We've Got To Talk

Nicole Fonarow and Jolene Conway
  • 4.8 (26)
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Our story begins in the halls of the University of Iowa, go Hawks! It was there that two seemingly different paths intersected and a friendship blossomed. Despite our different upbringings—Jolene in little Pleasantville, Iowa, and me, Nicole, just across the Golden Gate Bridge in the bustling Bay Area—we became fast friends. And here we are, almost 40 years later, living in a world that often seems intent on drawing lines in the sand and choosing sides. So why "We've Got To Talk"? Because we truly believe that in this deeply divided society, the power of conversation can unite us. Our goal isn't to change each other's opinions, but to listen with curiosity, kindness, and empathy. And yes, to have a good time while doing it! We invite you to join us on this journey and bring your friends along. We might not have all the answers or any of them—but we promise honesty, empathy, and a lot of heart. We hope our conversations give you a fresh outlook or at least entertain you as you go about your day.

  1. “Us vs Them” Has Taken Over American Politics

    1D AGO

    “Us vs Them” Has Taken Over American Politics

    Politics has started to feel like a loyalty test, not a conversation. Say one thing that is not perfectly on script for your “side” and people act like you have betrayed the whole team. The problem is not that we disagree. The problem is that we have built a culture where curiosity looks weak, changing your mind feels dangerous, and being loud gets rewarded. A lot of the nastiness is being fuelled by the “our side versus their side” mindset. Headlines get treated like weapons. People post for points, not understanding. Social media makes it easy to react to a clip, assume the worst, and decide you already know what kind of person someone is. In real life, when you are face to face, it is harder to hate someone you actually know. Labels do not help either. “Liberal.” “Conservative.” “Christian.” “Atheist.” They can help you find community, but they can also trap you there. Once you pick a label, you are expected to perform it perfectly. And if you leave room for nuance, you risk being shamed, bullied, or written off. That is how we end up with more certainty and less thinking. So where do we go from here? Smaller than people want. It starts with the next comment you almost leave, the next assumption you almost make, the next time you feel that rush of righteousness. Pause. Ask a question instead of throwing a punch. And if you can, get to know someone in real life who thinks differently from you, not to convert them, just to remember what it feels like to talk to a person instead of a stereotype. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Welcome + “Where Do We Go From Here?” in American Politics 00:48 The Rage Economy: Why Politics Feels Mean and Exhausting 01:33 Changing Your Mind: Why Admitting You’re Wrong Feels Risky 02:18 “Our Side Has to Win”: The Us vs Them Mindset 03:28 Trump Voters, Regret, and the Two-Choices Reality 04:56 The Exhausted Middle: Extremes on Both Sides and Political Fatigue 05:05 Social Media Algorithms: Why Outrage Gets Rewarded 08:04 Comment Sections vs Real Life 10:16 Belonging and Identity 15:33 Media Trust + Isaac Saul (Tangle) and the Cost of Being Fair 17:38 Staying Curious When It’s Uncomfortable 19:00 Accountability: Me Too, Complicity, and Protecting the Tribe 24:16 Menopause for President 26:16 The Enemies Project: Seeing Each Other’s Humanity Again 31:59 Wrap Up + Subscribe and Share RESOURCES MENTIONED: Eric Swallwell video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXKWBRbFH76/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Good for the Soul: The Enemies Project https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXKWBRbFH76/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2 Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/ How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    33 min
  2. What is a Sanctuary City and how do they work?

    APR 29

    What is a Sanctuary City and how do they work?

