Political Playlist Happy Hour (Political Playlist)

The issue is immigration and the question is will doing away with Title 42 create a disaster at our southern border?  

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, the gang pours a glass, and dives into a specific immigration policy known as Title 42 that was instated early on during the pandemic. Just recently, the Biden Administration announced it would be ending it, which has caused a stir among many Republicans as well as moderate Democrats.   

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On this episode of the happy hour, Michael and Anthony take the helm...and in classic fashion, they have no map or plan for where they're sailing...so they sail right into the latest on the debt ceiling deal, what this means for Democrats and Republicans--who both seem to have many members of their respective parties who are not fans of the deal. And finally, they discuss some recent Supreme Court rulings that have major environmental implications with respect to the power of the EPA. So shake that martini and hit play!

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Protest, Protest, Hear All About it!. With campus protests engulfing the news cycle, Michael, Anna and Anthony devote the entire Happy Hour to this topic, and (hopefully) show how we can have wide-ranging views on the topic while still staying cordial and fun. We promise, there's a way!

On this week's Happy Hour, Anna and Anthony are joined by Rebecca Brown, Policy Director for the Innocence Project, a nonprofit that exonerates the wrongfully convicted through DNA evidence and reforms in the criminal justice system. Rebecca dives into how they go about this on a state-by-state level, how the attention to racial justice over the past year has led to a groundswell of support for their mission, and shares some heartbreaking anecdotes that emphasize why this work is so important. To feel moved, educated, and galvanized, this is not an episode to miss!

On this Happy Hour, Anna, Anthony and Michael share their mutual admiration for Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, of South Carolina and discuss whether or not she's the perfect mold of future GOP leaders. They also unpack the recent Supreme Court hearing on the Mississippi abortion case, discuss some Congresspeople throwing shade at the President, and most critical, identify who of the group takes the longest to get ready. Spoiler, it ain't Anna! So pull up a glass and get one bit smarter.

Are young politicians going to derail the most recent bipartisan infrastructure bill? Maybe! Tune in to hear about this thrilling mess, Democrats' push towards climate legislation, why the political ghost of Gov. Cuomo might (or might not) continue to haunt us, and more!

What could be more fun than Ron DeSantis's choice of post-hurricane footwear? This episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, as we dive into fiscal responsibility among our leaders, the potential need for legislation preventing members of congress from trading stocks while in office...oh and the idea of selling Hawaii. Spoiler, that is an Barkett original. So pull up a glass and get ready to dive into all the latest goings on in Congress among our leaders under the age of 45.

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The issue is THE BUDAPEST MEMORANDUM and the question is, why isn't anyone talking about this?

In this episode, the boys are still left to their own devices as Michael and Anthony take a deep dive into The Budapest Memorandum, a denuclearization agreement signed back in 1994 between the US, UK, Russia and Ukraine.   

Tune in to find out what exactly this was and how Russia is in clear violation of it.   

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On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anna discuss the House's latest move to censure their only member of Palestinian decent, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, stemming from fiery and emotional comments she made regarding the War in Gaza and the perception it was antisemitic. Then they discuss the recent election and ballot measures, like the abortion one in Ohio, and predict the future for newly minted 7th-in-line GOP leader Blake Moore.

Better make it a double...because this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour is looooong...and it get's spicy too! Michael, Anna and Anthony talk about Trump's latest legal loses as it relates to Republican leaders in Congress, what it means for current and future moderate reps like Nancy Mace. Then we tackle some Title 42 policy followed up with a twitter spat about Trans inclusion in the LGBTQ+ movement between (now criminally indicted) George Santos and Robert Garcia. Like we said, it gets spicy.

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The issue is Electability and the question is, does Madison Cawthorn's blatant, exaggerated media stunt help his re-election?  

Oh my, indeed! Where to begin, with this latest Happy Hour taking a turn towards the provocative as Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the North Carolinian's recent comments that have Washington and the Republican Party fuming. 

But in today's day and age, will any of this hurt his chances for re-election?  

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We revisit a conversation with Erin Vilardi, CEO of Vote Run Lead - an organization that has helped over 36,000 women run for political office. Erin talks about how VRL encourages women to come as they are, using their existing skills to make them great politicians. Tune in for some inspiration on why it's so important to get involved and RUN!

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna and Michael go it alone as Anthony attends his 117th wedding of the year. But it turns out, they don't miss him much, evident by the fact that Anna and Michael are professional long-winded talkers and happily didn't have anyone hurrying them along this time.

They cover a range of issues including water infrastructure in Florida, Domestic Oil and Gas production in Texas, and the likelihood of whether or not we'll see the enhanced child tax credit actually become law.

It's a healthy episode of knowledge so pull up a glass and get ready to learn something new about what our young Congressional leaders under 45 are saying and doing about the issues that effect all of us.

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The issue is Student Debt and the question is what are the consequences of student debt relief for young Americans?  

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down the Biden Administration's recent decision to extend the student loan moratorium until August, effectively sending each party racing back to their political corners on this issue. 

