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Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
Let's face it, sometimes the world feels broken. We can see what needs fixing, yet more and more, it feels like the problems are too big and the bad guys are winning. But the truth is, they’re not. They’re just hoping we stop fighting. Welcome to Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams, a new podcast from Crooked Media and Democratic changemaker Stacey Abrams. Stacey knows better than anyone that societal shifts happen when a group of ordinary people decide that a problem is solvable, and are willing to pitch in and work towards the solution.Each week, Stacey will break down the biggest issues we face into digestible, actionable items, introduce us to the warriors for good already working towards solutions, strategize, and share tangible ways to get involved. Because we can't fix everything, everywhere, all at once; but we can each do something, somewhere, soon. You can watch on Youtube or listen to new episodes every Tuesday.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago58 min
Will We Drive Off a Cliff on AI? (w/ Ambassador Susan Rice)
This week, Stacey opens the show with a warning about why Americans need to closely watch Brazil’s elections on October 4th and what it means as we fight back against authoritarianism here at home. Then she gets into AI: the daily headlines about how fast the technology is developing, a growing list of incidents where AI has gone outside of human control, and the snail's pace at which Washington is dealing with the problem…. are all painting a very grim picture. So can AI still be stopped? This week, Stacey is joined by Susan Rice, a former United Nations Ambassador, National Security Advisor to Barack Obama and Domestic Policy Advisor to Joe Biden. Ambassador Rice lays out the case for how we can still regulate AI, why the UN is stuck in gridlock on global issues of this magnitude, and why voters making their voices heard is so critical this November.Learn & Do More: Be Curious: To learn more about the companies that, for better or worse, are shaping our AI future, pick up a copy of Karen Hao’s excellent book Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s Open AI. Solve Problems: The Ten Steps Campaign continues to add new partners. Visit 10stepscampaign.org/partnersto find a local cause you care about. This week we want to spotlight the Southern Legal Center for Youth, which provides free civil legal support to young people ages 12-24 in Georgia. Visit SLCY.org to learn more, donate, and get involved. Do Good: The East coast is being pummelled by storms this weekend, which can cause flooding and power outages. Check on your friends and neighbors, particularly those who are elderly or in need of medical support, and make sure they are safe. You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
- 1 weeks ago56 min
Who Gets to Vote? SCOTUS, ICE and the 2026 Midterms
How could the Supreme Court’s decisions shape the 2026 midterms? What are the current threats posed by ICE? How can we build communities rooted in connection rather than fear? Lawyer and Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman joins Stacey to discuss the Supreme Court cases to watch ahead of opinion season, whether a ruling could come before the midterms in a case involving ICE and polling places, and her new book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, a practical guide to reclaiming our power and taking action during extraordinary times. Stacey also discusses the freedom of the press or lack thereof, as the White House continues its efforts to reshape the media landscape and what that means for the administration’s broader agenda.Learn & Do More: BE CURIOUS: Pick up a copy of Skye’s new book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy, for more practical tips on how to fight back against autocracy. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Visit Democracy Forward to learn more about how to get involved and find educational resources that can help us all learn more in the fight against autocracy. DO GOOD: City Bureau is a civic media lab that designs people-powered journalism practices and supports their local adoption and adaptation across the country. They started the Documenters program, which equips and pays community members to attend local government meetings, distill what matters, and bring actionable information back to their neighbors. Visit Documenters to learn more and sign up to participate. You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
- 2 weeks ago1h 11m
The AI Apocalypse, Supreme Court Takeover, and JD Vance’s Next Move (w/ Alex Wagner)
Is the AI apocalypse already underway and will we get meaningful regulation before it’s too late? How did the “four horsemen” of the right-wing legal movement lay the groundwork for today’s conservative Supreme Court? Will JD Vance continue to position himself as the Republican Party’s next leader? Host of Runaway Country and MS NOW Senior Political Analyst Alex Wagner joins Stacey to discuss the growing fight over AI and data centers, the GOP’s midterm convention, the census coming under attack, and the decades-long conservative campaign to reshape the Supreme Court that she explores in her new book, The Steal. Then, in honor of Assembly Required’s 100th episode, Stacey answers listener questions about everything from politics and the state of the world to books, TV, and beyond.Learn & Do More: 1. Be Curious: Tune into Alex Wagner’s Crooked Media podcast, Runaway Country, and pick up a copy of her illuminating new book, The Steal.2. Solve Problems: Step three in the Ten Steps to Authoritarianism is capturing the other branches, which, as we learned today, has been a project of the right for decades. The Brennan Center for Justice fights to make elections fair, preserve our civil liberties, and end mass incarceration in Congress, the states, and the courts. Visit BrennanCenter.org to support their work on Supreme Court reform, reforms to improve the confirmation process for federal judges, and promoting fairness in state courts.3. Do Good: With so much of our judicial system under right-wing control, vulnerable communities are under attack. Women’s Equity Center and Action Network educates, engages, and activates women of color to lead social change efforts. Visit WomensEquity.org to learn more about their efforts to facilitate social justice and equal opportunity, and sign up for “Mobilize Monday,” where they highlight opportunities to take action against injustice.Also, as we grapple with how to regulate AI advancements, we need to acknowledge the powerful tools at our disposal at the local level. 