April 23, 2025 • 29 mins
In the 14th episode of 'The Civil Union' podcast, Alex and Ryan, a married couple residing in a conservative state, provide sharp insights and candid discussions on various political issues. This episode covers their personal weekend activities, including yard work and attending a Remi Wolf concert, and delves into serious political debates about transgender bathroom issues, the erosion of press freedoms by the Trump administration, and the broader implications of current political trends on democracy. The episode ends with an engaging game segment, 'White Lotus or White House,' and a motivational speech on the need for new leadership and solidarity in the Democratic Party.
00:00 Introduction to the Civil Union Podcast
00:54 Weekend Recap and Personal Updates
04:50 Concert Experience and 90s Fashion Revival
07:56 Trans Bathroom Issues and Public Restroom Preferences
14:17 Press Freedom Under Threat
19:18 Game Time: White Lotus or White House?
22:22 Call to Action and Closing Remarks
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:07):
welcome to the Civil Union, thepodcast where politics meets
partnership.
We're Alex and Ryan, a marriedcouple, navigating life and
debates in a conservative state.
We bring you sharp insights,bold opinions, and honest
conversations about thepolitical issues shaping our
lives, especially those livingon society's margins.
Tune in for a real talk, a touchof humor, and plenty of passion
(00:29):
because when it comes topolitics, every voice matters,
and we are here to make surethey're heard.
Welcome everyone.
Thank you for tuning in for our14th episode of the Civil Union
Podcast.
If you haven't given us a followon Instagram, uh, go ahead and
give us a follow that's at theCivil U, just just the letter U
(00:50):
and follow us on TikTok.
We're also active on TikTok.
How are you doing today, Alex?
Pretty good.
Pretty good.
I am in a new class and it's,I'm almost done with my program,
but this class is really lowkey.
It's work on your own.
So the classes are like supposedto be two hours, but we only
have been really lasting like 30minutes.
I.
Oh, nice.
That's, that's really nice.
(01:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, we had such a busy,productive weekend.
Alex was in a, a conference allweekend, so while he was away, I
was able to complete all theoutside yard work to get the
house prepped, you know, readyfor spring and summer.
all the things he put off whenit's like absolutely freezing
outside, I've raked.
(01:31):
I picked up brush, mowed thelawn for the first time this
season.
I even stained the deck.
That hadn't been done inprobably five years.
I planted flowers, took down thehail damaged patio lights and
replaced them with these fancyLED lights that you can just
control from your phone.
It, it was a lot of work, that'sfor sure.
(01:52):
I think those LED lights you gotwere so.
Cool.
You can change the colors.
I mean, they're legit andthey're supposedly shatterproof.
We'll see.
Oh, for sure.
The technology on those havereally advanced within the last
like five years because fiveyears ago we were just like, um,
we will wait a little bit, butthey, they look so good, that's
for sure.
I think overall.
This past weekend I did about 14hours worth of outside themed
(02:17):
yard work, but it looks so goodright now.
Now it's just all about theupkeep on it all.
I even rewarded myself with asweet treat from Starbucks.
I got my first Frappuccino andprobably two years.
Those things are so good.
I just wish they didn't melt sofast.
Yeah.
I get wraps on like really,really?
Crappy work weeks.
(02:38):
I'll get a frappe on my Fridayand I'll do like the Java chip.
Those are the best ones.
The Java chip, I can see littlechocolate bites in it.
So good.
So many calories.
Yeah, that's exactly what I didtoo, but so good.
I got a coffee Frappuccino withthe Java chips in it.
It was delicious.
Yes, but I, I went outside thenext day and you know what?
I am no longer being Mr.
(02:58):
Snow White.
I have all these critters thatI've been like.
You know, giving them homes,feeding them in the mornings,
they, they decided to dig up allof my flowers that I planted.
And I think it's the squirrelsby the way.
So I, I read somewhere thatcayenne pepper keeps the
critters out from digging upyour plants.
(03:19):
So I had Alex look for somecayenne pepper in our.
Spice cabinet.
And what do you know?
We found something way in theback that expired, I think in
2021.
I have no idea.
I swear I've cleaned it outsince we've lived here.
But I, I sprinkled some of itaround the pots and even in the
soil.
And the critters did not partakein ripping up the flowers.
(03:41):
So maybe that did the trick.
I have no idea.
Oh my God.
And when Ryan says he's snowwhite, he really is like, he
goes outside and.
Birds will come flying in.
'cause they know they havetreats.
We have these chipmunks thatwe've had for years.
I mean, he, it, you should seeit.
It's very entertaining.
Also, you know what I noticed onmy Instagram, there are like no
photos of me this year.
(04:03):
I'm like.
If something tragic happens tome, no one will have any photos
of me from 2025.
So I started doing thesepictures of like outfit of the
day photos, you know, littleselfies to let all my followers
know that, uh, I'm, no, I'm nota bot, I'm a real person, you
know?
So that was kind of fun.
It gives you some self, uh.
(04:23):
Self gratitude or somethinglike, I don't wanna sound full
of myself, but I felt, uh, good.
Yeah, you need to bring theselfie back.
Selfies are back.
And I don't ever do them thatoften anymore.
We used to do'em all the time inour twenties and now we just
don't.
And now we just, as we've gottenolder, we don't take as many
photos, but I don't know why.
'cause we still look good tryingto, at least, you know, you
(04:44):
gotta, you gotta keep it fresh,you know?
So, uh, but to top off theweekend.
We were able to see Remy Wolf inconcert, which was.
Such a cool concert at thePageant.
I think she was sold out.
Alex actually got the tickets afew months ago.
Right.
Yeah.
I love Remi Wolf.
I came across her'cause she wasactually, came across my feed, I
think through euphoria'cause shewas connected with someone on
(05:07):
the show and I just startedlistening to her.
She's from, I believe's likeSanta Monica or that part of
California and she usually justdoes like.
The festival circuits, but shenever tours.
So when she did and we, I sawshe's coming to St.
Louis, I immediately jumped onher.
I was like, this is gonna begreat.
It was a lot of fun.
It was, and if, if you don'tknow who Remy Wolf is, you
(05:27):
should, you should check herout.
Her music is, I'd say it's likea alternative pop with a little
bit of funk style to it, whetheryou like that type of music or
not.
She sold out the pageant.
It was a much younger crowd,that's for sure.
Uh, we were definitely the olderones in the venue, but she put
on such a fantastic show.
And the crowd, I mean, let'sjust say the nineties fashion is
(05:51):
back.
That's definitely back it.
Is, and I don't understand it,and I don't know if that ages
me.
I don't think it does.
I really don't.
I've, we've had many discussionson this.
