Jennifer and Courtney are back after taking some time off to process Trump securing his place as the greatest cult leader in history, winning over devoted fans who continue to vote against their own interests.

This episode covers A LOT...but not a book (that's next). Courtney and Jennifer discuss a handful of Trump's wild cabinet picks including but not limited to:

• The potential fallout of nominating RFK as the secretary of Health and Human Services and what it would mean to ban pesticides (spoiler alert: there would be no food to eat).
• The inexperienced, univerally hated, and accused sex-trafficker, Matt Gaetz, being chosen for America's next Attorney General.
• And of course Elon Musck with his special cartoon dog as the mascot for government efficency. (Note: This is not satire.)

Action Items:

Find Your Senator and tell them to:

• NOT confirm the accused Matt Gaetz for Attorney General.
• NOT confirm a Russian-connected Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.
• NOT to support Musk's unchecked DOGE position that may give him "unprecedented power to shape regulations, contracts and budgets to advance his personal business goals and disadvantage competitors".
• Pass the Press Act
• Confirm Biden’s Judicial Appointments
  • "Dear Blah Blah, as a constituent, I am urging your to...(copy/paste above bullet points or write your own!) Thank you."

Sources:

• See the list of Trump Cabinet picks and more White House appointments so far - CBS News

• People think they've figured out the real reason Elon Musk keeps jumping like that - Tech News

• Trump says Elon Musk will lead “DOGE,” a new Department of Government Efficiency - Ars Technica

• Exclusive: Woman told House Ethics panel she witnessed Gaetz having sex with minor, lawyer says - ABC News

• How RFK Jr. has said he'll stop "mass poisoning" of America's children

  • Without the use of pesticides, there would be a 78% loss of fruit production, a 54% loss of vegetable production, and a 32% loss of cereal production.

Courtney tells Jennifer the amazing story of Henrietta Lacks and her family. The book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot was challenged in Tennessee when a mom confused gynecology with pornography. Now, the books has been removed from required reading lists, when Henrietta's story should be amplified and used as an important lesson in bodily autonomy, Black history, systemic racisim, and so much more. Read Henrietta's grandson's book "The Untold Story of Henrietta Lacks" by Ron Lacks to learn more about this phenomenal woman and her family.

Sources:

DeSantis Seeks to Silence Brain Cancer Patient Speaking Out About Her Abortion

Crownsville: Turning a grim site from Maryland's past into a jewel | WYPR

Sickle Cell Disease Continues to Face Underfunding, Lack of Research | Newsroom

Why do so many Black women die in pregnancy? One reason: Doctors don't take them seriously.

Student creates app to improve care for black babies

Federal judge: DeSantis can’t threaten Florida TV stations airing pro-abortion rights ad

Banned Books Week: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Henrietta Lacks' descendants reach a settlement over the use of her 'stolen' cells

County judge strikes down Ohio abortion ban, citing voter-approved reproductive rights amendment | AP News

Books Challenged or Banned in 2015-2016, by Robert P. Doyle - Illinois Library Association

Oprah Winfrey doesn't think Lacks family deserves more than $16,000 consultancy fee for movie

Jennifer and Courtney discuss the irony in a Florida school district banning a book called "Ban this Book" by Alan Gratz.

Other notable topics include but are not limited to: JD Vance's obsession with pronatalism, why Minecraft is more relevant than the Tuttle Twins, and the horrors of selling slime kits at Scholastic Book Fairs.

Sources:

Awards for Ban This Book - Alan Gratz

A Florida school district banned ‘Ban This Book.’ Author says that’s ‘erasure of the highest order’ and wants it reinstated | CNN

Book about book bans banned by Florida school board | Books | The Guardian

Georgia abortion clinics see surge after 6-week abortion ban overturned - State Affairs

• Under this new law, Amber Thurman and Candi Miller would be alive today.

The Tuttle Twins and the Case of the Really Bad Libertarian Propaganda

Examples of SA and violence in the Bible:

• Genesis 16 NIV - Hagar's Mistreatment by Sarah and Abraham
• Judges 4:21 NIV - But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a - Bible Gateway
• Samuel 2:13 NIV - Amnon SA's his sister Tamar, then her brother Absalom orders a hit on Amnon
• Judges 19:24 NIV - Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.