We spent Tuesday’s episode talking about headline national and global news, and it felt pretty bleak. Today, we’re zooming in on a bright spot, New York City, and asking what we can learn from Mayor Zohran Mamdani as he crosses the first-100-days milestone. Mamdani was hailed as a unique political talent on the campaign trail. We’re interested in how that star power translates to political power and how the Mayor has pivoted from campaign to service. His initial path tells a compelling story about what Democratic Socialism might mean in practice and where the dividing lines actually are in the Democratic Party. Any way around it, Mayor Mamdani’s “pothole politics” are a stark and welcome contrast to what we see in Washington D.C.

Outside of politics, we consider the call for parents to hold hands and agree that we’ll all do less together. From Maycember sprawl to spirit week standards to the charcuterization of everything, we sort out what we’re doing and why. -Beth

Topics Discussed:

• Zohran Mamdani’s 100 Days: Pothole Politics and What Democratic Socialism Looks Like in Practice

• The Affordability + Corruption + Service Formula — A Democratic Blueprint?

• Navigating the Coalition: Mamdani, Trump, Hochul, and the Art of Getting Things Done

• Outside of Politics: Maycember and the Case for Parents to Just… Stop

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Sarah and Beth return from spring break to catch up on a packed news week — from Eric Swalwell's campaign collapse and the stalled Iran negotiations, to Melania's surprise press conference, Hungary's historic election upset, and the triumphant return of the Artemis II crew.

Topics Discussed:

• Less Eric Swalwell (California) and More Rob Sand (Iowa)
• Pakistan Negotiates Iran “Ceasefire” while Congress sits on its hands
• Melania Trump’s Press Conference
• JD Vance’s Losing Streak in Iran and Hungary
• Outside of Politics: Artemis II

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Aaron Barrett shares his inspiring journey through baseball, including his battles with Tommy John surgery, resilience, and his new role as a manager. He offers insights into player development, the demands of professional baseball, and leadership lessons.

Topics Discussed:

• Aaron Barrett on Baseball, Resilience, and Protecting Players

• Outside of Politics: Who’s Calling Balls and Strikes?

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Jason Kander joins Pantsuit Politics to break down Missouri's redistricting fight and what Democrats need to do to win in 2026 and beyond — including why the party needs to stop running on familiar ideas and start offering something genuinely new.

Topics Discussed:

• Will Missouri Voters Veto Partisan Redistricting?

• What Democrats need to win elections in 2026 and beyond

• Outside of Politics: Kansas City Stadiums Explaine

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Before we head out on spring break, we need to let off some steam. Today's episode is a moment of catharsis about just a few of the things President Trump, his administration, and Congress are screwing up right now.

Topics Discussed:

• The DHS Funding Standoff: Right Back Where We Started
• Donald Trump’s Primetime Speech on Iran
• The Corruption Is the Point: Coins, Pardons, and a $1.4B Year
• Outside of Politics: The Best Long Weekend Setup

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Sarah and Beth catch up on the headlines — from the ongoing war in Iran and global energy disruptions to congressional gridlock — before diving into a conversation on punishment and accountability through two recent cases: an elderly driver who killed a family of four in San Francisco and two teenagers sentenced for creating AI-generated nude images of classmates. Outside of Politics, they answer a listener's question on whether they believe in karma.

Topics Discussed:

• Iran and the Energy Crisis
• Punishment and Accountability
• Outside of Politics: Karma is a Vibe

Join us in Minneapolis for our live show this August! Tickets are on sale now!

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When we look at the news right now — Iran, the airports, the corruption, the measles — it's tempting to decide none of it matters because, individually, we can't fix any of it. Nihilism is tempting, and we talk about how sometimes nihilism represents pride, but maybe in the right dose, it’s more like humility. Either way, “nothing matters” is being proven wrong every day. Special elections are producing surprising results. Courts are holding tech companies accountable. And people are figuring it out when institutions fail (I’m especially moved by the story of an underground railroad set up to bring Ukrainian children home from Russia). I say in this episode that my emotional cocktail has a splash of nihilism in it. But the main ingredient is my conviction that our attention and our care and our efforts make a difference.

Plus: please clap for my favorite segue in the history of Pantsuit Politics. From: “perhaps we aren’t sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare” to “are we in a smut renaissance?” facilitated by the shelving of an erotic chatbot. If this doesn’t end your Friday with joy, I don’t know what will. -Beth

Topics Discussed:

• Nihilism is Having A Moment
• Signs of Hope
• Outside of Politics: Smut Renaissance

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Sarah sits down with Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News, a daily newsletter that breaks down major political stories from across the ideological spectrum all in one place.

Topics Discussed:

• News, Journalism, Influencers, and Commentary in the Age of Trump

• Outside of Politics: Navigating Early Parenthood

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