In the Meanwhile
In the Meanwhile
Podcast Description
No hot takes. No empty platitudes. No easy hope. Just real talk about how we hold onto our humanity, build something better—and maybe even laugh along the way.
Bring snacks. Bring questions. We’re figuring this out together.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on societal challenges, civic courage, and personal growth, with episodes exploring topics such as the aftermath of the pandemic, immigration enforcement, and collective endurance in a divided society. Examples include profound discussions on civic bravery in the face of ICE raids and the psychological impacts of 2020 on families and communities.
No hot takes. No empty platitudes. No easy hope. Just real talk about how we hold onto our humanity, build something better—and maybe even laugh along the way.
Bring snacks. Bring questions. We’re figuring this out together.
This week on In the Meanwhile, Marcus and Nora wade through a truly unhinged news cycle: war threats, political absurdity, late-stage empire vibes, and land on something rare: a conversation that actually feels like it offers hope.
Enter Washington State Representative Brianna Thomas, who joins the show to talk about the state’s new “millionaires’ tax”, and, more importantly, who it’s for, who it’s not for, and why the people who’ve been carrying this system on their backs for decades are finally asking for a little redistribution of the load.
What follows is part policy breakdown, part reality check, part “why are we like this as a country?” Thomas is refreshingly uninterested in pretending that extreme inequality is either normal or inevitable. She names the obvious: working people are paying more, getting less, and being told to be grateful for it. She then walks through what it actually looks like to try to change that, in real time, inside a system that resists change at every turn.
There’s talk of greed, of course. But also of courage, organizing, and the very radical idea that maybe, just maybe, the wealthiest among us can afford to contribute to the society that made their wealth possible.
Mentioned in the episode:
Trump claims the last 7 presidents are praising him | Politico: Republicans losing clout | Wisconsin flip | CNN: real polling shifts happening | Charles Douglas III episodes | Gina Baskin episode | Millionaire’s Tax | 25 hour debate about millionaire tax | Artemis mission | Ijeoma Oluo episode |
Support the pod:
Donate here to support In The Meanwhile
Follow us:
Read Nora and Marcus’s Books:
Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare | Readying to Rise
Music: No Tears for a Wolf · Ahamefule J. Oluo · Okanomodé. Used with permission.
Logo by Nikki Barron.
Transcripts are machine-generated and imperfect.
Nora and Marcus’s work on the podcast is separate from their professional roles and does not represent the views of their employers.
Links to bookshop.org are affiliate links.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.