And it is one that has our young Congressional Leaders under the age of 45 all talking.

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As the devastating fires wreak havoc on Los Angeles for the 8th straight day, Michael, Anna and Anthony reflect on all of the inspiring GOOD they're seeing from humanity during this crisis, as well as call out some politicians and media figures taking cheap shots for quick political wins. The gang also discusses out of state wildfire aid, proxy voting in Congress for new parents, and a follow up on Meta's new free speech policy. Spoiler, that one isn't so good for humanity.

Co-Founder Anthony sits down with... Anthony! Rep. Anthony Gonzalez to be exact, a 36-year-old Republican who represents Ohio's 16th district. They chat about Rep. Gonzalez's view of Congress today, where he thinks things can be fixed, and how his NFL career prepared him for the big leagues of the Capitol. Rep. Gonzalez is a particularly important politician to know about right now, as he was one of a handful of Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last year after the Jan. 6th attacks and has come under fire from the far-right for doing so. In fact, Trump made his first midterm campaign appearance to rally for one of Rep. Gonzalez's primary challengers.

We couldn't NOT begin this happy hour by talking about the viral spat heard round the beltway. We're referring of course to the House Oversight Committee hearing that went off the rails after Marjorie Taylor Greene insulted Jasmine Crockett, who then sent some haymakers flying back. The entire thing devolved into a circus, and spoiler, we have thoughts. We also have thoughts on immigration which we get to later in the show. Oh, and if you like cheese, Anthony divulges a little housewarming showstopper.

Join us in this episode as Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the varying degrees of ideology individuals have towards their political party. Anna specifically dives into a notable moderate on either side of the aisle, Anthony discusses what he would do if he were president, and of course, everyone has some thoughts on AOC's Met Gala Dress. 

Welcome to America! Or should we say, it's time to leave? On this episode, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down all the fascinating, bizarre, and frankly unnerving things about the inauguration. Then we segue to immigration and look at a few different elements of this flashpoint issue that has so galvanized our country.

Michael's skipping town again so Anthony and Anna are left to their own devices on this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour. But never fear! This info packed episode covers the D-R-A-M-A going down in the Tennessee state house and what it might say about the battle over gun control. And then we hear what young lawmaker Colin Allred (D-TX) is telling us about the monumental new rules around prescription drugs and some high hopes from NY Republican Elise Stefanik concerning the next election. Get your fill and tune in!

That is the question of the hour, Swifties... and it appears it's looking like a cruel summer for Donny T post debate as the biggest pop star in the world just threw her support behind Kamala. But the real question is, did this debate, and will this endorsement, change a gosh darn thing in this race?

Your guess is as good as ours, although we do follow this stuff closely, so pour a glass and hit play to hear our thoughts post presidential debate, as well as what young Congressional leaders are saying about the issues covered (and not covered) in the debate.

We could not, simply could not, begin this happy hour without addressing the conspiracy plot heard round the cable news cycle--that being the insanely hilarious and frankly asinine theory circulating right-wing media that Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce are part of the government deep state planted by Joe Biden to fake a world-wind romance and Super Bowl win for the sole purposes of endorsing his candidacy shortly thereafter. We known, insane. And hilarious. But sadly, real theories being address on real news networks.

That's right, on today's episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael and Anna have the privilege of speaking with Congressman Robert Garcia of California. Congressman Garcia represents CA's 42 district, which includes the port of Long Beach, and as a freshman, sits on the powerful Homeland Security Committee. Therefore, we couldn't pass up this opportunity to speak with Robert about all things immigration, including the recent expiration of Title 42 and what this means for our southern border.

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The gang discusses a lot in this Happy hour including immigration, government shutdown, one Republican calling his party a Clown show, leaders who inspire us today...oh, and Anthony's Mom makes a cameo by way of a moving story that Anthony shares.

And while we haven't had her on the pod yet, we're making the case that she come on and announce her candidacy for something...ANYTHING!

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anthony gets a case of the giggles when he learns about Liz Lettuce, an actually head of lettuce mockingly displayed on a webcam in an attempt to outlast recently installed, and more recently departed, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Michael, Anna and Anthony chat UK politics before bringing back home to discuss some recent AOC burns on twitter regarding the recent Dobbs decision, the quality of education in New Jersey, and the imminent need to take preventative military action regarding China's hostility toward Taiwan.

Pull up a drink and hear all the latest goings on among young Congressional Leaders under the age of 45.

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On this episode of the Happy Hour, the gang dives into a few serious topics like the war in Ukraine and the maelstrom of warring rhetoric on college campuses. But perhaps the most important takeaway from this episode, and reason enough to listen, is that there's a man in Florida nicknamed Mr. Tomato and he presides over a consortium of Tomato farmers known as The Tomato Titans. Yes, this is real, and we promise you need to know about it.

The issue is the Middle East and the question is what does Biden's trip to Israel tell us about the future of Middle East relations?  

