Talking Politics With Mom

Talking Politics With Mom
  • 4.9 (24)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

A progressive millennial talks politics with his formerly conservative boomer mom to see what they can learn from one another. Follow Will Gordh on Twitter: https://x.com/will_gordh

  1. 1d ago

    The Declaration of Independence Was More Radical Than You Think (THROWBACK EPISODE)

    Original Airdate: Jul 4, 2026 As America celebrates the Fourth of July and begins commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation, it's worth remembering that this wasn't simply the birth certificate of a new nation. It was one of the most audacious political documents ever written. In a world where kings claimed to rule by God's authority, the Declaration asserted something astonishing: that governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed," that every person possesses inherent rights, and that no ruler stands above those principles. Those ideas were revolutionary in 1776, and they remain revolutionary today.When you look beyond the familiar words, you realize just how radical the Declaration really was. The Founders weren't merely objecting to taxes or demanding better treatment from the British Crown. They rejected the entire idea that power flows downward from a monarch and replaced it with the proposition that political authority flows upward from the people. That principle is the foundation of American liberty, and it is always under pressure from those who would concentrate power in a single leader, demand personal loyalty over constitutional principle, or convince citizens to trade freedom for the promise of order. Demagogues, kings, and would-be tyrants thrive when people forget where legitimate power comes from.As our nation approaches its 250th birthday, the question isn't whether we still admire the Founders - it's whether we still believe in the radical ideas they risked everything to proclaim. In an era when Donald Trump increasingly acts as though he is above the law and entitled to personal obedience, those ideas deserve to be read, understood, and defended. The Founders left us more than a country - they left us a responsibility. Governments derive their just powers from our consent, and preserving liberty requires citizens willing to stand against demagogues, kings, and tyrants.Please check us out on Patreon and Substack.(patreon.com/TalkingPoliticsWithMom)(talkingpoliticswithmom.substack.com)

  2. 2d ago

    What Happens to Republicans After Trump? (With Cody Johnston)

    Original Airdate: May 28, 2026 Donald Trump successfully conducted a hostile takeover of the Republican Party in the lead-up to the 2016 election - and the Republican Party and MAGA have been synonymous ever since. But really, Trump was always the final form of the Republican Party - a party with unpopular ideas that serves the rich elite, and uses culture war issues, dog whistles and demagoguery to solidify their base. Trump just did it better. But eventually, Trump will be gone... what happens to Republicans when that day finally comes?In this episode of Talking Politics With Mom, mom and I are joined by my longtime friend and colleague Cody Johnston, host of Some More News (@SMN), to ask this question: what happens to the Republican Party after Donald Trump is gone? We break down Trump’s collapsing approval ratings, Tucker Carlson suddenly trying to distance himself from MAGA, and why the GOP may be facing a full-blown identity crisis. We also talk about JD Vance, Project 2025, right-wing populism, Republican propaganda, and whether anyone can actually replace Trump as the face of the modern conservative movement.My mom brings the historical perspective, tracing the Republican Party from the rise of corporate power and the Southern Strategy all the way to today’s MAGA movement. We talk about oligarchs, culture war politics, anti-immigrant rhetoric, Fox News, fascism, and why Republicans keep rebranding the same unpopular ideas. Cody also explains why Trump was the “final form” of the GOP brand - a celebrity salesman who could package extreme politics in a way nobody else really can.But this episode isn’t just about Republicans. We also get into the failures of the Democratic Party, why so many voters feel politically homeless, and what kind of leadership America actually needs right now: a vision for the future.Please let us know what you think in the comments - Can the Republicans survive after Trump?And make sure to check us out on Patreon and Substack:(  / talkingpoliticswithmom  )(https://talkingpoliticswithmom.substa...)And check out ‪@SMN‬ on Youtube and Cody's band, The Hot Shapes on Soundcloud.(  / thehotshapes  )

  3. 3d ago

    Tennessee Republicans Have Nothing to Offer — So They Cheat (THROWBACK EPISODE)

