Gaslit Nation

For our weekly bonus episode, provided exclusively for our Patreon supporters at the Truth Teller level and higher, we're sharing this week's bonus with all Gaslit Nation listeners to celebrate Tori Amos's new powerful book Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change, and Courage. In this excerpt from Resistance, Tori explains the harrowing inspiration behind her classic song “Cornflake Girl.”

Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from RESISTANCE by Tori Amos, read by the author. Copyright © 2020 by Sword and Stone Publishing, Inc. Used with permission from Simon & Schuster, Inc.

This week we welcome special guest Tori Amos, the iconic singer-songwriter whose new book Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change, and Courage is a must-read! We discuss the value of creativity during times of chaos and crisis, processing grief during a pandemic, the challenges of motherhood in this political era, what’s in store for the 2020 election, and much more.

1. What's a book you think everyone should read and why?
2. What's a documentary everyone should watch and why?
3. What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why?
4. Who are some historical mentors who inspire you?
5. What's the best concert you've ever been to?
6. What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces?
7. Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight?
8. What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
9. What's your favorite place you've ever visited?
10. What's your favorite work of art and why?

This conversation was recorded late April 2023. The Supreme Court case referenced ruled that social media companies are not responsible for users' posts.

The Reagan Revolution and “greed is good” remain in full swing, ushering in a level of wealth inequality that surpasses the Gilded Age.

"Progressives, especially, must recognize that pres erving constitutional freedoms depends on winning the fight for economic liberties. Treating them as separate goals will ultimately mean losing out on both," writes Caroline Fredrickson, the former president of the American Constitution Society, the Democrats' answer to Leonard Leo's Federalist Society and his $1.6 billion war chest. You've probably never heard of the American Constitution Society, because they haven't been as effective.

In September, Fredrickson wrote a damning piece for The Atlantic explaining why, taking herself and other Democrats to task for packing our courts with corporate-friendly judges under recent Democratic administrations, including the current one. It seemed enough for Democrats that a judge was a woman, nonwhite, and cared about protecting reproductive healthcare. As a result, for decades, our courts have become a rubber stamp for rolling back regulations and defying antitrust laws. Even the Biden-appointed antitrust Elizabeth Warren protégé Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, has been powerless against the corporate defenders packed on our courts.

Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Jesse Eisinger of ProPublica, author of The Chicken Shit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives, explains that to undo the Reagan Revolution, prioritize appointing judges who will uphold antitrust laws and protect unions. To be true allies to women and nonwhite people, who are harder hit by economic downturns, fight for economic justice as the foundation for social justice. The Democrats need to get clear on that and respond with a robust judicial appointment strategy immediately, while there’s still time.

This week’s bonus show, available for our listeners at the Truth-tell level and higher, will feature questions and comments from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Exclusively for our Patroen community at the Truth-teller level and higher, mark your calendars for the January 18th 8pm ET social media workshop to be held over Zoom–on how to kick our Twitter habit and use our social media voices for good in the world in 2024 and beyond–with organizer Rachel Brody of the movement to Replace Jay Jacobs, the disastrous chair of the New York state Democrats who cost us the House. We look forward to seeing you there! Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

To join the conversation and get your questions answered, as well as receive all episodes, including bonus shows, ad-free, sign up at the Democracy Defender level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!

Show Notes:

Brexit and Trump are the Same Crime: The Carole Cadwalladr Interview https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2019/4/15/brexit-and-trump-are-the-same-crime-the-carole-cadwalladr-interview

Arron Banks may have been ‘used and exploited’ by Russia, court hears This article is more than 1 year old Journalist Carole Cadwalladr gives evidence as she defends her reporting on multimillionaire Brexit backer https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/17/arron-banks-used-and-exploited-by-russia-court-hears

Try the Yuka App: Scan Your Shopping Cart With Yuka and Make Healthier Choices Are there carcinogenic red dyes in your canned soup, or is it just a little too salty? Yuka can tell you, but you may not like what you find. https://www.wired.com/story/yuka-app/

E.U. Reaches Deal on World’s First Comprehensive AI Rules https://time.com/6344628/eu-ai-rules-deal/

What I Most Regret About My Decades of Legal Activism By focusing on civil liberties but ignoring economic issues, liberals like me got defeated on both. By Caroline Fredrickson https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/federal-judiciary-biden-court-appointments/675336/

Republicans to meet allies of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán on ending Ukraine aid Hungarian appearance at two-day event part of Orbán’s transatlantic attempt to bolster Russia’s war https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/10/hungary-viktor-orban-republicans-ukraine-aid

Want to Tax the Rich for Real? Pay Attention to This Supreme Court Case.