When the world feels heavy, sometimes you need comedians to remind you how to carry it. Dana Goldberg joined Maya May to talk about fundraising, resilience, and why self-care is more than a buzzword. “None of our nervous systems are built for fascism,” Dana said, pointing out how exhaustion is part of the strategy to wear people down. Her advice was equal parts practical and defiant: keep donating, take breaks, and don’t let the chaos steal your joy.
Kat Vargas of Howdy Politics jumped in with the Texas update no one wanted, but everyone needed. The new maps moving through the legislature, she explained, are “probably the worst racial gerrymander we’ve seen since the Voting Rights Act was passed.” Still, she stressed that honesty with people — about what calls and pressure can realistically accomplish — keeps them engaged and builds power. Maya pressed on whether Democrats underestimated the threat, and Kat didn’t hesitate: “I do think if we lose the midterms, you know, there's a chance we lose our democracy with it.”
The conversation came back to where politics meets comedy — and why humor may be the sharpest tool left in the kit. Goldberg put it plainly: “If I can make someone laugh, I can get them to have a conversation with me.” That spirit carried through the hour, from roasting Kim Davis’s sanctimony to weighing Jon Stewart’s political chops. This is the kind of talk that doesn’t sugarcoat the danger, but still finds a reason to laugh while staring it down.
Tune in to this week's episode of Punching Up and let us know what you think in the comments!
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