
In the very first edition of Assembly Required’s listener mailbag, Stacey Abrams tackles your wide-ranging, urgent questions—from politics to pop culture. She dives into MAGA’s Epstein-fueled outrage, breaks down Trump’s mega-bill, and fully embraces her inner nerd with takes on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek, her all-time favorite romance novels, and much more! Learn & Do More: Crooked’s Vote Save America is running a pilot program for the 2026 cycle to recruit you, our listeners, to run for office. Whether it’s school board, city council, state legislature, or anything in between, VSA’s in-state partners have identified the races that need candidates and are ready to help you run for office. Learn more about the program and sign up at votesaveamerica.com/run.
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Stacey Abrams
Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams is brought to you by honeylove. I attend a lot of public events, which means I have to be thoughtful about my wardrobe. That's why it's so important that I have great foundational garments that help me look and feel good no matter what I'm wearing. That's where Honeylove comes in. Their bras and shapewear are both supportive and comfortable, which we all know is not that easy to find. Founded by women, the brand was created by people who actually wear them, including its founder Betsy, who really is hands on with the development of their products. HoneyLove products understand exactly who is getting dressed and it's designed to work with your body and not against it. Instead of squeezing you, honeylove is made to enhance your curves and the high quality fabric will feel great against your skin. Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Save 20% off honeylove@honeylove.com assembly Use our exclusive link to get 20% off honeylove.com assembly to find your perfect fit. After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them we sent you. Experience the new standard in bras and shapewear with honeylove. Welcome to Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams from Crooked Media. I'm your host, Stacey Abrams. Today's episode is a special one. As many of you know, at the end of every show, I ask listeners to send in their burning questions. Big or small, serious or silly. Over the past year, we've received so many thoughtful, curious and thought provoking messages. First of all, thank you not just for listening, but for engaging with the show so deeply that it sparks more questions and it inspires you to reach out. We haven't always been able to fit every incredible question into our regular episodes, so today we're doing something a little different. A mailbag episode. Our producers have compiled a ton of listener questions from our email, phone line and even YouTube comments with topics ranging from politics to pop culture, all for me to answer for you. And if you stick around until the end, you'll hear a few of my talented, multifaceted and famous friends ask me their burning questions as well. To help with today's episode, our associate producer Farah Safari will be joining me. Farrah, welcome back to Assembly Required. I understand you're bringing me some questions from our listeners.
Farah Safari
Yes, Stacey, it is great to be back. Our email has been filling up, so I'm so excited that we're dedicating an entire episode to what the people want to hear, which is your opinions on the Love island season finale.
Stacey Abrams
They have the wrong podcast host for that conversation. That is not quite my jam. Any other pop culture, we can probably make it work, but I've not visited Love Island.
Farah Safari
Okay, fine, it was worth a shot. But so like you were saying, there will be some pop culture questions in here, but we're gonna start off with what the people actually came here for, which is the newsy stuff.
Stacey Abrams
Hit me.
Farah Safari
Okay, great. So our first listener question, because it matters, asks Can a senator or representative be sued for violating their oath of office to adhere to the Constitution, AKA doing their job? For example, allowing the illegal dismantling of critical infrastructure, allowing the legal dismantling of government agencies, ignoring government oversight and spending allowance, allowing unqualified individuals to remain in government to the detriment of national security.
Stacey Abrams
This is a disappointing answer, but the reality is probably not. And here's why. Many of you know I started my career in government. I was an intern, but my first official job in government post college was as Deputy City Attorney for the city of Atlanta. And that is when I became an expert in what is known as sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is the ability of lawmakers to say they don't have to abide by the laws they don't want to abide by. And I'm being a bit glib with it, and I don't intend to diminish it, but it does have unfortunate consequences. Namely that legislators can make themselves immune to suit unless they do something that is clearly violation of existing law, not their oaths of office. The reason that's important is the interpretation of an oath of office can differ from person to person, and a court would be hard pressed to say that this is true and that is not true. And so what most local governments, state governments, federal governments do is make themselves immune to suit. That's why voting is so important. And I know it becomes this very, very numbing retort, but the reason voting matters so much is that it's one of the few tools that citizens have to holding elected officials accountable. We should be able to do something more, but is a rare occasion where that happens. Now there are local governments, there are state governments where recall elections are indeed a tool. And if you see something, say something. We have watched the use of recalls being proliferated by conservatives to remove those who were trying to expand access to justice, recalling progressive das that were doing their jobs, recalling those who they believed were helping the wrong people. And so we should keep in mind that recall elections work both ways it tends to be, though, in communities where we are the most concerned. They've already removed the authority for recall election. But investigate, find out if you have that authority and that capacity in your communities. That's the most direct way to hold local elected officials responsible, short of being able to take them to court.
Farah Safari
Great. Our next question comes from Sean Trader, and he has something that I'm also very interested in. So he said, just listen to your episode on Cryptocurrency with Zeke Fox and Annie Lowry. I'm interested to know how much you knew about crypto before preparing for this podcast.
Stacey Abrams
So, I love research. I love learning things. My mom was a college librarian when I was growing up, and so when she said, look it up, we really had no choice. There was literally a library for us to go to. And as you all know, I believe be curious, solve problems, do good, and be Curious for me is a call to action. My second legal thriller in my Avery Keen series actually involved cryptocurrency. So I spent a lot of time doing a deep dive into crypto. I listened to a number of podcasts, did a lot of research, and this was about three years ago. But as with almost every technology, things have moved fast. So fast. But, yes, I knew just enough about cryptocurrency to be dangerous. What I like to say is I try to learn enough that people who don't know anything think I'm smart and those who do know something think I'm respectful.
Farah Safari
I'm going to quote that and put it on my kitchen, in my kitchen, just to read everyday making breakfast. That's incredible. Okay, our next question is from Kira Davis. She said something came across my TikTok feed twice yesterday about the SAVE act and its intention to take away married women's rights to vote. Is that true?
