Pantsuit Politics

4.5 (4.9K)
News Commentary
Updated Semiweekly

Pantsuit Politics is the news and politics podcast for people exhausted by outrage. Hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers tackle the week's biggest political stories from genuinely different perspectives, and prove that civility, nuance, and good-faith disagreement are still possible. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Distributed by Lemonada Media.

1d ago

Feeling Powerless in a Red State? Meet the Mulligans

Go to ⁠⁠groundnews.com/pantsuit⁠⁠ for 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4d ago

Democratic Socialists Are Winning. Now What?

Beth is still on vacation, so Sarah drafted a guest co-host she's been married to for 23 years. Sarah and Nicholas run through the headlines — Iran's "low-key" chess game, the cost of absolutely everything, and the Flock cameras multiplying across the country — before digging into the state of the Democratic Party: the DSA's rise, AOC, purity tests, and why Barack Obama is somehow still the party's leader. Then, Outside of Politics, the full report on the Hollands' 3,000-mile RV trip from hell — eight states, four national parks, one brutal adenovirus, and a PSA about the rental company. Join us in Minneapolis on August 29 — or grab a virtual ticket to watch the live show from home: https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/p/2026-events Support the show and get access to News Briefs, Spicy Live bonus episodes, and community: https://pantsuitpolitics.substack.com Iran Trump to Axios: "We are low-keying it" with Iran (Axios): https://www.axios.com/2026/08/09/trump-iran-interview The Economy July jobs report: US economy shed 23,000 jobs (NBC News): https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/july-2026-jobs-report-rcna591138 The Employment Situation — July 2026 (BLS): https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm Chick-fil-A keeps winning over customers despite quietly increasing prices by 55% (Market Realist): https://marketrealist.com/how-much-have-menu-prices-of-chick-fil-a-gone-up/ Substack essay on Chick-fil-A pricing that Sarah mentioned (add link) Surveillance & Flock Cameras The New York Times on Flock cameras (add link) How rogue officers turned a nationwide camera network into a tool for stalking (The Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/08/02/how-police-officers-used-vast-network-cameras-spy-their-exes/ Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says (NBC News): https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399 The Democratic Party Platner's Top Strategist on What Went Wrong | The Ezra Klein Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xET1CqVTrNE Pantsuit Politics on the Reagan legacy (add link) Outside of Politics: The RV Trip Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library — Plan Your Visit: https://www.trlibrary.com/visit Medora Musical: https://medora.com/medoramusical/ Pitchfork Steak Fondue: https://medora.com/pitchforksteakfondue/ Sun Tours — Blackfeet-owned tours of Glacier National Park: https://www.suntours.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7

My Hometown Is Getting a $100 Billion Data Center

The breaking news in Sarah's hometown is the breaking news everywhere: Paducah, Kentucky is getting a $100 billion data center. Sarah is joined by Lacey Bowling, head of Paducah Cooperative Ministries, to talk about what the anti-data center backlash gets right and wrong — water, power bills, pollution, tax subsidies — and the deeper story: a trust vacuum at every level of government and a growing sense that the wealth isn't for the rest of us. Outside of Politics: their kids are officially high school seniors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4

Talking Ourselves Into Gavin Newsom?

Beth is out for two more weeks, so I've got a guest host: Laura Tremaine, my co-host over at Slow Read. We start in California, where Laura has lived for 25 years, and get honest about Gavin Newsom — the trolling, Prop 50, the podcast with Charlie Kirk, and why even the people rolling their eyes at him keep talking themselves into him for 2028. That opens up a bigger question we can't stop circling: what does the Democratic Party actually stand for right now, with no leader and no message? Then we get into that viral Atlantic piece, "The End of Reading Is Here." We talk about slow reading as an antidote to algorithmic media, what our civic life loses when people stop reading books, and why neither of us is ready to call it over just yet. We also announce our next Slow Read book. Outside of Politics: the summer the movies came back. The Odyssey, Spider-Man, Toy Story 5, and whether Christopher Nolan is our new Spielberg. Two weeks left to grab tickets to our live show in Minneapolis on August 29: https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/p/join-us-in-minneapolis-94f Topics discussed: • Gavin Newsom, California Politics, and the 2028 Democratic Primary • The Democrats' Search for a Fighter (and a Message) • Slow Reading as an Antidote to Algorithmic Media • The Atlantic's "The End of Reading" and What It Means for Civic Life • Slow Read's Next Book: Outlander • Outside of Politics: The Summer the Movies Came Back Mentioned in this episode: The End of Reading Is Here (The Atlantic) — https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/ Slow Read — https://slowread.substack.com Laura Tremaine's Secret Stuff — https://secretstuff.substack.com Our show is listener-supported. Join our community of paid subscribers at https://pantsuitpolitics.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.rm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31

Trust But Verify: Teen Driving with Dr. Charlie Klauer

Teen driving is the leading cause of death among adolescents — and most of us are completely winging it when we hand over the keys. Dr. Charlie Klauer is a Research Scientist and Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. She's spent fifteen years doing naturalistic driving research: cameras and sensors in teenagers' cars, watching what they actually do. We took notes and hope you'll find her learnings helpful, too. Topics discussed:Why teen driving is more dangerous than most parents realizeHow to structure the learner's permit period for maximum practiceNight driving, interstate driving, and other milestone moments to sequence carefullyHow parents' own driving habits shape teens behind the wheelApps and tools for monitoring teen drivers without being in the carWhy giving a teen "their own" car may increase risky drivingAt what age teens should start learning — and why waiting until 18 isn't the answerDr. Klauer's survey for parents (link in show notes)Join us live in Minneapolis on August 29 — virtual tickets available at pantsuitpoliticsshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28

