America will soon have a president who laughs easily and a humorous vice president, leading what will be the most progressive and joyful administration in American history. Kamala Harris made a strong choice by selecting beloved football coach, former teacher, and Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. This move unites the Democrats’ Big Tent coalition, which has historically won them the White House. Walz's heartfelt and straightforward approach won him a U.S. House seat in a rural Republican district and re-election as governor of Minnesota, where he used a slim Democratic majority to achieve bold progressive victories: strengthening LGBTQ+ protections to make Minnesota a refuge for trans people; committing to decarbonization by 2040; protecting reproductive healthcare; significantly reducing child poverty; implementing automatic voter registration; strengthening gun safety laws; signing into law free school meals and free public college; banning forever chemicals known as PFAS; calling for a ceasefire and hostage deal early; and much more. 

Harris reportedly chose Walz to collaborate on advancing a progressive national agenda, and his humor is an added bonus. Walz won hearts across America by labeling MAGA as “weird,” because it is. His famous charm will destroy J.D. Vance, a fascist tool of dark lord Peter Thiel. Harris and Walz are roughly the same age, which means, if we hold on tight, we could have eight years of President Harris followed by eight years of President Walz, strengthening America's future as we build a sustainable economy for all, especially for the planet.

***

You think modern women have it tough now? Not too long ago, in 2007, Christopher Hitchens wrote an essay for Vanity Fair titled, “Why Women Aren’t Funny.” In it, he argued, “Whereas women, bless their tender hearts, would prefer that life be fair, and even sweet, rather than the sordid mess it actually is. Jokes about calamitous visits to the doctor or the shrink or the bathroom, or the venting of sexual frustration on furry domestic animals, are a male province.” In his view, women are precious baby-making machines, and that power forces them into being a solemn presence–a reserved audience for men, who have evolved with the purpose of making society laugh.  

Today, a woman vice president of the United States is the second most powerful person in the world. And the most that her enemies can come up with is that she laughs too much and has never given birth. The slim pickings of criticism of Kamala Harris by MAGA are as thin as Hitchens' arguments, and they all boil down to misogyny that will be relegated to history books. 

That era was defined by the reign of “the rape joke king” Tucker Max, bestselling author of the book I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, in case you’ve blocked him out of your memory. Coming of age during that time, a group of childhood girlfriends decided to create their own satire of this misogynistic hellscape, Betches Media. Joining us this week on Gaslit Nation to make sense of the war on women, past and present, and what to do about it is Sami Sage, co-founder of Betches Media and co-author, along with Emily Amick of the popular civic-action Instagram account Emily in Your Phone, Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and Our Lives. 

This conversation was recorded during one of the darkest weeks in American democracy: the Republican National Convention. As they say, it’s aways darkest before the dawn. Much has changed since then, but this conversation with Sami Sage remains as current as ever as we celebrate the opening words of the Gaslit Nation Action Guide: Democracy is a lifestyle. That’s the only way we ensure the first Black woman president, and secure our democracy in the critical years to come. 

Book Launch Reception for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones – Sept 16

• Monday September 16th 7pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America join us for a wine reception and live taping of Gaslit Nation with Terrell Starr for the launch of the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones! Get in free by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon! RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/

Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! — August 15 at 7pm ET

• Every third Thursday through election day and on election eve in November we’re calling voters in Republican-hostage states in the Midwest with Indivisible to ensure a Democratic Senate. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

Sister District x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Parties! – Every Wednesday in October! 

• Every Wednesday through October, we’re phone-banking with Sister District, calling voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/

Show Notes:

Casablanca clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOeFhSzoTuc

Why Women Aren’t Funny 

https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2007/01/hitchens200701

Betches Media

https://betches.com/