We've Got To Talk

The USA 2026 Midterms are coming, and it feels like the whole country is being held hostage by political ads. They are everywhere, and a lot of them aren’t designed to inform you; they’re designed to polarize you. Jolene and I talk about how the media cycle shapes your nervous system, why constant outrage makes us less informed, and how both parties use fear to rally their base and keep voters reactive.

We also get into polling, because at this point it can feel like a daily anxiety machine. “The race is tightening.” “Momentum is shifting.” But who actually answers polls anymore, and what do small sample sizes really tell us in a country this big? We unpack why midterm election polls often create more noise than clarity, and how they can push people into gloating, spiralling, or checking out before voting even starts.

On a personal level, we talk about the very real frustration of choosing between candidates you don’t love. In New York’s 10th Congressional District, I’ve had that “lesser of two evils” feeling more than once, and Jolene’s point is simple: this isn’t just a liberal problem or a conservative problem. It’s a system problem, and the system rarely rewards candidates trying to serve the middle during US elections.

We share how we’re shifting from fear to facts with grounded sources like Gabe Fleisher’s Wake Up to Politics https://http://www.youtube.com/@wakeuptopolitics , and why it still matters to vote even if you have to hold your nose. We also talk about tools like http://bridgegrades.org , following the money, and slowing down on purpose so you can make a clear-headed choice instead of getting played by the outrage machine.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:41 Why Polls Feel Useless

07:52 Are Any Races Competitive

10:29 Predictions House vs Senate

10:55 Attack Ads Get Ugly

12:40 Money Flooding Elections

16:15 Voting Early and Ballot Confusion

17:39 Judges and Local Races Matter

20:04 Tools for Smarter Voting

24:43 Big States To Watch

25:12 Cities Poverty And DSA

29:31 Minnesota Senate Spotlight

30:32 Polls Margin Of Error

32:08 Election Night Survival Tips

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Gabe Fleisher's Substack Wake Up to Politics: https://open.substack.com/pub/wakeuptopolitics/p/everyone-thinks-theyre-going-to-win?r=n7so4

Gabe Fleisher’s YouTube Wake up to Politics:

https://www.youtube.com/@wakeuptopolitics

We Made This Political Podcast: https://wemadethispolitical.substack.com/p/ep-68-gabe-fleisher-on-saving-political

Isaac Saul:The Dark Side Behind Fear Based Political Adshttps://youtu.be/vbMCeI19PPE?si=vaIQimN8HPU-7zJ7https://youtu.be/vbMCeI19PPE?si=vaIQimN8HPU-7zJ7

Tangle: https://www.instagram.com/p/Deu29OvDw1m/?img_index=3

Bridge Grades:https://www.bridgegrades.org/https://www.bridgegrades.org/

Brad Porteus:https://youtu.be/g4kH4AFXqNs?si=7NtBFT4VRICC7SmZhttps://youtu.be/g4kH4AFXqNs?si=7NtBFT4VRICC7SmZ

Marc Goldwein:https://youtu.be/PH8naCqamcE?si=HV05zuJ7-4G_B_wmhttps://youtu.be/PH8naCqamcE?si=HV05zuJ7-4G_B_wm

Watch Midterms Live here:https://www.youtube.com/@MoNewshttps://www.youtube.com/@MoNews

City Cast Salt Lake City podcast: https://saltlake.citycast.fm/

LINKS:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

“Underneath every complaint is a hope.” That line from Liz Vogel stopped Jolene and I in our tracks, because once you hear it, you see it everywhere. The angry post, the rant at the school meeting, the neighbor who won’t stop talking about how everything’s gone downhill often isn’t just complaining. It’s someone asking, in the only way they know how, to be seen, to be heard, and to feel like someone actually cares.

We sat down with Liz Vogel, Executive Director of New Pluralists, to talk about bridging divides in a politically divided America without trying to change each other’s minds. Liz is also training as a death doula, and she explains why that work connects so naturally to pluralism, because at the end of life, what people want most is to be understood on their own terms. That same need sits underneath so much of our conflict right now.

Liz breaks down what New Pluralists actually does: it’s a funder collaborative investing in local organizations across the US that are doing the real work of building cooperation, reducing isolation, and helping communities stay in relationship even when they disagree. This is about depolarization, social cohesion, and rebuilding trust, not creating a country where everyone thinks the same or forcing a “mushy middle” where convictions don’t matter.

We talk about pluralism as a practical way to live together in a diverse society while still solving problems together. The goal isn’t to win arguments or convert people; it’s to humanize each other again and stop treating the person across from you like a symbol.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

03:24 What New Pluralists Does

05:24 How Funding Works

09:26 Cross Partisan Grantees

16:27 Defining Pluralism

23:48 Dehumanization And Distrust

27:10 Death Doula Lens

36:15 Grief And Rituals

41:29 From Grief To Grievance

44:19 New Pluralists Mission

49:43 Inside The Grant Process

55:19 Pluralism And Hope Practice

RESOURCES MENTIONED

New Pluralists Website: https://newpluralists.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newpluralists/posts/?feedView=all

LinkedIn Liz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizvogel23/

Liz's Good for the Soul: https://goodreads.com/book/show/43708884.The_Boy__the_Mole__the_Fox_and_the_Horse

LINKS:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Jolene and I have been trying to work out whether the US is actually in a financial emergency, or whether we’re just stuck in the usual loop of scary headlines, charts, and people yelling on cable news. Because after a while you either spiral or you go numb, and neither one helps you understand what’s real. So we spoke to economist Marc Goldwein, and instead of drama, he gave us the calm, numbers-based version, which was somehow more unsettling.

Marc’s view is blunt: the US is in the worst financial shape it’s ever been in, at least in the ways that matter for what comes next. He points to 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields being the highest since the early 2000s, which matters because higher interest rates plus massive national debt means the cost of servicing that debt starts eating everything else. It’s like carrying a credit card balance you can’t pay down, then watching the interest rate jump while you try to keep living your life as normal.

The part that really lands is this: US interest payments now exceed national defense spending. That’s not a talking point, it’s a budget reality, and it changes what the government can afford to do. Marc also explains that while the national debt is close to its World War II level, the interest burden is worse, with interest as a share of the economy roughly doubling. So even if the debt number feels historically familiar, the pressure it creates today is not.

