Red State Blue Mom

In Tennessee, the city of Nashville is ground zero for ICE arrests, detentions, and deportations. Mama B. has a few stories to share regarding what her progressive state politician daughter (who represents Nashville), has experienced during this crazy, turbulent time. As protests against ICE operations are still ongoing all over the U.S., Mama B. shares some historical examples as she gives her opinion on what may lie ahead.

Many listeners may not be aware that, along with other red states like Texas, Tennessee has been a red state incubator for the Heritage Foundation's plans for this country as most recently stated in their Project 2025 agenda. My state's role as both an incubator and implementer of Project 2025 has been going on for almost a decade now but especially since Trump regained office this past January. I think I can safely say: “What often happens in the Tennessee legislature, does not stay in the state of Tennessee.”In this podcast episode recorded at the end of April before the ICE traffic stops and arrests started in Nashville, I interviewed Tennessee House Rep for District #51 representing downtown Nashville and East Nashville, Aftyn Behn. As a member of the superminority in the state legislature, we discuss what she considers the highs and lows of this year's Tennessee House session, what will be the end results of some of the laws enacted this session, along with a little bit about the budget our Governor signed too. Listeners will be able to find more details on all we discussed at AftynBehn.com and on her Substack. So grab a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet tea and settle in for what is sure to be an interesting listen. . . Mama B.

(Recorded on Sunday, April 13, 2025.) CORRECTIONS: The University of Tennessee has been informed that 9 international student visas have been revoked, for a total of 15 in the entire state so far. As of this episode's posting, an immigration judge has determined Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil can be deported but his case is on appeal. Mama B. has thoughts on and concerns over this month's historic economic meltdown, the world's view of the United States' brand, the current assaults on First Amendment rights and Due Process, and citizens turning in other citizens to the government.

This episode was recorded on 3/10/25. . . before Trump said to Laura Ingraham on Fox News [3/19/25], “One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada.” What an appalling statement from one of the most shameless men, if not THE MOST shameless man, in the United States today. Considering history along with some current events, Mama B. wonders why Trump treats Russia and Putin with deference but makes this awful statement about Canada? This episode also discusses a few other men that deserve some shameless notoriety. All this being noted as Red State Blue Mom celebrates Women's Herstory month and two caring and community-oriented women who have had a positive impact on both Tennessee and the world through their influence on human decency and human rights.

Though Trump's first month of his second term as President has been as chaotic, destructive, and nerve jangling as many of us thought it would be, there have also been a few very unexpected surprises. Mama B. talks about these unexpected surprises, the historical context of what's going on in our country right now, and what else may be planned by MAGA world in the very near future. Many of you may have found Red State Blue Mom on a recent Feedspot ranking of the 50 Best Appalachian Podcasts worth listening to in 2025. Red State Blue Mom has garnered #16 on this list. It's quite unexpected and very good news. In looking at the subject matter of the other 49 podcasts Feedspot says are worth listening to this year, I think it's safe to say: this is one of the very few on their list that is mostly political, giving listeners an idea of what it's like to be an Independent blue leaning voter and mom living in the Appalachian south in the reddest part of one of the reddest state's in the country.

After recording last month's episode of this podcast, Mama B., took her own advice to relax and recharge before Trump is sworn in as President and the Project 2025 agenda starts being implemented on January 20. Along with her family, she spent the holiday break in southern Italy. After her trip, it was easy for Mama B. to make both historical and modern-day comparisons of Trump to the famous and infamous in Italian history. She then pivots and does a review, maybe more of a cliff notes kind of summary, of a book she read on her holiday trip: “On Tyranny – Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” by Timothy Snyder. She feels this book may end up being a big help to her as well as her fellow Americans as a navigational tool for the next four years of the Trump presidency.

This month, the “B” in In Mama B. stands for brief because this podcast episode is short and to the point. She feels listeners need to relax, recharge, and get ready for the year ahead. Whether one is celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, Festivus, a Native Deity, or just having time off from the daily grind. . . from her kitchen table in Appalachian East Tennessee, Mama B. wishes everyone a fabulous holiday season!

