Normally

Election Day 2026 is here, and Democrats are facing a political firestorm in Michigan! Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down Haley Stevens' stunning endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers over Abdul El-Sayed, the backlash from Democrats, and the controversy surrounding antisemitism in the Michigan Senate race.

Meanwhile, Florida Republicans are growing nervous about Byron Donalds' showdown with David Jolly as Ron DeSantis stays off the campaign trail. Plus, the hosts examine allegations of ballot manipulation in Alaska involving Mary Peltola, questionable election polling, transgender sports and parental rights ballot measures, California's proposed billionaire wealth tax, and new research on America's declining birth rates.

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Are Americans being scared into preparing for a post-election disaster? Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz tackle viral doomsday warnings, AI-related fears, emergency preparedness, and questionable midterm election polls. Plus, they discuss Israel's election results, Marco Rubio's leadership, and the political battles shaping the 2026 midterms.

Then, the controversy surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar intensifies as the hosts examine allegations and unanswered questions about her immigration history, citizenship documents, and the debate over denaturalization. They also take aim at CBS's 60 Minutes coverage of immigration enforcement, examine a Gallup poll highlighting America's growing patriotism divide, and discuss the importance of enforcing immigration laws.

Finally, Jennifer Lawrence's dramatically different appearance sparks a conversation about rumored plastic surgery, Hollywood beauty standards, cosmetic procedures, and the pressure women face to look younger.

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Barack Obama is back on the campaign trail, but are his attacks on Donald Trump and defense of Obamacare exposing more problems than they solve? On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down Obama's latest political remarks, the debate over healthcare costs, and Trump's hilarious and unpredictable campaign tangents, including his comments about Nicki Minaj.

Plus, the Michigan election heats up as Mike Rogers faces questions surrounding Abdul El-Sayed and alleged Muslim Brotherhood connections, while Democrats in key Senate races reconsider their positions on transgender athletes in women's sports. Mary Katharine and Karol also discuss a Texas Children's Hospital detransition clinic and the controversy surrounding journalist Brandi Kruse's removal from a Portland Thorns soccer match over an XX-XY Athletics shirt.

Finally, has artificial intelligence gone too far? Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer reveals how she used her AI assistant, Dazzle, to describe her own daughter, sparking a larger conversation about parenting, technology, and whether Americans are outsourcing too much of their personal lives to AI.

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Fake election polls, an ugly Ohio campaign controversy, and Americans regretting their decision to flee Donald Trump's America are making headlines as the 2026 midterm elections approach. On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the political controversies, media failures, and election surprises shaking up the final weeks of the campaign.

The ladies examine a controversial attack ad featuring Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's estranged mother and why the strategy could backfire on Vivek Ramaswamy. They also discuss Michelle Tafoya's increasingly competitive Minnesota Senate race against Peggy Flanagan, allegations surrounding Flanagan's academic credentials, and a viral Oregon flag controversy that exposed embarrassing media fact-checking failures.

Plus, a fake polling scandal raises serious questions about election predictions, campaign donations, and the credibility of political polling. And a revealing WIRED report follows Americans who left the United States over Trump-era politics only to discover that life in Europe wasn't the paradise they expected.

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France is erupting in violent riots, historic buildings are burning, and President Emmanuel Macron is facing growing criticism over his response. On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the escalating unrest in France, the role of immigration and failed integration policies, the financial strain of Europe's welfare state, and whether Marine Le Pen could benefit from the political backlash.

Back in Washington, the ladies examine Senator Elissa Slotkin's controversial warning about working for the Trump administration, renewed scrutiny surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar, and the growing debate over political retaliation and government weaponization. They also discuss Joe Manchin campaigning for Republican Senator Susan Collins, Maine Democrat Troy Jackson's contentious interview with CNN's Dana Bash, and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's response to questions about the Muslim Brotherhood.

Plus, Elon Musk floats an extraordinary proposal to give American children SpaceX stock, sparking a conversation about capitalism, innovation, flying cars, and why some critics seem determined to root against the billionaire entrepreneur.

From riots in Europe to political battles in America and the future of technology, Mary Katharine and Karol bring their signature humor, sharp analysis, and common-sense perspective to another week of news gone weird.

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What happened to James Talarico, and why isn't the media asking more questions? Why did progressive streamer Hasan Piker struggle through comedian Ziwe's brutally awkward interview? And how did Kelly Clarkson end up in a bizarre public feud with a Brooklyn boutique?

On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the latest political controversies, media double standards, and pop culture headlines.

