Episode 27 | Facing Hopelessness

I know this episode's title is dire. The truth is that we are in a dire situation, we are facing hopelessness, and Josh and I believe we can’t go to sleep on it.

I know many of us want to go on about our day to avoid feeling perpetually stressed. To a degree, this is okay—take in what you can and stand in where you can. But going to sleep on what is happening may inadvertently cause harm. How can we attend to reality without being consumed by it?

Last week, Rep. Ann Johnson, who is living this every day, said repeatedly, “I know I sound crazy, but this is really happening.” I believe her. I am a person who wants to look reality in the face and decide to persist regardless of the outcome. Ultimately, we face hopelessness by letting it transform into hope and doing what we can. This podcast is part of our effort to do just that. Thanks for listening.

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1. Click to read about Stacy Abrams on 10 steps toward autocracy.

2. Click to read about Justice Sotomayor’s dissent.

3. Click to view Trump’s weird rant about farmworkers.

Episode 26 | Rep. Ann Johnson, Badass

This whole episode is embedded in good news—and if not overtly fluffy good news, it's inspired by a fierce and compassionate woman who is quickly becoming my local hero: Rep. Ann Johnson. She is in league with Abraham Lincoln, who jumped from a 2nd story window in 1840 to break quorum, and with Professor Dumbledore, who disapparated to protest the asinine Minister of Magic in Harry Potter 5: The Order of the Phoenix.

The quote from Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird came to mind as I listened to her on Sunday at St. Paul’s in Ordinary Life class. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” She and her colleagues knew they were licked when they left the state, but they did it anyway to draw attention to the unconstitutionality of gerrymandering in Texas. Make no mistake, Republicans are calling it “redistricting,” and while that may be the ultimate result, their move is designed to manipulate electoral boundaries in favor of one party over another. We cannot go to sleep on this.

We were talking about whether we should continue our podcast owing to several factors—one of which is my lame social media presence—but Rep. Johnson lit a fire in me. This is our protest song, this is our action, this is our way of connecting with even a few who want to protect our fragile democracy. I’m not giving up for a president with dictator dreams. I hope you don’t either.

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1. Go to https://annjohnson.com to find out more and donate.

Episode 25 | A Language Problem or a Moral One?

We spend a few moments updating voter redistricting, our numbness to violence, and the uptick in cities threatening to be taken over by the military.

We also discuss a conservative viewpoint expressed by David Brooks and others that the “nihilism” of the right is, in part, caused by highfalutin leftist language and ideas around equity and inclusion. While those accustomed to being unquestioningly included in systems likely do feel overwhelmed by the attention to DEI-related topics, it is childish to say that the nihilism of the radical right is the fault of the increase in “vaguely progressive agendas.”

It is dangerous to deny that the Republicans are at least partially personally responsible for the way Donald Trump has been allowed to overtake the party. I can empathize with the overwhelm, but I cannot give credence to not holding the right accountable for the destruction not only of their own party but of our fragile democracy. We’ll link a few articles in our notes…let us know what you think.

I hope the Trump opposition can get really clear on what they are for. Don’t dress it up in pretty language, just be bold and say what you care about, and then fight for it.

Thanks for listening!

One edit: I said the group that preceded Project 2025 was the Seven Storied Mountain. I got that wrong! Thomas Merton, a mystic and wonderful teacher wrote a book called The Seven Storied Mountain. The group I was trying to recall is called the Seven Mountain Mandate, or 7MM, for short. You can read more here.

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1. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/opinion/rufo-yarvin-trump-nihilism.html

2. https://abc7.com/post/trump-expands-cities-targeted-possible-military-deployment-baltimore-spat-governor/17636050/

3. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/29/trump-project-2025-history

4. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/22/democrats-woke-language-blacklist-00519421?nid=0000018f-3124-de07-a98f-3be4d1400000&nname=politico-toplines&nrid=6766ab12-468a-43ce-a6f6-daeeb782d096

Episode 24 | Entering the Zone of Militarization

In this episode, we talk about the militarization of the D.C. area as Trump moves the National Guard in, voter redistricting in Texas, and the impact of White Christian Nationalism on our society. We wonder what rights to resist the military/law enforcement have if they perceive an injustice is occurring. We commend the dissent of the Texas Democrats. As of our recording, the vote in Texas had not been passed. As of this upload, the vote to reorganize voting districts has been passed. A lot can happen in a day.

