In this episode, Merleyn and Lauren discuss the Bad Bill of the Week, OK House Bill 3966, which aims to establish the School of American Civic Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma.  They share their love of banquets, hard dinner rolls, and that awkward feeling when you realize you were only invited to fill a seat. AND they also discuss the lack of mandated training for legislators and the importance of relationship building in politics.

Merleyn and Lauren discuss President Biden's State of the Union address, down-ballot races in 2024, and the state and local budget-making process. Plus, the Bad Bill of the Week and another awkward sign-off (thanks, Mom).

Lauren and Merleyn talk about who's creating the ridiculously bad bills we have to keep putting on the watch list (hint: it's mediocre white men). 

Merleyn and Lauren start a new segment in which they discuss bad bills, how to spot them, track them, and shame them until they (hopefully) crawl back under the rocks from which they came.

Lauren and Merleyn discuss the impact of state legislatures on people's lives in the short and long term. The episode concludes with a discussion on the perception of power and the belief that some politicians are anointed by a higher authority (Ugh.). The conversation concludes (as usual!) with a discussion on combatting disillusionment and taking action to create positive change.

Markwayne Mullin may not know what his job entails*, but Lauren and Merleyn do. (*Hint: It's not fighting with a Teamster boss on and off social media). 

In part two of their first discussion, Lauren and Merleyn share what led to their decisions to not seek reelection to the state legislature and city council.

Lauren and Merleyn launch the podcast with a discussion of why they each ran for office.