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Mary Katharine and Karol examine the questions surrounding Texas Democrat James Talarico's extended absence from the campaign trail, the New York Times' reporting, and what the controversy reveals about political journalism. They also analyze Republican Senate prospects, campaign spending, early voting trends, and whether Democrats are facing unexpected challenges in key battleground states.

Then, comedian Ziwe puts Hasan Piker in the hot seat, exposing what the hosts see as contradictions between his socialist rhetoric and millionaire lifestyle. Plus, a troubling look at Britain's expanding disability benefits system raises questions about government spending, welfare dependency, and the consequences of socialist policies.

Finally, Kelly Clarkson's viral confrontation with a Brooklyn boutique sparks a debate over celebrity treatment and customer service. The hosts also discuss Ben Shapiro's upcoming historical drama Confession, starring Rob Lowe and James Franco, and the return of Lena Dunham's Girls.

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ICE investigations, political mysteries, blue-state crime, and another comedy controversy dominate today's episode of Normally. Karol Markowicz and Mary Katharine Ham break down reports of an immigration-related investigation involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, questions surrounding Texas Senate candidate James Talarico's unexplained absence from the campaign trail, and the media's handling of both stories.

Plus, we examine New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's response to a controversial ICE shooting in the Bronx, violent crime cases in Rhode Island and Minnesota, and growing concerns about public safety, sanctuary-city policies, and criminal justice accountability.

Finally, comedian Shane Gillis sparks another round of outrage over his latest Saturday Night Live appearance. Karol and Mary Katharine discuss political correctness, cancel culture, and why Gillis continues to challenge the boundaries of mainstream comedy.

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France is erupting as widespread riots grip the country and thousands are arrested—but what’s really driving the unrest, and what does it mean for Europe’s future?

Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the chaos in France, Brazil’s political shakeup, and a disturbing new argument framing abortion as an “affordability” issue. Then, they examine Canada’s controversial MAID euthanasia system and growing concerns over reports of plague in Russia, as the U.S. presses Moscow for answers about what’s happening near a Siberian research facility.

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Are Republicans getting too comfortable ahead of the 2026 midterm elections?

On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz warn against counting Democrats out as election season heats up. From Maine and Minnesota to Seattle and Los Angeles, they examine the political consequences of progressive policies on taxes, housing, crime, policing, immigration, and education.

Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Los Angeles' controversial "mansion tax," repeat violent offenders and crime in American cities, and a surprising shift in Seattle as its socialist mayor proposes adding police while avoiding new taxes.

They also turn to Minnesota politics, Amy Klobuchar, Michelle Tafoya and the battle for voters heading into the midterms, before taking on the immigration debate and media coverage of children facing deportation proceedings under the Trump administration.

Plus, the hosts discuss reports of a possible pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia and signs that parts of the medical establishment may be moving back toward a more traditional approach to medicine after the COVID era.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down a wild week of news, starting with the midair attack aboard a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. After an altercation between the pilots sent the aircraft into a rapid descent, passengers and crew intervened and the plane ultimately landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

Then, Mary Katharine and Karol turn to Britain, terrorism and immigration before examining Zohran Mamdani’s plan to combat antisemitism in New York City. Karol argues the proposal fails to adequately address attacks against Jewish New Yorkers, anti-Zionism and recent campus unrest.

Plus, they dig into the disturbing allegations surrounding a Cornell University fraternity case, the conflicting accounts at the center of the civil complaint, and why due process still matters even when the alleged conduct is deeply troubling.

Finally, Sen. Eric Schmitt’s questioning of former special counsel Jack Smith produces an extraordinarily uncomfortable Senate moment after Schmitt appears to get a key detail wrong—prompting Mary Katharine and Karol to break down what happened and the reaction in the hearing room.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down a wild weekend in politics, from the backlash surrounding Vivek Ramaswamy to growing frustration among voters over the economy, gas prices, tariffs, immigration, and the direction of the Republican Party.

Then, is “Woke 2.0” already taking shape? Mary Katharine and Karol examine renewed debates over race and identity politics, the controversy surrounding claims about recent deaths of Black Americans, and why they believe some of the rhetoric echoes the political and cultural battles of 2020. They also discuss the reaction to allegations involving Mary Peltola and what it says about changing standards on the political left.

Plus, the conversation turns from politics to culture with a fascinating look at trad-wife influencer culture, the dangers of turning your personal life into an online brand, and the pressure created by audience capture. Finally, Justin Verlander’s retirement provides a very different picture of marriage, fatherhood, sports, and family—with Kate Upton and their children joining him for an emotional farewell.

