We’ve got two weeks until the August 11 primary, so we’re checking in with one of the incredible women in a primary fight as she runs for the State Senate: DFL-endorsed candidate in Duluth, Jen McEwen. Future Senator McEwen (yeah, we said it) is one of the many women who won their party’s endorsement, only to find the whiny dude she’s running against won’t abide by it and sit down. So of course, we get into that – and the thrilling story of how she got into the race, how she’s building coalitions, and the work she’s looking forward to doing in the State Senate after election. Plus, hear why you need to make sure your friends are registered to vote, and get some lively insight from this week’s tarot card pull.

Show Notes

Jen McEwen for MN State Senate

REGISTER TO VOTE - MNvotes.org

This week, we’re talking to Liz Young, Director of Advancement at Women Winning, all about money: how campaigns use it, why it’s especially important in the next 7 days, and all the “fun” you can have on the Campaign Finance Board website. We clue you into the many ways Minnesota is working to make the fiscal side of campaigns more accessible and provide you with the teaser trailer for the upcoming Special Session (otherwise known as Christmakkah part 2, which is likely to last for about, uh, a day). Finally, the tarot provides some intense insights for your week.

Meet Our Guest

Liz Young - Director of Advancement at Women Winning

Liz Young has worked in politics for almost a decade and brings nearly nine years of fundraising experience with her to Women Winning. She has fundraising experience at all levels of government: federal, statewide, legislative and municipal. Most recently, she served on Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s transition team where she helped to organize his week of inaugural activities. Prior to that she spent five years with the MN Senate and served as the Senate DFL Caucus’ Finance Director in 2016. Liz has spent much of her career working to elect people of color and women to office. She served as Deputy Finance Director for Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s historic gubernatorial campaign when she became the first woman to be endorsed by a major party, a career highlight for Liz. An avid reader and baker, before working in politics she spent two years teaching English in Japan. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University and holds a dual degree in Political Science and French.

Show Notes

This week, join Grace and Bri to talk through three recent Supreme Court cases the Court got (mostly) right. To help us sort through what went down and how those rulings do and don’t change things on the ground here in Minnesota, we’ll be joined by two special guests: Maggie Meyer from NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota, who leads us through the June vs. Russo case, and Mara Brust, who walks us through the LGBTQ & DACA cases. We’re also going to talk through why most of this good news still comes with an asterisk because no, apparently we cannot have nice things. Still, the tarot card of the week encourages all of us not to throw away our shot.

Meet Our Guests

Maggie Meyer - Executive Director at NARAL Minnesota

Mara Brust - Lawyer Extraordinaire

Show Notes

Find Your Reps

NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota

“Everyone is mad at Elena Kagan” - Slate article

Steep your tea in rage, then get ready to explore the data behind why women are advised to avoid “negative” campaigning — is it good politics or gendered garbage? (Spoiler: it’s both.) Then gather round, renegades, to hear what we are sure is only the first verse in the epic Ballad of Athena Hollins, who is running for the Minnesota State House in St. Paul’s 66B. Set against a backdrop of sexist double standards, her journey to take on an entrenched incumbent is already the stuff of legends. Plus, a rabbit hole on tenants’ rights and your tarot card of the week: some dude named Kyle.

Show Notes

Athena Hollins - MN House District 66B

Why Saint Paul Needs SAFE Housing Tenant Protections Now - Medium

St. Paul City Council Hearing - Twitter Thread

They came, they saw, they filed. During the filing deadline earlier this month, we saw a ton of new candidates enter the race: some amazing (#BlackWomenRising) and some… not so much (GOP’ers masquerading as pro-cannabis candidates to siphon votes from Dems). House candidate and legislator of our dreams Esther Agbaje stops by (spoiler - she’s amazing), and later, we rant about how the MN Senate cancelled Christmakkah. Not surprisingly, the tarot deck had some thoughts about their lack of performance, too.

Show Notes

Esther Agbaje for Minnesota House - website

De’Vonna Pittman for Commissioner - website

Kimberly Willburn for Commissioner - website

Alberder Gillespie for Congress - facebook

Phone Bank for Esther Agbaje - website

Cannabis Candidates Shadiness - MN Reformer Article

Black Women Rising - website

Black Women Are Running For Office - Star Tribune Article

Map of Flippable Senate Seats - website

Listen, the Minnesota Legislature isn’t not the OC, and this week we’re gonna tell you why. From child brides to Chrismakkuh, we’re gonna recap what happened in the most recent season (okay, session) and get you ready for all the plot twists waiting for us in the current special session. Spoiler alert: Our cast is headed for a run-in with the cops that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, and the House and Senate’s will they/won’t they dance continues. Plus, a brooding double tarot reading that’s basically the equivalent of the OC one-liner: “Welcome to the MN Leg, b*tch.”

Show Notes

Change is afoot, y’all! This week, we’re talking big changes wrought by hard work of community organizers and the flood of action following George Floyd’s murder. We’re making progress, and we’re fighting for more — learn what steps you can take to combat police brutality where you live and what policy changes are on the horizon in the upcoming Special Session at the MN Legislature. Because there’s still a plague outside, we’ll visit the COVID Corner and then  get some encouragement to keep going from an unexpected source: the witches of TikTok.

SHOW NOTES

George Floyd. Say his name. This isn't going to be a regular episode of Renegade Feminist because these aren’t regular times – but if you’re looking for a quick snapshot of stuff to do, people to call, money to give, and work to get after (especially for white folks – because no, you do not get to opt out right now), we’ve got a place for you to start. 

Show Notes:

(if links aren't working, you can find them on our website - renegadefeministpod.com!)

19 - Joy Break ft. Many Feminists

This week, we’re taking a little joy break. The pandemic has been impacting all of our lives for months now and as your feminist survival guide, we’re reminding you that taking a small break to find hope and joy is key for survival. Need a little bit of inspiration? No worries - we asked badass feminists from across Minnesota and the country to share what’s bringing them hope and joy right now to help you out. From community and connection to heavy metal and hula hoops - we’re finding joy and hope in the little moments. Enjoy!

Show Notes

Some Good News by John Krasinski - YouTube

Meet Our Guests:

This week, we’re talking all about last week’s online endorsement conventions: who won, who lost, who’s not sitting down -- and who definitely should. Grace chats with Jillia Pessenda from Women Winning about how endorsements actually worked during a pandemic, and Bri leads the way through the endorsement jungle, potentially even finding Minnesota’s own Themyscira. And this week’s tarot card is a good reminder for all the hardworking women out there (i.e., you).

Show Notes