    Sanctuary cities are one of those topics that instantly makes people get their haunches up ready to “defend their side.” It’s either a lawless open border or a necessary humanitarian shield. But the truth is far more nuanced (and historical) than a political soundbite. Nicole (liberal) and Jolene (conservative) look past the headlines to figure out what "sanctuary" actually means in practice and how a religious movement from the 1980s became the flashpoint for today’s culture wars. We get into the history that most people have forgotten, starting with the 1980s sanctuary movement in Arizona churches. We talk about how immigration policy shifted from a labor issue to a criminal justice issue in the 90s, and why the "Deporter-in-Chief" title belongs to a president that might surprise you. Is the current system built for safety, or is it just a bureaucratic maze that leaves everyone on both sides of the aisle feeling frustrated? Then there’s the practical reality of local policing. We talk about why some police departments actually prefer sanctuary policies to build community trust, and the tension that creates when violent offenders fall through the cracks. If the goal is community safety, how do we balance federal law with local needs without turning every city into a political battlefield? Finally, we zoom out to the human side of the American dream. We talk about quotas, the "lottery" of citizenship, and why "common sense" is so hard to find in Washington. These are the conversations we have to have if we ever want to move past the shouting and find some common ground. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Introduction 02:07 Hot Takes from Liberal and Conservative on Sanctuary Cities 04:10 The 1980s Sanctuary Movement: It Started in the Church 09:00 The 1996 IIRAIRA Act: Moving from Labor to Criminal Justice 12:00 Secure Communities & The Obama Era Deportations 14:50 How Fingerprinting and ICE Holds Actually Work 17:30 Why Cities Choose Sanctuary Status 22:50 The Republican Perspective on Repeat Offenders 27:30 The American Dream vs. Political Quotas 31:00 Can We Fix the Path to Citizenship? RESOURCES MENTIONED: Historical Origins of the Sanctuary MovementThe Sanctuary Movement: 1980s Origins: https://carleton.ca/news/story/sanctuary-cities-history-1980s-origins/Boston’s Sanctuary History: https://globalboston.bc.edu/index.php/home/eras-of-migration/global-era/sanctuary-cities/The Past and Present of Sanctuary Cities (Video): https://youtu.be/XaR5kR8h4es?si=sc5n1ZobUVm6w_Uy Legal Framework & Policy DefinitionsWhat is Sanctuary? (ALA): https://www.ala.org/advocacy/what-sanctuaryNational Map of Local Entanglement with ICE: https://www.ilrc.org/resources/national-map-local-entanglement-iceJustice Department List of Sanctuary Jurisdictions: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-publishes-list-sanctuary-jurisdictionsSecure Communities Explained:https://forumtogether.org/article/secure-communities/ The Obama Era & Enforcement LegacyExecutive Action Fact Sheet (White House Archives) https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/20/fact-sheet-immigration-accountability-executive-actionThe Mixed Legacy of Obama’s Immigration Policy (Cato Institute): https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/obamas-mixed-legacy-immigrationThe Shift to the Priority Enforcement Program (American Immigration Council: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/president-obamas-legacy-immigration/Comparing Border Security: Obama vs. Biden (CIS): https://cis.org/Arthur/Obama-Secured-Border-Why-Cant-Bidenhttps://www.costplusdrugs.com/ Multimedia & Visual ExplanersUnderstanding Sanctuary Policies (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKHl__BEsD0The Immigration Debate Explained (Video)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJHgmQc-FogSanctuary Cities: A Closer Look (Video): https://youtu.be/o2uFpuQQQ5Q?si=iWDv8Zz0Uuj6iPMD Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2 Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/ How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    46 min
  3. Is AI Progress or Poison?

    APR 22

    Is AI Progress or Poison?

