OG feminist blogger Jessica Valenti joins Erin Ryan to cover the latest abortion across the country, from Ron DeSantis’ fascist abuse of government resources to fight Florida’s 4th Amendment to the dueling abortion ballot measures in Nebraska. Then, an interview with trailblazing abortion provider Dr. Warren Hern about his legacy and the future of reproductive care. Finally, a conversation with Senator Laphonza Butler about her historic term representing California in the Senate and her friendship with Vice President Harris.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Support disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene and Milton  votesaveamerica.com/relief

Help elect climate champions votesaveamerica.com/climate/

Nebraska Supreme Court allows competing abortion measures on November ballot (NBC 9/13)

DeSantis administration threatens local TV station for airing abortion rights campaign ads (The Independent 10/7)

DeSantis says state investigating abortion ‘petitions on behalf of dead people’ (Miami Herald 9/9)

Husband-of-the-Year Alert: Melania Trump Says the Ex-President “Lets Her Believe” in Abortion Rights (as He Decimates Them for Others) (Vanity Fair 10/7)

Don’t Fall for Melania’s Misdirection (Abortion, Everyday 10/4)

Nebraska Supreme Court allows competing abortion measures on November ballot (NBC 9/13)

The vice presidential candidates faced off on Tuesday night, and Erin and Alyssa have thoughts about Vance’s abortion nonsense and Walz’s better-than-anticipated performance. Then Erin takes us on the final segment of our Get In Losers We Are Going Voting tour to meet some incredible ladies running down the ballot. And this week, we are feeling petty that the rats of NYC got free birth control before we did.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Support disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene votesaveamerica.com/helene

Help elect climate champions votesaveamerica.com/climate/

Vance and Walz face off in civil and policy-focused VP debate (CNN)

Walz highlights Harris improvements on climate change while slamming Trump (CNN)

IVF will be covered by insurance for many Californians after Newsom signs bill (LA Times)

​​Judge strikes down Georgia ban on abortions, allowing them to resume beyond 6 weeks into pregnancy (AP)

Erin and Alyssa go “back to school” to discuss voucher fuckery and other education issues on the ballot at a state level. Then, activist and host of Crooked’s This Land podcast, Rebecca Nagle joins to share about her new book, By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land. Finally, Sani-Petty (Chappell Roan’s refusal to endorse a candidate and not letting Mark Robinson’s staffer get away with this). 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Show Notes

Help Clear Teacher’s Wishlists: https://www.getyourteachon.com/clearthelist

Rebecca Nagle: By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land

Trump says if he wins, women would ‘no longer be thinking about abortion’ (LA Times 9/21)

Gretchen Whitmer calls Trump ‘deranged’ after comments on abortion (The Guardian 9/22)

How the Republican War on Women Extends to Voting Rights (The New Republic 9/23)

Nebraska Voters To Decide On Veto Referendum For Education Scholarship Program‌ (Zenger News 9/17)

Private Schools, Public Money: School Leaders Are Pushing Parents to Exploit Voucher Programs (Pro Publica 1/31)

School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget. (January 7/16)

Meet Michele Morrow, the Mark Robinson-Endorsed GOP Nominee for North Carolina State Superintendent Who Wants to Put Bible Studies in Public Schools (American Bridge 8/13)

Governor Newsom signs legislation to limit the use of smartphones during school hours (gov.ca.gov 9/23)

Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell Issue Guidance on Addressing Hate and Bias in K-12 Schools (mass.gov 9/19)

Trump and Vance campaign language reflects Andrew Tate’s misogynistic word vomit; Republican Senators blocked The Right to IVF Act; and more in news. Then, Sani-Petty (Diddy is absolutely disgusting, and dancer Michaela Mabinty DePrince is terribly missed). Finally, we talk to some incredible candidates that need our votes this fall: Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan, Rep. Andrea Salinas of Oregon, and Rep. Diamond Staton Williams of North Carolina. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

votesaveamerica.com/vote

Kristen McDonald Rivet

Andrea Salinas

Diamond Staton-Williams

Twitter/X: He-Man Woman Hater's Club

The Trump Campaign’s Rhetoric About Women Sounds a Lot Like Andrew Tate’s (Wired 8/28)

The latest: J.D. Vance Admits He’s Telling Racist Lies for Attention (TNR 9/16/24)

Watch: Trump Goes on Truly Incoherent Rant When Asked About Childcare (TNR 9/5/24)

