The Mess is Mine

Mommy and Daddy are finally splitsville ... Is their break-up just symbolic of our larger national divide?  How on earth did we get here, and what's it going to take to stop the cultural slide toward crazy town.

President Camacho strikes again.  Here...take my hand and let's talk about it. 

Everything everywhere all at once.  Where to begin? Cabinet clowns, Tariffs, Putin, Gaza, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, NATO... If everything's a crisis, nothings a crisis.  Or is it?  

What the actual what!!??  As we pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off, we dig in the data to figure out what happened so it never happens again.  Things aren't great, but they are never as bad as they seem... 

A Crackers & Grape Juice election eve interview with 3 of my favorite pastors.   

The closing statements have been delivered and we are down to the wire.  America is exhausted and nervous and ready to be done with the strangest election of all time.   But how's it going to end?

It's the final stretch and it's too close for comfort. What has changed since 2020 and will the guardrails hold?  Republican Legal expert Ben Ginsberg answers the burning question... What happens next? 

We all know who Trump is. The question is, who are we?  Maybe you don't like Trump's "personality," but you like his policy.  Or maybe you think he is the best choice for the economy. (spoiler: you might be surprised)  In this episode we look at the impact that 9 years of Donald Trump has had on our culture, and consider what he might do with another 4 years of power.   

Are migrants really eating Fluffy and Spot?  Just when you think things cant get any weirder... 

Harris pulls ahead of Trump but its still a squeaker. With less than 70 days to the finish line, how much do vibes really matter? 

Welcome to 30 days of whiplash.  From assassination attempts to nominating conventions, July began with the democrats in crisis.  But covid, coaches, cat ladies, and a Biden baton pass have flipped the script.  What now?

Biden's great debate debacle, widsespread panic, possible succession predictions, massive SCOTUS expansion of presidential powers, & what Project 2025 means for the future of democracy... and for the world.   This episode is 20 pounds of flour in a ten pound sack. pack a lunch, people. 

Umm, what just happened?  Donald  Trump has been found guilty on 34 felony counts -  what this means, what comes next, and what the actual what? 

Bible Salesman, Criminal defendant, Presidential Nominee... Donald Trump has his hands full these days. In this Holy Week episode, we hear what the former president has to say about the Bible and God, we hear what the former chair of the RNC really know about the 2020 election (hint: it was free and fair) and remember the purpose of this podcast.

SOTU or SNL?   Hard to say... Life imitates art Senator Britt in the kitchen, Tuberville on IVF, God made the government, Biden wakes the hell up, and the primary season is over.   Never a dull moment

Dont take my word for it... What  do former Trump White House officials  REALLY think about Their former boss?   How did Nikki Haley win the DC Primary, and what does the SCOTUS Colorado ballot ruling  mean?    Laissez les bons temps rouler....

New Hampshire primary - Trump the sore loser, Nikki wont quit, and Tim Scott did a little south carollina backstab...lots happened.  Lets look at what we can learn from the numbers. 

Season four kicks off with a look at the GOP Primary - what happened in Iowa, what New Hampshire means, and why voters lean the way they do.  Can anyone stop the trump train?  Does Trump really admire Al Capone?  What is de-banking?  Why are anti-abortion people still marching after Roe vs Wade was overturned?  So many questions in 2024 - stay tuned we will try to sort some of it out... Also, i take a moment to share some lessons from the life of my friend Lori.  

What does the term Queer mean, exactly?  Are all Gay girls really Bisexual? Do evangelicals really believe that tampons are reserved for "married ladies?"  Join us as my friends Hattie and Rebecca answer these questions, and so many more, with a healthy dose of humor and grace.   

The latest mass shooting is on our minds.  This episode examines the history of America's love affair with guns,  why the AR 15 has become the most popular weapon in history, and how it's evolved into a political symbol for so many Republicans.   How on earth did we get here, and more important, how do we get out?   

The State of the Union is... rowdy.  Season 3 begins with a fact check of Joe Biden's SOTU speech, and the Jerry Springer chaos in the chamber.   George Santos and Mitt Romney square off, and we look at the the GOP response(?) from Arkansas.   

In this special holiday episode, we look at the midterm elections, the history of the  Georgia runoff election rules, and the implications for the GOP and the country moving forward.  Democracy won the day in 2022.  Maybe there is more uniting us than dividing us, after all.   Actually. 

