Ashley, Please is your unhinged civic education.
Every episode, we take one concept: how Congress really works, why midterms shift presidential power, what the news cycle keeps getting wrong and we break it down completely. And we cover the news.
Every week, through the lens of someone who has watched it be made, spun, blocked, and passed at three in the morning when the cameras were off.
Subscribe. Share it with the person in your life who keeps saying they don't follow politics because that's exactly who this show is for.
Part civic class. Part podcast. Fully unhinged.
From Gary, Indiana’s ongoing power crisis to rising tensions with Iran, the U.S.-Canada trade fight, Chicago’s property tax problem, and the financial uncertainty facing CPS — these stories may look unrelated, but they all come back to one question:
Who pays when systems fail?
🎙️ New episode of Ashley, Please — breaking down the stories behind the headlines and why they actually matter to you.
20 Aug 2026
Ep10: Pensions 101: How Illinois and Chicago Got Here
llinois pensions: the government promise nobody can afford to ignore.
We’re breaking down how Illinois got into its pension mess, why the state owes billions, and why you should care BEFORE we start talking about the broader budget. Then, we’re bringing the conversation home to Chicago because yes, we have our own pension drama.
It’s complicated. It’s expensive. And unfortunately, we can’t just “cut the check and move on.”
11 Aug 2026
Ep9: How Four Senate Seats Could Decide the Balance of Power
Let's talk Midterms with Ohio, North Carolina, Maine and Alaska in mind. Oh, and don't forget Michigan.
5 Aug 2026
Ep8: Midterms, Mayoral Election and Mayhem
In this episode, Ashley discusses the upcoming midterms, the state of President Trump's approval ratings, the significance of the midterms, and the Chicago mayoral race. She also shares her thoughts on Jubilee debates and political commentary, as well as her criticisms of political affiliations and supporters.
21 Jul 2026
Ep7: Climate, Student Loans & Chicago Mayor
This week, Ashley does what she does best: rant. From climate change proving Mother Nature is out of patience to student loan borrowers facing default, no topic is safe.
Plus, an early look at Chicago's 2027 mayoral race: who's running, who's fundraising, and who's already making headlines. Ashley breaks down the politics and chaos with her signature humor, sarcasm, and civic insight.
14 Jul 2026
Ep6: What Season of Scandal is This?
This week on Ashley, Please, we unpack the rumors surrounding Mitch McConnell, the aftermath of Lindsey Graham's death, the growing Cyclospora outbreak and public health funding cuts, and the latest controversies involving ICE. This time it's not formal, I'm ranting.
7 Jul 2026
Ep5: Local Politics - The Boss Level Nobody Plays
Your city council controls your rent, your zoning, your local budget, and your daily life. A 29 year old just ended a 30 year congressional career by showing up to the rooms most people skip. Here’s what that means for you.
30 Jun 2026
Ep4: This Week in “They Said What?”
The Supreme Court just changed asylum law, and the VP went to the Nixon Library and said Watergate was no big deal. This is your week in American politics.
23 Jun 2026
Ep3: Midterms - The Election Nobody Shows Up For
Here's what you now know that most people don't: The presidential election is not where presidential power is decided. It's where it starts. Midterms are where it either survives or gets dismantled. And 40% turnout means most people are handing that decision to a minority of voters who showed up. That is not abstract. That is the story of every major legislative fight you've watched stall or explode in the last decade.
Ep3 dives into how midterm results shift or destroy presidential power, why turnout is the whole game, and what this week's news tells us about where that power sits right now.
16 Jun 2026
Ep2: Civics Didn't Hit Different Until Now
How Congress actually works: committees, leadership, gridlock and why a story from this week is a perfect case study in all of it.
The conversation also covers the challenges of teaching civics to different generations, the mechanics of Congress, the failure to extend FISA Section 702, engaging young people in politics, the legislative process, power dynamics, reaching different generations, and influence and pressure in politics.
9 Jun 2026
Ashley, Please. (An Introduction.)
The origin story. Why this podcast exists, what you're going to get out of it, and the college catchphrase that started it all.
Ashley, Please — Meet Your New Favorite Civic Problem.
7 Jun 2026
Ashley, Please - Trailer
Welcome to Ashley, Please.
The podcast for people who know politics matters but don't always have the time, energy, or emotional bandwidth to figure out what politicians are talking about. I'm Ashley Munson, and every week we're translating political jargon into plain English, exposing the fine print nobody reads, and connecting the dots between government decisions and your everyday life.
Because somewhere between City Hall, Springfield, and Washington, somebody made a decision that affects your paycheck, your neighborhood, your future... or damn near all three.
Part civic class. Part podcast. Fully unhinged.
So whether you're politically obsessed or politically exhausted, pull up a seat.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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