Start Me Up with Kimberley A. Johnson

Steph is back! Two chatty best friends talking about politics, ways to cope with life and stress and shows we're watching as democracy hangs in the balance. (We do cover rape, sexual assaults and how it's being discussed today versus ten years ago. We packed a lot in.) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Born into the Children of God cult and trafficked as a child, Daniella escaped to the U.S. at 15, put herself through school to become a U.S. Army intelligence officer who deployed twice to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division, and now studies Organizational Psychology at Harvard Extension School, researching group behavior, extremism, leadership demagoguery, and cults. Topics: What happens to the MAGA cult when donald is gone; how cult leaders manipulate individuals and how certain personality traits can make people susceptible to joining cults; MAGA Movement's Decline and Patriarchy; Matriarchy and Sexual Assault Solutions--and why we should come at the Epstein Files from a matriarchal perspective; white women who hold up patriarchy and the challenges of helping someone exit a cult, particularly regarding political beliefs, how to organize against fascism and so much more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sarah Wood is back, and she's started a new social media consulting business! Relevate Strategies Topics: Democratic primaries look good for Dems; donald wants to cancel the 2026 midterms--but he's going to have a hard time; donald's poor health; rage against the patriarchy is rising; FB is now the National Enquirer and much more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

My guest is Lisa Parker AKA Mamaw's Porch n Politics. She's a liberal woman who lives in rural Ohio and was raised in Appalachia, and her political commentary has caught the attention of thousands of voters. Her social pages are growing quickly because her message resonates so deeply. Topics: Lisa (Mamaw) says she continues to see a decline in trump supporters in rural Ohio; how rural MAGA is responding to ICE/Epstein and other issues "they didn't vote for."; Lisa has some great ideas about electoral reform--how to make voting and the process easier; young people are getting involved in saving democracy and so much more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Topics: The Texas Senate race (with emphasis on Jasmine Crockett); Dems are winning special elections and primaries with big percentage points--good news for November; ICE - it'll get worse before it gets better but it will get better because Americans are not having it; donald is old and sick, so we discussed what it may look like if JD gets in...all that and more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Greg Olear is back! He's the author of Rough Beast, PREVAIL columnist & podcaster, and co-host of The Five 8 on YouTube. Topics: Sh*ts f*ucked up and we talk about it. Esptein (Greg had an interesting theory on what could be a smoking gun); fascism; general strikes; and I ended with a lil rant. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Alternet. Former: Raw Story, AlterNet and Salon. Topics: The repercussions of ICE murdering Renee Nicole Good; the resignation of six Justice Department prosecutors in Minneapolis; the escalating actions of ICE and the public's response; donald's mental state; we also touched on the horrific accounts of what William Sasha Reilly says happened to him at the hands of donald trump. (We did not go into the details, just the overview. Because it's incredibly dark.) All that and more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sarah and I discuss the aftermath of the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good. We emphasized that the current regime will escalate their cruelty and that voters must not allow all of the cruelty to crush their spirit. We covered a variety of issues but our main focus was on how we maintain sanity while we beat fascism. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jody Hamilton, co-host of The Politics Bar podcast, is back for the last Start Me Up of 2025! We talked about the tragic deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, and Jody offered up great advice on how to handle people going through grief. We also chatted about dealing with MAGA family members; the desire for sweeping progressive changes when democracy is back; the potential for a 2026 midterm blue tsunami and Mike Johnson is in TROUBLE...all that and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We chatted about aging--the good, the bad and the ugly. We shared personal stories and then we talked about how democracy will be restored. It's a fun, hopeful show with lotsa laughs. We're besties and we never plan what we discuss. Come join us! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Brian Karem is a White House Columnist and his latest book is titled Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It. He's a political analyst for CNN and hosts the "Just Ask The Question" podcast. Topics: Brian's take on the recent Tennessee special election and what it could mean for democracy; where the Republican Party is headed; Sen. Mark Kelly is establishing himself as a leader inn the Democratic Party; Brian wants to see Democratic leadership listening to people's needs rather than simply pointing out that MAGA is bad; what may (or may not happen) to Hegseth over the Venezualan airstrikes, and we talked about/emphasized the importance of voting! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Comedian Andy Kindler is back. Topics: We talked some shit about Bill Maher's whining; both of us seeing a democracy light at the end of the fascist tunnel; donald is losing the narrative; we talked about so many different things: spirituality, hope, show business...come join us. A fun, light show! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Elizabeth is the CEO/Founder at The Gaia Leadership Project; Author of Becoming Heroines: Unleashing Our Power for Revolution and Rebirth and the host of #ResistanceLive on Youtube. We discussed the potential political impact of donald's presidency and the release of Epstein files, and how these events could influence Republicans and the broader political landscape. We discussed the contents of files reviewed by DOJ agents and the procedural mechanisms for their potential release. We also discussed the recent Democratic wins and the growing involvement of community members in organizing efforts. Our conversation concluded with discussions about the upcoming midterm elections, strategies for resisting authoritarianism, and resources for further engagement in activism and political organizing. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Raw Story, Alternet and Salon. Topics: The beautiful big blue wave means DEMOCRACY IS NOT DEAD!!! The government shutdown may be stalled until after the Tennessee Special Election; donald's health and cognitive issues are getting worse by the hour and it looks like there's a manufactured fascist romance brewing with JD Vance and Erica Kirk. All that and more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

My guest is Lisa Parker AKA Mamaw's Porch Politics. She's a liberal woman who lives in rural Ohio and was raised in Appalachia, and her political commentary has caught the attention of thousands of voters. Her social pages are growing quickly because her message resonates so deeply. Topics: The importance of voter turnout (even in heavily gerrymandered districts) in upcoming elections, emphasizing the need for reform in voting systems and the Electoral College. Lisa highlighted the critical issues voters are concerned about, including securing Social Security and healthcare, and bodily autonomy. We talked about how MAGA signs are no longer as prevalent in her very red area and how cutting food stamps for millions will wake more of the base up. We had a wonderful chat and covered much more. Take a listen and follow her! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He's the author of Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy. Topics: Strategies for effective activism in a fascist-run country; gerrymandering's impact on public institutions; the importance of running candidates in all districts across the country; the Epstein files are not going away and voters of all stripes agree the list should be released, and David shares easy, effective ways we can fight back (and most voters are NOT doing all that they they can.) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Cliff is back! Topics: Cliff offers advice on the best kind of messaging for No Kings rally attendees; Vance does not have the charisma donald has, and Cliff weighs in on Vance taking over if donald is no longer POTUS; the races in NY & VA look good for Democrats, and we talk about the urgency of the 2026 midterms! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jared Yates Sexton: Political Analyst, author of The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis, Co-Host Muckrake Podcast, newsletter Dispatches From A Collapsing State, Board: The Change Campaign. Topics: Is the tide turning against fascism? Posting defeatist comments online helps the regime; fascism is abuse by the state, and Jared correlates it to abusive behavior in families and personal relationships; why we can't/shouldn't only rely on elections to save democracy and would JD be worse than donald?...all that and more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sarah Wood is back, and she's started a new social media consulting business! Relevate Strategies Topics: Capitalism trumped fascism; the Epstein scandal isn't going away; signs that the tides against donald are turning; and why it's important not to declare that democracy is dead if you're feeling frightened. All that and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Topics: Jody had brunch with Martin Sheen and that got us talking about the Charlie Sheen documentary. We also talked about her new podcast, The Politics Bar; cosmetic surgery; what it was like in Malibu in the '70s...and then we launched some political talk about trump, JD, their stupid, fascist agenda, and how free speech is only for the right. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy