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American Fever Dream

American Fever Dream
From under the desk to in your ears, V. Spehar joins Betches Media in a new podcast dedicated to curing the collective malaise brought on by our chaotic political environment. Every week, Spehar and co-host Sami Saage will tenderly guide you through the biggest moments in politics and pop culture with a healing dose of perspective and humor. Rather than spiral over the latest unprecedented event, the hosts dig for the 2024 political tea you *really* want to hear while offering all the information you need to be an empowered citizen, without the side of despair to keep you up at night.

Latest Episodes

Where to Start

Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 - Tariffs for Russia; xAI payday; ICE morale dip; SCOTUS pauses ED layoffs; Cuomo can’t take a hint & more

Today’s Headlines: President Trump announced a plan to send weapons to Ukraine via NATO and threatened 100% tariffs on Russia—or “secondary tariffs” on countries buying Russian oil—if a ceasefire isn't reached in 50 days. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s xAI secured a $200M Defense Department contract days after Grok declared itself “MechaHitler” and spewed antisemitic content. The Supreme Court paused an order blocking 1,400 layoffs at the Education Department, just as 24 states and D.C. sued the Trump administration over $7B in frozen education funds. The administration is also appealing a court order banning immigration arrests without probable cause, even as ICE agents express deep dissatisfaction with the politically driven deportation focus. In Congress, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez proposed giving the ethics office power to review lawmakers’ cognitive fitness. And in New York, Andrew Cuomo—undeterred by his primary loss—launched an independent bid for mayor, joining a crowded field for November’s ballot. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: CNN: Trump announces novel plan to send weapons to Ukraine and gives Russia new deadline to make peace The Verge: US government announces $200 million Grok contract a week after ‘MechaHitler’ incident AP News: How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling WaPo: States sue to force feds to release $7 billion in education funding Axios: Trump admin to appeal order barring race-based immigration arrests alleged in LA area The Atlantic: Trump Loves ICE. Its Workforce Has Never Been So Miserable. Axios: House Democrat floats radical solution to Congress' age problem WSJ: Andrew Cuomo Will Run in NYC Mayor’s General Election as an Independent Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Monday, July 14th, 2025 - Trump’s FIFA posse, rants & tariff tantrums; DOJ drama; KY shooting; Grand Canyon burns; TX floods (again) & more

Today’s Headlines: President Trump spent the weekend firing off social media rants, watching FIFA with a celebrity entourage (including Melania and Pam Bondi), and threatening Rosie O'Donnell’s citizenship. Behind the scenes, tensions rose within the DOJ as FBI deputy Dan Bongino considered resigning over internal clashes about the Epstein investigation, and new reports revealed Kash Patel’s FBI is forcing agents to take polygraphs over disloyalty suspicions. Elsewhere, a deadly shooting in Kentucky left four dead, and two major wildfires destroyed historic structures at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. More flash flood warnings hit already-devastated parts of Texas, where FEMA is under fire for letting a flood-prone summer camp avoid safety requirements. Globally, a Palestinian-American was killed by Israeli settlers, as Israel-Hamas talks remain stalled and airstrikes intensify. Trump threatened more tariffs—including 200% on pharmaceuticals—while hinting at a major Russia-related announcement today. NATO’s new chief will visit DC this week, just as the State Department undergoes 15% staff cuts. Meanwhile, House Republicans kick off “Crypto Week” ahead of a key vote on the GENIUS Act. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: Trump threatens Rosie O'Donnell's citizenship: "She is a Threat to Humanity"  AP News: Trump marks one-year anniversary of assassination attempt at the FIFA Club World Cup final  NBC News: Dan Bongino weighs resigning from FBI after heated confrontation with Pam Bondi over Epstein files NYT: The F.B.I. Is Using Polygraphs to Test Officials’ Loyalty NBC News: Three dead, including gunman, in Kentucky shootings at church and airport NBC News: Wildfire destroys historic Grand Canyon Lodge, forces North Rim closure for the season TPR: Flood watch extended through 9 a.m. Monday: Recovery operations expected to restart in Kerr County later Monday NPR: Camp Mystic asked to remove buildings from government flood maps despite risk WSJ: U.S. Citizen Among Two Palestinians Killed in Israeli Settler Attack NPR: At least 30 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as war deaths top 58,000, officials say WSJ: Where Things Stand With Trump’s Tariffs Yahoo: Trump to make major Russia address Monday  NYT: King Charles to Host President on State Visit in September NPR: Hundreds laid off in State Department overhaul Axios: House "crypto week" could change how Americans use, save money Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Friday, July 11th, 2025 - NC floods; Birthright challenge blocked, Secret Service suspension; Click-to-Cancel blocked & more

Today’s Headlines: Flash floods hit Durham, North Carolina for the third time this week, killing six people after the Eno River surged to 26 feet; residents say they received no emergency alerts, and many lack flood insurance. A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s birthright citizenship order, applying a narrow loophole allowed by the Supreme Court to protect children affected while legal challenges proceed. Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil is suing the Trump administration for $20 million, alleging false imprisonment during recent protests. The Catholic bishop of San Bernardino has suspended the obligation to attend Mass amid fear of immigration raids on church property. Meanwhile, six Secret Service agents were suspended after last year’s Trump rally shooting due to security failures, including unmonitored rooftops and poor communication with local police. A federal court has blocked the FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule—meant to simplify subscription cancellations—over a procedural misstep, even though the FTC claims the rule wouldn’t have had a major economic impact. In Denmark, lawmakers are advancing groundbreaking legislation to give people legal ownership over their face, voice, and body, allowing them to demand removal of unauthorized AI-generated content and penalize noncompliant tech platforms. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: News Observer: Durham’s Old Farm residents navigate flooding aftermath and an uncertain future  Axios: Trump's birthright citizenship order blocked by judge despite SCOTUS ruling  AP News: Freed from ICE detention, Mahmoud Khalil files $20 million claim against Trump administration NBC News: Southern California bishop suspends Mass obligation due to immigration fears WaPo: Six Secret Service agents suspended in connection with Trump shooting in Butler AP News: 'Click-to-cancel' rule, intended to make canceling subscriptions easier, is blocked  Vice: Denmark Is Fighting AI by Giving Citizens Copyright to Their Own Faces  Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

The Hosts

Sami Sage
Sami Sage is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Betches. She’s the host of the @Betches and Morning Announcements podcasts and in her spare time likes to scroll on her phone and stare at her dogs, Bruce Bader Ginsburg and Larry David.
V. Spehar (They/Them)
Vitus “V” Spehar is an accomplished TikToker, political advocate, and host of the newest podcast from Betches Media. Their signature brand, Under The Desk News, started out as a series expanding on news events in a nutshell and quickly became GenZ and Millennials go-to source for news. V’s in-depth citizen journalism led them to collaborate with notable figures like former President Obama, President Biden and more than a dozen members of Congress to inform their massive audience in a sustainable way while pushing for civic participation.

Featured Guests

Katie Couric
Tammy Duckworth
Kirsten Gillibrand

Reviews

My favorite way to get the news
“Just the vibe I need to hear troubling news in a crazy world”
Informative and fun to digest
“This podcast is amazing! With the news constantly being such a drag, it’s great to have a safe place to learn what’s going on, with a side of comic relief. Can’t recommend it enough!”
Digestible and entertaining
“I’m a news junkie and I work in media. The Sup is one of my favorites. They’re incredibly entertaining, relatable, and knowledgeable. They make news concepts digestible and reach out to a broader audience than many traditional media organizations do.”