We are reaching the enactment of what Timothy Snyder warned us about - the militarization of the police force working as a conglomerate with other government and military agencies. I cannot stress enough how dangerous this is. Employing the military against its own people…we got a problem, y’all. We have a problem when ICE is recruiting more heavily and offering larger incentive packages than public school districts are for teachers.

There are a few links we discussed in todays podcast, so please peruse.

1. On Project 2025 and its impact on your state.

2. A return to the nostalgia of Manifest Destiny as evidenced by the resurfacing of “American Progress”

3. The drama of the Epstein files continues and moves to Texas.

American philosophy and theology center around the individual rather than around the collective. As I’ve said before, when we cannot operate as if we are part of the large “we,” as if our actions don’t impact those around us, we lose sight of the purpose of democracy.

Thanks for listening, and stay strong, folks!

Episode 23 | Thinking with ‘We’ in Mind

One of my favorite psychologists, Fritz Kunkel, believes that crises and catastrophes can lead us toward a “We” culture, in which humans leanr to consider themselves as essentially connected. And that realization of connection is foundational to change.

Our aim here is to help us consider that what is happening in our country politically and socially impacts the whole project of democracy. Today, we talk through voter redistricting, the quieter, more sinister goings on based on the Epstein Files, and several institutions that continue to “obey in advance” in order to capitalize on federal funding. In return, the Trump administration is scrutinizing these institutions even more.

I think we must become conscious of the tendency to withdraw during times of stress, recognize when it is necessary and when it is harmful, and be decisive and conscious about how and where we show up and resist. thanks for being on the journey with us.

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1. John Sanford, Fritz Kunkel: Selected Writings

2. Pro Public, “The Men Trump Deported ro a Salvadoran Prison”

3. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-redistricting-democrats-quorum-break-what-need-know/

Episode 22 | The Stirring of a star

The title of this podcast comes from an 1893 Francis Thompson poem that reads, “Near or far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star. All things interconnected are.” The underlying message, then, is that we are all connected. Nothing that happens to one of us can occur without affecting all of us subtly and directly.

The three topics we cover this week are the ongoing dehumanizing treatment of our immigrant community, voting redistricting plans in our state, and the ongoing issue of the Epstein files. How might we view these issues through the lens of morality and compassion? And how can we keep tending to the smaller, quieter issues (redistricting) in the face of loud ones (immigration and unlawful deportation) that are commanding our attention?

Overall, we explore the issue of our treatment of the perceived outsider. As a nation, we are not doing so well on this front, raising questions about our national commitment to morality and justice. We cannot effectively impact wider society if we are unwilling to examine and locate our personal moral center. What do we believe about the outsider, and what is ours to do to impact the well-being and dignity of all humans? Find your place in the river to step in and create the world you want to live in, whether writing letters to lawmakers or running for office.

Thanks for listening!

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1. Summary of redistricting process in Texas

2. Jon Stewart’s commentary on cancelling Steven Colbert

3. Read about the dehumanization of immigrants here.

4. Take action with PAVE here.

Episode 21 | Flooded

We are in an era of feeling flooded - both literally and figuratively, emotionally and politically. We give time to talking about the flood along the Guadalupe River in Texas and the deep reality of grief that many are facing. We offer some resources to help those who might be suffering, like Bo’s Place in Houston.

Then we turn to an increase in ICE raids across the country. Congress just passed the “Big Beautiful Bill” which provides huge amounts of money for the war against immigration. Here is a quick breakdown of funds as it currently stands:

• $170 billion: for immigration and border enforcement. 

• $46.5 billion: for border wall construction and improvements. 

• $45 billion: for detention facilities, including family detention centers. 

• $29.9 billion: for hiring, training, and retention of ICE personnel, as well as technology and transportation upgrades. 

• $10 billion: grants for states to help with federal immigration enforcement. 

• $65 billion: for CBP, with a significant portion going towards border walls. 

• Increased fees: for asylum applications, work permits, and appeals. 

• New fees: for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applications.

It’s been said that history doesn’t so much repeat as it does rhyme, and this is one such moment. The Fugitive Slave Act of the 1850s influenced the development of policing in this country by capturing and returning those freed from slavery back to slave states. Now we see ICE agents partnering with law enforcement, exerting force on immigrants, treating them as less than human, and separating families to return people to their home countries, often ones left under duress.