Then we get to the obvious question: if it’s this bad, why aren’t we fixing it? Marc’s answer is basically incentives. Politicians get rewarded for cutting taxes and handing out benefits, and punished for asking people to pay more or accept less. Add in the time-horizon problem, where leaders focus on the next election instead of the next decade, and you get a system that keeps kicking the can until it turns into a wrecking ball. The takeaway is uncomfortable but simple: this isn’t only a politician problem, it’s also a voter problem, and if we don’t face it now, we’re handing future generations a country where more and more money goes to interest and less goes to anything that actually makes life better.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

03:09 Why Debt Keeps Rising

04:17 Social Security Clock

06:47 Explaining The Trust Fund

12:22 Simpson Bowles Lessons

19:11 Two Big New Ideas

23:27 AARP And Political Will

27:00 What It Takes To Reform

29:21 Commissions Versus Regular Order

32:54 Why AARP Has Power

34:49 Debt Versus Deficit

41:12 Fixes Healthcare Waste

45:04 Tax Reform And Revenue

51:48 Your Civic Assignment

53:56 Where To Find CRFB

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Committee For A Responsible Federal Budget: https://www.crfb.org/

Marc's Good for the Soul: https://marthastable.org/

LINKS:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Most of us don’t want “our side” to win. We want the country to work, with less chaos, less political theater, and fewer people getting rich off outrage while nothing gets fixed. We’re joined by Lura Forcum, a consumer and social psychologist who studies the human dynamics underneath politics, identity, belonging, and why we get so weird around people who disagree with us.

Lura breaks down why “tribalism” isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the system underneath the system, and the real danger isn’t bickering; it’s dehumanization. Once the other side feels like an existential threat, we stop having policy conversations and start living in a survival story, and you can’t govern well from that place.

We also talk about competitive politics versus tribal politics, and why purity tests on both sides reward warriors instead of statesmen. Lura explains how parties stop listening to voters and start dictating terms, and why policy so often gets made without talking to the people who actually live under it.

If you’re disillusioned, tired, or waiting for the perfect candidate, Lura’s message is simple: vote anyway. Vote as an independent thinker, show up for primaries, and reward decency and public service over performative outrage. Her final assignment is surprisingly wholesome and honestly needed right now: have a potluck, break bread, and rebuild community face to face.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

04:15 Tribal vs Competitive Politics

07:44 Warriors and Purity Tests

15:29 Rebuilding Civic Culture

18:15 Entitlement Reform Reality Check

22:11 Why Parties Ignore Voters

26:41 Independents and Real Competition

35:46 Why Primaries Matter

38:53 Decency Over Policy Purity

44:03 Social Media and Tribal Rage

48:05 Potluck as Civic Medicine

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Where to Find Lura:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luraforcum/

https://www.facebook.com/lura.forcum

https://substack.com/@luraforcum

https://www.instagram.com/luraforcum/

https://www.youtube.com/@LuraForcum_HowtoHuman

Lura’s Podcast:

https://wemadethispolitical.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@WeMadeThisPolitical

LINKS:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Most of us don’t actually want “our side” to win. We want the country to work, with less chaos, less political theatre, and fewer people getting rich off outrage while nothing gets fixed.

This week we welcomed Brad Porteus from Bridge Grades back onto the podcast, and his idea is refreshingly simple. Bridge Grades is a congressional report card that doesn’t measure ideology, it measures collaboration. It uses nonpartisan, third-party data to score how lawmakers govern, so you can get a clearer read on who builds across the aisle and who fuels division.

What hit us most is how much this challenges the way we’re trained to vote. Most people don’t vote based on effectiveness; they vote based on identity, fear, habit, or revenge, and if you’re deeply loyal to a party, a report card probably won’t change your mind. The bigger opportunity is everyone else, especially the exhausted middle and the millions of eligible Americans who didn’t vote last election because they don’t trust anyone and don’t see the point.

If you’re curious, use Bridge Grades as a second lens before the next election. Look up your lawmakers, notice what happens in your own head when you see a grade you didn’t expect, and ask what we’re rewarding as a culture. Because if we keep voting like it’s a tribal loyalty test, we’re going to keep getting tribal outcomes, and we’ll all keep sitting here wondering why nothing works.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:21 Meet Brad and Bridge Grades

01:49 How the Scoring Works

07:29 Legislative Metrics Explained

11:22 Gaming the Bipartisan Score

13:47 Performative Bridging Debate

17:37 Exhausted Middle and Independents

20:29 Bridgers at Risk in Swing Seats

28:26 Roasting Government Dysfunction

31:41 Texas Race Trust Issues

34:14 Breaking Tribal Partisanship

36:32 Reaching the Disengaged Millions

38:05 Shift from Party to Ideology

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Brad's Good for the Soul:

Otis Cutts Old Music Friday: https://www.instagram.com/owencutts/?hl=en

LINKS:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

We’ve lost a lot of trust in politicians in America, and it’s not hard to see why. Politics feels like a permanent campaign where leaders are performing, fundraising, and protecting their careers while the real problems keep getting worse.

Our guest is Adam Cronkright, creator of the film Goodbye Politicians Hello Democracy, which explores a bold alternative to the current political system. Adam’s idea is simple but disruptive: replace career politicians with ordinary citizens selected by lottery, supported with experts and staff, and asked to make decisions on behalf of their communities. It’s a conversation about democratic lotteries, citizen assemblies, and what “government by the people” could actually mean in practice.

We talk about why elections often produce a political class instead of real representation, and how incentives like party loyalty, media attention, and fundraising have turned politics into theatre. Adam shares what happened when 30 regular people in Michigan were selected during 2020 to work through pandemic decisions together, and why good faith disagreement becomes possible when nobody is angling for re-election or scoring points for social media.

If you’re tired of political polarisation, the two-party system, and the feeling that you’re just a spectator in your own democracy, this episode offers a hopeful, practical reframe. It’s about accountability, trust, civic participation, and whether citizens could govern more effectively than professional politicians.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Meet Adam Cronkright

05:19 Why Make This Film

07:18 Democratic Lottery Explained

09:17 How Selection Works

14:07 Where Democracy Goes Next

18:10 A Post Party System

22:25 Pushback and Corruption

27:34 Extremes and Being Heard

30:19 How to Watch the Film

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Goodbye Politicians, Hello Democracy: https://goodbyepoliticians.movie/

Adam's Good for the Soul: My Unsung Hero podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-unsung-hero/id1586880312

https://open.spotify.com/show/2lBDAGE8UkizPEC2ZjmgaP

LINKS:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Politics can feel like a loyalty test now. Like you are either on the right team, or you are a threat. In this conversation with Larry Rosen, attorney turned mediator and host of The Enemies Project YouTube docuseries, we talk about what happens when people stop seeing each other as humans and start treating politics like a team sport.

Larry’s work sits right in the middle of the biggest problems in political polarization and social division: we assume intention, we fill in the blanks with the worst story, and we turn disagreement into moral war. We unpack why conflict is rarely just about the surface issue, how “enemy making” works, and why curiosity feels like betrayal when the nervous system is in threat mode.

