Episodes

  • The Magic Of Hallmark Holiday Movies

    The Magic Of Hallmark Holiday Movies
    Nov 28 2024
    It's winter. You throw on your coat and favorite scarf and head outside to put up some last-minute decorations. Stepping out onto your porch, you gaze into the sky just as wispy flakes begin to fall. You smile to yourself because there's no such thing as too much snow for Christmas.

    You grab the roll of garland you left propped up on your front porch and begin winding it around the railing. Now, there's one tricky corner of the porch and you need to climb on the outside of the railing to get the garland placed just so. With the garland looped over your shoulder you swing one leg over, then the other.

    But your foot slips and, with a yelp, you tumble into a snowbank in your yard. You lay there with your eyes closed. And then you hear a deep and somewhat familiar voice."Nice to see some things never change. Need a hand? Again?"

    Whatever comes next is probably happy, heartwarming, and romantic with plenty of holiday spirit. We discuss holiday movies and why we like them so much.

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    32 mins
  • Love Across The Aisle: How Couples With Different Politics Make It Work

    Love Across The Aisle: How Couples With Different Politics Make It Work
    Nov 27 2024
    Imagine you're on a date with someone new. So far, you find them funny, intelligent, and easy to talk to.

    But 20 minutes in, the conversation turns to politics. It becomes clear that you don't share the same views. Do you stay on the date? Or do you leave?

    Nearly 80 percent of Americans would likely make an excuse and find their way home. Only 21 percent of U.S. marriages are between individuals who don't share the same political party, according to the Institute for Family Studies. That's a 10-percentage point decrease from 2016. And of that 21 percent of politically-mixed couples, only 4 percent are relationships between Democrats and Republicans.

    We discuss politically-mixed marriages, and the important role politics plays in our romantic relationships.

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    35 mins
  • The 1A Movie Club Sees 'Wicked: Part 1'

    The 1A Movie Club Sees 'Wicked: Part 1'
    Nov 26 2024
    "Wicked: Part 1" follows the origin story of Elphaba, known in the original "Wizard of Oz" movie as the Wicked Witch of the West. And it follows her friend, Galinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch.

    The movie is based on the Broadway musical which debuted in 2003. Last year, it became the fourth-longest running musical in Broadway history. And that musical comes from a 1995 novel of the same name. The new Wicked movie stars singer-actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the witches Elphaba and Galinda.

    The result this past weekend has been gravity-defying. "Wicked" brought in $114 million in North America and another $50 million internationally. That's the best-ever opening for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical.

    For this meeting of the 1A Movie Club, we discuss the new "Wicked" film.

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    32 mins
  • 'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce

    'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce
    Nov 25 2024
    Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire businessman Elon Musk are heading the president-elect's new Department of Government Efficiency – a non-governmental agency that they say will reduce waste and streamline the U.S. federal agencies.

    But the so–called DOGE is only one tool the president has in mind for slashing the federal workforce. And as more details emerge, the futures of the nation's career civil servants are in the balance.

    We discuss what these plans mean, not just for federal workers, but for the country as a whole.

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    35 mins
  • The News Roundup For November 22, 2024

    The News Roundup For November 22, 2024
    Nov 22 2024
    Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he is withdrawing from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. And the Senate isn't paving the way for Trump to fill his administration with loyalists.

    Reporting indicates New York prosecutors are open to the possibility of pushing Trump's sentencing in his hush money case to 2029 when his second term in the White House will end.

    Meanwhile this week marked 1,000 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This week the Biden administration made a two major U-turns on Ukraine's military aid policy – allowing missiles to be used in Russia territory and a decision to supply Zelenskyy with landmines. Both decisions that have put pressure on the European Union.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a new nuclear doctrine that lowered his bar for using nuclear weapons.

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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • What The World Can And Can't Expect From COP29

    What The World Can And Can't Expect From COP29
    Nov 21 2024
    Leaders from nearly 200 countries are in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29 to talk about the state of global climate change mitigation efforts.

    As many nations flesh out their plans to reduce emissions, they're looking to secure new funding at this summit for their solutions — trillions of dollars' worth.

    Noticeably absent from the talks in Azerbaijan are some of the world's most influential voices on the subject — from President Joe Biden to the leaders of China, India, Brazil, Britain, Germany and France.

    We discuss the role the world's most powerful countries play in shaping our climate future.

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    38 mins
  • Donald Trump's Second Presidency And The LGBTQIA+ Community

    Donald Trump's Second Presidency And The LGBTQIA+ Community
    Nov 20 2024
    After President-elect Donald Trump's win on Nov. 5, those in the LGBTQ community have expressed worry and fear.

    The Trevor Project's crisis hotline saw a 700 percent spike in calls following the election. And The Rainbow Youth Project surpassed its monthly average of calls in just six days after Trump's win. Couples are also rushing to get married before Trump takes office.

    Trump spent millions on anti-trans ads during his campaign. Like his first term, he's promised to continue rolling back protections for LGBTQ people.

    We discuss what Trump will actually be able to do and how advocates are preparing.

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    34 mins