American Fever Dream

Latest Episodes:

#460 Hopes For The "New Normal" Apr 01, 2021

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Alise, Kaitlin, and Amanda reunite to celebrate the legalization of adult-use cannabis in New York (not like that..) and outline three ways the state can work to repair the damage that criminalization has caused to minority communities. Then, they have a candid conversation about anxieties around returning to “normal” life as the pandemic’s next phase launches a large portion of Americans back into the real world. What practices has society developed that we should hold onto, and what was toxic? How will workplaces handle the transition? And how are we ever going to breathe on each other again?!

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#459 You Can’t Always Gaetz What You Want Mar 31, 2021

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Kaitlin and Amanda breakdown the first two days of the Derek Chauvin trial, and react to leading arguments from the defense that rely on dehumanizing stereotypes about Black people, and explain the trauma of reliving a case so clear cut. They share an update following the brutal anti-Asian hate crime in New York this week. Finally, a freshly vaxxed Alise Morales joins to react to an investigation into whether Matt Gaetz had an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl, and his bizarre explanation.

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#458 Jeff “Karen” Bezos Mar 30, 2021

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Milly, Alise, and Amanda are back to celebrate universal vaccine eligibility in most states, and contrast that with the “impending doom” coming as CDC heads warn of more sickness and death. They reflect on how the pandemic has altered social media, and the collective growing pains we’ll experience as normal life resumes. Then, they break down Amazon workers’ efforts to unionize in Alabama, the appalling workplace conditions that led to it, and Jeff Bezos’s batshit response.

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#457 Georgia Passed The Law. Now What? Mar 29, 2021

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Bryan, Sami, and Amanda are back to break down the moral panic following Lil Nas X’s new video, and explain how the post-Trump news void has left some on both sides of the aisle clawing for relevance. Then, they cover the fallout from Georgia’s new voting legislation and how to undo it. Best route? Elect Stacey Abrams. Finally, they share details from Minneapolis as the city begins its case against Derek Chauvin, including details about jury selection and signals for what the rest of the trial might hold.

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Afternoon Tea With Danielle Robay Mar 26, 2021

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In this week’s Afternoon Tea, Sami is joined by TV host, journalist, and correspondent for NBC4-LA and IMDB, Danielle Robay. They start with a conversation about Danielle’s career journey from growing up in Chicago, moving to LA to live in a garage and work for free until eventually landing her first paid event on the red carpet. Next, Danielle talks about the intersection between politics and pop culture, what it was like having Larry King as her mentor, and some of her experiences as a woman working in media. They also talk about what men can do to be active allies for women in the workplace, where she sees the news industry heading, and why diverse newsrooms matter. Finally, it’s time for the Four Questions, which leads to a conversation about Danielle’s wish to solve the global learning crisis (climate change too).

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#456 Why Republicans Are Freaking Out About 2022 Mar 25, 2021

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Alise and Bryan catch up on the latest in vaccination news, including Bryan’s experience getting his second dose and that messy bitch AstraZeneca. Then, they detail yet ANOTHER scandal involving Andrew Cuomo, this time related to giving family and VIPs access to COVID testing at the height of the pandemic. Then, they introduce you to the Republican Senate candidates so bad they might hand two ruby red states to Democrats.

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#455 Been There, Done Nothing Mar 24, 2021

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Sami, Kaitlin, and Amanda are back to address the real root of the gun reform debate: upholding white supremacist patriarchy. We explore how Democrats could pursue filibuster reform and break down the Republicans (and Democrat) who are trying to stop it. Seems like we need to background check the Senate, or at least, check to find the Democrat left in Joe Manchin. Finally, they address misguided reverence for the original Constitution, which even the founders knew would need some updates.

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#454 The ‘New Normal’ Is All Too Familiar Mar 23, 2021

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Milly, Alise and Amanda react to yet another mass shooting in America, this time in Boulder, Colorado. They discuss the fact that shooters in Atlanta and Boulder are 21-year-old men, and how our society needs to get better at interrupting violent ideation before lives are lost. They run through the familiar gun safety refrains related to universal background checks and automatic weapons bans, and consider whether Congress will finally take action. Then, they discuss Spring Break crowds in Miami and why the Florida government is to blame.

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#453 What “The Bachelor” And Cuomo Have In Common ft. Emma Gray Mar 22, 2021

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Sami and Amanda are joined by journalist Emma Gray to discuss how the most recent season of “The Bachelor” botched yet another important conversation about race, this time at the emotional expense of its Black lead. We look back on the choices the franchise made for decades that led to the most recent implosion, analyze why Chris Harrison is such a big part of the problem, and explain why we’re unlikely to see meaningful change anytime soon. Then, they break down Andrew Cuomo’s positive poll numbers despite mounting sexual misconduct allegations and an FBI investigation.

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#452 How History Warned Us Ft. Kimmy Yam And Rep. Mark Takano Mar 19, 2021

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On this bonus episode, Amanda is joined by two leaders in the Asian American community. First, NBC reporter Kimmy Yam explains how a direct line can be made from the historical marginalization of Asian women in America to Tuesday’s mass shooting in Georgia, and describes her own fears as an Asian woman in an urban area. Then, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) shares his family’s experience in Japanese internment camps, the legal origins of anti-Asian discrimination, and the intersection of racism and homophobia.

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