Estate Sale: the selling out of American democracy

Brad and Laurie are looking for a cure to the dumb fuckery that remains Republican lawmakers and their voters. The GOP continues to fight mask mandates and COVID vaccines all while pretending it was against pulling out of Afghanistan despite being big fans when Trump and the Taliban negotiated the exit last year.

White evangelicals, dominated by Southern Baptists, are a primary demographic within the Republican party. And an unhealthy majority of Southern Baptists are Republican. Brad and Laurie discuss just why both continue to be detrimental to racial justice, gender equality, truth, democracy, faith...pretty much anything good.

More than 150 years ago, on June 19, 1865, the last group of enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom due to the Emancipation Proclamation issued two-and-a-half years earlier. That date has always been celebrated by Black Americans, but only recently has white America really become aware of its true significance. And that schism between white and Black Americans in the understanding of Black history as it impacts American history is at the heart of today's discussion.

It has been months since Laurie and Brad hosted a show together, so enjoy this somewhat disjointed but highly entertaining podcast catching you up on the latest cheers and jeers from Washington. And don't worry, "Being Black in America, part 2" will be posted next week!

In this first of a multi-part series, Laurie talks with two former students about what it is really like to grow up Black in today's America. While the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum and support last year beyond communities of color, the enthusiasm for justice has already waned. And it's not helping Black Americans feel confident in true change.