On this episode, Anna and Anthony kick Michael out to talk about the pending end of the longest government shutdown in history and specifically what it means for healthcare premiums. They also dive into Rep. Elise Stefanik's expected announcement to run for governor of New York and share some good news from the Supreme Court this week because lord knows we all need it!
On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anthony have an election night recap, and marvel at the Democrat's scorecard having run the tables and exceeded expectations. Then they discuss prop 50 in California and Republican Rep Kevin Kiley, the politician on our playlist. They wrap up breaking down how to talk about SNAP benefits and how the government shutdown is tragically effecting this program.
On this episode, Michael and Anna are joined by author, historian, and Substack extraordinaire Lorissa Rinehard to discuss her new book Winning The Earthquake: How Jeanette Rankin Defied All Odds To Become The First Woman In Congress. It's a fantastic discussion filled with a bunch of issues that still resonate today. But before that, Michael and Anna dive into the recent news surrounding these military drone strikes on suspected drug cartel boats, and what the broader implications of that are.
On this episode of the Happy Hour, we commemorate our 200th episode! Anthony was off on assignment so Michael an Anna took the wheel to discuss the monumental events that unfolded in the middle east, the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, the tentative and fragile new peace agreement and what the future might look like. Then, they discuss the politician on our playlist, Rep Delia Ramirez and what's happening on the streets of Chicago, Tariffs and the chock hold they're putting our farmers in, and the surprise Democratic ally in Marjorie Taylor Greene !
On this Happy Hour, Michael and Anna sit down with Congressional Candidate Patrick Roath, challenging incumbent Democrat Stephen Lynch for Massachusetts 8th Congressional district seat! The conversation is wide ranging, from his impressive campaign finance haul so far, to the issues he wants to solve in his home district of Boston. But first, the gang vent over this F$&! wrecking ball hitting the East Wing of the White House.
On this Happy Hour, Michael and Anna sit down with Congressional Candidate Patrick Roath, challenging incumbent Democrat Stephen Lynch for Massachusetts 8th Congressional district seat! The conversation is wide ranging, from his impressive campaign finance haul so far, to the issues he wants to solve in his home district of Boston. But first, the gang vent over this F$&! wrecking ball hitting the East Wing of the White House.
This is the one you've been waiting for Playlisters! Michael and Anna sit down with Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York, to discuss how he so effectively governs in one of the purplest districts in the Country. They discuss immigration, the shutdown, how to apply pragmatic bipartisanship to getting sensible policy passed.
Back in the USA! Anna rejoins her gang for this action-packed, newsy Happy Hour where the Playlisters share their thoughts on Pete Hegseth's Pentagon TED talk, the latest in the government shutdown, highlighting Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, who's on our playlist this week. And later in the show, they discuss how to talk about Fascism, the buzzy world that has rankled some Republicans as of late. And lastly we dig deep to find the win of the week, which is unequivocally Spencer Cox, the Governor of Utah.
What up, Playlisters...Anna's still away so we're still bro-ing down in the studio, and Michael and Anthony have a real doozy of an ep for ya! We discuss the apparent nefarious telecomm attack that seems to have been foiled by the Secret Service surrounding the UN General Assembly as well as Trump's pivot on Ukraine there and how folks like Rep. Mike Lawler are very happy about this. We then discuss the looming shutdown and what this all means, particularly for Jared Golden, who's on our playlist this week. Finally, we breakdown how to talk about the latest Tiktok acquisition and what this means for us and U.S. And finally, we celebrate Kimmel's return. Spoiler, his monologue was outstanding and met the moment!
In this episode the Happy Hour, Michael and Anthony discuss the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the implications for political discourse, and the reactions from various leaders. They explore the complexities of free speech, the role of media in shaping narratives, and highlight the promising political figure of Andy Kim. The conversation also delves into the breaking news about ABC preemptively pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air in response to threats by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Whoa. Yeah, it's a doozy.
In this episode, Michael, Anna and Anthony the recent Supreme Court ruling affecting ICE practices, the impact of tariffs on American companies like John Deere, and the political landscape surrounding Ashley Hinson's newly announced Senate campaign. They also analyze recent job numbers and the overall economic outlook, concluding with a discussion on notable political figures and their potential impact on upcoming elections.