What an election this has been. After all votes have been tabulated, America has learned we're pretty much a 50/50 country with the election for President having been within the statistical margin of error. While Donald J. Trump will be President for the next four years, not quite half of this country voted to kick him to the curb forever. In the immediate aftermath of this historic election in which Republicans will control all aspects of the U.S. government for at least the next two years, Mama B. and most Red State Blue Mom listeners are looking to the very near horizon and are in a state of shock and mourning over the possible loss of our democratic norms. While those listeners who voted for Trump are crowing that he has a mandate from heaven and the American people to do whatever he wants, the Democrats are wondering why they lost and are playing the blame game as they regroup for the fights ahead. In this month's podcast, Mama B. and Progressive Democrat Aftyn Behn (Tennessee House Representative for District 51 - Nashville), have an interesting and opinionated post-election discussion. . . so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of something stronger and find a comfortable place to have a listen. A word of advice: From now on be sure to emotionally buckle up because with Trump in charge of steering America, it's probably safe to say it's going to be a very chaotic and bumpy ride. (Recorded on Nov. 10, the Sunday after the election.)

​Hurricane season this year has not brought out the best in MAGA world and there's still more than a month to go until November 30 when the season ends. Mama B. tells stories of life in the Appalachian South of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene's devastation wrecked-havoc and has upended life for far too many people. MAGA leaders have not helped alleviate the stress and pain hurricane survivors have experienced but have caused great upset and harm as a result of big lies and manufactured, untrue stories. This can also be said about MAGA world's tall tales of voting fraud. Based on listening to an episode of another podcast she found interesting with its recommendation of a documentary to watch and a voting rights website to get familiar with, Mama B. urges listeners to take heed, be prepared, and learn what might have happened to your vote before you even go to the voting booth this election. What she has learned is a must know for listeners of Red State Blue Mom and everyone who believes in and wants our democracy to survive into the future.

​Since she lives in the reddest parts of one of the reddest states in the Union, Mama B. knows what's in store for this country if Trump wins the election in November. She has seen many aspects of Project 2025 already implemented in her state of Tennessee, which has been one of the red petri dishes, an incubator in miniature, for how Project 2025 can be implemented and will work at the national level. Because of AI, listeners can now get the cliff notes version of the 922-page Project 2025. Just google 25and.me and you will see a question, “How will Project 2025 affect me?” Click on this question shown in bright blue and you will see the word “Everything” at the top in red. If you want to read everything about Project 2025 then click on “Everything.” If you have a particular topic you are interested in then look below the word “Everything.” You will see every topic in Project 2025 categorized for easy reading. Just know that every state will be affected, even deep blue ones if Project 2025 goes into effect. Like the majority of Americans, Mama B. . . Does. Not. Want. To. Go. Back.

Due to summer travel schedules, this episode was recorded on 8/13/24 before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After adopting three kittens, Mama B. gives Trump, JD Vance, and the Republican party what for because she is now an official cat lady. Take that JD Vance. . . CAT LADIES UNITE!!! This will be her mantra this election season as she becomes a “joyful warrior” working alongside others of the same mindset with an eye to helping Trump's cult of personality write its own elegy for the annals of history.

This episode was recorded on July 11, before the assassination attempt on Trump, the Republican National Convention, and any other big-time news prior to the posting date listed. Regardless and as always, Mama B has plenty to say as she regales her audience with stories of summer weekends spent in Nashville. In Mama B's story of a Kentucky incest survivor, you will hear why having options inspires hope and truth telling. You will hear why this past June might be the last month the LGBTQ+ community openly celebrates Pride. You will hear why if you are talking the talk, you better be walking the walk. With a seminal election on the near horizon, what would any political podcast be without mentioning Nazis, Fascists, Dominionists, Christian Nationalists and their manifesto for taking control of America? As the heat and humidity continue to rise everywhere, not just in the south, grab an iced sweet tea or lemonade and head to your porch or your quiet place to have a listen. . .

What is it like to be a Progressive Democrat in a southern state legislature with a Republican supermajority? With her first legislative session behind her, Tennessee State Representative Aftyn Behn (District 51, Nashville) sits down with Mama B. at her family's kitchen table to discuss her unique experience. This episode is guaranteed to be interesting and informative so stay calm and listen on. . .