Trump told nephew to let his disabled son die, then move to Florida, book says (The Guardian)

Senate Republicans Block I.V.F. Protection Bill a Second Time, Breaking With Trump (NYT  9/17)

Nebraska Supreme Court allows competing abortion measures on November ballot (NBC 9/13)

Louisiana governor signs bill classifying abortion pills as controlled substances into law (ABC 5/24)

Vice President Kamala Harris debated senile angry man Donald Trump, and Akilah Hughes joins to dish all about it. Then, Akilah tells us all about her new podcast, Rebel Spirit — required listening if you went to a school with a racist mascot. Finally, Sani-Petty (the WNBA needs kids clothes!). 

Show Notes

Akilah Hughes: Instagram, Twitter, Rebel Spirit podcast

Trump repeats the false claim that Democrats support abortion 'after birth' in debate (NPR 9/10)

Harris presses a more forceful case against Trump than Biden did on abortion, economy and democracy (AP 9/10)

5 key takeaways from the first Harris-Trump presidential debate (NBC 9/10)

Taylor Swift endorsement (Instagram)

Trump will say anything about abortion to get elected (The Hill Op-Ed 9/8)

Vance says Trump would veto a national abortion ban (NBC 8/24)

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Josie Duffy Rice of What A Day joins while Alyssa takes vacation! The Harris-Walz numbers make us cautiously optimistic, JD Vance is scared of childless teachers (...?), and Nancy Pelosi is a political chess master. Then, Megan Gailey and Kara Klenk join to discuss “sharenting,” and the ethics of parents posting their kids on social media. Finally, Sani-Petty (Trump needs glasses, and the U.S. Open and the Paralympics can cure our post-Olympics depression). 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Show Notes

Josie Duffy Rice, What A Day

Kara Klenk: thatsmesseduplive.com

Megan Gailey: Sports Bitches

Harris’ momentum continues as she ties with Trump in these swing states (NPR 8/26)

Kamala Harris sets fundraising record with $540m after DNC (Aljazeera 8/26) 

“I Just Want Women To Have More Choices”: Senator JD Vance, Who Has Likened Abortion To Murder (Vanity Fair 8/25)

J.D. Vance Blames Staff for Disastrous Doughnut-Shop Visit (Intelligencer 8/28)

Trump campaign staff had altercation with official at Arlington National Cemetery (NPR 8/27)

Is Ben Affleck Hanging Out With a Kennedy? (The Cut)

How a New Law Could Change the World of Child Influencers (Rolling Stone 7/5/24)

Parenting influencers speak out as new law designed to protect kids featured on social media goes into effect (GMA 7/3/24)

“If you dance, your problems go away” (TikTok) 

A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men (NYT 2/25/24)

Lavish dorm rooms – like the one belonging to Kansas City Chiefs heiress at SMU – becomes big business for designers (WFAA 8/28)

The Really Long Good-bye: Helicopter Parents in the College Years (BU)

In news: Trump’s counterprogramming to the Democratic National Convention is a bust, and abortion’s rebrand to “reproductive freedom” is genius. Then, Michigan Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Julissa Arce join to discuss the party that is the DNC, from Chicago and the couch. Finally, Sani-Petty (JK Rowling has finally shut up, and white women can’t read the room sometimes).

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Show Notes

Sen. Mallory McMorrow: Twitter, Instagram

Julissa Arce: Twitter, Instagram  

Trumpworld’s DNC counter-programming plans revealed (Independent 8/19)

House GOP investigators accuse Biden of ‘impeachable conduct’ in long-awaited report (Politico 8/19)

The Democratic Party Is Now the Real “Freedom” Caucus (The New Republic 8/19)

How Kamala Harris Took ‘Freedom’ Back from the GOP (Time 8/17)

Live DNC Updates: AP News, NBC News

From a 'wake' to 'Mardi Gras': With Harris, the Democratic convention is a hot ticket (NBC 8/8)

The Sound of Silence? J.K. Rowling Has Not Tweeted in 12 Blissful Days (them 8/19)

Erin Ryan is BACK from maternity leave! She and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk about American Dad Tim Walz, creep JD Vance (and his drag history), and how Trump’s relevance is getting drowned out by Democrats’ joy. Then, Lt. Gov. of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan joins to discuss midwestern vibes, her longtime political relationship with the new Democratic VP pick, and how she just might become the first indigenous woman to be an American state governor. Finally, Sani-Petty: Julia Child and Love Island USA are saving our souls these days. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Show Notes

