Okay, But Why?

Red Wine & Blue Studios
  • 4,8 (19)
  • POLITIQUE
  • SÉRIE HEBDOMADAIRE

There is so much happening in politics right now, it’s hard to keep up. It feels like every day, there’s a new outrageous headline. But it’s not always clear why these things are happening. So in this series of short shareable podcast episodes, we’re here to ask… “Okay, But Why?” Red Wine & Blue has produced several limited series podcasts over the past 3 years, including series about immigration, Christian Nationalism, and the cost of extremism. Now, we're bringing you "Okay, But Why."

Tout voir
  1. Okay, But Why Are There So Many New Voting Laws?

    ÉPISODE 1

    Okay, But Why Are There So Many New Voting Laws?

    In this first episode of our limited series "Okay, But Why?", we're taking a deep dive into voting rights. We all want free and fair elections where everyone who’s legally able to vote can make their voice heard. But every time the experts study voter fraud, they find almost zero evidence that undocumented immigrants or anyone else is voting illegally. So then… why are there so many new voting laws out there? Today, we're examining the history of voting rights and taking a closer look at why politicians are trying so hard to keep some Americans from voting. For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.

    15 min
  2. Okay, But Why Do We Need A Department of Education?

    ÉPISODE 2

    Okay, But Why Do We Need A Department of Education?

    Public education is a cornerstone of our democracy. But Donald Trump and his new Secretary of Education Linda McMahon haven’t exactly made it a secret that they want to shut down the Department of Education. Phrases like “parental choice” and “school choice” might make this sound good for families, but in reality, it leaves far too many kids behind. Before we had a Department of Ed, students who weren’t white, were disabled, or living in poverty had little access to a good education. Some, like Native American children sent to abusive “Indian schools,” were actively harmed or even died. But since its founding in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, the department has made sure that every kid has an equal opportunity to learn. That’s what the Department of Education does. It doesn’t write curriculum for teachers or choose books for librarians - it just makes sure that every child has access to a great public education. We know that Trump and McMahon are breaking things they don’t understand. So it’s up to us to make sure that we do — and that we share that knowledge with everyone we know.

    12 min
  3. Okay, But Why Should We Support Ukraine?

    ÉPISODE 3

    Okay, But Why Should We Support Ukraine?

    With breaking news and shocking headlines still happening on a weekly basis, sometimes it's hard to believe that  the current war in Ukraine has been going on for more than three years. You may have heard a neighbor or family member asking… why should the United States be involved at all? With so many problems here at home, why should we care about a war on the other side of the world? Well, there’s two different ways to answer that question: the humanitarian crisis, and our national security. In this episode, we dive into both.  Trump still says he’s committed to ending the war. But will he end it in a way that’s good for Ukraine and democracy? Or will he end it in a way that’s good for Vladimir Putin... and himself? This war is already tragically close to home for kids in Ukraine, and it could be other kids across the world – including ours – that feel it next. So the next time you hear someone ask why the United States should care about this war, you can share this episode and tell them exactly why we should support Ukraine.

    9 min
  4. Okay, But Why Are Eggs Still So Expensive?

    ÉPISODE 4

    Okay, But Why Are Eggs Still So Expensive?

    When Trump was running for office last year, he promised to “lower prices on day one.” So… why are eggs still so expensive? And why are other groceries still so expensive too? Sure, bird flu is one factor - but it’s actually having less of an impact than you’ve been told. A lot of other factors are at play too, from tariffs to corporate profits to immigration policies that target our agricultural workers. Just this week, Trump announced a new round of tariffs in what he’s ironically calling “liberation day.” All of this would be bad enough, but in the meantime, Republicans are cutting funding and programs that help struggling families put food on the table. The USDA has stopped $500 million in deliveries to food banks and slashed a billion dollars from programs that helped schools purchase fresh local food. And SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) is likely to experience major cuts too. You can’t find a more “kitchen table issue” than what families can afford to put on their literal kitchen tables. Extremists want us to think the economy is too complicated to understand, but it’s actually quite simple: we need leaders who prioritize families over profits.  Access to food is a basic human right and we need them to treat it that way.

    8 min
  5. Okay, But Why Is Social Security At Risk?

    ÉPISODE 5

    Okay, But Why Is Social Security At Risk?