Stacey Abrams
Yes. So it's being couched as an identity issue. And let's be clear, I've been banging this drum for years. No one opposes voter id. No one thinks that you should be able to just wander into a voting booth and pretend to be someone you're not. The issue is not should you have id, it is how are you identifying yourself. And we know that in this country because we do not have a uniform system of identification, that it is then, I would say, implausible to try to hold people to a singular standard. Now, we're seeing that happen through real id, which is, again, a patchwork. But the underlying issue is how do we prove who we are? Our names are one of the ways we do so. And so with the Save act. One of the intentions is to compel women to. To use the same name for everything. And if your name is not the name that was on your birth certificate, meaning you adopted your spouse's name, this could make it difficult for you to be able to cast your ballot. Now, there are three strains of theory about this. So one strain is that there is just an attempt to diminish the viability of women voting. And I think that's a very accurate strain because this has a very safe, singular effect on women. And having been told about the singular effect, there has been absolutely no intention to fix it. There's the Christian nationalist view, which is the goal is to stop women from exercising their rights to vote. And we've seen versions of this play out on TikTok and X and you look up a social media post, you'll see it. The third, though, is one that is both benign but deeply, deeply disturbing. And that is that we have people making rules who simply don't understand the rules they're making. And for me, that's the most dangerous one, because it's not those with ill intent. We can identify those. It's those whose benign neglect of reality puts the rest of us at harm. We know that for women to have to change your last name to prove that the Social Security Administration got the same information as the DMV got the same information as your county officials. That's expensive. It takes time. It takes money. It pretends that you have the capacity to navigate all of these systems. It assumes you have a computer because a lot of these resources will not talk to you anymore. You have to be online to do it. And so it puts at a disadvantage anyone who is rural, anyone who is poor, anyone who is homeless. There are all of these layers of complexity that begin with we should have the names match. And so whenever you hear these administrative rules that sound benign or sound logical, the question isn't what, it's how. And when we think about voter suppression, the how is what matters the most. I've been Talking about the 10 steps to autocracy, and the very last step is diminishing voting, basically eliminating people participating. The best type of autocracies don't have to worry about people saying anything. And we've seen this happen. And one of the ways to do it is not to stand and say, we won't let you vote. It's to change the rules so that it is so hard for you to cast your ballot that it becomes the natural result that you don't cast the.
Farah Safari
Ballot at All I guess my follow up to that is like, would it be fear mongering or precautionary to be like, maybe for a certain point in time, women don't take the last names of their spouses.
Stacey Abrams
I would say it this way. The people who are intentionally harmful are gonna catch on. It's the challenge with the idea of changing. You guys have heard me talk about DEI and the argument that we should stop saying DEI because they don't like it and if we change it, then they'll leave us alone. No, they're not mad about the letters. They're mad about the values. The same thing is true. Those who are angered by women participating in the electorate are deeply concerned because the margins of victory in elections are often decided very narrowly. And you can usually find women who are responsible. And so they're not concerned about your last name. They're concerned about that extra X chromosome you have and the fact that you're using it to make decisions that benefit you, your community, your family and your society.
Farah Safari
Yeah. Well, that's terrifying.
Stacey Abrams
Thank you. Okay. But I don't want to terrify you, and I think I appreciate you saying that. So here's the thing. I raise these issues, we talk about these issues so that we can do something about it. There are a lot of women who've gotten elected to office. There are a lot of men. In fact, every single one of them has come from a woman. So part of our job is to have this knowledge and use it to incentivize better behavior. But. But also to let them know we see what they're doing and part of our opportunity in the SAVE act. And they've been trying to push it, and it's been stalled out in part because there are so many women who understand who happen to be in Congress and may not be able to vote for themselves if this bill passes. We've gotta keep the pressure on. So the goal of our conversations is never fear. It's information. We know what they want us to be afraid of. But we're gonna be so well resourced and so well informed that they can't get anything past us. And then we're gonna share so much that we build an army of people who are with us in fighting for our rights. So don't be afraid. Just get busy.
Farah Safari
Beautiful. Don't be afraid. Stay informed. Listen to this podcast. Listen to multiple podcasts. Read a book. That's what I've been trying to do.
Stacey Abrams
Exactly.
Farah Safari
Okay, next question is from Diana Dunklas. And they ask, what happens to the Belongings of immigrants after they've been deported.
Stacey Abrams
It really depends on where they are and how they were here. So we know that there are so many people, Most recently an 82 year old man who was taken from an immigration facility where he was going to get a replacement green card. 82 years old from, I think, El Salvador, deported to, to Guatemala. He didn't have his belongings with him because they were with his wife in his home and he was simply coming to replace his card. He had done nothing wrong, but he was snatched up and he was kidnapped and deported without due process. And so it's not really deportation. He was removed. We have others, we have the father who was going to pick up his kid from daycare, who was taken. And we have to presume that his family has his resources. But we know for so many people, wherever they were, the last moment they were there, their belongings now are in the possession of either those who were caring for them or those who didn't realize they were in need. And there are no rules that property is now fair game. And unfortunately, in our society, we're not asking those questions, just like we're not asking, I think often enough why we have decided that kidnapping and extradition and cruelty is permissible for a nation that has been willing to protect and defend property rights. I think that might be an interesting way for us to start having this conversation because their property belongs to them and that due process for property should be part of the conversation. Unfortunately, when we are having a difficult time arguing for humanity, I am ambivalent about whether property rights are going to be considered better or worse than the very humanity of the people we're concerned about.
Farah Safari
Yeah. And that's difficult. Right, because we're kind of leaving the onus on the individual's families.
Stacey Abrams
Right.
Farah Safari
If they're like picked up off the streets and deported, whether that's to one of Trump's many gulags, or if that's to like their country of origin, like it's up to their family to send their stuff back, let's say, if they have the resources. Is there anything that we could do, like any organizations or any charities that can help get their property back? Because we're currently time place where our government is not doing that.
Stacey Abrams
I think we should absolutely be in conversation with local churches that are near those communities. We know that there are a number of immigration organizations. So when you hear about something, especially someone in, in your community, make sure you're looking locally for answers, locally for solutions. We know organizations like CASA and Immigration Law center are doing the best they can, but they can't be everywhere and they don't know everything. But it's these kinds of questions that are so important, much like the questions of what happens to the citizen children of those who are taken. We need to be thinking about their belongings, but also their families and what happens when someone is left behind.
Farah Safari
Yeah. Thank you, Stacey. This next one is from Greg W. He asks how could Democrats react to the MAGA fury over Epstein. Should they just walk away or should they fan the fury?
