Summary of "Post-Inauguration Family Meeting: How We Will Get Through with Brittney Cooper & Rebecca Traister"
Episode Title: Post-Inauguration Family Meeting: How We Will Get Through with Brittney Cooper & Rebecca Traister
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Hosts: Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle
Guests: Brittney Cooper, Rebecca Traister
Introduction
In this poignant episode of "We Can Do Hard Things," hosts Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle welcome esteemed guests Brittney Cooper and Rebecca Traister to discuss the aftermath of the recent inauguration. The conversation delves deep into the emotional and political ramifications of the event, drawing parallels with historical moments of regression and exploring strategies for resilience and community building.
Reflecting on Inauguration Day
Rebecca Traister opens the discussion by sharing her immediate reactions to the inauguration, emphasizing the importance of community support. She remarks:
"2025 is looking like it might be a real doozy. And we are in it with you and we're here for you and with you." (02:50)
Brittney Cooper recounts her personal experience, highlighting the overwhelming grief and anxiety triggered by the inauguration. She shares a deeply emotional moment:
"I woke up in tears... They were deep, terrified grief over both the sadness of all that we lost and the terror of these months of anticipating a bad thing coming and then living through that bad thing." (05:34)
Historical Parallels and the Cycle of Progress and Regression
The conversation shifts to historical contexts, with Rebecca Traister drawing parallels between the current political climate and past eras where social progress was met with significant backlash. She states:
"We always tell a very neat story about the United States and forward motion... But we lose so much when we don't look at the periods where, in fact, things have moved exactly backwards." (17:44)
Brittney Cooper adds to this by discussing the resilience of black women throughout history, emphasizing the cyclical nature of progress and regression:
"Sometimes there are only two options. And those options are be strong or die. That is it. And I think that a bunch of badass women together will just figure out how to fucking be strong." (24:42)
Analyzing the Political Landscape
The guests critically examine the strategies employed by the current administration to consolidate power and suppress opposition. Rebecca Traister highlights the performative aspects of the administration's tactics:
"The argument that was being made was that he loved Jesus and that he hated dei, and that was the entirety of his confirmation hearing." (34:24)
Brittney Cooper reflects on the internal motivations behind these actions, connecting them to historical attempts to maintain white ascendancy:
"White women have been told that to be a success as a white woman is to pass on a world where your white sons can be rich, can be powerful... that's their emotional investment in it then." (41:31)
Strategies for Resilience and Community Building
In response to the daunting political climate, both guests advocate for building local communities and fostering strong personal relationships as forms of resistance and support.
Brittney Cooper emphasizes the importance of local engagement and developing hobbies to create meaningful connections:
"These are the places where we're going to be able to have impact. These are the places where we're going to be able to be in community." (58:27)
Rebecca Traister adds that resistance comes in various forms, encouraging both outward and inward actions:
"If everybody just liked to go to protests and felt that we wouldn't get anything done. If everybody just wanted to run for office, that would." (63:07)
She further highlights the value of education and historical awareness:
"Go to a library. Right? Go find some of this history... understanding... there are millions of paths forward for us still." (65:36)
Personal Reflections and Emotional Processing
The hosts and guests share their personal coping mechanisms in the face of political turmoil. Glennon Doyle relates her response to defeat in sports to the current national climate:
"When you accept what happens... you can move into real, authentic, true leadership in the actions." (30:07)
Brittney Cooper discusses her experience at a rage room as a way to process anger and grief:
"I just wailed for 20 minutes. I broke shit. I threw it at the Walls." (34:24)
Rebecca Traister reflects on the emotional toll of political coverage and the importance of balancing long-term hope with immediate realities:
"There is that balancing of how do you think about time and work and effort and who's in coalition with you and what is the work to be done together." (53:32)
Concluding Thoughts and Call to Action
As the episode nears its end, the guests and hosts offer actionable advice for listeners to navigate these challenging times. They stress the significance of building robust local networks, engaging in meaningful activities, and maintaining historical consciousness to inform future actions.
Brittney Cooper wraps up with an empowering message:
"Allow yourself the benefit of that new energy. Allow yourself to imagine that there might be some interests that you haven't imagined that you can take up." (58:27)
Rebecca Traister reinforces the need for diverse forms of resistance and the importance of understanding historical patterns:
"There are millions of paths forward for us still." (65:36)
Conclusion
This episode of "We Can Do Hard Things" serves as a compassionate and intellectually rigorous exploration of the aftermath of a significant political shift. Through the insightful contributions of Brittney Cooper and Rebecca Traister, listeners are guided through personal emotions, historical contexts, and strategic actions to foster resilience and community in the face of adversity. The conversation underscores the enduring strength of collective action and the necessity of both emotional and practical responses to societal challenges.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
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Rebecca Traister (02:50): "2025 is looking like it might be a real doozy. And we are in it with you and we're here for you and with you."
-
Brittney Cooper (05:34): "I woke up in tears... They were deep, terrified grief over both the sadness of all that we lost and the terror of these months of anticipating a bad thing coming and then living through that bad thing."
-
Rebecca Traister (17:44): "We always tell a very neat story about the United States and forward motion... But we lose so much when we don't look at the periods where, in fact, things have moved exactly backwards."
-
Brittney Cooper (24:42): "Sometimes there are only two options. And those options are be strong or die. That is it. And I think that a bunch of badass women together will just figure out how to fucking be strong."
-
Rebecca Traister (34:24): "The argument that was being made was that he loved Jesus and that he hated dei, and that was the entirety of his confirmation hearing."
-
Brittney Cooper (41:31): "White women have been told that to be a success as a white woman is to pass on a world where your white sons can be rich, can be powerful... that's their emotional investment in it then."
-
Brittney Cooper (58:27): "These are the places where we're going to be able to have impact. These are the places where we're going to be able to be in community."
-
Rebecca Traister (63:07): "If everybody just liked to go to protests and felt that we wouldn't get anything done. If everybody just wanted to run for office, that would."
-
Rebecca Traister (65:36): "Go to a library. Right? Go find some of this history... understanding... there are millions of paths forward for us still."
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the depth and breadth of the discussions in the episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the key themes and insights shared by the participants.