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

#776 Dangerous Women To Watch This Fall

Hosts: Amanda, Sami, Emily Tisch Sussman Topics: We dive into the Arizona Governors’ race and trace how Kari Lake went from Obama voter to the MAGA movement’s best hope for a political future Why Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs decided not to debate Kari Lake – do we agree with this choice? Pollsters say voters care more about “economic” issues than abortion. We ask: Do they hear themselves?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 18, 202243 min

#775 Corruption Is The Ultimate Kitchen Table Issue

Hosts: Sami Sage & Sarah Kendzior Topics: Sarah explains why she chose to write her book about how a culture of conspiracy keeps America complacent. How the impact of money on journalism has limited what information people can access. How an average people can become media and news literate. Why the “blue state” and “red state” framing is dangerous and why talks of succession are problematic. Check out Sarah’s book: They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent Learn more a...

Oct 14, 202258 min

#774 What Alex Jones Can’t Pay Back

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Alise Topics: Alex Jones owes Sandy Hook families a billion dollars. Can we put a price on how he’s damaged public discourse? The LA City Council President finally resigns – but her views represent a kind of racism that will persist Italian-American Rick Caruso claims to be “Latin” in mayoral debate against Karen Bass Midterms Madness: Which Senate candidate saw 14 family members endorse his opponent? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 13, 202246 min

#773 Hollywood Shock

Hosts: Amanda, Kaitlin Topics: Why is Tucker Carlson so repulsed by Joe Biden’s love for his son? Unpacking the ableism revealed by John Fetterman’s first post-stroke sit-down interview Shockingly racist statements from LA City Council members prompt calls for resignation Follow Kaitlin’s Patreon at patreon.com/gothamgirlblue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 12, 202226 min

#772 Real Housewives Of Politics

Hosts: Amanda, Alise, Milly, Nelini Stamp of the Working Families Party Topics: Nelini Stamp, national director of strategy for the Working Families Party, joins us to unpack what’s driving the conversation in the three weeks before midterms Why Wisconsin voters face such dramatically different candidates in a razor-tight race How turning out in Pennsylvania can help us fix the Senate *and* protect against another election theft attempt What do people like about Dr. Oz? Why Nelini’s latest effor...

Oct 11, 202248 min

#771 Stop Choosing Hot Actors To Play Serial Killers

Hosts: Milly & Alise Topics: We all know the movie “Blonde” is based off the fictional book about Marylin Monroe, but did it really need to be a Republican anti-abortion ad? Netflix is at it again with releasing “Dahmer - Monster: the Jeffery Dahmer Story” and decided to categorize it under LGBTQ content. Circling back from Tuesday’s round of Fuck, Marry, Banish (or Arrest), Alise and Milly explain why they decided to arrest Brett Favre over his corruption case misusing millions of dollars i...

Oct 06, 202245 min

#770 Abortion Is The Midterms MVP

Hosts: Amanda, Sami, Kaitlin Topics: Why Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s first days of oral arguments were so satisfying How Democrats are embracing sinister abortion messaging to drive suburban women to the polls John Fetterman: John Wick of Pennsylvania? BoltsMag.org: https://boltsmag.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 05, 202226 min

#769 Fuck Herschel, Marry Kanye, Banish Musk

Hosts: Milly, Amanda, Alise Topics: Herschel Walker paid for a girlfriend’s abortion despite being anti-choice Kanye West’s manic escalation on full display with “White Lives Matter” Paris Fashion Week stunt Elon Musk meddles in Ukrainian affairs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 04, 202246 min

#768 Rein In The Supremes

Hosts: Amanda, Sami Topics: Kim K has to cough up $1.2 million to the SEC. Here’s why she probably couldn’t care less The Supreme Court’s awkward, historic, and slightly nauseating fall semester Sure looks like Donald Trump just invited his supporters to hurt Mitch McConnell. Will the party hit back? Unlikely. A interview with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. For more, subscribe to EXTRA, EXTRA with Sami Sage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Oct 03, 202239 min

#767 Pennsylvania And Periods

Hosts: Amanda, Alise, Ginny Hogan Topics: Awaiting a full assessment of Hurricane Ian’s destruction Marjorie Taylor Greene is back on the dating market Ginni Thomas is talking to the January 6th committee Midterms debrief 40 days out, with a focus on the Pennsylvania and Georgia governor races New data shows COVID vaccination did impact periods. Should women have been offered more information at the time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 29, 202250 min