When we say nineties fashion isback, we're not even talking
like clueless or like funnineties fashion.
It's like grungy.
(06:11):
You haven't looked like youshowered in a while, like the
craft type fashion.
Like that's what's coming backand it is so weird.
Or like, you know, the limegreen clear trench coats people
would wear and the platformshoes and like, it's just the
really baggy jeans.
It's just, it's very weird to methat that's like.
Attracting people again.
(06:33):
I understand when the seventiescame back, I understand when the
eighties came back, those werereally cool fashions, but I
don't think anyone wanted thenineties fashions to come back.
Especially this little sectionthey're redoing.
I mean, at that Remy Wolfconcert, some of the people had
like the little rubber bands intheir hair.
They had the like plasticchokers around their necks.
Like we used to get those cheapones.
(06:54):
I mean, it, it was, it was veryweird.
It was fascinating.
Yeah, I, it's cute.
It's a style, you know, I don'teven know if they would, I think
if we were to tell people thatit was the nineties, I think
one, I think that ages us andthen two, I think they would be
like, we're not the nineties.
This is our generation.
This is what we're doing now.
I'm, it's just a trend.
I think.
I, I just don't think it's cute.
(07:15):
Like, there was one person Isaw, she had like a, like a
floral tank top on, you know,those nineties tank tops and
then she had like a white.
Long sleeve shirt underneath,like it's just, and then people
are wearing the socks with thefluffiness on it, like the
little, the little, um, ruffleson top of the white, fluffy
socks in sandals.
It's just, it's weird.
It's like, that is notattractive and it looks weird.
(07:38):
And that's why the nineties,well, maybe not to you, but to
other people.
We're, we're very diverse here.
We're for the, we're, we are thed.
And DEI.
We are the diversity.
I mean, I'm all, it's yes,you're for that.
Agree.
Express yourself in fashion.
I'm all for it.
It just, it's funny to me howthat specific time period is
coming back anyway.
Yeah.
So can, can someone explain tome what's the deal with the
(07:59):
whole.
Bathroom trans issues that theRepublicans are pushing.
I mean, the way they'retargeting the trans community is
honestly outrageous and justseems to create more hate.
It's like they're going after agroup that all is already
struggling just to scorepolitical points.
This has never been a.
(08:21):
Big issue for me.
There are way more pressingmatters to tackle right now, but
the last local elections we had,I think some candidates were
running for board of educationpositions, and some of these
candidates were parentsliterally with pitchforks ready
to change bathroom policies toyour assigned sex at birth.
(08:42):
I just, I don't know, I hategoing to the bathroom in public
places already.
I don't understand why.
We as a human evolution, decidedthat it's okay to go, you know,
number two next to someone elsein a stall.
Like I want the privatization ofbathrooms.
(09:02):
Seriously.
I don't want to sit in a stallthat you can see other people's
feet.
I don't want to sit in a stallwhere you can see out the cracks
in the door, I like privatebathrooms to do my private
business.
You know, when I'm at work, ifsomeone is in the stall, I like
turn around and just come backlater.
It's just so annoying.
(09:24):
I don't want to hear you going.
Number two, I also don't wantyou hearing, hearing me go
number two.
It it's, it's a very rareoccurrence that I have to do
that when I'm out in public orat work.
So.
I just, I don't understand why afew minutes of using a toilet is
detrimental to the rightwingers.
Well, and what they don'tunderstand is they're, they're
attacking a group of people thatit actually hurts them more not
(09:46):
to be able to use their ownbathrooms.
It's not even that big of adeal, like you said.
And because for them to go, likeif, if a trans female.
Because they were assigned maleat birth, had to be forced to go
to a male bathroom.
That to me, would be worsebecause you have a, a girl
wanting, you know, dressed as agirl, wanting to be a girl,
(10:08):
identifies as a girl and they'rehaving to go into a men's
restroom dressed up.
You know what I mean?
Like, to me, that just makes iteven more strange and awkward
and weird for.
Everyone involved.
I just don't understand thewhole situation.
They ha they are basing this offof handful of cases, if that, I
think it's even less than that,that people have been assaulted
in bathrooms by actual men, notmen dress as women.
(10:31):
And these republicans aredriving that as a, as a reason.
Well, safety and I don't want mykids to be, you know, blah,
blah, blah.
So stupid.
It's a stupid argument.
It's based off stupid cases thataren't even valid.
Are there even cases out there?
Out there?
I, I know there's probably likeone.
I, but it didn't even deal witha trans person.
I doubt.
Hmm.
I think it was like a man, Idon't even know.
(10:53):
It's just, it's, it's ridiculousand it's stupid.
There are bigger issues withbathrooms.
Like you said.
I like closed bathrooms as well.
Alamo Drafthouse has closedbathrooms and it's, you are
literally closed door.
There's walls.
Um, you know, that to me issomething we should work
towards, not.
What, who is actually sharingthe bathrooms?
And you know, when this wholesituation went down for,
(11:14):
initially, we lived in Oklahomaand I remember we went to
establishments that literallywould put male female signs on
actual doors.
Like they didn't care.
'cause it's not a big deal.
Just let people will use whatthey want to use, especially
when bathrooms are private.
I don't understand why one hasto be women and one has to be
man because.
Does it really matter?
Well, in fact, when when we goon road trips, we always stop at
(11:36):
exits with Starbucks locationsbecause those restrooms are
always private.
It's kind of like that Nashvilletrip we took when I told
everyone how I, I took myvitamins without eating, and I,
I got sick in the privateHampton social bathroom.
It's almost like that saying,I'm not sure how it goes, but
it's like, would you rather behappy or crying in a limo?
Like, Hey, I'd rather be cryingin a limo.
(11:58):
I'd rather get sick in a privatebathroom than in a stall next to
someone going potty, like in thewords of Parker Posey from the
White Lotus in relation to my.
Disgust of having to use publicrestrooms.
I just, I just don't think I'mmeant to live an uncomfortable
life.
Not at this age, but, butkidding aside, we were at a, at
(12:19):
a pit stop in a small Texastown, the fast food joint, we
ventured two, had two privaterestrooms, one for men, one for
women.
Both bathrooms were the exactsame restrooms, just like the
ones in Starbucks.
It was lunchtime, so it wasalready pretty busy.
So the men were streaming in andout of the bathroom while the
(12:43):
line for the women was like fivewomen deep.
That was another evolutionarywake up call for me, like us
men.
Get that advantage again.
We order our food, go potty,come out and the food is ready.
The, the women ordered theirfood and wait to go potty food
is ready, but they still have towait in line for the same exact
(13:07):
bathroom setup.
I think if.
