Pantsuit Politics

Sarah Stewart Holland

A different approach to the news

  • 57 minutes 56 seconds
    Sharon McMahon, Antifa, and the Self-Care We Don’t Regret

    What does it mean to truly value free speech? Sarah and Beth discuss the controversy around Sharon McMahon speaking at Utah Valley University, the EO designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, and more. Plus, what leisure activities are actually worth it?

    Topics Discussed:

    • Sharon McMahon and Utah Valley University 
    • The Antifa Executive Order 
    • The Prairieland Nine prosecution 
    • Chip Roy’s MAMDANI Act 
    • The Southern Poverty Law Center indictment 
    • Cancel culture and the criminalization of speech 
    • Outside of Politics: Leisure - what we regret and what we happily pay for

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    24 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Who’s at the Wheel?

    Sarah and Beth unpack the bombshell New York Times investigation linking the shadow docket to Chief Justice John Roberts, assess the erratic messaging around day 53 of the war in Iran, and close with reflections on what a week out West in the national parks can do for your spirit.

    Topics Discussed:

    • The Roberts Court and the Shadow Docket

    • Day 53 of the War in Iran: The Commander-in-Chief Question
    • Section 702 and FISA

    • Outside of Politics: Big Skies and Big Silence for Spring Break

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    21 April 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 53 minutes 22 seconds
    What Zohran Mamdani Gets Right

    We spent Tuesday’s episode talking about headline national and global news, and it felt pretty bleak. Today, we’re zooming in on a bright spot, New York City, and asking what we can learn from Mayor Zohran Mamdani as he crosses the first-100-days milestone. Mamdani was hailed as a unique political talent on the campaign trail. We’re interested in how that star power translates to political power and how the Mayor has pivoted from campaign to service. His initial path tells a compelling story about what Democratic Socialism might mean in practice and where the dividing lines actually are in the Democratic Party. Any way around it, Mayor Mamdani’s “pothole politics” are a stark and welcome contrast to what we see in Washington D.C.

    Outside of politics, we consider the call for parents to hold hands and agree that we’ll all do less together. From Maycember sprawl to spirit week standards to the charcuterization of everything, we sort out what we’re doing and why. -Beth

    Topics Discussed:

    • Zohran Mamdani’s 100 Days: Pothole Politics and What Democratic Socialism Looks Like in Practice

    • The Affordability + Corruption + Service Formula — A Democratic Blueprint?

    • Navigating the Coalition: Mamdani, Trump, Hochul, and the Art of Getting Things Done

    • Outside of Politics: Maycember and the Case for Parents to Just… Stop

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    17 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    Spaceship Earth and the Capricious Kings

    Sarah and Beth return from spring break to catch up on a packed news week — from Eric Swalwell's campaign collapse and the stalled Iran negotiations, to Melania's surprise press conference, Hungary's historic election upset, and the triumphant return of the Artemis II crew.

    Topics Discussed:

    • Less Eric Swalwell (California) and More Rob Sand (Iowa)
    • Pakistan Negotiates Iran “Ceasefire” while Congress sits on its hands
    • Melania Trump’s Press Conference
    • JD Vance’s Losing Streak in Iran and Hungary
    • Outside of Politics: Artemis II

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    14 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 48 minutes 18 seconds
    America's Pastime, Up Close

    Aaron Barrett shares his inspiring journey through baseball, including his battles with Tommy John surgery, resilience, and his new role as a manager. He offers insights into player development, the demands of professional baseball, and leadership lessons.

    Topics Discussed:

    • Aaron Barrett on Baseball, Resilience, and Protecting Players

    • Outside of Politics: Who’s Calling Balls and Strikes?

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    10 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    Does the Democratic Party Have a Big Idea Problem? With Jason Kander

    Jason Kander joins Pantsuit Politics to break down Missouri's redistricting fight and what Democrats need to do to win in 2026 and beyond — including why the party needs to stop running on familiar ideas and start offering something genuinely new.