We can resist unjust laws non-violently, a playbook that already exists. We can turn to the wisdom of those who have already lived through and written lines of this poem. We believe it is our duty to resist laws that work against justice and human dignity, and we hope you will consider joining up where you can!

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1. Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American

2. Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow

3. https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/

Engaged Citizen 20 | Patriotism & Courage

We are at the end of Timothy Snyder’s book as a guide. Using the final chapters, we talk about the difference between patriotism and nationalism - an apt conversation as we engage in conflict in the Middle East and service members will surely have to ask themselves if they are enlisted for patriotic or nationalistic ideals. The highest ethic of their profession is rooted in patriotism - universal humanistic values guided by a longing to make the world and our country better. Nationalism, on the other hand, presumes superiority. So we are asked in this moment, what are we willing to stand for? Snyder ends with this simple, direct statement: “If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.”

A sobering thought for sure.

I guess where we land is to encourage each of us to ask what values we are willing to protect, and how are we best suited to do so? I really believe each of us has a unique superpower, a unique way of showing up in the world that fuels more justice, love, and mercy. When we fall away from those values, I don’t think we are acting from our superpowers, but rather from fear. Let us keep hold of the patriotic values of freedom and justice. Thanks for listening. We’ll be with you again the week of July 7th.

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1. Heather Cox Richardson, “Letters From An American,” June 21, 2025

2. Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny

3. James Baldwin, various

Episode 19 | Listen & Be Calm

In times of heightened social anxiety, it’s important to remember your strategies for self-care. First, learn to notice what triggers anxiety, then bring awareness ot the body and breath. Be sure to drink water and take breaks from social media and the news. When our nervous system is settled, we are better able to listen and respond calmly in chaos.

We need to listen for dangerous words and actions that promote extremism and put us on high alert. It may be tempting to submit to authority, but that is neither free nor safe. Protecting freedom can be uncomfortable, but it ultimately promotes more safety. As Fannie Lou Hamer reminds us, none of us is free until all of us are.

When we know what we are listening for, we are better prepared to remain calm when the unthinkable happens - say, activating the national guard against state wishes. Remaining calm allows us to act from a place of wisdom rather than reactivity, which often only inflames authoritarians. I think it’s good to remember the tenets of nonviolent action as they were employed by the Civil Rights activists in the 50s and 60s. Gather the facts, negotiate with leadership, prepare yourself mentally and physically, and participate in direct action. Of note are the thousands of peaceful protests that occurred across the country. We are the change we’ve been waiting for!

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1. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/15/how-many-people-attended-no-kings/84219725007/

2. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-alex-padilla-forcibly-removed-dhs-sec-kristi-noems-press-conferenc-rcna212688

3. https://time.com/7294521/us-trump-deportation-drive-democratic-cities/

4. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

5. “Letters from an American” by Heather Cox Richardson

Episode 18 | Going Back A Bit

A few weeks ago, we talked about Chapter 6 in On Tyranny, “Beware the Paramilitary.” As the National Guard descends upon the state of California to assist ICE, we are witnessing the rise of a military state as local and national law enforcement agencies are called upon to do Trump’s bidding and serve his anti-immigrant agenda. We also saw the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States from the El Salvadoran prison, CECOT, to be brought to trial for some pretty egregious accusations that seem to have come from nowhere. We will see how our legal system holds up in these two incidents and whether justice will be served.

Two actions we can take right now.

1. Give money to and get involved in NGO’s and non-profits that are upholding human freedoms.

2. Build friendships with and talk to people outside of this country. The trend toward the far right is not unique to the US, so we are not the only ones needing to come up with humane solutions.

What good news are y’all experiencing? What is giving you hope, life, and joy?

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1. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/09/governor-newsom-suing-president-trump-and-department-of-defense-for-illegal-takeover-of-calguard-unit/

2. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/immigrants-and-crime

3. “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus

4. https://www.outsports.com/2020/7/7/21315242/sean-doolittle-lgbtq-ally-washington-nationals-baseball-mlb-pride-night/

5. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

Episode 17 | Education & THe Press

In a stable democracy, a free press and schools are two institutions that can generally be counted on to provide a wide range of views in an objective, expansive way. When governments start to control the media and limit the capacity of esteemed educational institutions, it threatens our ability to hold and honor differences and creates more divisiveness.

