American Fever Dream

Another debate, another recap! Today V & Sami are joined by Vibes Only's Glennis Meagher & Brian Derrick to compare notes on last night's VP debate. Was Walz's neighborly demeanor a liability? Can Vance answer a question without lying? What does the VP even do? We can answer some of these questions, even if the candidates didn't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do Sabrina Carpenter and Eric Adams have in common? Maybe more than you think! TEMP CHECK 6: 00 - People are on Chappell Roan's ass over her current political stance. Should she be doing more, or are we expecting too much from the Midwest Princess?  MAIN NEWS 16:40 - V & Sami explain the connection between NYC's Mayor, the Catholic Church, and Sabrina Carpenter. Already indicted on bribery charges, it looks like there may be more charges coming Adams' way. Should Governor Hochul pressure a resignation from Adams, or will her support for the Mayor hurt her too? 29:20 - Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost talks about his experiences on the campaign trail with Kamala Harris, the challenges of hurricane recovery in Florida, and how the anti-immigrant rhetoric is getting increasingly more dangerous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Whoever is writing this week's storyline for America is going a little wild. V fills us in on her latest trip to the Pentagon, where they talk China, Russia, and of course TikTok with the Department of Defense. We also get some clarification on why they use the unsettling phrase "most combat ready lethal fighting force." TEMP CHECK 26:00 Georgia's Election Board voted on a measure which would require counties to hand-count ballots -- which even has some Republican's speaking up in opposition. Nebraska's unique way of distributing electoral votes is causing Trump to panic, and Senator for South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, is also trying to support this "winner takes it all" approach. Although Nebraska's Governor Jim Pillen seems to support this change, he said he won't call a special session without the support of 33 state Senators. MAIN NEWS 37:00 Breaking down all that is Mark Robinson, the self proclaimed "Black Nazi." We wrap up with an in depth look at what we know about the "freak offs" (aka mass rapes) Diddy was part of, including the IV bags and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lube that were seized from his home, and the alleged tell all that Diddy's ex, Kim Porter wrote, that was published after her death. Go to vote.org &  iwillvote.org to check your voter status. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you call her The Latina Hammer, La Luchadora, or maybe just DMP: it's clear Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is making herself known in the Florida race for Senate against incumbent Rick Scott (who was involved in defrauding Medicare in 1997.) Mucarsel-Powell talks about the challenges that Floridians face, from high insurance rates to climate change, and how the normally Republican leaning Villages is showing up for the Harris-Walz campaign. Go to https://iwillvote.com/ to check your voter registration status and sign up to vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week V is joined by Senator Baldwin of Wisconsin. In addition to addressing the impact the reversal of Roe v Wade has had on the state, Senator Baldwin talks about how being raised by her grandparents and a childhood illness shaped her policies. V & Sen. Baldwin also talk about the future of clean energy, and why keeping these jobs in the US is so important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between Trump bragging about talking to Putin, to his claims of people eating their pets, Tuesday's debate makes us wonder if people are finally getting tired of Trump's act, and are ready for some normality in the White House. Considered a win for Harris by all (even Newsmax's Geraldo Rivera) Sami & V break down the biggest moments for Harris, and the moments that left us confused. Check your voter registration here: vote.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back this week talking about more disinformation, this time coming from massive a DOJ indictment which include several Russian nationals and entities, all working to influence 2024 election. The report calls out fake social media profiles, bots, and a front company based in Tennessee, all with the goal to create more division and suppress voter turnout. To wrap up the episode, we're joined by Symone Sanders-Townsend, co-host of MSNBC’s The Weekend, to make predictions on Tuesday night's Presidential debate, including how Harris can counterpunch and pivot effectively. Sanders-Townsend also talks about what a "win" would look like for the Harris team, and we all wonder how low Trump will be willing to go in his attacks against Harris.