Oh This World

In a bonus episode, Antoinette and Lucas talk about their own experiences during last week's Texas freeze, how the state got into this situation, and where we go from here. To assist those still recovering, you can find a list of volunteer opportunities in Austin here.To share your own story or thoughts, we're on Twitter @OhThisWorldPod or call us at (702) 907-RAGE. We may share your message in a future episode. This episode was recorded on Monday, February 23, 2021.

In our season two finale, we talk to local activist and therapist Jason Sugg on what his work has been like the last four years, what he expects going into the future, and how we can be good citizens in 2021. We also close out discussion of our most recent OTW Book Club selection, GOOD CITIZENS by Thich Nhat Hanh; Lucas goes on one final TX21 rant; we talk about what we're watching and reading during this trying time; and offer a quick preview of season three. We'll catch you in a few weeks. In the meantime, let us know how you're feeling and what you're thinking by calling our RAGE Line: (702) 907-RAGE. Thanks for listening and be safe out there, y'all!

We recorded this special episode Christmas Day to talk about the stories that stuck with us from this strange and hideous year, and to offer our best-of-2020 recs for Coping with Our Tizzies--the books, music, movies, etc. that helped us get through this mess. Among the writing we reference on today's show, you can find Katherine Morgan's essay "White Rage, White Guilt" from Bitch Media here, and Jessica Bennett's NYT piece, "What if Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In?" here. As always, hit us up on the RAGE Line -- (702) 907-RAGE -- to share your thoughts and we may play them on the air. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @OhThisWorldPod, and you can write to us at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com.Thanks for listening. Stay safe and healthy and we'll see you in 2021!

On today's episode we discuss Texas Monthly's annual Bum Steer of the Year, which they gave to the Texas Democratic Party, Lucas goes on an old-fashioned rant about gerrymandering, and we dive into this month's OTW Book Club choice, Good Citizens, by Thich Nhat Hanh. You can read the Katherine Morgan essay from LitHub, "About That Wave of Anti-Racist Bestsellers Over the Summer...", which we chat about briefly at the end of the episode, here.

Antoinette and Lucas talk Texas and national election results. To listen to the OTW interview we mentioned on this episode with newly elected State Board of Ed member Rebecca Bell-Metereau, listen to it here.This episode was recorded Thursday, November 5, 2020.

On today's episode, Antoinette and Lucas check in with each other two weeks before the election. We talk early voting, the energy in Texas, and what voters need to do to flip the state. We also call attention to two recent election-related interviews: our conversation with Rebecca Bell-Metereau, the Democratic candidate for Texas State Board of Education, District 5, and our talk with Mathew Ruberg, DigiDem for the Wendy Davis campaign, who offers essential info on relational organizing in #TX21. Check them out! The time to get involved with both of these campaigns is now. We also wrap up our conversation on our current OTW Book Club selection, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James Loewen, and introduce our next choice: Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Our hate-read of the week: this Washington Post column, which sent Lucas into a seething frenzy.Ideas for getting out the vote two weeks before the election? Thoughts on the book? Want to share a hate read of your own? Leave a message on our RAGE line: (702) 907-RAGE, or email us at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. You can find us on Twitter and IG @OhThisWorldPod. This episode was recorded Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.

This week a caller to our RAGE line asks an important question about relational organizing. With only a few weeks until Election Day, we turn to an expert: Mathew Ruberg, DigiDem for the Wendy Davis for Congress campaign here in TX21. Mathew takes us through what relational organizing is, how it works on the Davis campaign, how to get over awkward feelings about talking politics with your friends and neighbors, and more. Ready to get started reaching out to your contacts to flip this district? Join one of Mathew's virtual office hours to get going. You can sign up here.

Today we sit down with the Democratic candidate for the Texas State Board of Education in District 5, Rebecca Bell-Metereau. We talk about why Rebecca is running, how you can help, and how the decisions the State Board makes affect everyone, in Texas and across the country. For more on Rebecca, or to get involved with her campaign, visit her website. Have thoughts or questions about today's episode, about politics and activism generally, or want to share the actions you're taking to win in November? Call our RAGE line and let us know: (702) 907-RAGE. Or drop us a line at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. You can also find us on Twitter and IG @OhThisWorldPod. Thanks for listening! This interview was conducted on September 23, 2020.

We start today's episode with a caller to our RAGE line, which kicks off a conversation about the highs and lows of phonebanking and what we're doing to flip Texas blue in November.The majority of our show this week is dedicated to our OTW book club selection, Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen. We talk about the book, how we teach history in America, and why it matters. The NPR piece on Trump's ridiculous and ahistorical 'Patriotic Education' plan is here.As always, we want to hear from you. Call our RAGE line at (702) 907-RAGE and let us know what you're thinking about this week. Other ways to reach us: shoot us an email at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com or find us on Twitter and IG @OhThisWorldPod.We'll be back next week with an interview with the Democratic candidate for Texas State Board of Education, District 5, Rebecca Bell-Metereau. Thanks for listening, y'all! This episode was recorded on Sunday, September 27, 2020.

On today's episode we discuss the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and its implications, listen and respond to our first Rage Line callers, and offer final thoughts on "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo.We also unveil our OTW Book Club selection for the next month: Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James Loewen. In addition to talking about the book, we'll be speaking with teachers, candidates and others about education in Texas, the upcoming State Board of Education races, how we teach history, and more. As always, we want to hear your thoughts on anything and everything we talked about today. Email us at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com, Tweet us @OhThisWorldPod, or leave our message on the Rage Line: (702) 907-RAGE.This episode was recorded on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

This week we're joined by Angela de Joseph to continue our discussion of white fragility in progressive spaces and to explore how the media covers women of color and race generally. Angela is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, health advocate, and the founder of Women of Color Roar Media. Learn more about Women of Color Roar Media here, and follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can read Angela's op-ed on Kamala Harris in The San Diego Union-Tribune here. And don't forget, if you have thoughts or questions on today's show, any of our recent episodes, or on Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility," leave us a message on our RAGE hotline: (702) 907-RAGE. We'll play some of your responses next week!This episode was recorded in September 2020.

After two weeks apart, Antoinette and Lucas reunite to discuss the news and recent forays into activism. (To see the recent Statesman story that drove Lucas straight up the wall, go here). For our main topic today, Antoinette interviews Fort Worth native Alexander Montalvo, a longtime volunteer, advocate and activist, about white fragility in progressive activism, as our OH THIS WORLD book club continues. It's a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation so tune in, and, after, share your thoughts on our new call-in line: 702-907-RAGE. We'll air your reactions to the issues Antoinette and Alexander discuss in this episode, plus your reactions to Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility" generally, in a couple weeks. This episode was recorded in the first week of September 2020.

In this special episode, Lucas looks at how Wendy Davis and Chip Roy - the Democratic and Republican Congressional candidates in TX21 - have responded to COVID-19, and the strategies Rep. Roy and other Republicans are using to distract from their failures to lead during this pandemic.For a timeline of how the candidates responded, including screenshots from social media and links to the articles referenced in this episode, go here.

