Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

Late June marks the end of the Supreme Court term—a moment when some of the most consequential decisions in American life are handed down. At stake are rulings that could reshape democracy and redefine or limit civil rights. Still pending: major cases on the future of birthright citizenship, transgender rights, the Affordable Care Act’s coverage of preventive care services, and more. This week, Stacey sits down with Leah Litman, University of Michigan law professor, co-host of Strict Scrutiny, and New York Times bestselling author of Lawless, to break down SCOTUS’ latest decisions and preview what to expect in these last days — what they mean and why they matter. Then, Stacey is joined by journalist and TransLash Media founder, Imara Jones, for a deep dive into one ruling’s direct impact on the transgender community, how it causes harm, why it’s a proof of concept for the right, and how we fight back. Stacey also weighs in on a tragedy close to home in Georgia, three years after the Supreme Court stripped millions of women of their civil rights in the Dobbs decision. Adriana Smith was a nurse and young mother who suddenly fell very ill. After she went untreated for brain clots, she was declared brain dead. But she was also pregnant, and due to Georgia’s inhumane abortion laws, her family was forced to keep her on life support to incubate her pregnancy.  Last week, Adriana was finally taken off life support after her forced birth was delivered via C-section. As states continue to eviscerate abortion rights and put lives at risk, inaction is unacceptable. This week’s tool kit is about how to fight on.Learn & Do More:Be Curious: We must renew our attention to the ever-present issue of abortion rights. There are many excellent resources for keeping up on abortion-related news. Jessica Valenti’s substack, Abortion, Every Day, rigorously covers attacks on reproductive rights across the country. The Center for Reproductive Rights has a useful guide outlining abortion laws by state so that you can better understand your rights. Solve Problems: According to the Mayo Clinic, half of all U.S. states have laws on the books that invalidate a pregnant woman's wishes about her medical care if she becomes incapacitated, and a majority of states don't disclose these restrictions in advance directive forms. Your state legislators are the first line of defense against laws like these, and any laws that threaten abortion access. Call them and ask them to take action. Do Good: Donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds and Planned Parenthood. Abortion funds directly finance abortion care for those in need, and Planned Parenthood has remained a lifeline for people seeking the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare access. You can also research local opportunities to support doulas who provide physical, emotional, and logistical support to women during the abortion process. Depending on where you live, training opportunities may also be available.Outside of the scope of abortion care, we must also support members of the trans community, especially in light of recent attacks. As discussed with Imara, the Trump administration shut down its LGBTQ suicide prevention hotline. Please visit The Trevor Project, an organization that focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQ young people, to donate and find out more about how you can get involved. And make sure to research opportunities to get involved with local LGBTQ organizations. You can also check out the Transgender Family Handbook by New York Magazine’s The Cut, an excellent resource for parents and others who want to support young trans loved ones. 

Last week, ICE stormed through Los Angeles, raiding Home Depots, warehouses, and schools in a cruel, targeted crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Those raids sparked a wave of protests as thousands of Angelenos marched through downtown, denouncing the Trump administration’s unjust actions. What began as largely peaceful demonstrations escalated after Trump defied both the California governor and LA mayor by deploying the National Guard and the Marines to the city. It was a deliberate show of force and a warning to other blue states: this is what happens when you resist. But LA didn’t back down. Over the weekend, Angelenos joined millions of other demonstrators in every state for the No King’s protests, while Trump held an underwhelming military parade on the streets of Washington DC. It’s a stark contrast in a  moment when we must continue to stand up to the onslaught anti-Democratic power grabs and strongman tactics. This week, Stacey sits down with MSNBC's senior Washington correspondent and co-host of MSNBC's the Weekend, Eugene Daniels and Immigrant Defenders Law Center (IMMDEF) attorney Yliana Johansen-Méndez to help us unpack what's happening right now and prepare for what's coming next.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 better understand the current national debate around immigration, our June Assembly Required reading recommendation is “The End of Asylum” by Philip G. Schrag, Andrew I. Schoenholtz, and Jaya Ramji-Nogales. These leading immigration law experts trace the evolution of the U.S. asylum system and expose how the Trump administration dismantled America’s long-standing role as a refuge for the persecuted. And as Eugene mentioned, watch your local news, subscribe to your local paper, and stay plugged into what's happening in your own community. To learn more about how you can support local journalism, visit the American Journalism Project at www.theajp.org.Solve Problems: As the rule of law continues to erode, it’s more important than ever to support those on the front lines—legal aid organizations, researchers, and advocates serving immigrant communities. Find out how you can get involved and make a difference in your own area. If you're in Southern California, connect with our guest Yliana’s organization, the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, at www.immdef.org.Do Good: Protest works—but not everyone can take to the streets. Start where you are and use what you have. If you're on social media, amplify the voices and stories of those directly impacted by the Trump administration’s campaign of fear. If you’re able to volunteer, find a local organization supporting immigrants and get involved. If you would like to contribute directly to a detained immigrants bond fund, you can visit Clue Justice at https://www.cluejustice.org/support-the-detained-immigrant-bond-fund/ Every action counts.

