Pantsuit Politics

Sarah and Beth break down the pervasive corruption in the Trump administration, from White House renovations to rare earth mineral deals, and cover:

Alina Habba, Ric Grenell, and high-dollar pardons

How White House renovations became a marketplace for influence, with major corporations making anonymous, tax-deductible donations

The scale of government contracts and rare earth mineral deals tied to the Trump family and allies

The impact of unchecked corruption on public trust and the upcoming midterm elections

Outside of Politics: Kelly Clarkson's viral feud with a Brooklyn shop over a mechanical bird

Next week, we're featuring great candidates for office in a draft-style episode and would love to hear your nominations. You can also help us prepare for our Halloween episode--a political version of the "a haunted house but it's just..." meme. Join the conversation on Substack (and sign up for our 25% discounted annual rate before the election) or by emailing hello@pantsuitpoliticsshow.com.
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With the midterms close, Sarah and Beth step back to ask how a profit-first mindset came to shape so much of public life and what might replace it. Inspired by Chris Marquis's New York Times guest essay on closing business schools, they discuss:

the pervasive influence of MBA thinking on leadership and society

the need for philosophy, art, and new vocabularies about values and priorities

rethinking measurement and growth

Outside of politics (not really!): The Social Reckoning

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Beth to talk about how state attorneys general are preparing for this election and pushing back on federal overreach. They discuss:

the security of mail-in ballots

the fight over "citizenship lists"

preparations to safeguard against intimidation at the polls

the Supreme Court's emergency docket and strain on the court system

immigration enforcement

AI and the tools needed to protect citizens

outside of politics: soccer brings people together

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We did not expect to be discussing the death penalty less than a month before midterm elections, but here we are. Today, Sarah and Beth discuss:

Our individual perspectives on the death penalty

Tennessee's failed attempt to execute Christa Pike

Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

Outside of politics: seeing leaves last week in New England and Quebec

Mentioned in the episode:

Still Listening, our free pop-up book club for the midterms

Pew Research polling on the death penalty

Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery"

Common Ground Pilgrimages
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Beth talks with Zach Dembo, the Democratic candidate for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, running against Republican Ralph Alvarado in one of the closest House races in the country:

Zach's path to running: Teach for America, active-duty Navy, policy advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, and most recently a federal prosecutor

Why he resigned from the DOJ, and how that decision affected his marriage (his wife is also a prosecutor)

His anti-corruption platform: no stock trading for members of Congress, 12-year term limits, a ban on lobbying, a ban on dark money and corporate PAC contributions

Why the corruption message is landing with voters across party lines in central Kentucky right now

His "team Kentucky, not team party" case for independence in a polarized Congress

The "nightmare scenario": what Congress can actually do if the executive ignores its own laws

His committee priorities — armed services and agriculture — and why farm economics are personal to both hosts

The contrast with his opponent, Ralph Alvarado

Running a true toss-up race, and how listeners can help

A closing conversation about UK football under Will Stein and UK basketball

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