Stacey Abrams
So there is a quote that is attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte that says, basically, when your enemy's making a mistake, don't get in the way. That's a terrible paraphrase. Another version of it is when elephants are. When elephants are stampeding, don't get in their way. Don't get on the grass. I think in this case, we don't need to get in the grass, but we can keep yelling at the elephants to keep running. I think that's our best posture. This is not about the content. This is about the character. It's the character of an administration that promised transparency and that whipped up a conspiracy theory that it's now being consumed by. The danger we have is that if we make the story about Democrats, then we create a space for those who are angry and who are outraged to train their fire and their ire on Democrats. And we don't want that. But what we can do is continue to keep it front and center. The narrative is the tension economy that we live in, an attention economy now. And that means that as long as people are talking about it, it matters. We should keep talking about it, but we can't be louder than the people who are currently outraged, whose voices should really carry the day. And here's why. This is not going to destroy maga. Anyone who thinks that this is going to be what brings down MAGA or brings down Trump, I think is misreading the moment. But what it is doing is fracturing what is currently a very impenetrable allegiance that has been bolstered by lies and by bad action. And the more people start to question, the more they will expand that questioning. It is not going to be the tipping point that destroys maga, but it does start to frame, fracture the unassailable, and it starts to compel more questions. The challenge with conspiracy theories is conspiracy theorists don't suddenly not be conspiracy theorists. They just spin out a new conspiracy theory. And it is best for all involved for that attention to be focused on the character of the people making Decisions, because the more they are fighting amongst themselves, the grand hope is, the less they are creating and fomenting the decimation of our society, of our democracy that we know is their primary intent.
Farah Safari
Okay, I love that. Because it's less of, like, what they're gonna. I mean, it is partially what they're gonna do to themselves, but it's also like, we're kind of distracting them for continuing to disrupt our society.
Stacey Abrams
I mean, they're good multitaskers. So I don't wanna. I don't wanna overstate it, but it is a useful thing for us to understand that this is not about one person. It is about a theory of the case. And when you've built an entire movement around this kind of invective and this type of salacious information, you cannot then hope that people don't notice. And we see him trying every distraction in the world to hope that someone pays attention to something else. But you are seeing those who bolster him start to question him. I've always said Trump is not the issue. Trump is a puppet. He is a very, very effective one. I mean, it's kind of like Pinocchio coming to life, but he's still a puppet. He's still the creation of a number of forces. What I don't want us to get distracted by is that because the puppet is currently in trouble, that we forget that the puppeteers are who we really have to be focused on. And what this does reveal to us are who are the puppeteers? Not that we didn't know, but we can see even more in sharp relief who they are, what they're doing. And it makes it a lot harder for them to hold the center of their movement when they've broken trust and broken faith.
Farah Safari
You have such good quotes this episode, like everything you're saying. I want to put on a refrigerator. I don't know why refrigerator magnets were my go to is right now, but I just kind of want to put an alert.
Stacey Abrams
I appreciate that. Thank you.
Farah Safari
Of course. Our next question is from Austin Fisher. How do you build political power in voter access in other red or blue states?
Stacey Abrams
We have to begin with small. We want to win everything. And I completely understand that. I am a black woman from the Deep South. That is a mission statement, but you can't get there overnight. And you heard me say it before. Everything Everywhere, all at Once is a great title for a movie. It is a terrible mission statement, but we've all got to do something somewhere soon. And here's where that starts. People tend to Start with, let me tell you why to vote for this person, or let me tell you why to vote on this issue. I think that's the wrong beginning. Our first question is how can I help? Which asks someone, what's wrong? What are you concerned about? What do you need when you ask, how can I help? You're establishing relationship first before you're asking for engagement. Engagement follows, it does not lead. Someone has to belong first before they believe that they can do something about it. And I'm borrowing from a dear friend of mine, Rashad Robinson, who loves to say, we've got to do belong, and then believe. That's what the right does. The left goes believe, and then you can belong. And that's the. The wrong way to go about it. If you have to believe in voting in order for me to help you, you're not gonna vote. But you have to belong to a community. You have to belong to a sense of purpose and a sense that there's something possible before you can believe that you can do something about it. And so I always start with, how can I help? And that question says, I see that there is a pain in your life. I see that there's a challenge that you face. And if I ask you that question and I listen to your answer, then my next step is to say, okay, let's figure out who can help you. The figuring out who can help you often reveals who isn't doing their job. That's how you get to voting, because voting then is, okay, let's get your immediate problem solved. Let me help you figure that out. And then from there, let's talk about how we make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else, including you again. And so if you're thinking about this at the hyperlocal level, that's a lot of folks that you can get. And it feels very piecemeal and very incremental. But that's what voting is. Voting is one vote at a time. And if you've got folks who are willing to help you, if you're working with organizations that do this work, that's how you build mass very quickly. That's why I keep coming back to local efforts as the point of entry. You're not going to change the president until you change the school board. You're not going to change the mayor until you've changed your city council member. And so part of our responsibility is to start by asking, how can I help? Second is, let me educate you. Not in a hectoring, lecturing way that makes you think that I think I'm smarter than you, but in a let's learn together about why this didn't work and what we need to do. And then third, let's do something about it. That's engagement. And then on the other side of engagement, let's continue accountability. Because the best way to keep people engaged is to show that there's someone accountable for not doing the work. When all you're doing is registering voters and turning them out but you're not coming back to say, did it work? Are you better? What else do you need? Then what we have are people who vote. We do not have voters. I look for voters. I build voters. I don't just I want you to show up in every election that you want to show up in. But we have succeeded when people believe that their act of casting a ballot is can create real change. And if you want to see this work, look at senior citizens in Florida. Those are voters. They know that if they want to terrify anyone, threaten to vote against you or not vote. Because this is a population that is a direct connection between taking action and getting results. Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams is brought to you by Oneskin. Because I'm often on camera, makeup is a necessary part of my day, which makes it even more important that I take care of my skin. That's why I like Oneskin. I use OneSkin's OS1 face and eye care regimen, especially at night, because it can help remove the day's makeup in a few easy steps with formulas that help keep my skin hydrated and feeling fresh. I don't need a complicated routine that requires a flowchart, a few pumps of cleanser, dots of moisturizer, and a couple of pads of eye cream. That's all I need, free from over 1500 chemicals and preservatives that can make skin red, irritated or itchy. 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Farah Safari
Tap the banner to learn more and.
Stacey Abrams
Get a'@usaa.com bundle restrictions apply.
Farah Safari
So something that a lot of listeners might not know about you is that you are a huge TV and movie buff as well as a very avid reader and an author in your own right. You consume so much good media and have some really, really good takes. No pressure. So, as a segue into our next section, I created this, this or that style game for you to get your takes out into the world and to hopefully not offend too many fandoms.
Stacey Abrams
Okay, before we do this, I'm going to tell everyone. So usually I get a list of questions ahead of time. I refuse to read my questions. So all of these questions I'm getting today, including what Farah is about to do to me in public, I have not seen before. And so please forgive me for any offense that I bring because I really am just responding off the cuff now as you destroy my future. Go ahead.
Farah Safari
Okay, beautiful. Let's hope we don't get you canceled.
Stacey Abrams
Okay. Okay.
Farah Safari
So this is rapid fire. Just go with the first thing that pops in your head. And also, if you are not familiar with any of these things, you can skip. You can pass.
