Political Playlist Happy Hour

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the latest pager attacks in Lebanon before covering a wide range of congressional issues like manufacturing, election certification and a very interesting race shaping up in central California.

That is the question of the hour, Swifties... and it appears it's looking like a cruel summer for Donny T post debate as the biggest pop star in the world just threw her support behind Kamala. But the real question is, did this debate, and will this endorsement, change a gosh darn thing in this race? Your guess is as good as ours, although we do follow this stuff closely, so pour a glass and hit play to hear our thoughts post presidential debate, as well as what young Congressional leaders are saying about the issues covered (and not covered) in the debate.

This week Anna and Anthony sit down with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers of the Pantsuit Politics podcast! Sarah and Beth brand their conversations as a different approach to the news and have garnered a wide audience of people craving their casual and informative conversations. We have just that with them as we get some of the hot goss from the DNC, discuss the shifting conservative movement and dig into why the 'kitchen table' issues they're known for tackling on their show resonate so much with listeners and voters. These Kentucky ladies are just the best and we may or may not have veered into an all-out therapy session with them... 

That's a wrap on Anna's wedding as well as the DNC, and the gang is here to hash it all out this happy hour. Most striking, besides Anna's shoes, where the amount of young leaders on our platform who spoke at the DNC. But of course, our favorite speaker was Anna's dad Tony, who MC'd night one. How cool is that?!?!

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anthony welcome William He, the founder of Dream For America, a progressive organization dedicated towards activating young Gen Z voters in order to combat MAGA extremism. William joins us again, this time from the DNC where his officially the youngest accredited DNC goer at the age of 17. So naturally this happy hour we're drinking sodas.

As Anna prepares to say "I Do," Michael and Anthony prepare to say "I'll have another" as the latest political hits keep coming. This week, Kamala takes the lead in three key swing states as Donald has a streaming failure to launch with Elon which turns into a 2 hour ramble-fest, and Congress is getting punchy as it nears November.

This week, Anna and Anthony are making due without the smoothest-talking member of the Political Playlist trio, but nonetheless they've got a lot to discuss. From Trump's problematic remarks about Kamala Harris's race to the release of US prisoners from Russian jail, the news is all over the place. And you bet your bottom dollar we've got some HOT TAKES of our own  and some from the youngest members of Congress who always have a thing or two to say about what's going on in this wild, wild world of ours. Tune in, take a sip, and join the conversation. 

Let's face it folks, when things are in disarray, sometimes you just need Mom--err Momala, that is. Yes, we're talking about our VP Kamala Harris aka Momala, who has now stepped in to replace Joe Biden atop the democratic ticket and WOW has she galvanized a party that was desperate for new energy and in turn, has shown that the country writ large is also desperate for that new energy.

The Republican National Convention is on, and Michael, Anna and Anthony are here to break down who of our young Congress is speaking at this grand old party. But first, the gang discuss the horrific assassination attempt on former president Trump that tragically claimed the live of an everyday hero protecting his family. Sadly, no one thinks any of these political "unity" pledges will last.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anna welcome Anthony back from Europe and gingerly remind him that we still have two very old people running for president, despite many reasons for both to exit stage right. The gang unpack the latest controversies surround the 2024 election through the lens of what our young leaders in Congress are saying about it. Then they segue to Trump's frontrunner VP of JD Vance... VP JV has a certainly ring to it I guess. Then we couldn't NOT cover the controversy surround Refrigerator Freedom--yep, you heard that right. Can't make this stuff up kids...

This is a question Michael and Anna ask many times on this episode, are we there yet? Are we done with the election yet? Are we over the unnecessary vitriol and chaos and disfunction of Washington and our politics yet? Indeed these may be unanswerable questions, but what we can tell you is what our young members like Jared Golden, Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez and Eric Swalwell are saying about the Democratic Presidential ticket and the recent Presidential immunity ruling by the Supreme Court.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, the gang rejoice at the news that Anna has found wedding shoes for her beautifully oversized feet! Then on to other important matters, like the elections in Britain and France, plus Ritchie Torres' unwavering support for Israel and the contentious primary races for many of his progressive colleagues.

Apologies to anyone in favor of sensible gun reform, we're just not that into you--or so says the US Supreme Court when it comes to the federal ban on bump-stocks for semiautomatic weapons. On this happy hour, Michael, Anna, and Anthony dive into the Supreme Court's latest overturning of the Trump-era policy as well as wade into the new immigration marriage policy for undocumented immigrants as well as some interesting new crime policy propositions hitting the California ballots.

The political vitriol in Washington is getting harsher and harsher but this trio of civic youngsters (we can call ourselves that right?) is trying to unpack the baggage so you don't have to go insane doing it! This episode features discussions on the DOJ, Immigration and a wild alleged fraud scheme surrounding the CFO of right wing media outlet The Epoch Times.

That's right folks, on this episode of the happy hour, the gang is pouring a glass and diving into all things Lady Justice surrounding the Guilty Verdict against the Former President and now current convicted Felon.

We couldn't NOT begin this happy hour by talking about the viral spat heard round the beltway. We're referring of course to the House Oversight Committee hearing that went off the rails after Marjorie Taylor Greene insulted Jasmine Crockett, who then sent some haymakers flying back. The entire thing devolved into a circus, and spoiler, we have thoughts. We also have thoughts on immigration which we get to later in the show. Oh, and if you like cheese, Anthony divulges a little housewarming showstopper.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could have playoffs between the young Congresspeople under the age of 45? I know, it'd be sick. But until then, we'll settle for a happy hour where we talk about what folks like Sharice Davids, Jasmine Crockett and Lauren Underwood. Today's episode is all about the Ladies of the Legislature, plus Anna's impending bachelorette party. It's all very on brand.

The craziness in the world ain't slowing down, so neither are Michael, Anna and Anthony. On this happy hour, the gang continues to cover the escalating campus protests, the proposed drug reclassification of marijuana, the shifting political landscape in the House, and the Supreme Court's fast rising star. It's a good one. So fill up and hit play!

Protest, Protest, Hear All About it!. With campus protests engulfing the news cycle, Michael, Anna and Anthony devote the entire Happy Hour to this topic, and (hopefully) show how we can have wide-ranging views on the topic while still staying cordial and fun. We promise, there's a way!

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony dive right in to all the latest in the Congressional Circus, including a failed cabinet impeachment and Ukraine aid. But first, the gang tackles the thorny news about their alma matter (USC) canceling the scheduled valedictorian speaker an account of her potentially antisemitic social media posts.