Welcome to Season Two of OH THIS WORLD!This season, we're focused on the big picture: for the rest of 2020, we'll be dedicating each month to an urgent issue facing Texas, and America. We'll interview activists, thinkers and citizens about how to engage on the biggest challenges facing the country. And we'll spotlight a book at the start of the month that will help inform our discussion going forward.But this isn't just a book club between our two hosts and our guests. We also want to hear from you, which is why we've set up a call-in line for you to comment on each episode and to answer some of the same questions we've explored on the show. The number is (702) 907-RAGE. That's (702) 907-7243. Call us anytime, and we may play some or all of your comments on air.This month our focus is on white privilege and fragility, and the book that kicks off our discussion is one that's been getting a lot of press lately: Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility."On today's episode, Antoinette and Lucas talk about and reflect on the book, and connect it back to what's happening in the news right now.For Austin listeners, "White Fragility" is available on eBook and audiobook from APL, or buy it here. For a look at some of the criticism of "White Fragility" we discuss on today's show, check out this Daniel Bergner profile of Robin DiAngelo and other anti-racism educators from the New York Times Magazine, and this Carlos Lozada review of the book from the Washington Post. And to comment on the book or the issues we talked about today generally, give us a ring or email us at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. We'll have our first guest of the season next week. Thanks for listening! This episode was recorded on Saturday, August 15, 2020.

Antoinette and Lucas give a preview into Season 2 of OH THIS WORLD, coming August 2020!

In our final episode of season 1, we take a look at the week in numbers, talk about what we learned and what surprised us during this inaugural Oh This World season, and share our recs for what we're listening to, reading and watching to stay grounded in this unsettling time.The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center dashboard is available here. You can read the Kyle Swenson story on the origins of the dashboard in the Washington Post. The Texas Tribune has more on coronavirus in Texas and on Gov. Abbott's mask mandate. The NBC News story on the end of the federal unemployment benefit is here. Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò's Washington Post column on the need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in America is here.Our weekend recs?Antoinette suggests Knives Out, while Lucas recommends the must-see documentary Welcome to Chechnya on HBO, about the anti-LGBT atrocities happening there, and the activists who are fighting back. He also suggests the horror podcast Radio Rental.We've had a great time Oh This World-ing with you this season. See you in August for Season 2!This episode was recorded on Friday, July 3, 2020.

Lucas read every single one of his far-right Congressman's tweets for a year. On today's episode he talks about why he did it, what he learned, and how citizen-activists across the country can use those lessons.Before we dive in, Antoinette follows-up on Monday's Confederate monuments episode with a story from the UK via Smithsonian Magazine. Then Lucas offers nine lessons he learned from following Rep. Chip Roy on Twitter for a year, and how citizen-activists outside of TX21 can use those lessons in their own districts.You can read the 2011 Barry Meier story from the New York Times about the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons here. The 2016 San Antonio Express-News piece on Chip's health care hypocrisy can be found here.Your calls to action: 1. Follow an elected representative in your community on social media for a week. Be cognizant of how they interact with the taxpayers who subsidize them, and whether or not the information they're sharing with constituents is accurate.2. Think creatively about how to spread the word if an elected rep is playing fast and loose with the facts, spreading disinformation, or treating constituents inappropriately on social media. Journalists can't monitor every politician's social media feed 24-7. It's on us citizens to stay informed and to keep our communities informed.This episode was recorded on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

On today's episode, Antoinette explores ideas that museum curators, journalists and historians have proposed for what to do with Confederate monuments after they've been taken down. After a brief follow-up on disinformation and social media nonsense, Antoinette leads us into our main topic, starting with examples of controversies over monuments and street names (and more street names) here in Austin. You can find the 2015 University of Texas report on campus statuary that we discuss on today's podcast here.Guiding the rest of our discussion today: this New York Times piece on finding homes for "toxic monuments," this super informative Q&A with historian Annette Gordon-Reed, and this from the American Alliance of Museums on whether or not museums are the right place for Confederate monuments. We also look at this Atlantic piece by Graeme Wood, who offers a more unconventional solution to the problem.Your call to action? Keep up to date with what is happening with Confederate monuments in your own community. Get involved in local conversations about what do to next. A key first step: take inventory of monuments displayed in your area, and if you don't know who the person is who is being honored, find out.This episode was recorded on Monday, June 29, 2020.

We start our grab bag episode, as we do each Friday, with a look at the week in numbers, and the numbers aren't good, especially here in Texas. After reopening too quickly and without adequate testing, Gov. Greg Abbott is now backtracking: closing bars he once allowed open, but still refusing to make masks mandatory. Over at Living Blue in Texas is a useful timeline of the governor's (non)-response to the pandemic. Don't forget: many Texas cities, like Austin, were handling COVID-19 responsibly until the governor overrode the decisions of local officials. Meanwhile, millions of Americans may face economic disaster when the enhanced unemployment benefits passed under the CARES Act run out on July 31.We also give a brief update on the situation in #TX21 with Rep. Roy's chief of staff, who earlier this month went on an unhinged, vulgar rant on social media. Next, Antoinette gives a 101 on the history of "dog whistles" in American politics. Some resources she recommends: this helpful piece from Ian Olasov at VOX; this story from CNN; and this excerpt from A People's Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter by Tehama Lopez Bunyasi and Candis Watts Smith over at LitHub. (You can find the dog whistle-heavy article Antoinette dissects on today's episode here).Our weekend recs?Antoinette just spearheaded a family viewing of Silence of the Lambs. Lucas, meanwhile, devoured Lenox Hill on Netflix, and recommends the new documentary "Bully. Coward. Victim. The Roy Cohn Story," now on HBO. He also offers a mini call-to-action at the end of the episode.What are you watching, listening to and reading to stay grounded in this unsettling time? Let us know on Instagram or Twitter @OhThisWorldPod or drop us a line at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com.This episode was recorded on Friday, June 26, 2020.

