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Who owns the future of the Democratic party?

The Democratic Socialists of America – also known as the DSA – are having a solid year. DSA candidates won House primaries in New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Part of why this is kind of a big deal is that some of these candidates were going up against pretty powerful Democratic incumbents...and not just in races for federal seats. DSA candidates won down-ballot primaries for state legislature in New York, Oregon, Georgia, and Kentucky – and for mayor of DC. In the weeks since, there have been many stories of establishment Democrats frustrated by this, with different narratives coming from Democrats about why this is happening and why the DSA is a problem. But what public sentiment are Democratic voters expressing here? And if this is actually a Tea Party moment for Democrats, what does that change for everyday people?

Brittany gets into it with Akela Lacy, senior politics reporter at The Intercept and host of the “Intercept Briefing” podcast, and Michael Lange, New York political analyst, DSA member, and writer of “The Narrative Wars” on Substack.

For more episodes on politics and culture, check out:
The women leaving the 'New Right'
Progressive women have 'had it!' And they're fighting back.
Christians are having a Trump-sized reckoning

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What we wear and how we wear it is more important than its artistic value.

When some people think of fashion, the Met Gala or maybe even luxury designers may come to mind. But what about the old college sweatshirt that gets you through the cold or even the brightly colored gym set that pushes you to go that extra mile? Is that not fashion? Perhaps the concept of fashion has been framed as an external commodity to be sought after, rather than an authentic expression cultivated through the rhythm of a well-lived life.

Brittany Luse sits down with CNN Senior Style Reporter and author of CNN’s Big Style newsletter, Rachel Tashjian Wise, to answer all those questions and more.

Want more on fashion? 

Was that the worst MET Gala ever?
American fashion isn't as liberal as you think

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Who counts as homeless in America?

If you ask the Department of Housing and Urban Development, around 750,000 people are homeless in America. If you ask the Department of Education, that number shoots up into the millions. What does this discrepancy tell us?  And how do our cultural ideas about homelessness shape who we see as homeless, and who gets help? To find out, Brittany talks with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, and Dr. Molly Richard, assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences.

Want more deep dives on cultural taboos?  Check out these episodes:
The truth about men on the 'down low'
Why can't we be normal about polyamory?

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How has your beauty routine changed in the past 10 years?

In 2016, the beauty world was obsessed with 12-step skincare regimens. Now, beauty influencers and experts are experimenting with peptides and looksmaxxing. Brittany chats with Brooke Devard Ozaydinli, host of the Naked Beauty podcast and Chief Content Officer of Refinery29, to understand how our relationship with beauty has changed over the years, and what that means for our relationships with ourselves.

00:00 How beauty standards shifted from expression to optimization
02:55 Navigating becoming 'project managers' of our faces and bodies
05:33 How Brooke's show has changed as beauty trends have changed
09:19 Looksmaxing and unrealistic beauty standards for Black women
13:40 Policing of Black women's appearance
17:48 The complicated reality of cosmetic procedures in the digital age
24:23 Finding agency in beauty beyond cosmetic procedures
29:16 How to find the beauty routine for you

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Do influencer parents trade in their kids’ privacy for the hope of financial security?

Kids are everywhere on the Internet – and not just playing on Roblox. They're the stars of many family influencing pages that document kids’ lives: from the intimate details of their births, to starting school, to going through puberty. That can come with a host of problems – but also a ton of money. So what happens when parents trade their kids' privacy for the hope of financial security? And how does that content play into feedback loops about what family life should look like?

Brittany gets into it with Fortesa Latifi, senior writer at Yahoo! and author of Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of Childhood Online.

(00:00) The cost of a childhood online
(02:48) How Mommy blogging transformed into family influencing
(07:39) Just how much do family influencers make?
(10:37) Online exploitation risks
(16:36) How influencing distorts family life
(24:59) Should kids be influencers?

For more episodes on parenting, kids, and modern life, check out:
The fear & shame of modern parenting
Are children a marginalized group?
The real meaning of "6 7"

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