🌟 Welcome to Episode #8 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

🎙️ Before this podcast, we launched our journey on Substack—where we shared sharp takes on current events, deep dives into policy, and personal reflections on the state of politics. Now, we’re bringing that same energy—and our signature voice—straight to your favorite podcast platform!

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE:
This week’s conversation covers the “podcast that wasn’t” (thanks, copyright police), a stormy in-person lunch in Minnesota, the chaos and charm of banana ball, a protest in Dana Point, and a sweet surprise—custom Politics Chicks cookies from one of our listeners. We also share an update on Finley’s diagnosis and how you can support his family, break down a few What the Cluck?! political moments, and wrap with the everyday joys that give us hope.

💬 We cover:
🍪 Monica’s trip to Minnesota, a stormy lunch with Christy, and a sweet gift from listener Kelly of Cute and Delish—custom Politics Chicks cookies that were as delicious as they were adorable. (Contact Kelly at cuteanddelishbykel.com or cuteanddelishbykel@gmail.com)

🍌 Christy introduces Monica to Banana Ball—a Harlem Globetrotters-style twist on baseball with trick plays, dancing umpires, and nonstop fan interaction.

✊ Monica’s protest in Dana Point along the Pacific Coast Highway—and why showing up still matters.

🎉 An update on the Dahlson Twins and Finley’s diagnosis of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy—plus how you can help the Dahlsons via their GoFundMe: http://bit.ly/45tSDZu

💣 What the Cluck?!
🚨 We unpack a week’s worth of political absurdity, including:

🗣️ Trump on the White House roof pitching a $200M ballroom and joking about nuclear missiles—while actually stationing nuclear subs near Russia.

🌙 A reality-TV-star-turned-NASA-head pitching a nuclear reactor on the moon—because apparently there’s no problem here on Earth more urgent.

📉 Trump blaming the Bureau of Labor and Statistics for unfavorable jobs numbers and accusing them of election manipulation—despite bipartisan confirmation of its leadership and decades of routine data revisions.

🐥 Peep Cheeps:
This week we share three personal joys that have nothing to do with politics:
🎹 Christy learning piano at 55 as a form of mental escape.

🎶 Monica auditioning for the Orange County Women’s Chorus and looking forward to singing with others again.

🌳 Being outside, making art, playing games, and spending time with loved ones—because self-care is political, too.

💡 Hope in the Henhouse:
💙Our big hope this week? Texas Democrats walking out to block an extreme new gerrymandering push ordered up by Trump himself. They’re making it clear this fight is bigger than Texas—it’s about protecting democracy nationwide.

🥊And for once, Democrats in other states are signaling they’re willing to respond in kind, even if it means gerrymandering in blue states to level the playing field.

🙌 Final word?
Laughter, joy, and connection aren’t luxuries—they’re tools for resilience. Whether it’s calling out political absurdity, standing up for democracy, or savoring a moment of everyday joy, the way we spend our energy matters.

💌 We would love your input! If you have topics you’d like us to cover, news to share, or a shout-out to give—let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

💌 If this conversation moved you, taught you, or made you think—please like, comment, and share. It helps us get these stories in front of more eyes and keeps growing this incredible community of listeners who care deeply.

📱 Find and follow us on Substack, Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
@thepoliticschicks

🧡 Keep shining your light so we can find each other in the dark. We are always stronger together.

🌟 Welcome to Episode #6 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

🎙️ Before this podcast, we launched our journey on Substack—where we shared sharp takes on current events, deep dives into policy, and personal reflections on the state of politics. Now, we’re bringing that same energy—and our signature voice—straight to your favorite podcast platform!

🌈 This week, we’re honored to welcome Cody and Adam Dahlson to the podcast—a married couple who, less than a year ago, became the proud parents of twins. But their path into parenthood has been anything but easy. From a premature birth and days spent in the NICU to the devastating discovery that both Finnley and Hadley have a rare neurological disorder, their story is one of courage, grit, and the kind of love that shows up, even when the future is uncertain.

👶🏼 In this moving conversation, we talk about:

• How they met and built a life together 💕
• The decision to grow their family and the logistics of parenthood as a same-sex couple 🏳️‍🌈
• What it was like finding out they were having twins 👶🏻👶🏻
• The early arrival and what life in the NICU taught them about fear, strength, and hope 🏥
• Noticing something different with Finnley and the long road to answers 🧠
• Getting a life-changing diagnosis—for both twins—and what that means going forward 💔
• How they’re turning pain into purpose through advocacy and community 🫂
• The upcoming KAND conference and what they hope to gain and share there 🎤

💡 Learn more about KIF1A-Associated Neurological Disorder (KAND):

🔗 https://www.kif1a.org/

〽️ To support Ronald McDonald House:

🔗http://bit.ly/4lcBJnb

💚 Want to support Cody, Adam, and their twins directly? Donate to their GoFundMe:

🔗 http://bit.ly/4m8TYKL

🕯️ This episode is a reminder of what love looks like when it’s tested. When it digs in. When it refuses to give up. Cody and Adam’s story will move you, challenge you, and stay with you.

💬 If this conversation touched you, please like, comment, and share. It helps us bring these powerful stories to more people—and helps build the kind of compassionate community we all need right now.

📲 Follow us @thepoliticschicks on Substack, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and Bluesky.

🌟 Thanks for being here. Thanks for caring.

And remember:

💙 Keep shining your light so we can find each other in the dark 🔦, and we’re stronger together 🤲.

🌟Welcome to Episode #5 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

🎙️ Before this podcast, we launched our journey on Substack—where we shared sharp takes on current events, deep dives into policy, and personal reflections on the state of politics. Now, we’re bringing that same energy—and our signature voice—straight to your favorite podcast platform!

🐓This week, we’re bringing you our take on some of the craziness in the world, but also some “Hope in the Henhouse:” reasons to keep hope alive.

🎢 In this episode, we talk about:

🐊 Trump teaching ICE detainees how to Run from Alligators 🙄

😬 Lisa Murkowski's (well deserved) awkward moment after being told she was called a sell-out by Sen. Rand Paul.

🧊 Continued ICE raids around the country and what that looks like:
Masked agents with no identification or warrants, including the detainment of a father of 3 US Marines in California

🎤 The Chicks sharing their top three independent journalists

🌞 Some much-needed Hope in the Henhouse, including finding the beauty in everyday life 🖼️🎶🌹, realizing self-fulfillment by serving others 🎁 , and Monica's 30th wedding anniversary 💕.

💌We would love your input! If you have topics you’d like to hear about, news to share, a shout-out to give - please let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

💌 If this conversation moved you, taught you, or made you think—please like, comment, and share. It helps us get these stories in front of more eyes and helps us keep growing this incredible community of listeners who care deeply.

📱 Find and follow us on Substack, Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok