The Progressive Happy Hour The Progressive Happy Hour

Most of the time, we hear about gun violence in the context of mass shootings. But gun violence is about more than mass shootings – and too often, those stories can get sidelined by the media. In the May 31 episode of “The Progressive Happy Hour,” cohost Diallo Brooks and guest host Derrick Crowe talk to Markus Batchelor, communications and program coordinator for PFAWF’s YEO Network and local school board representative, about how we can think about gun violence prevention more holistically.

Extreme abortion bans are spreading like wildfire, more and more of Trump’s judicial nominees refuse to affirm Brown v. Board of Education, making  the federal courts – one of our favorite topics on the podcast –particularly salient these days. In the April 26 episode of “The Progressive Happy Hour,” cohosts Cici Battle and Diallo Brooks talk about the impact that federal judges and Supreme Court justices have on our rights, and how their decisions affect Black communities and people of color.

It’s been a busy few weeks since we bid farewell to Drew, but worry not: the podcast will live on! In the May 10 mini-episode, cohosts Cici Battle and Diallo Brooks share a quick update and offer our listeners a chance to share your suggestions for the Progressive Happy Hour.

Since we launched the “The Progressive Happy Hour” podcast in October 2017, cohosts Drew Courtney and Cici Battle have covered political and pop culture issues ranging from the right-wing judicial takeover to intersectional organizing to Game of Thrones. We’ve gotten to know our cohosts a little more with every new episode, making this week’s farewell to Drew a bittersweet one.

Trump’s attacks don’t just devalue science’s role in learning, problem-solving and developing new technologies – they also shape our health, public lands and democracy. In the April 19 episode of “The Progressive Happy Hour,” cohost Drew Courtney and guest host Diallo Brooks talk to Jacob Carter, a research scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists, about Trump’s attacks on science and what it means for our democracy.

Today, Trump’s trans military ban passed. This is a dark moment for the trans community and activists and allies, but the newly-introduced Equality Act offers a glimmer of hope for the LGBTQ+ community. In the April 12 episode of “The Progressive Happy Hour,” cohosts Drew Courtney and Cici Battle talk to Jen Herrick, PFAW’s senior policy analyst, about the Equality Act, and what progressives can do to advance equality for the LGBTQ+ community.