#765 Running With Subpoenas

Hosts: Amanda, Sami, Kaitlin Topics: Why conservative groups are trying to stop Biden’s student debt forgiveness program Texas’s top law enforcement officer fled from a subpoena. We peel back the layers on *just how bad* Ken Paxton is for Texas and the rule of law (vote for Rochelle Garza for Texas AG on Nov. 8!) The Jan. 6 committee postponed the hearing because of Hurricane Ian. Or did they? We speculate some other reasons behind the delay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Sep 28, 202239 min

#764 The Most Unlikeable Candidate Of The Midterms Is…

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Alise Republicans have unleashed their newest boogeyman Analyzing the candidates in Arizona’s Senate race (Sen. Mark Kelly vs. Blake Masters) Why does the young far-right idolize Ted Kaczynski The ongoing protests in Iran and how the government is suppressing women’s fight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 27, 202242 min

#763 Women, Social Media, And Conspiracy Theories

Hosts: Amanda, Cristen Conger Topics: Cristen discusses her deep dive into the history and present of women, culture, and conspiracy theories. Why do Joe Rogan bros get all the coverage when there are literal far-right wellness influencers? How conspiracy theories target women and play on vulnerabilities around femininity and motherhood The direct line between anti-ERA activism and the Tiktok girlies on your For You Page who say work is bad for women To hear more on this topic, listen to Cristen...

Sep 26, 202227 min

#762 A Bad Week For Cheaters

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Alise Topics: Our most basic Fall confessions Trump has a series of delightful losses, including a $250 million civil lawsuit in New York and a hand-picked special master who didn’t get the corruption memo How the Adam Levine cheating scandal mirrors a larger conversation around gender dynamics What’s getting us through the week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 22, 202248 min

#761 Your 5-State Midterms Plan

Hosts: Amanda Duberman, Amanda Brown Lierman Topics: Amanda Brown Lierman (Obama WH, DNC, executive director of Supermajority) joins to share a game plan for the next 50 days (!) until the midterms Why some of the most effective organizing has nothing to do with phone calls to strangers (stay with us) How to influence the midterms with Supermajority to win key races in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania Founded in 2019, Supermajority is a membership-based organization d...

Sep 21, 202236 min

#760 Adnan Syed And The ‘Serial’ Era

Hosts: Milly, Alise Topics: The entire population of Puerto Rico lost water and power due to Hurricane Fiona. What has and hasn’t happened since Hurricane Maria to make this tragedy worse? Adnan Syed’s conviction has been overturned. What does this mean for his future, and for the family of Hae Min Lee? We reflect on the problematic elements of the 2014 phenomenon “Serial” and how society costumes murder as entertainment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 20, 202234 min

#759 Senate Senioritis?

Hosts: Amanda, Sami Topics: The Queen’s funeral marks the end of wall-to-wall coverage in the UK and the US. We appreciate – and critique – the compulsory mourning. Why the United States is also fixated on the coverage The Senate is delaying an important vote on same-sex marriage. They have an explanation - but we’re not buying it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 19, 202227 min

#758 The GOP’s Abortion Hail Mary

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Alise Topics: Ron DeSantis had migrants abducted from Texas and flown to Martha’s Vineyard. Will he pay for his cruelty? Unlikely. The Republican strategy behind Lindsey Graham’s 15-week abortion ban. Will voters fall for it? Unpacking the week in pop culture, from hysterical reactions to “The Little Mermaid” to the nationwide shutdown for Queen Elizabeth’s death Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 15, 202252 min

#757 The White House Vibes Are High

Hosts: Amanda, Sami The hosts interview members and friends of the Biden White House to discuss a signature legislative achievement ahead of the midterm elections. Featuring interviews with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, OMB Director Shalanda Young, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico), and White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 14, 202226 min

#756 We Hate The Ivy League Now Ft. Malcolm Gladwell

Hosts: Sami Sage & Malcolm Gladwell Topics: Malcolm Gladwell starts off by sharing the inception of Revisionist History and the idea behind his "Magic Wand Experiments" theory. Sami dives into The Triplicate System, its original purpose, and how it can either benefit or hinder todays healthcare system. Malcolm introduces his new series "I Hate The Ivy League". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 13, 202257 min

#755 Whose Queen Was She?