They were set up like theStarbucks restrooms.
Everyone would have to wait thesame exact amount of time like
everyone else.
I'd like to get a women's per, Iwould really like to get a
women's perspective on this.
We need to start having guestscome to the show, actually, in
my opinion.
Agreed.
Anyway, I bring this up becausethere was a brief period during
(13:29):
the Biden presidency whereeverything was smooth sailing.
This was when the economy wasthriving.
This was before the post covidinflation.
That is when Republicans startedplaying duck, duck goose with
all the minority groups andguess who was the goose?
The trans community.
We witnessed them take out theirpitchforks and start really
coming after this community whenit came to sports.
(13:52):
Bathrooms medical care.
It's really sad how many peoplejust think about themselves when
it comes to voting.
They don't think about thegreater good for the whole
country.
Uh, it's, it just, it's alwaysblown my mind.
Yeah.
I mean, nowadays I thinkmajority of people are, what is
it?
Call one subject voters orsomething like that.
Like they only are thinking forthemselves in their little
(14:14):
bubble that they live in.
It's, it's unfortunate.
Yeah, so let's talk aboutsomething that should be a five
alarm fire for anyone who caresabout democracy, the First
Amendment, or honestly justbasic transparency in government
over the course of this podcast.
Since January when we started,I've brought up various issues
(14:34):
on press freedoms with thisadministration from the WIN case
to taking away press freedoms ina wrapped up revenge porn issue
pushed by Melania Trump.
Well, this week, the Trump WhiteHouse quietly, but.
Very deliberately booted theassociated press from the White
House Press pool.
They changed the rules in a waythat effectively bars the AP
(14:55):
from participating.
Even after a Trump appointedfederal judge explicitly ruled
that their previous actions werea clear violation of the First
Amendment and, and here's thekicker.
Not only is the White Houseignoring that ruling, they're
doubling down on it.
They've started censoring theactual.
Pull reports, which are thoseroutine updates from on the
(15:16):
ground reporters that aresupposed to be distributed to
every news outlet covering theWhite House.
This is not an exaggeration.
They're literally editing orcompletely withholding pool
reports if they contain facts.
The White House doesn't.
Like last week, seen as OliverDarcy uncovered that a pool
report from the Dallas MorningNews noted that an AP
(15:39):
photographer and reporter hadbeen turned away from the pool.
But that sentence about the APphotographer was withheld from
the version the White House sentout.
It was scrubbed erased like itnever happened.
Same thing the day before.
Another report this timementioning that a Trump net neu
press conference had beencanceled.
That report also disappeared,and this is a massive departure
(16:02):
from precedent for decades, nomatter the administration,
Republican.
Or Democrat pool reports weresacred ground.
It didn't matter if they wereflattering or unflattering, they
went out because the whole pointis transparency.
The idea is we all get the samefacts.
No spin, no hiding, journalistictruth.
(16:23):
And let me be clear, this isactual censor censorship.
This is a president retaliatingagainst the press, silencing
critical coverage, and ignoringa federal court order in the
process.
So where are the free speechwarriors now?
Where's Matt?
Tabby?
Where's Barry Weese?
Where are the voices that spentthe last three years screaming
that the Biden administrationwas some kind of James Orwell
(16:45):
thought police, just forsuggesting social media
companies.
Take a second look atmisinformation.
They accused the last presidencyof the threat of total alien
control, surveillance andmanipulation of language.
Those same folks called it agrave threat to liberty.
They set government pressure ontech companies.
Was the end of free speech as weknow it, but now.
(17:07):
We have a president activelycensoring the press, not asking
politely, not makingrecommendations, censoring
directly and in the fines of afederal judge, and suddenly
those defenders of speech arequiet.
This should be a massive storyin any other time in American
history.
This would be front page newsfor weeks.
The White House editing pollreports banning the associated
(17:30):
press, silencing the coverageabout canceled precedents.
That's not shady, that'sauthoritarian, and yet.
It barely makes a dent in thenews cycle.
It's not trending, it's notleading cable news.
Even mainstream media outletswho should be the loudest voices
on this are mostly quiet, andthat's terrifying because if we
let this become normal, if apresident can silence and punish
(17:51):
the press with zeroconsequences, we are opening the
door to something much darker.
This is exactly howauthoritarianism works, not with
big flashy announcements, butwith quiet rule changes, with
erase sentences.
With the press backing downstory by story until there's
nothing left to report, there'sthis quote.
I'm actually getting caught upon The Handmaid's Tale, and this
(18:12):
is from The Handmaid's Tale.
I believe it's season one.
I know.
Scary, scary reference.
But there's this quote thatsays, nothing changes
instantaneously in a graduallyheating bathtub.
He'd be boiled to death beforeyou knew it.
So, yeah, if you're pissed offabout this, you should be, if
you're confused why it isn'tgetting more attention, you're
not alone.
And if you're wondering whatcomes next, well that depends on
(18:34):
whether we actually payattention and hold
accountability.
Because press freedom isn't justabout journalists.
It's about all of us knowingwhat our government is doing,
especially when they don't wantus to know.
I'm sure there'll be more onthis.
Soon.
But for now, just, just pleasestay informed because they are
slowly ripping away freedoms.
(18:55):
And like I said, we're gonna, ifwe're gonna find ourselves in a
situation way deeper becausethey're doing it in a gradual
way.
I mean, again, we're what, fourmonths into this administration,
so we have three more years,think of what they can continue
doing if they keep continuing totake our rights away.
So moving on to game time.
(19:18):
We are gonna bring back, I knowthe last couple episodes we've
been doing policies, which isfun, but this time we are gonna
say, who said it?
White Lotus or White House.
Ooh, that's a good one.
I'm excited.
Yeah.
All right, you ready?
I'm ready.
Okay.
There's eight quotes.
Okay.
So quote one, I think you just,you just do whatever you have to
(19:41):
do not to feel like a victim.
White Lotus or White House?
White Lotus, correct.
It was done.
I don't know if you would beable to guess it, gaff, but it
was the character, um, Tanya,Jennifer Coolidge.
Oh, okay.
From season one.
All right, quote two.
(20:01):
We're going to start being smartand we're going to start being
very wealthy again.
White House or White Lotus.
White House, correct.
Donald Trump this past year.
Nice.
Alright.
If you make me look bad, I willruin you.
The White Lotus or the WhiteHouse?
(20:22):
White House.
White Lotus.
Ah, it was again Tanya, JenniferCoolidge, but this was from when
she was talking to her assistantin season three.
If you're not with us, you'reagainst us and we'll make you
regret it.
White House or the White LotusWhite House, correct.
They're nuts, aren't they?
Donald Trump.