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan: Twitter, Instagram

Tim Walz, Doug Emhoff, and the Nice Men of the Left - An election defined by two very different kinds of guys. (Intelligencer, by Rebecca Traister)

The Meme-ification of Tim Walz - The Internet’s dad du jour is proof of America’s longing for a cheerful, competent, moral–and fun–kind of manliness. (Esquire, by our very own EGR)

Joy Ride: Upbeat Dems Are Spreading Optimism to a Divided (and Newly Delighted) Nation (Vanity Fair 8/9)

Biden Made Trump Bigger. Harris Makes Him Smaller. (NYT Op-Ed, by Ezra Klein 8/11)

Vance looks to turn tables on Walz: He’s the one being ‘weird’ (CNN 8/12)

Republicans who think ‘Tampon Tim’ is an insult are actually Walz’s best publicists (The Guardian 8/10)

‘Policy attack dog’ or ‘creepy’? Vance’s plane incident with Harris adds to his weird factor (The Independent 8/8)

Report: Trump calls Harris a "bitch" (Axios 8/10)

Team USA has women to thank for more than half of its Olympic medals (NPR 8/12)

Paris 2024 Paralympics - Latest News, Schedules & Results (Olympics) 

This Classic Julia Child Show Is Available to Stream for the Very First Time (Food & Wine) 

The French Chef with Julia Child (PBS)

Samantha Bee is back to co-host with Alyssa one last time! They discuss Tim Walz joining the Harris 2024 campaign, Usha Vance’s response to her husband JD’s “childless cat lady” comment, and more in news. Then, in Sani-Petty, Sam and Alyssa ponder RFK Jr.’s dead bear in Central Park (the brain worm is real). Finally, Alyssa interviews epic down-the-ballot candidates — Anna Thomas (of PA), Sarah Henry (of FL), Eva Burch (of AZ), and Dallas Harris (of NV) — about the stakes of their local races. Next week: Erin’s back!

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Show Notes

Anna Thomas - Pennsylvania 

Sarah Henry - Florida 

Eva Burch - Arizona 

Dallas Harris - Nevada 

Get involved: votesaveamerica.com/2024

Samantha Bee: podcast, Substack

Gov. Tim Walz Signature Accomplishments

The best 'big dad energy' jokes about Gov. Tim Walz: List (FOX9) 

'Kamala caved': Trump and his allies cast the Walz pick as liberal overload (NBC)

Donald Trump Claims Tim Walz Will 'Unleash HELL ON EARTH' (HuffPost)

Fun Alyssa story from 2008: Behind the Scenes of the Vice-Presidential Selection Process (NYT)

Usha Vance tries to defend her husband's 'childless cat ladies' comment (NPR)

Doug Emhoff, Husband of Kamala Harris, Acknowledges Long-Ago Affair (NYT)

Womens Sports and the Olympics: The 19th, Yahoo! Sports, TheSkimm, pommel horse king STEVE

JD called Simone Biles “weak” for leaving the Tokyo Olympics (TikTok)

RFK Jr. admits to dumping a dead bear in Central Park, solving a decade-old mystery (

NPR

)

Katie Couric joins Alyssa Mastromonaco for a chat about Kamala Harris fundraising (featuring white people on Zoom calls), the Veepstakes, and calling MAGA Republicans like JD Vance “weird.” Then, Katie and Alyssa answer YOUR questions, covering romance, the idea of interviewing Melania Trump, and everything in between. 

Show Notes

Katie Couric (Twitter/X, Instagram) + her podcast, Next Question + her newsletter, Wake Up Call

Francine Pascal, creator of beloved ‘Sweet Valley High’ books, dies at 92 (CNN)

If Kamala Harris Is a D.E.I. Candidate, So Is JD Vance (NYT Op-Ed)

Vance continues to feel the scratch of "childless cat ladies" (Axios)

Democrats Embrace ‘Weird’ Messaging on Trump (NYT)

Kamala Harris allies deploy new Trump attack line: he is ‘just plain weird’ (The Guardian)

Melania Trump to tell her story in memoir scheduled for this fall (The Guardian)

The Age of Grievance by Frank Bruni

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House by Alyssa Mastromonaco

Going There by Katie Couric