The Trump administration's attack on both the media and education is strategic. He said to 60 Minutes Anchor, Lelsey Stahl, that he works so hard to discredit the press and “liberal” education so that no one will believe them when Trump is portrayed negatively. It is really something when the leader of the so-called “free world” cannot handle criticism. I’ve said this repeatedly, but our job as citizens of a democracy is to challenge it so that it grows and stretches continually.

You don’t have to do something giant and newsworthy to take a stand against the erosion of these two entities. Hope is usually much quieter than power. It consists of considering what is, noticing what needs tending to, and picking up the pieces where you can. It consists of small daily acts. Fascism seeks to erode hope, but whether we let it is up to us. Stand up for your schools and your local publications wherever you can.

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1. Bono on “Stories of Surrender”

2. The New Yorker Radio Hour with Lesley Stahl

3. Heather Cox Richardson, May 31, 2025

4. “Crucible of Hope” with Dr’s Bill Kerley and Holly Hudley

5. Ruby Bridges, “A Talk With My Teacher”

Episode 16 | Finding Balance

In the next two chapters of On Tyranny, Timothy Snyder juxtaposes the need to act more publicly while also protecting our privacy. We explore how we might show up and form alliances while also protecting our private lives from being scrutinized. Part of resisting tyranny is forming alliances with people we wouldn’t normally interact with to realize that we are part of an interconnected web of reality.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by the House last week threatens the basic health and well-being needs of the poorest people in America. What will it take for those directly unaffected to support the needs of those most affected? We encourage you to read and understand what is happening, pay attention, and ask questions.

1. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-24-2025?r=mztvn&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

2. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/what-is-trump-big-beautiful-bill

3. Gerald Horne, The Counter-Revolution of 1776, 2014

4. Gerald Horne, The Dawning of the Apocalypse, 2020

Episode 15 | All at Once

These two chapters in On Tyranny further the importance of investigating and Making Contact with others. It’s funny that one is kind of a solo act based on how we view the world, and the other is about how we relate to each other. So, this resistance to tyranny is not just about what we know in our heads, but also about how we move through the world in our bodies.

The first rule in our house is kindness. It’s paramount to us—how we treat others and how we stand for each other’s right to belong. Let’s not forget our human connections, that no matter what, each one of us is deserving of dignity. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how to live from it.

I think resisting tyranny is about learning to hold tensions within ourselves and between ourselves and others. Treat each other as fundamentally human, and establish good boundaries when it comes to resisting fear and non-truths.

Josh and I will be back together next week! Thanks for listening.

Episode 14 | Language & Truth

We start with good news this week, about the many ways the judicial system is pushing back against the Trump regime. (Read some of Heather Cox Richardson’s recent “Letters from an American” to learn more.) We also cannot underestimate the value of breaking bread and spending time with people you love. This is a form of self-care and sometimes resistance.

On Tyranny presents us with two more concepts: Be Kind to Our Language and Believe in Truth. Language is bent to create “alternative facts,” and a narcissist with authoritarian dreams will try to convince us that his truth is THE truth. We must be willing to read critically, read more, and question falsehoods. We must then call falsehoods out so that we contribute to upholding a larger, shared ethic of honesty. I certainly do not think honesty is too much to expect from our leaders. It is the basis of all good relationships and feelings of safety. One response to being lied to is to delude ourselves into believing “untruths” so that we don’t feel unsafe, so that we belong. Just seeking truthful information that is undistorted by megalomanicas and shock jocks is an act of resistance.

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1. “The Rise of the Self”

2. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

3. “Me. We.” by Muhammed Ali

Episode 13 | Be Reflective & Stand Out

Last week’s Executive Order #14074, which seeks to give more power to police forces, is a harbinger of the military state. Lots has to happen to actually enact the order, but something has been set in motion that harkens back to the rise of paramilitaries. According to the EA, police are given the go-ahead to use more aggressive force to preserve law and order instead of “pursuing harmful, illegal race and sex-based ‘equity’ policies.”

It’s absurd to assert that there is something illegal about equity when, in fact, it is the opposite!

So, as tyranny exercises its hand, we are called to be mindful if we must use a weapon and to stand up. The former is directed mainly at law enforcement, encouraging them to say “no” if they are asked to do something against their professional ethic. The latter is directed at ordinary citizens. We, too, must not abandon our ethics.