All right, quote five.
(20:45):
It's all about power.
Who has it?
Who doesn't, and who wants it?
The white, Lotus or White House.
I'm gonna go with White Lotus,correct.
Armand from the very firstseason.
I think he was the characterwith the mustache.
Alright, quote six.
I've been through a lot ofchanges in my life, but this
(21:06):
one, this is different.
This is the moment I takeeverything I've learned and use
it to get exactly what I want.
White, lotus or White House.
White Lotus, correct.
Nice.
Tanya again.
Jennifer Coolidge.
She has the best quotes.
All right.
Quote seven.
People think they can silenceus, but we've never been
(21:27):
quieter.
We've been planning and we'vebeen preparing.
Now is the time to make surethey feel the consequences of
their actions.
White House or White Lotus?
Uh, well, it's a little nutty,so I'm gonna say White House,
correct?
Yeah.
Makes sense.
All right, so last one, quoteeight.
I don't think people understandhow much I've sacrificed to be
(21:50):
here, to make everyone around mecomfortable to make sure
everything looks perfect.
But you know what?
It's exhausting and I don't knowhow much longer I can keep
pretending I've got it alltogether.
White House or White Lotus.
I'm gonna say White Lotus.
Correct.
That was the white notice.
Nice.
It was the wife from season one.
(22:11):
Um, I think she was with thatguy that always wore good
clothes, all the polos.
Oh, interesting.
Yeah.
Huh.
Well, I think I missed one.
So that was, you got much betterthan the other ones that we've
been doing.
95%.
So, you know, I, I, I findmyself reflecting on challenges
faced by past generations.
The struggles that fueledprogress from the second
(22:34):
industrial revolution tosurviving the Great Depression
and the resilience of those wholived through both World Wars.
It's tempting to think, wow,those times must have been been
really tough.
But guess what, here we are in2025, living through another.
Pivotal and challenging era.
For so many of us.
(22:55):
It's a constant battle just toexist as part of a minority
group.
Right now we have a presidentwho seems bent on unraveling the
fabric of this country,disregarding court.
Orders and tearing down the hardwork that built this nation, the
Republican party is dragging usbackward into dark times,
(23:15):
stifling progress across theboard from tech and healthcare
to social justice years fromnow.
When historians look back onthis period, I can just imagine
someone like me thinking.
Wow, what the fuck?
And, and, and the thought ofthat ignites something within
me.
It, it pushes me to take action.
(23:38):
But let's be real.
The National Democratic Partyhas largely overlooked places
like Missouri, since Missouri,since Obama lost here in 2008.
It's, it's just a fact.
So once more, I'm stepping up.
I'm volunteering.
I, we started this podcast.
(23:58):
It helps me channel my voice andfrustrations.
It's, it's very, verytherapeutic as well.
The first three months of thissecond Trump presidency have set
us on a path that will takegenerations to reverse.
We're facing a, a seriousthreat.
Threat, and far too manyRepublicans in Congress are
(24:19):
turning a blind eye to it andhonestly, I'm exhausted from
replaying in my mind why peoplevoted for him.
We've questioned this endlesslyover the last decade.
It's time to move forward tochallenge the that angry.
Complacent mindset of the don'ttread on me crowd.
They wield their MAGA flags assymbols of pride, yet somehow
(24:43):
misinterpret what it actuallymeans to be an American.
It's frustrating to see themequate their divisive agenda
with patriotism.
We need leaders in theDemocratic Party who can fight
fire with fire.
We need to reclaim thenarrative.
We are the party that can keepAmerica great by defending
(25:06):
fundamental rights such as theright to love whom you choose,
and a woman's right to make adecision about her own body.
We can't afford to let tariffstake us back to an outdated
industrial economy.
Take a moment.
To think about the impact of thesecond industrial revolution, it
brought monumental change, butthat change came at a major
(25:29):
cost.
Workers and the environmentsuffered greatly often for the
sake of progress.
Child labor, unsafe workingconditions, and environmental
degradation were rampant.
The rise of unions was aresponse to those shared
challenges by everyone, and nowwe see history repeating as the
(25:49):
Republican Party seeks todismantle these protections.
I truly believe this is themindset of the Republican Party,
a third industrial revolution.
US millennials have alreadynavigated two recessions and are
facing the prospect of anotherone.
Yes, a second recession under aTrump presidency.
(26:11):
We lived through nationaltragedies, school shootings, and
intense social media scrutiny.
We should be done discussing gaymarriage.
It should be a settled issue.
What we need is a new generationof leadership.
Democratic millennials and GenZers have the power to reshape
(26:33):
this country for the better.
We believe in progress.
We are pro-education, proinfrastructure, and pro people.
We should split the debt intotwo different varieties, good
debt and bad debt.
We need a society that valuesgood debt through investment in
our communities.
we envision affordable electriccars, sustainable living, and
(26:58):
the advancement of technologythat benefits everyone, not just
the ultra wealthy.
This year has shown us just howout of touch our leaders are.
We need to invest in our peopleand our institutions like nasa,
not SpaceX, and we need toinvest in the auto industry
innovators rather than theidolizing, the spectacle of
(27:19):
billionaires.
Let's remember the importance ofsolidarity, like.
When that middle school teacherin Idaho refused to take down
her, everyone is welcome.
Sign.
That spirit of inclusion shouldbe at the forefront of our
fight.
And can we take a moment toappreciate Harvard's stand
against the Trumpadministration's attempts to
undermine diversity and equityprograms?
(27:41):
This is about protecting notonly our core values, but our
constitutional guaranteedfreedoms as we grapple with
immigration.
Let's stop viewing newcomersthrough a lens of criminality.
They are seeking what we allstrive for a chance at a better
life.
(28:01):
The way we handle thesesituations should reflect our
shared humanity.
Together we can envision afuture with affordable living,
access to healthcare and aneducation system that empowers
rather than diminishes.
Let's reclaim our narrative andbe the change we want to see.
(28:22):
And there we have it.
That's our episode.
I'll leave you on that note.
I love that speech.
No, that was very well done.
Well said.
Thanks.
Yeah.
I will randomly like thoughtsand creativity comes in my mind
randomly, kinda like TaylorSwift and her songwriting, and
I'll just like voice, record itinto my phone and then, you
know, I, I like.
(28:43):
Write it down and then I justput it all together and boom.
Maybe we should have like aspecial episode of just like
Ryan's voice recordings.
Oh my God.
Yeah.
There's some crazy, well,they're not crazy, but they're
just like, you know, they'rewild.
They're honest.
They're honest.
Yeah.
They're true feelings.
Yeah.
This is therapy for me.
This is why we're doing this.
So, um, alright, so that's itfor our podcast today.
(29:06):
Um, thank you everyone forlistening.
Give us a follow at the Civil U.
On Instagram and TikTok and uh,send us an email, the Civil
Union twenty5@gmail.com.
We would love to get an email.
We no one e emails us.
So Yeah.
And feedback.
Give us feedback, let us knowwhat's going on, how we're
doing.
Yeah, totally.
(29:27):
So.
Alright, thanks everyone.
welcome to the Civil Union, thepodcast where politics meets
partnership.
We're Alex and Ryan, a marriedcouple, navigating life and
debates in a conservative state.
We bring you sharp insights,bold opinions, and honest
conversations about thepolitical issues shaping our
lives, especially those livingon society's margins.
Tune in for a real talk, a touchof humor, and plenty of passion
(00:29):
because when it comes topolitics, every voice matters,
and we are here to make surethey're heard.
Welcome everyone.
Thank you for tuning in for our14th episode of the Civil Union
Podcast.
If you haven't given us a followon Instagram, uh, go ahead and
give us a follow that's at theCivil U, just just the letter U
(00:50):
and follow us on TikTok.
We're also active on TikTok.
How are you doing today, Alex?
Pretty good.
Pretty good.
I am in a new class and it's,I'm almost done with my program,
but this class is really lowkey.
It's work on your own.
So the classes are like supposedto be two hours, but we only
have been really lasting like 30minutes.
I.
Oh, nice.
That's, that's really nice.
(01:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, we had such a busy,productive weekend.
Alex was in a, a conference allweekend, so while he was away, I
was able to complete all theoutside yard work to get the
house prepped, you know, readyfor spring and summer.
all the things he put off whenit's like absolutely freezing
outside, I've raked.
(01:31):
I picked up brush, mowed thelawn for the first time this
season.
I even stained the deck.
That hadn't been done inprobably five years.
I planted flowers, took down thehail damaged patio lights and
replaced them with these fancyLED lights that you can just
control from your phone.
It, it was a lot of work, that'sfor sure.
(01:52):
I think those LED lights you gotwere so.
Cool.
You can change the colors.
I mean, they're legit andthey're supposedly shatterproof.
We'll see.
Oh, for sure.
The technology on those havereally advanced within the last
like five years because fiveyears ago we were just like, um,
we will wait a little bit, butthey, they look so good, that's
for sure.
I think overall.
This past weekend I did about 14hours worth of outside themed
(02:17):
yard work, but it looks so goodright now.
Now it's just all about theupkeep on it all.
I even rewarded myself with asweet treat from Starbucks.
I got my first Frappuccino andprobably two years.
Those things are so good.
I just wish they didn't melt sofast.
Yeah.
I get wraps on like really,really?
Crappy work weeks.
(02:38):
I'll get a frappe on my Fridayand I'll do like the Java chip.
Those are the best ones.
The Java chip, I can see littlechocolate bites in it.
So good.
So many calories.
Yeah, that's exactly what I didtoo, but so good.
I got a coffee Frappuccino withthe Java chips in it.
It was delicious.
Yes, but I, I went outside thenext day and you know what?
I am no longer being Mr.
(02:58):
Snow White.
I have all these critters thatI've been like.
You know, giving them homes,feeding them in the mornings,
they, they decided to dig up allof my flowers that I planted.
And I think it's the squirrelsby the way.
So I, I read somewhere thatcayenne pepper keeps the
critters out from digging upyour plants.
(03:19):
So I had Alex look for somecayenne pepper in our.
Spice cabinet.
And what do you know?
We found something way in theback that expired, I think in
2021.
I have no idea.
I swear I've cleaned it outsince we've lived here.
But I, I sprinkled some of itaround the pots and even in the
soil.
And the critters did not partakein ripping up the flowers.
(03:41):
So maybe that did the trick.
I have no idea.
Oh my God.
And when Ryan says he's snowwhite, he really is like, he
goes outside and.
Birds will come flying in.
'cause they know they havetreats.
We have these chipmunks thatwe've had for years.
I mean, he, it, you should seeit.
It's very entertaining.
Also, you know what I noticed onmy Instagram, there are like no
photos of me this year.
(04:03):
I'm like.
If something tragic happens tome, no one will have any photos
of me from 2025.
So I started doing thesepictures of like outfit of the
day photos, you know, littleselfies to let all my followers
know that, uh, I'm, no, I'm nota bot, I'm a real person, you
know?
So that was kind of fun.
It gives you some self, uh.
(04:23):
Self gratitude or somethinglike, I don't wanna sound full
of myself, but I felt, uh, good.
Yeah, you need to bring theselfie back.
Selfies are back.
And I don't ever do them thatoften anymore.
We used to do'em all the time inour twenties and now we just
don't.
And now we just, as we've gottenolder, we don't take as many
photos, but I don't know why.
'cause we still look good tryingto, at least, you know, you
(04:44):
gotta, you gotta keep it fresh,you know?
So, uh, but to top off theweekend.
We were able to see Remy Wolf inconcert, which was.
Such a cool concert at thePageant.
I think she was sold out.
Alex actually got the tickets afew months ago.
Right.
Yeah.
I love Remi Wolf.
I came across her'cause she wasactually, came across my feed, I
think through euphoria'cause shewas connected with someone on
(05:07):
the show and I just startedlistening to her.
She's from, I believe's likeSanta Monica or that part of
California and she usually justdoes like.
The festival circuits, but shenever tours.
So when she did and we, I sawshe's coming to St.
Louis, I immediately jumped onher.
I was like, this is gonna begreat.
It was a lot of fun.
It was, and if, if you don'tknow who Remy Wolf is, you
(05:27):
should, you should check herout.
Her music is, I'd say it's likea alternative pop with a little
bit of funk style to it, whetheryou like that type of music or
not.
She sold out the pageant.
It was a much younger crowd,that's for sure.
Uh, we were definitely the olderones in the venue, but she put
on such a fantastic show.
And the crowd, I mean, let'sjust say the nineties fashion is
(05:51):
back.
That's definitely back it.
Is, and I don't understand it,and I don't know if that ages
me.
I don't think it does.
I really don't.
I've, we've had many discussionson this.
When we say nineties fashion isback, we're not even talking
like clueless or like funnineties fashion.
It's like grungy.
(06:11):
You haven't looked like youshowered in a while, like the
craft type fashion.
Like that's what's coming backand it is so weird.
Or like, you know, the limegreen clear trench coats people
would wear and the platformshoes and like, it's just the
really baggy jeans.
It's just, it's very weird to methat that's like.
Attracting people again.
