Hot Mic'd: A baby rhino (an actual one), IVF, a lettuce vaccine bill, and Rita Ora

Author

Sammy and Maddie
February 23, 2024

“Can you give me an example a food that’s a vaccine” - TN State Rep John Ray Clemmons on a proposed lettuce vaccine ban bill that passed out of committee this week

My recent snack find is… it’s really a revival, and it’s the OG Puffins cereal. One of my friends always has them in the house, and now that I’m munchin’ on them constantly, I can see why. So yummy, yet so simple. -SK

A political story that’s giving nightmare fuel is… You may or may not have heard of CPAC before but what you need to know is that it’s a political conference that puts the capital “C” in “conservative” and the oomph behind alt-right Christian Nationalism as a movement coming out of the shadows. At this little meeting of the scaries, a top surrogate for Trump welcomed attendees with this message: ““Welcome to the end of democracy. We’re here to overthrow it completely. We didn’t get all the way there on January 6, but we’ll endeavor to.” When we say they’re coming for Democracy, we’re not kidding… they’re literally saying it out loud with mics, an audience, and the viral world wide web. -SK

On the flip, a political story that’s giving W energy is… the Biden admin canceling $1.2 billion in student debt for appprox 153K borrowers. Periodddd. -SK

A podcast I’m listening to that’s not GATG… In honor of the premiere of this season of Summer House, The Good Guys interview with Paige DeSorbo has made it onto the queue. -SK

A GATG eppy I’d rec sharing with a friend is… our recent interview with Mini Timmaraju, who is the president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom For All. The interview looks at what the GOP is doing re: birth control and reproductive freedom as a whole. It’s a big scream for action. Tune in, send it to a friend. -SK

Something in pop culture I can’t stop thinking about is… Rita Ora being SO fun on Today with Hoda & Jenna (Rita was guest co-host aka filled in for Jenna). I don’t know if I’d ever seen her interviewed or seen anything before that really shared her personality before, and this just made me loveeee her – esp her cutting her hair right before the show…like it me. -SK

A position on the ballot people don’t know enough about is… county executives, which have the power to do this shit. -SK

A country song I’m loving is… this viral song that’s giving Johnny & June, Stay In Your Lane from Bronson Diamond and Greta Stanley. SO good. -SK

My recent snack find is… since Sam did cereal, I’m going with something that’s in that fam of snacks - granola. The Purely Elizabeth Maple Almond Butter one is fire and an easy car ride snack. Although, be warned, like a Nature Valley Bar, crumbs will be everywhere. -MM

A political story that’s giving nightmare fuel is… Obvi the ruling out of the Alabama state Supreme Court on IVF, which has now resulted in at least three clinics in the state pausing service. But to make it worse, yet classic, we’ve got Senator Tuberville, who blockaded military promotions for months because of his stance on abortion, now being all wah-wah about IVF…? Oh how those tables turn! Like sorry sir, selective reproductive freedom is not a thing. -MM

On the flip, a political story that’s giving W energy is… In Washington State a new bill has been gaining traction that would, if passed, create a Bill of Strippers’ Rights to ensure worker safety. Given some of these stats on various incident types that happen all too frequently, this is needed ASAP, and hopefully will inspire legislators in other states to pass similar legislation. -MM

A podcast I’m listening to that’s not GATG… you guys know how much of a Jersey Shore stan I am, soooo I have JWoww’s interview on The Viall Files saved for a rainy day. Also, I will be watching the episode and skipping right to the interview. The show gets great guests but I’ll be the first to say that the epis are too long. -MM

A GATG eppy I’d rec sharing with a friend is… one of the best vocab words to ever exist came to our ‘desks’ via our interview with Fraidy Reiss on banning child marriage in the US, and I just want everyone to use it, sooo find out the term, say it to a friend, and when they ask where is that term from, send them this episode. -MM

Something in pop culture I can’t stop thinking about is… honestly only been paying attention to the Summer House realm because as we know from this, I live under a rock. And the thing that caught my attention was this Danielle x Joe Bradley drama. -MM

A position on the ballot people don’t know enough about is… to my nightmare fuel pick, state supreme court. In the case of Alabama, they’re elected for staggered 6/yr terms. -MM

A country song I’m loving is… Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyoncé and then seeing the dances like this. -MM

FROM OUR TEXTS TO YOUR INBOX

What we’re texting about

EPISODE FOCUS: THE FENTANYL CRISIS

New interview with JoAnna Vance

The fentanyl crisis has impacted individuals and families in every corner of this country. But how did this crisis start? And where are its impacts the deepest? Many of those answers start in West Virginia. As told by our guest JoAnna Vance, a Program Coordinator at WV Economic Justice, the crisis has taken a huge toll and a huge amount of lives. It’s a crisis that she’s actively a part of turning around through her advocacy. It’s also a crisis rife with stigmas around solutions and treatment – another element to this huge conversation.And to that point, in this conversation, we look at some of the solutions proposed, from Narcan distribution to safe injection sites, and beyond to see how we can work together to end this epidemic that’s already robbed too many people of their lives. Tune in via Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch the show via YouTube, here:

VOTER PREP

It’s election szn [yes, again]

Register to vote

Check your voter registration

Make a primary voter plan and tips on how to make it sparkle here

ADD TO THE DMS

Makin’ there way from DM to DM

  • An embryo is an embryo – and this way of explaining what one could argue is common sense, it is like this.

  • The deep dive on this bill in Oregon that’s anti-corporate practice of medicine, and pro-doctor, practice, and patient.

  • The use of Texas Hold ‘Em in political TikToks like this one.

  • This PSA on considering going to college out of state to a school in an anti-choice state.

  • Sid the Sloth has entered the building with this. It has nothing to do with politics, but it’s just TOO DAMN GOOD, OKAY??

OOOOOH THAT’S NIIIIIICE

Lil’ things we’re loving

CODES

Need a code from the show? Gotchu

Prose Haircare → Get 50% off your first subscription & 15% off and free shipping on every subscription after that by visiting prose.com/girlandgov

Factor Meals → Get 50% off with code girlandthegov50 when you visit factormeals.com/girlandthegov50

STAAAAHP THE CAAAAR

…since you already have your phone out

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