Hellbent

Devon and Varsha discuss DeVos' attempt to narrow the definition of sexual harassment on college campuses, ICE seizing passports of American citizens that just happen to be not white, and what the hell evangelicals are doing supporting a non-Christian like Trump (hint: it has to do with judicial nominations.) Devon also sits down with Daniella Gibbs Léger, the senior vice president for Communications and Strategy at the Center for American Progress to discuss voter suppression, Republican's obsession with the courts, QAnon, and fantasy football.  Please remember to subscribe to our new show! Hellbent Presents: Crush the Midterms. It premiers on Tuesday September 4, 2018!  http://bit.ly/CrushTheMidterms

Devon and Varsha discuss John McCain's passing, another mass shooting in Florida, a gaslighting piece of trash healthcare legislation put forth by 10 GOP senators, and failed voter suppression in Georgia.  They also announce that Hellbent Media is producing 2 new shows with amazing organizations.  Hellbent Presents Crush the Midterms is in conjunction with CrushtheMidterms.org and will focus on how to be the best possible activist and volunteer in the run up to the 2018 midterm elections.  Candid(ate): Real Conversations with Women Running for Office is in partnership with Emily's List and offers weekly interviews with women running in the 2018 midterms. You'll hear their stories, their issues and their plans to shape the political landscape in 2019 and beyond. Both shows are produced by Devon Handy and Varsha Venkatasubramanian. Look for the shows next week and every Tuesday until the midterm elections on November 6, 2018!

Devon and Varsha discuss toxic masculinity in 3 parts: Manafort and Cohen's crimes and Trump's mob boss mentality, the strength of the Me Too movement as a whole and why men want to take it down so badly, and how making the death of a young white woman about immigrant status instead of male violence keeps toxic masculinity in power. Devon also sits down with Daniela Contreras, a DREAMer and spokeswoman for the Me Too and Time's Up movements with the National Domestic Worker's Alliance. They discuss fear, immgration status and sexual harrasment in domestic work spaces.

Devon and Varsha discuss Trump's racism and why it doesn't matter if there is actually a tape of him saying the n-word. They also discuss DACA, actual threats to national security and exsistaential threats to the Republican party.

Devon and Varsha discuss Trump revoking former CIA director John Brennan's security clearance, #NotedDickwad Alex Jones, Sarah Huckabee Sanders intentionally misleading the public about black unemployment, and Trump's overt racism. Devon also sits down with the Director of Leadership & Education for The Harry Potter Alliance, a group that "turns fans into heroes" and uses Harry Potter and pop culture as a whole to get people into activism. Learn more at https://www.thehpalliance.org/

Devon and Varsha discuss more family separation issues, including issues that affect more than immigrants at the southern border. They also discuss the effort of neo-Nazis to organize another rally in Charlottesville, (and what an embarrassing flop that was), and they dig into Devon's personal arch nemesis, Betsy DeVos. Thank you to our sponsors this week: Tommy John: get 20% off the comfiest underwear you'll ever put on your butt by going to http://www.tommyjohn.com/hellbent ZipRecruiter: try ZipRecruiter FREE by going to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/hellbent

Devon and Varsha discuss corruption in congress, the press' role in a free democracy and more immigration bullshit. They also cover a few horrific stories of abuse of children being held in ORR facilities after being forcibly separated from their parents. Devon also sits down with Rewire.News reporter Tina Vasquez for a more in-depth look at the rampant abuse and deaths of those in ICE custody.

Devon and Varsha discuss the NRA's finances, EPA deregulation, the failure of the government to reunify kids were ripped from their parents by this administration, and the lack of process in our draconian immigration system.

Devon and Varsha discuss abuse in child detention centers and the practice of forcibly drugging children separated from their parents. They also discuss Trump's panic and Varsha explains tariffs and the impending trade war. Devon sits down with Marisa Kabas to talk about her new project, Crush the Midterms.

Devon and Varsha discuss kids being re-separated from their parents after finally being reunited, Russia's attempts to meddle in the 2018 midterm elections, and Jeff Sessions' coded language. Thank you to our sponsor for this week: Blinkist - Blinkist distills nonfiction books down to their most important components and ideas - great for those of us who never have enough time to read everything we wan to. Go to http://www.blinkist.com/hellbent for a FREE trial or 3 months FREE with a yearly subscription.

