Ep. 203: DOGE--Dismantling Our Government Entirely

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Note to listeners: we recorded this about a month ago, so of course things have worsened.

EQ: How does the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) exemplify the dangers of unchecked executive power, and what are the legal and democratic consequences of its overreach?

In this episode, we unpack the strange and sweeping saga of DOGE—no, not the meme coin, but Trump’s rebranded tech task force aimed at “modernizing” the federal government. What started as a quiet Obama-era initiative under the OMB has now morphed into a mysterious Silicon Valley bro-squad operating directly under the Executive Office of the President. With mass firings, lawsuits from 18 states, and wild stories involving 90 beers and zero critical thinking, we’re asking: What exactly is DOGE? Is it constitutional? Who’s really in charge—and can the courts keep up? From firings of inspectors general to stalled humanitarian aid and lawsuits flying from every direction, this episode attempts to survey the mess of  legal battles, power grabs, and digital disruption defining one of the most quietly dangerous moves of this administration.

Resources Referenced in the conversation:

Champagne & Real Paine:

🥂On Tyranny Tim Snyder

🥂Brooke Harrington Trump's “Broligarchy” of Tech Billionaires

👎🏻 The guy pouring beer over ice

👎🏻The dem party can’t get themselves together

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Find some orgs–use your egg money to support 

  • Megan: You only need to check the news once a day. Choose a reputable source (NPR, BBC, etc.). Also, contact your members of Congress AND contact any members from swing districts around you and communicate your concerns and ask for direct action in stopping Trump. 

  • Annie: Fight the Fasch—drink water, get some sleep, eat something healthy and get a little exercise.

Ep. 203: DOGE--Dismantling Our Government Entirely
Hope, Megan, and Annie
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Ep. 192: The Arc of the Moral Universe Seems Like It's Bending Towards Hell

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In this episode, Hope, Annie and Doug process their reactions to the 2024 US Election results, processing a mix of anger, exhaustion, and disbelief. With Republicans securing power across all three branches, we’re all struggling to find hope. Annie reflects on the jolt of living in her "blue bubble," while Hope wrestles with disgust  over Trump's continued support, particularly from Christian Evangelicals and white women. Coping mechanisms are all over the place—from exercising to keep our anxieties at bay to avoiding political news. Project 2025 and its potential threat to democratic freedoms weighs heavily on our souls. As we look ahead, we encourage listeners to sit in whatever stage of grief  they may be in, and perhaps adopt emergency plans and "doomsday prepper" mindsets as we brace for a politically charged future. Our takeaway: care for yourself and your community, and stay engaged because the 2026 midterms are around the corner, and there’s more work to do.

Ep. 192: The Arc of the Moral Universe Seems Like It's Bending Towards Hell
Hope, Annie, and Doug
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Ep. 175: GOP Drama and Trad Wife Trauma

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EQ:  How does the "trad wife" phenomenon intersect with political discourse, particularly within the GOP, and what implications does it hold for the state of the union and broader societal dynamics?

In this episode, we're diving into the wild world of political discourse, particularly focusing on the "trad wife" phenomenon and how it's playing out within the GOP. We're unpacking Senator Katie Britt's recent State of the Union response, where she stirred up quite a bit of controversy with her traditionalist views.

From Britt's performance to the reactions it sparked, we're exploring the ins and outs of how gender norms and political messaging intersect. Plus, we're taking a closer look at the broader societal implications of embracing these traditional ideals in modern politics.

Related Links:

Do Your Fudging HW

Ep. 175: GOP Drama and Trad Wife Trauma
Hope and Annie
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Ep. 156: SCOTUS Goons Never Die

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DISCLAIMER: Despite our extensive research, we were not aware of the mummerings about Lori Smith and the 303 Creative LLC v Elenis case being built upon fake evidence. Now of course, the information is everywhere as folks are picking apart the ruling and the case. Deepest apologies that we didn’t know about this prior to our conversation otherwise we would’ve addressed it. It further proves how absolutely ridiculous this case/ruling are.

EQ: What are some of the most significant Supreme Court cases this year and how could the ideological changes on the court impact the country?

Just last episode we gave an update on recent SCOTUS rulings. Today we meet again to discuss some of the most unsurprising decisions and what they might mean for us. If you haven’t listened to our previous conversations check them out “the SCOTUS goons” and SCOTUS Rulings Trickle In.

Related Articles:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: The book Stephen Vladeck, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court uses Stealth Ruling to amass power and undermine the Republic.”

  • Megan: Follow SCOTUSblog for nerdy, indepth cover of the Supreme Court.

Ep. 156: SCOTUS Goons Never Die
Hope and Megan
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Ep. 155: SCOTUS Rulings Trickle In

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EQ: What are some of the most significant Supreme Court cases this year and how could the ideological changes on the court impact the country?

In March we discussed what “the SCOTUS goons” were up to in an episode reviewing some significant cases. This episode we check-in on recent rulings, sharing surprises and reactions. Things may have changed since the recording but hopefully it’s still an insightful conversation.

