Start Me Up with Kimberley A. Johnson

Topics: The Texas Senate race (with emphasis on Jasmine Crockett); Dems are winning special elections and primaries with big percentage points--good news for November; ICE - it'll get worse before it gets better but it will get better because Americans are not having it; donald is old and sick, so we discussed what it may look like if JD gets in...all that and more. Advertising Inquiries: http...

Greg Olear is back! He's the author of Rough Beast , PREVAIL  columnist & podcaster, and co-host of The Five 8  on YouTube. Topics: Sh*ts f*ucked up and we talk about it. Esptein (Greg had an interesting theory on what could be a smoking gun); fascism; general strikes; and I ended with a lil rant. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/...

Sarah Burris is a reporter at Alternet. Former: Raw Story, AlterNet and Salon. Topics: The repercussions of ICE murdering Renee Nicole Good; the resignation of six Justice Department prosecutors in Minneapolis; the escalating actions of ICE and the public's response; donald's mental state; we also touched on the horrific accounts of what William Sasha Reilly says happened to him at the han...

Sarah and I discuss the aftermath of the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good. We emphasized that the current regime will escalate their cruelty and that voters must not allow all of the cruelty to crush their spirit. We covered a variety of issues but our main focus was on how we maintain sanity while we beat fascism. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redci...

Jody Hamilton, co-host of The Politics Bar podcast, is back for the last Start Me Up of 2025! We talked about the tragic deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, and Jody offered up great advice on how to handle people going through grief. We also chatted about dealing with MAGA family members; the desire for sweeping progressive changes when democracy is back; the potential for a 2026 midterm blue tsuna...

We chatted about aging--the good, the bad and the ugly. We shared personal stories and then we talked about how democracy will be restored. It's a fun, hopeful show with lotsa laughs. We're besties and we never plan what we discuss. Come join us!  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: Brian's take on the recent Tennessee special election and what it could mean for democracy; where the Republican Party is headed; Sen. Mark Kelly is establ...

Comedian Andy Kindler is back. Topics: We talked some shit about Bill Maher's whining; both of us seeing a democracy light at the end of the fascist tunnel; donald is losing the narrative; we talked about so many different things: spirituality, hope, show business...come join us. A fun, light show! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/pri...

Elizabeth is the CEO/Founder at The Gaia Leadership Project; Author of  Becoming Heroines: Unleashing Our Power for Revolution and Rebirth  and the host of  #ResistanceLive on Youtube. We discussed the potential political impact of donald's presidency and the release of Epstein files, and how these events could influence Republicans and the broader political landscape. We discussed the content...

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...