On this episode of the Political Happy Hour Anna, Anthony and Michael dive into the first leg of President' Biden's recent trip to the Middle East and discuss what the administration is hoping to achieve from the trip.  

The gang breaks down what out young leaders under 45 in Congress are saying about it and discuss who's sounding the alarm on Iran's nuclear deal and who's focusing on diplomacy with Palestine.  

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On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna and Michael sit down with the co-founders of Run For Something, a progressive organization that helps identify and support young progressive Democrats running for local, state and federal office. Amanda Litman and Ross Morales Rocketto discuss their journey through politics and what ultimately drove them to create this organization, which to date has supported over 2,500 candidates and won over 1,000 elections.

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The issue is Free Speech and the question is Elon Musk buying Twitter really the win for free speech that Republicans are claiming it to be?  

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down the latest social media bombshell surround Elon Musk buying twitter and look at how and why Republicans have almost unanimously leapt for free speech joy while the Democrats are staying deafeningly quiet.  

But one thing's for certain, and that is that none of our Congressional Leaders under the age of 45 are giving up their Twitter accounts any time soon!  

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Except do fret, because the amount of student debt that Americans have is soaring and there is no clear solution on the horizon.  

In this segment of the Happy Hour, Anna, Anthony and Michael tackle the student debt crisis, what our young politicians are saying and doing about it, and how Republicans might be wise to grab hold of this as a core campaign issue for the upcoming elections.  

As always, the gang pours a friendly cocktail and tries to unpack all the pressing political issues of our day through the nonpartisan lens of young Congressional leaders under the age of 45--which sadly only makes up 14% of Congress. 

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The Political Playlist Triumvirate (that means three, Anthony) is back together again as they kick things off with the penalty shot heard round the world... that is, the missed soccer penalty kick from US women's star Megan Rapinoe that quickly became a right wing political football--okay we'll stop.

On this happy hour, the gang also discusses the one year anniversary of the PACT Act, which increased benefits to Veterans affected by burn pits, as well as some moderate environmental legislation up in Washington State, and finally, a shoutout to one of the best social media games among our Young Congress.

The team does something different this week and welcomes Maddie and Sammy from The Girl and the Gov to Happy Hour. The Girl and the Gov is rebranding politics for millennial women and breaking down the barriers to civic engagement. 

Anna and Anthony may not have had cocktails for this morning recording, but that didn't stop things from getting a little rowdy. Maddie and Sammy break down how to get out of our echo chambers, when 'tough' political conversations are productive or not, and what they think of some of the young politicians we cover on Political Playlist... spoiler alert, everyone's a little googly-eyed for Sen. Jon Ossoff from Georgia.

Oh this episode, Anna and Anthony are joined by Democrat Representative Sarah Elfreth of Maryland's 3rd Congressional District. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of politics, what strategies Democrats should consider, and what awaits us with the upcoming Government shutdown bill.

This is an episode you do not want to miss! Michael and Anna welcome none other than Democratic Congressman Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky to the show. He is the co-chair of the House Bourbon Caucus (yes that's real!) so you better believe we're drinking Maker's Mark in his honor-- and yes we do so at the 10:30AM time of record! Hey, we're dedicated.

But don't let that fool you, the issues we cover couldn't be more important, ranging from sensible gun safety to helping provide free meals in schools to kids in need.

So pull up a glass and hear for yourself why we were so taken by this Congressman's genuine southern charm and clear-eyed thinking towards reaching sensible policy solutions that actually help Americans.

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In celebration of July 4th, Anna, Anthony & Michael unpack the document of all documents... the Constitution. Should it be updated? Should we leave it alone? Tune in to hear more and also to learn about a new Republican climate change initiative, a saucy update on infrastructure, and other young politicians making moves!

The issue is Cryptocurrency Regulation and the question is, can young lawmakers bring our financial regulatory system into the 21st Century? 

In this episode, Anna needs every last drop of her organic, locally-sourced, hand-foraged Kombucha Margarita for teaching Michael and Anthony all about Crypto and bitcoin and AnthonyCoin (coming soon)...and unpacking the myriad legislation proposed around this new emerging market.   

And in a shocking plot twist, there is actually bipartisan support around this issue! 

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The Republican National Convention is on, and Michael, Anna and Anthony are here to break down who of our young Congress is speaking at this grand old party. But first, the gang discuss the horrific assassination attempt on former president Trump that tragically claimed the live of an everyday hero protecting his family. Sadly, no one thinks any of these political "unity" pledges will last.

This aptly-named episode focuses on "Kooky" Kyrsten Sinema, the newly crowned Arizona queen of the Senate, as she flexes her not-so-moderate muscles when it comes to the bi-partisan infrastructure bill she helped negotiate. Michael, Anna and Anthony also discuss where the real ideological power in Congress lies, how they should mix up the D's and R's by region for the next Congressional baseball game, and the three political gurus certainly never miss an opportunity to poke fan at one another. Oh, and check out the IG version of the episode to see Anna in a kooky wig!