On this Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the recent bogus climate report from the Trump Administration which fits into a broader scheme to completely control and manipulate all government data, to the detriment of...YOU. The gang cites the CDC's leadership debacle, the attempted takeover of the Fed, and other statistical interference as evidence for things becoming less trustworthy. Then the discussion segues to Josh Riley, the politician from upstate NY who's on our playlist this week with a new bipartisan bill with Mike Lawler. And the big topic to unpack how to talk about is none other than AI.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Lighthearted Banter
02:10 Data Manipulation in Climate Reporting
09:17 The Impact of Climate Denial on Public Perception
12:22 Reframing Climate Change Narratives
16:14 CDC and Public Health Concerns
21:31 Bipartisan Efforts in Congress
26:48 Streamlining Food Assistance Programs
28:08 Navigating Senior Care Challenges
32:26 The Impact of AI on Employment
44:59 Legislative Responses to AI and Ethics in Congress
Get your Outfit Of The Day ready Playlisters, because today's guest has found the Journalism hack of the year to getting exclusive access to our Nation's leaders. That's right! Capitol Hill reporter Lauren Green of the Washington Examiner stops by the happy hour to talk how this unique social media trend has created a whole new way to talk politics. They also discuss what it means to be fashion forward in congress today, what's going on in DC with the troops, and how this young Texan found her way to the Hill.
On this Happy Hour, Michael and Anna discuss the latest news surrounding Ukraine and Russia, and the implications of a possible peace deal and cease fire, and whether or not Putin can be trusted...spoiler, he can't. Then they welcome Congresswoman Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas to discuss the effects of the Big Beautiful Bill on rural America and specifically the Agriculture sector, a main industry in her district. They delve into the complexities of immigration policies, the importance of nutrition assistance, and the need for collaboration across party lines. Davids shares her insights on the struggles of rural hospitals and the chaos caused by tariff policies, emphasizing the importance of treating people humanely and the need for fair representation in Congress.
On this Happy Hour, Michael and Anthony discuss the latest crime in DC with Trumps takeover of the police. Then they discuss Who's On Their Playlist this week which is Greg Casar of Texas, a progressive Democrat fighting the ongoing gerrymandering. And later in the episode, they discuss Jake Auchincloss clapping back at Trump's upcoming meeting with Putin and specifically How To Talk About the implications of this, and finally they parse out whether the Harvard deal or no deal is a Win Of The Week?
00:00 The State of Crime in DC
14:05 Introducing Greg Kassar and Texas Redistricting
23:02 The Role of Technology in Politics
24:14 The Ukraine Conflict: Casualties and Consequences
26:22 Understanding Ukraine's Fight for Survival
28:43 Military Aid: Misconceptions and Realities
29:45 Potential Outcomes of the Trump-Putin Meeting
32:09 Negotiation Dynamics: Trump and Putin's Meeting
36:55 Harvard's Settlement: Implications and Controversies
42:06 Education and Vocational Training: A Societal Shift
45:36 Hope vs. Fear: The American Narrative
46:21 NEWCHAPTER
While drama in the form of walk-outs, arrest warrants and... cheating (?) plays out in Texas, Anthony, Michael and Anna dig into the new GOP gerrymandering efforts. Then, we have a thoughtful conversation about the situation in Gaza and where we think we, as Americans, go from here. And listen til the end if you're one of the almost 80% of Americans who thinks that members of Congress shouldn't be trading stocks because we have some good news for you!
TikTok: @politicalplaylist
Website: politicalplaylist.com
course we get into the news du jour including the new trade agreement with the EU, Maryland lawmakers getting denied access to an ICE detention center, troubling information out of the State Department related to human trafficking and why we may have reached an inflection point for the starvation crisis in Gaza. And ALSO some chatter about Trump’s golf skills. Anna and Michael take it away…
TikTok: @politicalplaylist
Website: politicalplaylist.com
On this episode, Michael’s on hiatus so Anthony and Anna are left to discuss the pressing issues of the day. From Trump’s re-targeting of Obama, to some great immigration legislation from Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), to the Epstein files (of course), to a new caucus in Congress that might just help you in an emergency… we’ve got it all! Plus a new fun concluding section where one of us gets to rant for a minute because who doesn’t love to rant in these trying times?
On this Happy Hour, Michael and Anna sit down with Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the only representative for the State of Delaware, to discuss the implications and repercussions facing Medicaid recipients caused by the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Before that, the Pol Pla gang discuss the Epstein Files controversy, and a recent supreme court decision that essentially clears the path for the Trump Administration to continue its wrecking ball to Government Departments like Education and State.
As the devastating tragedy continues to unfold in Texas, the gang try to make sense of this gut wrenching situation without getting too far in the political weeds. But one thing is clear...something needs to change. Michael, Anna and Anthony then discuss Congresswoman Sarah McBride, of Delaware, whom they'll be having on the show next week, they discuss the Big Beautiful Bill and how this might effect the midterms and lastly they discuss Elon's new proposed party. Will it work?