​In the last part of this three-part podcast series, Mama B. talks about a huge movement within the Christian faith, a subset of a much larger and sinister anti-democratic organization who are “Followers of Jesus” not necessarily of any particular Christian sect. These people and their organization have been around at least since the 1930's and are exceedingly well-connected in government, business, finance, and the military. They are powerful, influential, elitist, patriarchal, secretive, and mostly invisible to the majority of Americans. Their tentacles reach far and wide around the world but, most especially, into every aspect of American lives. Their effect on this country cannot be understated as they cloak themselves in a Jesus most of us would not recognize at all because this Jesus rewards wealth, position, power, and capitalism above all else.

As Mama B. says, “Excuses are like belly buttons, everyone has one.” Here are a few of her excuses for the much-needed pause she is taking before writing and recording “The Devil is in the Details, Part 3” to be posted next month in May.

In Part 2 of a three-part episode series, Mama B. gives a shout out to the ladies with a nod to Women's Herstory Month, past and present. Never one to withhold an opinion, this episode does not disappoint. Mama B. also gives her cliff notes answer to the question, “How did Tennessee become such a bright red Republican supermajority state after having been one of the Democrat led Confederate States of America?” This episode concludes with the mention of Part 3 coming up next month in April, when Mama B. will let you in on something happening right under our noses that may cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end.

In the first half of February, there has been an almost daily flurry of Breaking News. In Part 1 of this podcast recorded on President's day, Mama B. highlights some of the first few weeks of February's breaking news including Donald Trump's legal woes and her opinion of Nikki Haley's presidential candidacy but served with a southern twist. As she often does, Mama B. intertwines her cultural observations with historical factors influencing current events and this month's podcast is no exception. Keep in mind, Part 2 will be presented next month when you can rest assured, Mama B. will integrate both parts along with talking about how the heck this country got to be in the crazy place it finds itself now. Cue the song Sweet Home Alabama after listening to this podcast. . .

Mama B. is back from her family's holiday break trip to Ireland. As she shares some of her more interesting travel adventures in Ireland. . . she feels listeners may be surprised at the U.S. and Ireland's intertwined history. She learned there are lessons from Irish history for the U.S. to heed as it gets ready to vote in what will be the most definitive Presidential election in modern American history. Last month, Mama B. left listeners with a holiday break reading assignment (for those who are political nerds and with time permitting). In this podcast, she will give listeners a very short cliff notes version of this reading assignment, and of course share her opinions on The Republican Mandate for Leadership, Project 2025. She hopes listeners will understand some of the connections between what she learned in Ireland and what she read in Project 2025.

With its long holiday to-do list, December can be very stressful. Mama B. is making this month's podcast short and pertinent with an important reading assignment for when listeners have some downtime. After reading Project 2025, you will know why this coming year will be pivotal for the United States and for all of us who love democracy and freedom.

November is Native American Heritage Month and the time of year when we observe Thanksgiving, a holiday whose beginnings were predicated on acknowledging our blessings with gratefulness for a shared, bounteous meal between two very different cultures with two very different concepts of land ownership. At this moment in time, there are two majorly horrendous wars being waged in the world. Mama B. hopes listeners will realize some of the commonality of experiences between America's Native Americans and the participants in the current Israel-Hamas War. Her goal is for listeners to think about the intersectionality of political ideologies, religious beliefs and their mandates, and most of all. . . how land is central to human existence.

This podcast is an interview with Tennessee's newest and youngest female State House Representative (Nashville District #51). A rare female Progressive Democrat in a governing body awash with male MAGA Republicans. Hear what she has to say. . . (Recorded on October 15, 2023)

Mama B. talks about a newly minted Tennessee State House Representative, more political news affecting Tennessee you might not be aware of that may be headed to other southern states, the influence of religion in the state on both education and affirmative action, and how country music is now as divided as the American populace.

It's been a summer with lots of Girl Power! The color pink is dominating but there's always the black and white reality of real life and present-day politics. In this month's podcast, Mama B. continues her tales of politicking for her daughter's Special Election campaign for Tennessee House Representative, discusses the next step in her daughter's candidacy, and the aftermath in her own life from a journey never taken before. (NOTE:  This podcast was recorded before Tennessee's Special Legislative Session took place.  The September podcast will cover this, and much more.)