    AI is one of those topics that makes people speak in absolutes: it’s either going to save us or destroy us. But the truth is simpler (and scarier): AI is already everywhere. It’s in your phone, your inbox, your car… it’s everywhere. In this episode, Nicole (liberal) and Jolene (conservative) talk about what happens when artificial intelligence stops being a future headline and starts becoming a daily habit without clear guardrails, shared rules, or conversations about the trade-offs. We get into the part that no one seems fully ready for: people forming emotional attachments to AI. From AI companions to chatbots that “listen” and affirm, it’s not hard to see how vulnerable people, especially teenagers, could start relying on AI for companionship, validation, or advice. Is that harmless? Helpful? Or a quiet mental health risk we’re sleepwalking into? We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we do think this is one of the biggest human questions hiding inside the tech story. Then there’s the global AI arms race; competition, power, and the pressure to “win” at all costs. We talk about AI regulation, privacy, labor, safety, and the environmental impact of scaling AI fast. If speed becomes the only goal, what gets sacrificed along the way? And how do politics shape this conversation when AI doesn’t fit neatly into the usual left vs right boxes? We also talk about real-world AI you can’t ignore anymore, like self-driving cars like Waymo. The promise is obvious: fewer accidents and fewer human errors. But when machines make strange decisions, it hits a nerve, because we expect technology to be flawless. Finally, we zoom out to the bigger question: what happens to creativity and art in the age of AI-generated music, stories, and “AI slop”? Will “human-made” become a premium label? Watch, listen, and tell us where you land—because the future is being built whether we participate or not. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:23 Why Talk AI Now 01:26 Home Robots Are Coming 04:21 Defining AI And Limits 05:27 Emotional Intimacy Risks 07:14 ChatGPT In Real Life 11:37 When AI Gets It Wrong 13:46 AI Race And Environment 23:31 Innovation And Fear 24:45 Artists Versus AI 25:28 AI Podcast Irony 27:13 AI Music Without Breath 28:21 Human Made Comeback 29:33 Waymo Safety Stories 34:33 Regulation And Incentives 39:29 Human Partnership Mindset 40:54 Would You Rather AI Edition 44:28 Wrap Up And Farewell RESOURCES MENTIONED: White House Response: https://www.whitehouse.gov/priorities/tech-innovation/ Waymo: https://waymo.com/ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/02/sam-altman-issues-code-red-at-openai-as-chatgpt-contends-with-rivals https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy7vrd8k4eo https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about Claude: https://claude.ai Neo Robot: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1346749566932432 https://www.1x.tech/neo youtube.com/watch?si=_5IHpQWBO0vxGS9T&v=j31dmodZ-5c&feature=youtu.be Impact of AI data centres on the environment: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2 Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/ How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    45 min
  4. Republican vs Democrat Views of Trump: What the Beyond MAGA Report Reveals

    APR 15

    Republican vs Democrat Views of Trump: What the Beyond MAGA Report Reveals

    In this episode, we dig into the “Beyond MAGA” report from More in Common and why it matters heading into the November midterms. If you spend any time online, you would think Trump voters are one giant, identical block of people. Angry, extreme, predictable. But that is not what the data shows. This report breaks the Trump coalition into more nuanced groups like MAGA Hardliners, Anti-Woke Conservatives, Mainstream Republicans, and the Reluctant Right, and that alone changes the conversation. We talk about what actually shapes political identity inside the Republican coalition, including faith, distrust in institutions, community identity, and the feeling that traditional beliefs are often dismissed or mocked. Instead of flattening Trump supporters into one stereotype, we look at the deeper emotional and cultural forces behind why people vote the way they do, and why the liberal view of Trump voters often misses that complexity. Immigration and “wokeness” are two of the biggest themes we unpack. The report shows that many Trump supporters are not anti-immigrant in the simplistic way they are often portrayed. Many hold positive views toward legal immigration while also feeling frustrated by disorder and a system they no longer trust. We also talk about how cultural messaging, tone, and performative politics have shaped the Republican vs liberal divide around Trump, especially when people feel talked down to rather than understood. At the heart of this episode is a bigger question about political stereotypes, media narratives, and what happens to democracy when we stop being curious about each other. We do not all agree, but we do share more underlying frustrations than people want to admit. If we want a healthier political culture before the November midterms, we need less screaming, less certainty, and a lot more honesty about what is really driving voters on both sides. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Introduction: Beyond MAGA, Trump Voters, and the November Midterms 00:28 Beyond MAGA Report Breakdown 01:41 Why Nuance Matters in Republican vs Liberal Conversations 03:23 Trump Voter Types Quiz: MAGA Hardliners, Mainstream Republicans and More 04:50 Beyond MAGA Methodology: Can This Trump Voter Research Be Trusted? 07:49 Immigration and Trump Voters: Perception vs Reality 11:07 Legal vs Illegal Immigration Debate in the Republican Coalition 16:12 What Drove the Trump Vote? Faith, Distrust, and Cultural Frustration 18:30 Trump Coalition of Frustrations: Why Voters Feel Let Down 20:11 Single-Issue Voting and the 2026 Midterms 21:36 Religion, Identity, and Why Faith Feels Countercultural 22:33 Loneliness, Belonging, and Political Identity in America 23:16 Democrats, the Working Class, and Why Voters Feel Abandoned 24:40 Wokeness Debate: Media, Culture, and Anti-Woke Conservatives 27:23 Why Americans Hate Their Political Opponents 28:24 Cancel Culture, Political Nuance, and the Liberal vs Conservative Divide 30:34 New Media, Political Change, and Hope for 2028 33:00 Would You Rather: Final Thoughts on MAGA, Midterms, and Political Identity RESOURCES MENTIONED: https://www.moreincommon.com/ https://moreincommonus.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/More-in-Common-Beyond-MAGA-A-Profile-of-the-Trump-Coalition-Jan-2026-Wave-6.pdf https://san.com/ https://www.mo.news/ https://www.readtangle.com/ Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2 Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/, How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    36 min
  5. This NYC Protest Shocked Us: “Death to America” and What It Means

