Ep. 210: We Listen AND We Judge
Note to Listeners: We recorded this episode on June 28. Since then, the Supreme Court has dropped a few more opinions and rulings.
As expected, the Supreme Court had a busy end of June. Some significant surprises dropped Friday morning. Annie and Hope jumped onto the mic to try to make sense of the rulings.
Related Links:
Ep. 207: Rights, Rulings, and a Constitutional Reckoning
NEW NOTE: Check out the SCOTUS ruling here! They actually did the right thing!
Note: Since the recording of this episode…
Supreme Court Declined to Hear Gun Control Challenges
The Supreme Court has added 4 new cases for 2025-26
EQ: What do the current SCOTUS cases and corresponding decisions reveal about the current state of the U.S. Constitution and what might they signal for the future of our democracy?
In this episode, we break down what a constitutional crisis actually is, why people are sounding the alarm, and where recent events—like Trump’s defiance of constitutional norms—fall on the crisis spectrum. Then, we dig into a wild lineup of Supreme Court cases that could shake up everything from who gets to stay in the country to who gets to stay in school. We’ll also revisit Federalist 78 and ask: if the courts have neither the purse nor the sword, how much power do they really have left? From beef over birthright citizenship to bans on gender-affirming care and challenges to disability accommodations in schools, the Supreme Court is about to make decisions that could fundamentally reshape Americans' rights—and redefine the limits of government power.
References:
United States v. Skrmetti- concerns a Tennessee law that bans gender affirming care for minors.
Mahmoud v. Taylor –is whether the use of LGBTQ-inclusive storybooks and teaching on gender and sexuality in public schools interferes with the First Amendment free exercise of religion clause.
Chiles v Salazar - Questions if Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors infringes on free speech and the free exercise clause; Vox Supreme Court Conversion Therapy
A.J.T. V. Osseo Area Schools, et al —discrimination under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act.
Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v Drummond - Can a state exclude religious schools from its charter program without violating the Free Exercise Clause?
Becerra v. Braidwood Management, Inc. The latest case centers on the ACA’s mandate that most private insurance plans cover recommended preventive services at no cost.
Read more about impact here
Alliance for Justice: 2024-25 Supreme Court Term Preview
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Hope: Parable of the Sower–depressing but necessary
Megan: Ditto
Annie: educate yourself further
Ep. 203: DOGE--Dismantling Our Government Entirely
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:
GSAi has automated the jobs of over 1500 employees so far.
18 States have filed a lawsuit against the trump administration over violations of federal law in the mass firings.
Top notable cases in court right now to keep an eye on - Trump Administration hit with over 100 lawsuits since Inaugration:
Washington State is known for challenging the Trump administration
Coalition of Attorneys General v. Trump Administration- New York et al. v. Scott Bessent et al.
Withholding of Federal Funds; National Endowment for Democracy v. Trump Administration
Birthright Citizenship Restrictions-State of Washington v. Trump
Environmental Funding Freeze - Climate United Fund v. EPA and Citibank
Tribal Education Employment Cuts - Native American Tribes and Students v. Trump Administration; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policies; National Urban League v. Trump; San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump
Transgender Healthcare Restrictions- PFLAG v. Trump; Washington State v. Trump
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. 192: The Arc of the Moral Universe Seems Like It's Bending Towards Hell
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. 175: GOP Drama and Trad Wife Trauma
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:
Colbert’s State of the Union “Dispel old man vibes…in Congress”
Majorie Taylor Greene Interruption– what is this? Are we at a comedy show? What have we become?
The Reid Out: Happy Housewive? Joy Unmasks “trad Wife” image of Republican US Senator
Do Your Fudging HW
Hope: read intersectionality esp this month; All My Rage Sabaa Tahir; Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim by Leah Vernon
Ep. 156: SCOTUS Goons Never Die
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. 155: SCOTUS Rulings Trickle In
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. 152: Sensible Gun Laws: A Marathon Not a Sprint
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!
Be Smart (secure, model, ask, recognize, tell)
Text 'JOIN' to 644-33
Wear Orange–National Gun Violence Prevention Day, June 3rd
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Hope/Megan: Get involved!
Amy: Join us in June at the Mothers’ Day of Action
Ep. 148: The SCOTUS Goons Have Been Busy
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:
Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College
Current precedent was established in 2003 - Gratz v Bollinger and Grutter v Bollinger
303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (21-476)
Merrill v. Milligan (21-1086)
Moore v. Harper (21-1271)
Champagne & Real Pain:
🥂Mo Amer, Palestinian-American comedian came to Abu Dhabi for a show!
🥂 Jon Stewart!
👎🏻Desantis
Ep. 118: Combating Moral Panics At School Board Meetings
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. 63: Rethinking the Purpose of Spirituality in 2020
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. 39: Evangelicals Need to Come Out of Their Corners
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:
The New York Times: 11am Sunday is Our Most Segregated Hour
America Jesuit Review: Sunday is Still the Most Segregated
The New Yorker: Evangelicals of Color Fight Back
“This is Not of God” New York Times
Christian Social Justice Organization “Sojourners”
From WA Post: The Walls Around Trump Are Crumbling: Evangelicals May His Last Resort
The NY Times: Why Trump Reigns as King Cyrus
John Pavlovitz on Twitter & website “Stuff That Needs to Be Said”)
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Annie: Are You an Evangelical? Are You Sure? by Jennifer Kurtzleben for NPR.
Hope: Jim Wallis America’s Original Sin
Erin: Words Matter Podcast, Quick to Listen (liberal learning Christians), Living in Effect, Faith Factor
Ways to contact you: Email: erinjones93@gmail.com, Facebook: Erin Jones 2016, Instagram: erinin2016, Twitter: @erinjonesin2016