Today we look at consumer activism: what is it, does it work, and what actions can we all take to hold businesses accountable for their policies?Before we dive into our main topic, Antoinette educates us on the origins of the term "cancel culture," we briefly dive into the recent Shack Shake conspiracy theory, and we look at an important new resource for Austinites: free COVID-19 testing. We then turn our attention to the meltdown currently happening in Chip Roy's office in #TX21. The Congressman has gone full far-right extremist culture-warrior this week, with embarrassing and nonsensical statements about Black Lives Matter. Meanwhile, his Chief of Staff went on such a racist tirade last week that it made the San Antonio Express-News: Gilbert Garcia has a very good column explaining what happened.Finally, we turn to consumer activism. Helping us understand the history, as well as the pros and cons of this form of activism, is this excellent Stephie Grob Plante piece from Vox, "Shopping has become a political act. Here's how it happened."For more information on the Chick-Fil-A controversy we discussed on today's show, CNN has the basics covered. The Nadia Chaudhury story from Eater Austin about Unbarlievable is here. On Twitter, Chas Moore called attention to more recent Unbarlievable outrageousness here. Learn more about Sleeping Giants here.What can you do today?1. Do an inventory of the places you regularly shop: do you agree with their environmental stances? Consumer protections? Do they give their employees paid sick leave? If their values don't align with yours, is there an alternative place you can go for what they offer? 2. Get to the root of the problem. If a company's environmental policies are preventing you from doing business with them, what else are you doing to address the issue? Donating to environmental causes? Volunteering with an environmental organization? Let's all work together to take the next step.What are your thoughts on consumer activism and everything else we discussed today? Let us know @OhThisWorldPod on Twitter/IG or shoot us a message at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com.This episode was recorded on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.

Today Antoinette leads a wide-ranging discussion on political accountability and the conservative obsession with "cancel culture."First, an announcement: our first season of OH THIS WORLD wraps in less than two weeks, on Friday, July 3rd! We'll be off for the rest of July and back in August with S2.A few quick follow-ups from previous episodes: Antoinette recommends a recent Roxane Gay column and revisits the question of who *can* fire the police chief, Lucas relays a disturbing story out of #TX21, and we look at the role teenagers played in the low turnout at Trump's rally in Tulsa.For our main topic, we're talking accountability today: what it is, why it matters, and how we can hold our political leaders accountable. We also explore the related topic of "cancel culture" (which may be just another phrase for holding folks to account). Among the resources Antoinette references: pieces on "cancel culture" from Religion News and the Spectator. You can find more about the The Civility Project here.What can you do now?In the spirit of holding our leaders accountable, Antoinette encourages Texas listeners to join our friends at Indivisible Austin in demanding that AG Ken Paxton drop the Healthcare Repeal Lawsuit. And, as we've said many times before, the time to get involved with a Democratic campaign is now. If you're in the Austin area, check out Wendy Davis in #TX21 and Julie Oliver in #TX25, and get volunteering and donating today!This episode was recorded on Monday, June 22, 2020.

Every Friday, we take a look at the week in numbers and offer our recs for what to read, listen to and watch to stay grounded during this unsettling time.To help us understand the numbers for the week we turn to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, as well as this Texas Tribune piece on record hospitalizations in Texas. (One correction: when discussing Hays County numbers of late, Lucas meant to say that the GOP has touted that no one under sixty has died, not over).Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced students will return to school in the fall without any masking or testing requirements, to which teacher associations in Texas are saying "hell no." For more on the governor's, er, not-exactly-straightforward proclamations, Antoinette recs this Christopher Hooks piece in Texas Monthly. We also follow-up on Wednesday's Down-ballot Frenzy with some info on the local race for County Attorney.Meanwhile, Antoinette and her family have been doing the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. She updates us on how it's going.Weekend recs?After devouring "Bluebird, Bluebird" a year ago, Lucas is reading "Heaven, My Home," the next in Attica Locke's highly addictive Highway 59 series.Antoinette recommends Yvonne Orji's new HBO comedy special, "Momma, I Made It!" and puts in a plug for online classes.Have a good weekend and stay safe, everyone!This episode was recorded on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Today we look at the importance of some of the elected offices that get less attention during election season, talk about why they're important in 2020, and what you can do to get involved.To start, we review the importance of the Texas House and State Board of Education races in November, then turn our attention to the justice system. For more on the importance of electing progressive DAs, check out this NBC News piece. For some of the challenges facing progressive DAs who have been elected, read this. For more on José Garza, running for District Attorney here in Travis County, visit his website. The Austin Chronicle story on Garza calling for jail changes during COVID is here; more on his primary run-off against Margaret Moore can be found in Community Impact.You can get the basics when it comes to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals here. The 2010 Andrew Cohen that we reference about Sharon Keller is available on the Atlantic website.Meanwhile, check out this Texas Tribune story for more on our embarrassing Ag Commissioner, Sid Miller. What is the Ag Commissioner actually responsible for? A lot, it turns out. Find out the details here.What can we do today?1. Research ALL the races in your district well before going to the polls. One good resource? Antoinette recommends the voting guide from your local League of Women Voters chapter. A sample can be found here.2. Get involved in a down-ballot race today. Good resources for Texans include Flip The Texas House, Swing Left, and Indivisible Austin. Or volunteer directly for a campaign.This episode was recorded on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

On this episode, Antoinette takes us through her own evolution in thinking about social media activism, explores the pitfalls of the online life, and unveils her strategy for using social media effectively.Before we jump into our main topic for the day, a few brief follow-ups from last week: we look at the latest on attempts to hold the Austin Police Department accountable, and offer final thoughts on Kerbey Lane-gate. One essential way for Austinites to make your voices heard when it comes to the police: get in touch with your City Council member and stay in touch, especially while next year's budget is being debated. Find an easy way to do it and what to say here.Next, Antoinette takes us through her social media evolution. Two resources she found useful in taking her social media game to the next level: this Pew Research piece on "Activism in the Social Media Age," and this NPR interview with Howard Gardner, the author of "Changing Minds."What can you do now?1. A quick call to action for allies in the fight for racial justice: follow the example of chef Samin Nosrat and take the next seven days to use social media to amplify Black Americans who are in your field of expertise (Nosrat is using her Instagram to promote and amplify Black chefs). 2. Give your social media activism a tune-up. Strategize about how to post and share with more purpose and intention. Antoinette shares more of what she means by this during the second half of today's episode. You can also use social media to tell us how it's going. We're on Twitter and Instagram @ohthisworldpod.This episode was recorded on Monday, June 15, 2020.

