President Trump is building a new ballroom at the White House, and predictably, everyone has lost their minds. Some people see it as a practical addition for official events. Others see it as an extravagant monument to Trump's ego being permanently installed in the people's house. Today, we're talking about why a ballroom has become yet another flashpoint in American politics, and whether maybe we're all just exhausted and looking for things to be angry about.

I (Jolene) get why people are upset about this, but honestly, the ballroom doesn't bother me. Here's why: it's being funded by private donations, not taxpayer money. Every president leaves their mark on the White House - renovations, updates, changes that reflect their time in office. Trump sees this ballroom as his legacy project, and since he's not using public funds, I don't see the problem. Having a dedicated space for official events instead of constantly setting up temporary solutions is actually practical.

Nicole's reaction wasn’t too dissimilar as far as understanding the need for a larger space for events, but from a Liberal’s perspective, the ballroom feels like Trump literally building a monument to himself in the White House. It's not just about the money; it's about what it represents. At a time when Americans are struggling financially, when budgets are tight and people are worried about making ends meet, building an opulent ballroom feels tone-deaf and dismissive.

The ballroom will get built and Trump will leave office eventually. But the way we treat each other, the way we engage with people who disagree with us, the way we choose dialogue over dismissal - that's what will determine whether we can actually function as a country.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

White House Information: White House Official History: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-white-house/

News and Analysis: Jessica Yellin (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQK8_hUEluJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The Hill - 5

Takeaways from East Wing Construction: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5570860-trump-white-house-ballroom-east-wing-takeaways/

The Hill - White House Releases Donor List: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5569197-major-companies-fund-whitehouse/

Good for the Soul:

Monica Lewinsky's Reclaiming Podcast: https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-with-monica-lewinsky/

Ken Colman (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOOLHvZhzxX/?igsh=MXBiaHA1ZGpjM3MzaA==

LINKS

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole

President Trump did something remarkable in the Middle East. I (Nicole) can barely believe I'm typing this, but credit where it's due - he got hostages home and negotiated a ceasefire in a conflict that's been bleeding for decades. Whether you love Trump or hate him, what happened this week deserves acknowledgment. And that's exactly what we're talking about today.

We're not declaring Trump a hero or pretending this solves the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We're also not ignoring what he accomplished because we disagree with his politics. We're doing what we should all do more often: recognizing when someone does something significant, even if we didn't think they could.

Every step toward peace matters, even if it's small, even if it's imperfect, even if it comes from someone you didn't expect. The hostages are home. People who were separated from their families are together again. That's real. That's worth celebrating. And that's also just the beginning of a much longer, messier process that will require sustained effort from everyone involved.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

BBC News Article:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgr71z0jp4o

Good for ths Soul:

https://youtu.be/RP8Oxe6OxJc?si=sP7k_V4g9R-CYCLs

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

We recorded this episode seven days into the government shutdown, and honestly, we were both furious. Not the performative outrage you see on cable news, though. Actual, bone-deep frustration at watching our government play chicken with people's livelihoods while collecting their own paychecks without interruption. TSA workers are showing up to keep us safe without knowing when they'll get paid. FAA controllers are managing air traffic on empty stomachs and maxed-out credit cards. And Congress? They're posting memes.

The government shutdown isn't just about budget negotiations or policy disagreements. It's a symptom of a political system that's fundamentally broken, where the people making decisions face none of the consequences while the people suffering the consequences have no power to make decisions.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

News and Media: Straight Arrow News: https://san.com/ Straight Arrow News Podcast: UCuL3xV8AqD3sekKOhhyZqOA

Government Resources: HUD Website: https://www.hud.gov/#close US Senate Phone List: https://www.senate.gov/general/resources/pdf/senators_phone_list.pdf Contacting Congress: https://www.coausphs.org/COA/COA/Advocacy/Contact-Congress.aspx

Good for the Soul: Honestly with Bari Weiss: https://youtu.be/sqZ7E_Mx-K4?si=H-VNxG2twZPVnNB1

Film Reference: The Post (Movie): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6294822/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/