We're Still Here with Simon and Julie

John talks about the National Guard taking the streets in Washington D.C. after Trump's crime crackdown ramps up. He also discusses the White House playing up the pomp and spectacle of Trump meeting with Putin in Alaska while simultaneously playing down the chance for any real progress toward peace in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will NOT be at the meeting but DID tell reporters in Kyiv in no uncertain terms his country will not cede land to Russia just so they have a staging area for their next invasion. Then, he speaks with Professor Corey Brettschneider about Trump’s recent authoritarian tactics which are shifting from a “soft coup” to a “hard coup,” with hallmarks of a violent takeover: using the military to control local police, deploying the FBI for political ends, and undermining judicial independence. Next, he once again interviews Siri Dahl who's an award-winning adult film performer as well as a writer, social media personality, and sex workers rights activist. They talk about this year’s CORN TELETHON which promises a cheeky stream hosted by adult film performer, content creator and activist Siri Dahl and a rotating gang of comedians, musicians, writers, and mischief-makers. Think Jerry Lewis telethon meets USA's Up All Night. And finally, Comedian Keith Price returns to laugh with John and listeners about the latest news.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Aug 1h 42min

John's monologue focuses on Trump declaring a “Crime Emergency” in the District of Columbia and ordering the mobilization of National Guard soldiers to take over the policing of the nation’s capital. He also talks about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who says he’s proud to be part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, an archconservative network of Christian congregations. Hegseth recently made headlines when he shared a CNN video on social media about CREC, showing its pastors arguing women should not have the right to vote. He then interviews Deborah Mucarsel-Powell who is an American politician and former academic administrator who served as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 26th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. Mucarsel-Powell was the first Ecuadorian-American and first South American-born immigrant to serve as a member of congress. In 2024 she went up against Rick Scott to represent Florida in the Senate. They discuss the D.C. Takeovers, AI videos, and all the other myriad ways the Trump administration is trying to shift attention and concern away from the Epstein Files. And winding it up, John chats with comedian Rhonda Hansome and listeners about trending topics and current politics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Aug 1h 18min

John talks about Trump's horrific economic skills including his pathetic DOGE cost saving cuts, the gutting of migrant service and farm workers, and his knee jerk tariff maneuvers. Then, he interviews Councilwoman Phylicia Porter who is a public health advocate focused on building healthy communities in Baltimore City and South Baltimore. As a longtime and active resident of Baltimore City's 10th District, Phylicia approaches community advocacy with an independent voice of sincere leadership, honesty, and integrity. Phylicia prides herself on believing there is nothing more rewarding than empowering individuals and communities to use their political voices for change. Next, John welcomes back democratic political strategist Max Burns and they chat about his new opinion piece in The Hill called "It’s Pritzker’s Party: Hell Yes, He’s Messing with Texas, and He’s Not Sorry". And then finally, John jokes with TV's Frank Conniff and they take calls from listeners about the latest news and pop culture.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Aug 1h 22min

This week on We’re Still Here, Simon and Julie join John to cover big wins and ongoing battles across Indian Country. A female federal judge (matriarchy for the win!) has temporarily halted construction of the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Florida Everglades. The Pennsylvania State Museum is returning thousands of stolen Native artifacts to Tribal Nations. And in California, the Presbytery of San Gabriel has made history by returning ancestral land to the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council. They also highlight how Native Nations are pushing back against anti-trans legislation, affirming that sovereignty includes the right to protect LGBTQ2S+ and Two-Spirit citizens with dignity, safety, and culturally grounded care. Plus: Jonathan Nez, and they take listener calls!Simon Moya-Smith - instagram.com/simonsaidtakeapic threads.com/@simonsaidtakeapicSubstack - The Fire I Keep https://open.substack.com/pub/juliefrancellaBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliefrancella.comX: https://x.com/juliefrancella?s=21See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Aug 40min

John has a mixed bag of news today. First, he discusses the latest with Trump's tariffs which seem to be growing every minute. Then, he talks about the escalation in the Texas gerrymandering stand off - agents from the FBI have been directed to assist Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the roundup and arrest of democratic politicians on the run from his gerrymander bill. After that, he discusses Trump calling for a "new" census that excludes people in the U.S. without legal status. The 14th Amendment requires the "whole number of persons in each state" to be included in a key set of census numbers used to determine how presidents and members of Congress are elected. And then he mentions that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Arlington National Cemetery will be restoring a Confederate monument created by Moses Ezekiel which has been criticized for misrepresenting the history of slavery. Ezekiel was a Confederate soldier who spent much of his artistic career promoting the “Lost Cause” myth that the Civil War was just and heroic, and not a treasonous war fought to uphold slavery. John then interviews Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a practicing OBGYN based in Wisconsin, is a board member of the Committee to Protect Health Care – a national health care advocacy organization made up of thousands of doctors across the country fighting for access to care for their patients and holding politicians accountable, including President Trump. Find her at Bluesky: @DrKristin4wi.bsky.social. And closing it up he chats to listeners about the Epstein files and Trump's tariffs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 Aug 1h 22min

John talks about the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the recent reversal of voting freedoms with the Republican Save Act officially the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act," - (a bill that would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections) and the Texas gerrymandering debacle. Plus, he also talks about RFK Jr. announced that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology (including ones being developed to fight covid 19and the flu) will be halted. Then, he kids around with the amazing Bob Cesca about Trump firing Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner Erika McEntarfer, the sweet deals for Ghislaine Maxwell, and the big gerrymandering war. Next, John welcomes back Desimber Rose and Dillon Naber Cruz for their God Squad segment and they discuss the GOP's outrage over Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and they chat with listeners about the bible. Then finally, Dr. Tracy Pearson returns to talk listeners off the edge with sound and hopeful legal advice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Aug 1h 53min

Today - John discusses Trump ordering the US National Parks Service to reinstall a statue of Confederate military officer Albert Pike in Washington, DC. Protestors tore it down in the wake of the George Floyd protests against police brutality and racial injustice on Juneteenth in 2020. He also talks about the latest in the Texas gerrymandering debacle with Governor Greg Abbott saying democrats have until Friday to return to the statehouse or face expulsion. More than 51 Democratic members of the Texas House left the state, aiming to deny the chamber a quorum and prevent passage of the proposed gerrymandered Republican map before a scheduled floor vote. Then, he chats with Professor Corey Brettschneider about the supreme court paving the way for Texas’s gerrymandering mess and the overuse of the shadow docket in the Supreme Court to hide reasoning behind the court's decisions. These decisions are typically made with limited briefing, no oral argument, and often without full explanation, leading to concerns about transparency and the potential impact on legal precedent. Then, John welcomes back Rev. Barry Lynn who is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served as the executive director for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State until his retirement in 2017. They talk about Texas gerrymandering, Ghislaine Maxwell, and churches now being able to endorse candidates. Then finally, he plays clips from the recent Nebraska town hall where Republican congressman Mike Flood was booed by constituents. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 Aug 1h 37min

This time John discusses Texas democratic lawmakers pulling the rip cord and leaving their state in a planned action to break quorum at the state House. Without quorum, Republican plans to reshuffle voting districts will have to be put on hold. In response, Gov. Greg Abbott sought civil arrest warrants for the members, who have all fled to the welcoming arms of party allies in blue states. Then, he interviews Sheria Smith who is President of AFGE Local 252 - the union representing thousands of Dept of Ed workers - and former attorney with ED's Office of Civil Rights. They talk about Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education. And then winding it up, comedian Rhonda Hansome is back to joke about trending topics and Donald Trump's mishigas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Aug 1h 10min