We also get into Larry’s approach to depolarization and conflict resolution, including rapport-building, extreme perspective taking, and the moment that changes everything: helping people understand what the other person is trying to protect. It is not about forcing agreement. It is about making it harder to keep the other side as a cartoon, and easier to have hard conversations without dehumanising each other.

If you care about bridging the political divide, civil discourse, and how to talk to people you disagree with without damaging your relationships beyond repair, this one will land. It is a reminder that healing is not soft, and it is not naive; it is one of the only paths out of the loop we are stuck in.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Meet Larry Rosen

02:50 From Lawyer to Mediator

05:43 Why Enemies Project Started

12:20 Enemies Project Format

15:49 Extreme Perspective Taking

19:37 Healthy Conflict Zone

23:33 Platforming and Safety

30:38 Casting Real Enemies

34:29 Why Activists Fight

35:39 Low Empathy And AI

42:22 Future Of Enemies Project

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

https://www.enemiesproject.org/

Larry's Good for the Soul:

https://youtube.com/shorts/aFuuyibkx1Q?si=MhVJvWhH5SMGPDdb

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

We are back in the Ozarks for our second annual in-person recording at Jolene’s house, and we decided to ask each other a handful of questions we have thought about asking, but never have.

We start with something deceptively simple: why Jolene hides how funny (and sometimes crass) she is on the podcast. It turns into a bigger conversation about authenticity, self-censoring, and how exhausting it is to try to be inoffensive all the time. In a culture where politics feels performative and everyone is bracing for outrage, being real can feel risky, but it is also what makes people relatable.

From there we get into the harder stuff: what Nicole struggles to defend about the Democratic Party, and what Republican beliefs she actually agrees with. We talk about political extremes, the national debt, homelessness, cost of living, and why so many people can “smell” consultant language and talking points a mile away. It is less about scoring points and more about thinking clearly, even when your own side is messy.

If you are tired of political polarization, tribalism, and the feeling that every conversation is a loyalty test, this episode is a reminder that there is another way through, and it starts with staying human long enough to listen.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:35 Five Questions Challenge

01:07 Why Not More Humor

05:44 Democrats Hard To Defend

11:13 Holding Back On Air

15:35 Common Ground With GOP

17:27 Questioning Beliefs ALICE

25:13 Three Laws As President

26:47 Voter ID Accountability

27:14 Reining In Executive Orders

28:26 Stocks PACs and Lobbyists

30:27 Why AI Feels Dangerous

35:02 Everyday AI and Kids

37:27 Dream Administration Picks

43:25 Cross Party Leadership Idea

44:37 Personal Secrets and Shyness

47:07 Pickup Truck Life Lesson

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Larry Rosen of The Enemies Project: https://www.enemiesproject.org/

WGTT United for Alice episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWR77jzh1aQ

Gwen Stefani- Hollerback Girl: https://youtu.be/Kgjkth6BRRY?si=p_xkfcscFsHegSD4

Patsy Cline- Crazy: https://youtu.be/MbnrdCS57d0?si=H7N6gdb9DX4JBp3m

Dolly Parton-Jolene: https://youtu.be/Ixrje2rXLMA?si=k6qzW_ix_5MwiX9G

Ray LaMontagne- Jolene: https://youtu.be/YTjKotAu4xQ?si=VX_9eYc6Xxd3GLTB

Cruise Inn Throttle Down: https://cruise-inns.com/

Congress Stock Trading: https://www.quiverquant.com/congresstrading/

Van Jones interview with Bill Gates: https://vanjones.substack.com/p/my-bill-gates-interview-on-ai-global?r=n7so4&timestamp=1.2

Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture: https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/our-secretary

Senator Jeff Merkley: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/

Governor Mikie Sherill: https://www.nj.gov/governor/

Courage Can Save Us Book: https://couragecansaveus.com/

With Honor: https://withhonor.org/

Rahm Emanuel: https://www.instagram.com/rahmemanuel/?hl=en

Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark: https://www.longwellpartners.com/sarah-longwell/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

A year and a half ago, when we started our podcast, Jolene and I had an uncomfortable realization. We weren’t just “watching the news”; we were watching news that already agreed with us. Jolene had her conservative media, I had my liberal media, and even when we landed on the same basic facts, the emotional tone was completely different depending on what we’d been consuming. Same country, same week, two totally different versions of reality shaped by cable news and political commentary.

So we cleaned up our media diet and started looking for sources that show more than one angle, like Ground News, Tangle, Mo News, 1440, and Straight Arrow News. We wanted to be less easily manipulated by algorithms and outrage, and better able to have civil conversations across political differences. If you’ve been searching for “balanced news sources,” “media bias chart,” or “how to avoid political echo chambers,” this is exactly the road we started walking.

Then my husband Josh, suggested a new experiment: a full week of Fox News and MSNOW (full immersion, no cherry-picked clips). I know it’s a shock to hear this, but it did not make us smarter. It made us anxious. Both networks seemed to run the same play, just with different villains: keep you slightly scared, slightly angry, and just certain enough that you don’t go looking elsewhere. It wasn’t “here’s what happened,” it was “here’s what happened, here’s who to blame, and here’s why you should be worried.”

What really stung is how normal it feels when you’re in it daily. It feels like being responsible, like staying informed, like doing your civic duty. But after a week, we could see the pattern clearly: less clarity, more defensiveness, more judgement, and more confidence about things we hadn’t actually researched. We talk about how 24-hour news cycles turn commentary into the product, why outrage is profitable, and what to do instead, including tools like Ad Fontes Media, reading across sources, and the simplest antidote of all: get back into real life, talk to actual humans, and take action in your community instead of marinating in rage.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:36 One Week Fox vs MSNBC

02:09 Three Takeaways From Jolene

04:05 Nicole’s Takeaways

06:33 Bias Charts And Better Sources

07:39 Big Stories Compared

09:58 Spin On Trump And Iran

14:07 Quit Doomscrolling All Day

19:59 How To Research Without Bias

25:00 Do Something With The News

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

We've Got To Talk Swamping News Sources for 10 days episode:https://youtu.be/5wtPeP8XwAk?si=pzJ5Ef_KL8gz5Yawhttps://youtu.be/5wtPeP8XwAk?si=pzJ5Ef_KL8gz5Yaw

Fox News Hourly Update:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fox-news-hourly-update/id209991975https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fox-news-hourly-update/id209991975

Morning Joe podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-joe/id974299441https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-joe/id974299441

