March 14, 2025 Recap ✊
BRAWLERS FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS & FREEDOM From Change Makers to Court Cases ⚖️
This Friday, our Power Lunch was a rallying cry. A space where frustration turned into fuel. Where disappointment sparked determination, where we remembered: We rise by defying gravity.
We spent the days leading up to the show making calls, urging our Senators not to fold on the Continuing Resolution (CR). We demanded courage. We demanded leadership. And still... they caved.
Chuck Schumer. Catherine Cortez Masto. Dick Durbin. Brian Schatz. Angus King. Maggie Hassan. John Fetterman. Gary Peters. Kirsten Gillibrand. Jeanne Shaheen. They voted YES.
They handed away leverage that grassroots Democrats have fought for. On the ground, WE are making calls 📞, writing postcards 📝, knocking doors 🚪, and standing in the streets 🪧—fighting for democracy every day. And now? Our fight just got harder. But we are not backing down. We are rising up to Defy Gravity.
This CR may devastate public lands 🌲, education 🎓, scientific research 🔬, public safety 🚓, underserved communities 🤝, and farmers 🚜. It betrays the trust of the people who believed in better. And so, we must Defy Gravity.
DEFYING GRAVITY TOGETHER
We opened Friday's show with Wicked's "Defying Gravity", as only Katherine White can tell it. Trump. MAGA. Musk hiding behind their curtain 🎭. Propping up lies. Pushing policies of cruelty, incompetence, and betrayal. But we are pulling back the curtain. And we will not be held down.
Say it with us: I CAN DEFY GRAVITY.
THE BRAWLERS TAKE THE FIELD 🥊
Washington State didn’t just hold the line in 2024—it turned bluer. 💙 Shasti Conrad, the youngest state Democratic Chair in Washington’s history, joined us to talk about HOW.
Shasti’s team ran on what matters: economic and kitchen table issues. Washington has the strongest overtime protections, a high minimum wage, stellar family leave policies, and a safety net worthy of the people. And guess what? People TRUST Democrats there—because they DELIVER. ✅
Shasti comes from the grassroots, and she’s clear: Respect the people doing the work. The Party needs bottom-up leadership, not top-down orders. 👏
"You don’t have to choose between diversity, the economy and kitchen table issues," Shasti said. "You can do it all when you let people bring their full selves to the table."
She’s not just talking about holding ground. She’s talking about LEADING. "We can’t just resist. We have to LEAD." You can see Shasti’s full segment here.
Watch the full show below with our unique mini-video and get inspired. The YouTube version does not include the songs and footage from Wicked. 🗣️
CHANGE MAKERS TO COURT CASES ⚖️
Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, introduced Vicki Ringer, Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
In South Carolina, Republicans introduced a bill to classify abortion as homicide punishable by death. 24 sponsors. TWENTY-FOUR. That’s not just bad policy—that’s a war on women. 💣 Hear them discuss the story. It’s outrageous. 📰
Jamie reminded us: reproductive freedom in Virginia depends on what we do NOW. We must maintain majorities in the House and Senate to pass the constitutional amendment again in 2026—and then put it to the people in November. 🗳️
Medicaid is on the line, too. 1.7 million Virginians and 1.4 million South Carolinians rely on it. South Carolina refused to expand Medicaid and disqualified Planned Parenthood as a provider. The case is heading to the Roberts Court. ⚖️
Vicki and Jamie broke it down—what’s at stake isn’t just Planned Parenthood’s future, it’s everyone’s access to care. Listen in. 🎧
HALA AYALA: BRINGING THE ENERGY
Hala Ayala, new Chair of the Virginia Women’s Caucus, is leading the charge. "We are UNLIMITED," she told us. And she’s making it happen.
Hala shared plans for the Building Bridges Tour, designed to fire up the grassroots and forge powerful connections. See Hala discuss it here.
LUISA BOYARSKI: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF🧘🏼♂️
Luisa encourages us to take care of ourselves first, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Make choices about where you will expend your energy. Choose where you have the time and space to show up. Listen to the tips given to decide where you can add the greatest value.
Check out all the actions and information at Virginia Grassroots Coalition. You can join the coalition community as well.
WOMEN’S SUMMIT: SAVE THE DATE! 📣
June 27-29—be there. The Women’s Summit is where we prepare for Virginia’s bellwether election. Antjuan Seawright, Leah Greenberg, and a lineup of fierce leaders are ready to give us new tools 🧰, strategies 🗺️, and the energy to take action.
🔥 Sign up for the Women’s Summit here and reserve your room at the elegant Hilton for only $129! Workshop proposals can be submitted until April 6, 2025.
For sponsorship or partnership - email Stair Calhoun at networkvirginia@gmail.com
Purchase our badass “DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE” t-shirt! Show your true feelings wherever you go - shop here.
NEXT WEEK
Show favorite Dahlia Lithwick, author of Lady Justice, joins us! She’ll break down the courts' role in this madness—and where our focus must be now.
We’ll also lighten things up with Shannon Curtis, singer, songwriter, storyteller, and author. 🎶
😎 And we have a surprise guest on Friday: An activist, feminist, and author who has been spilling the tea about the Senators who voted for the CR.
Can you guess who it is? If you are a Patreon, you receive the Sneak Peek email every Tuesday with a special Zoom background! Supporters get those perks! Join the support crew here. You get the gossip first and the powerhouse guests to come! 👀
AFTER CHAT 🤫
You know how we do it. 😉 We turn off the recording after 1 PM to hear from you. It is all about building community and sharing. What happens in the Zoom stays in the room — shhhhh!
See you next week!
Katherine & Finale 💜
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