Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

Abby Phillip, CNN anchor and author, offers sharp political analysis and reflections on Jesse Jackson’s legacy. Lauren Groh-Wargo, Fair Fight CEO and voting-rights organizer, breaks down on-the-ground strategies to defend Black and multiracial power. They discuss the Supreme Court ruling’s impact, protecting local democracy, mobilizing voters, and lessons from movement-building.

Jane Fonda, actor and lifelong activist, talks about reviving the Committee for the First Amendment and mobilizing the entertainment industry. Short, punchy conversations cover defending free speech, why media mergers threaten independent voices, tactics for effective activism, and the importance of local elections and collective action.

Yassamin Ansari, a freshman Arizona congresswoman and the first Iranian-American in the House, shares her family’s immigration roots and why she opposes a war with Iran. She describes shocking conditions inside ICE detention centers and urges disruptive, creative pressure to force accountability. She also discusses framing war as an economic burden and pushing urgent oversight and practical policy responses.

Astead Herndon, Vox editorial director and host of America, Actually, is a former New York Times politics reporter turned explainer. He discusses thinking beyond a Trump-centered narrative. He highlights demographic and faith-based realignments, media failures in explaining change, the role of technology and isolation in civic life, and the rise of non-establishment political actors.

This week Stacey opens the show with a response to Viktor Orban’s stunning loss in the Hungarian elections, and what we can learn from the defeat of an authoritarian in Europe. Then she speaks to Reshma Saujani, founder of Moms First, about childcare (or lack thereof) in the United States. Stacey and Reshma break down why affordability and childcare are intricately linked, the long term impacts on opportunities for women, and react to President Trump saying that the federal government “can’t do daycare” because they need to fund wars. Learn & Do More:  Be Curious: To dive deeper into the systemic issues that are helping fuel the affordability crisis - and what we should be demanding from our leaders, check out Reshma’s 2022 book, Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think).  Solve Problems: Visit Moms First at momsfirst.us to learn more about their work and get involved. If you are an expectant parent and not sure what your options are for paid leave, check out the Moms First paidleave.ai chatbot for helpful guidance. As the federal government remains stagnant on this issue,, you can also urge your state lawmakers to follow the lead of states like New Mexico and support paid leave and childcare access.  Do Good: Visit ReadThemHome.org and record yourself reading a children’s book to the kids being held in family detention centers. We’ve already exceeded more than 4M impressions, but we need your help to keep this 30 day activation going. You'll be joining voices like Glennon Doyle, Michael Reitz, and Miss Rachel as we remind Americans that children are ours to take care of, not incarcerate. So, please, take 5 minutes today to read a children’s story into your camera and post your video with the hashtag #readthemhome. 

While the war with Iran rages on, President Trump has asked Congress for a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget, offset in part by further draconian cuts to environmental programs. This week, Stacey is joined by marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, to talk about what climate scientists and activists can still do in the face of an administration that pretends the climate crisis doesn’t exist. They talk about the environmental impacts of military conflict, how race plays into climate politics, and how  local action is a powerful frontier when fighting the crisis. With Earth Day and the paperback release of Johnson’s book, “What If We Get It Right?” coming up, they also focus on reframing the conversation around what is possible if we continue to fight for change.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Learn & Do More:  Be Curious: Pick up a copy of Dr. Johnson’s smart, action-oriented book “What If We Get It Right: Visions of Climate Futures”  Solve Problems: Join a local group like Sunrise Movement (for youth), Third Act (for seniors), and  Citizens Climate Lobby, 350.org, Surfrider, and the Sierra Club for everyone. And finally, visit the Environmental Voter Project at environmentalvoter.org to donate and get involved. Together, you can let your state and local electeds know it is time for city governments to take the lead when it comes to protecting our climate and environment, and demand that candidates for local office commit to supporting pro-environmental policies. The fossil fuel industry is often inadvertently financed by us through our investment portfolios. Make sure to take a closer look at where your money is and divest from fossil fuels.  Do Good: The 10 Steps Campaign in partnership with the National Domestic Workers Association, The National Educators Association, The American Federation of Teachers, SEIU, and others have launched the Read Them Home Initiative – a 12 hour vigil and month-long activation to call attention to the scourge of family detention centers. We are encouraging participants to pick your favorite children’s story, record yourself reading and post it to social media - every child deserves a story of hope.Visit readthemhome.org to learn more. 

Roxane Gay, writer and professor known for sharp cultural critique, joins to discuss nonviolence, feminism, and resisting authoritarianism. Conversations cover how racism and misogyny target Black women, the line between civility and effective protest, student activism today, accountability gaps in sexual violence, and actionable local engagement tips.

While the Trump administration’s war of choice with Iran continues to spread violence, confusion, and shocks for global markets, ICE’s relentless campaign is extending to immigrants who were previously considered safe, like DACA recipients. This week, Stacey talks about all of the above with author, MS Now host, and host of the “Why Is This Happening” podcast, Chris Hayes. They also delve into the attention economy and how Trump capitalizes on it, the importance of local races, and ask if Democrats are truly ready to bring fresh ideas to elections.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Learn & Do More:  Be Curious: Check out Chris Hayes’ excellent show All In With Chris Hayes on MS Now, and his thought-provoking podcast, Why Is This Happening. And pick up a copy of his most recent book, The Siren’s Call. Solve Problems: Consider donating and subscribing to Democracy Docket and to the Brennan Center to support their excellent coverage of the fight for voting rights as Trump and his Republican allies make it more difficult to vote ahead of the midterm elections.  Do Good: Join the upcoming No Kings March on Saturday, March 28th with events in all 50 states. Visit NoKings.org to find an event near you. 

More than a week into the war with Iran, the fallout continues.. The Trump administration’s strikes  have caused the deaths of  more than a thousand civilians, thrown the Middle East into chaos, and led to  oil and gas prices  spiking globally. This week, Stacey speaks to Mehdi Hasan, founder and Editor-in-chief of Zeteo, about the motivations behind the war, the importance of independent media in covering the conflict, and what history can teach us about foreign policy consequences that play out over decades.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Learn & Do More:  Be Curious: To hear more from Mehdi Hasan and support independent media, subscribe to Zeteo. Solve Problems: Call your member of Congress and urge them to oppose funding this war. Do Good: Contribute to organizations helping those impacted by war. Donate to World Central Kitchen at wck.org, which is serving communities in Lebanon as the conflict escalates. The Palestinian relief fund at pcrf-rescue.org is providing emergency medical care and other essential aid to children.

Hunter Harris, writer and podcaster known for Hung Up and Lemme Say This, joins to dissect film, TV, and media power. They talk about the Oscars as political signals. They explore Hollywood consolidation, creative ownership, and which movies and performances carry lasting cultural weight. Conversation also connects entertainment trends to broader political shifts.