Fox News:https://www.foxnews.com/https://www.foxnews.com/

MSNOW:https://www.ms.now/https://www.ms.now/

Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart:https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ogbl#inbox/WhctKLcMXwDFFhPsrKpBzMQthJWlpPqMBfPBjHmsSpdtSpVvWkPWkqvrtqzXSNVTlvHTtBBhttps://app.adfontesmedia.com/chart/interactive

Tangle News:https://www.readtangle.com/https://www.readtangle.com/

Mo News:https://www.mo.news/https://www.mo.news/

Straight Arrow News:https://san.com/https://san.com/

Ground News:https://ground.news/https://ground.news/

1440:https://join1440.com/https://join1440.com/

Isaac Saul of Tangle Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/543mYKKh1EE?si=aEscLTxkXbGx39IR

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

They’re saying Social Security could run out by 2032, and that timeline is close enough to feel real. We talk through what that warning actually means for everyday Americans, especially if you’ve got parents, grandparents, a spouse, or a future self who’s been assuming this safety net will be there. This isn’t a “someday” problem. It’s a real deadline that’s already shaping what comes next.

We also clear up the most common question people ask: “Is Social Security really going to run out?” The program doesn’t just vanish overnight, but the money set aside to pay full benefits is projected to fall short, and if Congress does nothing, automatic benefit cuts become the default. That’s why this matters beyond politics, because Social Security is a monthly lifeline for millions of people, not a talking point.

A lot of people forget Social Security isn’t only about retirement. It covers disability benefits, survivor benefits, and the kind of support that keeps families afloat after a death, an accident, or a diagnosis. We talk about why the silence around Social Security is so dangerous, and why it keeps getting pushed aside even though it affects real lives, real bills, and real dignity.

Finally, we get into the frustrating part: there’s actually bipartisan agreement that something needs to be done, but the incentives reward delay. We walk through the kinds of solutions lawmakers keep circling, like raising the payroll tax cap, changing payroll taxes, adjusting benefits for higher earners, raising the retirement age and why every option comes with trade-offs.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:46 Why Social Security Now

03:17 What Social Security Covers

04:27 Fixes Taxes Benefits Age

08:57 Congress Performance Problem

11:08 The Payroll Tax Cap

12:55 Big Beautiful Bill Impact

22:08 Donut Hole Explained

25:26 Raising Age And Investing

29:55 More System Pressures

32:29 Rapid Fire Solutions

33:58 Seniors With No Savings

34:44 Means Testing Debate

35:54 Tax Breaks For Giving Back

36:57 Teaching Money And Debt

37:54 Baby Bonds And Investing

39:13 Bipartisan Fix Now

39:53 Taxing Wages And Capital

43:30 No Benefit Cuts

45:40 Congress Needs Focus

47:06 Call Your Congressperson

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Original clip from viewer: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DavOpqYgTi6/

CSPAN: Senate Social Security Meeting: March 25, 2026

https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/senate-budget-committee-examines-social-security-solvency/676234

August 5, 2026 Senate Finance Committee SS Solvency: https://youtu.be/M4ZUg7woHAs?si=P4RUx90pd7xy7eyz

August 4, 2026: Dick Durbin and Bill Cassidy Crosspartisan

https://www.c-span.org/program/us-senate/sens-cassidy-and-durbin-on-social-security-insolvency/683706

Bridge Grades: https://www.bridgegrades.org/

Japanese 7/Eleven Egg Salad: https://www.7-eleven.com/products/fresh-chilled/egg-salad

Bonus Recipe!!! https://www.foodandwine.com/japanese-7-eleven-egg-salad-sandwich-6416077

Zach Bryan: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwK3C8Vgphad4PweezfUBAQ

Dierks Bentley: https://dierks.com/

Nascar: https://www.nascar.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

We walked away from our conversation with Layla Zaidane feeling something we don’t always feel after talking about politics: hope. Layla is the President and CEO of Future Caucus, and her whole approach is built around a simple idea that changes everything. If young lawmakers across party lines can know each other as people first, the work changes. The temperature drops, the incentives shift, and bipartisan cooperation stops feeling like a miracle and starts feeling like a skill.

Layla also shared the personal story behind why she does this work, from her family’s journey from Morocco to growing up in the shadow of 9/11 and the identity questions that followed. Listening to her, it’s easy to understand how someone ends up committed to diplomacy, civic leadership, and bridging divides. She’s not chasing a shiny version of politics. She’s trying to build a more human one, and that matters in a time when political polarisation is treated like entertainment.

We talked about Future Summit, which is basically a mid-year reset for state legislators who are tired, stretched thin, and trying to keep going. There are real policy wins and serious conversations, but there’s also joy and connection because trust doesn’t grow in a vacuum. If you can’t laugh together, you’re not going to legislate together, and Future Caucus seems to understand that relationships are not a side quest. They are the work.

We also got into the hard realities facing young people in politics, like the cost of running for office, low pay, burnout, threats, and rising political violence. Layla was blunt about what it will take to keep good people in public service: structural support, better compensation, stronger staffing, and systems that make the job sustainable. If you’ve been searching for how to reduce political division, how to rebuild trust in democracy, or how to have civil political conversations across party lines, this one is a hopeful reminder that better models exist, and they’re already being built.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:21 Meet Layla Zaidane

01:13 Roots and 9/11

03:28 From Recession to Politics

07:14 Founding Future Caucus

09:47 How the Caucuses Work

16:20 Generations and Leadership

26:49 Why Young People Run

30:32 Inside Future Summit

35:46 Money Fundraising Hurdles

36:53 Retention Beyond One Term

37:45 Legislator Pay Reality

45:41 Political Violence Crisis

49:30 Solidarity Disagree Better

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Future Caucus: https://futurecaucus.org/
• Future Caucus Exit Interview: https://futurecaucus.org/the-exit-interview/
• Layla’s Podcast, Terms of Service: https://youtu.be/Nkbhx-o4FY0?si=fLud5hpQ4jlohHxj
• Layla’s Good for the Soul: The Little Prince: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/157993.The_Little_Prince

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Accountability and common ground shouldn’t feel like rare collectibles in American politics, but lately that’s exactly what they are. In this episode, we ask the question a lot of exhausted Americans are asking right now: what is wrong with our political parties?

We talk honestly about feeling a bit party-less, even while coming from different political leanings. Jolene is worn down by what Trump is doing and what parts of the Republican Party keep excusing, while Nicole is frustrated by the idea that the only path forward for Democrats is to become a far-left mirror image of the same chaos. The bigger point is how both sides can get trapped in a reactive loop where tribalism, outrage, and constant escalation are rewarded, and reasonable people are treated like they’re naive.