Thanks for listening!

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1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

2. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/strengthening-and-unleashing-americas-law-enforcement-to-pursue-criminals-and-protect-innocent-citizens/

3. Click here to read MLK, Jr’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail”

Episode 12 | Ethics & PAramilitaries

I am amazed at how each chapter in On Tyranny coincides perfectly with the week's news. It almost makes me think Timothy Snyder was on to something!

This week, we talk about remembering our professional (and personal) ethics and being wary of paramilitaries. There are several instances of officials looking to the larger ethics that guide their professions, like lawyers and judges, instead of bowing to the whim of the administration. We uphold those as courageous acts. If we do not have a larger commitment to something beyond a personality, we will be swept up, wondering how things got so bad. We will find ourselves being governed by foolish tyrants who solicit armed support from those who do not uphold the ethics of their profession. ICE right now is being engaged as a type of paramilitary, carrying out arrests and deportations without due process. They are in violation of people’s legal rights. So the encouragement is to ground yourself and ask if you are in integrity with your personal and professional ethics to carry out justice, mercy, and love.

Thanks for listening! Send us good news. We live in a small corner of the world—let us know how your corner is resisting tyranny!

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1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

2. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/20250420-urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html

3. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DI6vtjjOGGg/

4. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/us/wisconsin-judge-hannah-dugan-arrest.html

Episode 11 | The One-party State & Symbols

Following through on our commitment to using Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny as a frame, we discuss Chapters 3 and 4 as they relate to current events. One directive is to “Beware the one-party state,” and another is to “Take responsibility for the face of the world.”

We’ve got someone in power who is striving for the one-party state and frequently mentions an unconstitutional third term. While many of us have come to expect freedom without having to do much to uphold it, it requires constant vigilance. Freedom is fragile, and symbols of power and exclusion easily challenge it. We are responsible for challenging and removing symbols of exclusion so that they don’t become normal.

We talk about ways to do this. It seems I’ll say some version of this every time, but democracy requires constant evolution, resistance, and protection. The people are the protectors.

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1. https://timothysnyder.org/on-tyranny/

2. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-comes-after-dei/id1708072320?i=1000703765957

3. https://pluralism.org/home

Episode 10 | Rules 1 & 2

We’ve decided to frame the next few weeks of podcasts with Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny. It is a book that lists 20 rules for resisting tyranny in a political and social system. Rules 1 & 2 are “don’t obey in advance” and “support institutions” respectively. We talk about what obeisance and resistance has gotten some institutions as well as what is difficult about supporting institutions right now. But take heart - we can look to the micro level to support institutions. These can be libraries, schools, a local non profits, or a socially conscious retail store.

I often think of my friend who once said to me “fight where you stand.” Look locally to make an impact…this will eventually ripple outward.

Thanks for listening!

Episode 9 | Sowing Chaos

We spent some time today discussing four things: the order for public schools to remove DEI initiativestive order impacting state and local elections, the continued capitulation and resistance playing out, and a significant bungle in a deportation case. Some of these things have been shoved to the third and fourth pages of the papers and need our attention.

Of course, we follow this with good news: a map of which serves as our graphic. But y’all, we gotta make our own good news. What are you doing personally to stay sane and care for yourself? A colleague and I are offering a hybrid support group for those suffering from political anxiety. It starts April 30, 11:30-1 CST. You can register here or email me at holly@hollyhudley.com.

I am linking to a few other things:

1. A New York Times Article about the education executive order

2. On Tyranny, a book by Timothy Snyder

3. The Ordinary Life Podcast from Sunday, April 6. My mentor and I teach this class together on occasion. Bill is wonderful, and Sunday’s talk felt particularly important.

Episode 8:P2 | “Signalgate” & Erasure

Okay y’all. We’re back with part 2. Here we finish the conversation we started by circling back to Signalgate, you know…the one where Jeff Goldberg’s phone got sucked into a national security conversation. We also talk about the attempt to erase aspects of our history that are less than savory or make dominant culture uncomfortable. This is personal for us because of who our family is. I know that stories have the power to uplift and maybe even save us, so collecting and recording stories is more important than ever now - we can’t lose the fullness of who we are. Thanks for joining us for round two!