This week we’re joined by a special guest, Pablo Manriquez of Migrant Insider on the eve of the 4th of July celebrations as Washington reckons with two major developments: a Supreme Court ruling that threatens basic rights by facilitating uneven application of the law; and Congress moving forward on a big ugly bill that essentially steals from the poor to give to the rich, while adding $3 trillion to the national debt.

You’ll also hear a discussion on ICE raids and the tensions building with communities across the country. We also cover Alligator Alcatraz, opened this week in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has been known to waste millions on publicity stunts, and where it is possible that emergency response dollars are being diverted for immigration purposes. Notably, though, prior governments have carried out enforcement and removal operations, but there was no need to be cruel, or to dehumanize people or rob them of their dignity in the process.

We also have broader discussion of the Big Ugly Bill and how partisan politics have resulted in the majority in Congress simply doing what the President tells them to do. No checks and balances. On this Independence Day, we are reminded that freedom isn't a gift, it's a responsibility. Keeping hard fought rights was never going to be easy, and while we’re dealing with a unique set of challenges, we remain optimistic in the American experiment — that the American people will still steer us back to the values that have made this country exceptional. This 4th of July, beyond the fireworks, the celebration should serve as a call to action to stay civically engaged, to listen carefully, exercise critical thinking, and to not let the toxicity of the daily barrage of chaotic events deter us from tuning in and advancing the cause enshrined in that declaration of independence: a commitment to the ideal that we are all created equal.

Check out the episode. We also review the new Hulu documentary: Barbara Walters, Tell Me Everything, and the impact she had throughout an amazing career.

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