A Super Bowl halftime rumor shouldn’t trigger a civics crisis - but the Bad Bunny backlash did exactly that. We start with culture and run headlong into identity, geography, and the gaps in how we understand America. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Spanish is part of the national soundtrack. When people panic about who “counts,” it’s really a story about education, belonging, and whether we can sit still long enough to be surprised by something new.

From there, we drop into the mechanics that actually shape lives: how the Senate’s 60-vote threshold turns “control” into negotiation, why the Affordable Care Act still stands at the center of budget brinkmanship, and what subsidies really do. Carmen shares exact numbers - $578 a month with ACA support versus roughly $1,300 without - to make the stakes real. We draw a stark comparison: around $88B goes to ACA affordability while oil companies enjoy an estimated $400B in global subsidies and tax perks. If one is called “socialism,” what do we call the other? The point isn’t a dunk; it’s a question about priorities and the kind of growth we actually want.

We also tackle California’s redistricting move, caught between principle and pragmatism. Independent commissions are the ideal - but when the national map is aggressively gerrymandered, do you hold the moral line or fight with the tools on the field? Add in a candid look at leadership, ego, and a military moment that landed with a thud, and you get a conversation that favors clarity over noise. We close by pointing to better civics: learn the process, track the incentives, and keep your energy for the work that helps people live better, longer lives.

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Clarification: The global fossil fuel industry receives an estimated $400 billion in subsidies, with the U.S. contributing at least $34.8 billion annually, plus billions more projected over the next decade. But that’s just one slice - the U.S. government gives around $181 billion per year in total corporate subsidies, across energy, manufacturing, tech, and more. So when ACA support is framed as a “handout,” let’s ask what we call this. Public money flows to corporations constantly - healthcare helps people live, not profit. 

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Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.