1. See if your ballot has a Public Service Commission race and take action. Nine states elect their utility regulators, and they're on the ballot on November 3rd — Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. In Georgia, Districts 3 and 5, elected statewide. Last November, Georgia Democrats flipped two of these seats because the bills are too high. The commission sits at three to two. Two seats decide who sets the rate you pay and whether a data center pays its own freight. Find out if there is a race and tell your friends and family to vote for candidates who support AI regulation.2. Show up to your utility commission hearing. Demand that data centers pay their own infrastructure costs rather than passing them onto the consumer. A utility commission hearing is one of the few places left in American government where showing up still has an effect. Why? Because the industry shows up every single time and you don't. If you're there to watch them, the elected officials see you too.3. Use your county commissions. When a data center comes to your planning commission, the question is not yes or no. Read the fine print and demand details. Ask for a separate rate class and written indemnity so you don't cover stranded costs. Ask for a water disclosure and a decommissioning bond. Quiz your county leaders and teach them what they need to know. Will you vote for a separate rate class for large loads, so my bill doesn't subsidize theirs? Would you refuse to sign an agreement not to enforce this state's AI laws?You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
- 3 weeks ago58 min
Why Everyone Should Love Star Trek (w/ Tawny Newsome)
Happy Star Trek Day, to all those who celebrate! In honor of the show’s 60th anniversary, Stacey sits down with fellow super fan, actor, comedian, writer and host of the podcast Starter Trek, Tawny Newsome. They talk about their personal fan origin stories, what the show has taught them about both science and fiction, and why Star Trek’s legacy is so important to highlight in our current political climate. They also talk about the recent loss of two icons, Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem.Learn & Do More: Be Curious: To improve your Star Trek bonafides, check out Tawny’s podcast Starter Trek. Solve Problems: It’s been one month since the Trump administration ended a contract with a nonprofit network of attorneys representing unaccompanied children for over twenty years. According to the Acacia Center for Justice, children as young as six and even a one year old baby are appearing unrepresented in court, leading to deportation. Visit acaciajustice.org to learn more and donate to support legal representation for unaccompanied minors. Visit Acacia Justice on Instagram @AcaciaJustice to read more stories of impacted children and stay in touch about ways to take action. Do Good: The climate crisis continues to have devastating impacts across the globe, this time in Nepal, where a melting glacier led to a catastrophic flash flood that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people so far. The New York Times has a guide of organizations you can donate to like the Nepalese Government’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, UNICEF, the World Food Program, World Central Kitchen, and more. You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
- Sep 1, 20261h 10m
Inside the Fight Over Meta, Paramount and ICE
What does the Meta case mean for the future of social media and how children use these platforms? Could the Paramount merger ultimately push the company out of California, putting thousands of jobs at risk? And what’s happening with ICE raids and detention facilities now that immigration enforcement is no longer dominating the headlines? California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Stacey to discuss Meta’s landmark settlement over allegations that its social media platforms were designed in ways that put children at risk, the $17.1 billion payout, what the case could mean for the future of social media and other tech companies, and why Attorneys General are critical to the fight against authoritarianism. U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District also joins the show to discuss her legal fight after an appeals court rejected her challenge to charges stemming from alleged assaults at ICE facilities, what she witnessed at Delaney Hall, and why congressional oversight of ICE detention facilities is so critical.Learn & Do More: BE CURIOUS: A major storm hit Indiana and other parts of the Midwest, resulting in seven deaths and causing what the North Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO), called "the worst damage in known company history." Gary, a majority-Black city with 29% of the population living in poverty, suffered the worst damage in the state, with tens of thousands left without power for more than two weeks and, as of yesterday, hundreds more still waiting. What's worse is that in the early days of the blackout, Gary was left off NIPSCO's timelines for power restoration in the state, and watched neighboring communities get updates about their power while they received nothing. As the climate crisis continues and extreme weather events intensify, poor communities and communities of color are often hardest hit, and the consequences in Gary are dire. Dive into coverage from outlets like Black-led outlet Capital B News, CBS, CNN, and NBC, as well as an op-ed in MS NOW from Karen Freeman-Wilson, former mayor of Gary and current president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, to learn more about how and why this crisis is happening. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Visitwww.gary.gov/stormrecovery to donate to the Storm Recovery Fund. The Urban League of Northwest Indiana’s Facebook page also has opportunities to get involved, particularly with organizations providing food relief. DO GOOD: Relief Gang is an excellent grassroots organization that has been responding to the crisis from the very beginning. Follow them on Instagram at @reliefgang to find out about upcoming food drives and other ways to help. You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
