Erin and Alyssa break down the legal saga unfolding between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over the misconduct that happened on the set of It Ends With Us and the smear campaign that followed. They also discuss a historic breakthrough in the fight against medical debt, Meta’s twisted new hate speech policies, and how Democrats should deal with conservative BS in 2025.

‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine (NY Times 12/21)

A Timeline of Blake Lively’s Legal Dispute With Justin Baldoni (Vogue 1/2)

Gillibrand to head Senate Democrats’ campaign arm (The Hill 1/6)

Medical debt will be erased from credit reports for all Americans under new federal rule (The 19th 12/7)

For Harris, an Awkward Election Task: Certifying the Vote She Lost (NYT 1/6)

Facebook lifts restrictions on calling women ‘property’ and transgender people ‘freaks’ (The Independent 1/7)

The Hysteria team is off this week, but we're excited to bring you an episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams. In this episode, Stacey talks to Kate Nazemi, a local education activist and parent, and Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, about the future of public education during a second Trump Administration. They break down Project 2025’s education policy prescriptions, the threats to the Department of Education, and what changes a President can and cannot make. Then, they discuss how to best get involved at the local level to make change in your community – from attending local school board meetings, to writing to your local representatives.

If you liked this episode, subscribe to Assembly Required wherever you get your podcasts:

crooked.com/assemblyrequired

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco say goodbye and good riddance to 2024 with help from guest panelists Akilah Hughes and Kara Klenk. They reflect on the parts of the year that kept them sane, from the Paris Olympics to the Kendrick-Drake beef. Then, they talk about holiday traditions and read out listener submissions about odd and wholesome ways to celebrate.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Supreme Court to hear challenge to banning TikTok in U.S. (Washington Post 12/18)

In reversal, key House panel votes to release Matt Gaetz ethics report (CNN 12/18)

The House has its committee chairs. Here’s what the selection means (Punch Bowl News 12/13)

Gillibrand Presses Biden to Amend the Constitution to Enshrine Sex Equality (NYT 12/13)

Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine (Politico 12/14)

Postpartum depression is costing the United States billions. Can cities help? (The 19th 12/9)

After the media storm (and internet thirsting) surrounding the UHC CEO shooting suspect, Erin and Alyssa make sense of the cultural response online and what this says about the rage Americans feel toward the for-profit healthcare industry, and whether we’re entering a new era of class solidarity… or of fame-hungry copycats. Then they discuss the rise of the Manosphere and whether the men of America are okay (spoiler alert: they’re not).

What We Know About the Killing of the UnitedHealthcare C.E.O. Brian Thompson (NYT 12/9)

A Year Before CEO Shooting, Lawsuit Alleged UHC Used AI to Deny Coverage (Newsweek 12/5)

Emboldened ‘manosphere’ accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election (AP 11/30)

It’s no secret that we are angry about Trump’s win, but who and what are we angry at? Editor at Large of the 19th News, Errin Haines, joins Erin and Alyssa to discuss how racism and misogyny led to Trump’s win. They also check in on how democratic governors are bracing for Trump’s impact, and the latest news on disgraced Secretary of Defense pick Pete Hegseth. Finally, they feel petty about the new Bridget Jones Diary, but The Later Daters on Netflix keeps them sane.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Dems’ new Trump resistance strategy: Playing nice (Politico 11/15)

Tesla Excluded From EV Buyer Credits in California Proposal (Bloomberg 11/25)

Who Needs Congress When You Have Cameo? (NYT 11/25)

A Running List of the Allegations Against Pete Hegseth (Mother Jones 12/2)

Erin and Alyssa are joined by producer Caroline Reston to answer your questions from the Thanksgiving mailbag. They dish on holiday recipes, strategies for navigating politics at the dinner table, and who they would cast in a hypothetical Hysteria movie.

To have your questions answered in a future Hysteria Mailbag, join us on Discord: https://crooked.com/friends

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

While Trump is busy casting his cabinet and staff picks with former reality stars, Fox News hosts, sex pests, and even some of America’s Worst Women, Alyssa and Erin are here to keep you posted. They discuss the rights and wrongs of the women Trump picked and question who will even make it to the inauguration. Then they ponder the question on a lot of our minds right now: is it time to buy a gun? Finally, they discuss the ways to prepare mentally and physically for a second Trump presidency without descending into doomsday prepping madness.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Trump names former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence (NPR 11/13)

Rancher, Politician, Trump Ally: Who Is Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Pick? (NYT 11/13)

5 things you need to know about Susie Wiles (Politico 11/8)

Trump names Karoline Leavitt as youngest ever White House press secretary (AP 11/15)

Meet the billionaires leading Trump’s transition team (Politico 11/07)

What to know about the Matt Gaetz allegations (BBC 11/18)

Should women be allowed to fight on the front lines? Trump’s defense pick reignites the debate (AP 11/18)

Duckworth on Hegseth speaking out against women in combat: ‘Where do you think I lost my legs?’ (The Hill 11/14)

The USPS will honor Betty White with her own stamp in 2025 (NPR 11/17)Buying a Gun Won’t Save You (Jezebel 11/15)