Mike, I really appreciated what sounded to me like optimism and a really grounded way of looking at politics today, while understanding the realities as well. I told my husband and a few friends to listen because this conversation made me feel less anxious. I love that you have your dad on your show and look to engage authentically with people who have different opinions. This should be at the heart of politics and we have strayed much too far. I really, really liked how much conviction you had in your voice to say that Trump will be gone in 2028. Thank you for that blessing.
I just read this piece by David Brooks, which is a related but also much different conversation about religion and politics, but gosh I'd love for Sarah and Beth to process this out loud for us! "We Need to Think Straight about God and Politics" - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/opinion/kirk-trump-christianity.html
I just listened to an interview with Elizabeth Warren on Pod Save America about the pending shutdown. I'm going to be honest... my gut feeling is that this "fight" dems are having about healthcare is going to fall flat. The people aren't going to care. I don't even think they're going to pay attention. It's politics as usual. She spent the interview trying to convince me they are preventing a huge problem all people care about, fighting hard for little babies and old people... right out of the old democrat playbook. Like Healthcare was actually affordable before the new bill. Taxes and subsidies don't address insurance industry practices, they stick us with bill in another way.
The talking points sound disconnected, careful, rehearsed, and hollow. They're still missing the point, which is that we're tired of being manipulated and lied to, whether by corporations, institutions, or politicians. I'm tired of politicians helping corporations screw me.
The next election is going to be a bunch of wildcards. I'm ready for it.
I've barely even seen anything about the health care angle of the shutdown. If the message isn't getting to me, a person who actively engages with the political news of the day and who the algorithm tends to send liberal news/videos, there's no way it's breaking through to the general public. If there is a shutdown, I don't see how the Democrats don't end up looking like the bad guy to most people.
I was glad to hear James Talarico get highlighted here because I recently saw the quote "I'm tired of being pitted against my neighbor" and thought, "YES! THAT'S THE MESSAGE!" It felt like something I both feel in my bones AND feel comfortable saying to literally anyone.
This was a great conversation. Thank you for sharing. I particularly loved the discussion around Mike’s father, and holding complex political views, and the continued emphasis on staying in relationship with people we disagree with.
It's so disappointing to me that Republicans won't come on PP, but it is interesting to think about that in combination with what Mike said about people having to play a character when they appear on news shows. If what you're used to is doing a quick segment where you say your talking points and the other side says theirs, and you're not actually engaging in conversation, then coming on a podcast with people who are trying to find nuance and areas of agreement probably feels a little scary. It really sucks that the media landscape punishes people for sticking with the party line.
Enjoyed this conversation! Given Gov Cox from Utah was on Ezra’s show maybe he would be willing to come on PP! I thought he did a great job of representing a grounded, human focused Republican in that discussion. And if not him, maybe other R governors who you might admire
This morning, when I heard so much idiotic news that didn't NEED to be - e.g. Tylenol, Trump's behavior at the UN - (we will always have devastating news, but when your president purposely makes it idiotic, it brings things to a different level.), I immediately thought of Mike saying, They WANT you to despair. They WANT you to give up. And that reframed my thoughts for the day. Thanks!
I just finished listening and am so filled with thoughts and feelings that I’m just going to say I loved this conversation - all of it from the start to the outside of politics. It was just funny reading comments about how fast he spoke because I didn’t think twice about it! I speak fast and when i listen to my friends on Marco Polo (love that app) i always speed them up because i think people talk so slow! But maybe that’s the Philly in me.
I think it’s fascinating (and sad) that no Republicans will come on PP. I like that there are Democrats willing to go into Republican spaces, and we need more people willing to cross “lines” again if we’re going to get through this moment without resorting to (more) violence.
I wonder if Rs in this moment feel that they don’t “need” to talk to “the other side” because they’re in power and feel like they always will be? I don’t know, but I would be curious to hear why they aren’t willing to go outside their bubble.
One thing that struck me from listening to the Ben Shapiro interview on the Ezra Klein show was how Shapiro embraced the idea of segregating by political views. I think this is a terrible idea!
