In this podcast, Aftyn and Anna, two gritty Southern blondes, reclaim what it means to be girls raised in South.

Make our internet LOCAL

Aftyn and Anna are joined by April Jarocki, the coordinator with the Southern Connected Communities Project, who along with members of the Clearfork Valley, built their own internet by establishing a wireless internet system at the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County, Tennessee. April highlights the role of the pandemic in exacerbating the digital divide and discusses what broadband justice looks like to her community.

Donate to SCCP by clicking here!

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Mama B’s “Red State, Blue Mom”

Some of you have been asking where is the infamous GRITS’ travel correspondent, Mama B… well, she has launched her own podcast called “Red State, Blue Mom”! For this week’s episode, we invite you to listen to the 2021 inaugural episode and subscribe!

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Student Debt Showdown

With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty

Run down of the imminent congressional showdown
Biden signals new era with Secretary of Education pick
COVID relief and student debt
Why Biden should forgive student loans

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Insurrection GRITS

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories

LINKS

Sign this petition to take down Steve Berger,

Gov. Lee’s extremist pastor at Grace Chapel

How to speak to people who believe in conspiracy theories

Republican Attorney Generals launch robocalls

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver’s Tennessean patriot profile

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Workers, Wages, and Weed

For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y’all in 2021! #KeepItGritty

NYMag, Democrats Have a Problem. ‘Workers, Wages, Weed’ May Be the Answer

Mother Jones, The $15 Minimum Wage Wasn’t the Only Progressive Ballot Measure That Passed in Conservative States

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

COVID Grits with Rep. Gloria Johnson

#1 Grittle Rep. Gloria Johnson joins Aftyn and Anna to discuss the state of COVID19 in Tennessee, while the Tennessee Republican leadership points fingers at Venezuela for Trump’s loss. The girls apologize for the audio as they were not in Anna’s closet for this episode. ?

CNBC article featuring Rep. Gloria Johnson

Rep. Johnson co-signed a letter about TN  student evaluations about a month ago

Martine Hope, Mountain City educator from Johnson City that passed away

Susan Keener, Murfreesboro special needs teacher that passed away in October

Daily Yonder, Nine out of 10 Rural Counties Are in the Covid-19 Red Zone

 

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Biden Won, But So Did White Supremacy

Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle.

“White Women’s Support for Trump Remains High in 2020 Election”

The 53 percent issue

AOC Interview in NY Times

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Texas is a Tossup?

Four days before the election, Anna and Aftyn provide the state of play for those wondering, “Does my vote even matter?” And if you live in a key battleground state like Texas, the answer is an absolute and resounding yes. Even if all of Aftyn’s exes live in Texas, the girls uplift the work of southern states in the most important election of their lifetimes.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

SCOTUS Grits

With RBG’s death and the fate of the Supreme Court in question, Anna and Aftyn outline how we got here, what’s to come, and what you can do about it. TLDR: Aftyn’s arch-nemesis Mitch McConnell doesn’t play by the rules, and don’t let Tennessee’s Senator Alexander retire to Canada in peace.

Send an email to Lamar

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

The Racism of 9/11

Pratik Dash from Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition joins the girls this week to discuss his experience as a “brown kid” living in Tennessee following the September 11th attacks. #NeverForget the post 9/11 racism and Islamophobia and our country’s intervention in the Middle East which led to the region’s destabilization.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.