Talking Ourselves Into Gavin Newsom?

Talking Ourselves Into Gavin Newsom?

Author: Sarah & Beth August 4, 2026 Duration: 1:19:28
Beth is out for two more weeks, so I've got a guest host: Laura Tremaine, my co-host over at Slow Read. We start in California, where Laura has lived for 25 years, and get honest about Gavin Newsom — the trolling, Prop 50, the podcast with Charlie Kirk, and why even the people rolling their eyes at him keep talking themselves into him for 2028. That opens up a bigger question we can't stop circling: what does the Democratic Party actually stand for right now, with no leader and no message? Then we get into that viral Atlantic piece, "The End of Reading Is Here." We talk about slow reading as an antidote to algorithmic media, what our civic life loses when people stop reading books, and why neither of us is ready to call it over just yet. We also announce our next Slow Read book. Outside of Politics: the summer the movies came back. The Odyssey, Spider-Man, Toy Story 5, and whether Christopher Nolan is our new Spielberg. Two weeks left to grab tickets to our live show in Minneapolis on August 29: https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/p/join-us-in-minneapolis-94f Topics discussed: • Gavin Newsom, California Politics, and the 2028 Democratic Primary • The Democrats' Search for a Fighter (and a Message) • Slow Reading as an Antidote to Algorithmic Media • The Atlantic's "The End of Reading" and What It Means for Civic Life • Slow Read's Next Book: Outlander • Outside of Politics: The Summer the Movies Came Back Mentioned in this episode: The End of Reading Is Here (The Atlantic) — https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/ Slow Read — https://slowread.substack.com Laura Tremaine's Secret Stuff — https://secretstuff.substack.com Our show is listener-supported. Join our community of paid subscribers at https://pantsuitpolitics.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.rm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a media landscape often defined by shouting matches and partisan trenches, Pantsuit Politics offers a different kind of conversation. Hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, two friends from Kentucky, built this independent podcast on a simple but radical premise: you can discuss the news and culture of the day with both conviction and genuine curiosity. What you’ll hear here isn’t debate for its own sake, but a sustained effort to understand the complexities behind the headlines. Sarah and Beth approach each topic with a blend of thorough research and personal reflection, modeling how to engage with difficult subjects without surrendering to outrage or anxiety. Their dialogue proves that thoughtful disagreement and common ground aren't mutually exclusive. This podcast provides a consistent, calming space for listeners who feel exhausted by the usual political noise but still want to stay meaningfully informed. New episodes arrive every Tuesday and Friday, offering regular check-ins that prioritize nuance over kneejerk reactions. It’s the kind of compelling listening that doesn’t just analyze the world, but quietly suggests a better way to talk about it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pantsuit Politics
Podcast Episodes
Democratic Socialists Are Winning. Now What? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:47
Beth is still on vacation, so Sarah drafted a guest co-host she's been married to for 23 years. Sarah and Nicholas run through the headlines — Iran's "low-key" chess game, the cost of absolutely everything, and the Flock…
My Hometown Is Getting a $100 Billion Data Center [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:34
The breaking news in Sarah's hometown is the breaking news everywhere: Paducah, Kentucky is getting a $100 billion data center. Sarah is joined by Lacey Bowling, head of Paducah Cooperative Ministries, to talk about what…
Trust But Verify: Teen Driving with Dr. Charlie Klauer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:52
Teen driving is the leading cause of death among adolescents — and most of us are completely winging it when we hand over the keys. Dr. Charlie Klauer is a Research Scientist and Associate Professor of Industrial and Sys…
Inside the Organ Donation System with NYT's Brian Rosenthal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:51
It's easy to check the organ donor box on your driver's license without thinking too much about how organs are treated and routed to people who need them. NYT investigative reporter Brian Rosenthal thoroughly examined th…
What Kids Actually Need When the News is Scary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
Kids who are anxious about the news might not need to hear less — they might need to know more. Tracy Kaplan, creator of The 10 News (a podcast for kids and families ages 8-12), has spent six years helping kids make sens…
Vinok Libraries: Bringing Books to Ukraine's Children [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:21
One of the hardest parts of paying attention to international news is wondering: what can I, one person, do about this? Today's guest, Gwyn Ridenhour, asked herself that question and answered in an extraordinary way. She…
Building Cities (and Lives) Kids Can Actually Move Through [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:50
While Sarah's on summer break, Beth talks with writer and urban planner Angie Schmitt about giving yourself permission to feel lighter about the news this summer, then digs into what's gone wrong with how American cities…
What Elected Officials Owe Us with Lauren Pinkston [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:20
Beth sits down with Lauren Pinkston, an independent candidate for governor of Tennessee, on the same day Governor Beshear sent Senator Mitch McConnell a letter asking about his month-long hospitalization. They use that s…