In this action packed episode of the Happy Hour, the gang discuss the latest Iowa Caucus results and what it all means. They then zero in on our young leaders by discussing the Senate race in Arizona with Ruben Gallego, the trouble with the Houthi rebels and what Seth Moulton things of that, and finally they talk about a surprising about-face with Anna Paulina Luna with regards to proxy-voting and motherhood.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony catch us up on the last three weeks of goings-on in the young Congress, including the ALMOST brawl in a Senate hearing, the latest in the Santos Saga, and how more and more of our young congressional leaders are attempting to storm into the Senate. It's a bit of a grab-bag, pot-luck, holiday punch-bowl episode, so take this opportunity to pour yourself an exotic mixed drink before you hit play.

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, the Gang couldn't resist wading into debate waters with the upcoming GOP Presidential debate happening this week, and wouldn't you know that the only one of these candidates who'd make the cut on our platform is the shirtless, tennis playin', Eminem-lovin' far right youngin' named Vivek.

We then segue, beautifully done by Michael, we might add (he wrote this...) into issues surrounding China and the threat alarms Mike Gallagher is raising. Then we go our old favorite (GENUINE) do-gooder Andy Kim who's helping ensure kids have meals while school is on summer break, and lastly we introduce our listeners to freshman Republican Congressman Cory Mills of Florida.

It's a jam packed episode so tune in and share with your friends!

Sadly we begin yet another Happy Hour mourning the tragic loss of American lives in mass shooting, this time another one involving 9 year old school children. The gang tries to examine this senseless (and preventable) epidemic in our country through the lens of leadership, specifically asking what kind of leadership exists among our elected officials and what’s it going to take to stop this?

Then we dive into Pell Grants, which Michael assumed had something to do with Peloton exercise bikes, before unpacking the political circus that was the Congressional field trip to a DC jail to visit…the jailed insurrectionists. It’s all a little bonkers, which is why we pour cocktails.

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Anna is joined by actress and activist Yvette Nicole Brown. Though she's perhaps best known for her work on the hit series Community, Yvette has been working behind the political scenes to support candidates and issues that matter to her. Tune in to hear about how that work started, what she looks for in a candidate when deciding to support them, and, of course, what gives her hope. 

Once again, Anna heads off on assignment, leaving the pod reigns to Anthony and Michael. They sit down with Sara Hernandez, an attorney, mother, and former teacher, who is now running to be a Trustee for the LA Community College District. They talk about what galvanized Sara to take up the cause of eduction, the non-profit she started after seeing first-hand the challenges that inner-city schools face, and why she's excited to tackle the new challenges that covid has posed for many students. 

That's right folks, on this episode of the happy hour, the gang is pouring a glass and diving into all things Lady Justice surrounding the Guilty Verdict against the Former President and now current convicted Felon.

On this episode of the happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony cover a lot of heavy stuff because, well, the world is sort of in chaos right now. With the war escalating in Gaza, we dive into the meaning of the word Genocide and discuss whether some on the far left are recklessly misusing this term when referring to actions taken by the IDF. We also discuss how this war has taken center stage on many of our college campuses, the political courage of one young leader in the wake of the tragic shooting in his hometown of Maine, and some newly proposed sanctions on Iran.

Welcome back to the first Political Happy Hour of 2024, where the gang dives back into the chaos in Washington that didn't seem to take a holiday refresh. We talk impending spending bill deja vu facing the ever divided Congress, we talk election 2024, we talk immigration, political vitriol via tweet and we also discuss a special political surprise friend that dropped by Anna's house on New Year's Eve. Start the year off right by getting one bit smarter with Political Playlist Happy Hour!

On this Happy Hour, Michael arranges for a surprise holiday cameo that is just the sort of pumpkin espresso martini Anna and Anthony were looking for. Then they discuss the new cease-fire in Lebanon, as well as Trump's nominee for DNI, Tulsi Gabbard, a proposed housing solution for low and middle income families and finally an interesting prisoner swap between the US and China.

The gang needs a strong one for this Political Playlist Happy Hour as they unpack the recent report about the $3 trillion new increase to the U.S. Debt that was previously not calculated. Then Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the Ohio train derailment disaster along with several derailed policies on Guns, Immigration and just how off-the-tracks much of this new Congress seems to be finding themselves.

So pull up a glass to the one place where you'll find all the latest on Congressional leaders under the age of 45.

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You'll have to forgive us this week but we decided to kick off this Political Happy Hour with a little breaking doomsday news about...the doomsday clock, which they just announced is now only 90 seconds to midnight! 

Sure, the doomsday clock is rooted in some empirical data but its true purpose is to sound the allegorical alarm. And let's face it, I don't think any of us agree that everything is just fine.

Be that as it may, Michael, Anna and Anthony forge ahead with cocktails and political news surrounding the 17% of Congress that's under the age of 45 years old.  So pull up a glass, tune in and get one bit smarter.