In this episode, Mama B. gives details about her Nashville door knocking experience in the summer heat for her daughter's special election campaign. She also talks about a few significant SCOTUS rulings handed down in June and their implications while, yet again, giving her listeners some sage advice along the way.

Topics talked about in detail or hinted at include:  Tiger Moms, MAGA Experiences in Arizona including a new January 6th conspiracy theory, Pride Month, a stay at a Grand Old Southern Hotel in Memphis that Elvis loved, and tales from the Mississippi Delta regarding Tennessee's very own First Grand Wizard of the KKK and his effect on the state to this very day.

May is the month known for Mother's Day and Memorial Day. During this month we honor and celebrate the mothers, matriarchs, and the mothering influences in our lives. On Memorial Day we honor those who have died fighting for our country. In this podcast, Mama B. tells stories about the significance of the color red for both these holidays.

Mama B. weighs in on the events of March 27 through April 13, a very shameful and consequential history making more than two weeks for the state of Tennessee and American Democracy. She talks about the mass shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville and the stupid but not surprising political missteps of Republicans in the Tennessee House in dealing with gun reform protestors and The Tennessee Three. She also brings up some interesting points mostly not considered in the reporting done by mainstream and cable media. As usual, Mama B. gives you something to think about.

In celebration of Women's Herstory Month, Mama B. tells listeners about a little-known Revolutionary War Soldier. She asks some thought-provoking questions of her listeners while telling some personal stories as she talks about her concerns for a new class of political refugees in this country: the LGBTQ community.

By popular demand, Mama B. continues her discussion on Sweden. In this podcast, she highlights its progressive government while making comparisons to the United States. Some of this year's February events have more of a connection to Sweden than listeners may even realize

A travelogue of Mama B.'s family trip to Sweden & the Arctic. . . ending with words of warning.

Topics of discussion all in one podcast: December celebrations, Monuments Men and Warrior Librarians, The Best of America, Irritations, and an Adventure on the Horizon

Mama B. talks about the mid-term election results most of us didn't see coming and tells listeners a few personal stories regarding family MAGA fans. After recording last month's podcast, Mama B. made her annual pilgrimage to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming to pay her respects at Sacajawea's gravesite and to visit one of the reservation's mission churches. In honor of Native American Month, she tells listeners about an ancient Native American legend that might still be significant in this day and age.

Mama B. talks about fall colors and the many shades of a color's meaning... from flying and showing one's true colors in sports and politics, to the colors of hate. Mama B. throws in some Rocky Top and Dolly too.

In this podcast's first ever interview, Mama B. chats with Anna, a long time family friend with a compelling family history. After his capture and then release by the Union Army during the Civil War, Anna's paternal ancestor became a major Victorian era figure and businessman in Knoxville, Tennessee with a legacy that continues to this day. You are going to hear Anna's story of what it's like to be born into a prominent southern family and raised Jewish in one of the largest cities in the Appalachian south.

What does the intergalactic universe have in common with our country's political universe? Mama B. sheds light on the answer to this question.

Our country has recently experienced many shock waves. Much more than half our population is depressed, feeling deep dread and uncertainty as to what the future will bring. After the rulings of this latest Supreme Court term, long held beliefs in the certainty of justice and constitutional rights have been rattled. Gun violence has not abated. The January 6th Committee findings and testimony continue to astound. Buckle up because there's much more ahead...

Mama B. makes note of celebratory events in June but mostly, as a long-time gun owner, she shares her opinions on America's gun culture and has solutions to curtail gun violence.

If we are honest with ourselves, we all knew the day was coming when abortion rights would be overturned or at the very least gutted so as to be non-feasible. How did we get to this point in time? In the future, what other constitutional rights may be taken away from Americans?

Mama B. answers some fan mail, has a good deal to say about the confirmation hearings and the Senate vote for Ketanji Brown Jackson, and wants y'all to participate in Earth Day by doing a little bit more than just recycling.

