
American Fever Dream
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
Latest episodes

Dec 1, 2022 • 40min
#803 It’s So Seditious (Put Those Boys In Jail, Jail)
Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Zola RayTopics:
New York City is hiring a “rat czar” – are we the right fit for the gig?
Some color from the significant Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy verdict this week, including estranged ex-wives speaking out and one insurrectionist’s laughable defense
Debriefing on this week’s Senate vote to protect same-sex marriages
A French man was fired for not being “fun” and spent seven years suing his old workplace – and won. Was the outcome fair? And do employees pay for being antisocial at work?
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Nov 30, 2022 • 22min
#802 What’s Chelsea Clinton’s News Diet?
Chelsea Clinton joins to discuss this moment of incredible energy around women’s political participation all across the world. First though: we ask what drove her to run two NYC marathons in a row. She also shares her news diet and the podcasts she starts the day with. Then, she discusses how this midterm election cycle reframes women’s role not only in protecting their own rights but protecting democracy. Finally, Chelsea shares details of she and Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Women’s Voices Summit this week in Little Rock, featuring national and global leaders to discuss topics including the maternal health crisis, reproductive rights, and Iranian’s women-led revolution.Follow along with the Women’s Voices Summit on social media this Friday December 2 by following @clintonfoundation on Instagram and @clintonfdn on Twitter.Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 29, 2022 • 37min
#801 Big Gretch Energy ft. Gov Gretchen Whitmer
Hosts: Amanda, Milly, AliseTopics:An interview with Governor Gretchen Whitmer about an iconic Michigan election cycle and how reproductive rights motivated voters to historic outcome. What objectives will the governor pursue with such a strong mandate?
Later: The most disturbing features of Elon Musk’s nightstand
Apples’ threat to pull ads from Twitter
Clarifying what freedom of speech actually means
Explaining the railroad strike and what it will take for workers to finally get ANY paid sick leave
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Nov 28, 2022 • 38min
#800 Explaining Balenciaga’s Disturbing Ad Campaign
Hosts: Amanda Duberman & Sami SageTopics:
Thanksgiving debrief: How we successfully avoided talking about politics
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago dinner with Ye and proud white nationalist and antisemite Nick Fuentes. What does it say about the normalization of antisemitism if we are no longer shocked by outrageously dangerous headlines?
Balenciaga’s disturbing pair of ads with similarly problematic features. What happened here?
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Nov 24, 2022 • 33min
#799 Groupchat Advice Column
Hosts: Amanda, Milly, AliseTopics:Listeners seek advice on a chaotic range of quandaries, from reeling after video sex with their boss to getting a promotion from a bad manager. Plus, when is the age gap just *too big*? The hosts also help a listener navigate the holidays with people whose views make them genuinely uncomfortable.Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 23, 2022 • 36min
#798 I Actually Don’t Believe That At All
Hosts: Sami, Amanda, AliseTopics:
The hosts get political about a range of timely scenarios, from the optimal time to leave the airport to the role of cranberry sauce on the Thanksgiving table
A menu of responses for shutting down conservative family members
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Nov 22, 2022 • 35min
#797 Buying Weed At The Pet Store?
Hosts: Amanda, Milly, AliseTopics:
This state has almost a billion dollars of weed that’s about to go bad
The week in terrible Twitter headlines, and addressing Dave Chappelle’s SNL monologue
People are asking questions about this 2022 midterm candidates’ race
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Nov 21, 2022 • 32min
#796 Whose Job Is It To Stop Mass Shootings?
Hosts: Amanda, Alise, SamiTopics:
The proliferation of guns and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric lead to a mass shooting in Colorado Springs
How did a young white man threaten his neighborhood with weapons, with no arrests made or red flag laws triggered?
The World Cup looks like an unfun, bigoted mess
President Biden’s granddaughter got married at the White House
Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 2022 • 26min
#795 How Gen Z Blocked The Red Wave
Hosts: Amanda, BridgetTopics:
What the end of midterms season means to us personally
Is it Nancy Pelosi’s time to step down from leadership?
How Gen Z helped avert a Red Wave – but why some still voted for Republicans
What got us through the week
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Nov 16, 2022 • 30min
#794 Trump's Back
Hosts: Amanda, Sami, KaitlinTopics:
How the Taylor Swift concert ticket meltdown proves monopolies are ruining society
It happened – Trump announced a presidential run. Initial reactions, fears, and predictions. Will Ron DeSantis be enough to keep Trump from a general election?
Republicans are a seat away from flipping the House. Here’s what that means for the rest of us.
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