    Topics Discussed:

    • Will Missouri Voters Veto Partisan Redistricting?

    • What Democrats need to win elections in 2026 and beyond

    • Outside of Politics: Kansas City Stadiums Explaine

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    7 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 48 minutes 14 seconds
    This F***ing Guy

    Before we head out on spring break, we need to let off some steam. Today's episode is a moment of catharsis about just a few of the things President Trump, his administration, and Congress are screwing up right now. 

    Topics Discussed:

    • The DHS Funding Standoff: Right Back Where We Started
    • Donald Trump’s Primetime Speech on Iran
    • The Corruption Is the Point: Coins, Pardons, and a $1.4B Year
    • Outside of Politics: The Best Long Weekend Setup

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    3 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    Punishment Isn't the Same as Accountability

    Sarah and Beth catch up on the headlines — from the ongoing war in Iran and global energy disruptions to congressional gridlock — before diving into a conversation on punishment and accountability through two recent cases: an elderly driver who killed a family of four in San Francisco and two teenagers sentenced for creating AI-generated nude images of classmates. Outside of Politics, they answer a listener's question on whether they believe in karma.

    Topics Discussed:

    • Iran and the Energy Crisis
    • Punishment and Accountability
    • Outside of Politics: Karma is a Vibe

    Join us in Minneapolis for our live show this August! Tickets are on sale now!

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    31 March 2026, 7:15 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Nihilism, Special Elections, and the Smut Renaissance

    When we look at the news right now — Iran, the airports, the corruption, the measles — it's tempting to decide none of it matters because, individually, we can't fix any of it. Nihilism is tempting, and we talk about how sometimes nihilism represents pride, but maybe in the right dose, it’s more like humility. Either way, “nothing matters” is being proven wrong every day. Special elections are producing surprising results. Courts are holding tech companies accountable. And people are figuring it out when institutions fail (I’m especially moved by the story of an underground railroad set up to bring Ukrainian children home from Russia). I say in this episode that my emotional cocktail has a splash of nihilism in it. But the main ingredient is my conviction that our attention and our care and our efforts make a difference. 

    Plus: please clap for my favorite segue in the history of Pantsuit Politics. From: “perhaps we aren’t sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare” to “are we in a smut renaissance?” facilitated by the shelving of an erotic chatbot. If this doesn’t end your Friday with joy, I don’t know what will. -Beth  

    Topics Discussed:

    • Nihilism is Having A Moment 
    • Signs of Hope
    • Outside of Politics: Smut Renaissance

    Join us in Minneapolis for our live show this August! Tickets are on sale now!

    Ready to go deeper? Visit our website for complete show notes, exclusive premium content, chats, and more.

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    27 March 2026, 7:15 am
  • 53 minutes 17 seconds
    The Trust Problem in Political Media with Isaac Saul

    Sarah sits down with Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News, a daily newsletter that breaks down major political stories from across the ideological spectrum all in one place.

    Topics Discussed:

    • News, Journalism, Influencers, and Commentary in the Age of Trump

    • Outside of Politics: Navigating Early Parenthood

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    24 March 2026, 7:15 am
  • 1 hour 32 seconds
    A Hothead at DHS, 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and a Holy Spirit Moment

    Sarah and Beth discuss Markwayne Mullin's confirmation hearing as well as the housing crisis in America and the new legislation aimed at solving it. Plus, outside of politics, they phone a friend to talk about her recent experience with colorectal cancer. 

    Topics Discussed:

    • DHS Nominee Markwayne Mullin Confirmation Hearing
    • Housing in America
    • Outside of Politics: Colorectal Cancer Awareness with Jessica Lotz

    Join us in Minneapolis for our live show this August! Tickets are on sale now!

    Ready to go deeper? Visit our website for complete show notes, exclusive premium content, chats, and more.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 March 2026, 7:15 am
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