The Progressive Happy Hour

This year has been a tumultuous and painful one for so many progressive activists. That's one reason it's important to cultivate and recognize gratitude for the good things in our lives. In the November 21 Thanksgiving mini-episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," cohosts Cici Battle and Drew Courtney reflect on what they are thankful for, both for the country and for themselves.

Over the coming months, Congress will welcome dozens of Gen Xers and millennials to its ranks. Their visions for change helped them win their elections, but being in office requires a wider skill set. In the November 16 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," Drew Courtney and Diallo Brooks chat with People For the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network Program Manager Raquel Jones about the importance of young leaders and the ways that the YEO Network supports them.

Democrats took control of the House in the midterms this week, and it was a historic night for progressive women and people of color, LGBTQ folks, and young candidates. In the November 9 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," cohosts Cici Battle and Drew Courtney chat with PFAW's Senior Director of Outreach and Public Engagement Diallo Brooks to debrief on the election results and strategize about the road ahead for progressives.

The Supreme Court is becoming a more important issue for many Americans, but lower court judges also have ample opportunity to affect our lives through their rulings. On the November 2 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," cohosts Cici Battle and Drew Courtney talk to PFAW Senior Legislative Counsel Paul Gordon about President Trump's efforts to reshape the judiciary and the norms and precedents that have been discarded to confirm them.

Republicans in many states have tightened voting restrictions, but these practices are nothing new. From literacy laws to "exact match" laws and restrictions on formerly incarcerated people, voter restrictions have long been a source of inequality. In the October 26 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," cohosts Cici Battle and Drew Courtney talk to Jen Herrick, senior policy analyst at PFAW, about voting restrictions and how Florida's Amendment 4 could change the state's politics.

The 2018 midterm elections are less than 18 days away, and many Americans are already voting in what many hope will be a momentous election for progressives. On the October 19 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," host Drew Courtney talks to PFAW Political Director Lizet Ocampo about this year's bellwether races, the races she's most excited about, and the shameful and dishonest tactics Republicans are employing to try to get ahead.

Last weekend, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court, ending a process that was corrupt from the start. When he was first nominated by Trump in July, progressive activists were energized for the fight, but many of us find ourselves unsure of how to move forward in the wake of his confirmation. On the October 12 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," cohosts Drew Courtney and Cici Battle debrief with each other about the fight to stop Kavanaugh and how progressives can move forward from here.

Since Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, progressive organizations and activists have fought tirelessly against his nomination, but right-wing extremists and media have reacted differently to his nomination and the allegations of sexual assault against him. On the October 5 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," co-hosts Drew Courtney and Cici Battle talk with Peter Montgomery, senior fellow of People For the American Way, about the far Right's reactions to the Kavanaugh hearings.

Since Trump took office, conversations on self care have become common. But for those working in progressive spaces, fighting for justice has been especially draining, and self care has become vital. On the September 28 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," Drew Courtney and Addie Stan chat with Yamani Hernandez, executive director of National Network of Abortion Funds, about working at the intersections of reproductive, economic, and racial justice and how they practice self care as a team.

Since the early 1900s, progressive organizations and activists have fought to ensure that reproductive rights remain protected. On the September 21 episode of "The Progressive Happy Hour," cohosts Drew Courtney and Cici Battle sit down with Kelley Robinson, national organizing director for Planned Parenthood, to discuss her work as an organizer, her thoughts on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's allegations against Brett Kavanaugh and how activists can support sexual assault survivors.