Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

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. 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.

Clarissa Martinez de Castro, VP of UnidosUS’s Latino Vote Initiative who builds Hispanic electoral data, and Chuck Rocha, founder of Solidarity Strategies and Latino engagement strategist. They unpack Latino diversity and shifting priorities. They examine immigration enforcement’s political fallout. They discuss targeted outreach, building local operatives, and translating economic and civic concerns into winning strategies.

America is in an affordability crisis. Basic needs like groceries, rent, childcare, and healthcare keep getting more expensive, while wages struggle to keep up. Seventy-four percent of Americans say the economy is in poor shape, and for many Millennials and Gen Zers, the idea of owning a home is becoming laughable. Yet Donald Trump and his MAGA allies insist the economy has never been better. This week, Stacey sits down with U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal and New York Times Business Reporter Talmon Smith to break down the growing disconnect between what Americans are feeling in their wallets and what the White House is selling from the podium. They dig into the real state of the economy, the latest jobs numbers, and whether Democrats have found a message on affordability that actually meets the moment.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: If you enjoyed my conversation with Talmon Smith, check out his work at The New York Times and keep an eye out for his upcoming book, Clout and Capital, published by Simon & Schuster, when it’s released later this year. Solve Problems: Seventy percent of Americans say raising children is too expensive. Many Democrats in Congress have joined forces in support of the Child Care for Every Community Act, which would lower childcare costs. Call your members of Congress and urge them to support this legislation. Call your governor and state representatives to ask them to back state legislation that would secure universal childcare in your state, like they have done in New Mexico. Do Good: This year marks the 50th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit with roots in Georgia that builds safe, affordable housing around the world. Consider volunteering or donating to help families in your community who lack affordable housing. And it’s the most wonderful time of year—Girl Scout cookie season. Girl Scouts of Greater New York Troop 6000 is a first-of-its-kind program serving families in temporary housing in the New York City shelter system, helping them transition to permanent housing. Visit https://www.girlscoutsnyc.org/troop6000 to purchase cookies from their digital store.

The media landscape in the US continues to undergo drastic transformations, with billionaire ownership and corporate consolidation leading to mass layoffs and content censorship. This week, Stacey is joined by Joy Reid, host of the Joy Reid Show and the first black woman to host a primetime program on cable news. They talk about the layoffs at the Washington Post, why she transitioned into independent media, what is lost when Black journalists are no longer at the table, and what people can do to inform themselves in an era where billionaires with agendas control the news.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:  If you enjoyed my conversation with Joy Reid, check out her podcast, “The Joy Reid Show” and her Substack, “Joy’s House.”  Solve Problems: Quality, well-funded journalism is essential to holding power to account, and local journalism is particularly essential. Subscribe to your local paper today. Also, please consider contributing to the Invest in Black Media campaign, which is highlighting the National Association of Black Journalists this month. Go to NABJ.org > click the donate button > and select the “Jubilee Endowment-Black History Month Match” to contribute. Onyx Impact is matching up to $100,000 for the fund. Do Good: As RFK Jr continues to dismantle our healthcare system and sow doubt and fear about the safety of vaccines, it is incumbent upon all of us to fight back, especially with measles cases on the rise.. Be watchful of friends and loved ones who are slipping into vaccine hesitancy, and push back on misinformation and disinformation you see on your social platforms. Visit vaccineinformation.org to get accurate , shareable information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

Jon Favreau, political commentator and co-founder of Crooked Media, joins to dissect federal raids on election materials and the risks to voting records. They explore ICE raids in Minnesota, how immigration policy is being used politically, and what strategic reforms and messaging Democrats might pursue. Short, urgent conversations about data, power, and political strategy.

The unjust murder of Alex Pretti is the latest ICE killing in the city of Minneapolis, and he joins a growing body count for DHS. Protestors continue to flood the streets across Minnesota as the Trump administration and Republicans mislead the public as they continue to perpetuate state violence. This week, Stacey is joined by Hysteria’s Erin Ryan to discuss the aftermath of Pretti’s death, the escalation of federal actions in Minnesota, the connection to other assaults on Americans and what Democrats need to do in response. Then, Stacey and Erin turn to the March for Life rally that took place last weekend and examine how the Trump administration’s handling of abortion policy is putting it at odds with members of its own anti-abortion base.Learn & Do More: Be Curious: If you enjoyed my conversation with Erin Ryan, go check out Hysteria and her YouTube series This Fucking Guy.  Solve Problems: Call your senator and demand that they block increased funding to the Department of Homeland Security. Many of our immigrant friends and neighbors are being forced to stay indoors right now—volunteer to pick up groceries or other supplies so they can remain in place as the siege continues.  Do Good: The winter storm moving across the country is impacting communities that aren’t equipped to manage freezing weather. Rebuild.us is an organization led by disaster response professionals and dedicated to building a disaster relief system that’s responsive to our climate reality. Visit rebuild.us to donate and sign up to take action.