Winning elections starts now, and that’s only the beginning. The way we get our news has always evolved, and today we face a fractured media landscape that makes it harder to reach people consistently. The American right has often been at the forefront of navigating these waters by  finding compelling messengers and putting them on new platforms that reach  voters, from the rise of talk radio in the 80s to Fox News, TikTok and YouTube today. That innovation has too often led to domination of these information ecosystems, and we can see the impact in the results of the 2024 election, especially with young voters. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is lagging behind, struggling to connect authentically with the growing number of people who get their information on social platforms.  Instead of copying the right’s strategies, it's time to listen to the people who actually know how to use these platforms. Stacey sits down with two standout voices shaping the future of political content online: journalist and political commentator Aaron Parnas, and Gen Z historian Kahlil Greene. They break down how they stay ahead of the curve, what makes social media truly effective for change, and why understanding people—not just platforms—is the key to being heard. 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: Getting your news from social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter isn’t wrong—in fact, it can be a fast and convenient way to stay informed throughout your busy day. The key is to follow credible creators you trust, like Aaron and Kahlil, and always take a moment to fact-check what you’re seeing. Stay curious, but stay smart.Solve Problems: Skip the doomscrolling. What starts as “just a few minutes” on TikTok can quickly spiral into hours lost in an endless feed of chaotic news. Break the cycle by sandwiching your screen time with something grounding—take a walk, read a few pages of a book, or unwind with a new show or movie. Give your mind a reset.Do Good: Support your favorite content creators beyond the scroll. Many political commentators have blogs, websites, or Substack pages where they dive deeper into the stories they summarize in under a minute. Following them on these platforms helps you get the full picture—and helps them keep doing what they do best. Follow Stacey’s new Substack, Assembly Notes where she dives into some topics we cover on the show and topics that come up in between episodes.Recommendations:Stacey Abrams recommends the podcast “Landslide” from WFAE and NPR.Kahlil Greene recommends “The Cruel Kids Table”by Brock Colyar at New York Magazine.