Related Resources:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Check out this book Stephen Vladeck, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court uses Stealth Ruling to amass power and undermine the Republic.” or his NPR Interview

  • Megan: Sign up to be a Channel 253 member and come to our live event on  June 29!

EP. 115: SCOTUS Rulings Trickle In
Hope and Megan

Ep. 152: Sensible Gun Laws: A Marathon Not a Sprint

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EQ: To what extent is the WA state gun control conversation reflective of the national conversation and how might activists engage in making our state safer from gun violence?

Following our very dire previous episode on American fascism and gun violence, Hope and Megan are joined by two organizers and activists from Moms Demand Action, Rebecca Elbaum and Amy Newcomb. In this episode they discuss the landscape of gun violence and activism in Washington, make national comparisons, and dig into the recent legislation passed, sharing stories of hope and change in what many feel is an ocean of discouragement.

Bills Referenced in the Episode:

Get Involved!

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 152: Sensible Gun Laws: A Marathon Not a Sprint
Hope, Megan, Rebecca, and Amy

Ep. 148: The SCOTUS Goons Have Been Busy

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EQ: What are some of the most significant Supreme Court cases this year and how could the ideological changes on the court impact the country?

Today we dig into the various cases in review by the Supreme Court, discussing the implications of a ruling in one direction or other. 

Related Sources:

Champagne & Real Pain:

🥂Mo Amer, Palestinian-American comedian came to Abu Dhabi for a show!

🥂 Jon Stewart!

👎🏻Desantis

Ep. 148: SCOTUS Goons Have Been Busy
Hope and Megan
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Ep. 118: Combating Moral Panics At School Board Meetings

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EQ: How can School District Leaders manage and respond to moral panics of the moment, particularly around DEI/CRT? 

Guest: Wendy Smith our guest from Episode 111: Back to School, Go to School Board Meetings! 

In this episode, we catch up with Vancouver School board chair, Wendy Smith. We discuss her recent election win and related lessons. We pickup our conversation about current issues facing school districts across the nation, particularly what it’s like serving a diverse range of community needs and constant pressures from various stakeholders. Wendy shares the process for the VPS equity audit and the implications for the district. 

Related Resources:

Do Your Fudging Homework: 

  • Hope: Reach out to an educator and offer a word of encouragement or support

  • Megan: Email an educator and let them know you see them

  • Wendy: The Daily’s series “School Board Wars”


Ep. 118: Combating Moral Panics At School Board Meetings
Hope, Megan, and Wendy
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Ep. 63: Rethinking the Purpose of Spirituality in 2020

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EQ: What obligation do religious communities have in fighting injustice?

Guest: Dana Coggan is an "environmental advocate, community connector, youth advocate, minister."

Note to listeners: Last January we had Erin Jones on the show to discuss her take on evangelicalism and politics. Today we’re excited to invite Dana Coggan on our show to have a similar conversation but casting a wider net for understanding faith and spirituality.

In this episode we discuss the different between being spiritual and being religious. We share stories of how “the church” can both “shape and scare you.” In sharing our own experiences and hearing Dana’s perspective, we reference a handful of current events such as how organizations like Christianity Today, the Methodist Church, and the Mormon Church are struggling to stay relevant or speak out against injustice. 

References:

Champagne & Real Pain:

  • 🥂 Open and Affirming Churches

  • 👎🏻👎🏻 “Evangelicals” and Trump as Jesus; Mormon church abusing tax exemption

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: reconsider the notion of what religion looks like in your life. 

  • Annie: Educators, flex your compassion and empathy with your students from faiths and religious practices that differ from your own. 

  • Dana: Speak out against the displacement of local homeless community

Follow us on Twitter @IWL_Podcast or Facebook: Interchangeable White Ladies Podcast

Ep.. 63: Rethinking the Purpose of Spirituality in 2020
Annie, Hope, and Dana
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Ep. 39: Evangelicals Need to Come Out of Their Corners

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EQ:  How is Evangelicalism supporting white supremacy in American churches and government today and what do we do about it?

We are joined by Erin Jones, award-winning educator, independent education & systems consultant, public speaker, former candidate for State Superintendent (OSPI). As we unpack our essential question, we discuss the tension between faith and doubt, specifically that both are healthy. We wrestle with why so many people of faith unquestionably believe in their leadership (pastors) and are told to just “Do” rather than think about what they are doing. We explore the loaded nature of the word “evangelicalism” including how it’s changed meaning over time and gets interchanged with “Republicanism”. Evangelicalism has been boiled down to arguments about pro-life, gay marriage, guns, and voting for Trump. Erin also shares about her experience as a woman of color navigating white Evangelical churches. Finally, we discuss why it’s critical for Christians who don’t buy into the fear-mongering to come out of our silos and corners to engage in conversations about faith, religion and justice.

Related Readings:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Evangelicals Need To Come Out of Their Corners
Annie, Hope, and Erin
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