Thank you to everyone who watched live! If you missed it, you missed my rendition of Nelson’s “After the Rain,” and our wide-ranging solutions, including, but not limited to, an app that blocks video games until a consent course is taken, and continuing-education-style courses that teach men what consent is, then teach them again. It started as a joke, but amid all the stress-relieving laughs, we think we’re onto something. What we know for sure is that essays are not the solution; apparently, the only program ever proven to reduce rape is 12 hours long and it’s taught to women, and you need to know who your District Attorney is…so you can put pressure on them, more on that below. But first. Content Warning: Sexual Assault RAINN hotline: 800-656-4673, free and confidential, 24/7 Rage. More Rage. Last week we were full of rage, but rage without direction is exhausting. This episode focuses on how to direct that rage so we can see real policy changes, even if the culture lags far behind. Ok, who’s your DA(ddy)? No, seriously. Look up your DA on Ballotpedia. I had no idea and had to look up mine. As timing would have it, this week in Texas is the NDAA 2026 Sexual Assault Conference. It’s sold out, and Day 2 of the conference is: “Litigation Strategy & Trial Execution. Focus on admissibility, expert testimony, alcohol-facilitated sexual assault cases, jury selection, and courtroom strategy.” Your District Attorney decides which crimes get prosecuted, how survivors are supported, and what justice looks like in your community. Do you know who holds the office? It matters because… * Pressure on the DA works: Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten reopened the Cornell case because people called and emailed. Most of us don’t know who our DA is, but it’s an elected position, and they decide whether to try a case. Putting pressure on the DA works, but it also matters who you elect. * Rape Kit Backlog: There are at least 225,000 untested rape kits in this country. Check your state’s backlog: endthebacklog.org. Mariska Hargitay remains a badass. Her Joyful Heart Foundation wrote the Six Pillars of Rape Kit Reform to help states get it together. The sixth pillar demands that necessary reforms are actually funded. * Budgets are Moral Documents: Show us the money. If law enforcement has money for shock gloves, surely they can get it together to clear the rape kit backlog. The money is there, but right now they’re spending it on settling brutality cases, and body cams that they conveniently will forget to turn on. * Local Elections Matter: You can check state legislation on sex education in schools on the National Conference of State Legislatures’ website. But if you want to get hyperlocal, school board and city council meetings are a good place to start. Local officials are embedded in the community, and you can put pressure on them to back up “protecting women and girls” with real action. * Pete Davidson ain’t shit: Watch the episode for our take on Pete’s BS take on influencers, and why it’s a stunning illustration of America's sharp disdain for women with a voice. Men want us to shut up. We won’t. In fact, we’re just gonna get louder. THE MIDTERMS ARE ON NOVEMBER 3! AND WE MEAN THE LAST DAY TO VOTE BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU’RE GOING TO VOTE EARLY. See, we’re screaming in ALL CAPS. You like that, Pete??? Ok Make sure to check your voter registration. We know you know this, but tell at least one person who might not. See you next week! Maya & Lauren This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mayaonstage.substack.com
