ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING THE JOE ROGAN OF THE LEFT. That’s what they’re saying!  Hello and welcome back to Text Me Back Podcast, the ONLY podcast with a segment called JEFF. This week’s Jeff: Famously good-humored U.S. Senator of Oregon Jeff Merkley. He’s here to ring-a-ding-ding those authoritarian alarm bells and give us a layout of how our Democracy is imperiled, and why the fight is still very much worth fighting. He’s focused on sharing 1) moves from the authoritarian playbook 2) the importance of joy and silliness as a form of resistance 3) why we need to be concerned about congressional obstruction, gerrymandering, and voter suppression and 4) the quality of Lindy’s beams. NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR A BETTER WORLD, FAM. And tune in to hear about who Jeff thinks is the nicest person in the U.S. Senate 👀👀👀. And if YOU think we really held Jeff’s feet to the fire with the hardest-hitting journalistic questions, consider supporting the pod over at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TextMeBackPod. And in our next segment, Meagan explains American congressional processes (saying stuff like “cloture” and “cede the floor”), and then immediately follows that by bringing in a case that has never sat right with her, the casting of Jamie Foxx’s 2008 music video Blame It On the Alcohol. Too many hidden gems to mention here, but please please tell us what your thoughts are, if you have a The Cut subscription, or what piece of cultural ephemera lives rent-free in your mind. Text OR CALL us at the Best Friend Party Phone: (703) 829-0003. And last but not least…Lindy’s 6th plague and pestilence of the year: flies. 😔 Political Calls to Action:Check out 5 Calls for call scripts to help you call your representatives or governors and demand action on SNAP benefits, healthcare subsidies, and to rein in Trump’s rampant authoritarianism! https://5calls.org  NEVER LISTENED TO THE POD BEFORE? HERE IS YOUR STARTER KIT TO BEING BFFS WITH US!Hear our earlier coverage and adoration of T-Pain in Lindy and Meagan Leave You with a Dope Beat to Step ToMeet Kevin in: Lindy and Meagan Need to Talk About KevinLearn why they keep saying BBW in Lindy and Meagan Are Officially BBWsDiscover the Kayak Dad Lore in: It’s Our First Episode! WE NEED OUR ACCOLADES! It helps people find the show.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars only please) on Spotify⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars only please) on Apple PodcastsGive us Rave Reviews and Accolades on Apple Podcasts! REAL LIFE EXAMPLE:“My favorite podcast, I love these two!” GIRL57495739 THESE TWO LOVE YOU!!!! STUFF TO CHECK OUT:Learn everything about Senator Jeff (JEFF) Merkley at https://www.merkley.senate.gov/Blame it The Alcohol music vidT-Pain’s podcast, Nappy Boy RadioT-Pain singing “Tennessee Whiskey” without autotune sounding like AN ANGEL!Pre-Order Lindy’s book!!!! Adult BracesCheck out our MERCH so we can make MORE merch!! (Patrons get a discount, so check u s out at patreon.com/textmebackpod)NEWSLETTER ME BACK (A FREE WAY TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!)Listen Ad-Free by joining our $12 Patreon tier Freakaconda!Check out the Text Me Back Venmo!!!Check out Meagan’s latest installment of SWAMP PERSONSubscribe to Lindy’s newsletter butt news!Join our Discord! We’re obsessed with these people. ⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡° If you like this episode and want us to keep making the show forever, please subscribe to our Patreon. This podcast will always be free, but we need your help to produce it -- and if you support our Patreon, you'll get all kinds of goodies in addition to the show itself! Learn more about the different tiers and rewards here: https://www.patreon.com/TextMeBackPod Also! Please keep in touch with us! You can text OR CALL us at the Best Friend Party Phone: (703) 829-0003. We're on Instagram at @textmebackpod! You can email us at deartextmeback@gmail.com! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU SO BAD! ⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡° TEXT ME BACK is a production of Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays, proud members of the BFF Network. Our senior producer is Meagan Hatcher-Mays. Our other senior producer is Lindy West. Our show is produced by Alli Slice. Our music is by Chief Ahamefule J. Oluo. Diana Bowen is our video and creative advisor. Our digital strategist is Chance Nichols. You can also follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok @textmebackpod. And for even more bestie content, follow Lindy and Meagan on Instagram at @thelindywest and @importantmeagan! ⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡° See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.