This week, we have a bevy of follow-ups, as well as our weekly recs for what to watch, listen to, and read this weekend to stay grounded in this unsettling time.We start with a look at the Coronavirus numbers. They're not great, particularly in Texas, where the governor's premature reopening and GOP aversion to basic public health measures is leading to an uptick in cases. Here in Austin, we're in our fourth straight day of triple-digit numbers of new cases. Wear a mask, social distance, and stay home when possible, y'all! Next, a special for our TX21 listeners as we dive back into Kerbey Lane-gate, and call out CEO Mason Ayer for fawning over our Austin-hating Congressman (and for having a sickeningly limited dessert menu). Speaking of Austin, we discuss the Austin City Council's initial steps to hold the Austin Police Department accountable, which include some substantive changes, though we need to continue to hold our council members accountable, too.We also take a look into the somewhat ignominious racial history of Sen. John Cornyn, in light of his recent resistance to renaming Fort Hood. To learn more about the scandal in Tulia, Texas we talk about today, check out Nate Blakeslee's book Tulia: Race, Cocaine and Corruption in a Small Texas Town, or this 2002 Austin Chronicle story by Lauri Apple.Finally, Antoinette introduces us to White Nonsense Roundup. Check them out!Our recs for the weekend?Antoinette is in a Netflix situation at the moment, recommending Issa Rae's new comedy The Lovebirds and the series Derry Girls.Lucas suggests everyone check out John Oliver's latest Last Week Tonight about the police; recommends reading (or listening to, given his recent audiobook binge) Isabel Wilkerson's marvelous history of the Great Migration, The Warmth of Other Suns; and watching Kusama: Infinity, about the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, currently streaming on Hulu.This episode was recorded on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Today Lucas leads a wide-ranging discussion about how the Texas State Board of Education wields significant influence over how history is taught both in Texas and across the country, why it matters, and what we can do about it. First, Antoinette has a follow-up to recent conversations about defunding the police, and Lucas explains why he'll no longer be eating at Kerbey Lane (and encourages listeners to do to the same).In the first half of their conversation, Lucas and Antoinette explore two separate but related issues: how our schools are still largely segregated and how what U.S. students learn about race and racism in American history classes is often sorely lacking. Aiding our conversation is this must-read 1619 Project essay by Nikita Stewart on how slavery is taught in American schools (hint: not well). Next we turn to how the Texas State Board of Education shapes what students learn in history class, and why that has consequences not only for Texas students but for students across the country. Another must-read: historian Jonna Perillo's Washington Post story on how the Texas SBOE "exposes how poorly we teach history."What can we do about all this?1. Learn more about how students are taught U.S. history now. In addition to Nikita Stewart's article, we recommend James W. Loewen's classic Lies My Teacher Told Me, which analyzes a dozen textbooks used in U.S. history classrooms. 2. Find out who has the power to shape curriculum in your community, and where to speak out if you don't like how they're doing it. You can find information here on how each state chooses its history textbooks.3. Get involved in the 2020 races for the Texas State Board of Education. Learn more about Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau in District 5, and also her possible GOP opponent, a jester-hat wearing man with a history of "sexist, racist tweets and conspiracy-laden rants." Also, check out the 21-Day Racial Equity Building Challenge that Antoinette mentioned in this episode here. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

On today's episode, Antoinette leads us through the steps we can all take as consumers, employees and business owners to make sure businesses are keeping anti-racism at the forefront of their agendas. First, we get a quick correction on the (less-wonderful-than-they-first-appeared) unemployment numbers from last week, and Lucas suggests Austin listeners head over to Grits for Breakfast for an update on a couple of Austin City Council resolutions related to policing that will be considered this week. (Call your council members!)Then, Antoinette uses a recent NYT piece on the economic risks facing black workers in the COVID-19 era to kickstart a broader conversation about antiracism in the workplace. For the CEPR profile of frontline workers she references, go here. You can find the story on companies bankrolling Tom Cotton here.What can you do to hold businesses accountable? Antoinette offers a whole bunch of ideas for consumers, employees and business owners throughout the episode. One immediate call to action: go through your emails and take note of the businesses promising to "do more" on the antiracism front. Keep track of these emails on your phone or computer (Antoinette recommends keeping it all in a folder called RECEIPTS). Flag your calendar to check back in 30, 60 or 90 days to see which companies have kept their promises and how (and if they're not following through, call them out and find other places to conduct your business).How are you making sure anti-racism is at the forefront of the businesses you frequent? Let us know on Twitter @ohthisworldpod or by email at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. This episode was recorded on Monday, June 8, 2020.

In this mini-episode, Lucas addresses white people who are supportive of the Black Lives Matter protests but still get skittish when they hear "defund the police."You can read a copy of the 1928 Koch and Fowler "Master Plan" for Austin here (the part Lucas references is on p. 57, or view a screenshot here). For more on Austin's freedmen communities, check out the Austin History Center.This bonus episode was recorded on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

Activist and musician Matt Oliver is our special guest today to talk about relational organizing. Before Matt joins us, we give an update on the coronavirus numbers for the week. Cases continue to rise faster than ever globally, while the unemployment rate has dropped. Another number to report: five. That's how many Texas GOP county leaders have shared racist Facebook posts and/or racist conspiracy theories this week.Next we turn to the protests in Austin, and the Austin Police Department's unacceptable response to them. The tension between citizens and the APD has been on the rise for some time; this week's protests resulted in the police seriously injuring multiple Austinites. Among the peaceful protesters hurt by police were a sixteen-year-old hit in the head with a beanbag round, a pregnant woman, and a Texas State student who was critically injured. Activists are calling for change, and hundreds of citizens spoke at a City Council meeting last night, including the brother of one of the victims. Amazingly, none of this stopped the Council from voting in favor of taking a $400,000 grant for APD, despite calls for them not to do so. Only four council members opposed the measure. If your council member supported it, you need to give them a call. Think 40% is way too much of the city's budget to be handed over to APD? Be sure to take this budget survey to let the city know where your priorities are.Next, our special guest: activist Matt Oliver, who is also husband to TX25 Democratic congressional candidate Julie Oliver. Matt talks with us about relational organizing: what it is, how it works, and why it matters. He also explains how they're using it on the Oliver campaign. Want to get started? Volunteer here.Since it's Friday, Matt also gives us his recs for what he's been reading and listening to lately (Steely Dan is involved!) Lucas, meanwhile, has a typically depressing movie recommendation, while Antoinette has begun to keep track of all of the companies emailing her Black Lives Matters statements, so that she can hold them accountable moving forward.Stay safe this weekend and we'll see you on Monday.This episode was recorded on Friday, June 5, 2020.

After a week of especially horrible police brutality against black Americans, many white allies are showing up for the first time on the shores of Activist Island. Help them dry off, warm up, and find ways to be productive citizens in this new place.Before we dive into the heart of the episode, we explore whether or not our Congressman here in TX21 is a fascist (hint: he wants American soldiers to turn on American citizens), and look at a minor flare-up on social media this week after constituents in the district called him out on it.Next, a discussion of Blackout Tuesday. Was it merely performative? What were its unintended consequences? And what does it show us about how to (and how not to) be be an ally/decent human being in 2020?Blackout Tuesday takes us into a broader exploration of how white people can educate themselves moving forward. We look at some common missteps newcomers make, the differences between calling out and calling in, and how all of us can call our people in to advocate for change.What can you do? For allies, Antoinette points us to a social media post that she thought summed it up well: listen, research, donate. There are a lot of resources for folks interested in doing all of these things, including lists of ways to help now, what to read and where to send money. We want to know what you're doing. Find us on Twitter/IG @ohthisworldpod or email us at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. Stay safe out there! This episode was recorded on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

In this time of pandemic and upheaval, what are the dangers of living in an echo chamber? Are there benefits? How do we break out of them?On today's show we look at all kinds of echo chambers--from ideological to racial (specifically white people only hearing other white voices)--and their many perils. Among the resources we chat about that are worth checking out: are this Forbes piece on figuring out whether you're in a social media echo chamber, and this NPR piece on how that may have happened in the first place.We also take a brief look at deep canvassing, an issue we'll touch on later in the week. See this Vox piece on whether it's possible to "talk someone out of bigotry" for a preview.What can you do now to break out of your echo chamber?1. Don't rely on any one platform or outlet for your news. Check out this media bias chart, which looks at both an outlet's ideological perspective and how rigorously researched the information on the site is. Start taking a look at platforms whose writers differ from you ideologically, but who are still ranked as credible. 2. Check in with some progressive friends outside of your immediate social circle as to how they're doing after this last tumultuous week. In addition to doing it because it's good to check in on your friends, this will be good practice for relational organizing, a subject we'll address later in the week.Also: are you a white person who has had productive conversations with family members or friends interrogating white supremacy or privilege in your own lives? Have a script you've used for talking to a racist family member? We'd love to hear about it. Shoot us a line at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com or find us on Twitter/IG @ohthisworldpod.This episode was recorded on Monday, June 1, 2020.