(06:33):
I understand when the seventiescame back, I understand when the
eighties came back, those werereally cool fashions, but I
don't think anyone wanted thenineties fashions to come back.
Especially this little sectionthey're redoing.
I mean, at that Remy Wolfconcert, some of the people had
like the little rubber bands intheir hair.
They had the like plasticchokers around their necks.
Like we used to get those cheapones.
(06:54):
I mean, it, it was, it was veryweird.
It was fascinating.
Yeah, I, it's cute.
It's a style, you know, I don'teven know if they would, I think
if we were to tell people thatit was the nineties, I think
one, I think that ages us andthen two, I think they would be
like, we're not the nineties.
This is our generation.
This is what we're doing now.
I'm, it's just a trend.
I think.
I, I just don't think it's cute.
(07:15):
Like, there was one person Isaw, she had like a, like a
floral tank top on, you know,those nineties tank tops and
then she had like a white.
Long sleeve shirt underneath,like it's just, and then people
are wearing the socks with thefluffiness on it, like the
little, the little, um, ruffleson top of the white, fluffy
socks in sandals.
It's just, it's weird.
It's like, that is notattractive and it looks weird.
(07:38):
And that's why the nineties,well, maybe not to you, but to
other people.
We're, we're very diverse here.
We're for the, we're, we are thed.
And DEI.
We are the diversity.
I mean, I'm all, it's yes,you're for that.
Agree.
Express yourself in fashion.
I'm all for it.
It just, it's funny to me howthat specific time period is
coming back anyway.
Yeah.
So can, can someone explain tome what's the deal with the
(07:59):
whole.
Bathroom trans issues that theRepublicans are pushing.
I mean, the way they'retargeting the trans community is
honestly outrageous and justseems to create more hate.
It's like they're going after agroup that all is already
struggling just to scorepolitical points.
This has never been a.
(08:21):
Big issue for me.
There are way more pressingmatters to tackle right now, but
the last local elections we had,I think some candidates were
running for board of educationpositions, and some of these
candidates were parentsliterally with pitchforks ready
to change bathroom policies toyour assigned sex at birth.
(08:42):
I just, I don't know, I hategoing to the bathroom in public
places already.
I don't understand why.
We as a human evolution, decidedthat it's okay to go, you know,
number two next to someone elsein a stall.
Like I want the privatization ofbathrooms.
(09:02):
Seriously.
I don't want to sit in a stallthat you can see other people's
feet.
I don't want to sit in a stallwhere you can see out the cracks
in the door, I like privatebathrooms to do my private
business.
You know, when I'm at work, ifsomeone is in the stall, I like
turn around and just come backlater.
It's just so annoying.
(09:24):
I don't want to hear you going.
Number two, I also don't wantyou hearing, hearing me go
number two.
It it's, it's a very rareoccurrence that I have to do
that when I'm out in public orat work.
So.
I just, I don't understand why afew minutes of using a toilet is
detrimental to the rightwingers.
Well, and what they don'tunderstand is they're, they're
attacking a group of people thatit actually hurts them more not
(09:46):
to be able to use their ownbathrooms.
It's not even that big of adeal, like you said.
And because for them to go, likeif, if a trans female.
Because they were assigned maleat birth, had to be forced to go
to a male bathroom.
That to me, would be worsebecause you have a, a girl
wanting, you know, dressed as agirl, wanting to be a girl,
(10:08):
identifies as a girl and they'rehaving to go into a men's
restroom dressed up.
You know what I mean?
Like, to me, that just makes iteven more strange and awkward
and weird for.
Everyone involved.
I just don't understand thewhole situation.
They ha they are basing this offof handful of cases, if that, I
think it's even less than that,that people have been assaulted
in bathrooms by actual men, notmen dress as women.
(10:31):
And these republicans aredriving that as a, as a reason.
Well, safety and I don't want mykids to be, you know, blah,
blah, blah.
So stupid.
It's a stupid argument.
It's based off stupid cases thataren't even valid.
Are there even cases out there?
Out there?
I, I know there's probably likeone.
I, but it didn't even deal witha trans person.
I doubt.
Hmm.
I think it was like a man, Idon't even know.
(10:53):
It's just, it's, it's ridiculousand it's stupid.
There are bigger issues withbathrooms.
Like you said.
I like closed bathrooms as well.
Alamo Drafthouse has closedbathrooms and it's, you are
literally closed door.
There's walls.
Um, you know, that to me issomething we should work
towards, not.
What, who is actually sharingthe bathrooms?
And you know, when this wholesituation went down for,
(11:14):
initially, we lived in Oklahomaand I remember we went to
establishments that literallywould put male female signs on
actual doors.
Like they didn't care.
'cause it's not a big deal.
Just let people will use whatthey want to use, especially
when bathrooms are private.
I don't understand why one hasto be women and one has to be
man because.
Does it really matter?
Well, in fact, when when we goon road trips, we always stop at
(11:36):
exits with Starbucks locationsbecause those restrooms are
always private.
It's kind of like that Nashvilletrip we took when I told
everyone how I, I took myvitamins without eating, and I,
I got sick in the privateHampton social bathroom.
It's almost like that saying,I'm not sure how it goes, but
it's like, would you rather behappy or crying in a limo?
Like, Hey, I'd rather be cryingin a limo.
(11:58):
I'd rather get sick in a privatebathroom than in a stall next to
someone going potty, like in thewords of Parker Posey from the
White Lotus in relation to my.
Disgust of having to use publicrestrooms.
I just, I just don't think I'mmeant to live an uncomfortable
life.
Not at this age, but, butkidding aside, we were at a, at
(12:19):
a pit stop in a small Texastown, the fast food joint, we
ventured two, had two privaterestrooms, one for men, one for
women.
Both bathrooms were the exactsame restrooms, just like the
ones in Starbucks.
It was lunchtime, so it wasalready pretty busy.
So the men were streaming in andout of the bathroom while the
(12:43):
line for the women was like fivewomen deep.
That was another evolutionarywake up call for me, like us
men.
Get that advantage again.
We order our food, go potty,come out and the food is ready.
The, the women ordered theirfood and wait to go potty food
is ready, but they still have towait in line for the same exact
(13:07):
bathroom setup.
I think if.
They were set up like theStarbucks restrooms.
Everyone would have to wait thesame exact amount of time like
everyone else.
I'd like to get a women's per, Iwould really like to get a
women's perspective on this.
We need to start having guestscome to the show, actually, in
my opinion.
Agreed.
Anyway, I bring this up becausethere was a brief period during
(13:29):
the Biden presidency whereeverything was smooth sailing.
This was when the economy wasthriving.
This was before the post covidinflation.