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On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz celebrate the show’s two-year anniversary before diving into the biggest political, cultural, and education stories of the week.

Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Nikole Hannah-Jones’ account of her daughter’s public-school experience, including their views on school choice, selective schools, testing, classroom discipline and accountability. Karol argues that many of the problems Hannah-Jones describes are connected to education policies she previously supported, while the hosts debate what the story says about the larger fight over public education.

They also react to President Donald Trump’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, his comments about Iran, his meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the administration’s dispute with members of the White House press corps, and the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Plus, a Massachusetts bar faces backlash after making one night mask-optional, and Mary Katharine and Karol tackle the latest Gen Z etiquette debates: college freshmen quitting after only weeks on campus, bringing iced coffee to job interviews, and whether younger adults are getting enough practice navigating uncomfortable social situations.

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Mary Katharine Ham is joined by Defending Education’s Erika Sanzi for a deep dive into Nikole Hannah-Jones’ revealing new essay about her daughter’s education—and the questions it raises about school choice, testing, discipline, accountability, and America’s public schools.

After years of advocating for integration and criticizing selective schools, Hannah-Jones writes about her daughter’s difficult experience in a New York City public school and her eventual decision to attend a more academically challenging high school. Mary Katharine and Erika examine what the story says about putting ideology ahead of individual students, low academic expectations, classroom disruption, standardized testing, school funding, and whether the education establishment is learning the right lessons.

Plus, Erika gives an update on Defending Education’s legal fight involving compelled speech and preferred pronouns at UC Berkeley. Then, Mary Katharine and Erika tackle the “mental load” debate in marriage—and make the case for appreciating spouses who are better at calendars, organization, bills, and finding the car keys.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz are back with Normalish takes on crime, free speech, politics, pop culture — and why sometimes the secret to a happy marriage is simply being nice about the new bowls.

First, they examine a series of criminal justice controversies, including developments involving San Francisco’s law-enforcement oversight system, Virginia’s parole board and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. A federal judge has referred Krasner and a senior prosecutor to federal authorities for potential investigation over their conduct in a post-conviction murder case; Krasner disputes the judge’s findings and plans to appeal.

Then, Karol and Mary Katharine dive into the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said multiple venues would not host concerts with Macklemore on the lineup, while Sheeran has said the decision was made by promoters and venues rather than by him. Other supporting acts subsequently withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

The conversation expands into a broader debate over political expression, boycotts, free speech and consequences in entertainment. They also discuss Mahmoud Khalil’s lawsuit against Columbia University and NBA player Kyle Kuzma’s public comments about Palestinians, Hamas and Israel.

Finally, they lighten things up with some relationship advice inspired by a viral debate about husbands, wives and replacing perfectly functional cereal bowls. Their takeaway: you don’t have to care about the bowls — but being nice to your spouse is free.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz are back with Normalish takes as Washington’s artificial intelligence panic reaches a new level.

They break down the growing calls to slow AI development, concerns raised by former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, and the unlikely convergence of Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon around tougher AI restrictions. Mary Katharine and Karol debate the genuine risks of advanced AI, whether government regulators are equipped to handle them, and whether some of the push for regulation could benefit the biggest players already dominating the industry.

Then, the conversation turns to a series of Republican controversies — including the backlash surrounding Texas candidate Bo French, the debate over presidential pardons, and President Donald Trump’s proposal for $5,000 dividend checks. The hosts discuss the potential cost, inflation concerns, the national debt, and whether sending Americans another round of government checks would ultimately make affordability problems worse. Trump has publicly proposed a $5,000 payment to adult Americans contingent on Republicans retaining congressional control; the proposal would require congressional approval and could cost more than $1 trillion.

Plus, Mary Katharine and Karol tackle the fight over green cards and public benefits before examining Mississippi’s literacy gains and the debate over whether powerful teachers’ unions are standing in the way of education reform.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz mark two somber anniversaries while looking at what they mean for America today: 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks and one year since the murder of Charlie Kirk.

Mary Katharine and Karol reflect on their own memories of 9/11, the fear and uncertainty Americans experienced in the aftermath, and the extraordinary heroism of first responders and ordinary citizens. They also discuss how younger generations understand the attacks, the rise of 9/11 conspiracy theories, and how parents can teach their children about that day while emphasizing courage, service and resilience.

Then, one year after Charlie Kirk was murdered at Utah Valley University, they examine his legacy, the reaction to his death and what his loss means for political debate and free speech on college campuses. They also dig into new college free-speech rankings and their concerns about students who say shouting down speakers—or even using violence in some circumstances—is acceptable.