“Black Women in America: The Road to 2024,” airs on September 29th at 9pm ET on MSNBC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami sits down with co-authors Emmanuel Acho & Noa Tishby to talk about their book, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew. Acho speaks about how his friendship with Tishby developed, and how that friendship allowed them to have constructive conversations with each other about race. Their conversation also highlights the struggles of the Jewish and Black communities and the importance of unity in fighting against oppression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we have a classic American Fever Dream episode for you! Let's break down some of the weirdest, fever dreamiest stories of the last week. TEMP CHECK 5:45 - Starting off, we break down why Trump's photo op at Arlington National Cemetery was so disgraceful. V also fact checks Trump's statement that no military members died under his presidency, when the numbers show a very different story. 27:30 - Next, we cover the Twitter/X ban in Brazil. A Supreme Court Justice in Brazil has taken action against the app because of far-right accounts and disinformation. Musk could have avoided this if he had just hired a lawyer that lived in Brazil... so why didn't he? 35:10 - You may have heard from the NY Post that a Venezuelan gangs is taking over Aurora, Colorado. While the story is still unfolding, V and Sami are highly doubtful that a gang is taking over three specific apartment buildings owned by a company based outside of Colorado. AMERICAN'T 45:15 - A Chase Bank "glitch" let's people take out thousands of dollars without actually having the money in your account. Aka wire fraud. Please don't do this. 49:22 - We end the episode talking about Donald Trump's interesting choice of stops on his campaign trail -- Majority small towns that all happen to be Sundown towns, including Howell, Michigan, which held a KKK rally in July 2024. Have a question for V & Sami, or want to give your fave Philly recommendations? Email americanfeverdream@betches.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the giant Project 2025 book to her viral speech on the Michigan Senate floor in 2022, Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Sami talk about all of it. Although many call her a communications guru, McMorrow says she's just authentic in the way she talks to people, and that's what people connect with. Sami and McMorrow also discuss ways you can be engaged with politics, even if you don't want to run for office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

V & Sami are back from the DNC and they're ready to recap a very busy week. Still unhappy with trad media, they point out the double standard in the way Harris' speech is being fact checked versus the way the media is treating Trump. V also explains why there were no trans speakers at the DNC, and what was going on with the Uncommitted delegates. V & Sami also celebrate the joy and hope that was displayed at the DNC, along with Democrats reclaiming camo and the American flag. Then we share an interview at the DNC where Sami sat down with Senator Lephonza Butler, where Sen. Butler talks about brokering power, and explains why she's not running for reelection. Listen to our episode with Vice President Harris here:  Is The Bodily Autonomy In The Room With Us? Ft. Kamala Harris Have questions for Sam & V? Email us at americanfeverdream@betches.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything that's wrong at the DNC is because of the 200 creators, according to traditional media outlets, and V & Sami are getting fed up. V debunks the prime rib sandwich and yacht party rumors, and we have to ask -- are traditional media outlets just jealous, or are the creators ruining the experience for everyone? While previous days were all about looking forward to a hopeful future, day 3 speeches from Tim Walz, Oprah and others seem more somber and reflective, reminding us about January 6th and what else could happen under another Trump presidency. And yes, the giant Project 2025 book makes a return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Armed with their credential badges, Sami & V are ready for the Day 2 at the DNC. Today, they break down the difference between the music at the DNC vs the RNC, and recap the Obama's messages of hope and community. (And yes, their speeches made us cry, again.) Plus, the Republican's that spoke in support of Kamala, showing us you don't have to be a Democrat to vote blue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

V & Sami start their week off at the DNC with comedian Alex Pearlman. They commiserate on how long it took them to get into the convention and talk about why it's so important to have media creators involved in politics. Then, a very tired Sami & V go over their favorite speeches of the night, the differences they noticed between the DNC and RNC, and Senator McMorrow's giant Project 2025 book. Follow Alex on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@pearlmania500 Have a question for Sami & V about the DNC? Send us an email: americanfeverdream@betches.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