From there, the conversation shifts to what most people actually want: safety, stability, and a government that doesn’t feel like a reality show. We dig into the “exhausted majority”, the people who aren’t screaming online all day and would love to see something almost radical in 2026: bipartisan cooperation and cross-party collaboration. They also get into why Congress feels broken, why executive orders keep whiplashing the country, and why durable laws require compromise, even when it’s uncomfortable.

We also chat about the “America First” debate and why that phrase hits differently depending on who’s saying it. We then discuss why decency needs to be the way forward. Character matters, truth matters, and party loyalty shouldn’t be a free pass. If you’re tired of political chaos, culture war theatre, and leaders who perform for the loudest edges, this episode is a grounded conversation about voting (especially in primaries), rewarding adults in the room, and remembering that labels are meant to describe us, not trap us.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Democrats: Three Problems

02:52 Republicans Spending and Identity

03:29 Immigration and ICE Concerns

04:40 America First and Tariffs

08:39 Congress Is Broken

12:34 Language and Media Triggers

17:16 Bipartisan Budget Fixes

21:42 Extremes and Decency Debate

25:59 Collaboration Over Compromise

28:56 Vote in Primaries

33:01 Would You Rather Segment

35:09 Sponsor Plug and Wrap

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Congress is Broken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJmJTofEN3E

Isaac Saul’s Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/isaac_saul_3_ideas_for_communicating_across_the_political_divide

Lalshareef: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbHAbAgOA4u/

Brad Porteus of Bridge Grades on MO News:

https://lnkd.in/p/gQUQxSMN

Dan Goldman District 10: https://www.instagram.com/repdangoldman/?hl=en

Jolene’s Dible Dough: https://dibledough.com/

Our Website:

https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Social media algorithms are shaping how the world sees America, and it’s not pretty. In this episode, we ask a simple question people are searching for everywhere right now: what does the rest of the world think of Americans when the only thing they see is viral outrage? To get a real outside perspective, we have brought in our Australian producer and editor, Brianna Ansaldo, who has spent the last 18 months editing our conversations and absorbing American news from a distance.

Brianna’s take is blunt and familiar to anyone who’s ever Googled “How America is viewed overseas” or “why does the world think America is violent.” When Australians picture the US, two images rise to the top fast: guns and healthcare. School shootings and a healthcare system that can bankrupt you dominate what makes it through the feed. At the same time, she says Americans as individuals often come across as warm, funny, and generous, which makes the contrast even more jarring.

The big reveal is where that impression comes from. It’s not cable news. It’s not newspapers. It’s Social Media. Brianna explains that if she wants to know what’s happening in America, she scrolls and lets the algorithm decide, which is exactly how a lot of younger people get their news now. That means the “America” being exported is curated by an engagement engine built for outrage, fear, and spectacle, not by journalists weighing what matters. If you’ve searched “how TikTok algorithms influence politics” or “why social media makes everything worse,” this conversation will feel uncomfortably accurate.

Finally, Brianna compares the US political system to Australia’s, where voting is compulsory and party differences can feel less extreme. She’s baffled by the size of the gap between Republicans and Democrats, and by the way Americans often treat party loyalty like identity. We take a look at what that does to trust, nuance, and civic life, and why America isn’t as divided as the highlight reel suggests, but also isn’t totally fine. The algorithm isn’t lying; it’s just repeating the loudest version until it feels like the whole truth.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro

00:31 Introducing producer Brianna Ansaldo

04:07 Australia's take on American guns

05:11 The broken healthcare system in USA

06:52 Has Trump-era coverage of America spiked?

09:08 Why TikTok is the real news source

12:02 Has Brianna’s perspective on U.S. politics shifted?

13:36 Australia's parliamentary system explained

16:20 Compulsory voting in Australia

22:31 Australia's take on AI and data centers

23:31 The World Cup's surprising ripple effect

30:29 Being tired of talking about Trump

38:17 Is Trump secretly good for America?

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Brianna Ansaldo - Bamby Media:

https://www.bambymedia.com/

Brianna Carpenter Australian Idol Days: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2v4rl

Pauline Hanson, Australian One Nation Candidate: https://youtu.be/R6oVBLKbzjg?si=NM9SWWkjhGMDRp0O

Stephen Hawkins: More In Common, WGTT episode: https://youtu.be/GpcXMoW2vcg?si=W-JZt-9sGnhqCXAO

Julia Gillard, first Australian female prime minister: https://australian.museum/publications/200-treasures-of-the-australian-museum/100-people/julia-gillard/

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDtBqvfm7vY

Aussie Perspective of World Cup/Trump/Spanish Football Team:

https://youtu.be/yK8yMMelqMw?si=F6BVMX7XDKTJ53gF

I’ve Had It: https://youtube.com/@ivehaditpodcast?si=cWfNZGsLYrDfIbzn

Good For The Soul:

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/212070792-music-as-medicine

Our Website:

• https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Why does it feel like two-thirds of the country has completely checked out of the political process? In this special mailbag episode, Jolene and I step up to answer your political questions, breaking down everything from White House budgeting issues to local primary election shocks. We take an honest, unvarnished look at the real-world feedback filling our inbox, proving that a liberal and a conservative can unpack highly polarized topics with total respect, deep curiosity, and zero filtering.

We jump straight into the controversy surrounding the $600 million White House ballroom renovation project. We look at the actual reality behind this massive infrastructure project, exploring why Trump's typical "bull in a china shop" style triggers immediate media panic even when certain facility updates are legitimately required for national security. We talk about what seems like a total breakdown of standard Request for Proposals (RFP) protocols, look at the cost-plus budgeting system, and share our mutual frustration over government contracts handed down to political insider buddies.

There are also the surprising results of the recent New York primary, where an organized wave of Democratic Socialists completely dominated local platforms. I (Nicole) share a vital reality check on how a tiny 5% to 8% voter turnout completely skews our democratic representation, allowing fringe extremes on both sides of the aisle to capture the narrative while the "exhausted majority" sits on the sidelines. We also tackle a highly specific foreign aid dilemma, discussing the global stakes of tracking Ebola and medical research funding against the systemic fraud within programs like USAID.

Finally, we reveal the top three takeaways we want to see implemented in high school civics curriculum to save the next generation from toxic polarization. From teaching the active, lost art of deep listening to designing classroom frameworks around real-world compromise and pocket Constitutions, we map out a practical path back to institutional decorum.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro

00:01:26 The $600M White House ballroom.

00:01:59 Going around Congress for funding.

00:02:40 Government bidding and RFP processes.

00:03:15 Giving contracts to political buddies.

