Episode 7

Episode Notes

November 5, 2024 and the selection of our 47th President is

away from today

Former Vice President Walter Mondale dead at 93

Walter 'Fritz' Mondale, former vice president under Jimmy Carter, died Monday, April 19, 2021 at the age of 93. Born to a Methodist minister and music teacher in southern Minnesota in 1928, the former Democratic vice president was a steadfast supporter of social justice. By the time he graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, he was deeply involved in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party -- Minnesota's wing of the Democratic Party. He served as the Minnesota’s attorney general starting in 1960 and later was named to the US Senate to fill the seat left vacant by Hubert Humphrey, who was elected Lyndon Johnson's vice president. Mondale represented Minnesota in the Senate from 1964 until 1976, when he signed on as Carter's running mate. Source

Rep. Greene is at it again

Just last week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene debuted her plans to start the ‘America First Caucus’ which would “uphold former President Trump's legacy and protect 'Anglo-Saxon political traditions'" and goes on to say “History has shown that societal trust and political unity are threatened when foreign citizens are imported en-masse into a country." Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona signed onto the proposal, as did Matt Gaetz, so racism is alive and well in the US Capital. Days after the release of her plans, Rep. Greene backtracked and her team claimed that she would not be launching anything. Read the proposal for yourself and you decide.



President Biden to address Congress on April 28th, 2021

Mark your calendars meow, President Biden is slated to address a joint session of Congress on April 28, roughly 100 days after he took office. Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited Biden to make the address in a letter released publicly last week. The president has accepted the invitation. On Monday of this week, a group of GOP lawmakers asked Pelosi to reschedule President Biden's address to Congress set for next week to a time when the House is in session. They further called on Pelosi to extend invitations to all members of Congress, instead of limiting it to a smaller number due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Update to the Four Jackasses of the Political Apocalypse

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said that should former President Trump run for a second term in the 2024 election, that she would back him and not mount a bid against him for their party’s nomination. Well, I can only assume this would be because she either doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of his wrath during the race for the Republican nomination or she thinks she can ride his coattails to the VP slot on his eventual ticket. I’m not sure what calculus she’s been doing but this is enough for me that she now finds herself knocking Sen. Josh Hawley from his position as War among the Four Horsemen of the Political Apocalypse. She now carries the mantle of War as she is what I would have called a reasonable politician before her announcement to back Trump in 2024. This will not only set off a mess of internal conflict within the Republican Party as moderate, reasonable Republicans fight to change the Party’s reputation from that of the Party of Trump BUT also sets an expectation that other interested potential candidates will follow suit should Trump decide to run in 2024. What is the result of war? Death. And in this case, it points to the death of the Republican Party. Source

Will Texas Turn Blue?

We briefly talk about the discussion around Texas becoming a blue state. Read what Texans have to say about it.

The scourge that is talk radio

Katie mentions the presence that talk radio had in her household growing up. It's influence on politics in the US is often discussed, but did you know it's also been studied by many? Here are some of many journal articles that you can find that talk about the influence of talk radio on political efficacy and participation (requires subscription).

John McCain picks Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate in the 2008 Presidential Election

August 28, 2008, John McCain said while speaking to a crowd in Ohio, "“She’s exactly who I need. She’s exactly who this country needs to help me fight the same old Washington politics of me first and country second,” thus introducing the 44 year old mother and politician to the world. Relive that....interesting.....moment in history thanks to YouTube.

Absentee Voting in US Elections as an Expatriate

The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is used to start the absentee voting process for expats as it is standardized for use across all states and will extends eligibility to receive a ballot for all federal elections for at least one calendar year. The FPCA acts as both a registration and absentee ballot request form. Overseas citizen voters are encouraged to submit a new FPCA every year and any time they move.

The challenges expat voters face when trying to exercise their right to vote are constantly evaluated by the US government to better understand the needs of these voters. Check out this fact sheet from the Federal Voting Assistance Program for more information on what it's like to vote from abroad.

Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd

In the time that this episode was recorded and posted, Derek Chauvin was convicted by a jury of his peers of murdering George Floyd. Source

Who decides what goes in your children's textbooks?

The selection of textbooks for grades one through eight occurs at the state level by States' Board of Education, assisted by committees of volunteers who specialize in each discipline. Discrepancies in textbook content can be attributed to different state standards, curriculums, laws of the state and textbook review panels (who can differ both in terms of ideologies and expertise) who assess the curriculums and submit recommended changes to the publishers. In Texas, some 5 million students will use the chosen textbooks when the school year begins, making them one of the largest consumers for textbook companies, along with California. Publishers create editions for Texas and California, among other states, customized to satisfy policymakers with different priorities.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

This week's guest talked to us about Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance.that looks to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. Check out their website for more information and learn how you can help.


Would You Rather...?

How about some thinkers to cleanse the palate? Enjoy!

  • Kanye OR Roseanne receive a major party nomination in 2024?

  • The Capital rioters face consequences for their actions on January 6th OR see Biden seat a majority left-leaning SCOTUS during his time as President?

  • Be roommates with Marjorie Taylor Greene OR Ted Cruz?

  • Always be on the worst dressed list for the rest of your life OR see Donald Trump be elected to a second term in your lifetime?

  • One of your children grow up to be a QAnon believer/supporter OR never see a woman elected/ascend to US president in your lifetime?

  • Tucker Carlson be relegated to a life of anonymity OR one of Trump’s children win the presidency in 2024?

Who do you think should be our 47th President?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Pete Buttigieg