Hot Mic'd: Bipartisanship hits a new groove, the hospital lobby, & DC recs

Author

Sammy and Maddie
December 14, 2023

“It’s because of my experience as a young person, my voice is valuable” - Rep. Frost

A DC rec of note is… Parlour Victoria has an amazing espresso martini. SO good. The bartender also stole my heart FYI. - SK

Something that’s keeping me up at night is… sooo many things. I really miss sleep. If we’re going to zero in on one thing, I’m going to point to SCOTUS hearing the abortion pill aka mifi case… nightmare fuel to the next level. - SK

An L O L to lighten the political mood is… the exit interview commentary on McCarthy from his colleagues is gold. - SK

A pod eppy I hope people hit play on again is… our eppy on misinformation. We’re seeing insane conspiracy theories, a HUGE lack of facts, and just overall super weird behavior amongst what we’d normally think of as rational people… it’s worrying, it’s dangerous, and people need to do much more than touch grass. They need to understand how to be critical thinkers, as well as smart, well-rounded consumers of media. - SK

A ray of hope and light is… the just announced White House state-based gun violence initiative. Is it enough? No, like we need an assault weapons ban amongst other reforms. Is it a step in the right direction and showing that the administration is doing what they can with the powers they do have? Yes. - SK

A DC rec of note is… Looooooved Nothing Fancy in Cap Hill. It’s super cute. Def will be going back next time I’m in town. - MM

Something that’s keeping me up at night is… young voters thinking of sitting out the 2024 election. There is so much at stake at every single level of government - top to bottom, bottom to top. Not voting is a vote – and in the case of our presidential election, a vote for a dictator in training. In the case of every position below that, not voting can mean not being the literal one, singular vote that elects an anti-trans, anti-books congressperson gets elected instead of a candidate that looks to facts. We need everyone on board, so please make sure you’re registered. - MM

An L O L to lighten the political mood is… Doocy had a doozy at the White House briefing, and it’s giving America’s Funniest Home Videos vibes. - MM

A pod eppy I hope people hit play on again is… As a California girlypop, I’m going to have to say our epi on ending child marriage in the US. If you haven’t tuned in, child marriage is still legal in California, and the majority of other states. However, it’s something, thanks to Unchained At Last, that’s changing, state by state. In 2024, I think [and hope] that there will be even more action on it in state leg’s, sooo get the scoop on it as it heats up. - MM

A ray of hope and light is… The progress being made on getting abortion on the ballot in Florida in 2024. Fingers freakin’ crossed. - MM

KEEP YOUR SIDE OF THE STREET [& ALL STREETS] CLEAN

Pledge to support pro-climate candidates

So far, Joey B’s clean energy plan has made clean energy a hotter topic than the classic mall store literally named hot topic. And why is that? Because jobs, jobs, jobs, and you guessed it more jobs – like 170K+ and growing. This win is the start, and electing pro-climate candidates is what’s needed to continue the progress building. Take the EDF Action pledge to support pro-climate candidates, here.

~ LISTEN UP Y’ALL, THIS IS IT ~

New pod on the wild ways of the hospital lobby, out now

Who is ‘Big Hospital?’ Going once…going twice…going three times… anyone?! Yea, it was an answer we did not have, so we brought in the expert dujour, Sophia Tripoli, the Senior Director of Health Policy at Families USA to give us the scoop. We also brought her on to talk about the role they play in hospital transparency, or the lack thereof, and overall the not so great consumer practices going on in this section of the healthcare industry. Naturally, we also had to dive into WTF is going on with hospital consolidation, price gouging, and suss things galore. So much going on, and yet solutions are afoot, which we get into too here:

Tune into the show via…

….and while we’re on this hospital transparency topic….

ACTION ITEM → Tell Congress to pass the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act to ensure hospitals charge the same price for their services regardless of where the care is delivered.  Do so, by hitting send on this note to your [federal] reps here.

RING THAT BIPARTISAN BELL

Scenes and takeaways from the Future Caucus Rising Star Awards