The U.S. birth rate is falling, and the Trump administration has a solution: Make. More. Babies. But instead of expanding support for families—through childcare, reproductive healthcare access, or paid leave—they’re turning to policies touted by a set of right-wing members of a movement called pronatalism, which includes Christian nationalists and tech-industry eugenicists who see increasing the birth rate as an existential mission, for a select few. Today’s pronatalists include figures like Elon Musk – a father of at least 14 children himself – who only want to encourage white, conservative Americans to have larger families; an idea that has terrifying implications for their vision of America. Stacey sits down with Dr. Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center and professor of sociology at UNC Chapel Hill, and senior writer from New York Magazine Sarah Jones, to unpack the history of pronatalism, how the Trump administration is quietly aligning with it with a hollow policy agenda, and the kinds of proposals that can actually support American families.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: The draconian Republican so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” better named the “Terrible Tyrannical Bill,” just passed the House and is headed to the Senate. It would add $3 trillion to the national debt while handing $1.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy—paid for by slashing food, job, and healthcare access for millions of working- and middle-class Americans. Most alarmingly, it targets Medicaid, requiring recipients to work 80 hours a month to keep coverage, a move the nonpartisan CBO warns could push 10.3 million people off the program by 2034. So, this week, we’re urging you to take action.Call your members of  Congress, state legislators, city council members, and county commissioners. All of these local elected officials have more power than you can imagine, and they are all going to be impacted by the decisions made at the federal level. Head to commoncause.org  to find your federal, state and local representatives and let them know exactly how you feel about the bill and its attack on Medicaid.You can also support organizations that are in the crosshairs of these proposed cuts and provide vital healthcare to millions of Americans. Planned Parenthood is one of them. Go to planned parenthood.org/getinvolved to donate and take a stand.As SNAP benefits are cut, more families and their children are going to struggle to access food. Consider getting involved with your local food bank or a mutual aid organization that provides food assistance.

David A. Graham, Atlantic staff writer and author of "The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America," dives deep into the controversial Project 2025. He discusses its rapid implementation and alarming goals, including attacks on bodily autonomy and civil rights. The conversation highlights the ideological shift towards a Christian nationalist agenda and its potential impact on democracy. Graham emphasizes the importance of community engagement in resisting these changes and advocating for essential services, making this a critical listen for anyone concerned about America's future.

In this engaging discussion, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who leads the Resistance Lab to educate activists, and Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, share their insights on effective protest and grassroots movements. They explore the power of civic engagement in fighting tyranny and highlight strategies for empowering young leaders to run for office. Their practical advice, rooted in historical civil rights precedents, inspires listeners to take action and build resistance communities.

Rachel Maddow, host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and bestselling author, dives into America's ongoing battle against fascism. She discusses how historical lessons can empower today's civic engagement, highlighting past heroes who resisted authoritarianism. Maddow critiques the Republican Party’s drift towards power consolidation and emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism. Listeners gain insights into transforming curiosity into community action, advocating for democracy, and combating anti-democratic threats.

Ben Rhodes, former Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama and co-host of Pod Save the World, discusses the rapid dismantling of America's role in global leadership under Trump and the GOP. He explores the implications of pulling out of the WHO, weakening NATO, and cutting foreign aid. Rhodes emphasizes the need for civic engagement and problem-solving to reverse these trends. Listeners gain insight into the challenges of isolationism and the importance of maintaining strong international alliances while reimagining U.S. foreign policy for a collaborative future.

One of the Republican Party’s most dangerous campaigns is their continued assault on academic freedom. Under the pretense of fighting antisemitism and dismantling “discriminatory” DEI policies, universities across the country are under threat of losing critical funding, and students are being targeted by immigration authorities. From Trump to state governors, attacks are coming from every level of government. In this episode, Stacey is joined by Wesleyan University President Michael Roth and Barnard College Professor Nara Milanich to discuss how our institutions of higher education are pivotal to shaping an informed, innovative, and engaged society, what’s at stake, and what academics and their allies can do to push back. Then, she hears from student journalist and Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Michigan Daily, Zhane Yamin, on how students are weathering this storm. 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: Read student newspapers in your community or from your alma mater to stay connected to what is happening on the ground.SOLVE PROBLEMS: If you are part of a college’s community, whether you’re a student, faculty member, staff, or a nearby resident, coming together to raise your voice about your concerns can make a world of difference.DO GOOD: Student journalists need your support weathering these tumultuous times, and hearing from their readers helps tremendously. If you are enjoying their reporting, reach out and let them know!

In this discussion, economist Dean Baker breaks down how Trump's unpredictable tariffs disrupt the economy and contribute to fears of a recession. Entrepreneur Beth Benike shares her journey as a mompreneur and how tariffs affect her innovative baby products. Richard Oswald gives insight into the struggles farmers face due to economic uncertainty. Together, they highlight the real-world implications of trade policies on small businesses and agriculture, emphasizing resilience and adaptation in challenging times.