Pantsuit Politics

By Sarah & BethSociety & Culture News News Commentary Politics

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Pantsuit Politics episodes

November 10Why Your Vote for President Could Count Differently in 2028
We're still sorting through the midterm results and what Democratic gains in state legislatures could mean for how Americans choose a president in 2028. In this episode, we discuss:
Votes still being counted in Mississippi and Alaska

State legislative changes

Faith in the new Congress

Leadership fights

the Hegseth impeachment push

Stephen Miller as chief of staff

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

Uncapping the House

Outside of politics: Sesame Street turns 57

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50 min
November 06 Blue Wave, Historic Firsts, and a Fight Over Who Leads Congress
Sarah and Beth break down the 2026 midterm results and disagree about what Democrats should do with their new majorities.
- The blue tsunami in the House, Senate, and statehouses
- Historic firsts, the backfired redistricting push, and ballot measures on money in politics, abortion, and voting rights
- Whether Congress needs new leadership and what Democrats should do on everything from Pete Hegseth to the Epstein files
- Outside of Politics: getting ready for the holidays early
Join the conversation: subscribe at https://pantsuitpolitics.substack.com to comment.

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1 hr 10 min
November 04 This is the America250 Election (Bonus Episode)
We'll be back on regular schedule Friday, but we had to share our Morning Assembly (the talk show we make for premium members Monday - Thursday) with everyone.
Here are our instant reactions to the midterm elections. We'll dive into the numbers and think about the larger implications on Friday's episode.
Join us for every Morning Assembly by heading over to pantsuitpoliticsshow.com.

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56 min
November 03No Paid Takes: How We'll Cover 2028
On Election Day and the 11th birthday of our show, we look back at three presidential elections with Donald Trump on the ballot and lay out how we'll cover 2028. We discuss:
Lessons learned from covering the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential cycles

Our commitments for 2028: no paid takes, no paid guests, and how we think about our value proposition

Political astroturfing and the paid influencer economy

Plans for in-person debate watch parties in Iowa, South Carolina, and Las Vegas

Outside of Politics: Monthly meetings and setting personal themes inspired by Camille McCallum (@camillevivianna on Instagram) and Susannah Conway's Unravel Your Year
Join us live tonight on our elections chat on Substack.
Take advantage of our midterm sale before it ends tonight.
Email your thoughts and questions about 2028 to us at [email protected].

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54 min
October 30A Haunted House But It's American Politics
Happy Halloween. We're coming to you in costume to discuss the political realities that haunt us, from the fear that a woman will never be president to outrageous premium hikes for insurance policies that cover less. A haunted house but it's just:
Why more Americans doubt they'll see a woman president in their lifetimes

"Aren't you a lawyer?" -- the Hatch Act and lawfare

Fundraising, Citizens United, and texting

AI doom-prepping

A Trump dynasty

Open enrollement

Outside of politics, we share our Halloween hits.

Our midterms premium membership sale ends on Election Day. We'd love for you to join us at a 25% of annual rate.

Links:
We've Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care
Pew Research on American attitudes about a woman president
How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2027 (KFF)
Be Ready Campaign
Our interview with Pete Buttigieg

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49 min
October 27Nobody is worried about Jon Ossoff anymore
We're waiting on the midterms like everyone else. Instead of reading polls, Sarah and Beth draft their personal midterm 'Avengers' team, spotlighting Jon Ossoff, Roy Cooper, Adam Hamilton, James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, Marilyn Zayas, and more. They cover:
A draft of favorite midterm candidates, including Jon Ossoff and Roy Cooper

Must-watch races in Kansas, Texas, and Michigan, and what makes them stand out

Down-ballot and across-the-aisle picks, from Marilyn Zayas in Ohio to Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania

Kentucky races to watch, including Sarah Cole McIntosh and Melissa Strange

Outside of Politics: Sarah shares her family's new Thursday night open-invite pizza ritual for teens

Links:
Our pre-midterms premium sale (25% off our annual rate)
Our conversation with Zach Dembo

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41 min
October 23When Corruption is Everywhere, it Starts to Disappear
Sarah and Beth break down the pervasive corruption in the Trump administration, from White House renovations to rare earth mineral deals, and cover:
Alina Habba, Ric Grenell, and high-dollar pardons

How White House renovations became a marketplace for influence, with major corporations making anonymous, tax-deductible donations

The scale of government contracts and rare earth mineral deals tied to the Trump family and allies

The impact of unchecked corruption on public trust and the upcoming midterm elections

Outside of Politics: Kelly Clarkson's viral feud with a Brooklyn shop over a mechanical bird

Next week, we're featuring great candidates for office in a draft-style episode and would love to hear your nominations. You can also help us prepare for our Halloween episode--a political version of the "a haunted house but it's just..." meme. Join the conversation on Substack (and sign up for our 25% discounted annual rate before the election) or by emailing [email protected].

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57 min
October 20It Doesn't Have to Be Like This
With the midterms close, Sarah and Beth step back to ask how a profit-first mindset came to shape so much of public life and what might replace it. Inspired by Chris Marquis's New York Times guest essay on closing business schools, they discuss:
the pervasive influence of MBA thinking on leadership and society

the need for philosophy, art, and new vocabularies about values and priorities

rethinking measurement and growth

Outside of politics (not really!): The Social Reckoning

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1 hr
October 16"If you can imagine it, we're ready for it"
California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Beth to talk about how state attorneys general are preparing for this election and pushing back on federal overreach. They discuss:
the security of mail-in ballots

the fight over "citizenship lists"

preparations to safeguard against intimidation at the polls

the Supreme Court's emergency docket and strain on the court system

immigration enforcement

AI and the tools needed to protect citizens

outside of politics: soccer brings people together

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1 hr 6 min
October 13A Failed Execution in Tennessee and a Livestream Firing Squad
We did not expect to be discussing the death penalty less than a month before midterm elections, but here we are. Today, Sarah and Beth discuss:
Our individual perspectives on the death penalty

Tennessee's failed attempt to execute Christa Pike

Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

Outside of politics: seeing leaves last week in New England and Quebec

Mentioned in the episode:
Still Listening, our free pop-up book club for the midterms
Pew Research polling on the death penalty
Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery"
Common Ground Pilgrimages

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59 min

About Pantsuit Politics

From the publisher's feed

Pantsuit Politics is the news and politics podcast for people exhausted by outrage. Hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers tackle the week's biggest political stories from genuinely different…