Mia talks with journalists David Forbes, Mady Castigan, and Mira Lazine of the new Trans News Network about how mass grassroots action driven by trans journalism defeated the GOP's ban on Medicaid covering trans healthcare and how we can do it again.

Sources:

https://transnewsnetwork.networkforgood.com/

https://thefreeradical.org/dont-panic-the-battle-over-the-trans-medicaid-ban-is-far-from-over-heres-how-to-fight-back/

https://ashevilleblade.com‪‪

Social Media: @thefreeradical.org‬, @davidforbes.bsky.social‬, @madycast.com‬

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Margaret got talked into doing something fun for book club this week.

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The gang talks about how Trump is totally 100% NOT in the Epstein files, as well as updates on immigration, tariffs, and sadly Elon Musk’s Grok AI :(

Sources/Links:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-help-for-bukets-asylum-case

https://www.the-independent.com/bulletin/news/trump-uncle-unabomber-pennsylvania-speech-b2789762.html

https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-im-done-talking-about-epstein-time-being-im-gonna-trust-my-friends

https://x.com/WIRED/status/1945207066634657854

https://cw39.com/crime/former-us-marine-corps-reservist-charged-in-texas-immigration-detention-center-shooting/

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-blocks-trump-birthright-citizenship-order-certifies-nationwide-class-protecting-all-impacted-babies

https://x.com/jeremyphoward/status/1943444549696917714

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c628d9mre3go

https://strangematters.coop/supply-chain-theory-of-inflation/

https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1945274627976200206

https://www.facebook.com/TimesofEswatini/

https://thedawn.com.ss/2025/07/10/govt-places-8-u-s-deportees-behind-bars-in-juba/

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/11/homan-says-white-house-hopes-to-forge-more-third-country-deals-in-wake-of-south-sudan-deportations-00448137

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/legislators-immigration-reform-reintroduced-dignidad-act/

https://archive.ph/DdUIR

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/politics/department-of-education-trump-dismantle-explainer

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/supreme-court-firings-education

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/16/trump-tariffs-small-countries-00456401

https://www.ft.com/content/65b1fb44-6391-4f74-82db-2d7eb6aaafa9

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/16/trump-brazil-tariffs-ultimatum-backfires-bolsonaro-lula

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/economy/trump-says-trade-deal-with-indonesia

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/15/spokane-ice-protesters-including-stuckart-arrested/

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James is joined by Wladimir Van Wilgenburg to discuss the recent disarmament ceremony conducted by the PKK, the fighting between the Syrian Government and Druze people, and the future of the Kurdish freedom movement in Rojava.

Follow Wladimir: https://x.com/vvanwilgenburg

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James talks to Gordyaen Benyamin Jermayi about the situation of minority groups in Iran, the issues with the monarchist opposition, and how the Iranian regime has used US and Israeli bombing as an excuse for more violence against its own people.

Links:

https://hengaw.net/en

https://www.iranhr.net/en/

https://www.instagram.com/kurdistanipeopleii

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Andrew and Gare discuss the reasons why people justify doing bad things, from pleasing authority to narratives of necessary evil.

Sources:

Humankind by Rutger Bregman

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Andrew talks with Gare about humankind’s better nature, despite self-fulfilling prophecies of selfishness and cruelty.

Sources:

Humankind by Rutger Bregman

A Paradise Built In Hell by Rebecca Solnit

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