04/29/25 (Special Episode)

Good morning.

It’s Tuesday, April 29th.

The 100th day of Trump’s presidency. Which means, it’s time for… a special episode! Now before you get nervous, remember that this is this show. We’re gonna get through it. We’re alright.

If you subscribe to the show, there should be another episode in the feed that talks about the news of the day. And if you don’t subscribe to the show… well then this. Is. Awkward. You know it’s free, right?

And now, the special episode.

Today marks 100 days of Trump’s presidency. I thought about making this whole episode listing all the things he’s done. All the executive orders he’s signed. All the ways he has made this country worse.

But that’s not what you come to this show for. You come here because the news itself is scary, but the news you listen to shouldn’t be working to make it even scarier. Also for the Kelly Clarkson and Ted Lasso references. You come here for both.

Over the past 100 days, Donald Trump has created, exposed, or taken advantage of weaknesses in our country.

But these 100 days have also created, exposed, or further built incredible strength that lies within our country.

A grassroots movement known as 50501, which stands for “50 protests. 50 states. 1 day” was founded in late January. Their first protest was February 5th and 72,000 people showed up. All around the country.

On April 5th, the Hands Off protest took place at more than 1,300 locations, and it’s estimated that more than 5.2 million Americans protested.

Run for Something, a group that helps young people, women, LGBTQ+, and people of color run for office, has had 40,000 people reach out to them to ask about running for office.

Although his money did tip the election for Trump last year, pouring millions into the Wisconsin Supreme Court did nothing to get the candidate Elon Musk supported elected. Despite spending $21 million, the liberal supported Judge Crawford won by ten points.

Harvard University is suing Trump, and another group of colleges have formed a compact to protect each other as they would protect themselves if Trump decides to go after them.

A dozen states are suing Trump over the tariffs.

As far as his executive orders go:

Ending birthright? Blocked. Ending DEI? Blocked (partially). Banning transgender people from the military? Blocked. Freezing foreign aid? Blocked. Blocking funding for sanctuary cities? Blocked.

Those blocks are temporary, but they are real.

Because we still have a judicial system.

He is putting his thumb on all of it, but it does not negate the fact that we still have a judicial system.

Donald Trump is a small, scared, feckless man who wants to take our rights, take our progress, take our democracy, and throw it all away because he thinks that’ll fix it.

But he does get those things because he wants them. He does not simply get to have our democracy, and he certainly does not get it without a fight.

Remember in Grey’s Anatomy when Christina tells Meredith that Derek is not the sun?

He takes up a lot of oxygen. He makes every moment a mo-ment. He signs every executive order in front of the cameras and holds it up for the world to see. He needs the attention but we do not need to give it to him.

We need to stay aware.

We need to know what’s going on.

We need to stay involved and fight back.

But he is not the sun.

He does not get all of the oxygen in the room.

There is still oxygen for you.

To talk about what’s happening. To yell about what’s happening. To fight back for people who can’t. For people who need you to.

In 100 days, Donald Trump has changed this country in ways we previously thought were impossible. Even those of us who were clear about the threat of what a second term meant are shocked by the speed with which it’s happening.

But he did not change it forever.

Know that however you feel right now, if that feeling skews towards the negative side – that is on purpose. That is by design.

This is a very serious, very scary moment for our country. We are not on the edge of anything; we are in it. The constitutional crisis is here. The oligarch is here.

But so are we.

And nothing is forever. Nothing is unfixable. Everything figureoutable.

There is so much fight ahead of us.

But there is so much to fight for.

And there is so much fight in us.

Remember what I was saying the day after Trump was elected? Well really it was what Rachel Maddow was saying, but what I if not the poor man’s Rachel Maddow?

There’s a bomb underground, and it’s going off anyway. And everyone’s trying everything. Everyone’s got something they can try. Including driving a car over the bomb door.

Because yes, there’s a bomb underground.

But this is America. Everyone has something they can do. Maybe you can protest. Maybe you can write a letter. Maybe you can make a call. Maybe you can donate to a down-ballot race. Maybe you can do a few.

This is America.

Over, under, or around – we find out way through.

Yes, it’s only been 100 days.

But it’s 100 days later and we’re still here. Still standing. Still fighting.

He is not the sun. He does not get all the oxygen.

We do.

And that’s it. That’s the special episode.

See! You got through it.

We’re getting through it.

And that’s why – I’m proud of you.