Inside the Organ Donation System with NYT's Brian Rosenthal

It's easy to check the organ donor box on your driver's license without thinking too much about how organs are treated and routed to people who need them. NYT investigative reporter Brian Rosenthal thoroughly examined the system. His complicated findings have led to congressional inquiry and meaningful progress. This is a conversation about where the system fell short, what his reporting changed, and what still needs work.Topics discussed:How the organ transplant system actually works (it's not really a list)Why doctors can refuse organs offered to their patients — and patients are never toldWhat federal pressure on organ procurement organizations produced in KentuckyHow the priority list was being bypassed 20% of the time — and why time pressure wasn't actually the reasonWealthy foreign nationals getting faster organ access at certain U.S. hospitalsWhat's changed since Brian's reporting and what reforms are now in placeThe future of organ donation: animal organs, AI matching, printed organs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24

What Kids Actually Need When the News is Scary

Kids who are anxious about the news might not need to hear less — they might need to know more. Tracy Kaplan, creator of The 10 News (a podcast for kids and families ages 8-12), has spent six years helping kids make sense of everything from the Russia-Ukraine war to gun violence to banned books. What she's learned about talking to kids about hard news is useful for parents too.Topics discussed:Why kids' anxiety about the news is often rooted in a knowledge gap, not the news itselfHow The 10 News covers scary topics like school shootings — and why vagueness can be worse than directnessWhat kids actually want to know more about (spoiler: more politics, not less)How to cover hard stories without being condescendingThe shift toward more international coverage over six yearsWhat it looks like to watch a generation of kids grow up through the news Go to ⁠⁠⁠groundnews.com/pantsuit⁠⁠⁠ for 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21

Vinok Libraries: Bringing Books to Ukraine's Children

One of the hardest parts of paying attention to international news is wondering: what can I, one person, do about this? Today's guest, Gwyn Ridenhour, asked herself that question and answered in an extraordinary way. She moved to Lviv, Ukraine, to put books in the hands of children living through the war. Her project, Vinok Libraries, is small and specific and a quiet wonder. Today, she tells us about the work she's doing and how we can help. Topics discussed:What drew Gwyn to Ukraine — and why she moved there during the warHow Vinok Libraries works: sourcing books, shipping them to Ukraine, distributing to schoolsThe language politics of children's books in Ukraine (Ukrainian, English, and the gap)Delivering books near the front line and what that looked like in personWhat $500 means to a school that's been bombedThe bookmobile dream and how to support it Go to ⁠⁠groundnews.com/pantsuit⁠⁠ for 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Pantsuit Politics Trailer

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns for Season 4 of her award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me™. Each week, she has funny, touching, personal conversations with iconic older women who are brimming with the kind of unapologetic attitude and wisdom that only comes with age. Julia sits at the feet of some extraordinary teachers this season, and of course her 91-year-old mom, Judith. Tune in to laugh, cry, and get wise. All Hail Old Women! Photo: Ryan Pfluger and August Image

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In his groundbreaking Blue Zones research, National Geographic explorer and bestselling author Dan Buettner uncovered the secrets to longevity and happiness from the world’s longest-lived populations. In his new podcast THE DAN BUETTNER PODCAST, Dan shares the practical habits, mindsets, and wisdom that set the stage for a thrilling, fulfilling life at any age. Produced by Intuitive Content Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/ This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Podcast participants may have financial interests, ownership stakes or advisory or other roles in or regarding companies, products, or services mentioned or discussed in the podcast. The opinions expressed by podcast participants are solely those of such participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast producers or their affiliates. Any information or opinions (whether relating to physical or mental health, fitness, medical matters, financial or investment matters, or anything else) made known to you in connection with the podcast: (a) do not take into account, and are not intended to provide advice or recommendations appropriate for, your particular situation, needs, and objectives, and (b) are not intended to substitute for the advice or recommendations of any healthcare, fitness, medical, financial, investment, or other appropriate professional advisor hired by you. Any use or reliance upon any podcast provided information or opinions is at your own sole risk.

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Sarah Stewart Holland

Host
Beth Silvers

Host
Nicholas

Guest
Laura Tremaine

Guest
Charlie Klauer

Guest
Tracy Kaplan

Guest
Angie Schmitt

Guest
Dr. Lauren Pinkston

Guest

4.5

out of 5

4,908 Ratings

Everyone should listen to this podcast

Jul 7

Jace227

I cannot believe I have only just found this podcast. This is GREAT. Two people who don’t always agree but let each other speak, don’t talk over each other, and approach politics with grace. I am so grateful I found this podcast.
Long time listener

Jun 4

Moodle1992

I have been a long time listener for years. I can’t recommend this podcast enough. I listen every week and am so grateful!
Breathe

Apr 23

Mewlaw

I’ve been listening to Sara and Beth for years and I’m so thankful for them. This is where I go to get well thought out and reasoned conversations to the craziness going on in the world. When I’m off the rails about something they bring be back down to earth and help me use my thinking brain rather than my emotional brain. They help me exhale, take a breath and focus.
Longtime listener turned never again

May 13

UWLeah

I found PP in 2017 and was won over by their down to earth approach paired with fair coverage of both sides. I left in the wake of October 7, 2023 when attacks against Israel were justified and American antisemitism was buried or justified, and mayor Mamdani of NYC has been routinely praised. It seems to be a left leaning podcast, they don’t believe they can want Palestinians to have freedom and also criticize people who seek to kill Israelis or Jews. I felt so betrayed by this podcast, and it’s gotten worse since I left.

Pantsuit Politics is the news and politics podcast for people exhausted by outrage. Hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers tackle the week's biggest political stories from genuinely different perspectives, and prove that civility, nuance, and good-faith disagreement are still possible. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Distributed by Lemonada Media.