Stacey Abrams
Okay.
Farah Safari
Are you ready?
Stacey Abrams
I'm ready. Okay.
Farah Safari
Star wars or Star Trek?
Stacey Abrams
Star Trek.
Farah Safari
Marvel or dc?
Stacey Abrams
Marvel.
Farah Safari
Fantastic Four or Superman?
Stacey Abrams
Superman.
Farah Safari
Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter?
Stacey Abrams
Lord of the Rings.
Farah Safari
Grey's Anatomy or Bridgerton?
Stacey Abrams
Bridgerton.
Farah Safari
Friends or Seinfeld?
Stacey Abrams
Friends.
Farah Safari
Girls or Insecure?
Stacey Abrams
Insecure.
Farah Safari
Game of Thrones or the Sopranos?
Stacey Abrams
Game of Thrones?
Farah Safari
Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre?
Stacey Abrams
Pride and Prejudice.
Farah Safari
Love actually or Romeo plus Juliet?
Stacey Abrams
Love, actually, Although it's deeply problematic, but.
Farah Safari
Yes, it ends with us or the Hating Game?
Stacey Abrams
Neither.
Farah Safari
Okay. The Notebook or A Walk to Remember?
Stacey Abrams
Can't do them neither.
Farah Safari
Hamilton or Wicked?
Stacey Abrams
Hamilton, reluctantly but assuredly.
C
Okay.
Farah Safari
Top Chef or Iron Chef?
Stacey Abrams
That's just not fair. The answer is yes.
Farah Safari
The answer is yeah.
Stacey Abrams
The answer is yes. Yes.
Farah Safari
Yes. Love island or Love is Blind? I just really want a Love island answer.
Stacey Abrams
I don't do. So one of the things I only do reality shows that are competitions for, like, food or houses or things like that. Personal reality shows I don't watch.
Farah Safari
That's fair.
Stacey Abrams
That's a dearth in My. In my. My viewing habits.
Farah Safari
Okay, this last one is going to be really hard.
Stacey Abrams
Okay.
Farah Safari
Coded justice or Rules of Engagement.
Stacey Abrams
Okay, see, this is a trick question that is designed to pit Selena Montgomery against Stacey Abrams. Selena Montgomery will always hold up her very first novel, Rules of Engagement. And since I am she, I love that book because it was my first publication. Coded justice was probably one of the most fun books I've ever gotten to write, even though I'm now afraid to use Siri on my phone. But I loved being able to write Avery Keen, and she always makes me happy to get to visit her again.
Farah Safari
Oh, well, that's beautiful. We love that.
Stacey Abrams
Thank you.
Farah Safari
Okay, moving on to our next segment, which is gonna be our entertainment segment.
Stacey Abrams
Okay.
Farah Safari
Similar to like what I just mentioned, if there's something that you don't know or haven't really engaged with, feel free to pass on that.
Stacey Abrams
I have no trouble saying what I don't like. Go for it.
Farah Safari
Okay.
C
Beautiful.
Farah Safari
So Caroline Rustin asks, what do you think of Lena Dunham's comeback with her new show? Too Much.
Stacey Abrams
I have not watched Lena Dunham. I read a review of it yesterday in the Atlantic. I'm not exactly certain it's going to be my cup of tea, but I am always a fan of those who try to bring romance forward as a topic of conversation.
Farah Safari
My one thing was that I loved how girls centered a lot around, like, female friendship because I feel like in this day and age, you don't have a lot of shows about centering female friendship or female empowerment with too much. I understand it's her arc of her relationship, but I'm like, where are her friends? Why does she just know this one man in the uk? Where did he come from?
Stacey Abrams
So are you recommending it to our audience?
Farah Safari
I'm recommending it to our audience. I don't think it's very similar to Girls. So if you wanted something to kind of scratch the girls itch, I don't think this is the show for you. But if you love a little romantic comedy, I think the actors are hilarious and it might make you believe in love again in a very unrealistic fashion.
Stacey Abrams
There you go.
Farah Safari
Which is great.
Stacey Abrams
Which is the raison d' etre for rom coms anyway, so go for it.
Farah Safari
Perfect. Melody R asks, do you have any recent book recommendations and what are your all time favorite reads?
Stacey Abrams
So I'll start with the last and get to the first all time favorite. My favorite book as a kid was the Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and I've Read it as an adult and still think it holds up. I love Nora Roberts because I love romance. My sort of top five when I'm telling people to read it's Honest Illusion by Nora Roberts. The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead, Was Bred in the Bone by Robertson Davies. The Wind Up Bird Chronicles by Horakai Murakami. And I will add to that.
Farah Safari
The.
Stacey Abrams
Broken earth Trilogy by N.K. jemisin. Those are my top books. And most recently, I have been reading a lot of Lee Child because he is the author of the Reacher series. And I love Jack Reacher. I love that show. I picked up one book. My brother has loved them for years, and so I started reading them and I think I'm on book 17 and I really need to read something else. But he's been very prolific and I'm really far behind. So I'm trying to get to the end of the Reacher series so I can read something else. But I'm also reading about the Age of Grievance by Frank Bruni, which is really, really good, and a smart conversation about who we are as a society and how we got where we are.
Farah Safari
Stacey, how many books are in the Reacher series? If you're on 17? I know.
Stacey Abrams
I think it's like 25 or 70. I don't quite know. I've set a stopping point for myself. I have the last three that I'm going to read and then I'm done for a while because Leigh Child is getting all of my money.
Farah Safari
Right, you're taking a little sabbatical. Is this audio or are you, like, reading?
Stacey Abrams
No, I read. I'm reading.
Farah Safari
That's. That's incredible.
Stacey Abrams
Yeah, that's.
Farah Safari
I need to be better. This conversation teach me. I need to be better.
Stacey Abrams
Like, I have a mildly obsessive personality. I'm. No, not obsessive. I'm task oriented. I wanted to know the rest of the Reacher story and apparently it doesn't end. It's kind of like. It's like reading Game of Thrones, only. Yeah. So.
Farah Safari
No, that's very good.
Stacey Abrams
He's really good.
Farah Safari
I've been reading the same book for three months. So, like, what book are you reading right now? I'm reading this book called Homebodies. I forget the author's name, but I just got recommended by my friend and I just switched into that. But before that I was reading. See, I don't even remember the name of it.
Stacey Abrams
Okay. It's okay. No, no, no. So here's. I'm gonna do something for everyone.
Farah Safari
Okay.
Stacey Abrams
Reading should be fun. It should be enjoyable. It doesn't mean that you're going to always be happy. But reading should never be painful. It should never be obligatory. Once you've graduated from whatever program is compelling you to read, everything you do after that should be because you want to. I have no trouble putting down a book I don't want to read. I'm not one of those people who has to finish because I am task oriented. I want to know what's happening with Reacher. I'm not reading them because I started. I can stop. I do not believe in the sunk cost fallacy. I will stop a book on, like, the next to last page if you do something really, really dumb. And I don't want to know how it ends. Do not feel guilty about reading. Reading should always be something that brings you joy, even if it doesn't bring you happiness.
Farah Safari
Okay. I love that. I did Google what book I was reading. It's called the Happy Place by Emily Henry.
Stacey Abrams
Okay, there you go.
Farah Safari
And it's a beautiful book about female friendship. Cause I guess that's, like, where my motif is going right now. But as a great transition point, where did your love of reading come from?
Stacey Abrams
My parents taught me to love reading and love storytelling, and people don't always see those as the same thing. My mom was a librarian, and she used to read to us all the time. My dad was dyslexic, and reading was hard, but he would tell us these amazing stories. And then I have to give credit to my oldest sister, my older sister Andrea, who I think got tired of reading to me and taught me to read when I was really young. And so that triumvirate got me into reading, and I've never stopped.
Farah Safari
So our next question's from Saul R. What was the last truly great show that you watched?
Stacey Abrams
Hmm. I just finished watching Murderbot, which I really enjoyed because I loved the books. The last show that just sort of had me thinking, why isn't television like this anymore? Hmm. I don't know. I really do love television. So I'm not evading the question, but I like such a range of TV that it's hard to say that there's this show that is so transformative. It really is. What's the itch I need to scratch at the moment? So before it was Murderbot, it was Silo. And before it was Silo, I was watching Reacher, and in between, I was watching this lovely French mystery series called Astrid. So for me, it's just a question of what am I in the mood for and what does A good job of satiating my need.
Farah Safari
Okay. I love that. It also gives, like, the better perspective because I know sometimes people talk about the tv, like, to consume as, like, trash TV or, like, whatever, and I'm like, no, it's just whatever you want to. Whatever makes you feel good in the moment.
Stacey Abrams
Yeah. I mean, television should not be a chore. There are fantastic shows that edify and lift us up and that matters. But there are also fantastic shows that ground us in our humanity and remind us that this too shall pass. And then there's Love island, which I haven't seen, but, you know, my niece and my siblings love, and I wish them well. I will never visit them, but I am glad they have the island to visit.
Farah Safari
Oh, my gosh. I'm gonna get you to watch Love 1 episode.
Stacey Abrams
You will not.
Farah Safari
That is my goal.
Stacey Abrams
Good luck with that. It may end our female friendship, but you try.
Farah Safari
Okay, you're right. I need to hold on to that. Okay, next question is from Erin Ryan. What do you think of the popularity of Sarah Moss and her imitators? Is the sub genre of romance novels good or bad for the genre as a whole?
Stacey Abrams
So I am proud of Sarah and what she's been able to do. I will push back a little bit on the imitators. Romantasy is not new. It's just new to this generation of readers. And it's been called many things over many years. When I was growing up first reading romance, it was. You could read Joanna Lindsay and get some, you know, medieval romance. You could read trying to think who else? I used to love Elizabeth Lowell, who would do magical fantasy romance. Each generation brings something new to it, and I think it's incredibly important that we never lose sight of how foundational romance is to how we tell stories. I. I laud and was so proud to be a romance writer because it's the one genre where you know from the very beginning how it's going to end. And your job is to keep the reader engaged anyway. And that takes creativity, it takes characterization, it takes story arcs, it takes skill. And I'm delighted that romance continues to endure and continues to remind us of who we are and why we deserve to be happy.
Farah Safari
Oh, that's beautiful. Okay, next question is from Haley Jones. Thoughts on how black people are represented in the show Gilded Age. We're starting to see more representation in period pieces, but do you feel like black voices are being shown enough?
Stacey Abrams
I like how Gilded Age is thoughtfully integrating black voices, and I think it follows the same arc as Bridgerton in This, we don't have enough stories about what happened then, and we are playing catch up in an aggressive way. I also think about the movie Sinners and the juxtaposition of the black family and the Chinese family, because there's so many communities that built this world that we know nothing about, and we are surprised by their representation. I am always delighted to see more. I'm always hungry for even more to be shown. But I think we have to give credit to those who are doing it right and encourage more people to do it, more showrunners to do it, more writers to do it. But it also begs the question of what else can we excavate about who we are in our history so that it doesn't surprise us every time it happens?
Farah Safari
I think it's also about giving more writers and more chances, create new television, new content. Because I know right now we're in a huge era of reruns of TV shows and refreshing movies and sequels. And I think new stories give us a chance to be more creative and dig into our past.
Stacey Abrams
They do. And part of the issue is that we've got to support the new stories. As someone who has a production company and who tries to create new content, who writes books and does all of these things, it's a business. And so business is better when people participate. When you buy the product, people will give you more product. When we admire the product, but go and buy the more familiar, then they're going to say, oh, that was nice. That was prestige. But they're over there buying the product they always bought. And so we're going to keep giving them that. So if we want more, we've got to actually show our hunger for.
Farah Safari
Mm. That's very fair. Okay, we have an anonymous question and kind of going back to what we talked about with Sinners. So rumor has it that you're a huge fan of Buffy and the people want to know what was your favorite episode or one of your top five favorite episodes.
Stacey Abrams
Okay. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my favorite shows. So going back to the question of, like, great shows, Buffy hits on so many levels constantly. It is one of those shows I can watch over and over again. The top three episodes, I think everyone would agree, are once more with feeling. Even if you don't like musicals, it was a brilliant, brilliant way to tell that story and to dig deep into the arcs of every character. Hush. Because a show with no, no sound that is that terrifying is just extraordinary. And the show that will always. The episode that will always make me cry. Is the Body When Buffy Loses Her Mom a show that has no soundtrack. It is just the characters responding to each other and what it demonstrates. If you look at all three of those episodes, it's how important dialogue is and is not, how important sound is and is not, but overall how critical story is. And Buffy is one of the all time great stories of capacity and perseverance and hardship and heartache and joy and courage. I love Buffy. Makes me very happy.
Farah Safari
I also love Buffy. I watched the entire series in high school and I believe that also Willow was one of the first openly queer characters on television in the 90s, which is also beautiful and incredible representation. Speaking of vampires, is there any other vampire content that has come out within the last 15 years that you're a fan of? Like Twilight, Interview with the Vampire Sinners?