Of course it is more comfortable to be around people who agree with you! But you aren’t going to grow or evolve in your ideas if you aren’t in conversation with people who see things differently. And we all contain multitudes and aren’t going to agree completely anyway.
I think during the pandemic they talked to I wanna say the Secretary of State of Kentucky. Maybe it was even before the pandemic. I remember the subject of mail-in voting came up. The guests POV has stuck with me: You can't really rig a presidential election with mail-in ballots because it's just too big and complicated, but you CAN rig a small local election. A local politician could get pretty far going to a nursing home and telling them "here, let me help you mail your ballot in. Why don't I just help you fill it out too..." I still think about that when pro-voting people shut down the conversation on mail-in ballots.
I was surprised by this. There are many shows that I would not want to go on if I were a Repblican because you would just get attacked. PP seems like a space where you could share your views and not just be reduced to sound bites. Now, I don't expect someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene or even Josh Hawley to come on here, but I would like to think there are more nuanced Republicans.
I wonder if Republicans (some at least) are worried about retribution. And if they were to get outside of their bubble, they would have to admit that they are wrong about some things.
Ooh that’s a good insight. Obviously there are some are who are less afraid, but I do get the sense that many people are afraid of the base. And that makes me sad for them and also pessimistic about the future of the Republican Party if they cannot handle disagreement.
This conversation was SOOOO good. And needed. And I think I come to the idea that we really need to step up on local politics and hopefully never forget that it took decades for the GOP to gain this stranglehold on the rest of us. We have to care about our communities and the needs of our neighbors. Then they will see the bigger picture.
What a GREAT episode. Thank you for bringing this guest and this conversation to us. 🙏
I missed this episode originally and just listened today. It was SO good!
But what is a wobble??
Mike, I really appreciated what sounded to me like optimism and a really grounded way of looking at politics today, while understanding the realities as well. I told my husband and a few friends to listen because this conversation made me feel less anxious. I love that you have your dad on your show and look to engage authentically with people who have different opinions. This should be at the heart of politics and we have strayed much too far. I really, really liked how much conviction you had in your voice to say that Trump will be gone in 2028. Thank you for that blessing.
I just read this piece by David Brooks, which is a related but also much different conversation about religion and politics, but gosh I'd love for Sarah and Beth to process this out loud for us! "We Need to Think Straight about God and Politics" - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/opinion/kirk-trump-christianity.html
I really enjoyed this conversation. Totally emotionally and intellectually fulfilling. Thanks, PP team and Mike!
I just listened to an interview with Elizabeth Warren on Pod Save America about the pending shutdown. I'm going to be honest... my gut feeling is that this "fight" dems are having about healthcare is going to fall flat. The people aren't going to care. I don't even think they're going to pay attention. It's politics as usual. She spent the interview trying to convince me they are preventing a huge problem all people care about, fighting hard for little babies and old people... right out of the old democrat playbook. Like Healthcare was actually affordable before the new bill. Taxes and subsidies don't address insurance industry practices, they stick us with bill in another way.
The talking points sound disconnected, careful, rehearsed, and hollow. They're still missing the point, which is that we're tired of being manipulated and lied to, whether by corporations, institutions, or politicians. I'm tired of politicians helping corporations screw me.
The next election is going to be a bunch of wildcards. I'm ready for it.
I've barely even seen anything about the health care angle of the shutdown. If the message isn't getting to me, a person who actively engages with the political news of the day and who the algorithm tends to send liberal news/videos, there's no way it's breaking through to the general public. If there is a shutdown, I don't see how the Democrats don't end up looking like the bad guy to most people.
I also really enjoyed this conversation ❤️
I was glad to hear James Talarico get highlighted here because I recently saw the quote "I'm tired of being pitted against my neighbor" and thought, "YES! THAT'S THE MESSAGE!" It felt like something I both feel in my bones AND feel comfortable saying to literally anyone.