Welcome to our weekend grab bag, where we follow up on stories from throughout the week and talk about what we're listening to, reading and watching to stay grounded in this unsettling time.As always on Fridays, we start with a look at the numbers from both a public health perspective and an economic one. Here in Texas, Thursday saw the "largest single-day number of new coronavirus cases"; 2.2 million Texans have filed for unemployment since the COVID-19 crisis began.Next, we look at the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the President's vile response, and what white people need to be doing right now to combat white supremacy. Lucas shares a Medium post from Corinne Shutack on 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice, and Antoinette recommends a list of Ally Reading Materials from Black Lives Matter Austin. A March for Black Lives and Freedom is scheduled for Sunday at the Texas State Capitol. As for weekend recs, Lucas suggests Uncut Gems, which just started streaming on Netflix (also worth a look: this Ringer piece on how Kevin Garnett ended up in the movie). Antoinette, meanwhile, has been devouring the now-departed The Newsroom.Stay safe this weekend and we'll see you on Monday.This episode was recorded on Friday, May 29, 2020.

In our second episode on combatting disinformation, Antoinette helps us understand the extremely pervasive use of gaslighting from the Trump administration and their allies. We start by explaining what gaslighting is, and Antoinette and Lucas talk about if they've experienced gaslighting on a personal level, in their own lives.Then we expand the conversation to cover the country: what happens when the whole of the United States is being gaslit by the President and his cheerleaders in Congress and in the far-right media? How can we prepare for the gaslighting that has happened, and continues to happen, in this age of coronavirus? What are the consequences of gaslighting an entire nation? And what can we do to combat it?One place to start is by identifying how Trump and his allies use gaslighting and why. (The Coronavirus Countdown Calendar Antoinette references in this episode can be found here).What can you do to combat gaslighting today? 1. Demand truth from your elected officials. Re-center truth by calling out gaslighting and pointing out what's actually happening in letters to the editors, on social media, and in conversations with your elected representatives.2. Change electoral outcomes. The easiest way to get rid of the most egregious gaslighters on offer in America is to vote them out. Want to get involved but don't know where to start? Choose a local campaign, or check out organizations that can guide you in the right direction like Indivisible Austin and Flip the Texas House.This episode was recorded on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Today we look at why we aren't mourning COVID-19 deaths collectively, as a nation, why collective mourning is important, and what we can do about it. First, we look at a couple of articles that may be of interest to OTW listeners: an NPR story evaluating the risks of various summer activities, and a piece from the NYT on erosion of trust in the government (wonder why!)For our main topic we start with the cover of Sunday's New York Times, which featured the names and short descriptions of the lives of 1,000 COVID-19 victims, 1% of the 100,000 American dead. Why has there been no national day of mourning to honor these Americans? Why is the President only lowering the flags now, and only for two days? Why does it seem as if the Republican Party is intentionally trying to downplay what has happened here?Because acknowledging the dead would be to acknowledge the failures of the Trump administration to adequately prepare for this crisis. The GOP, as always, would rather scapegoat, distract, and pass the buck. We look at a couple of key GOP talking points designed to undermine these deaths, including the Republican contention that older Americans basically don't count and the baseless GOP assertion that measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus are worse than coronavirus (the GOP loves to invoke Sweden here - we look at that, too).But just because the GOP refuses to honor the dead doesn't mean we have to play along. We look at Teju Cole's essay, "We Can't Comprehend This Much Sorrow," as well as pieces on the importance of ritual and on "new ways to mourn" in the age of coronavirus.What can we do?Find ways to acknowledge and honor those who have died and continue to die, either through ritual or by sharing their stories through social media, in a letter to the editor, and with your elected representatives.And, as always, if you aren't involved in a campaign at the local, state or federal level, now is the time to get involved. We shouldn't have to have a long conversation explaining why we need to collectively grieve in the midst of a national catastrophe. We should have leaders who get it, and leaders who lead. This administration has failed, and it's on all of us - collectively - to replace them. This episode was recorded on Monday, May 25, 2020.

Welcome to our weekend grab bag, where we follow up on stories from throughout the week and talk about what we're listening to, reading and watching to stay grounded in this unsettling time.We start with a look at the numbers: from both a public health perspective and an economic one. The news here in Texas is especially grim, as the state has played fast and loose with the numbers on testing. In addition, over one million Texans have likely, according to the Texas Tribune, "suffered the double whammy of losing their jobs and their employer-based health insurance." Meanwhile, as the GOP vilifies the vast majority of Americans in favor of shutdown measures, a new study shows 36,000 American lives could've been saved had we started social distancing a week earlier.A final follow-up: ICYMI, check out Antoinette's Oh This Small World on "Business Leaders and the Myth of the Middle Ground." Next up is a wide-ranging conversation on political labels: do they help us understand our country and our political parties? Or are they harmful? Are the labels that we use even relevant to today? Antoinette and Lucas also took a couple of ideological quizzes to see where they ranked and if they thought the results were accurate. Want to try them yourself? You can find them here and here.As for weekend recs, Antoinette has Theranos on the brain: she suggests both checking out the ABC Audio podcast The Dropout, about the Elizabeth Holmes fiasco, and reading John Carreyrou's account of the same, "Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup."Looking for a weekend LOL? Lucas puts in a plug for his husband Greg Marshall's recent humor piece up at McSweeney's. Speaking of Greg, he and Lucas have recently started taking voice lessons over Zoom. Looking to learn a new skill this summer but want to keep things socially distant? For Austin listeners, Lucas suggests considering an online class at the Contemporary Austin or taking a (virtual) Informal Class through UT-Austin.Stay safe this long weekend, and we'll see you on Monday! This episode was recorded on Friday, May 22, 2020.

It's never been American business custom to speak openly about politics. But when business leaders who are progressively minded do speak up, I want truth! I want resonance! I want to feel what they're saying in my bones!That's not what we usually get, though. And today I'm calling in my business leader people. Stop imploring us to all just find a way to get along politically. That might work if we were playing by the same rules, but it turns out we aren't even playing the same game.

