Hot Mic'd: GTK the new House Speaker, op-eds & viral-adjacent political moments

“Is this a simulation?” – us at least 15 times a day, followed by “we’ve got a situation”

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Sammy and Maddie
October 26, 2023

“Is this a simulation?” – us at least 15 times a day, followed by “we’ve got a situation”

An op-ed that caught my eye is… this one co-penned by Senator Coons [Delaware-D] and Senator Rubio [Florida-R] resurrected hope and desire for bipartisan solutions more so than other usual calls for it have. Perhaps it’s that they’ve had this really interesting and quite frankly successful across the aisle working relationship for 10 years, but the way that they are able to find common ground amongst difference of policy opinions struck a chord. Hoping and wishing for more of this and less chaos cause buffoonery. -SK

Come election day ‘23 you’ll find me wearing… this necklace, which I’ve worn every E-day since I got it in 2020. TBH, I wear it all the time too because it’s one of my faves. -SK

An action item I hope everyone does… well I really, really hope that there is a day in which this action item is no longer necessary. That action item is telling your federally elected reps to ban assault weapons. We’ve had a ban before. We need it again. The facts are crystal clear – something every rep of every party needs to hear over and over and over again until they make the change that will save lives. -SK

Looking through our pod lib, I hope people listen back to… our latest interview with Kat Calvin on the need for a free federal ID for all. I will never be able to get over how much we can change people’s lives with an ID. It’s truly wild. You can listen to it here, and hit up the action item here after. -SK

A positive political W that caught my eye is… Michigan is poised to overturn an insane law from 1891 that, according to Democracy Docket, made “it a misdemeanor to hire transportation to take voters to the polls unless they are physically unable to walk. Don’t know how to drive and want to Uber to the polls? Yea, that wasn’t possible + a ton of other avenues. But this bill is going to change that once Big Gretch signs it. A win is a win. -SK

An op-ed that caught my eye is… Rep. Jason Crow [not Harlan Crow – v dif people] wrote an op-ed for the Military Times on how restrictive abortion laws threaten our national security. It’s an interesting look at how restrictions on healthcare and bodily autonomy have even wider range impacts than you could even imagine. Def one to add to the reading list. -MM

Come election day ‘23 you’ll find me wearing… these facemasks on rotation in an attempt to calm my nerves over the potential outcomes of these races – esp Virginia, but also Mississippi, but also Kentucky. Okay, all of them. Ahhhhhh. -MM

An action item I hope everyone does… Exciting movement in the world of paid leave for all happened this week, which is the perfect reason to remind everyone to tell your reps that we need paid leave for all. You can do that by hitting send on this. -MM

Looking through our pod lib, I hope people listen back to… this past week’s eppy with Ofirah on governor races. We’re in the home stretch for two majorrrr ones, and the timing could not be more perfect to get ready, to get inspired, and to get in the know about these races and 2024’s. -MM

A positive political W that caught my eye is… IDK if this is really a win, it’s more a “when you get handed lemons, make lemonade” situation… Dem Congressman Jeff Jackson got gerrymandered out of his district, and today announced that he’s going to run for North Carolina attorney general. It’s also kind of a ‘fuck around and find out’ moment, especially if he wins. Like, okay gerrymander me out of a district, and I’ll be ‘the buck will stop with me’ in my new role vibes. Regardless, the move is seriously smart politics.

-MM

FROM THE GROUP CHAT

Find us floored

Friends send friends updates on the 2023 Virginia state leg races. It’s what all the cool kids are doing because there is a LOT of buffoonery going on thanks to the VA State GOP, which is doing…THIS. The TikTok was shared by our friend Laura Diez of Eco Chic Podcast [IYKYK], prompting us all in unison to scream into an abyss, and then used it as a reminder to text any and all Virginia friends about November 7, 2023 [and early voting]. And now we’ll use it to remind you about the election that very well could determine abortion access in the southeast, and to point you in this direction.

MEET THE NEW HOUSE SPEAKER

Hell of a guy….

He’s been described as Jim Jordan in a jacket, and given Mike Johnson’s MAGA credentials, that does check. The dude, who Senator Susan Collins said she would Google, has a track record of doing and saying things that will make your skin crawl. A few of those include:

FROM HIS MOUTH:

  • His assertion and belief that “if women were more compelled to bring more “able-bodied workers” into the world that there wouldn’t be a need to cut SSI and Medicare.” Sir, what??

  • His view of gay marriage, which can be best understood with one the many quotes from his many editorials like this one reported on by Vanity Fair: “Homosexual relationships are inherently unnatural and, the studies clearly show, are ultimately harmful and costly for everyone. Society cannot give its stamp of approval to such a dangerous lifestyle.” As one might be ~shocked to learn~ after reading that quote, he also voted against bi-partisan leg to codify same-sex marriage.

FROM HIS PEN:

So yea “everything is fine, everything is fiiiiiiine”

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

Viral-adjacent political moments that caught our [eyes]

  • When Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) threw a literal mic drop by saying “wishing a happy wedding anniversary to my wife” during Speaker votes that gave the anti-LGBTQA+ man from Louisiana the role.

  • Rep. Kevin Hern, when he was still in the race for the Speakership, sent burgers with his dear colleague notes, and honestly that might’ve just gotten us – at least until the burger was eaten.

  • This Republican who has his eyes on Ozempic as a policy solution. No, we’re not making it up – these are the deats.

CALLIN’ ALL CREATORS AND THEIR TEAMS

October’s Keeping It Currant is live

As a refresher, the monthly newsletter is designed to share the latest info about the creator economy and its intersection with the political and social impact space. This month’s edition features:

  • Upcoming creator events with Social Currant

  • TikTok’s new AI rule and what it means for creators

  • Content trends to apply to political content

  • Media literacy tools and managing ‘what about me-ism’

  • Tips on how to vet opportunities and organizations, managing media

  • An interview with political creator, Haley Lickstein

  • Post [campaign] post PR strategies

  • New paid campaign opportunities

Check it out here (and send it to a creator friend): https://lnkd.in/ef93eVFJ

FOR MORE DIGITAL & COMMS THINGS, WE PRESENT…

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SOCIAL MEDIA AUDITS & CONSULTING: Giving accounts makeovers better than those seen on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” back in the day, audits and GATG’s full range of consulting offerings level up accounts across platform types. Book a Discovery Call to learn more.

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