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On this Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss a whole host of topics ranging from the seemingly unlawful deportation of an innocent father to El Salvador, to Speaker Mike Johnson canceling the week of work and sending everyone home because he...didn't like a bill? The gang then discuss Ritchie Torres, Victoria Spartz, and Kat Cammack.

The issue is Domestic Terrorism and the question is does Congress passing legislation to combat domestic terrorism feel like government overreach or necessary surveillance?  

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony address the recent mass-shooting tragedy in Buffalo by examining it through the lens of the recent Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022.

The Democratically proposed legislation looks poised to pass but tune in to find out which Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the bill.

As all ways, the gang sips cocktails on this Political Happy Hour as they discuss the latest goings-on with our Congressional Leaders under the age of 45.

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On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the latest pager attacks in Lebanon before covering a wide range of congressional issues like manufacturing, election certification and a very interesting race shaping up in central California.

In this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony push the limits on how many times they can say "it's been a busy news week." But indeed it has, with lots of things happening like leadership changeover in the Democratic House, escalating violence and tragedy in the Middle East, and making the tweet cut this week are Bryan Steil, Lauren Beobert, and three Dems from Florida: Jared Moskowitz, Maxwell Frost, and Darren Soto.

Jon Lubecky is a Marine and National Guard veteran who served in Iraq and now advocates for psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD, after undergoing the treatment himself six years ago. He sits down with Anna to talk about MAPS, the organization he works with, which studies MDMA and other psychedelics to heal trauma, and how they've brought together politicians from both sides of the aisle to support the research. Jon's story is one you won't want to miss and sheds light on some of the most promising medical research of our time. 

Yes, it's true...sometimes we use the show to work out our own issues, but it's only because this week's issues are a little bit of a bummer. 

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael and Anna discuss the sobering fact that scholastic test scores in America are down, and we mean way down. And in tragic news out of Missouri, yet another shooting fails to register more than the obligatory "thoughts and prayers" from our lawmakers except for a select few. But on the bright side, one Congressional leader under 45 finally saw their Veteran's bill get signed into law after TWO YEARS of fighting for it. 

Pull up a drink and come get one bit smarter with us.

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You may have noticed the asterisk in the title of this episode and that's not a typo... it was put their by our legal department because on this Happy Hour*--there it is again-- we welcome the founder of the progressive organization Dream For America who is...wait for it...only 16 years old! His name is William He and this young man is well beyond his years. Tune in for a very interesting conversation with a kid who's definitely smarter than Michael and Anthony combined.

While we would gladly welcome the great Kenny Loggins onto the Happy Hour ANY time he wants, sadly this episode forges ahead without him.

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael and Anthony fly solo at the helm--or, should we say, Maverick and Rooster. The boys leave Anna to her spa weekend and train their sights on pressing issues like Border Security, the resurrection of the bipartisan stock-ban legislation, and one of the GOP's greatest hits: Combating China.

This action packed episode is chalked full of tweets, and when the hot takes get too close for missiles, these playlister Aces switch to guns.

And clearly Anna's away because this summary was obviously written by someone obsessed with the new Top Gun film. 

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Feelings? We have a few. Thoughts? We have even more. On this morning after episode, the gang unpacks this wild rollercoaster election ride we've been on as a nation and what we think it all means, and where we think we head to next.

In this segment of the Happy Hour, Anna, Anthony and Michael tackle the economy and specifically how the Tech Sector can help boost it. They break down California Congressman Ro Khanna's plan to expand the tech sector to rural areas by creating tech hubs in cities and towns far from Silicon Valley.   As always, the gang pours a friendly cocktail and tries to unpack all the pressing political issues of our day through the nonpartisan lens of young Congressional leaders under the age of 45--which sadly only makes up 14% of Congress.  

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On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony dive right in to all the latest in the Congressional Circus, including a failed cabinet impeachment and Ukraine aid. But first, the gang tackles the thorny news about their alma matter (USC) canceling the scheduled valedictorian speaker an account of her potentially antisemitic social media posts.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, the gang rejoice at the news that Anna has found wedding shoes for her beautifully oversized feet! Then on to other important matters, like the elections in Britain and France, plus Ritchie Torres' unwavering support for Israel and the contentious primary races for many of his progressive colleagues.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, the gang talks about the latest supreme court ruling allowing Trump to stay ON the ballot and what this means for the young Congressional Republicans vying to be his VP. The PolPla trio also tackles the growing challenges facing underpaid teachers, as well what some newly minted maga-ites have to say about Hunter B these days.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anna welcome Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Democratic Representative from Illinois.

The conversation centers on the hot-button issue of immigration and rightfully so! Delia is a first generation American--her mother crossed the boarder from Guatemala while she was pregnant with Delia--and if that didn't give Delia enough street cred, her husband is a DACA recipient.

Join us for one of our more personal conversations with one of our newest young policy makers in Washington!

