Podcast

If you’re like most Americans this week, you’ve been clutching your pearls–err, savings and treasury bonds in a confused panic about the health and stability of our greater banking system. Well, fear not! Because we, at Political Playlist have an especially “ranty” episode dropping for you.

In the spirit of Oscar’s Monday, we’re tipping our hat to this year’s Best Picture winner in noticing how the current political landscape feels like some twisted version of the metaverse…and how Congress seems to be doing everything except its job!

This week we’re talking all things GEN Z. The mysterious, youngest generation in our nation has politicians, CEOs and cultural commentators buzzing and we get an inside look through today’s guest, Rachel Janfaza.

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael and Anna take the wheel as they duet the latest political issues that Congress under the age of 45 is fighting for. First, they wade into some SCOTUS waters as the Supreme Court just heard a case revolving around Section 230–which many of our young leaders have talked about.

The gang needs a strong one for this Political Playlist Happy Hour as they unpack the recent report about the $3 trillion new increase to the U.S. Debt that was previously not calculated. Then Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the Ohio train derailment disaster along with several derailed policies on Guns, Immigration and just how off-the-tracks much of this new Congress seems to be finding themselves.

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna wows the boys with her impressive pitch skills, while getting a little assist from everyone’s new favorite A.I. in the process.

On this Happy Hour, Michael and Anna trade their wines for lattes as they chat with former Maine State Senator Chloe Maxmin, who by the way, just happens to be the youngest representative elected to the state!

You’ll have to forgive us this week but we decided to kick off this Political Happy Hour with a little breaking doomsday news about…the doomsday clock, which they just announced is now only 90 seconds to midnight!

LISTEN ON APPLE LISTEN ON SPOTIFY LISTEN EVERYWHERE ELSE …And ain’t no partisan rift low enough, to keep this Congress from (potentially) agreeing on raising the debt-ceiling. On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down what exactly all this “paying our debt” hoopla is…

LISTEN ON APPLE LISTEN ON SPOTIFY LISTEN EVERYWHERE ELSE While we would gladly welcome the great Kenny Loggins onto the Happy Hour ANY time he wants, sadly this episode forges ahead without him. On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael and Anthony fly solo at the helm–or, should…

On the last episode of the year, Anna, Anthony and Michael dig one more time into what some of the youngest members of Congress are up to. The topic du jour is immigration.

This week we travel from eastern Europe to Midland, TX and back to Capitol Hill as Anna, Anthony & Michael discuss what young politicians are saying and doing.

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna, Anthony and Michael discuss the potential, and maybe actual, change that’s a-brewin’ in China as well as in our own Congress.

We’re joined by political technologist Eric Wilson who’s worked on numerous Republican campaigns in the US and overseen campaigns abroad in Australia and Sweden – Mr. Worldwide!

Whooo-ee. These midterms were certainly one for the books. On this week’s episode, Anna, Anthony and Michael gives some reactions to what went down last week starting with one important observation – America’s independents are powerful and sizable.

LISTEN ON APPLE LISTEN ON SPOTIFY LISTEN EVERYWHERE ELSE We’re doing things a little different on this week’s Happy Hour. Anna and Anthony each pick two races being run by some of the young women in Congress to take a micro look at what’s happening in specific parts of the…

Yes, it’s true…sometimes we use the show to work out our own issues, but it’s only because this week’s issues are a little bit of a bummer.

LISTEN ON APPLE LISTEN ON SPOTIFY LISTEN EVERYWHERE ELSE On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anthony gets a case of the giggles when he learns about Liz Lettuce, an actually head of lettuce mockingly displayed on a webcam in an attempt to outlast recently installed, and more recently…

With Michael taking an episode off, Anthony & Anna are sure to put in a word for their favorite SINGLE thirtysomething while he’s gone.

The issue is Saudi Arabia and the question is what did the US truly gain from President Biden’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia?

The issue is the Middle East and the question is what does Biden’s trip to Israel tell us about the future of Middle East relations?

Supreme Mother Earth

The issue is change and the question is will the Supreme Court’s decision on the EPA reduce our advances in combating climate change?

Putin’s Jump Shot

The issue is foreign detainees and the question is what can we learn from Brittany Griner’s detention in Russia?

Oh Fuck, They Really Did It.

The issue is abortion and the question is what are our young lawmakers in Congress saying about the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade?

The issue of this week’s Political Happy Hour is The January 6th Committee and the question is, what is a more effective messaging approach for the committee: Anti-Trump, or Pro-Democracy?

Political Call Sign: Maverick

The issue of this week’s Political Happy Hour is Party Loyalty and the question is, is there room for a so-called political maverick in today’s hyper-partisan politics?

The question we’re asking this week is in the wake of the most recent school shooting, is now the time for community healing or legislative action?

Homegrown Trouble On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony address the recent mass-shooting tragedy in Buffalo by examining it through the lens of the recent Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022. The Democratically proposed legislation looks poised to pass but tune in to find out…

Fund’s A-Blazin’ ! The issue is The War In Ukraine and the question is now that Congress is set to approve $40 Billion in military aid to Ukraine, what comes next? On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony dive into the latest pen strokes out…

To Womb It May Concern On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down the latest media maelstrom surrounding Justice Alito’s leaked draft decision regarding whether or not the Supreme Court may be poised to overturn the landmark abortion rights case. Strong drinks and hot…

In Musk, We Trust! On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down the latest social media bombshell surround Elon Musk buying twitter and look at how and why Republicans have almost unanimously leapt for free speech joy while the Democrats are staying deafeningly quiet….

Bail Me Out, Uncle Sam! On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down the Biden Administration’s recent decision to extend the student loan moratorium until August, effectively sending each party racing back to their political corners on this issue. And it is one that…

Welcome A-Border! On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, the gang pours a glass, and dives into a specific immigration policy known as Title 42 that was instated early on during the pandemic. Just recently, the Biden Administration announced it would be ending it, which has caused a stir…

High Times on the Hill On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, the gang pours a glass, and pops a gummy, to discuss the recent passing of the MORE Act in the House. Passed mostly along party lines save for a few of our leaders on the platform, most…

Orgies and Drugs and Ballots, Oh My! Oh my, indeed! Where to begin, with this latest Happy Hour taking a turn towards the provocative as Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the North Carolinian’s recent comments that have Washington and the Republican Party fuming. But in today’s day and age, will…

Crypto Bros? In this episode, Anna needs every last drop of her organic, locally-sourced, hand-foraged Kombucha Margarita for teaching Michael and Anthony all about Crypto and bitcoin and AnthonyCoin (coming soon)…and unpacking the myriad legislation proposed around this new emerging market. And in a shocking plot twist, there is actually…

What’s History Got To Do With It? In this episode, the boys are still left to their own devices as Michael and Anthony take a deep dive into The Budapest Memorandum, a denuclearization agreement signed back in 1994 between the US, UK, Russia and Ukraine.

Barrel Boycot? With war raging in Ukraine, Anthony and Michael tackle the President’s recent decision to ban imports of Russian oil and ask the hard questions of what the costs of this will be. Spoiler: it’s going to be pricey. They also read various tweets from our young leaders of…

Sinema Sidelined? Or as we discovered in this segment of the Happy Hour, “Run Ruben Run” would have been a more apt title as the gang discuss the possibility–err, likelihood that Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego (D; AZ-7) will challenge Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) in the 2024 Arizona Senate Primary.

As a young person living in a purple state, I feel as though I’ve developed an interesting perspective on the relationship between political engagement and what “color” a state is. Let’s dive in, shall we?