Hosts: Amanda, Alise, Sami Topics: Reacting to the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the aftermath. Who decides what’s “appropriate” when a controversial public figure dies? What to expect from King Charles’ reign. Is he the royal climate activist the world needs? Why the speculation about why Trump is in D.C. might be overblown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 202233 min

#754 Operation London Bridge

Hosts: Milly, Amanda Topics: The Queen has passed away. What happens in the UK now? Breaking down “Operation London Bridge” Why the school year began with teacher’s strikes across the nation – and the future of education of teachers aren’t valued The racist uproar over the blockbuster Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones series What’s getting us through the week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 08, 202241 min

#753 Hillary Clinton Left Chelsea Where?!

Hosts: Amanda, Alise, Kaitlin Topics: Revealing the gems from Hillary Clinton’s press tour and why she’s the Barbie of politics (in a good way… stay with us…) A federal judge in New Mexico finally wields the 14th amendment to remove an insurrectionist from office! Does this change the game for participants in elected office? Reflecting on Serena Williams’ legacy and making the (easy) case for why she’s the greatest athlete of all time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

Sep 07, 202231 min

#752 We’re Worried, Darling

Hosts: Amanda, Sami, Milly, Alise Topics: Alise debriefs on her midwestern summer vacation and the top three stories that broke through her news fast How Joe Biden reclaimed “Brandon” Breaking down public drama surrounding Olivia Wilde, Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, and Shia Labeouf Analyzing which elements of the story – and its popularity – are sexist and which have nothing to do with gender Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Sep 06, 202239 min

#751 Marry A Man? In This Economy?

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Rae Sanni Topics: We bring in September by debating whether JLo actually bans Virgos from her sets. Would she be justified in doing so? The big Trump Mar-a-Lago debrief you’ve been waiting for: breaking down the DOJ’s 36-page clap back and analyzing the mess of documents on the floor. Plus, Milly reveals her own Mar-a-Lago secret. New data shows single women have more wealth than single men, proving that having a wife is the ultimate key to career success. Learn more about ...

Sep 01, 202243 min

#750 WTF Is Going On With Abortion Laws Right Now?

Hosts: Amanda, Kate Smith, Senior Director of News Content, Planned Parenthood Topics: South Carolina’s late-night abortion vote takes a disappointing turn How the decline of local news has made it harder to communicate the impact of local government on reproductive access Why anti-abortion candidates are hiding from their extreme stances Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Aug 31, 202221 min

#749 Where Is Taylor Swift's Roe Activism?

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Camille, Bridget Topics: Debriefing on last week's visit from Senator Gilibrand and Milly Tamarez's night at the VMAs Why hasn't Taylor Swift made more forceful statements on reproductive rights? A broader conversation about approaching political progress via caution vs. confrontation - and why stan culture may soon meet its end How can we respect older generations in politics while recognizing it's time for transition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Aug 30, 202246 min

#748 The Most Important Midterms Races No One Is Talking About

Hosts: Amanda, Amanda Litman Topics: Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run For Something, joins for our regular debrief on the elected positions progressives need now to avoid another Roe-level shock in the future Why it’s actually a pretty big problem that the US government is made up of mostly old people What election subversion attempts will look like in 2024 Why you and your friends should run for office even if you think you’ll lose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Aug 29, 202225 min

#747 Join The Department of Offense

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Danielle Moodie Topics: Biden’s modest student debt cancellation prompts whines about “fairness” from the party bankrolling tax cheats Why we should stop justifying student debt forgiveness and force conversations about corporate greed instead How opposition to student debt relief mirrors a coordinated, sinister effort to undermine and defund public education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Aug 25, 202233 min

#746 Hot Senate Summer Ft. Kirsten Gillibrand

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Kirsten Gillibrand Topics: New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (!) joins to reflect on the Senate’s hard-won victories throughout the Biden administration, from climate policy to health care prices to infrastructure. She shares the emotion behind her viral speech urging men to join women in the fight for reproductive rights and discusses how the Supreme Court’s Roe decision has motivated voters across the country. Senator Gillibrand also details her bipartisan efforts to fi...

Aug 24, 202252 min
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