- Aug 25, 20261h 8m
Data Centers, Police Surveillance, and the Fight for Democracy (w/ Katie Phang)
Can state legislation be the key to saving our democracy? Lawyer, political commentator, and host of the Sidebar podcast Katie Phang joins Stacey to unpack Americans’ growing frustration with data centers, the rise of police surveillance, and why Democrats shouldn’t just “take a page from the GOP’s political playbook, but full-on chapters.” They also break down some of the week’s biggest legal stories, from the Miami-Dade Police Department to Trump’s renovation projects and the latest Todd Blanche hearings. Learn & Do More: BE CURIOUS: For more incisive legal and political analysis, listen to Katie Phang’s podcast Sidebar with Katie Phang. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Law Forward is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit law firm that safeguards voting rights, fights for fair maps, strengthens democratic institutions, and advances the rule of law through strategic litigation. Visit LawForward.org to donate. DO GOOD: Caring Across Generations is an organization dedicated to changing our culture and policies in America to value and support caregiving. They work to transform cultural norms and narratives about aging, disability, and care; win federal and state-level policy change; and create a powerful coalition across the millions of us who are touched by care. Visit CaringAcross.org to learn more and get involved.
- Aug 18, 20261h 2m
Is the South the Future of Democratic Politics?
Is the South the new epicenter of American politics? National Association of Black Journalists President, The 19th Editor-at-Large, and host of Crooked’s new podcast Long Play, Errin Haines sits down with Stacey to unpack why the South is so fundamentally misunderstood and why expanding our imagination of what the region looks like could be key to winning Democratic elections. They also discuss the NABJ “Thumbs-Down Awards,” the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI, and the growing threat of media censorship.Learn & Do More: BE CURIOUS: If you enjoyed the conversation with Errin, check out her podcast Long Play, a six-part series on how to win power back in the South. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Many states, including North Carolina, will have new or stricter voter identification laws in 2026. VoteRiders helps people make appointments to get the right kind of ID and covers the costs. Visit Voteriders.orgto get involved by volunteering or donating. DO GOOD: New Disabled South builds power with disabled people to advance justice, dignity, and collective liberation across the South. Visit NewDisabledSouth.org to find resources, take action, and donate. You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
- Aug 13, 202652 min
Kamala Harris Says Voters Are Done with the Status Quo
What is the future of the Democratic Party? How will redistricting shape voters’ power in the South? What are the latest primary results telling us about the political moment we’re in? Kamala D. Harris, 49th Vice President of the United States, joins Stacey to share what she’s hearing from voters on the ground as she travels through the South. They also talk about the new attitude Democrats need to win elections, fight back against Trump, and stop his authoritarian agenda.Learn & Do More: 1. BE CURIOUS: Sometimes it feels like we are overloaded with information, have a million articles open in tabs, and don’t know where to begin. Your homework is to pick one that piques your curiosity and sit down to read. And with news and reading on the decline, if you haven’t already subscribed to support your local newspaper, please consider doing so.The Ten Steps Campaign works with partner organizations across the country dedicated to uplifting their communities, and I would like to take the opportunity to rally support for their excellent work here today. Visit 10stepscampaign.org to find out what kind of democracy defender you are and get connected.2. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Run for Something Civics is a nonprofit organization that encourages young people to step up and run for office and helps support them with a free Future Candidates course. Visit runforsomethingcivics.net to sign up for training or to donate.3. DO GOOD: Above All is an organization dedicated to building a world where abortion care is affordable, available, and supported for everyone who needs it. Visit aboveall.org to learn more about their work and donate.
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About Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
Let's face it, sometimes the world feels broken. We can see what needs fixing, yet more and more, it feels like the problems are too big and the bad guys are winning. But the truth is, they’re not. They’re just hoping we stop fighting. Welcome to Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams, a new podcast from Crooked Media and Democratic changemaker Stacey Abrams. Stacey knows better than anyone that societal shifts happen when a group of ordinary people decide that a problem is solvable, and are willing to pitch in and work towards the solution.Each week, Stacey will break down the biggest issues we face into digestible, actionable items, introduce us to the warriors for good already working towards solutions, strategize, and share tangible ways to get involved. Because we can't fix everything, everywhere, all at once; but we can each do something, somewhere, soon. You can watch on Youtube or listen to new episodes every Tuesday.
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