Well, well, well, coming to you, listener, in a historic week. Kevin McCarthy just became the first Speaker EVER to get ousted from his seat, and you better believe the team's diving into all the drama, including the surprise vote to get him outta there that has Anna's wheels turning! Anna and Anthony fly sans Michael this week to also discuss the expiring emergency childcare funding that millions of families rely on and Newsom's appointment of Laphonza Butler as California's new senator. If there was ever a week to indulge your political obsession... this is certainly it!

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The issue of this week's Political Happy Hour is Party Loyalty and the question is, is there room for a so-called political maverick in today's hyper-partisan politics? 

Anthony sits out this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, letting fellow east-coasters Michael and Anna hash out the viability of today's leading political maverick: Adam Kinzinger.  

You may know him as the Republican who voted to impeach Trump, or the one who's for banning assault rifles, or perhaps you know him because he actually did have a call sign as an Combat Air Force Pilot in Iraq.  And hey, he just may even be you congressman if you live in Illinois' 16th.  But rest assured, despite the fact that he isn't running for reelection in November, it is very safe to say we have not seen the last of this Republican Maverick.  

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In this Episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna and Anthony sit down with Republican State Representative Joe Alexander of New Hampshire (The Granite State) to discuss, among other things, the work of getting more Millennials and Gen Z Conservatives to run for office. What makes Joe qualified to speak on this , you ask? Well, he was the youngest elected NH State Rep in 2018 at age 24! He also helped start an organization called Run Gen Z...so yeah, he's kind of an authority on this. And aside from being a very smart guy, he's also a lot of fun to talk to. So pull up a glass, and come get one bit smarter with us.

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Fire up the "War Signal" boys, we got ourselves a bombin' to plan! That's right, the group chat heard round the world is the news-du-jour of todays happy hour, and Michael, Anna and Anthony got some hot takes. Afterwards, they tell you about Jared Moskowitz, a politician you might not know, plus they discuss how to talk about spending cuts and how these seemingly innocuous slashes are actually very personal and wide-reaching. It's a jam packed episode you won't want to miss!

Most importantly, YES we discuss Taylor Swift on this episode of the Happy Hour, but we also discuss a lot of other important things too, like the growing political disenfranchisement among young voters, the ongoing tragedy plaguing Israel and the Middle East, and what exactly is going on in the leader-less House of Representatives!

That's a wrap on Anna's wedding as well as the DNC, and the gang is here to hash it all out this happy hour. Most striking, besides Anna's shoes, where the amount of young leaders on our platform who spoke at the DNC. But of course, our favorite speaker was Anna's dad Tony, who MC'd night one. How cool is that?!?!

...And ain't no partisan rift low enough, to keep this Congress from (potentially) agreeing on raising the debt-ceiling.  On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony break down what exactly all this "paying our debt" hoopla is about and what exactly has our young Congress divided about it...chiefly Republican Byron Donalds of Florida.

The gang also dives into some tweets related to MLK Jr.'s impressively young start into the political arena and how he represents a model for why more young people should follow politics.

Oh, and we also discuss tractors. That's right, those big green and yellow toys with the iconic John Deere moniker stamped to their engine hoods. While you may recognize that image, what you likely do not know is how much of a strangle-hold the eponymous company has on their local repair centers.

All this, and of course, cocktails on this episode.

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The band's all back together for this Happy Hour as they wrap up the year in "Post-Partisan" style. Anna, Anthony and Michael start pushing this new term to refer to the changing desires of voters who want innovation over compromise, irrespective of party ideology. The gang also riffs on party disunity and whether or not it will spur party unity. And we'll let you be the judge as to whether or not Anthony is one bit smarter this week.

Love 'em, hate 'em, or didn't even know 'em-- on this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, the gang bids adieu to the departing under-45ers of the 117th Congress. And spoiler, it's a mixed bag of good, bad, and ugly heading for the exit. 

As always, Hosts Michael, Anna and Anthony pour some cocktails to discuss the transition of power in the upcoming 118th Congress and raise a glass to the increase of new Congressional leaders under 45... it's now at a "whooping" 17% !!!  While that might not seem like a lot, remember that big change rarely happens overnight, so any positive progress is worth celebrating. 

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On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anna welcome Anthony back from Europe and gingerly remind him that we still have two very old people running for president, despite many reasons for both to exit stage right.

The gang unpack the latest controversies surround the 2024 election through the lens of what our young leaders in Congress are saying about it. Then they segue to Trump's frontrunner VP of JD Vance... VP JV has a certainly ring to it I guess. Then we couldn't NOT cover the controversy surround Refrigerator Freedom--yep, you heard that right. Can't make this stuff up kids...

Some episodes are light and bubbly (that's a pun--wink) and other episodes are, well... a little more "scotch-y". This one is that. Because the gang dives into some of the more depressing news of the week, from Debt ceiling crisis to the battle of Bakhmut, the most brutal fighting in the Ukrainian war. Don't worry, it's not supper depressing but it's...concerning.