    Original Airdate: May 21, 2026 This week on Talking Politics with Mom, we sat down with Tennessee congressional candidate, Victoria Broderick, who is running as an unapologetic progressive in a state Republicans love to write off as “deep red,” but as she explains in this episode: Tennessee isn’t a red state - it's an abandoned state - it’s a voter-suppressed state. We talked about Republican gerrymandering, attacks on voting rights, purging voters from the rolls, and the way the GOP keeps people disengaged while corporate politicians abandon working-class communities. Victoria breaks down why young voters, disillusioned Democrats, independents, and even some Republicans are starting to rally behind authentic candidates who actually speak to people’s real struggles instead of repeating consultant-approved talking points.We also got into what it means to run a grassroots progressive campaign in the South while the Republican Party doubles down on culture war distractions, Medicaid cuts, attacks on reproductive freedom, and billionaire tax breaks. Victoria talks openly about why she refuses to water down her message just to chase conservative approval, and why voters are responding to someone who sounds like a real person instead of another polished political robot. From healthcare and economic inequality to Roe v. Wade, labor rights, voter turnout, and the future of democracy in Tennessee, this episode is for anyone frustrated with establishment politics and looking for candidates who actually want structural change. One of the biggest takeaways for me was hearing someone from a heavily gerrymandered Southern district say flat-out that Democrats can compete in places they’ve abandoned - if they stop running scared and start giving people something real to vote for. Victoria’s story is inspiring: working mom, activist, progressive organizer, no corporate PAC money, and now taking on one of the most entrenched Republicans in Tennessee politics.Drop a comment with your thoughts, subscribe to Talking Politics with Mom, and make sure to share this episode with anyone who still thinks progressive politics can’t make a difference in the South.(https://www.victoria4tennessee.org/)

  4. 4d ago

    The Costs of War You Don’t See Until It’s Too Late (THROWBACK EPISODE)

    Original Airdate: Apr 7, 2026 In this episode, we break down the reality behind the current U.S. conflict with Iran and ask the question few are really answering: why are we at war in the first place? Through a powerful conversation with a Marine veteran, we explore the growing tensions, the political narratives surrounding the Iran war, and how history, from Vietnam to Iraq, can help us understand what’s happening right now. If you’re trying to make sense of the latest war news, this discussion goes beyond the headlines.But this isn’t just about geopolitics - it’s about the human cost of war. From 18-year-olds preparing wills before deployment to veterans returning home with lifelong trauma, we dive into the hidden costs of war that are rarely talked about in mainstream media. This episode sheds light on PTSD, the long-term impact on families, and the broken promises many service members face when they come home. It’s a raw and honest look at what war really does to people.We also examine the financial cost of war, including billions in military spending, the role of the military-industrial complex, and what that money could mean for healthcare, education, and working-class Americans instead. As debates continue around U.S. foreign policy, war with Iran, and government priorities, this conversation challenges viewers to think critically about where we are headed - and who ultimately pays the price.Please follow Matt ‪@usmcangryveteran‬ and check us out on Patreon and Substack!(https://talkingpoliticswithmom.substa...)(  / talkingpoliticswithmom  )

  5. 5d ago

    My Mom's Emergency Room Nightmare...

    Original Airdate: Mar 26, 2026 Don't worry! Mom is ok. But our health-care system isn't... After a sudden medical emergency, my mom took her spouse who was in severe pain, to the emergency room and they were left waiting in a crowded ER for hours - despite being in one of the wealthiest areas in the country. What's happening in the ER is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to our health-care system. The wait times are growing, there is a lack of primary care access, overwhelmed hospitals, and more and more people are relying on emergency rooms for basic healthcare needs.We explore the bigger picture behind this healthcare crisis, including the rise of private equity in healthcare, hospital understaffing, and why patients are delaying care due to high costs. And the Republicans are just making this worse! Medicaid cuts, health insurance failures, and the increasing shortage of doctors are all contributing to a system where people are forced to wait until conditions become life-threatening. This isn’t just one story - but it’s part of a nationwide trend. This system consistently puts profit over people - and the cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill are going to make this dynamic even worse. Please tell us your own experience with the healthcare system in the comments, because I'm sure my mom's recent experience is just the tip of the iceberg...Please check us out on Patreon and Substack.(talkingpoliticswithmom.substack.com)(patreon.com/TalkingPoliticsWithMom)Also - wish mom a Happy Birthday!

  6. 6d ago

    Did Feminism Make Women Unhappy?