This was a great conversation. Thank you for sharing. I particularly loved the discussion around Mike’s father, and holding complex political views, and the continued emphasis on staying in relationship with people we disagree with.
It's so disappointing to me that Republicans won't come on PP, but it is interesting to think about that in combination with what Mike said about people having to play a character when they appear on news shows. If what you're used to is doing a quick segment where you say your talking points and the other side says theirs, and you're not actually engaging in conversation, then coming on a podcast with people who are trying to find nuance and areas of agreement probably feels a little scary. It really sucks that the media landscape punishes people for sticking with the party line.
Enjoyed this conversation! Given Gov Cox from Utah was on Ezra’s show maybe he would be willing to come on PP! I thought he did a great job of representing a grounded, human focused Republican in that discussion. And if not him, maybe other R governors who you might admire
This morning, when I heard so much idiotic news that didn't NEED to be - e.g. Tylenol, Trump's behavior at the UN - (we will always have devastating news, but when your president purposely makes it idiotic, it brings things to a different level.), I immediately thought of Mike saying, They WANT you to despair. They WANT you to give up. And that reframed my thoughts for the day. Thanks!
I just finished listening and am so filled with thoughts and feelings that I’m just going to say I loved this conversation - all of it from the start to the outside of politics. It was just funny reading comments about how fast he spoke because I didn’t think twice about it! I speak fast and when i listen to my friends on Marco Polo (love that app) i always speed them up because i think people talk so slow! But maybe that’s the Philly in me.
I think it’s fascinating (and sad) that no Republicans will come on PP. I like that there are Democrats willing to go into Republican spaces, and we need more people willing to cross “lines” again if we’re going to get through this moment without resorting to (more) violence.
I wonder if Rs in this moment feel that they don’t “need” to talk to “the other side” because they’re in power and feel like they always will be? I don’t know, but I would be curious to hear why they aren’t willing to go outside their bubble.
One thing that struck me from listening to the Ben Shapiro interview on the Ezra Klein show was how Shapiro embraced the idea of segregating by political views. I think this is a terrible idea!
Of course it is more comfortable to be around people who agree with you! But you aren’t going to grow or evolve in your ideas if you aren’t in conversation with people who see things differently. And we all contain multitudes and aren’t going to agree completely anyway.
I think during the pandemic they talked to I wanna say the Secretary of State of Kentucky. Maybe it was even before the pandemic. I remember the subject of mail-in voting came up. The guests POV has stuck with me: You can't really rig a presidential election with mail-in ballots because it's just too big and complicated, but you CAN rig a small local election. A local politician could get pretty far going to a nursing home and telling them "here, let me help you mail your ballot in. Why don't I just help you fill it out too..." I still think about that when pro-voting people shut down the conversation on mail-in ballots.
I loved that episode - it was right before the 2022 midterms
https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/p/2022117your-vote-will-count-with-sos-michael-adams?r=2cbqu4
We also had Britt Raybold, a state level representative from Idaho on in 2022. I thought she was excellent as well.
https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/p/2022329the-show-mustnt-go-on?r=2cbqu4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I was surprised by this. There are many shows that I would not want to go on if I were a Repblican because you would just get attacked. PP seems like a space where you could share your views and not just be reduced to sound bites. Now, I don't expect someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene or even Josh Hawley to come on here, but I would like to think there are more nuanced Republicans.
We would also be happy to talk to either of them.
I wonder if Republicans (some at least) are worried about retribution. And if they were to get outside of their bubble, they would have to admit that they are wrong about some things.
Ooh that’s a good insight. Obviously there are some are who are less afraid, but I do get the sense that many people are afraid of the base. And that makes me sad for them and also pessimistic about the future of the Republican Party if they cannot handle disagreement.
But if you have a connection with Bill Cassidy or Thomas Massey, please let us know!!!!
This conversation was SOOOO good. And needed. And I think I come to the idea that we really need to step up on local politics and hopefully never forget that it took decades for the GOP to gain this stranglehold on the rest of us. We have to care about our communities and the needs of our neighbors. Then they will see the bigger picture.