Spring is the season of hope and renewal yet the world has another senseless, unprovoked war going on. It's women, as the givers of life and the keepers of hearth and home, and children who bear the brunt of any war. It's women and their resilience and creativeness in the face of adversity that Mama B. celebrates in this month's podcast.

It's Black History Month so it's time to talk about all the kerfuffle going on regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT). This concept has been around for more than 50 years in advanced academic and law circles only. It wasn't until the publication of the award-winning "1619 Project" that CRT came to be talked about by one of our major political parties, and not in a good or constructive way. Then the fear mongering and book banning started along with the enactment of new state laws curtailing most dialogue about race in a majority of state school systems in the U.S. Mama B. is critical of the CRT critics and new boogeyman they created. She will try to set the record straight about what's really going on.

Empires rise, empires fall... Mama B. discusses her family's holiday trip to Turkey and can't help but make comparisons between her own country, the ancient land of Asia Minor, and the modern Turkey of today. In this podcast, take a trip with her through time and see how every age has its own greatness, trials, and tribulations because of the influence of faith, ideology, geography, and the vagaries of human beings and the civilizations they create.

The holiday season is a time of reflection, a time for giving of yourself and your resources, a time of celebration. In Hollywood story style, Mama B. give us food for thought as she weaves a personal experience with a snake, political stories involving metaphorical snakes, and ultimately. . . a universal principle everyone on this planet should take to heart, especially during the month of December.

In November, most Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with grateful hearts for their many blessings and with fond memories of learning about the traditional holiday story of the Pilgrims and Indians first meal together in the New World. Since gratefulness is a memory of the heart, Thanksgiving is a complicated holiday for Native Americans. . . Many Native American hearts and spirits are broken as they remember disease, death, genocide, poverty, hunger, land grabs, lost cultures and languages, broken families, Indian Boarding Schools, and missing Native Americans. This November, Mama B. urges her listeners to walk a mile in Native American moccasins. . .

October, Part 1 of a Two-Part Podcast Series: Take a break from the daily news featuring the covid pandemic, politics, the Insurrection crime scene that is the U.S. Capitol, some stupidity and all the craziness out there... Mama B. will regale you with some stories featuring her visits to the state of Wyoming and the Wind River Indian Reservation where she pays respect to their Most Famous Tribal Member: Sacajawea of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. This podcast includes the historical narrative of the life and times of Sacajawea and what is known of another expedition member York, Clark's manservant and slave. If by some chance these historical figures' stories are banned from being taught in our schools, your children can always listen to them on Red State, Blue Mom.

Mama B. is freshly back from her girls' trip to coastal California and her family fishing trip in Wisconsin but that doesn't mean she doesn't have something to say about some of the big news that happened while she was enjoying her time away from her homeplace in Tennessee. She has many thoughts about Afghanistan, the new Texas Abortion law, theocracy in the works, and the religious right... yet again. Mama B. is never short on opinions, have a listen for yourself and see if you agree with her.

This podcast is a little bit dog centric... literally at times, but mostly metaphorically. In our northern hemisphere and since ancient times, the month of August has dogged humans and beasts alike with heat, drought, fires, lethargy, and temperature driven craziness. Since the start of the covid pandemic in 2020, the world has been dogged by this infectious plague, along with great unease and really insane misinformation. With covid cases due to the Delta variant exponentially rising on a daily basis across the US, the Dog Days of Summer are truly upon us in the biggest way. In the annals of history, we have much to learn from the hottest and most uncomfortable month of the year.

Mama B. talks about the Coronavirus pandemic and it's huge effect on American women and their families, the "shecession" affecting working women, the Democrats' "Build Back Better" plans to help working women and families, Disability Pride Month, and Part II of One Great Appalachian Story centered in the Melungeon Vardy Community in East Tennessee.

This month, Americans kick off summer with national celebrations of: Pride Month, Juneteeth, Flag Day, Father's Day, and National Dairy and Dairy Alternative Month... to name a few. Mama B. discusses these nationally recognized celebrations and presents Part I of some local history as she discusses a little known but deeply rooted racial minority group in Appalachian Tennessee.

Mama B. discusses the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 also known as The Black Wall Street Massacre and the Greenwood Massacre

What can honeybees teach us about voting rights, discrimination, and how democracy should work?