Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

If the first week of 2026 is any indication, President Trump and his regime has their eyes set on controlling not only the United States, but the entire western hemisphere. This week, Stacey talks about the administration's brazen move to attack Venezuela and send a special forces team in to kidnap President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. She's joined by Ricardo Zuniga, founding partner of Dinamica Americas, to talk about how the dictator came to power in Venezuela, where the opposition currently stands, and how the country's oil reserves are inextricably linked to its political fortunes. They also comb through the truths and lies of Venezuela's role in narco-trafficking, and how Trump's cabinet members and staff are leveraging foreign policy for personal and dangerous ambitions.

The killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis has sparked outrage and protests, but also an outright defense of the use of state violence by the Trump administration and its allies. This week, Stacey is joined by NYU Law Professor and Strict Scrutiny host Melissa Murray to talk about the fallout from Minneapolis, the legal ways citizens can fight back against ICE, and the politicization of the Justice Department and the investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

This week, Stacey begins by offering a response to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins' ridiculous assertion that Americans could save money if only they limited their dinners to a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, and a corn tortilla. Then she speaks to Jelani Cobb, Dean of the Columbia Journalism School and Author of "Three or More Is A Riot" to talk about what historic parallels can teach us about activism in this moment. As protests grow in response to violent ICE encounters in Minnesota and other parts of the country, history offers insight into what red lines the government can and can't cross before neighbors stand up for each other.

The unjust murder of Alex Pretti is the latest ICE killing in the city of Minneapolis. Protestors continue to flood the streets across Minnesota as the Trump administration justifies and promotes the violence of the organization. This week, Stacey is joined by ‪@hysteriapodcast‬'s Erin Ryan to discuss the aftermath of Pretti's death, the escalation of federal actions in Minnesota, and what Democrats need to do in response. Then, Stacey and Erin turn to the March for Life rally that took place last weekend and examine how the Trump administration's handling of abortion policy is putting it at odds with members of its own pro-life base.

Federal authorities raided Fulton County, Georgia and seized hundreds of boxes of election related materials from the 2020 cycle – including proprietary voter information that the federal government should not have access to. This week, Stacey is joined by Pod Save America's Jon Favreau to discuss the aftermath of Fulton County, the Democrats averted government shutdown, the latest polling data and how this all intersects with the continued ICE raids in Minnesota.

The media landscape in the US continues to undergo drastic transformations, with billionaire ownership and corporate consolidation leading to mass layoffs and content censorship. This week, Stacey is joined by Joy Reid, host of the Joy Reid Show and the first black woman to host a primetime program on cable news. They talk about the layoffs at the Washington Post, why she transitioned into independent media, what is lost when Black journalists are no longer at the table, and what people can do to inform themselves in an era where billionaires with agendas control the news.

America is in an affordability crisis. Basic needs like groceries, rent, childcare, and healthcare keep getting more expensive, while wages struggle to keep up. Seventy-four percent of Americans say the economy is in poor shape, and for many Millennials and Gen Zers, the idea of owning a home is becoming laughable. Yet Donald Trump and his MAGA allies insist the economy has never been better. This week, Stacey sits down with U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal and New York Times Business Reporter Talmon Smith to break down the growing disconnect between what Americans are feeling in their wallets and what the White House is selling from the podium. They dig into the real state of the economy, the latest jobs numbers, and whether Democrats have found a message on affordability that actually meets the moment.

Latinos are a growing and increasingly powerful part of America's electorate, with both parties fighting for their favor. While 48% of Latino voters chose Trump in 2024, recent polls show that many are having second thoughts. This week, Stacey is joined by Chuck Rocha, founder and president of Solidarity Strategies, and Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative at Unidos US. They discuss common assumptions and misconceptions about the issues animating these voters, , how ICE and Trump's deportation policies are backfiring, and what it means for Democrats to authentically engage with diverse Latino communities on a wide variety of issues to win them back in 2026 and beyond.

This week, Stacey opens the show with the war the Trump administration launched against Iran, a complicated, deadly, and expensive undertaking that was chosen by the President without seeking congressional approval. Then, she turns her attention to the upcoming Academy Awards and examines the role the film and entertainment industry plays in America's current political and cultural moment. Stacey is joined by Sam Sanders, host of The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW, and Hunter Harris, host of the Lemme Say This podcast and author of the Hung Up column on Substack. They discuss the movies and moments with political messages this year, the way ownership will impact studio decisions in the future, and the art and performances that will stick with us for years to come.

More than a week into the war with Iran, the fallout continues to grow. The Trump administration's actions have taken civilian lives, thrown the middle east into chaos, and caused oil and gas prices to spike globally. This week, Stacey speaks to Mehdi Hasan, Editor-in-chief of ‪@zeteo‬ about the motivations behind the war, the importance of independent media in covering the conflict, and what history can teach us about foreign policy consequences that play out over decades.