    Original Airdate: Feb 12, 2026 Six months ago, my mom and I posted a video called The Dark Secrets of 1950s America - and it struck a nerve. We heard from so many of you about your mothers and grandmothers… but we also got serious pushback. A lot of it centered around one big claim that’s been gaining traction online: Feminism made women miserable. In this episode, we dig into that argument head-on.From Candace Owens’ debate on Jubilee to viral TikToks about the Rockefellers' secretly engineering the women’s movement, there’s a growing narrative on the right that the sexual revolution and second-wave feminism destroyed the family, pushed women into “wage slavery,” and robbed them of fulfillment. My mom, who grew up in the 1950s, brings personal stories, historical context, and some sharp political analysis to unpack what’s myth, what’s real, and what’s being deliberately distorted.We talk about what the 1950s were actually like for different women, the economic policies that made the single-income household possible (and why they disappeared), and why blaming feminism for today’s unaffordable, hyper-corporate economy misses the real culprits. If you’re frustrated with the cost of living, stagnant wages, or feeling trapped in the modern workforce... you’re not wrong. But the question is: who benefits from convincing you that feminism is the reason?This conversation is about choice, economic power, unions, corporate greed, the New Deal era, Reaganomics, and how resentment can be channeled into political movements that distort reality and weaponize very real grievances against the very people fighting to improve your lives... in service of the people and ideologies who are exploiting you for their power and profit.Let us know what you think in the comments. We read them! 👀⏱ Chapters00:00 – Did Feminism Make Women Unhappy?02:18 – Candace Owens, Jubilee, and the Anti-Feminist Argument06:09 – What the 1950s Were Really Like for Women21:11 – The Economic Reality Behind the Single-Income Family31:12 – Work, Motherhood, and Building a Flexible Career43:32 – The Rockefeller Conspiracy & Why It’s Nonsense54:11 – Scapegoats, Oligarchs, and Who Really Benefits(talkingpoliticswithmom.substack.com)(patreon.com/TalkingPoliticsWithMom)

  7. Aug 12

    They Lied to Our Faces About Renee Good's Killing (THROWBACK EPISODE)

    Original Airdate: Jan 11, 2026 The murder of Renee Good by ICE was a warning. In broad daylight, in her own neighborhood, a young mother and volunteer legal observer was shot and killed by an ICE agent while documenting federal actions. Within minutes, government officials rolled out a prewritten narrative falsely branding her a violent threat and calling the killing “self-defense,” despite video evidence that clearly shows otherwise. This episode is about the deliberate use of state violence followed by an aggressive campaign of lies and gaslighting.In this conversation, Adrienne Larkin (mom) and Will Gordh (child) place Renee’s murder in its historical and political context: the rise of unaccountable federal power, the normalization of militarized law enforcement in American cities, and the dangerous idea that federal agents are above the law. From the murder of Fred Hampton, to Kent State to the present moment, history shows us what happens when governments redefine citizens as “enemy combatants” and grant their agents implicit (and explicit) permission to act without consequences. The language of “absolute immunity” is not a legal argument - it is a signal.This moment demands clarity, not fear or silence. Accountability, transparency, and public pressure are the only tools that have ever successfully curbed authoritarian overreach in this country. Renee Good stood up for people with less power and paid the ultimate price. Honoring her means refusing to accept lies, demanding independent investigations, and shining sunlight where those in power want darkness. This is not about left or right - it is about whether Americans still believe that no one has a license to kill.(https://talkingpoliticswithmom.substa...)(  / talkingpoliticswithmom  )

  8. Aug 11

    Why Latinos Voted for Trump, and Then Abandoned Him (THROWBACK EPISODE)

    Original Air Date: Dec 16, 2025 The fact that Trump made huge gain in the share of the Latino vote has confounded many pundits politicians, especially considering the fact that he ran such a racist and xenophobic campaign specifically targeting Latinos. But it turns out that the Latino population is incredibly diverse, and ironically, it may have been that very demonization strategy that helped him gain support. But in the last November election - it seems that all of those gains have been lost. While some of this can be attributed to the absolutely horrific actions of ICE - there's even more going on here. But don't just take my word for it!We invited Sylvia Salazar ‪@TonoLatino‬ on to the show because, being a Latino immigrant herself and a generally smart person looking into these issues for years, we knew she could provide us with some much needed context and analysis to help us understand the "Latino Voter."We also discuss my mom's background growing up in an ltalian immigrant household - and some of the commonalities of the immigrant experience in America, and also how bad actors, conservatives, and the wealthy elite are able to sow divisions in the population in order to advance their agenda of Oligarchy.Make sure to check out Sylvia's new show Breaking the Feed with Sylvia Salazar ‪@DangerousOnes‬And check out our new Substack Channel!(https://talkingpoliticswithmom.substa...)

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4.9
out of 5
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About

A progressive millennial talks politics with his formerly conservative boomer mom to see what they can learn from one another. Follow Will Gordh on Twitter: https://x.com/will_gordh

Information

  • Creator
    Talking Politics With Mom
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Talking Politics With Mom
  • Show Website
    Talking Politics With Mom

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