Hysteria

Erin and Alyssa break down the Big Beautiful Bill, how a new change to EMTALA will threaten the lives of pregnant people, and Trump supporters' complaints about getting what they voted for. Then a conversation about how some people would like to see “modesty” come back in style– for better or worse. Then they wrap up in the Sanity Corner with their initial thoughts on And Just Like That and Love Island USA.Listen to Inside 2025 now and get access to even more exclusive content, including Erin on Terminally Online this Saturday—just subscribe at crooked.com/friends.Trump rescinds guidance protecting women in need of emergency abortions (The Guardian 6/3)How Trump’s ‘one, big, beautiful’ tax bill could impact programs for women and children (The 19th News 5/22)A Missouri Town Was Solidly Behind Trump. Then Carol Was Detained. (NYT 5/28)2024 was the year of Mormon women (Washington Post 12/16)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. 

The Hysteria team is off this week. But we’re excited to bring you a recent episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams.In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, we’ve watched Republicans erode American democracy with alarming speed. While this political moment may feel unprecedented, it isn’t new. America has dealt its share of far-right movements, fascist provocateurs, and anti-democratic threats. But time and again, heroes have risen to meet those moments. In this episode, Stacey unpacks how we’ve fought fascism before – and won. She’s joined by the host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism.Subscribe to Assembly Required wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. 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: History can be an extremely useful tool to help us navigate the present. Pick up Rachel Maddow’s book Prequel — now available in paperback anywhere books are sold. Also pick up the Assembly Required Recommended Read: The Dictator’s Learning Curve by William Dobson.Solve problems: The best thing we can do right now is show up and use our voices. There are two key ways to do this. First: call your representatives! Democrat, Republican, Independent — it doesn’t matter. Tell them where you stand and why it matters. Second: get involved locally. Join a protest, volunteer to support a community that is particularly vulnerable right now, donate to a grassroots group in your area. Change starts with showing up, so let’s get to work.Do Good: Not only has Trump waged a war on books, he’s waged a war on independent businesses. So if you’re interested in reading any of the books I mentioned today, or want to pick up our weekly recommended reading, purchase them at a local bookstore. If there isn’t a local option near you, or you just prefer the convenience of online shopping, check out small businesses that operate online — like Octavia’s Bookshelf.

Erin and Alyssa discuss the latest on the fertility clinic bombing in Palm Springs, the horrific consequences of Georgia’s strict 6-week abortion ban, and the Liver King. Then The Atlantic’s Sophie Gilbert joins to chat about her new book Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, they talk about everything from the impact of Spice-Girls-feminism to the rise of the #girlboss. 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.Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie GilbertGeorgia mother says she is being forced to keep brain-dead pregnant daughter alive under abortion ban law (NBC News 5/15)25-year-old suspect in fertility clinic bombing left behind ‘anti-pro-life’ writings, officials say (AP 5/18)Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ as retailer expects prices to increase (CNN 5/17)Walmart Selling Solid Gold Bars Is the Recession Indicator We Didn’t See Coming (Rolling Stone 5/16)Judge overturns Michigan’s 24-hour waiting period before an abortion (CNN/AP 5/13)The Tech Guys Are Fighting. Literally. (NYT 5/16)The ‘Manosphere’? It’s Planet Earth. (NYT 2/1)The Liver King story chillingly shows how bad role models are manufactured (The Independent 5/13)

The new American pope is here, Trump is fast-tracking white South African refugees, the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial has begun, and Erin and Alyssa are here to break it down. They also do a deep dive into wellness influencer Casey Means, who might just be the next U.S. surgeon general. They wrap up with a conversation about Karoline Leavitt’s super mom status and Adidas’ new down syndrome accessible shoe program.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.“She Was Tearful About It”: The Nuances of Casey Means’s Medical Exit and Antiestablishment Origins (Vanity Fair 5/9)Casey Means: influencer, RFK Jr favorite – and Trump’s pick for surgeon general (The Guardian 5/11)How a post #MeToo law opened the floodgates for allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs (NPR 5/7)The trial of Sean Combs: What you need to know (NPR 5/12) Quakers march against Trump’s crackdown on immigrants, carrying on a long tradition (LA Times 5/11)Episcopal Church says it won’t help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status in US (AP News 5/12)Pope Leo XIV calls for Gaza ceasefire in first Sunday message (Al Jazeera 5/11)Pope calls for journalists to be released from prison (BBC 5/12)