Finally, things get lighter as Mary Katharine and Karol tackle relationships, honesty in marriage and the viral “haircut” debate before asking why Gen Z is struggling with dating. Is the dreaded “ick” keeping people from giving promising relationships a chance—and have dating apps and online culture made finding a partner unnecessarily complicated?

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz check in on what they call the increasingly bizarre ideas coming from America’s socialist left—from attacks on the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality to claims that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are “fascistic” and part of a supposed war on fat people.

They also dig into resurfaced comments from Democratic congressional candidate William Lawrence criticizing the nuclear family and capitalism, and Mary Katharine and Karol explain why they believe Republicans should make the fight against socialism a major issue heading into the midterms.

Plus, the hosts react to the Pod Save America guys’ confusion over “blood libel” and Passover, debate why progressive cities seem determined to make private philanthropy harder, and look at the Dell family’s massive investment in Trump Accounts for American children. They also discuss Caleb Hammer’s tough-love approach to financial literacy and why younger Americans may need to hear some uncomfortable truths about spending.

Finally, Nike’s stock struggles spark a larger conversation about corporate politics, Colin Kaepernick, Dylan Mulvaney, and whether years of alienating customers are finally catching up with one of America’s most recognizable brands.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the latest developments in the Charlie Kirk murder case after a Utah judge rules that prosecutors have presented enough evidence for Tyler Robinson to stand trial, with the death penalty remaining on the table.

They examine the legal arguments surrounding the case and the explosion of conspiracy theories that has followed Kirk's killing. Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Candace Owens' claims, the true-crime culture surrounding real-life tragedies, and why people can become so invested in online theories that contradictory evidence no longer changes their minds.

Then, the conversation turns to the Democratic Party. Sen. Ed Markey defeats Rep. Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary after Moulton previously walked back his criticism of biological males competing in women's sports. Meanwhile, old comments from James Talarico resurface in which he connected capitalism with white supremacy, raising questions about his attempt to distance himself from his previous progressive positions.

Plus, Abdul El-Sayed's past comments claiming the American dream is easier to achieve in Canada come under scrutiny, and Mary Katharine and Karol look at the looming college enrollment bust as universities such as Syracuse struggle with declining demand, soaring costs, administrative bloat, and questions about the value of a college degree.

Finally, they take on the threatened Seattle teachers strike, including teacher compensation, declining enrollment, school budgets, and the growing battle between teachers unions and public-school districts.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the growing controversy surrounding Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and left-wing streamer Hasan Piker. As El-Sayed attempts to distance himself from Piker, his past appearances and campaign events with the controversial streamer are coming under new scrutiny. Mary Katharine and Karol examine what the relationship could mean for El-Sayed’s race against Mike Rogers — and why Piker may become a much bigger problem for Democrats heading into future elections.

Then, they debate the Trump administration’s new Venezuela oil agreement and whether expanding American access to Venezuela’s massive oil reserves represents smart geopolitical strategy or risks crossing the line into government intervention. They also look at renewed economic pressure on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the balance of power in the global oil market could be shifting toward the Western Hemisphere.

Plus, a federal court ruling sparks a major First Amendment and immigration debate: Should non-citizens living in America be protected from deportation over political speech? Mary Katharine and Karol tackle free speech, immigration vetting, constitutional rights, and a legal battle that could ultimately move higher through the federal courts.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz are back on Normally to break down the latest political, cultural, and technology stories — and remember the extraordinary life and legacy of country music legend Dolly Parton.

First, they dig into the latest election results and what victories by Trump-backed candidates say about Donald Trump’s continued influence over the Republican Party. They also look ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, the battle for control of the House and Senate, and whether Republicans can overcome what could be a difficult political environment.

Then, Mary Katharine and Karol tackle the growing fight over children and social media after Meta faces major legal consequences over allegations involving Facebook, Instagram, and harm to minors. Are lawsuits and government regulation really the answer — or do parents ultimately have to take control of their kids’ phones and social media use?

Plus, Bill Gates is sounding the alarm about artificial intelligence and its potential to eliminate jobs and cause major economic disruption. Is an AI-driven employment crisis really coming, or are predictions of catastrophe overlooking the opportunities created by technological change?

Finally, Mary Katharine and Karol remember Dolly Parton, her legendary songwriting career, her faith, humor, generosity, Imagination Library, and the remarkable ability she had to remain beloved across political and cultural divides. They also react to the King’s Guard honoring Dolly with a performance of “9 to 5” following her death.

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