Start Me Up with Kimberley A. Johnson

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Raw Story, Alternet and Salon. Topics: The beautiful big blue wave means DEMOCRACY IS NOT DEAD!!! The government shutdown may be stalled until after the Tennessee Special Election; donald's health and cognitive issues are getting worse by the hour and it looks like there's a manufactured fascist romance brewing with JD Vance and Erica Kirk. All that and more. ...

My guest is Lisa Parker AKA Mamaw's Porch Politics. She's a liberal woman who lives in rural Ohio and was raised in Appalachia, and her political commentary has caught the attention of thousands of voters. Her social pages are growing quickly because her message resonates so deeply. Topics: The importance of voter turnout (even in heavily gerrymandered districts) in upcoming elections, emp...

David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He's the author of Laboratories of Autocracy  and Saving Democracy . Topics: Strategies for effective activism in a fascist-run country; gerrymandering's impact on public institutions; the importance of running...

Cliff is back! Topics: Cliff offers advice on the best kind of messaging for No Kings rally attendees; Vance does not have the charisma donald has, and Cliff weighs in on Vance taking over if donald is no longer POTUS; the races in NY & VA look good for Democrats, and we talk about the urgency of the 2026 midterms! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://...

Jared Yates Sexton: Political Analyst, author of The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis , Co-Host Muckrake Podcast , newsletter Dispatches From A Collapsing State , Board: The Change Campaign. Topics: Is the tide turning against fascism? Posting defeatist comments online helps the regime; fascism is abuse by the state, and Jared correlates it to abusive behavior...

Sarah Wood is back, and she's started a new social media consulting business! Relevate Strategies Topics: Capitalism trumped fascism; the Epstein scandal isn't going away; signs that the tides against donald are turning; and why it's important to not declare that democracy is dead if you're feeling frightened. All that and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands P...

Topics: Jody had brunch with Martin Sheen and that got us talking about the Charlie Sheen documentary. We also talked about her new podcast, The Politics Bar ; cosmetic surgery; what it was like in Malibu in the '70s...and then we launched some political talk about trump, JD, their stupid, fascist agenda, and how free speech is only for the right. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/b...

Topics: Jody had brunch with Martin Sheen and that got us talking about the Charlie Sheen documentary. We also talked about her new podcast, The Politics Bar ; cosmetic surgery; what it was like in Malibu in the '70s...and then we launched some political talk about trump, JD, their stupid, fascist agenda, and how free speech is only for the right.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/...

Steph is back! Just two best friends talking about politics and life: The latest COVID vaccine; weight loss/menopause; Newsom is killing it; donald's poor health and much more!  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Actor Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men & Pretty In Pink joins me to talk about acting, politics and Hollywood parties! Oh my! Topics: We chatted a little about Hollywood parties, his career, “his famousness,” and then we discussed our current political nightmare: how Americans--including political leaders--are handling the fascist takeover; Boomers are showing up and protesting; many people are...

Brian Karem is a White House Columnist and his latest book is titled Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It . He's a political analyst for CNN and hosts the "Just Ask The Question" podcast. Topics: How legacy media has eroded over the decades, Gavin Newsom's strategy to fight the Republicans; the strategy behind military operations being deployed in b...

Brian Karem is a White House Columnist and his latest book is titled Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It . He's a political analyst for CNN and hosts the "Just Ask The Question" podcast. Topics: How legacy media has eroded over the decades, Gavin Newsom's strategy to fight the Republicans; the strategy behind military operations being deployed in b...

Greg Olear is back! He's the author of Rough Beast , PREVAIL  columnist & podcaster, and co-host of The Five 8  on YouTube. Topics: We talked about Gavin Newsom's political strategy, and how his engagement with Trump is both effective and entertaining. Greg highlighted the importance of strong opposition leadership in the US, and compared current political dynamics to the rise of Hitle...

Sarah Wood is back! Topics: Sarah shares whether or not she thinks fascism will take hold; misogyny is on the rise; the Epstein files--are they a threat to Donald or will MAGA care? Republicans have a history of protecting rapists and we have their quotes; what happens if Vance takes over? All that and much more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcir...

Rachel is back and her new book is titled Hit 'Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game , and she's the co-host of This is America on The Cycle on Substack . Topics: The 2026 midterms--where the focus needs to be, and will there even be elections? Musk’s possible third-party threat would hurt GOP if he actually goes through with it; Democrats are pr...

Jess Craven is a political content creator—she’s @jesscraven101 on all platforms-- the author of " Chop Wood, Carry Water Daily Actions ” on Substack, and the co-host of the Practivist Pod . She aims to help average Americans become more engaged in the political process and to help elect more progressive lawmakers everywhere. Topics: Jess weighs in on the "Will there be midterms?" deba...

Steph is back! We had an in-depth chat about how the current fascist regime is affecting us-- us meaning all of us--and why it's so important to engage. Steph shared a story from grade school when she witnessed racism from a teacher, she told her father, and he confronted the principal--the outcome was positive. We discuss where Democrats need to step up their game, and it's up to voters t...

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Raw Story, Alternet and Salon. Topics: Supreme Court sides with South Carolina in ruling allowing states to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and what that will mean; Trump's mental/physical health and corporate media's double-standard; the difference in what Raw Story reporters can cover compared to what's being reported on by the cable news...

Cheri is back for another rousing conversation. We start the show with our critiques of "And Just Like That," and then we dive into politics. Topics: what constitutes an effective political ad; Tucker Carlson went after Ted Cruz and Cheri emphasizes that no matter what things may look like, there's always something nefarious going on behind the scenes; podcasters and influencers who ar...

Jared Yates Sexton: Political Analyst, The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis , Co-Host Muckrake Podcast , newsletter Dispatches From A Collapsing State , Board: The Change Campaign. Topics: the psychological and emotional toll of combating authoritarianism, the importance of self-care and maintaining a grounded perspective; our mixed feelings about Gavin Newsom,...

Wajahat Ali is the editor of The Left Hook Substack & Co-host of The Democracy-Ish Podcast. Topics: Wajahat talked about the challenges of maintaining hope and mental health while resisting a right-wing authoritarian regime; the normalization of extreme conspiracy theories and violence under Trump's presidency; concerns about the integrity of future elections; the dangers of underestimatin...

David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He's the author of Laboratories of Autocracy  and Saving Democracy . Topics: Courts say Trump tariffs are illegal--but will he obey the courts, and how would his defiance play to voters? Elon may be out of the White...

Jennifer Taylor-Skinner is a writer, essayist, and creator & host of the award-winning podcast, The Electorette—one of the longest-running feminist podcasts, offering analyses and solutions to the world's biggest political and social challenges, all through the lens of women. Topics: Both of us feel more hopeful about democracy than we did six months ago; Bernie Sanders' recent comment...

Kiersten is such a delight. No politics today. We chatted about her book, I wish I were an Ocelot: Adventures of an Essential Kitten ; upcoming projects; the hate Pamela Anderson is getting for being and looking 57; the pressure women are under to look sexy (for others) their entire lives, and much, much more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle...

Stephanie is back!!!! No prep...just two best friends talking about what's happening out there. Steph talked up Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and shared what happened when she met him; Stephanie passionately discusses the importance of providing healthcare to all, regardless of immigration status or other factors, emphasizing it as a human right; we talked about the protests and backlash against t...