Kaitlin and Amanda breakdown the first two days of the Derek Chauvin trial, and react to leading arguments from the defense that rely on dehumanizing stereotypes about Black people, and explain the trauma of reliving a case so clear cut. They share an update following the brutal anti-Asian hate crime in New York this week. Finally, a freshly vaxxed Alise Morales joins to react to an investigation into whether Matt Gaetz had an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl, and his bizarre exp...
Mar 31, 2021•50 min
Milly, Alise, and Amanda are back to celebrate universal vaccine eligibility in most states, and contrast that with the “impending doom” coming as CDC heads warn of more sickness and death. They reflect on how the pandemic has altered social media, and the collective growing pains we’ll experience as normal life resumes. Then, they break down Amazon workers’ efforts to unionize in Alabama, the appalling workplace conditions that led to it, and Jeff Bezos’s batshit response. Learn more about your...
Mar 30, 2021•32 min
Bryan, Sami, and Amanda are back to break down the moral panic following Lil Nas X’s new video, and explain how the post-Trump news void has left some on both sides of the aisle clawing for relevance. Then, they cover the fallout from Georgia’s new voting legislation and how to undo it. Best route? Elect Stacey Abrams. Finally, they share details from Minneapolis as the city begins its case against Derek Chauvin, including details about jury selection and signals for what the rest of the trial m...
Mar 29, 2021•35 min
In this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami is joined by TV host, journalist, and correspondent for NBC4-LA and IMDB, Danielle Robay. They start with a conversation about Danielle’s career journey from growing up in Chicago, moving to LA to live in a garage and work for free until eventually landing her first paid event on the red carpet. Next, Danielle talks about the intersection between politics and pop culture, what it was like having Larry King as her mentor, and some of her experiences as a woman w...
Mar 26, 2021•43 min
Alise and Bryan catch up on the latest in vaccination news, including Bryan’s experience getting his second dose and that messy bitch AstraZeneca. Then, they detail yet ANOTHER scandal involving Andrew Cuomo, this time related to giving family and VIPs access to COVID testing at the height of the pandemic. Then, they introduce you to the Republican Senate candidates so bad they might hand two ruby red states to Democrats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 25, 2021•35 min
Sami, Kaitlin, and Amanda are back to address the real root of the gun reform debate: upholding white supremacist patriarchy. We explore how Democrats could pursue filibuster reform and break down the Republicans (and Democrat) who are trying to stop it. Seems like we need to background check the Senate, or at least, check to find the Democrat left in Joe Manchin. Finally, they address misguided reverence for the original Constitution, which even the founders knew would need some updates. Learn ...
Mar 24, 2021•43 min
Milly, Alise and Amanda react to yet another mass shooting in America, this time in Boulder, Colorado. They discuss the fact that shooters in Atlanta and Boulder are 21-year-old men, and how our society needs to get better at interrupting violent ideation before lives are lost. They run through the familiar gun safety refrains related to universal background checks and automatic weapons bans, and consider whether Congress will finally take action. Then, they discuss Spring Break crowds in Miami ...
Mar 23, 2021•42 min
Sami and Amanda are joined by journalist Emma Gray to discuss how the most recent season of “The Bachelor” botched yet another important conversation about race, this time at the emotional expense of its Black lead. We look back on the choices the franchise made for decades that led to the most recent implosion, analyze why Chris Harrison is such a big part of the problem, and explain why we’re unlikely to see meaningful change anytime soon. Then, they break down Andrew Cuomo’s positive poll num...
Mar 22, 2021•42 min
On this bonus episode, Amanda is joined by two leaders in the Asian American community. First, NBC reporter Kimmy Yam explains how a direct line can be made from the historical marginalization of Asian women in America to Tuesday’s mass shooting in Georgia, and describes her own fears as an Asian woman in an urban area. Then, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) shares his family’s experience in Japanese internment camps, the legal origins of anti-Asian discrimination, and the intersection of racism and homo...
Mar 19, 2021•50 min
On this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami is joined by comedian and writer Blaire Erskine, who gained popularity making satirical Twitter videos in response to prominent right-wing political figures. They start with Blaire’s upbringing in a small town in South Georgia, how she became more politically involved once she moved to Atlanta, and her thoughts on the Georgia elections. Next, they talk about her early comedy career in improv and standup comedy before going viral overnight with her parody video ...
