MOMocrats

A second superstorm in a fortnight - fed by a rise in ocean waters and temperatures - is barrelling towards the United States. And climate change deniers are accusing the media and "meterorologic industrial complex" of creating these weather disasters, which sane people understand may become our new reality. All of this amid this week's dizzying political announcements on DACA, the debt ceiling, the Russia investigation, and more. MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills try to catch their breaths enough to discuss from a progressive point of view. An Engender Media Group discussion.

Harvey dropped the equivalent of more than two Great Salt Lakes onto Texas before finally moving east as a tropical depression - and made history as the most expensive natural disaster in the nation's history. The timing could not have been better (or worse) for Congress, which will have budget, the debt ceiling, and tax reform at the top of their fall agenda. And it will cause a flurry of new problems for our incompetent president, who likes to tout the booming economy as his one "achievement."  MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills will talk about Harvey, it's aftermath, and how to help - as well as the ongoing politics (Pardoning Arpaio as the storm was about to hit! Going to the site and treating it like a campaign rally! Continuing revelations about Russia!) - of course, from a progessive point of view. And Engender Media Group production.

The President began the week by giving a somber, thoughtful foreign policy speech on Afghanistan, which is the longest-running war in US history. He read from the teleprompter, didn't stray, and received high marks. On Tuesday, just eight months into his administration, he held a 2020 campaign rally in Phoenix, where he reverted to form, misquoting his own remarks after Charlottesville, and raging against Arizona's two Republican senators and the press (he even led a chant of "Lock Her Up" for old time's sake). Then last night, in a speech to an audience of veterans, he switched back to "presidential."

If this president reminds you of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, there's no mistaking which persona is the real Donald Trump. MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss. An Engender Media Group production.

The horrific events in Charlottesville could have been a unifying moment for Donald Trump, and his advisers tried to steer him into a replica of a statesman. But Donald Trump doesn't like to be told what to do and so he did what he does best: support the most deplorable of his base and rant about the violence that was the fault of "both sides" and the "alt-left." You know, the people who were there to fight Nazis. Like Americans are supposed to do. MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss. An Engender Media Group production.

The MOMocrats have been following the healthcare saga closely - after all, (as women and mothers who are older than 25), Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills are automatically saddled with pre-existing conditions. So do their families. And even a so-called "skinny repeal" of the Affordable Care Act could be a disaster for their health and financial security. They discuss this and the rest of the crazy ups and downs of the week's political news, from a progressive point of view. An Engender Media Group production.

The GOP's healthcare plan is like a zombie movie - each time you think it's dead, it rises again. Conservatives are raging mad over the failure of the Republican Congress to repeal the ACA, and they're not afraid to target the moderate members of their caucus for actually caring about their constituents' well being. And yesterday, the President had all the party's Senators to lunch at the White House, so he could try to bully them into another try (we're looking at you, Dean Heller - who was pointedly seated right next to him). So Mitch McConnell is going to try again, using one of the many bills passed by the House during the Obama presidency. The problem is, no one is sure WHICH bill they are going to vote on - or whether a vote will even get to the floor. With the news that Senator McCain is fighting brain cancer, their majority is down to one. Speaking of the President - his interview with the New York Times yesterday was bonkers. MOMocrats Aliza Worthington and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss in the weekly political podcast from a progressive point of view. An Engender Media Group production.

The news this year keeps on coming at a crazy pace, and MOMocrats Aliza Worthington, Karoli, and Donna Schwartz Mills do their best to keep up. Collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election? That's looking more and more concrete, thanks to Donald Trump, Jr's smoking balalika emails showing his eagerness to hear dirt on Hillary, courtesy of the Russian government. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell postponed the Senate's August recess so he could go back to the drawing board on his healthcare bill - still behind closed doors, and still without input from any female Senators.  And as if that's not drama enough, today was the confirmation hearing for Christopher Wray, President Trump's nominee to replace James Comey. The MOMocrats discuss from a progressive POV. An Engender Media Group production.

The secret Senate bill to "repeal and replace" Obamacare was as sinister as the MOMocrats expected, especially when it comes to women's healthcare (and what would you expect when it was crafted behind closed doors by 13 men without any input from their female colleagues?) It didn't take long for Mitch McConnell to realize that he would not get the votes he needed to pass it with just his slight Republican majority.

The phone calls and demonstrations in Senators' offices were an early indication that the bill in its current form would not get to the Senate floor (there is something really distressing at images of people in wheelchairs being handcuffed and carried away). 

But McConnell is a wily old master of the political dark arts, and we can be sure this evil bill will be back. 

MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills will also talk about the Philando Castile case where the officer was acquitted even after the jury saw the devastating dashcam video - and this week's indictiment of the three Chicago officers who shot young Laquan MacDonald 16 times in the back and tried to spin it as self-defense (that video was already released, and it's devastating).

An Engender Media Group production.

Jon Ossoff's loss in GA-6 left the White House gloating, Democrats panicking and pundits pronouncing that the party doesn't know how to win in the Age of Trump and should clean house - beginning with an ouster of Nancy Pelosi as House leader. "Poppycock," say the MOMocrats (the phrase they actually use is a lot stronger than that, but we're not certain it would be appreciated in this BlogTalkRadio description). The truth is, Democratic candidates outperformed expectations in every single special election this year (which were all in deeply red districts). The House is in play for 2018.

Of course, there are other reasons to be concerned: today's reveal of the secret Senate healthcare bill (which is just as mean as the one the House passed), the travesty of the acquittal in the Philando Castile case, and the mess that is Trump foreign policy are just a few that MOMocrats Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills will discuss on this week's podcast looking at the day's political news from the progressive point of view. An Engender Media Group production.

If there was one good thing to come out of the disappointing 2016 election, it's the tsunami of progressives - especially women - who are stepping up and running for office. MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills welcome one of those candidates: Laura Moser, candidate for Congress in Texas' 7th district.

The MOMocrats will also touch upon the week's political news, from the progressive point of view. Check back here an hour from airtime for a list of the topics. Chances are, there will be some discussion of what's happening in Congress and a reaction to the latest  from lawmakers and candidates. An Engender Media Group production.