American Fever Dream - podcast cover

American Fever Dream

Betches Media
From under the desk to in your ears, V. Spehar joins Betches Media in a new podcast dedicated to curing the collective malaise brought on by our chaotic political environment. Every week, Spehar and co-host Sami Sage will tenderly guide you through the biggest moments in politics and pop culture with a healing dose of perspective and humor. Rather than spiral over the latest unprecedented event, the hosts dig for the 2024 political tea you *really* want to hear while offering all the information you need to be an empowered citizen, without the side of despair to keep you up at night. For constant news updates, sign up for the Sup email newsletter at betches.com/newsletters and follow us on Instagram at @betches_news. And follow V on TikTok and Instagram @underthedesknews. Watch American Fever Dream On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebetchesnews
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Episodes

#172 No Jacket Jim Jordan Knows Impeachment Is Heating Up

Amanda, Bryan, and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news. Today it’s all about the first round of public impeachment hearings with Bill Taylor and George Kent. First they discuss each party’s strategy going into the public phase. Plus, they consider the implications of a shocking new detail from Bill Taylor. Then, they cover the hearing’s comedic moments and where Republican strategy totally backfired. Finally, they play a game of “Who’s the Biggest Assshole in Co...

Nov 14, 20191 hr 8 min

#171 Who Is Behind The New Trump Tell-All?

Bryan and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, beginning with Instagram’s decision to start hiding likes. Next, they talk about Donald Trump Jr. leaving a book signing for his book Triggered because he was too… triggered. For the main news they talk about a trio of new books exposing the truly disastrous nature of the Trump White House. Then it’s time for the Sup’s Election Section, featuring good signs for Pete Buttigieg’s candidacy. Finally, the close out the ...

Nov 11, 201947 min

#170 One State’s Election Could Impact Every Woman In America Ft. Christina Reynolds

Amanda and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Kentucky electing Andy Beshear as governor, ousting a deeply unpopular Republican. Next, they explain why Virginia was the MVP of Tuesday’s election. At 19:40, for the main news they talk about the transcripts of private testimony that were made public and what to expect from next week’s televised hearings. At 28:30 it’s time for the Sup’s newest segment Woeback Thursday, featuring a disgusting realit...

Nov 07, 201959 min

#169 The Presidential Election Is Only One Year Away

Sami and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Trump getting booed at a UFC fight. Next, they discuss the release of transcripts from former ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s closed door hearing. At 10:00, for the main news they talk about the secret Mueller report memos that came to light after a recent Freedom of Information Act inquiry. Plus, they offer an impeachment update heading into the seventh week of proceedings. Finally, at 24:15 it’s time f...

Nov 04, 201938 min

#168 Ghost Of Impeachments Past

Amanda and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with a throwback story from 51 years ago when a group of witchy feminists glued shut the New York Stock Exchange. Next, they discuss Twitter’s announcement that they will stop accepting political ads on their platform. At 11:50, for the main news they talk about the House of Representatives officially voting to endorse the impeachment inquiry. Plus, they introduce a new segment called Woeback Thursday, thi...

Oct 31, 201946 min

#167 Are We Okay With The “Lock Him Up” Chants?

Bryan and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Rudy Giuliani butt-dialing a reporter. Next, they discuss the president getting booed at the World Series, along with chants of “lock him up” from fans. At 17:50, for the main news they talk about the killing of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Plus, they discuss the ballooning deficit and update us on impeachment proceedings. Finally, at 36:35 they break down the details behind Katie Hill’s re...

Oct 28, 201945 min

#166 AOC Just Took Mark Zuckerberg And His Haircut To School Ft. Meredith Fineman

Amanda and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with AOC laying into Mark Zuckerberg. Next, they discuss Maxine Waters taking Facebook to task over political ads on the platform. At 21:30, for the main news they talk about the most damning impeachment testimony yet. Plus, they discuss Republicans storming the secure hearing room to sabotage the testimony. For one more thing, they update us on the State Department’s report on Hillary Clinton’s emails. Fi...

Oct 24, 20191 hr 25 min

#165 OMG-7, Trump Actually Backed Down

Bryan and Sami are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Mitt Romney’s fake Twitter account. Next, they discuss Hillary Clinton’s epic troll of Trump on Twitter. For the main news, at 11:40 they discuss Mick Mulvaney’s embarrassing press conference and the decision to no longer have the G7 Summit at Trump’s Doral property. Plus, they talk about how some Republicans are warming up to the idea of impeachment, and react to Tulsi Gabbard’s response to being calle...

Oct 21, 201955 min

#164 Debate Special: The Warren Wars

Alise, Bryan and Amanda are back to discuss the fourth Democratic debate. Who made a splash and who fizzled out? At 8:55 they talk about Elizabeth Warren dominating minutes spoken in the debate and taking heat for her vaguer plans. At 24:00 they discuss Joe Biden snapping at Warren and whether it's a sign that Biden feels threatened by her surge. At 34:00 they cover Bernie Sanders' star return to the spotlight after his heart attack. At 39:50 they talk about Mayor Pete's big night and the strate...