Mar 19, 2021•43 min
Alise and Amanda sit down with Eliza Orlins, a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney and a public defender in New York City for 12 years. Orlins details her experience representing the city’s most marginalized people, and how the cash bail system criminalizes poverty and has lifelong impacts on people jailed for minor crimes they might not have even committed. She explains what a DA can do on day 1 to dramatically change the lives of New Yorkers, and how the DA could have intervened sooner i...
Mar 18, 2021•28 min
Kaitlin, Alise, and Amanda react to the racially motivated murder of eight people in Atlanta, including six Asian women. They connect the tragedy to rising anti-Asian hate crimes in America that disproportionately impact women, and look at how American popular culture has systematically dehumanized East Asian women for centuries. They discuss how salon workers are often marginalized and victimized, and analyze why perpetrators of mass shootings almost always have a history of misogyny. Finally, ...
Mar 17, 2021•36 min
Sami, Milly, and Amanda react to the Biden administration’s victory lap after ramping up vaccine production and sending cash to Americans. Is Joe Biden already angling for a 2024 run? Plus, they react to conservative tantrums that he isn’t doing enough press conferences. Then, they break down the documentary series “Allen vs. Farrow.” Why did it take so long for people to push Allen off a pedestal, and why has he had control of the narrative for all these years? Finally, they discuss what has sh...
Mar 16, 2021•42 min
Sami, Bryan, and Amanda discuss rising calls for Andrew Cuomo’s resignation and reconcile bad faith accusations that Democrats won’t hold themselves accountable with the reality of Cuomo’s misconduct. Then, they react to the murder of London resident Sarah Everard and subsequent protests. What steps can men take to make women in their cities safer, and how do media and entertainment normalize the brutalization of women? We reflect on whether it’s time to give up true crime. Learn more about your...
Mar 15, 2021•37 min
It’s time for Afternoon Tea, and this week Sami is joined by author, motivational speaker, and Mindvalley founder Vishen Lakhiani. They start with a chat about Vishen’s transition from working at a thriving Silicon Valley startup to becoming a meditation teacher, and ultimately starting the company he runs today. He gives insights into meditation techniques that really work, shares the key lessons he’s learned for starting a business, and explains why it’s important to celebrate every small vict...
Mar 12, 2021•43 min
Milly, Sami, and Amanda reflect on the one year anniversary of the day the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. They recount the early, terrifying days when Milly almost got stuck in Europe, and recall the national failures that led us to 529,000+ deaths. They discuss mixed feelings about their own vaccine eligibility and share how the last 12 months have changed them. Finally, they explain what’s happened in the Breonna Taylor case one year after her death. Learn more about...
Mar 11, 2021•39 min
Alise, Kaitlin, and Amanda do a biannual survey of the state of cancel culture, analyzing three recent events that highlight increased polarization that only one side seems to be complaining about. They look back at “Looney Tunes’” Pepe Le Pew amid news the sexually aggressive skunk will not be included in the “Space Jam” sequel. They analyze a controversial columnist’s warnings that nice white people are being silenced, and compare accusations of “cancel culture” to who has actually suffered as...
Mar 10, 2021•40 min
Alise, Milly, and Amanda are back to elaborate on how race factored into the British press’s discrimination against Meghan Markle, and how her biracial status earned her support among the most dedicated advocates. Then, they react to Piers Morgan throwing a tantrum on behalf of the queen. Finally, they discuss how the COVID relief’s transformational child tax credit -- a $300 monthly benefit per child! -- will impact their friends and families, and discuss the role finances have played in delayi...
Mar 09, 2021•41 min
Sami, Bryan, and Amanda react to Oprah’s bombshell interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. They unpack the special’s most shocking revelations and how closely they mirror Princess Diana’s experience in the Royal Family, while discussing how racism compounded the vitriol Meghan experienced. They discuss allegations that Meghan and Harry “want it both ways” or seemed “disingenuous” by zooming out to the broader role the monarchy plays in British society. Finally, they react to the palace’s ...
Mar 08, 2021•45 min
On this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami is joined by civil rights activist, MSNBC legal analyst, and New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley. They start with a chat about what inspired Maya to run for mayor and the exceptional challenges we face in a pandemic. Maya tells us what her top priorities would be in office, which leads to a conversation about rising housing prices and the need for programs to help marginalized communities recover. They discuss the prospect of being the city’s first femal...
