Oh This World

For our weekend grab bag we're joined by special guest Sunny Merry, co-host of the The Mocktale Hour, a new podcast "for the sober-curious and the alcohol-free."

Before talking to Sunny, Antoinette follows up on her social distancing bonus episode with news of changes to the rules for visiting certain Austin parks, and she and Lucas discuss Lucas' message to his fellow white people from yesterday.

Next, Sunny Merry joins OTW to talk about her new podcast, The Mocktale Hour. Sunny helps us explore sobriety in this age of quarantine, the challenges facing those in alcohol recovery,  and we hear about how she's been spending her shelter-at-home time (hosting a socially distant yard sale is involved!) You can find The Mocktale Hour on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify, and be sure to say hi on Instagram and Facebook, too!

Looking for more on alcohol and COVID? Check out "The Dangerous Rise of Drinking Culture in Quarantine" by Penny Guisinger in The Temper, and "Are You Drinking Too Much in Quarantine?" by Korin Miller in Prevention.

We close out every Friday by sharing what we're listening to, reading, and watching to stay grounded during this unsettling time:

* Antoinette's been cooking of late, and recommends trying out this Chocolate Crazy Cake and the vegan recipes over at Thug Kitchen.

* Sunny and her fam have been watching Upload on Amazon, a satire that is even keeping her teenagers engaged.

* Meanwhile, Lucas, who continues to have trouble sitting down to read during quarantine, is giving audiobooks another go. His first listen? Stephen Harrigan's history of Texas, "Big Wonderful Thing," narrated by George Guidall.

Finally, if you've been finding OH THIS WORLD useful and would like to help us keep going, consider supporting us on Patreon. Neither of us is looking to make money off this enterprise, but we are trying to get to a point where the podcast pays for itself. Thanks for your support! 

As always, let us know what you're up to this weekend. We're on Twitter & IG @OhThisWorldPod or drop us a line at [email protected].

Stay safe and healthy this weekend!

This episode was recorded on Friday, May 8, 2020.

Hours after the Texas Supreme Court ordered the hairdresser who broke stay-at-home measures released from jail, Lucas has a brief message to share with his fellow white people.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, May 7, 2020.

A wide-ranging conversation about how to talk to people we disagree with and if that is a worthy goal in the first place.

First, Antoinette gives a quick update on yesterday's vote-by-mail episode, calling attention to this helpful explainer from the Mike Siegel (TX-10) campaign, and Lucas revisits Texas AG Ken Paxton's 2014 Pen-gate incident and offers a poignant mea culpa about something he said on yesterday's show.

Some essential context for our show today is understanding the way the GOP has used calls for "civility" to stifle debate and avoid accountability. We start with recent examples of uncivil behavior Republicans had no problem with: ugly incidents right here in Austin and at the Michigan Capitol. We then dive into a 2018 town hall Antoinette and Lucas attended to show how the GOP has weaponized "civility."  

We also explore how race factors into the "civility" equation. Two essential reads: "When Civility is Used as a Cudgel Against People of Color" by Karen Grigbsy Bates from NPR's Code Switch, and Adam Serwer's must-read 2019 essay, "Civility is Overrated."

Next, Antoinette and Lucas look at when and whether the project of reaching out is even worthwhile, using their own experiences as activists and human beings.

Finally, we dive into tools for communicating with the other side: Antoinette digs into her experience as a communications professional and revisits our old friend the Letter to the Editor, and Lucas takes us back to 2003 for a brief foray into his time as an itinerant T-shirt salesman.

Two calls for action:

1. Challenge yourself to have a conversation with a friend or family member with whom you don't agree. Focus on listening.

2. Are there ways you can use your own story to show how politics is personal to you? How can you convey how actual policies affect your actual life, and through what channels can you convey your message? Let us know what you're thinking: find us on Twitter/IG @OhThisWorldPod or shoot us a line at [email protected].

Looking for more ways to get involved locally? Our friends at Indivisible Austin have a special page for OTW listeners who are interested in joining up with them. Check it out here.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

When state and local orders on public safety no longer align, confusion is an expected outcome. And folks who have been itching for a "return to normal" might see this confusion as a convenient excuse to make individual decisions that risk everyone else's health. Even if you and I stay the course by adhering to safe public health practices, people we know and care about might not. And we must call in our people.

This mini-episode was inspired by a recent story in the Austin American-Statesman, "Austin parks crowded Saturday after statewide stay-at-home order lifted," and a CNN coverage of another Austin occurrence, "Park ranger was telling someone to social distance. Mid-speech, someone pushed him into a lake."

Austin listeners, please share this fantastic slide deck from Austin Parks Foundation on your Instagram and Twitter. Spread the word! Let's call in our people!

