Start Me Up with Kimberley A. Johnson

Brian Karem is a White House Columnist and his latest book is titled Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It. He's a documentary filmmaker, political analyst for CNN, and hosts the "Just Ask The Question" podcast.

Topics: This week, Brian Karem and I dig into the fight over press access, the state of journalism, media monopolies, and the need for tougher political reporting. We also talk about the midterms, voter turnout, political infighting, and the importance of holding power accountable, before getting into sexual assault, victim blaming, and the need for better mentorship and conversations about consent.

Jody Hamilton, co-host of The Politics Bar podcast, is back.

Topics: Press ban, Ossoff's rise, midterms, Talarico/Texas & donald's embarrassing approval rating.

Steph is back!

We talked about politics and then, we were just us--blabbing.

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Alternet.

In this episode, Sarah and I dig into Trump’s gas price claims, Missouri’s gerrymandered voting maps, and the ongoing fight over USPS and mail-in ballots. We also get into the Texas primary, John Fetterman’s political future, the rise of progressive candidates, and why younger voters are increasingly drawn to anti-establishment politics.

Sarah Wood is back. Her social media company: Relevate Strategies

We talk about the generational shift happening in the Democratic Party, Sarah’s experience with local activism and Flock cameras, the disconnect between online political discourse and what voters actually care about, and the fight over expanding the Supreme Court. We also get into concerns about Trump’s health, voter suppression efforts in Texas, the upcoming midterms, and why turning out voters will be more important than ever.

Greg Olear is back! He's the author of Rough Beast, PREVAIL columnist & podcaster, and co-host of The Five 8 on YouTube.

Topics: Greg and I talk about what Democrats need to do differently heading into the next election, including the need for candidates who aren’t tied to the party establishment. We discuss Jon Ossoff’s appeal, the danger of primary infighting, and whether Democratic leadership is prepared for the election interference and cheating we expect from Trump and his allies.

We also get into possible responses, from using the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump to expanding the Supreme Court and making Puerto Rico and D.C. states. Along the way, we talk about the rise of DSA candidates, the state of the USS Abraham Lincoln, the media’s changing role, the growth of independent media, and why I’m feeling optimistic about a potential blue wave in November.

Maya Rupert is a political strategist, author, and former presidential campaign manager. She joins us to discuss her new book, The Real Ones, and what we get wrong about authenticity in politics.

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Alternet.

Topics: The Todd Blanche nomination; support for donald is circling the drain; GOP Congressman Mike Flood of Nebraska faced a hostile crowd after making insensitive comments about people not working, leading to boos from the audience; Sarah shared a story about incorrect African country mappings in a State Department presentation at an HIV/AIDS conference in Brazil; donald is decaying and falling apart. All that and more! 

Sarah Wood is back. Her social media company: Relevate Strategies

Talarico leads Paxton in Texas, Democrats are winning by large margins, and Republican leaders are dying-- and lying about it. All that and more!

Cheri is back!

This week, Cheri and I dig into the Supreme Court and the Alito situation, the possibility of another Trump appointment, and what it could mean for democracy. We talk political strategy — Tallarico in Texas, Susan Collins and a potential MAGA nominee, the Collins-Platner Senate race in Maine, and Mitch McConnell's health — plus where the MAGA movement goes after Trump and how media has fueled radicalization in our own families. We wrap up with some Netflix picks, and thoughts on AI reliability.