    APR 8

    This NYC Protest Shocked Us: “Death to America” and What It Means

    We’re taking on one of the hardest questions in public life right now: where is the line between free speech, hate speech, and political extremism? What started as a reaction to protest footage from Washington Square Park turned into a much bigger conversation about modern activism, public outrage, and the way protest movements can shift from justice and grief into something more tribal, performative, and deeply unsettling. We talk about how quickly fear and ignorance can turn into hatred, and how anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim sentiment, and political dehumanization keep gaining ground when people stop seeing each other as human beings. This episode looks at the emotional climate behind extremism, the danger of treating entire groups as symbols, and why hate grows so easily in environments driven by anger, misinformation, and identity politics. It is not just about what people are saying at protests. It is about what happens when outrage becomes a culture. We also explore the conservative and liberal views of protest culture in America. Jolene shares why many conservatives see large-scale street protest as more closely tied to the political left, while I (Nicole) reflect on how the internet, media amplification, and organised messaging have changed the nature of activism altogether. We get into political funding, online radicalization, protest movements, groupthink, and the way social media can turn legitimate causes into ideological theatre almost overnight. At the center of this episode is a deeper concern about free speech in America and whether public debate is still possible when every disagreement feels morally loaded. We do not pretend to have neat answers, but we do ask the questions that matter: when does protest stop helping, when does rhetoric become dangerous, and how do we push back against extremism without losing the values that make open societies worth protecting? CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Political Extremism, Protests, and Free Speech in America 00:49 Washington Square Park Protest Reaction 02:03 Hate Speech, Extremism, and Public Outrage 04:56 How Protest Movements Gain Power and Momentum 10:30 Who Funds Activism and Political Protest Movements 13:30 Hate Speech vs Free Speech: Where Is the Line? 17:10 Do Protests Actually Change Anything? 20:34 Dark Money, Political Funding, and Protest Strategy 22:56 How Republicans Mobilise Without Protest Culture 23:22 Protest as Community, Belonging, and Identity 23:53 The Money Behind Activism and Organised Movements 25:57 Trad Wife Media, Online Messaging, and Cultural Influence 28:47 Confusion, Radicalisation, and How People Get Pulled In 33:18 Dehumanisation, Hate, and the Rise of Extremism 35:09 Podcast Recommendation and 544 Days of Perspective 37:26 The Personal Toll of Political Division 38:41 Would You Rather: Free Speech, Hate, and Moral Trade-Offs 41:07 Final Thoughts on Protest Culture, Extremism, and Free Speech RESOURCES MENTIONED: Washington Square Park Protest: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV5CHOADH2J/?igsh=YXhiMjJ0bHVuYmhl Mo News - Americans Morally Bad: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWCnC0wicdw/ Nate Friedman Show: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVxOUD_jJbj/ 544 Days Podcast: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/544-days/ Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2 Our Website: https://www.wevegottotalk.com/ How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/, How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    39 min
  6. Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban vs. US Bell-to-Bell Phone Bans in Schools

    APR 1

    Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban vs. US Bell-to-Bell Phone Bans in Schools