This bonus episode was recorded after a trip to HEB on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

Antoinette and Lucas explore why making vote-by-mail accessible to all is so important in the age of COVID-19, and what we need to do to make it happen.

Before diving into mail-in voting, we introduce a new feature: Oh This Small World, occasional five-minute bonus episodes we'll release on days we don't record. You can check out the first one here.

We also have a special call to action for our friends in #TX21. On Wednesday, May 6, Rep. Chip Roy - who failed to advocate for ramped-up testing in Texas and now wants to re-open widely with zero plan to increase said testing - will be sitting for an interview with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith. The Tribune is offering the public the chance to submit questions and we know you have some. You can do so here.

We also briefly discuss Chip's strange foray into astroturfing. For everything you ever wanted to know about that unfortunate subject, check out our fifth episode, Astroturfin' U.S.A.

Our main topic today is the necessity of implementing vote-by-mail in this age of Coronavirus. Antoinette leads our deep-dive here, quickly dispelling GOP misinformation about "voter fraud," which is both their key argument against vote-by-mail and something that is virtually nonexistent. (The only recent instance of it came courtesy of... a Republican operative).

Rather, the GOP perpetuates the lie that vote fraud is widespread to validate their own attempts at voter suppression.

Despite GOP resistance, the idea of vote-by-mail is wildly popular. Antoinette looks at both its advantages and some of the challenges states may have in implementing it. She also references this interesting piece by Greg Palast about the brokenness of our current absentee ballot system. We also look at what is happening in Texas, where our indicted Attorney General/pen thief Ken Paxton is doing everything he can to stop vote-by-mail.

What can you do?

1. Call you Senators and demand a vote on the USPS Fairness Act, because if there is no post office, there is no vote by mail. We covered the USPS Fairness Act here.

2. Call your Congressperson and ask them to include full USPS funding and $4 billion for vote-by-mail funding in the next coronavirus relief bill.

3. Texans: call the Attorney General's office and call the Secretary of State and tell them you support vote-by-mail and that it is necessary during this pandemic.

This episode was recorded on Monday, May 4, 2020.
 

On days when we don't record, expect the occasional mini-rant or quick call to action from Antoinette or Lucas. Today, on this second day of Texas' partial "re-open," Lucas has a thing or two to say about masks and our elected officials (hint: cover your trap, Congressman!)

The original story that provoked this mild rage, "Restaurants open, and Chip Roy takes his family for Tex-Mex," by Jonathan Tilove, appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on May 1, 2020.

This bonus episode was recorded deep into the evening of Saturday, May 2, 2020.

Every Friday, we follow up on our previous episodes from the week, and talk about what we're doing to stay grounded in this unsettling time, including sharing what we're listening to, reading and watching.

Today we start with follow-ups on recent segments about writing letters to the editor; the partial Texas "re-open," which begins today; and playing the political long game. You can find Lucas' recent letter to the Statesman here.

Antoinette and Lucas next explore those things we've started doing during quarantine that we hope stick around after it's done. From chatting with friends more frequently to spending more time outside to being able to grab alcohol to-go, we focus on the bright spots.

When it comes to how we're staying grounded this week, Antoinette is all about the dogs of Instagram. She shared three favorites: Loulou & Coco, the Hotdogs of Hackney, and Eris the Borzoi. Meanwhile, Lucas recommends checking out Mrs. America on Hulu, a mini-series that shows grassroots activism in action.

Finally, a quick programming note. After experimenting with our schedule the last two weeks, we're making it official: we'll be recording new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from here on out. If you haven't already, subscribe today!

An easy call to action for the weekend:

We want to hear from you. Let us know what quarantine habits you've picked up that you hope stick around once we're no longer staying at home, and share your weekend pop culture recs. We're on Twitter and IG @OhThisWorldPod or shoot us an email at [email protected]. Stay safe this weekend!

This episode was recorded on Friday, May 1, 2020.

Antoinette and Lucas look at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to allow some businesses—including restaurants and malls—to re-open at 25% capacity on Friday, why that’s bad for workers and for business owners, and how we can respond.

First, Antoinette catches us up on her own activism this week, highlighting a Zoom meeting she participated in between her Congressman’s constituents and one of his staffers, and we discuss the highs and lows of grassroots activism, which is now more important than ever.

(Lucas would also like to note that when he said he called Ted Cruz's office to follow-up with a staffer "every day for a month for six months" he meant to say he called "every day, once a month, for six months." He is intense, but not that intense).

Then we jump into the big news of the week here in Texas: Gov. Abbott’s partial "re-open" of the economy. This comes despite the fact that Texas is still 48th in the nation on testing. Here in Austin and around the state, many businesses are choosing to remain closed, both for safety and for economic reasons. So why is Abbott doing this? 

