maven and civil rights leader Maya Wiley to take on the continuing hold white grievance has over our politics, why its complaints are dangerous and misguided, and how it influences the Republican party.  From there, they explore the pernicious leverage social media gives to outdated philosophies of hate, and how to fight back with our institutions and at the personal level.  To do so, we might push for a culture of diversity, become civically engaged, live as agents of change in our daily lives, and most importantly– never give up!

Twitter | Civil Rights Org | Website | Instagram

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by author and activist Fred Guttenberg to tackle the pressing need to address gun violence, how we can fight back, and what our government needs to do to protect the vulnerable.  In their conversation they explore the obscene power of the NRA and the mythologies supporting weapons of war, how to construct a legal strategy that can start securing electoral and legislative wins, and the power of activism.  They also share the reasons we should have for hope, and more importantly ask how we can use our voices most effectively to end senseless gun violence?

Twitter | Website | Orange Ribbons For Jaime | Author of “American Carnage” & Other Books

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen sits down with expert on authoritarianism Ruth Ben-Ghiat for a look at the mythic hold strongmen have on political systems around the world and how Trump took up that mantle here.  They cover how he resurrected the spoils system, used divisive language to create a cult-like following, and his attempts to create disinformation that tears apart loyalty to anyone besides him.  More importantly, they explore how deep the threat to democracy goes– and when our system is threatened, how can we fight back to restore equality and justice under the law?

Twitter | NYU | Website | Substack | Author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” & Other Books

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen has a conversation with author and expert on the rise of the radical religious right in recent years, Robert P. Jones.  Together they look at the growing power and platforms held by White Christian Nationalists, the role they play in social division and Republican policies, and how Trump allowed the SCOTUS to become compromised by fundamentalists.  They also break down how that message has fused with Protestant churches while continuing to celebrate the Old South– with a look to how we can bring them back from extremism and into our democratic system. 

Twitter | Public Religion Research Institute | SubStack | Author

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by author of “Newsroom Confidential” and media maven Margaret Sullivan for a deep dive into the current state of the 4th Estate.  In their conversation, they discuss the growing dominance of right-wing framing and language on some of the most critical issues facing the country, and what to do when you’re tasked with covering the preposterous.  Whether it’s related to the Donald or even science denialism, bothsides-ism is obscuring the facts and tearing the country apart.  Is turning our focus to hard reporting and away from the snap reactions of clout chasing journalists on social media the way to rehabilitate our news industry?

Twitter | WaPo | The Guardian | SubStack | Author of “Newsroom Confidential”

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump

Following the anniversary of the despicable Dobbs decision by the SCOTUS, Jen is joined by author and former NARAL President Ilyse Hogue for a deep dive into the war on women’s rights.  They discuss how far our country is set back by state government abortion laws, the role of right wing Christian Nationalism in weakening the agency of women by replacing justice with ideology, and how theocracy is rearing its ugly head once again.  Will Democrats wake up and solve this crisis by seizing on the issues of healthcare and personal freedom to win elections and restore our democracy in time?

Twitter | NARAL | Author of “The Lie That Binds”

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”