The COVID-19 catastrophe has highlighted major problems in America that existed well before the pandemic did, from a broken health care system to vast (and rising) inequality. But what if out of this crisis came the chance to create big change? Today our focus is on expanding our political imaginations and beginning to think about what a post-pandemic America should look like.First, a quick follow-up, as Antoinette gives us an important update on vote by mail in Texas. Next, we jump into our main topic. To start, we explore a couple of recent happenings that highlight the possibility of tossing aside the old, ineffective ways of doing things and searching for a better path forward. Helping guide the conversation: Jamelle Bouie's recent column in support of Elizabeth Warren for Dem V.P.; Mark Leibovich's story on Stacey Abrams; and the recent commencement address given by President Obama.Then we dive into how previous crises have opened the door to major policy shifts and structural change in America. For more historical context, check out this Los Angeles Times piece by Mark Z. Barabak, and this Mara Liasson story from NPR.What are the big changes your hosts would like to see? We delve into some of the big ones, including fixing our broken healthcare system, confronting white supremacy, and fighting back against the war on people who actually know what they're talking about. (For an entertaining and depressing piece on how far we've fallen in that last category, check out this excerpt from Michael Lewis' book, "The Fifth Risk."). How do we get to a place where we can make real change? For starters, by getting real about how we got into this position in the first place. We take a look at an interesting 2018 proposition from Kevin Baker in the New Republic.Of course, no change can happen if we can't take power, and big change can't happen if we don't play the long game by winning at the state and local, as well as federal, levels.Your calls to action for today:1. Get involved locally. Find a state or local election in a swing district near you and volunteer today. Have no idea where to start? If you're in Texas, check out Flip The Texas House, Swing Left and Indivisible Austin. In Texas or out of it, visit Run For Something and Sister District.2. Create a political dream board. Figure out the change you want to see. And let us know what you're thinking. We're on Twitter and IG at @ohthisworldpod.This episode was recorded on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

Today, Antoinette does a deep-dive into how we can hold corporations accountable for their actions in the COVID-19 era.Before we leap into the corporate world, Lucas looks at the latest ways Republicans are distorting information to distract from their own incredible unpreparedness on Coronavirus. He points to recent Republican insistence that red states shouldn't be "responsible" for blue states when, in fact, blue states are the ones who usually subsidize their red counterparts. (The Dave Weigel tweet he references during this mini-rant can be found here). He also looks at some repugnant statements from HHS Secretary Azar. For the main event, Antoinette leads us through a short and sorry history of corporations. Antoinette investigates how we got to a place where we treat corporations as people, and why corporate malfeasance rarely results in individual accountability.She also has some suggestions for new ways we can think about corporations in America during this strange time. Finally, she unveils some actions all of us take do today: * Flex your muscle as a consumer. Dig into the practices of your favorite businesses, demand better when necessary and route your money to local and independent businesses. Hold corporations accountable for their behavior during this pandemic.* Cultivate a conversation on social media about good corporate behavior. When a corporation's practices don't align with your values, let your circle know and organize together to create change.This episode was recorded on Monday, May 18, 2020.

GOP voter suppression efforts in Texas continue their slog. It would be nice to not think about this for a day, but since we can't do that, let's turn our frustration into action and step up for every Texan. Texans, please make two calls on Monday to fight for our voting rights:Gov. Greg Abbott -- 800-843-5789Secretary of State Ruth Hughs -- 512-463-5555After you get to the person who's going to take your message for Gov. Abbott and then SOS Hughs, say this short script:“Keep voters and election officials safe by giving all eligible Texas voters the option of voting by mail and ramping up public education on voting by mail.”And then text 5 friends and ask them to make the same two calls.Thank you ACLU Texas for the script that I adapted for this CTA.

We start our Weekend Grab Bag with some follow-ups on stories throughout the week, including an update to our disinformation episode. Lucas points to two stories related to his Oh This Small World mini-episode addressed to his fellow white people: a disturbing piece from the New York Times about armed "protesters" in Texas, and an article on the cancellation of the legislative session in Michigan. For listeners - especially white listeners - interested in further exploring how whiteness and white supremacy influence every aspect of American life, Lucas recommends Debby Irving's memoir "Waking Up White."Next, Antoinette does a deep-dive into all things Animal Crossing, using a recent Atlantic piece as a jumping-off point to investigate what the game - and its popularity - says about where we are as a country.Speaking of where we are as a country, we next dive into the numbers this week, and they're harrowing. A good resource for keeping track of what's happening with COVID-19 across America: the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Here in Texas, meanwhile, this week saw the highest single-day hike in coronavirus deaths, two weeks after Gov. Abbott's announced partial "reopen." The economic news is no better, including record unemployment and a volatile week on the stock market. We talk about what it all means, and where we go from here.Finally, it's Friday, which means Antoinette and Lucas give their recs for what to watch, listen to, or read this weekend to stay grounded.Antoinette sticks with the Animal Crossing theme, recommending the game or the Pocket Camp version for iPad and iPhone. She also recs some Spotify playlists: lofi hip hop and Throwback Jams. Meanwhile, Lucas, in a rare break from Antoinette, suggests tuning into Netflix's Love is Blind if you haven't already (though he has recommendations within that recommendation). Let us know what you're listening to/watching/reading. We're on IG and Twitter @OhThisWorldPod or email us at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. Stay safe and healthy this weekend and we'll see you next week!This episode was recorded on Friday, May 15, 2020.

On this episode, Antoinette and Lucas explore the disinformation that bad actors are spreading about coronavirus, and what all of us can do to combat it. We start by looking at the differences between misinformation and disinformation, and recount our own experiences falling for, or dealing with people who have fallen for, false material. We also recommend this must-read Twitter thread from Andy Slavitt on how the Trump administration will try to discredit scientists in the coming days and weeks. Next we explore the debunked "Plandemic" video that was going around recently. In understanding why the video was convincing to some people, we found this Tara Haelle piece from Forbes, "Why It's Important to Push Back on 'Plandemic' - And How To Do It," especially helpful. Haelle's piece also has some excellent advice for how to talk to friends or family who have fallen for a conspiracy theory.Also useful in understanding 'Plandemic': this Science Magazine piece, which fact-checked and debunked multiple claims in the video.So what can we do to combat disinformation? In addition to the Tara Haelle piece, which explains both why it's important to push back against disinformation and how to do it effectively, we recommend this excellent ProPublica article by investigative journalist Marshall Allen on the questions he asks to assess mis- and disinformation. This Atlantic story has additional suggestions for countering false claims.Our calls to action:1. Speak out. Check out the resources in our episode notes, and the next time you see a friend or family member spreading disinformation on social media, say something.2. Indivisible Austin has three actions you can take this week to combat disinformation, including pressuring Gov. Abbott to listen to the scientists. All three Indivisible Austin calls to action are here.Losing your mind with home-schooling? Lucas posted up an activity he used to do with his 7th graders to identify the credibility of different media sources. (It's not like the most fun thing ever but could definitely kill an hour and is useful, too!)Stay safe out there, and remember: your words matter. If you see disinformation being spread, call it out.This episode was recorded on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