Devon sits down with former federal prosecutor and current CNN analyst Renato Mariotti to discuss the Michael Cohen tapes and the declassification of the Carter Page FISA warrants. Spoiler alert: none of it is actually exculpatory evidence. Follow Renato @renato_mariotti Thank you to our sponsor: Tommy John - get 20% off your first order of the comfiest underwear you'll even own at http://www.tommyjohn.com/hellbent

Devon and Varsha discuss this administration's feeble efforts to reunite parents and kids that they forcibly separated, Trump's treasonous week & his triple negative excuse, Devon's time at San Diego Comic Con, and the real-life episode of "The Americans" that we're currently living through. Thank you to our sponsors for this week: ZipRecruiter - try ZipRecruiter FREE and find your Varsha by going to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/hellbent Simple Contacts - get $20 off your first order and make your life easy by ordering your contacts and even getting your eyes checked at home. Go to http://www.simplecontacts.com/hellbent or use promo code hellbent at checkout Sun Basket - eat well, without going to the grocery store. Get $35 off by going to http://www.sunbasket.com/hellbent Trying or using the products and services offered by our sponsors help keeps the lights on and the anger flowing! Thank you, Hellions!

Devon sits down with Destiny Lopez, co-director of All Above All, a group dedicated to lifting restricts that limit women's access to abortion. They discuss what SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh means for Roe v. Wade and how Roe is out of reach for so many women already. Reminder: Devon will be at San Diego Comic Con next week, so there will be NO SHOWS the week of 7/16\. If you're in the area, feel free to contact Devon on Twitter or Facebook for an impromtu SDCC meetup!

Devon and Varsha discuss the bonkers Trump rally, hateful immigration policy, and the ongoing horror of what is going on with the family separation policy at the border.

Devon sits down with the Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum Sung Yeon Choimorrow, to discuss the impact of NIFLA v. Becerra and the rise of Crisis Pregnancy Centers on women of color.

Devon and Varsha discuss the new revelations about the so-called "pilot" program in place before the Trump administration announced the official family separation policy, the reshaping of the Democratic Party's base, and our own racist undertones as seen in our leadership's response to Maxine Waters' call for civil disobedience.

Devon and Varsha discuss the bullshit coming out of SCOTUS recently and the potential ramifications of Kennedy's retirement announcement. Devon sits down with ThinkProgress justice editor for the second week in a row to go in depth into the SCOTUS decisions and the grim picture that we are facing.

Devon and Varsha discuss the broader immigration policy that Paul Ryan is fucking up beyond repair, the US pulling out of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Trump's escalating trade war with China, and why it's okay to be pissed the Melania Trump wore a jacket with a not-so-secret message on the back. Please donate to RAICES Texas to help fund legal counsil for those detained at the border. Donate here: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/donate-to-raices-texas Thank you to our sponsor for this week: Blinkist Blinkist is the only app that takes thousands of the best-selling nonfiction books and distills them down to their most impactful elements, so you can read or listen to them in under 15 minutes, all on your phone. Go to http://www.blinkist.com/hellbent for a free trial OR 3 months free when you buy a year-long subscription.

Devon sits down with author and justice editor of Think Progress, Ian Millhiser. They discuss the Supreme Court, how laws move through an increasingly partisan legal system, and what the actual fuck is going on with the family separation policy. Ian gives a great overview of the Flores settlement and why it is so centrally important to this issue.  Follow Ian on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/imillhiser Follow Devon: http://www.twitter.com/DevonHandy DONATE to RAICES Texas, an organization that offers legal services to undocumented immigrants at the border and who are actively working to reunite families: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/donate-to-raices-texas

Devon and Varsha discuss the Inspector General's report about Comey's conduct during the 2016 election and the wider implications of ignoring DoJ and FBI policy. They also discuss the kids being taken from their parents at our southern border and the horrific conditions in which they are being held. They explain why semantics in this instance are dangerous and how to push back against the policy. Donate to help the kids at the border: http://raicestexas.org/ - Legal Aid https://www.borderangels.org/ - Water drops and rescue stations in Southern California to help those crossing in punishing heat. Thank you to our sponsors for this week: SunBasket - get $35 off your first order and start cooking healthy, delicious meals at home http://www.sunbasket.com/hellbent Tommy John - the comfiest underwear you'll ever put on your body. Get 20% off at http://tommyjohn.com/hellbent