The Only Reaction Left: Processing the State of the Union
Plus, The 2028 Candidate Nobody's Talking About Enough
I don’t want to be a person who hates Donald Trump. I think it’s damaging politically, persuades no one, and is bad for my soul. I want to hate his ideas, his approach, his decision-making.
And yet, when I watch the State of the Union, the emotion that is stronger than anything is hate. I am running out of road on how to engage with this man and how he treats people, how he runs the country I love, how he speaks without feeling visceral rage directed squarely at him.
The only thing that keeps me from burning myself up from the inside out is trying to channel that rage into what comes next. That’s what we do on today’s show. We catalogue everything we hated about the State of the Union and everything we love coming from the race for 2028.
Then, we have a conversation outside of politics that I have a hunch might provoke a visceral reaction in many of you…I welcome it all. -Sarah
Topics Discussed
Trump’s State of the Union
Looking Ahead to 2028
Outside of Politics: Brutal Truths from AI
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Episode Resources
More to Say About Special Education (Part 1) (More to Say)
State of Disunion (Puck)
How Mississippi Transformed Its Schools From Worst to Best (The New York Times)
More to Say About the Labor Secretary (More to Say)
Questions to help you think deeper, see clearer, and grow faster (Dan Pink)
Episode Transcript
Coming soon…
Show Credits
Pantsuit Politics is hosted by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. The show is produced by Studio D Podcast Production. Alise Napp is our Managing Director and Maggie Penton is our Director of Community Engagement.
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Only a few minutes in but had a thought - to the “everyone treats him like a king” situation: I think it’s safe to say this is what Trump has always wanted to a degree, but I do wonder if age is amplifies it. Every single one of my grandparents approaching 80 had this attitude of “I’ve seen it all, I know what I’m talking about” and were mostly uninterested in debating their ideas. And no judgement on that generally, when I’m 80, I’m sure I’ll be tired of debating and being the queen of whatever room I’m in while having everybody smile and nod their head at me sounds great! However I also don’t plan on being the leader of the free world…
I haven’t even listened yet but I am SO excited to hear you expand your thoughts on Emanuel. This is very new territory for me- can’t say I’m a politically minded person or that I’ve ever been passionate about someone’s potential run- but, as I’ve commented repeatedly in any episode you mention 2028, I think he has such potential.