That is when Republicans startedplaying duck, duck goose with
all the minority groups andguess who was the goose?
The trans community.
We witnessed them take out theirpitchforks and start really
coming after this community whenit came to sports.
(13:52):
Bathrooms medical care.
It's really sad how many peoplejust think about themselves when
it comes to voting.
They don't think about thegreater good for the whole
country.
Uh, it's, it just, it's alwaysblown my mind.
Yeah.
I mean, nowadays I thinkmajority of people are, what is
it?
Call one subject voters orsomething like that.
Like they only are thinking forthemselves in their little
(14:14):
bubble that they live in.
It's, it's unfortunate.
Yeah, so let's talk aboutsomething that should be a five
alarm fire for anyone who caresabout democracy, the First
Amendment, or honestly justbasic transparency in government
over the course of this podcast.
Since January when we started,I've brought up various issues
(14:34):
on press freedoms with thisadministration from the WIN case
to taking away press freedoms ina wrapped up revenge porn issue
pushed by Melania Trump.
Well, this week, the Trump WhiteHouse quietly, but.
Very deliberately booted theassociated press from the White
House Press pool.
They changed the rules in a waythat effectively bars the AP
(14:55):
from participating.
Even after a Trump appointedfederal judge explicitly ruled
that their previous actions werea clear violation of the First
Amendment and, and here's thekicker.
Not only is the White Houseignoring that ruling, they're
doubling down on it.
They've started censoring theactual.
Pull reports, which are thoseroutine updates from on the
(15:16):
ground reporters that aresupposed to be distributed to
every news outlet covering theWhite House.
This is not an exaggeration.
They're literally editing orcompletely withholding pool
reports if they contain facts.
The White House doesn't.
Like last week, seen as OliverDarcy uncovered that a pool
report from the Dallas MorningNews noted that an AP
(15:39):
photographer and reporter hadbeen turned away from the pool.
But that sentence about the APphotographer was withheld from
the version the White House sentout.
It was scrubbed erased like itnever happened.
Same thing the day before.
Another report this timementioning that a Trump net neu
press conference had beencanceled.
That report also disappeared,and this is a massive departure
(16:02):
from precedent for decades, nomatter the administration,
Republican.
Or Democrat pool reports weresacred ground.
It didn't matter if they wereflattering or unflattering, they
went out because the whole pointis transparency.
The idea is we all get the samefacts.
No spin, no hiding, journalistictruth.
(16:23):
And let me be clear, this isactual censor censorship.
This is a president retaliatingagainst the press, silencing
critical coverage, and ignoringa federal court order in the
process.
So where are the free speechwarriors now?
Where's Matt?
Tabby?
Where's Barry Weese?
Where are the voices that spentthe last three years screaming
that the Biden administrationwas some kind of James Orwell
(16:45):
thought police, just forsuggesting social media
companies.
Take a second look atmisinformation.
They accused the last presidencyof the threat of total alien
control, surveillance andmanipulation of language.
Those same folks called it agrave threat to liberty.
They set government pressure ontech companies.
Was the end of free speech as weknow it, but now.
(17:07):
We have a president activelycensoring the press, not asking
politely, not makingrecommendations, censoring
directly and in the fines of afederal judge, and suddenly
those defenders of speech arequiet.
This should be a massive storyin any other time in American
history.
This would be front page newsfor weeks.
The White House editing pollreports banning the associated
(17:30):
press, silencing the coverageabout canceled precedents.
That's not shady, that'sauthoritarian, and yet.
It barely makes a dent in thenews cycle.
It's not trending, it's notleading cable news.
Even mainstream media outletswho should be the loudest voices
on this are mostly quiet, andthat's terrifying because if we
let this become normal, if apresident can silence and punish
(17:51):
the press with zeroconsequences, we are opening the
door to something much darker.
This is exactly howauthoritarianism works, not with
big flashy announcements, butwith quiet rule changes, with
erase sentences.
With the press backing downstory by story until there's
nothing left to report, there'sthis quote.
I'm actually getting caught upon The Handmaid's Tale, and this
(18:12):
is from The Handmaid's Tale.
I believe it's season one.
I know.
Scary, scary reference.
But there's this quote thatsays, nothing changes
instantaneously in a graduallyheating bathtub.
He'd be boiled to death beforeyou knew it.
So, yeah, if you're pissed offabout this, you should be, if
you're confused why it isn'tgetting more attention, you're
not alone.
And if you're wondering whatcomes next, well that depends on
(18:34):
whether we actually payattention and hold
accountability.
Because press freedom isn't justabout journalists.
It's about all of us knowingwhat our government is doing,
especially when they don't wantus to know.
I'm sure there'll be more onthis.
Soon.
But for now, just, just pleasestay informed because they are
slowly ripping away freedoms.
(18:55):
And like I said, we're gonna, ifwe're gonna find ourselves in a
situation way deeper becausethey're doing it in a gradual
way.
I mean, again, we're what, fourmonths into this administration,
so we have three more years,think of what they can continue
doing if they keep continuing totake our rights away.
So moving on to game time.
(19:18):
We are gonna bring back, I knowthe last couple episodes we've
been doing policies, which isfun, but this time we are gonna
say, who said it?
White Lotus or White House.
Ooh, that's a good one.
I'm excited.
Yeah.
All right, you ready?
I'm ready.
Okay.
There's eight quotes.
Okay.
So quote one, I think you just,you just do whatever you have to
(19:41):
do not to feel like a victim.
White Lotus or White House?
White Lotus, correct.
It was done.
I don't know if you would beable to guess it, gaff, but it
was the character, um, Tanya,Jennifer Coolidge.
Oh, okay.
From season one.
All right, quote two.
(20:01):
We're going to start being smartand we're going to start being
very wealthy again.
White House or White Lotus.
White House, correct.
Donald Trump this past year.
Nice.
Alright.
If you make me look bad, I willruin you.
The White Lotus or the WhiteHouse?
(20:22):
White House.
White Lotus.
Ah, it was again Tanya, JenniferCoolidge, but this was from when
she was talking to her assistantin season three.
If you're not with us, you'reagainst us and we'll make you
regret it.
White House or the White LotusWhite House, correct.
They're nuts, aren't they?
Donald Trump.
All right, quote five.
(20:45):
It's all about power.
Who has it?
Who doesn't, and who wants it?
The white, Lotus or White House.
I'm gonna go with White Lotus,correct.
Armand from the very firstseason.
I think he was the characterwith the mustache.
Alright, quote six.
I've been through a lot ofchanges in my life, but this
(21:06):
one, this is different.
This is the moment I takeeverything I've learned and use
it to get exactly what I want.
White, lotus or White House.