In today's episode we look at what types of work are considered essential, how we treat our essential workers (spoiler: poorly), and what all of us can do to support America's essential workforce.Before diving in, Antoinette calls attention to an A+ video about vote-by-mail from TX-10 Democratic candidate Mike Siegel, and Lucas gives an update on the never-ending Dallas hairdresser saga, now revealed to be (predictably) a stunt. We also take listeners through TX-21 Rep. Chip Roy's latest embarrassing meltdown/plea for campaign donations, this one provoked by... a completely non-controversial non-binding anti-discrimination resolution from the San Antonio City Council.For our main topic, Antoinette leads us on a deep-dive into essential work: what work is considered "essential" during COVID-19? And how can we better support these workers who allow our society to function?Among the resources we use to understand essential work in America: this demographic profile of the country's essential workers; this Community Impact story on how coronavirus is affecting those still going into work here in Travis County; and this Marketwatch piece on the difference between essential workers and essential work. We also explore how race has factored into the equation, recommending Adam Serwer's essay, "The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying," and touch on recent protests for better working conditions among essential workers.What can you do to support America's essential workers?Our call to action today is to call your senators and your Congressperson and demand that they include the Essential Workers Bill of Rights in the next coronavirus aid package. Looking for a script to help you make your call? Both Indivisible and Greenpeace have great scripts for calling both your Democratic and Republican members of Congress. Make your first call today.This episode was recorded on Monday, May 11, 2020.

For our weekend grab bag we're joined by special guest Sunny Merry, co-host of the The Mocktale Hour, a new podcast "for the sober-curious and the alcohol-free." Before talking to Sunny, Antoinette follows up on her social distancing bonus episode with news of changes to the rules for visiting certain Austin parks, and she and Lucas discuss Lucas' message to his fellow white people from yesterday. Next, Sunny Merry joins OTW to talk about her new podcast, The Mocktale Hour. Sunny helps us explore sobriety in this age of quarantine, the challenges facing those in alcohol recovery, and we hear about how she's been spending her shelter-at-home time (hosting a socially distant yard sale is involved!) You can find The Mocktale Hour on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify, and be sure to say hi on Instagram and Facebook, too!Looking for more on alcohol and COVID? Check out "The Dangerous Rise of Drinking Culture in Quarantine" by Penny Guisinger in The Temper, and "Are You Drinking Too Much in Quarantine?" by Korin Miller in Prevention.We close out every Friday by sharing what we're listening to, reading, and watching to stay grounded during this unsettling time: * Antoinette's been cooking of late, and recommends trying out this Chocolate Crazy Cake and the vegan recipes over at Thug Kitchen. * Sunny and her fam have been watching Upload on Amazon, a satire that is even keeping her teenagers engaged. * Meanwhile, Lucas, who continues to have trouble sitting down to read during quarantine, is giving audiobooks another go. His first listen? Stephen Harrigan's history of Texas, "Big Wonderful Thing," narrated by George Guidall.Finally, if you've been finding OH THIS WORLD useful and would like to help us keep going, consider supporting us on Patreon. Neither of us is looking to make money off this enterprise, but we are trying to get to a point where the podcast pays for itself. Thanks for your support! As always, let us know what you're up to this weekend. We're on Twitter & IG @OhThisWorldPod or drop us a line at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com.Stay safe and healthy this weekend!This episode was recorded on Friday, May 8, 2020.

Hours after the Texas Supreme Court ordered the hairdresser who broke stay-at-home measures released from jail, Lucas has a brief message to share with his fellow white people.This episode was recorded on Thursday, May 7, 2020.

A wide-ranging conversation about how to talk to people we disagree with and if that is a worthy goal in the first place. First, Antoinette gives a quick update on yesterday's vote-by-mail episode, calling attention to this helpful explainer from the Mike Siegel (TX-10) campaign, and Lucas revisits Texas AG Ken Paxton's 2014 Pen-gate incident and offers a poignant mea culpa about something he said on yesterday's show. Some essential context for our show today is understanding the way the GOP has used calls for "civility" to stifle debate and avoid accountability. We start with recent examples of uncivil behavior Republicans had no problem with: ugly incidents right here in Austin and at the Michigan Capitol. We then dive into a 2018 town hall Antoinette and Lucas attended to show how the GOP has weaponized "civility." We also explore how race factors into the "civility" equation. Two essential reads: "When Civility is Used as a Cudgel Against People of Color" by Karen Grigbsy Bates from NPR's Code Switch, and Adam Serwer's must-read 2019 essay, "Civility is Overrated."Next, Antoinette and Lucas look at when and whether the project of reaching out is even worthwhile, using their own experiences as activists and human beings.Finally, we dive into tools for communicating with the other side: Antoinette digs into her experience as a communications professional and revisits our old friend the Letter to the Editor, and Lucas takes us back to 2003 for a brief foray into his time as an itinerant T-shirt salesman. Two calls for action:1. Challenge yourself to have a conversation with a friend or family member with whom you don't agree. Focus on listening. 2. Are there ways you can use your own story to show how politics is personal to you? How can you convey how actual policies affect your actual life, and through what channels can you convey your message? Let us know what you're thinking: find us on Twitter/IG @OhThisWorldPod or shoot us a line at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. Looking for more ways to get involved locally? Our friends at Indivisible Austin have a special page for OTW listeners who are interested in joining up with them. Check it out here. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

When state and local orders on public safety no longer align, confusion is an expected outcome. And folks who have been itching for a "return to normal" might see this confusion as a convenient excuse to make individual decisions that risk everyone else's health. Even if you and I stay the course by adhering to safe public health practices, people we know and care about might not. And we must call in our people.This mini-episode was inspired by a recent story in the Austin American-Statesman, "Austin parks crowded Saturday after statewide stay-at-home order lifted," and a CNN coverage of another Austin occurrence, "Park ranger was telling someone to social distance. Mid-speech, someone pushed him into a lake."Austin listeners, please share this fantastic slide deck from Austin Parks Foundation on your Instagram and Twitter. Spread the word! Let's call in our people!This bonus episode was recorded after a trip to HEB on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