00:04:06 Trump's image-driven leadership style.

00:05:50 Picking our dream impossible guests.

00:08:22 Reading the Bible at college.

00:10:08 Stephen Hawkins on polarization data.

00:12:45 Shaking up the NY primary.

00:14:12 Fixing our massive polarization problem.

00:14:37 The truth about the exhausted majority.

00:15:18 Low primary turnout ruins choices.

00:17:35 Remaking high school civics classes.

00:18:31 Tracking public education's rapid decline.

00:19:42 Fraud and waste in USAID.

00:20:18 The power of foreign aid.

00:22:48 Taking a chainsaw to government.

00:25:13 How this podcast changed us.

00:28:05 Unpacking pro-life and pro-choice stances.

00:29:41 Understanding the psychology of gun owners.

00:31:09 How social media monetizes anger.

00:33:55 The reality of money and power.

00:39:48 Shifting gears for the midterms.

00:43:05 Would You Rather

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

David French Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQSKSrQfw78

The Stephen Hawkins Research Profile: https://www.moreincommon.com/our-work/research/)

Stephen Hawkins Interview: https://youtu.be/GpcXMoW2vcg

The White House Ballroom Renovation Project: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-dc-reflecting-pool-renovation-white-house-ballroom-triumphal-arch/

WGTT Switching News Sources for 10 days: https://youtu.be/5wtPeP8XwAk?si=mNyBqXYbdpk-kJD7

Monica Guzmán Interview: https://youtu.be/DqoLxk0-Yqk

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Civic Engagement Report: Check out the direct tracking metrics on national primary voter turnouts and participation dips: https://www.cbo.gov/

Our Website:

https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Accountability on Capitol Hill should be a given, but why is it that Congress feels immune to the standards the rest of us live by? It’s easy to see why voters across the political spectrum are fed up. If you’ve ever searched “why is Congress so ineffective,” “why don’t politicians get fired,” or “why is Washington so broken,” we’re discussing a lot of these questions in this episode.

We start with the basics that should not be controversial: show up, do the job, and act like public service is actually service. We talk about the shift from a five-day work week to a three-day work week in Washington, D.C. and how that change fuels polarization by killing real relationship-building. Less time together means less trust, more performative politics, and a system that rewards soundbites over solutions.

Then we get into two issues people constantly Google and argue about: stock trading for politicians and the budget process. Why are members of Congress allowed to trade stocks while writing laws that move markets? How do so many politicians become millionaires on a $175,000 salary? And why are continuing resolutions and government shutdown threats still being used like a weapon instead of passing a real budget like adults?

Finally, we talk about the human cost of all of this. When elected officials disappear for weeks or months, miss votes, and hide behind vague explanations, it creates chaos and destroys trust. Mental health matters, but accountability matters too. If we want decency, transparency, and real consequences back in government, it may have to come from voters, not from the institution protecting itself.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro

00:28 Accountability on Capitol Hill. Congressional accountability and public trust

01:07 Three Fixes for Congress.

02:59 When politicians disappear and voters get no answers

08:19 Party loyalty, scandals, and “winning at all costs”

12:12 Reform Ideas. Term limits, ballot initiatives, and constitutional amendments

15:24 Money and Power in Washington.

17:50 Decency and Bipartisanship. Exhausted majority and Future Caucus hope

20:07 Israel and Antisemitism. Nuance, party distrust, and black and white politics

27:54 Rethinking the Congress Workweek. 5 day vs 3 day schedule and polarization

30:34 Attendance and Accountability. Show up, vote, and do the job

31:48 Fixing the Federal Budget Process. Continuing resolutions and shutdown threats

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Lindsey Graham:

https://apnews.com/article/lindsey-graham-dies-south-carolina-bfa556e170f2df22ce9ffc7165da3dfa

Tom Kean:

https://www.statnews.com/2026/06/30/republican-tom-kean-jr-reveals-depression-after-absence-from-congress/

End Congressional Stock Trading Act (H.R. 1908, 119th Congress)

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1908

Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Roy, and Magaziner on insider trading legislation (C-SPAN)

https://www.c-span.org/program/news-conference/reps-ocasio-cortez-roy-and-magaziner-speak-to-reporters-on-insider-trading-legislation/665092

We’ve Got To Talk David French Episode https://youtu.be/JQSKSrQfw78?si=G2PBvuhr0fHAF9sY

Future Caucus (formerly Millennial Action Project)

• https://futurecaucus.org/

Congressional Future Caucus

• https://futurecaucus.org/future-caucus/congressional-future-caucus/

How America Got Mean (David Brooks, The Atlantic)

• https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/09/us-culture-moral-education-formation/674765/

We’ve Got To Talk Episode (David Brooks Article) https://youtu.be/qydEt3wbPXQ?si=DYQlKg1y4b1UlS6Q

David Brooks: How America Recovers from All This (Yale Jackson School event page)

• https://events.jackson.yale.edu/event/david-brooks-yale-conversations-040726

David Brooks: How America Recovers from All This (video)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRTSA9q-6M

James Talarico (official site)

• https://jamestalarico.com/

In Israel, Rahm Emanuel Calls for End of Unconditional U.S. Support (NYT)

• https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/rahm-emanuel-speech-israel.html

Congress Schedule Opinion https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/388007-lawmakers-to-help-repair-our-polarized-congress-make-dc-your-home/

Congress Schedule

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/TE10041

We’ve Got To Talk Episode Brad Porteus of Bridge Grades ttps://youtu.be/Pq5BYIgxJvw?si=DzRop48P67TlNGH_

Bridge Grades (Brad Porteus) – About

• https://www.bridgegrades.org/about

Bridge Grades (main site)

• https://www.bridgegrades.org/

We’ve Got To Talk Tipping and Rating Episode:

https://youtu.be/Ou1CVCXOaXo?si=atxMn3OKK0GUFFIA

NYTimes Bruce Feiler Article:

• https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/opinion/ritual-connection-meaning-community.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.mxMX.F7_TlmWqQfUX&smid=url-share

What Is an Honor Walk (organ donation tradition, Lifebanc)

• https://www.lifebanc.org/community-partners/hospitals-medical-professionals/the-hoor-walk/

Our Website:

• https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Why has a critical issue like global energy independence been trapped inside a left-wing political monopoly for decades? In this episode, Jolene and Nicole sit down with former six-term South Carolina Republican Congressman Bob Inglis to discover the conservative solution to climate change. Bob shares his remarkable personal metamorphosis from a standard climate skeptic to a leading free-market advocate, proving that changing your mind in public is an act of courage, not tribal betrayal.