Oct 16, 20191 hr 3 min

#163 Should We Want To Have A Beer With The President? Ft. Jason Harris

On a very special bonus episode, Sami is joined by author of “The Soulful Art of Persuasion,” Jason Harris. They discuss the art of persuasion in politics, how Trump pulled off a presidential victory despite his horrible character and whether or not it matters whether anyone wants to have a beer with the president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 14, 201938 min

#162 The Right Is Officially Scared of Elizabeth Warren

Alise and Amanda are back with a brief interruption in impeachment news to cover an array of sexist attacks against women lawmakers and a truly 2019 kerfuffle involving Ellen DeGeneres, George W. Bush, and Jameela Jamil. At 19:00, they jump into the main news and break down the White House’s ranty letter claiming it won’t participate in an impeachment inquiry until Nancy Pelosi takes a few distracting and unnecessary steps. They also cover the arrest of two Ukrainian fixers connected to Rudy Giu...

Oct 10, 201957 min

#161 GOP Shred President They Refuse To Impeach

Sami and Alise are feeling a bit hazy because of fall in New York, and the sheer volume of news over the weekend. They start by talking about Rudy Giuliani’s embarrassing fake affidavit mishap on Fox News. At 11:00 they discuss Trump blaming the Ukraine controversy on Rick Perry. At 27:50 they discuss Sen.Ron Johnson’s wincing over combining military and political spending. At 35:30 they discuss a second whistleblower coming forward. At 39:45 they discuss the US leaving behind the Kurdish fighte...

Oct 07, 201951 min

#160 Get In Loser, We’re Going Impeaching

Sami and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Elizabeth Warren’s battle with Facebook and a heartwarming interview featuring her beloved husband. Next, they discuss Trump’s latest meltdown at a press conference alongside the president of Finland. At 17:45 the main news is all about the latest developments in the Trump impeachment proceedings, including public comments from Pelosi and Schiff. Plus, they discuss his embarrassing border-moat idea and ...

Oct 03, 201952 min

#159 Rudy Giuliani’s Life Is In Shambles

Amanda and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Rudy Giuliani’s embarrassing divorce. Next, they discuss Republican Chris Collins’ resignation from Congress after he was expected to plead guilty to insider trading-related charges. At 14:45 the main news is all about the flurry of stories involving Trump’s Ukraine scandal, including his alleged meeting with the NRA, the White House hiding his conversations with Putin, and the latest attempt to drag ...

Sep 30, 201951 min

#158 Is Impeachment Finally Happening?

Sami, Alise and Bryan are back to talk about one of the craziest weeks of Trump’s presidency, starting with the White House staffer who accidentally sent talking points for Trump allies to House Democrats. Next, they talk about the president attempting to throw Mike Pence under the bus. Plus, they discuss JVN’s visit to the Betches office and his thoughts on impeachment. At 11:20 the main news is all about the latest on impeachment proceedings in Congress, and the public release of the now infam...

Sep 26, 201959 min

#157 Is Ukraine Trump’s New Side Piece?

Bryan and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with a recap of the GLAAD presidential forum. Next, they discuss the best signs from this weekend’s climate marches across the globe. At 16:50 the main news is all about the whistleblower complaint involving Trump’s attempt to influence the election in his favor, and the response from each side of the aisle. Finally, at 33:25 they close out the show with this week’s UN Climate Summit. Sign up for the Betche...

Sep 23, 201937 min

#156 Why Trudeau Great Till He Gotta Be Great? Ft. Liz Plank

Sami and Amanda are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with a group of Americans who want to make dishwashers less efficient. Next, they discuss the massive youth climate strike taking place tomorrow all over the world. At 9:15 the main news is all about the newly-surfaced images of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing blackface. Is this the biggest political scandal in Canadian history? Plus, they discuss the disastrous Corey Lewandowski hearing befo...

Sep 20, 20191 hr 10 min

#155 Kavanaugh’s D*ck Is On Display… Again

Alise and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Felicity Huffman’s prison sentence. Next, they discuss a newly resurfaced video of Joe Biden describing his run-in with a gang leader named Corn Pop. At 17:30 the main news is all about the latest accusations of sexual misconduct leveled against Justice Kavanaugh. Will the cries for impeachment actually amount to anything? Finally, at 29:25 they close out the show with the settlement deal Purdue Pharma...

Sep 16, 201937 min

#154 Democratic Debate #3: Sup With Biden's Dentures?

Sami, Alise and Bryan are back to talk about the third Democratic Primary debate, starting with their initial impressions and all of Biden’s gaffes. Did his teeth almost just fall out? Next, they talk about Elizabeth Warren coming out on top, with virtually no other candidates challenging her onstage. At 38:30 they discuss Mayor Pete’s solid performance and Andrew Yang’s wild plans. They also break down the rest of the field, including Kamala Harris’s slight decline and Beto’s gun control moment...

Sep 13, 20191 hr 4 min

#153 Why Is Trump Coming For Chrissy Teigen On Twitter?