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On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael returns to the newly-minted PR Firm of Goldwyn & Barkett to discuss the latest news including the absolutely wild and hilariously ridiculous Congressional quarrel between Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene over... "plagiarizing" their impeachment bill?!?! Yeah, for real.

More importantly, we dive into the Biden State Dinner for India, what that means for the US and why some members of the House boycotted the Prime Minister's address to Congress.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, the gang discuss the latest military escalations in the middle east, the crazy political manueverings going on in Nebraska, the importance of youth sports, but first--we welcome two new Under 45ers to the Playlist, both from none other than New Jersey.

Buckle up kids, because we're charging head first at the new Alabama Supreme Court ruling on embryos now legally constituting as...children?!?! Yep, it's a newsy, boozy, ranty episode you won't want to miss!

On this happy hour, Michael, Anna, and Anthony tackle the latest crumbling of the US alliance with Ukraine, an interesting pro-union bill from Josh Hawley, and we discuss how to talk about free speech, which seems to be under attack by the very same people who devoutly proclaim to protect it.

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna wows the boys with her impressive pitch skills, while getting a little assist from everyone's new favorite A.I. in the process. The Gang then unpack the latest tweets from Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Robert Garcia, and Rep. Emilia Sykes.  And last but not least, Anna debuts some of her newfound piano playing skills which she claims to have had for years but this is of course the first we're hearing of it.

So pour yourself a drink and come join the conversation about our Congressional leaders under the age of 45.

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With Congress a’ buzzing around the Facebook whistleblower hearings, Anna and Anthony decide to go straight to the source to see what the fuss is about. Tune in as they sit down with POLITICO's Ali Levine, as she breaks down the fight over big data between Silicon Valley and Washington DC. They also unpack the policy debate around children's safety online as well as try and wrap their heads around what we’re now learning about Facebook and what's to come for good old 'Zuck.'

Alexandra S. Levine is a technology reporter for POLITICO focused on privacy and data issues in the U.S. and around the world. She covers the fights between Silicon Valley and Washington over companies’ handling of data — including efforts to create rules around the collecting, sharing and monetizing of Americans’ information as well as the tensions between what’s going on at the state, federal and international level. As of late, she has been most closely following political and policy debates around children’s safety online and AI tools like facial recognition. Prior to joining POLITICO in 2019, Alexandra spent three years as a staff reporter at The New York Times.

With war raging in Ukraine, Anthony and Michael tackle the President's recent decision to ban imports of Russian oil and ask the hard questions of what the costs of this will be. Spoiler: it's going to be pricey.  They also read various tweets from our young leaders of congress and try to guess what party they're from and who said it. 

As always, they pour a few cocktail and try to unpack all the pressing political issues of our day through the nonpartisan lens of young Congressional leaders under the age of 45--which sadly only makes up 14% of Congress.  

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We're doing things a little different on this week's Happy Hour. Anna and Anthony each pick two races being run by some of the young women in Congress to take a micro look at what's happening in specific parts of the country. Join us as we break down these competitive campaigns and talk about what's unique about each district, how each incumbent is framing their race, and what their competition looks like. Our picks? Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). 

Don't forget to VOTE!

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The podcast bros are back bro-ing it out with bro-tinis! With Anna off on assignment, Michael and Anthony cover a laundry list of topics (that Anna made for us) including the new Impeachment Inquiry, Mitt Romney calling himself and others OLD, the expiring student meal program that doesn't have Republican support, the immigration crisis hitting our cities, and of course, Ms. Lauren Boebert's date night fail.

Like many a lady of Mar-A-Lago, we too are undergoing a light touch of cosmetic surgery on the show, as Michael, Anna and Anthony debut a new look and structure to the Happy Hour. But fear not, while there might be some new sections, it's still the same great content focusing on young leaders in Congress. And of course, Martinis included.

Welp, Donny blinked, and the US economy is, well, losing. Michael, Anna and Anthony unpack the latest in the escalating tariff war with the US and China, and then discuss the growing popularity in legislation from Jon Ossoff that would ban Congressional stock trading. Then the gang discuss what's going on with Harvard and higher education before finally celebrating a win of the week--if we could call it that. It's a long episode, we grant you, but it's a good one nonetheless!

The team takes on the very light topic of abortion in America and ask the question if having more women in office will evolve the highly partisan debate. Tune in for this discussion plus our new section, The Riff, where Anna, Anthony, & Michael pick of a topic and, you guessed it, riff on it!

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony discuss the latest email heard 'round the Government Inboxes. Then Anna cuts in with some breaking news on the government shutdown bill that passed the House, before we discuss a Politician You Don't Know--yet--spoiler, it's Elise Stefanik and then we discuss How To Talk About: Ukraine. It's a jam-packed episode you won't want to miss.

Anna, Anthony & Michael dive into last week's newsletter which posed the question of how young politicians are particularly equipped to handle laws around mental health. They also get into WTF is going on with infrastructure, scary things like 'forever chemicals', the Hulu documentary 'Summer of Soul', and why they're each One Bit Smarter!