One reason is because once a business has re-opened, its employees can no longer stay on unemployment insurance, even if they do not feel safe returning to work. A recent Forbes piece by Chris Westfall offers an explainer on this and other “real reasons for re-opening the economy.”

Are you a waiter, or a movie theater employee scared to return to work because the state hasn’t provided adequate testing? Gov. Abbott has a simple message for you: it’s not his problem. 

One important note: in the few hours since we recorded this episode, Gov. Abbott has relaxed the guidelines on unemployment benefits, allowing certain Texans to remain on unemployment even if the places they work re-open on May 1st. Those affected include people over 65; those with a household member who is over 65 or high-risk; and those without access to childcare. Might’ve been nice if he’d thought about this when he made the initial announcement! 

So what can we do about it?

1. We are in this mess because of Donald Trump and Greg Abbott’s failures on testing. So don’t let up. Call the governor, your Congressperson and your senators and demand to know #WhereAreTheTests. After you call, send your reps letters or postcards; tag them in social media posts. Don’t be afraid to get creative. The surest way to get the economy back on track is to get serious about testing. Force your representatives to get serious. 

2. Support the businesses that have decided to prioritize the safety of both their employees and their customers by remaining closed. If a restaurant is keeping their dining room shut while still offering curbside or take-out, support them. Use social media to let responsible businesses know you’re with them. And when this is all over, financially reward businesses that put your community first. 

This episode was recorded on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

Today Antoinette takes us on a deep-dive into the history of the USPS, a vital American institution in financial peril. She focuses on the wild 2006 law that, in addition to COVID-19, has been the reason for many of the post office's recent troubles.

Before jumping back into USPS-land, Antoinette and Lucas first discuss the big Texas news of the week - Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing various businesses, including restaurants and malls, to open at 25% capacity on Friday - and ask of the governor the age-old question: #WhereAreTheTests? We'll discuss why Abbott made this move in our Thursday episode, but offer a little speculation in this one.

Next, Antoinette takes listeners through a brief history of the United States Postal Service, an American institution in economic distress, and one that the Trump administration is refusing to help during this pandemic. This despite the fact that many of the post office's economic woes are due to a nonsensical 2006 law that requires it to "fully fund its' retirees' health benefits 75 years into the future."

The good news? There are actions we can take today to save the post office:

1. HR 2382, the USPS Fairness Act, repeals the absurd pre-funding requirement and has already made it through the House. Unfortunately, it is now languishing in the Senate.

Call both of your senators and ask them to take up this bill now. Let them know that the USPS is essential to our country and to our democracy.

2. Call your Congressperson and tell them that you support coronavirus relief for the USPS.

3. If you have the means, keep buying those stamps. 

Together, let's save this (constitutionally-mandated!) American institution. 

This episode was recorded on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

In this episode we explore what each of us can do to secure Democratic victories at all levels in November when we can't engage in many of the activities - like canvassing - that we would be doing if not for COVID-19.

First, Antoinette and Lucas reminisce about a few beloved Austin institutions that have been forced to close as a result of coronavirus - and more specifically because of the GOP failure on testing - and how this relates to 2020.

Next, we take a look at the stakes for Texas in this election, and at why flipping the Texas House is especially important (one reason of many: redistricting).

It's also actually possible. As our friends at Flip The Texas House note, Dems only need to flip nine House seats to gain a majority (the same number of currently GOP-led districts that Beto won in 2018).

So what can we do today? Antoinette relays advice from a current Democratic campaign staffer about how to get involved in 2020 campaigns during staying-at-home, and Antoinette and Lucas run through a slew of activities all of us can do.

Where should you start? Here's what you can do this week:

1. If you don't know who represents you in the state legislature and in Congress, find out. If you live in Texas, you can do that here. 

2. Choose a campaign to make yours. If you live in a competitive district with multiple competitive races, choose the candidate you're most excited about. If you live in a solidly blue district, consider "adopting" a more competitive race in your vicinity and putting your efforts there.

3. Once you've figured out where to focus your efforts, get in touch with the campaign and sign up for at least one concrete activity you can complete this week. 

Let us know how it went by emailing [email protected] or tweeting us @OhThisWorldPod. 

We may not be able to get out of our homes just yet, but we can still get out the vote. Join us! 

Correction: In our discussion of beloved Austin institutions, Lucas accidentally referred to Threadgill's as being in South Austin, which is incorrect. The original Threadgill's, which closed in the wake of coronavirus, was on N. Lamar Blvd. 
 
This episode was recorded on Monday, April 27, 2020.