Mar 05, 2021•49 min
Alise, Sami, and Amanda are back to talk all about voting rights and recent attempts to suppress them. They break down the onerous voter restrictions passed in Georgia, and how they are retribution for a strong Democratic showing thanks to Black voters. They describe how H.R. 1, the sweeping voting rights and election reform bill, could pass without eliminating the filibuster entirely, and react to Republicans admitting in the Supreme Court that without voter suppression, they can’t win. Finally...
Mar 04, 2021•39 min
Kaitlin and Amanda are back to discuss some Democrats having a very bad week, most of their own making. They break down the good and bad reasons Neera Tanden won’t be confirmed to a Cabinet position and explain why Senators were less likely to overlook a woman of color’s flaws. Then, they discuss even more allegations against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Are the quiet calls for his resignation a sign of hypocrisy among Democrats who have demanded accountability for GOP men with similar allega...
Mar 03, 2021•35 min
Amanda is back to break down the day’s headlines after a mishap stole our recording. Tune in for a quick rundown of the racist depictions that resulted in six Dr. Seuss books coming out of circulation and for why Donald and Melania Trump should have been vaccinated in public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 02, 2021•10 min
Sami, Bryan, and Amanda are back to break down the ongoing sexual harassment allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo. What does it say about men and power, and is there any chance the three-term governor will resign? Then, they discuss the media’s misleading framing of COVID relief as a partisan push for Democrats. Why are we letting Republicans hold hostage a bill that 70% of Americans support? Finally, they explain how the Voting Rights Act can give Democrats the leverage they need to govern...
Mar 01, 2021•29 min
For this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami Sage is joined by Molly Jong-Fast, author, podcaster, and editor-at-large for The Daily Beast. They start with a post-mortem on the Senate impeachment trial and how the Republican party has responded to (read: turned a blind eye to) the Capital riots. They talk about the political future of Mitch McConnell and what it’s like for a party to operate without a de facto leader. They discuss whether or not Trump could face a criminal (or civil) trial in the coming ...
Feb 26, 2021•38 min
Sami, Amanda, and Bryan are back to discuss your responses to vaccine reluctance in your networks. Then, they break down shocking revelations from this week’s congressional hearing on the Capitol attack. They describe the breakdown in communication that led the FBI’s warning of violence to languish unread. How does a credible threat of an armed insurrection fall through the cracks? That the perpetrators were white probably had something to do with it. Finally, they check back on the state of the...
Feb 25, 2021•37 min
Amanda is joined by Pooja Asnani, director of the Immigration Project at Sanctuary for Families. Pooja details the immigration stories that have gone unreported for years. She explains just how dramatically the previous administration altered immigration processes -- specifically in ways that made it harder for undocumented domestic violence survivors to ensure safety in the US. She outlines how the Violence Against Women Act has provided vital protections, and how sweeping immigration reform an...
Feb 24, 2021•34 min
Milly, Alise, and Amanda react to Joe Manchin’s refusal to confirm Joe Biden’s cabinet appointees, many of whom happen to be women of color. They detail Manchin’s previous votes for controversial picks and unpack why women, specifically women of color, are held to a higher standard. Then they unload on the moderates in Congress who need some reform themselves. Then, they summarize the immigration reform bill coming to Congress. What are the politics, and could this be the issue Dems use to blow ...
Feb 23, 2021•38 min
Bryan and Amanda reflect on reaching the grim milestone of 500,000 COVID deaths, and what about American society let us even hit such an unthinkable number. They discuss anti-vaccination sentiments they’ve encountered in their own life, and share ways to promote vaccine confidence among friends and family. Then, they break down the Equality Act re-introduced in Congress last week. They explain how this legislation would change lives for LGBTQ people and how it differs from existing protections. ...
Feb 22, 2021•34 min
Content Warning: This episode contains references to rape and sexual assault. It’s time for Afternoon Tea, and this week Sami Sage is joined by Amanda Nguyen, civil rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and founder of Rise. They start with the story of how Amanda founded Rise and began actually writing her rights into law. They explain the concept of “Hopeanomics,” the process of how agendas are set, and why it’s critical to understand how the lawmaking rules work in order to play the game...
Feb 19, 2021•37 min
