Cheri is back for another rousing conversation.

We start the show with our critiques of "And Just Like That," and then we dive into politics. Topics: what constitutes an effective political ad; Tucker Carlson went after Ted Cruz and Cheri emphasizes that no matter what things may look like, there's always something nefarious going on behind the scenes; podcasters and influencers who are vocal resisters don't always feel safe--Cheri talked about her experiences as a vocal critic of donald, including being hacked, targeted, and banned from media appearances. We covered all that and much more.

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Jared Yates Sexton: Political Analyst, The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis, Co-Host Muckrake Podcast, newsletter Dispatches From A Collapsing State, Board: The Change Campaign.

Topics: the psychological and emotional toll of combating authoritarianism, the importance of self-care and maintaining a grounded perspective; our mixed feelings about Gavin Newsom, we acknowledgehis political skills while expressing skepticism about his trustworthiness due to past actions; Jared criticized politicians who switch sides without admitting to their past actions, particularly those responsible for creating Trumpism, and the importance of discomfort as a catalyst for change, both personally and on a national scale. Jared emphasized that Americans are now experiencing the same economic and political challenges that people worldwide have faced, urging voters to use this discomfort as a message to seek better solutions. All that and so much more. 

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Wajahat Ali is the editor of The Left Hook Substack & Co-host of The Democracy-Ish Podcast.

Topics: Wajahat talked about the challenges of maintaining hope and mental health while resisting a right-wing authoritarian regime; the normalization of extreme conspiracy theories and violence under Trump's presidency; concerns about the integrity of future elections; the dangers of underestimating Trump's willingness to stay in power, including the possibility of declaring martial law and suspending elections; the potential for abuse of personal data and the creation of a surveillance state, highlighting Palantir's past support for Israel, and where legacy and independent media are now as well as where they need to go. All that and more!

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David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He's the author of Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy.

Topics: Courts say Trump tariffs are illegal--but will he obey the courts, and how would his defiance play to voters? Elon may be out of the White House, but is that good news? The "big beautiful" tax bill is devastating in many ways. David highlights some of the worst aspects of it and tells us where we should focus, specifically, cutting funding for public schools. We also discussed ways to get involved no matter your comfort level. So much packed into this conversation!

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Jennifer Taylor-Skinner is a writer, essayist, and creator & host of the award-winning podcast, The Electorette—one of the longest-running feminist podcasts, offering analyses and solutions to the world's biggest political and social challenges, all through the lens of women.

Topics: Both of us feel more hopeful about democracy than we did six months ago; Bernie Sanders' recent comment on identity politics and why many found it offensive, WTF is up with Gavin Newsom?; David Hogg and what he's saying about the party and then we end with why we feel hopeful.

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Kiersten is such a delight. No politics today. We chatted about her book, I wish I were an Ocelot: Adventures of an Essential Kitten; upcoming projects; the hate Pamela Anderson is getting for being and looking 57; the pressure women are under to look sexy (for others) their entire lives, and much, much more.

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Stephanie is back!!!!

No prep...just two best friends talking about what's happening out there. Steph talked up Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and shared what happened when she met him; Stephanie passionately discusses the importance of providing healthcare to all, regardless of immigration status or other factors, emphasizing it as a human right; we talked about the protests and backlash against the t regime, what we have to be hopeful about and much more!

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Cheri is back!

Today's show was more about our personal lives wth a little bit of politics thrown in.

Topics: What we do for self-care; Cheri weighs in on what may happen to Social Security; she also shared that surviving cancer has resulted in a healthier lifestyle; we shared rumors we heard about sex before we were sexually active, and we ended with supernatural experiences we've had. It was a light, fun show.

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Topics: We discussed Ann's latest book series, "After the Apocalypse," and the Democratic party's response to the current political climate, focusing on the recent win of an important Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin and Cory Booker's 25-hour Senate filibuster. Ann emphasized the importance of Democrats showing up to town halls and engaging with constituents--as opposed to Republicans who belittle or run away from them. We also reminisced about our experiences in an acting class and discussed our vastly different high school experiences as well as the concept of manifesting life experiences and much more!

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Jody is Back!!! We avoided politics save for one piece of good news.

I record on Zoom and this was the AI description of the show (lol) Kimberley and Jody discussed their personal experiences, including their emotional struggles, lottery wins, and encounters with celebrities. They also reminisced about their shared past, including their childhood trauma from watching a movie, their experiences at nightclubs, and their preferences for colder temperatures. The conversation also touched on their plans if they were to win the lottery, including buying properties and helping friends financially, as well as their desire to travel and explore new places.

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