Last night, I went out for a really lovely dinner to celebrate my best friend's birthday. Everything was perfect -- the atmosphere, the food (the food...the most perfect gnocchi of my life, and that's a high bar), and meaningful conversation with someone I trust completely. Our server, who was a delight, had just delivered "the chocolate complexity" dessert when I started feeling strange. One sensation arrived at a time -- my head felt like it was spinning, my shoulders got hot, my vision started to blur, my ears started ringing. It got much worse before it got better. The upshot is that I believe I had some kind of allergic reaction.
It's a real bummer that when we feel the worst, we have to investigate ourselves. We can't know what to do (and our doctors can't either) unless we dial into exactly how we felt and when and what preceded and followed that. What exactly were those sensations? How intense? What order? What did I eat and drink? How was the temperature of the room? In the moments when we most want to shut our brains off, we have to go on high alert.
I wonder if this contradiction in needs--I'm out of energy, but I need to focus all of my energy to get it back--is part of what's going on for us politically. A lot seems wrong, but investigating what's wrong feels overwhelming. It provokes a ton of emotions that are hard to name, place, and process.
A listener-turned-friend texted me this week and compared how many of us are feeling to a scene in the movie Step Brothers. Rob Riggle tells Will Ferrell that he doesn't know what it is, but he really just wants to punch Will in the face every time he sees him. And Will says, "I guess all I can do is take that in and do my best version of whatever it is."
I love this analogy, and I'm going to keep the link to this scene handy -- right alongside this SNL sketch, which I revisit any time I need something to move me from "need to scream" to "need to laugh."
This week, I made episodes about school attendance. Sarah and I talked about the reaction to those episodes and about gerrymandering and AI. I talked to
about the President and how to effectively counter him.Trump on Mount Rushmore, Epstein, ICE Deporting American Citizens, White Dudes, and More — with Mike Nellis and Pantsuit Politics
Thank you Alise Napp, Becky Schmidt, Nikol Murphy, Sueki89, KB 🙋🏼♀️🧩🔍⚖️✨, and many others for tuning into my live video with Mike Nellis! Join me for my next live video in the app.
There's been a lot of discussion. My texts have been lighting up. I feel really encouraged by how lively the conversation is taking place around our shows.
Your comments and messages have momentum. It feels like we're collectively saying:
Yes, we're living a lot of life right now. Maybe I want to punch something. Maybe other people want to punch me. But we're going to take it in and do our best. We're going to get past the symptoms to the causes. We don't feel like it, but it has to be done.
I appreciate it so much.
Pantsuit Politics Film Club
Grab Your Popcorn! The final meeting of our Summer Film Club is NEXT Tuesday, August 19 at 7:30 PM Eastern Time
We’ll be discussing Barbie and the short film Réponse de femmes: Notre corps, notre sexe
The film club meeting is open to our Premium Members on Substack!
Something Nice to Take You Into the Weekend
Fall routines are calling, and we've got the perfect addition to yours! We're thrilled to announce our coffee collaboration with listener business La Terza with
– introducing Good Morning, a signature blend named after Sarah's premium show. We partnered with our Executive Producer, David Gaines, and La Terza's expert roasters to create something that embodies our shared values: quality, authenticity, and ethical sourcing. The result?
A full-bodied coffee with nuanced notes that linger, just like our conversations. Whether you're brewing while catching up on episodes or savoring a quiet moment before the day begins, this blend is designed for those meaningful morning rituals we're all craving as summer winds down. Ready to make it part of your back-to-school routine? Grab your bag here.
What We’re Reading and Listening To This Week
Sarah: “And what is missing in the Epstein story isn’t exactly more information - it’s more meaning.” The Epstein Story Is Both Conspiracy Theory and Genuine Scandal (The New York Times | Gift Link)
Beth: The new "IT' girl is here. (Jameela Jamil)
Alise: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Maggie: I’m all in on The Life of a Showgirl: I love Alise’s thoughts an predictions
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Just as an aside. For years I have been avoiding starting a well established series (OCD and a bit Type A), but last Saturday I finally took the plunge and I am pages away from finishing the first book in the Three Pines series. It's everything every one has ever said!
Hey Berh. I hope you were able to identify whatever made you reach that way. When I have a food allergy it often takes up to 24 hours to manifest and a high pollen count is often the trigger. I'm 58 so trying to remember what I'm walking to the closet for can sometimes test my memory, but remembering what I ate - ha!
I'm looking forward to hearing Jane's thoughts on her AI summer class. Especially on the heals of your AI discussion with Sarah. I don't use AI on purpose, but I know some of the sites build it into their search. If it could tell me why I went to the closet I might consider it! Love you and Sarah. Thank you for the thought provoking, often funny, deep dives. I find them more engaging than chasing multiple headlines since Sarah covers them so well in the Good Morning brief.