Erin and Alyssa are together IN PERSON to discuss the latest news from the Texas bill that would mandate wastewater testing for mifepristone, to how Janet Mills’ resistance to funding cuts paid off, to a preview of the papal conclave. Then Parker Molloy, author of The Present Age newsletter, joins for a conversation about the problems with the mainstream media’s coverage of the Trump administration’s attacks on transgender youth. Finally, in Sani-Petty they discuss podcasts that are keeping them sane. 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.The Debt GalaAssigned MediaErin in the Morning 'We won': Maine Gov. Mills celebrates state's legal settlement with USDA over funding freeze (WMTW 5/2)NIH cancels participation in Safe to Sleep campaign that decreased infant deaths (Stat  4/30)Former Vice President Pence defends Constitution after getting Profile in Courage Award (AP 5/5)Bizarre Texas Bill Wants to Test the Water for Birth Control, Abortion Pills (Jezebel 4/23)Major News Outlets Can't Bring Themselves to Call Conversion Therapy What It Is (The Present Age 5/5)Who are the main contenders to be the next pope? (Al Jazeera 5/5)Vatican to deactivate mobile phone signal ahead of secret meeting to elect new pope (CNN 5/6)

Erin and Alyssa unpack how the suspension of the de minimis exemption will affect our shopping habits, Trump’s exploitation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and conservative women’s media desire to “make America hot again.” Then the Pitt’s Katherine LaNasa, aka Nurse Dana, joins to talk about the making of America’s favorite TV show and where she drew inspiration from for her kick ass character. They finish up with a very petty examination of Bill Belichick’s age-gap relationship.Trump is ending this tariff loophole for low-cost packages. Here’s what that could mean for consumers (PBS 4/24)Trump’s Tariffs Prompt Wave of Lawsuits as States and Businesses Fight Back (NYT 4/27)The Women Who Want to Make America Hot Again (Glamour 4/25)Now comes the ‘womanosphere’: the anti-feminist media telling women to be thin, fertile and Republican (Guardian 4/24) 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.

Reshma Saujani, a lawyer and activist, leads Moms First, advocating for affordable childcare and equal pay for moms. In this engaging discussion, she illuminates how recent policies under Trump adversely affect motherhood and children. They delve into alarming trends such as the potential demise of the Head Start program and RFK Jr.'s harmful autism comments. The conversation emphasizes the need for urgent reforms to support families, critiquing inadequate political responses to motherhood's challenges, and calling for long-lasting systemic changes.

RFK Jr. is gutting the CDC, Elon Musk has a breeding fetish, Speaker Mike Johnson does not want new mothers to vote in Congress, and Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are here to break it down. They also dive into how Trump’s tariffs are impacting the luxury goods economy and whether anyone wants to buy a Louis Vuitton bag made in Texas. They wrap up in the Sanity Corner with some petty commentary about Cheryl Hines and JD Vance.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.The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His ‘Legion’ of Babies—and Their Mothers (WSJ 4/15)Rep. Pettersen says it was 'difficult' decision to bring infant son to House floor to fight for proxy voting (ABC 4/2)CDC's cruise ship inspectors laid off amid bad year for outbreaks (CBS News 4/10)HHS taps anti-vaccine activist to look at debunked links between autism and vaccines, sources say (NBC NEWS 3/26)'A pretty stark moment for us,' Milwaukee health officials denied federal assistance in ongoing lead crisis (ABC Wisn 4/14)

Samantha Bee joins Alyssa Mastromonaco to discuss the latest on Trump’s tariffs, I.C.E. 's partnership with the I.R.S., and Laura Loomer in the Oval Office. They also have an honest conversation about their journey through menopause, which is a struggle for everybody, even Oprah. Then Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett joins for some real talk about D.O.G.E., the stock market, and Elon Musk.  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.Listen to Samantha Bee’s How To Survive Menopause special hereI.R.S. Agrees to Share Migrants’ Tax Information With ICE (NYT 4/8)Between tariffs and survival, American business owners are doing alarming math (NPR 4/7)Trump Family’s Cash Registers Ring as Financial Meltdown Plays Out (NYT 4/5)White House advisers have kept Laura Loomer at bay for months. Then, Trump invited her in (CNN 4/5)‘I screamed and the world listened’: how astronaut Amanda Nguyen survived rape to fight for other victims (The Guardian 3/5)

Samantha Bee, the sharp-witted comedian known for her political satire, joins forces with Kiran Deol, who brings hope and humor. They dive into hot topics like reproductive health funding and give a humorous take on political figures, including Kristi Noem's fashion choices. Kiran shares her uplifting comedy special, highlighting the healing power of laughter. The duo also reflects on the absurdity of current events and the power of small political victories, blending insightful commentary with their unique comedic styles.