The issue is legalizing marijuana and the question is will Congress finally pass legislation to federally legalize weed? 

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, the gang pours a glass, and pops a gummy, to discuss the recent passing of the MORE Act in the House. Passed mostly along party lines save for a few of our leaders on the platform, most notably Republicans Matt Gaetz and Brian Mast, who joined Democrats in supporting the bill, while Democrat Chris Pappas joined Republicans in a nay vote.  

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Yes, we talk about the drones over Jersey...we just couldn't help ourselves. But we also talk about the quiet but steady work of one GOP Congresswoman to combat China's bad trade practices, the annual year end pardon petitioning to the President, and the future of AOC in Democratic leadership. And finally, to conclude the Year's End Happy Hour, we bid adieu to the departing members on account of age--and spoiler, some of our favs are growing up!

In this segment of the Happy Hour, Anna talks...and talks...and talks... about the US's China Policy and specifically the new COMPETES Act in Congress, which looks to make the US more competitive with China in a number of areas. Anthony and Michael try to compete for air time but like the Republican opposition to this bill, they haven't quite mustered a winning strategy against it yet.  

As always, the gang pours a friendly cocktail and tries to unpack all the pressing political issues of our day through the nonpartisan lens of young Congressional leaders under the age of 45--which sadly only makes up 14% of Congress. 

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It is with profound sadness that the issue of this week's Political Happy Hour is, yet again, Mass Shootings.  

The question we're asking this week is in the wake of the most recent school shooting, is now the time for community healing or legislative action? 

On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony quite frankly get a little worked up over this blatant epidemic and the lack of political willingness to even address the very basic elements of this problem that is firmly planted in this country.   

The Republicans say it's a mental health issue while the Democrats say it's a gun issue. There already exists bipartisan bills that would address background checks and red flag laws, but there doesn't seem to be enough votes to pass it in the Senate. 

While the gang sips cocktails on this Political Happy Hour, the melancholic reality of the recent events certainly looms large but that's not a reason to avoid having the challenging conversations. In fact, it's exactly why we must.  

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On this episode of Political Playlist Happy Hour, Anna, Anthony and Michael discuss the potential, and maybe actual, change that's a-brewin' in China as well as in our own Congress.

While China is seeing unprecedented protests, it remains unlikely that the Chinese people will see very much change, if at all. Whereas in our own Congress, the democrats are poised for sweeping change among their leadership ranks, with Pol Pla's own Pete Aguilar emerging as the number 3 Democrat in the house. 

 In addition to that leadership change, we also discuss the Respect For Marriage act which received broad bipartisan support thanks to the hard work from Kyrsten Sinema. 

As always, tune in to our Political Happy Hour to get all the latest on Congressional leaders under 45.

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On this spicy happy hour, Michael, Anna and Anthony unpack the latest tech-bro treasury takeover at the direction of "Elon-ia". Then the gang discuss the latest in Tariffs, USAID and a particular young politician from Florida we think you're all going to want to keep your eyes on. His name is Jared, and he's not related to the Trumps.

Well, gang, there sure was a whole lotta agreement at Tuesday's VP Debate and we're here to say...WE AGREE WITH IT! Michael, Anna, and Anthony fill up their glasses, and marvel at this seeming--and perhaps short-lived--return to normalcy in the political debate realm. But don't be fooled, because behind those kind salutations was a lot of unsaid policy agenda and sales pitch that needs discussion.

Finally! The Political Playlist Happy Hour returns from its summer recess and boy has it been a busy last few weeks. On this episode, Anna, Anthony and Michael breakdown the latest goings-on in Gov under-45 and common theme: BILLS. Congress has passed a handful of major legislation in the last few weeks, including the Inflation Reduction Act, The CHIPS Act, and The PACT Act. These bills were signed into law by the President, following varying degrees of bipartisan support. But what were our young leaders in Congress doing and saying about it all? Tune in to find out who said what, who sponsored this, and who is tweet-trashing that!

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That's right playlisters, Tiktok's days might be numbered, thanks to an overwhelming (and surprising) bipartisan piece of legislation targeting the Chinese-owned company. The gang breaks down the Mike Gallagher led bill and what they're saying, and what the further implications of it might be. Then, the gang discuss a bridge in Washington that has become a political hot potato for Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. And lastly, this episode covers the highlights from this past super Tuesday and which under 45-ers are having an exciting and contested election year.

On this episode of the Happy Hour, Michael and Anna literally silence Anthony by accidentally keeping him in the Zoom waiting room, while they gab and gab some more about all the news of the day, like the DHS Secretary's impeachment, Mike Gallagher not running for reelection, August Pfluger's new energy bill, Matt Gaetz, and of course Russia's nuclear shenanigans in space.

If you didn't think Michael, Anna, Anthony, and Anna again were going to talk about the new confounding Arizona Abortion Ban, then you don't know this Gang as well as you should. It's an action packed Happy Hour with lots of other important news too like Ukraine aid and Israeli Hostage updates.