MOMocrats

Double-digit wins by Democrat Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz on the Republican side had cable news pundits crowing that the Wisconsin primary could be an electoral turning point. But the state's unique political history and demographics may have played a larger role in those victories than one would think. And looming ahead are Pennsylvania and New York, the latter of which is home for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. One thing that's certain: this race isn't over, and interest is sky-high, with large primary turnouts expected in the remaining states. "And that's good for democracy," says MOMocrat Donna Schwartz Mills. She and Karoli also talk about the passage of a $15 minimum wage in New York and California, voter suppression in Arizona, the Supreme Court ruling on one-person, one vote and the release of the Panama Papers. MOMocrats MOMochat is a weekly political podcast from the progressive point of view, produced by Engender Media Group.

Claire Conner, author of "Wrapped in the Flag," joins MOMocrats Karoli, Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills to talk about the new documentary, "The Brainwashing of My Dad," which traces how the filmmaker's father went from an easy-going, Democratic voter to an angry old man spouting right-wing tropes - thanks to a long commute listening to talk radio. Conner, whose parents were founding members of the John Birch Society, is interviewed in the film and has much to say about the Bircher talking points that have made their way into the platform of the modern Republican party. An Engender Media Group Production.

The world reacted with gestures of support for the victims of yesterday's coordinated bomb attacks in Brussels... And then, there was Donald Trump, who took the tragedy as an opportunity for more fear mongering against Muslims. What the Donald doesn't grasp (and President Obama does) is how hate rhetoric plays right into the terrorist playbook written decades ago by Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, who envisioned their terrorist activities culminating in a religious civil war, fueled by Western fear. MOMocrats Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills will talk about Brussels and the US political reaction, as well as primary election results that added to the delegate leads of both Trump and Hillary Clinton (despite caucus wins for Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders) in this week's podcast looking at the day's political news from the progressive point of view. An Engender Media Group production.

Much has been said about the historic nature of Barack Obama's presidency - but that description can also be used to describe the tenure of First Lady Michelle Obama. Blogger Ilina Ewen will join MOMocrats Cynematic, Karoli, and Donna Schwartz Mills to talk about her attendance at Tuesday's #LetsMove event for bloggers at the White House. The panel will also talk about March Super Tuesday results and Ilina's experience at Bernie Sanders' rally in North Carolina. An Engender Media Group production.

The Democratic primaries have heated up and the mainstream media are finally covering our issues (although not as much as the Trump circus). Bernie Sanders' huge win in Michigan and Hillary Clinton's Mississippi blowout have given reporters the horse race their most comfortable writing about. Sanders and Clinton even appeared in a town hall carried by Fox News, bringing their unfiltered message into the right-wing spin bubble. In the meantime, Trump continues his juggernaut to the Republican nomination, and there's no doubt his show is energizing turnout among the GOP. This year's election has all the excitement of a horror movie - Can the good guys overcome the monster? MOMocrats Cynematic, Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss. An Engender Media Group production.

It's the morning after Super Tuesday, and MOMocrats Cynematic, Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills dissect the results: Donald Trump benefited from GOP rules that were designed four years ago to designate Mitt Romney early - and the Republican base appears shockingly unconcerned about their candidate's hesitation to denounce David Duke's endorsement or the KKK. And while Hillary won some big states, Bernie did very well, too. 

The MOMocrats will also report on the events at last weekend's California Democratic State Convention and an interview with a billionaire of our own: Tom Steyer, who is supporting a new proposition to curb the tobacco industry's marketing of vaping products to children.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's untimely death over the holiday weekend has triggered something of a constitutional crisis, as Senate Republicans and GOP Presidential candidates immediately tried to make a case for leaving his seat on the Court vacant so the next President could appoint. President Obama announced that he will fulfill his constitutional duty and nominate a candidate to fill Scalia's seat. MOMocrats Karoli, Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills doubt that the GOP-led Congress will end the obstructionism that has marked their party's reaction to Obama's election back in 2008. In the meantime, several extremely important cases will be decided this session, and without Scalia's vote, many will end up in a 4-4 tie - which is the same as no decision at all. One thing is certain: If it had only been implied that this election is important because the next President will likely have to nominate new SCOTUS justices, it is now very much in the public's eye. Produced by Engender Media Group.

The 2016 election is ON and off to a wild start, with Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders winning their respective primaries last night in New Hampshire. This is not the way the pundits figured it would go, and the only thing we are all assured is that it's going to be  a wild ride. MOMocrats Cynematic, Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss the race and what it means for progressive voters.

How much do the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries really matter? MOMocrats Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills talk about the official start of Election 2016 and the media narrative. They also chat about the influence of big money PACS with filmmaker Holly Mosher, executive producers of the documentary "Pay 2 Play," which follows the money and the disintegration of our democracy that accelerated with the passing of Citizens United six years ago. .

The producers of a deceptive sting video targeting Planned Parenthood got a big surprise this week when a Grand Jury found the healthcare organization innocent - but indicted the filmmakers instead. MOMocrats Cynematic, Karoli, and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss the turning of the tables on the anti-abortion activists who made the film. Also: The beginning of the end of the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, fallout from environmental disasters in Flint and Porter Ranch, and the latest developments in Election 2016 on both the GOP and Democratic sides.