Christian Hanley, John Borden, and Aleem Boatright try to make sense of the chaos and laugh at the madness - all while working to be good men and fathers during America's flirtation with fascism.
christianhanley.substack.com (https://christianhanley.substack.com/s/good-guys-getting-better?utm_medium=podcast)
This may be one of the better pods we’ve done yet, Christian having the flu notwithstanding. John came prepared with the questions, digging into the impacts of JD Vance’s lies (yes, lies) about Haitian immigrants and the people of Springfield, Ohio — people who Vance represents in the United States Senate.
Zooming out from the very real harm Vance and his unhinged and baseless accusations are causing, we dig into why this line of attack would work in the first place. How is it that people would even believe such an obvious falsehood, and a ridiculous one at that? And why is a rumor that’s inherently racist in nature almost guaranteed to gain traction above all others?
We get into Trump’s equally appalling and ongoing attacks on Kamala Harris’ ancestry and identity, and try to answer the question of why he and Vance can’t seem to understand how babies are made and why their ancestry would be mixed. Of course, this begs the far bigger and less political question of why, more than 400 years after colonization and nearly 250 years after independence, are so many Americans preoccupied with another person’s ancestry, particularly those of mixed ancestry?
It’s a deep dive under the surface of what’s happening in our politics. A little history, a little amateur sociology, and surprisingly, a few laughs along the way. Hope you enjoy.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com (https://christianhanley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
5 Sept 2024
How big is the Democrats' big tent?
It’s the first pod since Christian’s trip to the DNC, but don’t worry! John is still pursuing his new passion hosting Good Guys Getting Better.
We kick off the pod with a quick recap of the convention from Christian’s point of view on the ground, talking about what happened at the DNC that you didn’t catch on TV, including the protests inside the convention center and beyond, as well as the speeches and VIPs.
We also look forward to the road ahead now that conventions are in the rearview. Can the Democrats really build a coalition big enough to pull off a win in November? And was the breadth of opinions and ideologies we all saw at the DNC made for TV, or what it proof that inclusion for today’s Democratic Party really means making room for everyone?
Right now, Harris has support from the progressive left to moderate centrists and a handful of conservatives ready to put country over party. Inclusion has become a buzzword, but it may well be that the enthusiasm the campaign is currently enjoying comes, at least in part, from voters feeling like there’s a place for them inside the tent.
Since Kamala Harris has chosen Tim Walz as her running mate, we discuss his position in the race, both as a strategic pick to help win over key voters in swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, and as a role model. When the Republican frontrunner has been found liable for sexual assault and his running mate has made dictating the reproductive choices of American women a key part of his stump speech, how does Walz show the country — and especially young boys watching — a healthier, more positive masculinity?
That and more, all squeezed into this pod.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com (https://christianhanley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
14 Aug 2024
The Joy in our politics
In his first appearance after joining the ticket, Tim Walz turned to Vice President Harris on stage in front of a packed crowd in Philadelphia and thanked her for bringing the joy back into our politics. It was a striking comment, both for its sincerity and for what it reminded us all about the state of our political process.
Since 2016, we’ve all been living on the edge of our seats. Joe Biden took the Democratic nomination in 2020 not because he promised hope or change, but because he stood as a symbol of a return to normalcy and offered a tired electorate the most probably path to victory. Until now, the 2024 cycle hadn’t offered anyone a sense of civic pride or levity. Rather, millions have been living in fear that we may once again be plunged into the bad old days of hatred, chaos, governance by tweet, and toilet paper shortages.
(Yes. That all happened.)
Now, with a self-described happy warrior leading the ticket and a VP pick so excited to win the election in less than 90 days he’s declared he’ll sleep when he’s dead, can we all get a little happy about our politics again? The election isn’t over yet and no one is advocating taking a victory lap this early. But do we need to be angry or afraid to win this fight, or can we do it happily, knowing we’re fighting for each other, for our rights, our children, and our future?
That’s what we’re getting into on this pod, as well as a recap of the Olympics and what it means to have a sense of shared pride outside our political process.
We also dig into a new issue we’re all confronting as parents: how to recognize and discuss misinformation with our kids.
It’s a great episode, filled with laughs and yes, some joy. Don’t miss it.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com (https://christianhanley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Good Guys Getting Better
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Good Guys Getting Better?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
