MOMocrats

The assault on women's rights being waged by red state governments throughout the country could not gain traction if the Constitution included the Equal Rights Amendment. This simple act was written in 1923 and passed by both houses of Congress nearly 50 years later -- only to fall just three states short of the 38 needed to ratify it into law.

Our guest this week is Denise Schutz, co-founder of Progressive Women of Massachussetts, an advocacy group that informs and links women using social media. She has been active in seeking final passage of the Equal Rights Amendment for quite some and won't give up till it's part of the US Constitution.

Weekly political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group. Original airdate: 8/21/2013

Agents of Zeitgeist Elise Crane Derby, Anne Louise Bannon and Donna Schwartz Mills are Whovians and so they get their geek on with the hubbub surrounding the BBC's worldwide simulcast of "The Day of the Doctor," celebrating the time traveling alien's 50th anniversary. There is alos much discussion about holiday programming in this week's podcast covering TV news and pop culture, Produced by Engender Media Group.

MOMocrat Karoli reports that the troubled Healthcare.gov website is working fairly well now (70% of the problems have now been fixed). And the Obama administration announced new rules that will allow consumers to bypass the site completely and purchase health insurance directly from private insurers and brokers (they will still receive subsidies if they qualify but this route will not allow them to comparison shop). But the big news is that in states with working exchanges, people are gradually signing up. In fact, in states like California and Kentucky, officials say they are on their way to meeting their target enrollements. Karoli, Donna Schwartz Mills and Cynematic also welcome activist Nancy Hill, who reports on the outcome of yesterday's election in Albuquerque, where a local 20-week abortion ban was defeated. Weekly political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

Back in the days when she worked behind the scenes in television production, Donna Schwartz Mills noticed that it took the writing and performing and producing teams about six episodes to really "gel." Unfortunately, this tended to coincide with the time when networks typically decide whether or not to pick a series up for more. The result is that many series get cancelled just as they are finding their sea legs. This season, Donna told co-hosts Anne Louise Bannon and Elise Crane Derby her theory. This week, we revisit some of the shows that premiered in September/October and see if what Donna says has held true.

The 60 Minutes Benghazi report -- and lukewarm retraction -- are indicative of a news operation that has fallen far from its Tiffany network reputation. Weekly political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

Kerry Washington's appearance on last week's Saturday Night Live was a triumph, but it also illustrated just how wrong Kenan Thompson was (while poking fun) when he said the producers could not find African-American women who are ready to be Not Ready for Prime Time. Granted, Washington is a known talent, but this excuse just seems like a subset of that old comedy bro standard, "women just aren't funny." Elise Crane Derby, Anne Louise Bannon and Donna Schwartz Mills talk about this and other TV news on this week's Agents of Zeitgeist podcast, produced by Engender Media Group.

Everyone expected Chris Christie to bulldoze over Democratic challenger Barbara Buono in his re-election bid last night: After all, outside of New Jersey, did anyone even know her name? Buono received no support from the national Democratic party, and aside from donations from Women’s Campaign Fund and EMILY’s List, few donations came her way. We congratulate her for having the guts to step into the fray under these conditions, when no other Democratic candidate had the courage to do so. And we expect to see her again in 2017.

And -- there were several women candidates in downticket races who did just fine. Cynematic, Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills talk about election 2013 results in this week's political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

It's scary out there - especially if you're a network show on the cancellation bubble. Weekly television and pop culture talk with Elise Crane Derby, Anne Louise Bannon and Donna Schwartz Mills.

Congressional Republicans are doing what they do best: Hauling in Administration officials for hearings. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is being grilled this morning over the disastrous launch of the Healthcare.gov website and -- well, everything they don't like about Obamacare. Of course, Karoli, Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills have something to say about that.

Weekly political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

TV talk with Anne Louise Bannon, Elise Crane Derby and Donna Schwartz Mills. Produced by Engender Media Group.