    Two big stories have been sitting with us. Australia moving to ban social media for kids under 16, and U.S. schools rolling out “bell to bell” phone bans. Australia’s move is bold, and we don’t think anyone believes it will be perfect. Enforcement will be messy, there will be loopholes, and kids will try to get around it. But we still respect the statement it makes. It forces the conversation into the open and signals that constant, unsupervised access to algorithm-driven platforms is not a harmless childhood right. It is a risk, and adults need to stop pretending otherwise. Then there’s the U.S. “bell to bell” ban conversation, and it feels like another version of the same awakening. Not “put it on silent” or “keep it in your bag,” but actual phone-free school days. The point isn’t that adults hate technology. It’s that teachers are watching attention, learning, and social skills take a hit in real time. And when phones are removed from the classroom equation, something simple but powerful happens. Kids talk, play, make eye contact, and teachers report fewer distractions and more present students. In this episode, Jolene and I also talk about what these bans can and cannot do. A school ban can change the day, but kids still go home to devices. A social media ban can shift norms, but it won’t teach digital judgement on its own. That’s why we keep coming back to the bigger question: what does a healthier relationship with tech actually look like, and how do we build it on purpose? We would love to hear your take in the comments. Do you think Australia’s under-16 social media ban will help, or backfire? And should more U.S. schools go “bell to bell”? CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Intro 02:02 Australia ban: covered platforms and expectation of glitches/workarounds 03:38 Early workaround example and Meta removing underage accounts in Australia 04:12 Online Safety Act timeline; no accounts under 16; can still browse without accounts 05:22 Rationale: limiting algorithm-driven targeting and mental health harms 07:10 Verification and enforcement: “reasonable steps,” accountability, and potential $30M fines 10:16 Shift to US: 35 states + DC adopting bell-to-bell school phone bans 12:02 Bipartisan dynamics, safety/shooting concerns, and workarounds 15:25 Alternatives: flip phones, pagers/payphones; key stats on depression/sleep and public support 17:52 Tech leaders restricting their own kids’ phone/social media use 23:00 Broader reflection: problem-solving skills and attention in an always-online world 26:20 Parenting boundaries: phones in rooms, supervised computer use, and saying no 28:24 Nuance on school bans: concern about teaching responsible use vs. total prohibition 30:13 Proposal: “digital citizenship” education alongside restrictions 31:27 Discipline burden on teachers; varied state/school rules; request for educator feedback 34:14 Surgeon General warning-label idea; debate over shame vs. action; multi-pronged solutions 36:12 Safety concerns: predators and kids’ platforms like Roblox 37:19 Social media design as addiction 40:22 Modeling behavior: adults on phones and kids seeking attention 42:04 Partisanship hypothetical: potential backlash if Trump pushed a phone-ban policy 44:07 Closing takeaways: learn from Australia 47:10 Would-you-rather questions; choosing YouTube as the one app RESOURCES MENTIONED: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-04/when-is-the-teen-social-media-ban-what-apps-are-banned/106086152 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-19/roblox-brings-in-age-checks-ahead-of-australian-ban/106025742 https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/school-behaviour-improving-after-mobile-phone-ban-and-vaping-reforms Good for the Soul: https://www.instagram.com/weatheradam/?hl=en LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/ How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    41 min
  7. The Epstein Files and the elite with no accountability

    MAR 25

    The Epstein Files and the elite with no accountability

    The Epstein files are not just a scandal or a “true crime” story. They are a mirror held up to power, privilege, and the way exploitation can hide in plain sight when the right people are involved. We take a look at why this story is bigger than Jeffrey Epstein as an individual. The most disturbing part is not only what he did, but how long he operated, how many doors opened for him, and how an entire ecosystem of access, money, and silence helped protect him. This is where the conversation turns into something deeper about class, credibility, and why the hyper-elite often seem to live by different rules than everyone else. We also talk about the darker details that keep resurfacing, including the New Mexico “Zorro Ranch,” the eugenics angle, and the broader network of enablers that made Epstein’s world possible. And we ask the question that hangs over all of it. Will we ever know the full truth, the kind that maps the networks clearly and holds people accountable, not just the version that gets turned into gossip and outrage? Most importantly, we refuse to let this become a partisan weapon. This is not a left issue or a right issue. It is a human issue about whether justice is selective, whether accountability is optional for the wealthy and connected, and whether victims are treated as disposable. We want to hear your thoughts. What should accountability look like here, and do you believe we will ever get the full truth? CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Welcome 00:23 Epstein Files Intro 00:52 Three Hot Takes on Epstein Files 04:51 Bipartisan Outrage 07:21 How He Got Away 08:58 Epstein Origin Story 09:51 Wexner And Teen Culture 14:25 Elite Money Blindness 17:07 Plea Deal And Death 19:04 New Mexico Eugenics 20:02 Why No One Talks 21:59 Philanthropy And Complicity 23:15 Bill Gates Example 24:29 Power Sex And Access 25:08 Peter Attia Email Scandal 26:34 Power Over Sex 27:39 Hypersexualization Debate 29:56 Epstein Files Politics 35:32 Evidence And Accountability 38:11 Would You Rather 40:52 Final Thanks RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Epstein Files (Politics, subpoenas, and the current fallout)NYT (Feb 12, 2026): Epstein files overview / political anglehttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/us/politics/epstein-files.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.Ks_d.pTEwL-KfzLEH&smid=url-shareNYT (Mar 4, 2026): Pam Bondi subpoena related to the Epstein fileshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/pam-bondi-subpoena-epstein-files.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.ev5r.I-KWB7-Gs8oP&smid=url-share New Mexico / Zorro Ranch (location + operations)NYT (Mar 1, 2026): Epstein’s New Mexico “Zorro Ranch”https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/us/jeffrey-epstein-new-mexico-zorro-ranch.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.taQs.mfGbZ_Gv_DZe&smid=url-share Medical network / enablers (doctors)NYT (Feb 28, 2026): Epstein and doctorshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/jeffrey-epstein-doctors.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.DT50.a3Mt3jihkdRH&smid=url-share Eugenics angle (historical reporting)NYT (Jul 31, 2019): Epstein and eugenicshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/business/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.kPt3.sqD4Xrz4SYqG&smid=url-share LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/ How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    41 min
  8. Trump’s SAVE Act Explained: Election Integrity or Voter Suppression