    Social security is an American institution. After decades of working hard, we expect to retire with a well-earned safety net to help us with our monthly expenses.  Trump and Elon Musk claim that Social Security is rife with corruption and fraud. Musk told podcaster Joe Rogan that it’s “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” But whenever unbiased, nonpartisan groups study the numbers, they find very little fraud. Instead, they find millions of people who rely on those payments for their very survival. (And, it should be noted, exactly zero 150-year-olds receiving benefits.) So... why is Social Security at risk? This episode breaks down the facts and corrects the disinformation about the agency, who's receiving payments, and what's really happening.

    10 min
  6. Okay, But Why Do We Need Community More Than Ever?

    ÉPISODE 6

    Okay, But Why Do We Need Community More Than Ever?

    Right now, most of us are feeling stress and anxiety. On top of everything else in our lives, the political chaos seems too much to bear. A 2024 survey from the American Psychological Association found that over 70% of adults consider the country’s future a significant source of stress — and even though we’re only four months into 2025, if our group chats are any indication, we’re struggling now more than ever. At the same time, there’s an epidemic of loneliness. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an official advisory about loneliness in 2023… turns out, it’s not just bad for our mood, it’s bad for our physical health too. People who are disconnected and lonely are twice as likely to die as people who have strong communities. The good news is, community connection can help with both of these problems! Not only do social bonds make us healthier and happier, political action is far more effective when done as a group. We all have different strengths and perspectives, and our friends can fill in the gaps when we need a break.  In these chaotic and stressful times, community is more important than ever. It isn’t just good for our hearts and minds, it’s good for democracy. When women with shared values get together, there’s no stopping us.

    8 min
  7. Okay, But Why are they Defunding the Weather Service?

    ÉPISODE 7

    Okay, But Why are they Defunding the Weather Service?

    Last year, extreme weather cost us hundreds of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. So… why is the Trump Administration defunding the Weather Service? The Weather Service is part of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We need NOAA to help us predict storms and warn people when they need to evacuate. The data is used by airports to make sure planes can fly safely, by farmers to know when to plant their crops, by fishing companies to know when it’s safe to send boats out on the water, and by construction companies to plan the best time to pour concrete and calculate the right risks of wildfires or flooding. And individual Americans rely on their weather apps and local meteorologists to tell them when it’s safe to go out for a hike or what to pack for an upcoming vacation. The weather app on your phone isn’t magical - it relies on weather data provided by NOAA. Climate and weather may be complicated, but the reason why Trump is cutting NOAA is very simple: it’s in Project 2025. What Project 2025 wants to do is make NOAA a private, for-profit service. But some things are a public good - like schools, parks, and information. Who benefits when climate and weather information is suddenly paywalled? The millionaires and billionaires who run the companies that now own that information. If we want to survive and thrive over the next few generations, we need access to the best information about our atmosphere and oceans. Weather isn’t a partisan issue and we should keep it that way.

    9 min
  8. Okay, But Why Are We Still Talking About Racism?

    ÉPISODE 8

    Okay, But Why Are We Still Talking About Racism?

    When James Baldwin went on the Dick Cavett Show in 1969, he was asked a very loaded question: why aren’t Black people more optimistic? Jim Crow laws had been outlawed, Black people were becoming mayors and successful businesspeople… so why was he still talking about race? Obviously racism didn’t “end” with the Civil War, or the Civil Rights Act, or Obama’s election. In fact, Donald Trump has spurred a resurgence — there’s been a nearly 50% increase in white supremacy groups just in the past few years. And yet he’s waging a war on Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs, Critical Race Theory, and the very notion that racism still exists. But racism – and anti-Blackness in particular – is still a powerful force. It’s built into the very structure of the country. It shows up in politics, medicine, sports, education, and even eBay. In this week’s episode of Okay But Why, we explore the history of anti-Blackness in America, how it manifests to this day, and what we can do about it. If you want to learn more, there are so many books, films, and podcasts out there! Check out Code Switch, The 1619 Project, Stamped From The Beginning, The Black Friend, White Tears/Brown Scars, Hood Feminism, or the upcoming The Race Track: How The Myth of Equal Opportunity Defeats Racial Justice.

    12 min
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19 notes

À propos

There is so much happening in politics right now, it’s hard to keep up. It feels like every day, there’s a new outrageous headline. But it’s not always clear why these things are happening. So in this series of short shareable podcast episodes, we’re here to ask… “Okay, But Why?” Red Wine & Blue has produced several limited series podcasts over the past 3 years, including series about immigration, Christian Nationalism, and the cost of extremism. Now, we're bringing you "Okay, But Why."

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    Red Wine & Blue Studios
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    46
  • Saisons
    5
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