Podcast Summary: "The Cult Has No Culture"

Podcast Information:

• Title: I've Had It
• Hosts: Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
• Episode: The Cult Has No Culture
• Release Date: August 14, 2025

1. Airport Etiquette: The Footwear Fiasco

Discussion Overview: Jennifer and Angie kick off the episode by venting about unpleasant experiences during air travel, specifically focusing on passengers who neglect proper foot hygiene.

Key Points:

• Angie Sullivan recounts a flight where a fellow passenger's unkempt feet made her feel nauseous. She emphasizes the importance of covering one's feet in public spaces like airports.

  Angie (00:20): “Cover your feet. If your toes look like that, cover your feet. If you cannot do it for yourself and you think that's fine to roll around with those feet, do it for everybody else, because that is disgusting.”

• Jennifer Welch humorously describes the unsightly appearance of the passenger's feet, referencing a "SpongeBob slide" and excessive toenail length.

  Jennifer (01:05): “What we have here is a SpongeBob slide. ... Just a trim would have helped the situation immensely. But I agree. That's a travesty.”

Notable Quote:

Jennifer (02:02): “It's gross. Yeah, it is. Just flying has just really gone downhill.”

2. Fox News and MAGA Culture: A Severe Critique

Discussion Overview: The hosts launch into a scathing critique of Fox News and the MAGA movement, highlighting perceived hypocrisies, misinformation, and societal impacts.

Key Points:

• Jennifer Welch expresses frustration with Fox News for focusing on sensational and trivial matters over significant national issues.

  Jennifer (02:48): “I've had it with how stupid Fox News is. ... They had to pay out a settlement of a billion dollars. And these dipshits still pull up every night and think they're so goddamn smart by watching it. It just blows my mind.”

• The hosts discuss the expansion of MAGA fears, encompassing a wide range of marginalized groups, and the apparent disconnect between Fox News personalities' actions and their public personas.

  Jennifer (06:08): “They pull up every night, tap the vein, inject that jet stream of racist bullshit right into their veins and it is so pathetic and pitiful.”

• Angie Sullivan highlights the continuous cycle of hate and racism perpetuated by Fox News, mentioning figures like Bill O'Reilly and Roger Ailes.

  Angie (11:03): “We know Rupert Murdoch... But he serves up delusion for the craven.”

Notable Quotes:

Jennifer (07:29): “Me as a consumer of news. If I find out that my news source was sued and had to pay $1 billion for lying to the audience, I would have enough wherewithal to go.”

Angie (11:03): “They spend all day, one day talking about a 51-year-old podcaster. ... the list of things that MAGA people are triggered by just grows by the day.”

3. Responding to Hate: Reading and Analyzing Listener Emails

Discussion Overview: Jennifer and Angie share and dissect hateful messages they've received, offering insights into the nature of the backlash against them.

Key Points:

• Jennifer Welch reads emails from listeners who harbor deep-seated animosity towards the hosts, often laced with derogatory language and personal attacks.

  Jennifer (15:02): “Let us look into your illegal shenanigans?”

• Angie Sullivan underscores the severity of the threats, highlighting the personal toll such harassment takes on women, especially those in the public eye.

  Angie (12:00): “MAGA is the party of sexual depravity. ... they never take the side of the woman.”

• The hosts discuss the broader implications of such hate, linking it to systemic issues within the MAGA movement and societal attitudes towards marginalized communities.

Notable Quotes:

Jennifer (14:07): “What have you had it with, Islanders? ... I have a visual aid from my trip that I just took this person and these feet with those toenails.”

Angie (19:19): “It's really fucked up. And mind your own fucking business.”

4. Guest Segment: Blakely Thornton on Pop Culture and Politics

Discussion Overview: The episode features a guest, Blakely Thornton, a pop culture anthropologist, who delves into the intersections of pop culture, politics, and societal norms.

Key Points:

• Blakely discusses the impact of prominent figures like Tim Cook in politics and the entertainment industry's role in shaping societal attitudes.

  Blakely (26:32): “I'm doing well. ... It is very descriptive sexual violence that these MAGA people wish upon you.”

• The conversation touches on the influence of billionaires and their disconnect from everyday experiences, criticizing their detachment and the societal repercussions thereof.

  Blakely (28:24): “I have a theory that once you don't have to fly commercial ever, that you lose your humanity because no matter how wealthy you are, the plane will leave with or without you.”

• The discussion also explores the challenges within the LGBTQIA+ community, especially concerning representation and acceptance in mainstream media and politics.

Notable Quotes:

Blakely (32:15): “I think Dumb and Dumber are going to take over Tim Cook and they're going to take over Apple and it's going to be Trump phone made in the USA.”

Jennifer (40:37): “Hear me out, y'. All tell me if you think I'm crazy. I think the Democrats need to hire Kendrick Lamar if he would do it.”

5. The Role of Black Culture in American Society

Discussion Overview: Jennifer and Blakely explore the profound influence of Black culture on American life, lamenting the failure of some to appreciate or acknowledge its contributions.

Key Points:

• Jennifer Welch emphasizes how Black culture enriches the lives of many, often going unrecognized by those who benefit most from it.

  Jennifer (38:06): “How much soul and personality and identity that is brought to their lives. I think they're completely oblivious to it.”

• The hosts discuss the appropriation and misuse of Black cultural elements by conservative groups, criticizing their superficial understanding and respect.

  Jennifer (38:50): “...you are not an ally. Shut the up and just be white and go put on your little clan robe and, you know, go masturbate to your stock portfolio because nobody wants to hear you try to be black.”

Notable Quotes:

Blakely (34:07): “Everybody's a little gay. ... through religion, we've told them they have to repress and cover their bodies.”

Jennifer (40:31): “I completely agree. I think that there's a lot of closeted homosexuals in the Republican Party.”

6. Political Call to Action: Voting and Democratic Strategy

Discussion Overview: The hosts and their guest discuss the importance of voting, the challenges within the Democratic Party, and strategies to combat the rise of fascism.

Key Points:

• Jennifer Welch urges listeners to vote for imperfect candidates who can advance progressive values, despite their flaws.

  Jennifer (51:15): “We have to fight for everybody. ... We have to vote. We cannot give up any more of what these people have taken from us.”

• The conversation highlights the pitfalls of analysis paralysis during elections and emphasizes the need to prioritize defeating fascist tendencies over achieving perfect policy alignment.

  Angie (51:15): “We can't get into the whole analysis paralysis.”

• Blakely Thornton echoes the sentiment, advocating for pragmatic approaches to politics and the importance of focusing on essential victories.

  Blakely (51:15): “We need petty with democracy depth. ... Just like, we have to, we have to.”

Notable Quotes:

Jennifer (52:05): “I think it's so important, and I think that we can. We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Blakely (52:05): “We need petty with democracy depth. ... Let’s play had it or hit it.”

7. Pop Culture Commentary: "Had It or Hit It" Segment

Discussion Overview: The hosts engage in their regular segment “Had It or Hit It,” where they humorously critique various pop culture figures and phenomena.

Key Points:

• Skims: The hosts discuss their decision to discontinue advertising for Skims, critiquing the brand's association with controversial figures and the contradiction between the product and its political ties.

  Jennifer (54:22): “Why does Kim ... side with these Christian nationalist weirdos. It pisses me off.”

• James Cameron: Blakely expresses fatigue with mainstream directors like James Cameron, criticizing their repetitive themes and reluctance to embrace diversity in storytelling.

  Blakely (57:38): “I'm so tired of straight white directors over 50 repeating themselves and taking up all the capital to make more films.”

• Unsupervised Straight Men: The segment humorously condemns the societal impact of unsupervised straight men, advocating for more inclusive and diverse representation.

  Blakely (59:15): “Have a dog. If there's not a girl or a gay within like a five-foot radius, don't let them do it.”

Notable Quotes:

Jennifer (53:48): “This is why I followed you on Instagram, and I saw all of the skim stuff and her ties to Trump ... we canceled their ad.”

Angie (56:52): “We need to normalize men with bags. Honestly, I’ve actually made fun of several celebrities on the Internet…”

8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Summary Overview: In wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the discussions, emphasizing the need for continued activism, support for marginalized communities, and staying informed.

Key Points:

• Jennifer Welch reiterates the importance of voting and holding politicians accountable, even when it means supporting imperfect candidates.

  Jennifer (66:03): “It's just safer in general. With the exception of Coco Goth, it is safer in general to support the European man.”

• Angie Sullivan highlights the personal impact of political decisions on marginalized groups, stressing the urgency of fighting for equitable policies.

  Angie (66:16): “Tell them we will see you next Tuesday and Thursday.”

Notable Quote:

Jennifer (65:28): “And when he's a feminer that sells panties that touch the vaginas and the tatas of all these women, and you side with these Christian nationalist weirdos. It pisses me off.”

Key Takeaways:

• Accountability in Media: The episode underscores the critical need for holding media outlets like Fox News accountable for spreading misinformation and fostering divisive ideologies.

• Importance of Representation: There's a strong emphasis on the value of diverse voices in politics and media, advocating for greater inclusion of marginalized communities.

• Active Participation: The hosts encourage active political engagement, particularly through voting, as essential steps in combating rising authoritarianism and preserving democratic values.

• Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation: The discussion highlights the fine line between appreciating cultural contributions and appropriating them without proper understanding or respect.

• Personal Resilience: Through sharing personal anecdotes and experiences with harassment, the hosts illustrate the resilience required to navigate public criticism and hostility.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Angie (00:20): “Cover your feet. If your toes look like that, cover your feet. ... it is disgusting.”
• Jennifer (02:48): “I've had it with how stupid Fox News is. ... It just blows my mind.”
• Blakely (26:32): “I'm doing well. ... someone’s got to get used to it.”
• Jennifer (51:15): “We have to fight for everybody. ... We have to vote.”
• Blakely (57:38): “I'm so tired of straight white directors over 50 repeating themselves and taking up all the capital to make more films.”

Conclusion: "The Cult Has No Culture" episode of "I've Had It" presents a fervent critique of contemporary political and cultural landscapes, advocating for greater accountability, representation, and active participation in democracy. Through personal anecdotes, guest insights, and sharp commentary, Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan deliver a compelling narrative aimed at empowering listeners to recognize and combat societal challenges.