    MAR 18

    Trump’s SAVE Act Explained: Election Integrity or Voter Suppression

    Trump’s SAVE Act is being sold as a straightforward push for election integrity, but in this episode, we take a look at why it is not nearly that simple. On the surface, secure elections sound like an easy thing to support. But once you get into the details, the conversation becomes much more complicated. Is this really about protecting the vote, or is it about raising suspicion and adding new barriers just before the midterms? Nicole shares why her instinct is that the SAVE Act feels like a pre-midterm power move wrapped in the language of fairness. Jolene sees the appeal of a more standardized voting system, and both agree that public trust in elections matters. They also agree that handing too much control to the federal government comes with real risks, especially when centralised voter systems can create new vulnerabilities and new opportunities for overreach. The episode also digs into the practical impact of laws like this. What happens to people in rural areas, people without easy access to updated documents, women whose names do not match old paperwork, or communities that already face barriers to voting? Nicole argues that access is part of election integrity too, and that a system is not truly secure if it quietly pushes legitimate voters out of the process. At the heart of the conversation is a bigger question about democracy itself. If the goal is a better voting system, why are reforms so often introduced in the most politically explosive way possible? Why not build trust slowly, with time, support, and real buy-in from both sides? Nicole and Jolene ask what meaningful voter reform should actually look like, and how we protect both security and access without turning every election conversation into a loyalty test. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Welcome 00:26 What Is the SAVE Act 00:58 Liberal Hot Takes 03:47 Conservative Breakdown 05:18 ID Requirements Debate 07:20 Real ID Rollout Idea 14:21 How Registration Would Work 17:21 Immigration Fraud Claims 21:20 Bipartisanship and Funding 25:09 Midterms and Loopholes 26:54 Voter Rolls and Turnout 29:32 Bipartisan Wins Ignored 30:47 Name Changes and IDs 32:50 Registration Versus Voting 35:46 Politics and Fraud Claims RESOURCES MENTIONED: https://campaignlegal.org/update/what-you-need-know-about-save-act LINKS: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/ How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

    44 min
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26 Ratings

About

Our story begins in the halls of the University of Iowa, go Hawks! It was there that two seemingly different paths intersected and a friendship blossomed. Despite our different upbringings—Jolene in little Pleasantville, Iowa, and me, Nicole, just across the Golden Gate Bridge in the bustling Bay Area—we became fast friends. And here we are, almost 40 years later, living in a world that often seems intent on drawing lines in the sand and choosing sides. So why "We've Got To Talk"? Because we truly believe that in this deeply divided society, the power of conversation can unite us. Our goal isn't to change each other's opinions, but to listen with curiosity, kindness, and empathy. And yes, to have a good time while doing it! We invite you to join us on this journey and bring your friends along. We might not have all the answers or any of them—but we promise honesty, empathy, and a lot of heart. We hope our conversations give you a fresh outlook or at least entertain you as you go about your day.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicole Fonarow and Jolene Conway
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Nicole Fonarow and Jolene Conway
  • Show Website
    We've Got To Talk

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