We explore the brilliant, market-driven mechanics behind Bob's revenue-neutral tax swap policy, widely known as the "Untax". We break down the exact economic math of how slashing the regressive federal payroll FICA tax while placing a direct "tipping fee" on carbon emissions can fuel massive corporate innovation while leaving the bottom 70% of working-class Americans financially better off. Bob explains why true conservatism is rooted in absolute accountability and why allowing corporations to dump pollution into the sky for free violates basic free-enterprise economics.

We also confront the vital geopolitical questions that right-of-center voters care about most: How do we force mega-polluters like China and India to play by the same rules? Bob explores the legal reality of border carbon adjustment tariffs under the World Trade Organization, demonstrating how American economic leverage can organically force a global carbon tax layout within 24 hours without starting a single trade war. We look at how economic reality is rapidly outracing shaky political ideologies, highlighted by the fierce global race for high-capacity EV batteries and modular nuclear tech.

We talk about the deep spiritual connection to creation care, look at the real-world infrastructure crises facing coastal cities like Charleston, and look back at the sheer optimism of JFK’s historic 1962 Moonshot speech.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro

00:27 Introduction of Congressman Bob Inglis

01:18 Shifting from climate disregard to advocacy

02:24 Witnessing ice core data in Antarctica.

02:33 A spiritual awakening on the Reef.

03:01 The political cost of climate policy.

03:58 Why human-caused change is good news.

06:54 How the 2008 recession stalled policy.

08:16 Framing climate action as energy security.

13:12 Placing a tipping fee on the sky.

14:42 Slashing regressive federal payroll FICA taxes.

17:21 Broadening the tax base for Social Security.

19:54 WTO border carbon adjustment tariff mechanics.

24:58 Reading Pope Francis's Laudato Si encyclical.

27:42 Hierarchical individualists versus communitarian egalitarians.

30:45 Aligning free-market solutions with Al Gore.

34:39 Giving politicians quiet space to transition.

37:43 The aggressive rise of Chinese EV infrastructure.

39:55 Global oil markets and national security interests.

44:34 Charleston's one-billion-dollar coastal sea wall.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Power of Big Oil Documentary:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/the-power-of-big-oil/

Bob's Good for the Soul, Kennedy Moonshot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZyRbnpGyzQ

Slide Rule: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slide_rule

Bob's Foundation: https://republicen.org/

Our Website:

https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Why do people say that Gen X was the very last generation to have a real childhood? In this episode, we take a look at what it was like growing up Gen X and what it really means to belong to the smallest age grouping in modern history. We examine how our unique position between the analog and digital eras completely shaped our worldview, creating a cohort of people who are uniquely resilient and private.

We look at the hilarious and slightly heartbreaking reality of being the original latchkey kids. From dodging broken bones in unsupervised neighborhoods to sitting with constructive boredom before smartphones existed, we look at the exact moments that taught us how to solve our own problems. We also take an honest look at the flaws of our upbringing, unpacking the deep emotional weight behind why so many of us stopped expecting people to save us.

We also take an honest and vulnerable look at ways our generation has overcorrected as parents. We look at how our desire to protect our children has led to an era of hyper-scheduling, tracking apps, and anxiety, leaving younger people afraid of basic face-to-face discomfort. From the monetization of youth sports to the mental toll of carrying around a continuous stream of social media comparison in your pocket, we dissect why modern life feels so fragile.

Finally, we confront the heavy reality of the sandwich generation. We talk about the intense, everyday stress of balancing our lives while managing aging parents who failed to make a plan for the future.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00 Intro.

00:40 The reality of being a Gen Xer.

00:02:39 Adapting from analog childhoods to digital realities.

00:04:50 Latchkey kids and unsupervised after-school culture.

00:06:57 How Gen X parents aggressively overcorrected.

00:07:37 Hyper-surveillance, cell phones, and college campus protests.

00:12:41 Recording radio music onto physical mixed tapes.

00:14:24 Developing a strong, lifelong bullshit monitor.

00:16:10 Passing paper notes versus permanent digital records.

00:18:52 Hyper-specialized youth sports and intense childhood stress.

00:22:48 Talk radio, cable news, and Walter Cronkite.

00:24:07 Balancing news reporting before political echo chambers.

00:26:08 Living through childhood parental divorce dynamics.

00:32:08 Grateful for real-world play on our streets.

00:33:51 Watching younger generations battle smartphone anxieties.

00:35:34 Surviving the stressful modern sandwich generation trap.

00:37:12 Gen X operates as society's quiet fixers.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

https://youtu.be/GVxSREVTFTA?si=xS6MPooh7mEGDc1Fhttps://youtu.be/GVxSREVTFTA?si=xS6MPooh7mEGDc1Fhttps://youtu.be/GVxSREVTFTA?si=xS6MPooh7mEGDc1Fhttps://youtu.be/7Ul5CHvgRRw?si=aFh_x9UbXY_rUvQthttps://youtu.be/7Ul5CHvgRRw?si=aFh_x9UbXY_rUvQthttps://book-shelfie.com/roll-with-it/

The Coddling of the American Mind Book: https://www.thecoddling.com/

Brad Porteus Book “Roll With It”: https://book-shelfie.com/roll-with-it/

MAPS!!!!

Thomas Guide: https://thomasmaps.com/la-org-thomas-guide-2025-57th-edition-in-stock-now/

The Paper Fortune Teller!!!

https://youtu.be/tOcRq1fRypo?si=cD3TKSC_IrQJt658

Our Website:

• https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Why does celebrating the 4th of July suddenly feel like a political statement? In this episode, Jolene and Nicole tackle the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States to explore a question dividing the country: can you be liberal and patriotic? We look back at our shared childhood memories of the 200th Bicentennial parade, contrasting that early innocence with the deep anxieties and partisan divisions shaping our modern public square.

We examine the staggering data behind recent Reuters and Ipsos polling that reveals a massive patriotic split between Democrats and Republicans. Nicole shares the raw conflict liberals face regarding how the flag has been weaponized, leading to an honest conversation about why loving your country shouldn't mean endorsing a specific politician. Jolene counters with a powerful reminder on why America remains the greatest nation on earth and why everyday citizens hold the real power.

We also share some beautiful, real-world proof of American unity that the mainstream media completely ignores. From a peaceful, million-person celebration parade in the heart of New York City to international World Cup tourists discovering how incredibly kind and welcoming everyday Americans are, we look at the reality outside of our toxic phone screens. We talk about the dangerous ways political parties use constant labeling to keep us fighting, and why the global "American Dream" is still very much alive.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro.

00:23 Celebrating America's upcoming 250th birthday.

01:08 Remembering the 200th Bicentennial childhood.