In this spooktastic midterm episode we'll review the findings of the January 6 committee's last hearing. Join  me for a closer look at the 5 key races in the House and Senate that may tip the balance of Congress.... If you dare.ADVISORY:  this show contains disturbing poll numbers,  occasional outrage and naked sarcasm - but no smoking.

It's getting strange out there.  Come investigate how the GOP and much of what we have come to understand in modern politics and policy has been swept into the Upside Down.   The overturning of Roe v Wade (Dobbs decision) , Texas Migrant Netjets and the Maralago FBI Probe.   

This midsummer episode catches us up on the bombshell testimony from the January 6th hearings, and examines the chaos in and around the White House between Election Day and Insurrection Day.   Because truth is stranger than fiction.

Break out the corduroy and bell bottoms - its starting to feel like the 1970s all over again. And since we have been drinking from the proverbial fire hose for over two years,  all of the bad news is affecting the way our brains work - there's a scientific answer as to why.     We'll also look at what we can do about our gun problem,  touch on the upcoming Supreme Court ruling and January 6 televised hearings, and why the 70% of moderates  seem to be losing to the 30% on the lunatic fringe  ( Hint:  it starts with Gerry and ends with Mander)  But even in the midst of all of this chaos, things are better than we think. 

Season two begins with a look at the growing rift within the GOP.   Trump's RNC states the 1/6  Insurrection was "legitimate political discourse" and officially censures Republican truth-seekers Cheney and Kinsinger.   Trump chest thumps at a rally in Texas, accidentally admits he wanted to "overturn" the election, and flushes presidential documents down the golden commode... and Mike Pence finally stands up to the guy who's been stealing his lunch money for the past 6 years. 

It appears there is no vaccine for crazy.   In this episode we go down the rabbit hole to examine political extremism on the left and the right.  We discuss fealty in Trumpland,  Colin Powell. Litmus tests, Space cowboys,  the uptick in Independent voters, the mother of dragons, stimulus for ferrets,  the VA Gov race, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  Remember what the door mouse said....  Feed Your Head. 

In this first Interview episode,  we meet Brian Wild - Washington lobbyist by day,  caffeine-swilling-storm-chaser by night.   Brian shares some thoughts and perspectives from his volunteer experience with World Central Kitchen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.  We also discuss our badass neighbor from Spain, Celebrity chef and do-gooder extraordinaire José Andreś, and a random dude named Mitch and the importance of dry socks. Oh, and theres also crying... (because this is not baseball. )

This episode (very) briefly covers Afghanistan's history  and how we arrived at this place in time.  We also look at some polling data on American Evangelicals and their hospitality toward refugees, examine the difference between  Christianism vs. Christianity,  touch on the Good Samaritan and a few other lessons learned in Bible Belt Sunday school. 

Back from a little hiatus, Episode 9 explores  news avoidance,  outrage entertainment. vaccine rates and hesitancy, and the Tokyo Olympic Games 

The Texas Episode.  Can evangelical women be feminists?  Author and famed Bible teacher Beth Moore parts ways with the Southern Baptist Convention;  author and famed blogger Jen Hatmaker stands up for her convictions;   former President George W Bush launches a new project highlighting immigrants while white power rears its ugly head (again) in Congress;   and lastly... a ranch chat about  the difference between Benghazi and Bin Laden.

This episode investigates the 22 years since the Columbine tragedy and what America has (not) done to make our citizens safer.  

This episode explores Fox News' fascination with Dumbo and the Muppets, the 1980s, the Stimulus Package, and the pursuit of the ever-elusive Covid vaccine.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to 'win at all costs' anymore. I want the party or the person with the best ideas and solutions to win. I no longer want to play for a team that can only come out on top if the other team doesn't show up. Nobody wins that game.. we all lose. Episode #3 takes a look at Republican cul-de-sacs, changes in voting laws, the Covid Relief package (with the side of bacon) & The Great Seussian Outrage.

In this episode we take a look at the former president's speech to his adoring fans over the weekend and what it means for the GOP going forward.  We will examine truth, spin and lies, and discuss some good news in the near future...

This episode explores the connection between the Republican Party and evangelicals, looks at some polling data regarding the future of the GOP and connects the dots between Rush Limbaugh and the rise of Donald Trump.