Sami and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit going on in the news, starting with Trump hate-tweeting at Chrissy Teigen. Next, they discuss the special election tomorrow in North Carolina. At 14:40 the main news starts with Trump abruptly cancelling a secret meeting with Taliban leaders at Camp David just days before 9/11. They talk about the destruction in the Bahamas as a result of Hurricane Dorian. Plus, they give us an update on impeachment proceedings. Finally, at 35:25 they clos...

Sep 09, 201939 min

#152 Why Is Ariana Grande Suing Forever 21?

Sami and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with the Catholic school that just removed Harry Potter from its library. Next, they talk about Ariana Grande suing Forever 21 just when they’re going bankrupt. At 11:00 the main news starts with Trump using a Sharpie to change the map of Hurricane Dorian’s path just to cover up his own mistake. They also talk about CNN’s climate town hall, including Elizabeth Warren taking a bold stance. Finally, at 34:55 t...

Sep 05, 201944 min

#151 Sh*t Is Getting Real With Brexit

Bryan and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit going on, starting with news that Alise is engaged. Next, they talk about Kellyanne Conway coming for TSwift… the musical. Plus, they discuss the epic drama going on at a bougie dog park outside D.C. At 16:00 the main news is all about what's happening with Brexit as the deadline approaches. Will they leave without a deal? They also talk about Trump diverting money from FEMA to fund the border wall. Finally, at 32:25 they close out the sh...

Aug 29, 201943 min

#150 Trump Wants To Nuke Hurricanes

Sami and Amanda return from the weekend to talk about everything happening in the news, starting with a controversial joke about Prince George’s ballet lessons. Next, they talk about Women’s Equality Day and give an update on RBG’s health. Plus, they share a baffling story about Trump asking if we can stop hurricanes with nuclear weapons. At 9:30 the main news is all about the G7 summit, including a failure to address the Amazon rainforest burning, the Brazilian president insulting Emmanuel Macr...

Aug 26, 201937 min

#149 Trump Thinks He’s “The Chosen One”

Sami and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Texas accidentally decriminalizing weed. Next, they talk about the Democratic field of presidential hopefuls finally narrowing down. For the main news, they discuss the Amazon rainforest burning to the ground and Trump trying to buy Greenland. Plus, they talk about Trump claiming to be “the chosen one” and calling Jewish Americans disloyal if they vote for a Democrat. Finally, they close out the show wi...

Aug 22, 201942 min

#148 How Did Disney Get Caught Up In The Hong Kong Protests?

Amanda and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with a heartwarming memorial service for one of the victims of the El Paso mass shooting. Next, they talk about a 4:00 a.m. booty call that ended in arson. For the main news, they discuss the enormous turnout this weekend for the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, and tell us why we may not be able to go see Disney’s "Mulan" with a clear conscience. Plus, they talk about growing protests for free and fair elec...

Aug 19, 201935 min

#147 Why Are Two Congresswomen Being Banned From Israel?

Sami and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with AOC getting into a Twitter fight about unions with a major troll. Next, they talk about the petition to rename the stretch of 5th Avenue in front of Trump Tower after President Obama. For the main news, they discuss GOR rep. Steve King’s latest appalling comments, growing fears of an oncoming Trump recession, and news that Israel has banned Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering the country. Finally...

Aug 15, 201939 min

#146 What Happened To Jeffrey Epstein?

Bryan and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with a pair of gay penguins who finally got their chance to adopt. Next, they talk about Trump potentially pardoning Rod Blagojevich, and share a clip of the two men arguing about Harry Potter. For the main news, they discuss the death of Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Manhattan jail cell. They react to the first wave of conspiracy theories and ask why he wasn’t on suicide...

Aug 12, 201946 min

#145 More Like No SoulCycle

Sami and Amanda are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with the release of Cyntoia Brown. Next, they talk about the new Monica Lewinsky season of American Crime Story. For the main news, they discuss Trump’s attention-seeking visits to Dayton and El Paso. They also talk about the backlash to a Trump fundraiser that has people cancelling their memberships to Equinox and SoulCylce. Finally, ICE is back on their bullshit with the biggest immigration raid in a deca...

Aug 08, 201944 min

#144 Moscow Mitch Is Letting People Die

Sami and Alise are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with Mitch McConnell breaking his shoulder. Next, they talk about the Texas congresswoman who said Trump is not welcome in her town. For the main news, they discuss the two mass shootings that took place over the weekend and explain why McConnell refuses to do anything about it. Finally, they close out the show with an amazing fact about which movie was in theaters the last time the federal government actual...

Aug 05, 201948 min

#143 Who Won The Latest Debates?

Sami and Bryan are back to talk about all the crazy shit happening in the news, starting with people calling Senate Majority Leader McConnell by the nickname Moscow Mitch. Next, they talk about Trump calling himself the “least racist person in the world.” For the main news, they discuss both nights of this week’s Democratic debates. Who were the unexpected winners and losers? Finally, they close out the show with an update on Jeffrey Epstein’s disgusting behavior. Learn more about your ad choice...

Aug 01, 201947 min
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