01:45 Democracy as a fragile experiment.

03:36 America is the greatest nation earth.

04:24 Facing historical amnesia and tyranny.

05:22 Reclaiming patriotism from modern politicians.

05:59 Analyzing the Reuters patriotic poll.

07:00 Weaponizing the flag to divide us.

09:57 Neighborhood flags and cultural anxiety.

12:41 Does patriotism empower Donald Trump?

17:23 What makes us proud Americans.

18:36 Low voter turnout in primaries.

22:14 Encouraging the left to celebrate.

23:56 World Cup tourists discovering America.

30:22 Bizarre combat events at White House.

32:22 Discovering hope under devastating circumstances.

35:36 Sports analogies entering modern politics.

38:19 Decency will turn society around.

39:41 Would You Rather

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Graham Platner:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/09/graham-platner-maine-senate-primary

Gallup Polling - Americans Divided:

https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/national-pride-is-declining-in-america-and-its-splitting-by-party-lines-new-gallup-polling-shows/

Stephen Hawkins Episode: https://youtu.be/GpcXMoW2vcg?si=HKs9cacFP8Y1ndei

David French Episode: https://youtu.be/MKss8IcOB-Q

Pro Hamas Protest in NYC? Episode: https://youtu.be/N1ay0AQcT7A?si=CWIPZdVwxYX0dKA3

Stacy Blakeley of Builders Episode: https://youtu.be/DyKi_sy9pko?si=HrbiNvVfUwrb1aT4

Artemis II Crew Flies Around the Moon: https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/curious-universe/artemis-ii-circles-moon/

Let’s Make a Deal with Monte Hall: https://youtu.be/2UESBk2H62g?si=1CxM67Ig5NuTR3uL

Happy Days Dance Marathon: https://youtu.be/MHA-odJh2Wk?si=Z2mgojJUCLSlpKcN

Lee Greenwood’s God Bless The USA: https://youtu.be/-KoXt9pZLGM?si=mVkUsWggXm--Fb5u

Our Website:

• https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Why are modern political movements suddenly reviving ideas that the world discredited decades ago? In this episode, we sit down with New York Times columnist and constitutional lawyer David French to discuss the deep psychological and cultural shifts breaking our societal guardrails. David shares his unique journey from growing up in the conservative South to serving as an JAG officer in the Army Reserve in Iraq, providing a grounded framework for why our current public discourse feels so dangerous.

We focus on David's striking concept to answer the question: why we are in the great forgetting. We look at how the passing of the generations who personally survived world wars, fascism, and communism has left a vacuum in our collective memory. We talk about the terrifying ways history is currently being weaponized as a tool for ideological victory rather than studied as a pursuit of wisdom and truth.

We also pull back the curtain on the dangerous rise of transactional politics on both the left and the right. Using the controversial candidacies of Graham Platner and Ken Paxton, we examine how the angriest wings of the major parties capture the primary system, leaving the "exhausted majority" to passively follow. David issues a profound warning to voters on how supporting a corrupt or cruel politician ultimately corrupts the character of the voter more than it changes the leader.

Finally, we look at the vital difference between ideological moderation and temperamental moderation. We talk about why the ability to hold robust convictions while maintaining cross-political friendships is the single most important skill Americans must relearn.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro.

00:26 Introduction of columnist David French.

01:08 From Southern fundamentalism to constitutional law.

04:39 Serving as an Army Reserve JAG officer.

05:29 Choosing a journalism career over law.

08:52 Unpacking the Great Forgetting concept.

13:19 How educational gaps fuel historical amnesia.

14:42 Weaponizing history in the culture wars.

18:06 Losing our direct contact with history.

19:29 Ideological moderation versus temperamental moderation.

23:40 The reality of the exhausted majority.

27:44 Primary turnouts shaping general election options.

31:55 Facing decade-long pushback as Never-Trump.

33:42 How corrupt leaders change their voters.

35:37 The thermostatic nature of American politics.

37:31 Finding electoral hope in independent behavior.

45:39 Pastor Tim Keller on broken friendships.

49:33 Will MAGA survive without Donald Trump?

52:05 The cultural obsession with fake authenticity.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

David’s Podcast: https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/

More In Common: https://moreincommonus.com/

Brad Porteus: https://www.bridgegrades.org/

David’s Good For The Soul: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61215384-the-return-of-the-king

Our Website:

• https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Why does it feel like modern politics has shifted from simple disagreements to an all-out war for team loyalty? In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Hawkins, the director of research for More in Common, an international organization tracking the deep psychology, values, and hidden tribes behind our fractured global landscape. Stephen breaks down his journey from an evangelical College Republican to a cosmopolitan progressive activist, revealing why the simplistic categories used by the media fail to explain our real inner lives.

We examine More in Common’s massive new study to answer the question: who actually votes for Donald Trump? We unpack the shocking data showing that the modern Republican voter base is the youngest and most racially diverse it has been in half a century. Jolene and Nicole share their own unexpected results from taking the coalition quiz, and we look at the real economic and border anxieties driving the "Reluctant Right" versus the deeply personal identity anchoring "MAGA Hardliners."

We also pull back the curtain on the completely broken incentive structures keeping Washington D.C. locked in conflict. From social media algorithms that monetize rage to a political system that forces members of Congress to spend up to 70% of their time fundraising, we look at how combativeness has become a highly profitable business model.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Intro.

00:26 Meet research director Stephen Hawkins.

01:08 Stephen’s journey across both political tribes.

03:01 The tragic origins of More in Common.

07:08 Moving beyond simplistic demographics in polling.

11:46 Understanding America's exhausted majority.

12:42 Breaking down the modern Trump coalition.

14:21 Host results from the coalition quiz.

18:43 The myth of shy Trump voters.

20:23 MAGA hardliners and personal identity.

22:00 The Democratic perception gap on economics.

25:19 How media models monetize political rage.

27:55 The exhausting reality of congressional fundraising.

30:15 How D.C. camaraderie completely died.

34:42 Solidarity during major American crises.

38:00 Political lessons from the Gilded Age.

44:38 Why public institutional trust eroded.

47:09 Gen Z as political kingmakers.

50:56 AI as a shared societal threat.

53:52 Good for the soul book recommendation.

55:22 Would You Rather: Banning anonymous accounts.

57:32 Would You Rather: Hometown versus cruise.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Stephen Hawkins Organization: https://moreincommonus.com/

Stephen Hawkins Report: https://beyondmaga.us/

Brad Porteus: https://www.bridgegrades.org/

Stephen's Good for the Soul: https://rutgerbregman.com/books/moral-ambition

Our Website:

• https://www.wevegottotalk.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/