V talks with board certified gynecologist Dr. Karen Tang about informed consent, how social media has helped women's healthcare, and the impact of new laws on the healthcare industry. Dr. Tang's latest book, It's Not Hysteria Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told) aims to debunk myths and misconceptions about women's health issues that often get dismissed as "normal." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TEMP CHECK 7:00 - Let's break down Australian B-girl, Raygun's....interesting performance in breakdancing, including her signature boomerang moves. 12:45 - Five days after gymnast Jordan Chiles won the bronze medal in the individual floor competition, the IOC sided with a challenge from Romania and wants Chiles to give back the medal. Will Chiles return the medal with a frowny face note? Or will the US counter challenge be successful? MAIN NEWS 19:15 - Sometimes it seems like folks are so creative in their hate, but in fact, no, they aren’t. They’re simply repeating the decades old talking points, ideology and strategies of olde. Today we dissect the John Birch Society. Founded in 1958 by a man who did not trust outsiders and shares Donald Trump’s fear of being poisoned. (In addition to being the creator of the Sugar Daddies candy) 33:00 - Is Mr. Beast, famous YouTuber, running a real life Squid Games? There are some allegations around his reality TV show’s inhumane practices including withholding clean clothes, water, and proper medical attention. 38:45 - New reporting on Donald Trump’s $10M windfall in 2016 from Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and what he did for Egypt in return. And you’ll never guess who shut down the FBI investigation into it two years later. DOWN BALLOT ERA 44:30 - Dissecting Cori Bush’s primary loss to Wesley Bell, and how she was defeated by a mix of AIPAC funding and messaging that effectively painted her as someone more concerned with foreign policy than district issues. Today is also Ilhan Omar’s primary race against Don Samuels, who she defeated in the 2022 primary by just 2 points. Samuel’s campaign looks a lot like Bell’s, but without the support from AIPAC, but he’s also highlighting Omar’s husband’s...interesting business practices and questionable income. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fred Trump III, the nephew of former president Donald Trump, is on the show this week to talk all about his book, All In The Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way. Fred explains why now is the right time for this book, along with the unusual family dynamic among the Trump's (including Donald's attempt at disinheriting him.) Sami & Fred talk about the importance of policies to support families and individuals with disabilities, reflecting on Donald's infamous "maybe those kinds of people should just die" remark, and not so surprisingly why Fred will be voting for a Harris/Walz ticket this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a VP!! In this special bonus episode Sami & V go over the background and long list of accomplishments of Harris' pick for VP, Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz. Is he the radical that the right wants to paint him as, or just a regular guy who doesn’t want to monitor your pregnancy? From his 24 years of service in Army National Guard, to being a vocal supporter of IVF and reproductive rights, we're excited to have someone so.... not weird on the ticket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TEMP CHECK 3:20 - This week let’s take a deeper look into Peter Thiel’s past, from paying lawyers to help Hulk Hogan’s sue Gawker Media, to how he’s been influenced by AN INTERNET BLOGGER WHO USED TO GO BY THE NAME MENCIUS MOLDBUG. We also cover some of the politicians that’s he’s funded that have failed, and how JD Vance is a win for Thiel’s extreme ideologies. 12:30 - We break down the “Kamala is a cop” trope and examine her history as a prosecutor, from her “Back On Track” program in San Francisco aimed at reducing recidivism among young adults, to writing the playbook on how to prosecute against the “gay panic defense.” MAIN NEWS 26:20 - If you remember the election certification process from 2020....get ready for it to happen again, on steroids. With 90 days to the 2024 election, there are several ways in which election integrity is already being called into question, and we’re expecting to see voter challenges and accusations of fraud in counties in swing states. Sami also found a report on the Heritage Foundation’s website from some “election integrity exercises” that they conducted in the spring, like war games for the election. AMERICAN'T 49:20 - Last week Olympic athlete Imane Khalief was disqualified after beating her opponent in 46 seconds, and almost as quickly rumors were spreading about Khalief's gender and past. V explains how misinformation spread so quickly, and the troubled past and ties of IBA President, Umar Kremlev, with Putin. (Including how the IBA has been excluded from organizing Olympic boxing since the Tokyo Games in 2021 due to ethical issues.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices