If You Give a Mouse a Pronoun

Sat Mar 08 2025

This week, DOGE continues to gobble up federal jobs, and the Secretary of Agriculture suggests you suck eggs. Natalie Morales eats in Was I In This? Emily St. James’s new book Woodworking gives us something to chew on. And Lovett digs his teeth into two terrors, cannibalism and high school. Upcoming shows: crooked.com/events. Order Woodworking by Emily St. James at crooked.com/books.

Transcript

Jon Lovett (0:00)

Love it or Leave it is brought to you by Bombas. I got a lot of copy here, Jon. I'm skipping it, okay? I'm skipping it. Let me tell you why. What's on these feet right now? Bombas. I know that I. Every goddamn, every goddamn day, but I switch completely to bombas, all right? I switch completely. I. Look, I always had a couple Bombas in the drawer, but when Trump became president, I said, you know what? Something's got to give, and I want my feet to be just a little bit more comfortable. So I went on the Internet, I went on Elon's Internet, and I bought a ton of bombas. I bought a whole bunch that are all the same so that I don't have any decisions in the morning. They're different, different color stripes. These are the. These are the gray stripes. Yeah, I know.

Natalie Morales (0:37)

I've seen that.

Jon Lovett (0:38)

I can see. I got every stripe so that I have. I have a different color stripe to match whatever clothes I'm wearing. So my stripes from my Bombas are always coordinated with my outfit every day. Sometimes that's just for me because they're in my pants and you don't know that, but sometimes it's for my gym shorts because they're great. When I go to the gym, they're. They're great. When I go to the office, they've got dress socks. I'm a complete Bombas boy. I'm a Bombas boy. Enjoy. Worldwide shipping to over 200 countries. Head over to bombas.com loveit and use code love it for 20% off your first purchase. Let me see if I should have covered anything else here. They got dress socks. I got those. They're fantastic. Any other choice? Cushioned arch hugging pairs. That's what I've got on right now. You know, it goes great with new spring socks, fresh white T shirts, waterproof slides. I also have the slides. I also. Those slides I've been wearing. Bombus. Wow. Head on over to bombas.com love it and use code love it for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B-A-S.com love it. Code love it for 20% off your 1st purchase. Bombas.com love it. Use the code Love it. Because if it's your first purchase getting 20% off, just get all the socks you could ever need till the day you die. That's what I recommend. Bombus.com Love it. Love it or leave it. It's Love it or leave it. What's up, Los Angeles? Welcome to Love it or leave it. Live from Dynasty typewriter. Good news, Adrien Brody. With Trump's joint address to Congress behind us, your Oscars acceptance is now the second worst speech of the week. Putting the brutal and brutalist. That guy. I've been here before. Don't play the music. I have a point to make. Says nothing forever. That was unbelievable. That was unbelievable. Like the gall the actor hubris to be winning an Oscar in front of one of the biggest television audiences in the world. The music starts playing and you say, how dare you. I haven't yet said that love is important. We've got a great show for you tonight. Natalie Morales is here to comb through her catalog. Writer and author of the new novel woodworking, Emily St. James is here to talk about my greatest fear, teenage girls. Then we all debate the worst of two evils, cannibalism and high school. But first, let's get into it. What a week. On Tuesday, Donald Trump delivered a speech to Congress filled with lies and grievances in what sounded more like a MAGA rally speech than a presidential address. It's Trump's special talent that he can make a speech both completely insane and deeply boring. It's one of those combinations that should be impossible, like being Jewish and digesting dairy. As promised, some Democratic congresswomen wore pink in protest. Powerful stuff. I see they borrowed a page from Sun Tzu's classic text, the art of putting on fun little outfits. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, head of the Democratic Women's Caucus, told Time magazine that pink is a color of power and protest. It's time to rev up the opposition and come at Trump loud and clear. But wearing a color is not a protest. It's a statement, but it's not a protest. You're allowed to wear pink. You're coordinating your outfits. But the outfits aren't loud and clear. They're maybe loud, but they're not necessarily clear. It's like watching Meghan Markle make popcorn. I know you think this is something, but until you explain it, it's nothing. Trump began his address with a declaration.

Summary

Lovett or Leave It – Episode: "If You Give a Mouse a Pronoun"

Release Date: March 8, 2025
Host: Jon Lovett
Guests: Natalie Morales (Actress), Emily St. James (Writer/Author)

Political Commentary

Donald Trump's Address to Congress

The episode opens with Jon Lovett delving into the aftermath of former President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress. Lovett critiques the speech as a blend of insanity and monotony, likening it to a MAGA rally rather than a presidential address. He humorously remarks, “It's Trump's special talent that he can make a speech both completely insane and deeply boring” (04:38).

Disruption and Protest

During Trump's speech, Democratic Texas Congressman Al Green disrupts proceedings, leading House Speaker Mike Johnson to remove him. Emily St. James comments on the disruption, describing it as “willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum” (04:49). Lovett mocks the effectiveness of such protests, suggesting that louder disruptions might have more impact.

Pink as a Symbol of Protest

Lovett discusses the Democratic congresswomen who wore pink to protest, quoting Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez: “Pink is a color of power and protest, it's time to rev up the opposition and come at Trump loud and clear” (04:18). He humorously critiques the symbolism, noting that “wearing a color is not a protest. It's a statement, but it's not a protest.”

Trump’s Policy Remarks and Mockery

Trump’s speech touched on various contentious issues:

Medicaid Cuts: Trump declared, “I was making it clear to the President that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid” (05:08), which Lovett sarcastically responds by questioning the effectiveness of such statements.
Trans Rights and Culture Wars: Trump asserted, “Our country will be woke no longer” (06:14), a statement Lovett mocks by highlighting the absurdity of the stock market’s reaction to such rhetoric.

Lovett continues to satirize Trump’s policies, including the creation of a crypto Strategic Reserve and the imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He quotes Trump’s optimistic yet baseless assurances about these initiatives, such as, “Our farmers are going to have a field day right now. So to our farmers, have a lot of fun. I love you, too” (10:21), and mocks the practicality of these claims.

International and Domestic Implications

The discussion extends to the international fallout from Trump’s policies, including strained relations with Canada and Mexico. Lovett humorously criticizes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response to Trump’s tariffs, highlighting the friction in trade relations.

Social Security and VA Cuts

Lovett addresses Trump’s proposed cuts to the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, emphasizing the detrimental impact on millions of Americans. He reinforces the severity of these cuts with sarcastic remarks about the financial mismanagement underpinning these policies.

Guest Interactions

Natalie Morales: Actress Segment

Jon Lovett welcomes actress Natalie Morales to the stage, reminiscing about her previous appearances and the evolution of the show's atmosphere over the past eight years. They engage in a lighthearted segment where Morales participates in a game of "Was I In This," testing her knowledge of her own film and television credits.

Notable Moments:

Role Confusion: Morales humorously navigates questions about roles she did not play, such as in "Zoolander 2" and "Sharknado 4," clarifying the mix-up with another Natalie Morales (35:27).
Role Highlights: She proudly discusses her roles in “My Dead Friend Zoe” and “Santa Clarita Diet,” emphasizing the depth and diversity of her characters.

Emily St. James: Author Discussion

Emily St. James joins the conversation to discuss her novel, "Woodworking," which explores trans identities and the personal struggles associated with them. Lovett and St. James delve into the themes of the book, discussing the challenges trans individuals face in passing and the societal pressures to conform.

Key Insights:

Trans Representation: St. James emphasizes the importance of authentic and joyful representation of trans people, countering the prevalent negative stereotypes (46:35).
Character Development: They explore the protagonist Abigail’s journey in transitioning and the obstacles she faces in a small-town setting.

Addressing Trans Issues:

Cultural Backlash: St. James critiques the society's regression in accepting trans identities, highlighting the absurdity of policies and rhetoric that seek to undermine trans rights.
Personal Connections: Lovett shares his personal connection to trans issues, discussing his relationship with a trans person and the political challenges they face together.

Discussion on "Woodworking":

Book Themes: The conversation touches on how the book portrays the internal and external conflicts of trans individuals striving for acceptance and self-identity.
Social Commentary: St. James hopes the book fosters greater understanding and empathy, encouraging readers to embrace authenticity despite societal pressures.

Humor Segments

Cannibalism Rapid-Fire Game

Lovett introduces a humorous segment titled "To All the Boys I Ate Before," where he and the guests engage in a rapid-fire discussion about cannibalism in hypothetical plane crash scenarios.

Highlights:

Ethical Dilemmas: They humorously debate the morality of consuming human flesh for survival, with Lovett asking, “Would it be more immoral to make your flesh more palatable?” (63:19).
Fashion and Cannibalism: The conversation amusingly intertwines high school fashion trends with the grim topic, debating which trends they’d rather see revived over cannibalistic practices.

Character Reflection:

Human Biology and Ethics: They touch on the practical and ethical aspects of cannibalism, referencing historical incidents like the Donner Party and the physiological consequences of consuming human flesh.

Concluding Insights

Impact of Trans Representation in Media

The episode concludes with a reflection on the significance of trans representation in media and literature. Lovett and St. James discuss the potential of works like "Woodworking" to influence public perception and foster a more inclusive society. They emphasize the need for authentic storytelling that highlights the joys and struggles of trans individuals without succumbing to stereotypes or sensationalism.

Final Remarks:

Lovett urges listeners to engage with the book and the movie “My Dead Friend Zoe,” highlighting their importance in contemporary cultural discourse.
St. James reiterates the book’s goal to normalize trans experiences and encourage societal acceptance.

Notable Quotes:

Jon Lovett: “It should be impossible, like being Jewish and digesting dairy.” 00:37
Emily St. James: “Transness exposes fundamental ideas about gender and challenges the interplay of culture and biology.” 54:35
Jon Lovett: “You can't run from who you are.” 47:21
Donald Trump: “Our country will be woke no longer.” 06:14

This episode masterfully blends political satire with meaningful discussions on representation and societal challenges. Through sharp wit and insightful conversation, Jon Lovett and his guests navigate the complexities of contemporary politics and identity, offering listeners both laughs and thoughtful commentary.