Stacey Abrams
So I not only loved Buffy, I watched every episode of angel, which I will say had probably one of the best series finales of all time. The last line is, I've always wanted to fight a dragon. You just have to know how great that arc was. Also a very big fan of Supernatural, so I like vampires, but I like all of the Supernatural stuff and I love the boys and Castiel. So yes, I'm a huge Supernatural fan. Made it all of the seasons and we could have a conversation about the main characters anytime. They're so pretty anyway, so they are. They're very pretty.
Farah Safari
They're really pretty.
Stacey Abrams
I got to do a zoom with them and it was just really hard to form sentences. And they're lovely humans. It was just wonderful.
Farah Safari
If you're gonna be hot, like, don't be nice. Like, you can't throw me off like that.
Stacey Abrams
Here's a whole trend right now about how Jensen Akles is just too much. He is hot. He can dance, he can sing. Seeing he's got a new show that I just discovered yesterday on Amazon, so it's flagged. So when I have more than five minutes, it's my next show that I'm gonna watch. But yeah.
Farah Safari
Oh, my gosh. It's too much. Okay. This is great. Have you ever considered writing a character that is otherworldly or magical? Or do you like to stay rooted in the real world talking about things as supernatural characters?
Stacey Abrams
Oh, no, I love Supernatural. I love sci fi. I have two books that are sort of sitting in my to write pile. One is a children's book, a tween book, that one of the characters, he's in my head. His name is Queelich Fleeing, and his teacher describes him as special in a way that really, really is not. And so he. Yeah, but he's. But I know who he is. And he's an otherworldly character. I have another book that I started like two chapters in, and it's a woman or a man who wakes up and there's someone like sitting inside him. Not another. It's like another person. Anyway, I love the mystical. I love the science fiction. I haven't quite figured out what this other person is doing there. Cause he passes out in front of the refrigerator and he comes to and there's like another person sitting inside him and he's not sure what happened. I'm not either. And I'm two chapters in and I'm still confused about what's going on. So as soon as I figure it out, I'll let y' all know.
Farah Safari
Oh my gosh. Well, I'm excited to read that, Stacey. How do you have the time to.
Stacey Abrams
Do all these things?
Farah Safari
This is so impressive. We don't have the same hours in a day.
Stacey Abrams
I'm convinced I enjoy. I am incredibly privileged to get to try lots of things. And the way I best describe it is I don't mind failing at things. I don't mind not being the best at what I do, which gives me the freedom to try the things that appeal to me. I don't begrudge myself happiness or just a respite. And television does that for me. Movies will do that for me. Really good books do that for me. I let myself have permission. And too often we hold ourselves accountable for not doing enough. I think we have to hold ourselves accountable for doing what we can. And that means also taking care of ourselves so we can do more. Assembly required with Stacey Abrams is brought to you by Wild Alaskan Company. Growing up in Mississippi, my family loved to go fishing on the Gulf, which meant great seafood was usually on the menu. Even though we don't live by the water anymore, my family can still have all the delicious fish they want thanks to Wild Alaskan Company. Wild Alaskan Company is a terrific way to get wild caught. Perfectly portioned, nutrient dense seafood delivered directly to your door. My parents love the ease and the convenience of Wild Alaskan Company and the tremendous variety. Right now, they're enjoying the Pacific Rockfish and Pacific code. The fish from wild Alaskan company is 100% wild caught, never farmed. This means there are no antibiotics, GMOs, or additives. Just clean, real fish that support healthy oceans and fishing communities. Wild Alaskan fish is frozen off the boat to lock in taste, texture and nutrients like omega 3s and it is sustainably sourced wild caught from Alaska. Every order supports sustainable harvesting practices and your membership delivers flexible shipments, expert tips and truly feel good seafood. Try it risk free with a 100% money back guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied with your first box, Wild Alaskan Company will give you a full refund. No questions asked, no risk, just high quality seafood. Not all fish are the same. Get seafood you can trust. Go to wildalaskan.com assembly or for $35 off your first box of premium wild caught seafood. That's wildalaskan.com assembly for $35 off your first order. And thank you to Wild Alaskan Company for sponsoring this episode.
Farah Safari
We all belong outside. We're drawn to nature. Whether it's the recorded sounds of the ocean we doze off to or the succulents that adorn our homes, nature makes all of our lives, well, better. Despite all this, we often go about our busy lives removed from it, but the outdoors is closer than we realize. With alltrails, you can discover trails nearby and explore confidently with offline maps and on trail navigation. Download the free app today. We also have some questions from some familiar faces. Your friends Jennifer Lewis and Wilson Cruz sent in some video questions. So we're gonna start with Jennifer Lewis.
D
Hi, I'm Jennifer Lewis and I am a big fan of Stacey Abrams. She called and asked me to come down to Georgia and campaign with her when she was running for governor and I can't tell you how honored I was. We went door to door, we got on buses, we got in cars, we campaigned and I felt great because I knew, as I know now, Stacey Abrams gets the job done. And what I want to ask you, first of all, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for what you do for all of us. My question is how do you get through the day to day of having so much thrown at us so quickly? They they every day there's something new and harsh and evil. Even so, I know that I sit at this piano and I scream out my passion. I also give when I can. I I work in my community and I know you do some of those things, but what do you do? How do you handle this? What keeps you strong? What keeps you climbing the mountain every day? Yeah. Thank you.
Stacey Abrams
Thank you, Jennifer Lewis, for such a profound question and such a kind engagement. You described sitting at your piano. I sit at my keyboard. You described going out to serve. I do that when I can in ways that I can. We both believe in finding Joy, which can sound innocuous, it can sound flighty, but joy is at power. It is hard to withstand such concentrated, intensive, repetitive assault if you don't look for joy. Because the goal is to break us down. The goal is not the defeat by demise, is the defeat by numbing. It is to convince us that we're not entitled to more. So why would we ask for more? Autocracies don't rise because people are gone. They rise because people are cowed, because people are convinced that this is as good as it gets. And so, for me, part of my responsibility is to make sure people have the information to know what they're entitled to, but that we also believe that it's worth getting to the other side. And whether that's because there's another good episode of Love island waiting for you or because there is a book that you forgot that you wanted to read or a person you forgot that you wanted to talk to, that's what we have to do. I have five brothers and sisters who are extraordinarily important to me. I have two parents that I love dearly. I have six. Six nieces and nephews. I have brothers and sisters in law. And they are all part of why I do what I do, but they're also part of my renewal system. This is hard. It is hard watching people be hurt with a cruelty and an intentionality that speaks to the worst examples of humanity. This isn't new. We've seen this happen. And we can list off the dictators and the mean people, and mean seems like too easy a word. But we can name who those people are. We can name those points in society, but we can also remember who survived it and who gave us joy and who gave us clarity and who gave us respite. And when you can name those people in those moments, that's what renews me. If they could do it, I can. And if I can, then someone else can. And our greatest victory is not their demise. It's our rise. That's the work that we have to do. We have to keep rising. We have to keep renewing. We have to keep doing because it's really, really annoying to them. And if we keep doing it, we will win.
