Battletested with Tanya Acker

Latest Episodes:

The Battle Over the Vote - Did The Supreme Court Just Reshape American Elections? May 06, 2026

Show notes

On April 29, the Supreme Court handed down Louisiana v. Callais — upending the protections of the Voting Rights Act and allowing states to gerrymander districts irrespective of the impact on individual voting rights. Wendy Weiser, Vice President for Democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, joins Tanya to unpack what the 6-3 decision actually does, who it affects, and why Justice Kagan said it leaves voting rights protections“all but a dead letter.” Listen as they discuss the legal mechanics, the political fallout, and the practical question every voter should be asking: what protections do I still have heading into 2026?

The battle for the vote continues. Join it. Go to vote.gov and check your voter registration information.

The Battle Over Social Media Has Its Day In Court Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Meta and Google lost - and there are thousands more lawsuits coming. Zamaan Quereshi is the Co-Founder and Director of Campaigns and Policy of Design It For Us, and he explains what’s behind the lawsuits against social media companies, and how the internet can do better.

Why Listening to this Special Episode About President Trump, The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch Is Important for Your Budget Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Maybe you already know. But it's something to think about when you’re fighting in court and Tanya can’t stop reminding you.

The Partisan Divide That Started it All: Hamilton, Jefferson and the Battle for America’s Soul Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Jeffrey Rosen, author of Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America, discusses the Supreme Court, the occasional rebellion and “structured disagreement” that was at the heart of the Founders’ vision for America, and why today’s partisan divide is particularly dangerous.

From The People’s Court to Justice For The People: Judge Marilyn Milian’s First Podcast Ever Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

The legendary television judge has overseen battles of every type. Listen as she and Tanya talk immigration, incivility (and worse) on the internet, and life in a TV courtroom. Plus, what to do when the dinner table is politically divided!

Divided Now, Divided Then! The American Revolution as a Civil War (with David Schmidt) Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Tanya and David Schmidt discuss the PBS docuseries The American Revolution (produced and co/directed by David, Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein) and what that conflict can tell us about managing today’s animosities.

Challenging Power and Insisting On Our Own (with Senator Michael Bennet) Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

A conversation about the Iran War, executive power, economic opportunity and the continuing fight for voting rights – with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).

(recorded 3/11/26)

A Battle for a City’s Life - MS NOW's Jacob Soboroff discusses Firestorm: The Great LA Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

The Los Angeles Fires were a battle to contain one of the worst wildfire disasters in U.S. history. They were a battle for lives, for homes, for community - they were a race against an all-consuming disaster. They also involved a battle for truth and information in a time of crisis. MS NOW reporter Jacob Soboroff explores these different battlefields in his new book, and he and Tanya discuss the book and the catastrophe that ravaged the city they love.

Welcome to Battletested with Tanya Acker Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

We’ve all been hit by something hard when we didn’t expect it. We’ve come through battles of every kind - personal, professional, national - and still are fighting some of them. What have we learned from them - and what can our past battles teach us about how to live in the present moment.

New episodes of Battletested begin next Wednesday, March 11th, with MS Now journalist Jacob Soboroff.

What's your battle? Email us at beingbattletested@gmail.com with your story.

Beth Macy (“Dopesick”) Decides to Tell the Whole Story Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

I sit down with Beth Macy for an honest conversation about truth, empathy, and finding common ground in divided times. We talk about how to navigate family and friendship across political and ethical lines, the growing challenges to free press, and the responsibility of storytelling in shaping public understanding. Beth also shares insights from her new book Paper Girl, a deeply personal return to her Ohio hometown that examines the political, economic, and social divides defining small-town America. She reflects on her acclaimed work Dopesick, which inspired the Hulu series exposing how corporate power and systemic greed fueled the opioid crisis.

Paper Girl is available now wherever books are sold!

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