White Lotus, correct.
Nice.
Tanya again.
Jennifer Coolidge.
She has the best quotes.
All right.
Quote seven.
People think they can silenceus, but we've never been
(21:27):
quieter.
We've been planning and we'vebeen preparing.
Now is the time to make surethey feel the consequences of
their actions.
White House or White Lotus?
Uh, well, it's a little nutty,so I'm gonna say White House,
correct?
Yeah.
Makes sense.
All right, so last one, quoteeight.
I don't think people understandhow much I've sacrificed to be
(21:50):
here, to make everyone around mecomfortable to make sure
everything looks perfect.
But you know what?
It's exhausting and I don't knowhow much longer I can keep
pretending I've got it alltogether.
White House or White Lotus.
I'm gonna say White Lotus.
Correct.
That was the white notice.
Nice.
It was the wife from season one.
(22:11):
Um, I think she was with thatguy that always wore good
clothes, all the polos.
Oh, interesting.
Yeah.
Huh.
Well, I think I missed one.
So that was, you got much betterthan the other ones that we've
been doing.
95%.
So, you know, I, I, I findmyself reflecting on challenges
faced by past generations.
The struggles that fueledprogress from the second
(22:34):
industrial revolution tosurviving the Great Depression
and the resilience of those wholived through both World Wars.
It's tempting to think, wow,those times must have been been
really tough.
But guess what, here we are in2025, living through another.
Pivotal and challenging era.
For so many of us.
(22:55):
It's a constant battle just toexist as part of a minority
group.
Right now we have a presidentwho seems bent on unraveling the
fabric of this country,disregarding court.
Orders and tearing down the hardwork that built this nation, the
Republican party is dragging usbackward into dark times,
(23:15):
stifling progress across theboard from tech and healthcare
to social justice years fromnow.
When historians look back onthis period, I can just imagine
someone like me thinking.
Wow, what the fuck?
And, and, and the thought ofthat ignites something within
me.
It, it pushes me to take action.
(23:38):
But let's be real.
The National Democratic Partyhas largely overlooked places
like Missouri, since Missouri,since Obama lost here in 2008.
It's, it's just a fact.
So once more, I'm stepping up.
I'm volunteering.
I, we started this podcast.
(23:58):
It helps me channel my voice andfrustrations.
It's, it's very, verytherapeutic as well.
The first three months of thissecond Trump presidency have set
us on a path that will takegenerations to reverse.
We're facing a, a seriousthreat.
Threat, and far too manyRepublicans in Congress are
(24:19):
turning a blind eye to it andhonestly, I'm exhausted from
replaying in my mind why peoplevoted for him.
We've questioned this endlesslyover the last decade.
It's time to move forward tochallenge the that angry.
Complacent mindset of the don'ttread on me crowd.
They wield their MAGA flags assymbols of pride, yet somehow
(24:43):
misinterpret what it actuallymeans to be an American.
It's frustrating to see themequate their divisive agenda
with patriotism.
We need leaders in theDemocratic Party who can fight
fire with fire.
We need to reclaim thenarrative.
We are the party that can keepAmerica great by defending
(25:06):
fundamental rights such as theright to love whom you choose,
and a woman's right to make adecision about her own body.
We can't afford to let tariffstake us back to an outdated
industrial economy.
Take a moment.
To think about the impact of thesecond industrial revolution, it
brought monumental change, butthat change came at a major
(25:29):
cost.
Workers and the environmentsuffered greatly often for the
sake of progress.
Child labor, unsafe workingconditions, and environmental
degradation were rampant.
The rise of unions was aresponse to those shared
challenges by everyone, and nowwe see history repeating as the
(25:49):
Republican Party seeks todismantle these protections.
I truly believe this is themindset of the Republican Party,
a third industrial revolution.
US millennials have alreadynavigated two recessions and are
facing the prospect of anotherone.
Yes, a second recession under aTrump presidency.
(26:11):
We lived through nationaltragedies, school shootings, and
intense social media scrutiny.
We should be done discussing gaymarriage.
It should be a settled issue.
What we need is a new generationof leadership.
Democratic millennials and GenZers have the power to reshape
(26:33):
this country for the better.
We believe in progress.
We are pro-education, proinfrastructure, and pro people.
We should split the debt intotwo different varieties, good
debt and bad debt.
We need a society that valuesgood debt through investment in
our communities.
we envision affordable electriccars, sustainable living, and
(26:58):
the advancement of technologythat benefits everyone, not just
the ultra wealthy.
This year has shown us just howout of touch our leaders are.
We need to invest in our peopleand our institutions like nasa,
not SpaceX, and we need toinvest in the auto industry
innovators rather than theidolizing, the spectacle of
(27:19):
billionaires.
Let's remember the importance ofsolidarity, like.
When that middle school teacherin Idaho refused to take down
her, everyone is welcome.
Sign.
That spirit of inclusion shouldbe at the forefront of our
fight.
And can we take a moment toappreciate Harvard's stand
against the Trumpadministration's attempts to
undermine diversity and equityprograms?
(27:41):
This is about protecting notonly our core values, but our
constitutional guaranteedfreedoms as we grapple with
immigration.
Let's stop viewing newcomersthrough a lens of criminality.
They are seeking what we allstrive for a chance at a better
life.
(28:01):
The way we handle thesesituations should reflect our
shared humanity.
Together we can envision afuture with affordable living,
access to healthcare and aneducation system that empowers
rather than diminishes.
Let's reclaim our narrative andbe the change we want to see.
(28:22):
And there we have it.
That's our episode.
I'll leave you on that note.
I love that speech.
No, that was very well done.
Well said.
Thanks.
Yeah.
I will randomly like thoughtsand creativity comes in my mind
randomly, kinda like TaylorSwift and her songwriting, and
I'll just like voice, record itinto my phone and then, you
know, I, I like.
(28:43):
Write it down and then I justput it all together and boom.
Maybe we should have like aspecial episode of just like
Ryan's voice recordings.
Oh my God.
Yeah.
There's some crazy, well,they're not crazy, but they're
just like, you know, they'rewild.
They're honest.
They're honest.
Yeah.
They're true feelings.
Yeah.
This is therapy for me.
This is why we're doing this.
So, um, alright, so that's itfor our podcast today.
(29:06):
Um, thank you everyone forlistening.
Give us a follow at the Civil U.
On Instagram and TikTok and uh,send us an email, the Civil
Union twenty5@gmail.com.
We would love to get an email.
We no one e emails us.
So Yeah.
And feedback.
Give us feedback, let us knowwhat's going on, how we're
doing.
Yeah, totally.
(29:27):
So.
Alright, thanks everyone.
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