Farah Safari
Thank you, Stacy. That was really needed in this crazy time and experience that we're living in. So our next question is from Wilson Cruz.
C
Hi, everyone. This is Wilson Cruz. I am an actor and also, at the moment, the board chair of a national nonprofit called Plsen, which works to make schools safe for all students across this nation, including LGBTQ students. Hi, Stacy. First of all, I love that I get to call you that because you're one of my heroes. So feather in my cap. But congratulations on the success of this amazing podcast, Assembly Required, which has been such a lifeline for those of us who need access to to our leaders right now for their guidance and their wisdom. And you are definitely providing a lot of that through this podcast. So thank you as a regular listener. So congratulations and thank you. I guess, you know, my question to you right now at this moment in which we are seeing that the Supreme Court has cleared the way for this administration to dismantle the Department of Education and the fact that this terrible bill has passed, which is going to affect so many of our students, especially our black and brown students, especially those who are queer. So my question to you is, what tools can we provide? What tools you think would be helpful for our young people at this moment as they navigate this moment through their education, but also in a way that allows them to advocate for the betterment of that education going forward? What can they do to be active participants in making sure that they get to live up to their full potential? I love you and thank you for this opportunity.
Stacey Abrams
So Wilson Cruise is one of my favorite people. We got to work together on Star Discovery, where he played an intrepid doctor who saved lives across galaxies, dimensions, and timetables. But what he does in real life is speak up for communities that are too often not simply left out and left behind, but are made the targets of venom and of just a horrid display of bias that is just unconscionable. Unfortunately, our Supreme Court has said they're going to make it easier. With the dismantling of the Department of Education comes the dismantling of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Education. Ostensibly, that's gonna be moved over to the Department of Justice, but since they've also been dismantling their civil rights functions, there will be no recourse for so many students who are in desperate need of the protections of our laws. But that doesn't mean they can't get protected by the people in their communities. And so I'm going to talk to the adults first and then the kids. The adults need to show up, irrespective of whether you have a child in a school system. If you have a school in your community, you need to show up. Children are afraid. They are under siege. They are lost. And while we can bemoan the esoteric conversation of the state of education, we're talking about real people. We're talking about those who are so young that they are legally not permitted to be on their own. They are our responsibility and so that means volunteering. Whatever your topic of interest is, show up. Show up to read at a school. If you prefer the little ones show up to volunteer at a basketball game or a football game. But show up. Ask your school system how you can help. Ask the teachers that you see in your neighborhood what they need. Right now, our educators are under extraordinary pressure and they need to know that we are there not just for their charges, but for them. Watching Abbott elementary will pretty much give you a life lesson on what you need to do to help your schools. So do all of the stuff they say, but make sure you're showing up. Pta. Yes, it's a parent teacher association, but all of us have an opportunity to be there and be a part of what needs to happen. So show up for young people I got started being a troublemaker long before I was old enough to cast a ballot. And when I say troublemaker, I don't mean making trouble and mischief for no good reason. I mean speaking up. We are responsible for speaking up for ourselves. We may not have the ability to cast a vote, but there are adults who listen to us and there are adults who need to see us. There should be no reason for young people not to show up at school board meetings. But you should also get your parents to take you to city council meetings and county commission meetings. When the state legislatures are meeting in your state, show up because they control the bulk of the money that comes to your school system is determined by what the state does. And so they try to keep young people separated from power for as long as possible. And then suddenly you're told either you have power, you don't have power. We've got all the power we're willing to take. And when you're young, you haven't learned enough about no to believe that you shouldn't have a yes. So show up in the spaces, but also ask for help. I have what I refer to as my borrowed teenager. I have a niece. She just turned 19. Recently she was on my very first episode of Assembly Required. I have learned so much about being a good person from her. You are more powerful than you know. You are more capable than you realize. And while it does seem like the world ignores you, you are controlling so much of our world. You know more than we do. You have more knowledge, more information. But you also have the ability to hold us accountable. That doesn't mean we're going to make the changes that you need, but don't let us get away with saying we didn't know. Talk to us, tell us, show us, and make us better.
Farah Safari
Wow. That was incredible. And I will say, like, as an old Gen Z, I think oftentimes growing up, people try to, like, diminish your power. And often when I had those moments, I thought of Gloria Anzaldua's short story, how to Tame a Wild Tongue, which is just about how she talked a lot as a kid and spoke up and advocated for other people, and everyone tried to silence her, and she never backed down. And I think if your heart is in the right place, then whatever you're saying or whatever you want to advocate for has value.
Stacey Abrams
Absolutely. My most recent children's book is called Stacy Speaks up, and it's about the importance of empathy and advocacy, and it's about how kids can help solve problems that adults sometimes don't see. And that's why I think, Claire, what you just said is so incredibly important. It's about using your voice, but it's also about recognizing that the adults should be doing what you need them to do. So make sure they know what you need.
Farah Safari
Yeah. So tell your parents off. I'm kidding. Don't do that.
Stacey Abrams
Don't do that.
Farah Safari
Don't do that.
Stacey Abrams
Do not get me canceled. We got all the way through this episode. Do not get me canceled.
Farah Safari
I know. I'm so sorry. I'm so close. I was like, wait, you're almost free. Okay, well, Stacey, that wraps our listener mailbag. Thank you so much for doing this, and thank you so much for your incredible answers.
