Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

Knowledge is power — a familiar cliché, but one that’s never felt more urgent. Trump and his Republican lackeys have launched alarming efforts to distort facts, manipulate evidence, and dilute the truth in order to disempower us. Very little has been left untouched, and the harm to scientific inquiry, the study of history, and institutions that preserve historical memory will be hard to reverse. Understanding our history is how we know that despite the dark chapters, this country is resilient. Knowledge is the key to being able to take action to shape our futures. This systematic campaign to upend reality is straight out of an autocrat’s playbook. This week on Assembly Required, Stacey is joined by Adam Serwer, senior writer at The Atlantic and author of The Cruelty Is the Point, to unpack the Republican attack on knowledge, its real world impact, and explore what we can do to resist their attempts to replace truth with ideology.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 Adam’s book, The Cruelty Is the Point, and explore his powerful writing for The Atlantic for sharp, insightful commentary on how to make sense of our current reality.Solve Problems: If your local school district is taking steps to undermine education or restrict knowledge, speak up. Attend school board meetings whether or not you have kids in the system. Follow the example of parents in Florida who’ve organized supplemental Black history lessons at local cultural centers. Educators and creators are also using TikTok to share important history lessons, a reminder that learning can thrive anywhere.Do Good: ProPublica reported that the Trump administration destroyed 94 million pounds of food rather than allowing it to be delivered to food banks across the country. As the economy weakens and furloughed federal employees face financial strain, consider supporting your local food bank. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to find one near you and learn how you can help. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this engaging discussion, political journalist Jane Coaston and Maurice Mitchell, National Director of the Working Families Party, tackle the challenges posed by America's entrenched two-party system. Coaston shares insights from her libertarian past, while Mitchell underscores the importance of grassroots organizing. They explore the barriers third-party candidates face and the need for collective power to counter autocracy. Listeners will learn actionable steps to support alternative political movements and the significance of inclusive strategies in democracy.

Emma Goldberg, a journalist from The New York Times, and wellness content creator Kate Glavan dive deep into the Make America Healthy Again movement. They explore how wellness influencers have co-opted political rhetoric, blurring the lines between health and right-wing propaganda. The discussion highlights how algorithms exacerbate radicalization, especially among young women, and the growing impact of misinformation on public health. They advocate for accountability journalism and informed activism to combat these trends.

Stacey Abrams chats with Ari Berman, a national voting rights correspondent at Mother Jones and author of Project 2026. They delve into the alarming Ten Steps to Autocracy, revealing how current political maneuvers echo this framework for authoritarianism. Ari discusses the threats to voting rights posed by a conservative judiciary and the rollbacks affecting mail voting, particularly for vulnerable populations. The conversation highlights the urgent need for action as they explore strategies to protect election integrity and resist state-level suppression.

Stacey Abrams hosts Christina Rojas, a dedicated speech-language pathologist, Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, and Sheria Smith, an attorney and education advocate. They discuss the alarming impact of political actions on public education, highlighting funding cuts, increased class sizes, and the risks posed to special education. The guests emphasize the crucial link between a strong public education system and a healthy democracy, calling for community involvement to safeguard educational equity and support vulnerable students.

In this lively discussion, Gretchen Rubin, a happiness expert and host of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast, and Lori Gottlieb, a bestselling author and psychotherapist, delve into the role of romance in fiction and real life. Stacey Abrams shares how she weaves authentic connections into her suspense novels. The trio explores the intricacies of modern relationships, the impact of technology on dating, and highlights the importance of small, meaningful gestures. They celebrate the joy of love stories, emphasizing personal growth and emotional connections.

Jessica Valenti, a New York Times best-selling author and expert on the anti-abortion landscape, and Monica Simpson, Executive Director of Sister Song, delve into the fallout from Roe v. Wade’s reversal. They discuss personal stories and the urgent need for gender equality, highlighting how anti-abortion laws disproportionately affect marginalized women, particularly in the South. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of activism in defending reproductive rights as a fundamental aspect of social justice and bodily autonomy.

Ezra Klein, a New York Times columnist and host of The Ezra Klein Show, discusses the 'Abundance Agenda' he co-authored, which aims to reframe liberalism around a vision of plenty rather than scarcity. He argues that a hopeful, goal-oriented democracy is crucial to counter populist narratives. The conversation touches on the evolving nature of political ideologies and the need to uplift marginalized communities while advocating for systemic change. Klein emphasizes that Democrats must present aspirational narratives to effectively serve the people and reclaim the promise of democracy.

Join Bishop William Barber, an advocate for social justice, and Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, as they confront the dangerous rise of Christian nationalism and its implications for democracy. They emphasize the importance of compassion and inclusivity within Christianity, challenging extremist ideologies that distort its core teachings. Listeners will be inspired by discussions on moral fusion politics, the transformative power of community action, and the urgent call for justice in the face of societal oppression.

Joining Stacey Abrams is Oliver Darcy, a journalist and founder of the new media venture STATUS, dedicated to exploring the power dynamics within journalism. They dive into the alarming state of media independence amid escalating attacks, discussing Trump's strategies to undermine journalistic integrity through lawsuits, intimidation, and regulatory weaponization. The conversation highlights the risks of unchecked power, the implications of media consolidation, and the need for support of independent journalism in today’s polarized landscape.