Antoinette and Lucas explore why making vote-by-mail accessible to all is so important in the age of COVID-19, and what we need to do to make it happen.Before diving into mail-in voting, we introduce a new feature: Oh This Small World, occasional five-minute bonus episodes we'll release on days we don't record. You can check out the first one here.We also have a special call to action for our friends in #TX21. On Wednesday, May 6, Rep. Chip Roy - who failed to advocate for ramped-up testing in Texas and now wants to re-open widely with zero plan to increase said testing - will be sitting for an interview with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith. The Tribune is offering the public the chance to submit questions and we know you have some. You can do so here. We also briefly discuss Chip's strange foray into astroturfing. For everything you ever wanted to know about that unfortunate subject, check out our fifth episode, Astroturfin' U.S.A.Our main topic today is the necessity of implementing vote-by-mail in this age of Coronavirus. Antoinette leads our deep-dive here, quickly dispelling GOP misinformation about "voter fraud," which is both their key argument against vote-by-mail and something that is virtually nonexistent. (The only recent instance of it came courtesy of... a Republican operative). Rather, the GOP perpetuates the lie that vote fraud is widespread to validate their own attempts at voter suppression. Despite GOP resistance, the idea of vote-by-mail is wildly popular. Antoinette looks at both its advantages and some of the challenges states may have in implementing it. She also references this interesting piece by Greg Palast about the brokenness of our current absentee ballot system. We also look at what is happening in Texas, where our indicted Attorney General/pen thief Ken Paxton is doing everything he can to stop vote-by-mail.What can you do?1. Call you Senators and demand a vote on the USPS Fairness Act, because if there is no post office, there is no vote by mail. We covered the USPS Fairness Act here.2. Call your Congressperson and ask them to include full USPS funding and $4 billion for vote-by-mail funding in the next coronavirus relief bill. 3. Texans: call the Attorney General's office and call the Secretary of State and tell them you support vote-by-mail and that it is necessary during this pandemic.This episode was recorded on Monday, May 4, 2020.

On days when we don't record, expect the occasional mini-rant or quick call to action from Antoinette or Lucas. Today, on this second day of Texas' partial "re-open," Lucas has a thing or two to say about masks and our elected officials (hint: cover your trap, Congressman!)The original story that provoked this mild rage, "Restaurants open, and Chip Roy takes his family for Tex-Mex," by Jonathan Tilove, appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on May 1, 2020.This bonus episode was recorded deep into the evening of Saturday, May 2, 2020.

Every Friday, we follow up on our previous episodes from the week, and talk about what we're doing to stay grounded in this unsettling time, including sharing what we're listening to, reading and watching.Today we start with follow-ups on recent segments about writing letters to the editor; the partial Texas "re-open," which begins today; and playing the political long game. You can find Lucas' recent letter to the Statesman here.Antoinette and Lucas next explore those things we've started doing during quarantine that we hope stick around after it's done. From chatting with friends more frequently to spending more time outside to being able to grab alcohol to-go, we focus on the bright spots.When it comes to how we're staying grounded this week, Antoinette is all about the dogs of Instagram. She shared three favorites: Loulou & Coco, the Hotdogs of Hackney, and Eris the Borzoi. Meanwhile, Lucas recommends checking out Mrs. America on Hulu, a mini-series that shows grassroots activism in action. Finally, a quick programming note. After experimenting with our schedule the last two weeks, we're making it official: we'll be recording new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from here on out. If you haven't already, subscribe today! An easy call to action for the weekend: We want to hear from you. Let us know what quarantine habits you've picked up that you hope stick around once we're no longer staying at home, and share your weekend pop culture recs. We're on Twitter and IG @OhThisWorldPod or shoot us an email at ohthisworldpod@gmail.com. Stay safe this weekend!This episode was recorded on Friday, May 1, 2020.

Antoinette and Lucas look at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to allow some businesses—including restaurants and malls—to re-open at 25% capacity on Friday, why that’s bad for workers and for business owners, and how we can respond.First, Antoinette catches us up on her own activism this week, highlighting a Zoom meeting she participated in between her Congressman’s constituents and one of his staffers, and we discuss the highs and lows of grassroots activism, which is now more important than ever. (Lucas would also like to note that when he said he called Ted Cruz's office to follow-up with a staffer "every day for a month for six months" he meant to say he called "every day, once a month, for six months." He is intense, but not that intense).Then we jump into the big news of the week here in Texas: Gov. Abbott’s partial "re-open" of the economy. This comes despite the fact that Texas is still 48th in the nation on testing. Here in Austin and around the state, many businesses are choosing to remain closed, both for safety and for economic reasons. So why is Abbott doing this? One reason is because once a business has re-opened, its employees can no longer stay on unemployment insurance, even if they do not feel safe returning to work. A recent Forbes piece by Chris Westfall offers an explainer on this and other “real reasons for re-opening the economy.”Are you a waiter, or a movie theater employee scared to return to work because the state hasn’t provided adequate testing? Gov. Abbott has a simple message for you: it’s not his problem. One important note: in the few hours since we recorded this episode, Gov. Abbott has relaxed the guidelines on unemployment benefits, allowing certain Texans to remain on unemployment even if the places they work re-open on May 1st. Those affected include people over 65; those with a household member who is over 65 or high-risk; and those without access to childcare. Might’ve been nice if he’d thought about this when he made the initial announcement! So what can we do about it?1. We are in this mess because of Donald Trump and Greg Abbott’s failures on testing. So don’t let up. Call the governor, your Congressperson and your senators and demand to know #WhereAreTheTests. After you call, send your reps letters or postcards; tag them in social media posts. Don’t be afraid to get creative. The surest way to get the economy back on track is to get serious about testing. Force your representatives to get serious. 2. Support the businesses that have decided to prioritize the safety of both their employees and their customers by remaining closed. If a restaurant is keeping their dining room shut while still offering curbside or take-out, support them. Use social media to let responsible businesses know you’re with them. And when this is all over, financially reward businesses that put your community first. This episode was recorded on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

Today Antoinette takes us on a deep-dive into the history of the USPS, a vital American institution in financial peril. She focuses on the wild 2006 law that, in addition to COVID-19, has been the reason for many of the post office's recent troubles.Before jumping back into USPS-land, Antoinette and Lucas first discuss the big Texas news of the week - Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing various businesses, including restaurants and malls, to open at 25% capacity on Friday - and ask of the governor the age-old question: #WhereAreTheTests? We'll discuss why Abbott made this move in our Thursday episode, but offer a little speculation in this one.Next, Antoinette takes listeners through a brief history of the United States Postal Service, an American institution in economic distress, and one that the Trump administration is refusing to help during this pandemic. This despite the fact that many of the post office's economic woes are due to a nonsensical 2006 law that requires it to "fully fund its' retirees' health benefits 75 years into the future."The good news? There are actions we can take today to save the post office: 1. HR 2382, the USPS Fairness Act, repeals the absurd pre-funding requirement and has already made it through the House. Unfortunately, it is now languishing in the Senate. Call both of your senators and ask them to take up this bill now. Let them know that the USPS is essential to our country and to our democracy.2. Call your Congressperson and tell them that you support coronavirus relief for the USPS. 3. If you have the means, keep buying those stamps. Together, let's save this (constitutionally-mandated!) American institution. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.