Stacey Abrams
This was a delight. And thank you to everyone who wrote in. My apologies to anyone who sent in a question we didn't get to. We're gonna do this Again, thank you especially to Jennifer Lewis and Wilson Cruz, who answered the phone when I called and asked questions that I needed to hear. I am always grateful to the audience of Assembly Required for asking tough questions, being thoughtful listeners, and more importantly, doing the things we need to do to make our world better. So thank you so much. As always on Assembly Required, we're here to give you real, actionable tools to face today's challenges. I want to thank everyone again for sending in your questions for today's special episode of Assembly Required. We covered so much today, from cryptocurrency to why Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are two of the best shows ever. But as always, we want to leave you with some actionable tools to face today's tough challenges. Cricket's Vote Save America is running a pilot program for the 2026 cycle to recruit you, our listeners to run for office. Whether it's school board, city council, state legislature or anything in between. VSA's in state partners have identified the races that need candidates and are ready to help you run for office. Learn more about the program and sign up@votesaveamerica.com Run as always, if you like what you hear, be sure to share this episode and subscribe on all your favorite platforms and to meet the demands of the algorithm. Please rate the show and leave a comment. You can find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you go to listen and learn. If you have a question for me, send it in. You can start with an email to assemblyrequiredokked.com or leave us a voicemail and you and your questions and comments might be featured on the pod. Our number is 213-2932 I want to take a second and say thank you. You may have noticed a different background behind me. That's because I am in Miami for my book tour for my new novel Coded justice out now. And I want to say thank you because we're at this amazing studio Accord Studios in Miami and I want to particularly thank Rocky Wyler and Robbie Campbeau for their help today. Well, that wraps up this episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams. Be careful out there and I'll meet you here next week. Assembly Required is a crooked media production. Our lead show producer is Lacey Roberts and our associate producer is Farah Safari. Kiril Palaviv is our video producer. This episode was recorded and mixed by Charlotte Landis. Our theme song is by Vasilis Fotopoulos. Thank you to Matt De Groat, Kyle Seglin, Tyler Boozer, Ben Hethcote and Priyanka Mantha for production support. Our executive producers are Katie Long and me, Stacey Abra.
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Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams: Episode Summary - "Buffy, Bad Bills, and Burning Questions"
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Stacey Abrams returns with a special mailbag episode of Assembly Required, where she addresses a multitude of listener questions spanning politics, pop culture, and personal insights. Joined by Associate Producer Farah Safari, Abrams delves into complex issues, offering thoughtful analysis and actionable advice. This summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions and notable quotes.
Listener Question: Can a senator or representative be sued for violating their oath of office to adhere to the Constitution?
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams expresses skepticism about the feasibility of suing legislators for not adhering to their oaths, primarily due to the doctrine of sovereign immunity. She explains,
“'Sovereign immunity is the ability of lawmakers to say they don't have to abide by the laws they don't want to abide by.'”
This legal protection often shields elected officials from lawsuits unless there is a clear violation of existing laws. Abrams emphasizes the importance of voting as the primary tool for holding officials accountable, noting the limited effectiveness of recall elections due to their selective application.
Listener Question: How much did Stacey Abrams know about cryptocurrency before preparing for a podcast episode?
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams highlights her passion for research and learning, sharing her approach to complex topics. She remarks,
“'I try to learn enough that people who don't know anything think I'm smart and those who do know something think I'm respectful.'**”
Her proactive engagement with cryptocurrency includes listening to podcasts and extensive research, ensuring she can discuss the subject with both novices and experts respectfully.
Listener Question: Does the SAVE Act intend to take away married women's rights to vote?
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams confirms concerns about the SAVE Act potentially disenfranchising married women by enforcing name uniformity, which could complicate voting processes for women who adopt their spouse's surname. She states,
“'One of the intentions is to compel women to use the same name for everything.'**”
She categorizes the motivations behind the act into three strains, highlighting the most alarming as attempts to diminish women's voting viability. Abrams warns against the subtlety of voter suppression tactics, emphasizing that
“'When you hear these administrative rules that sound benign or sound logical, the question isn't what, it's how.'**”
Listener Question: What happens to the belongings of immigrants after they've been deported?
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams discusses the often chaotic and unjust process immigrants face, where their personal belongings are left unresolved. She cites specific cases, such as an 82-year-old man deported to Guatemala without his belongings. Abrams reflects,
“'We're not asking those questions, just like we're not asking why we allow kidnapping and extradition.'**”
She advocates for community-based solutions, urging listeners to collaborate with local churches and immigration organizations to support affected individuals.
Listener Question: How should Democrats respond to the MAGA movement's anger over the Epstein case?
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams advises maintaining focus on character and narrative rather than getting entangled in the frenzy. She paraphrases a Napoleon Bonaparte quote,
“'When elephants are stampeding, don't get on the grass.'**”
Rather than reacting directly, she suggests continuing to highlight inconsistencies and character flaws within the MAGA movement to fracture their unified stance without amplifying their anger towards Democrats.
Listener Question: How do you build political power and voter access in red or blue states?
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams emphasizes starting locally and fostering genuine connections. She advocates for a relationship-first approach by asking,
“'How can I help?'**”
Instead of leading with reasons to support a cause or candidate, she believes in understanding community needs first, which then naturally leads to meaningful engagement and sustained political participation.
In an engaging segment, Abrams and Safari play a rapid-fire "this or that" game, revealing Abrams' preferences in TV shows, movies, and books. Notable choices include:
Abrams also shares her love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, highlighting standout episodes like "Once More, with Feeling," "Hush," and "The Body," which showcase the show's exceptional storytelling and character development.
Listener Messages: Special messages from Jennifer Lewis and Wilson Cruz offer personal insights and questions about maintaining resilience amidst political turmoil.
Stacey Abrams' Response: Abrams underscores the importance of joy and community as tools for resilience. Reflecting on Jennifer's question about handling daily adversities, she states,
“'Joy is at power. It is hard to withstand such concentrated, intensive, repetitive assault if you don't look for joy.'**”
For Wilson Cruz's concerns about education and advocacy, Abrams advises:
She highlights her children's book, Stacy Speaks Up, which encourages empathy and advocacy among young readers.
In this comprehensive mailbag episode, Stacey Abrams adeptly navigates through a spectrum of issues, providing clarity and actionable steps for listeners. From legal intricacies and voter suppression to personal interests and resilience strategies, Abrams ensures that each response is both informative and empowering. Her balanced approach of addressing serious topics while interspersing light-hearted segments offers a holistic listening experience.
Notable Quotes:
On Sovereign Immunity:
"Sovereign immunity is the ability of lawmakers to say they don't have to abide by the laws they don't want to abide by."
[03:51]
On Cryptocurrency Learning Approach:
"I try to learn enough that people who don't know anything think I'm smart and those who do know something think I'm respectful."
[07:11]
On Voter Suppression Tactics:
"When you hear these administrative rules that sound benign or sound logical, the question isn't what, it's how."
[11:04]
On Building Political Power:
"Our first question is how can I help? Which asks someone, what's wrong? What are you concerned about? What do you need..."
[21:21]
On Resilience Through Joy:
"Joy is at power. It is hard to withstand such concentrated, intensive, repetitive assault if you don't look for joy."
[51:31]
This episode of Assembly Required not only addresses pressing societal issues but also offers personal reflections and strategic advice, reinforcing Stacey Abrams' commitment to empowering her listeners through knowledge and community engagement.