Vibes Only
The polls are broken, the stakes are unprecedented, and vibes drive the future of American politics.
Every Thursday, political strategist Brian Derrick (founder of Oath) and new media strategist Glennis Meagher (co-founder of Generator Collective) break down the biggest stories in American politics, elections, and culture.
This isn't your standard cable news commentary. Get an insider's look at the US political machine, current news of the week, and the digital strategy shaping our world - delivered with the honesty, insight, and humor of two people who've actually worked in the trenches of US politics.
Hit follow and stay ahead of the news cycle every Thursday.
Episodes
99 episodes
Republicans Play Chess with People as Pawns
The polls are still (hopefully?) broken. The stakes are more unprecedented than ever. Last week, the Supreme Court unanimously protected the abortion pill, mifepristone (for now), but didn’t close the door to hear new cases...
It's SCOTUS Decision Season. Here's the Need-to-Know
This week we are pleased to be joined by Lisa Graves. Lisa is a legal expert and researcher who has exposed dark money and corruption. She is also the host of COURIER's podcast,
Guilty x 34
No more deliberations The verdict is in. The fallout from the first former president in American history to be a convicted felon continues. The Trump campaign and conservative media like Fox News are in lockstep, suggesting that "they" are comi...
Is It Too Early for a Full-Blown Freakout?
No burying obviously newsworthy stories. NO full-blown freakouts. Just Vibes. And the vibes this week: We learned this weekend that
More Than Alito Problem
The courts are broken. The stakes are unprecedented. And the vibes this week… Brian and Glennis discuss the public display of - not just partisanship, but MAGA allegiance - at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's household. I...
The Hottest Club in NY is… the Manhattan Courthouse
No pollsters. No media pundits "running around with their hair on fire." Just vibes. And the vibes this week: A new Times/Siena poll dropped this week t...
Minority Rule
This week, Brian and Glennis are joined by Ari Berman to talk about his new book, Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People―an...
Will Gen Z Save Us (and Themselves)?
This week, we are pleased to be joined by NextGen America president, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, for a vibe check on the youth vote. Cristina tells us where we are and how Democrats need to message to ho...
Everything You Need to Know About Trump's Legal Hot Water (This Week)
Not a judge or a jury. Not fake electors. Nope. The ‘24 election and the fate of democracy hinges on… say it with us… Vibes. The vibes this week:Joe Biden
Drowsy Don on Trial
This week on Vibes Only: History is made as Trump becomes the first President in US history to stand criminal trial for falsifying business records to reimburse his former “fixer,” Michael Cohen, for paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,0...
Bracing for an “Extremely Online” Election with Taylor Lorenz
This week, we are pleased to be joined by Taylor Lorenz. Taylor covers technology and social media for the Washington Post. She is the author of Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence and Power on the Internet, and she h...
Republicans are Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud
SPECIAL GUEST to talk through the vibes of the week: Katie Grossbard. Katie is an attorney, founding member of I am a voter and This is About Humanity. She is a digital creator that aims to empower people to be more informed and less overwhelme...
The Back Door to a National Abortion Ban
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a...
Trump’s Inner Circle Say He’s Unfit; TikTok’s Fate Looms
This week on Vibes Only Brian and Glennis talk about Donald Trump’s unhinged rally in Ohio where he said migrants were “not people” but rather “animals.” He also said there would be a “bloodbath” (“least of” which for autoworkers) if he didn’t ...
Don’t Call it a Comeback
Joe Biden delivered a powerful State of the Union address last week. Democratic Strategist, Keith Edwards, joins Brian and Glennis to talk about how the speech reset the vibes and set the tone for the general election. They also discuss: Biden’...
After Super Tuesday, GOP Officially the Party of Trump (Again)
This week we’re joined by Annie Wu Henry. Annie is a political consultant & digital strategist from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She - like us - is chronically online and has helped craft digital strategies for organizations like the W...
Republicans Faceplant on IVF, Impeachment Efforts, and Basic Governance
Here to help us check the vibes this week is Emily Amick, aka @emilyinyourphone. Emily is a lawyer and formerly served as counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Now you can find her on Instagram sharing expert legal and politica...
Trump comes out for national abortion ban
The vibes this week: Nikki Haley trolled the media by making everyone think she was dropping out only to announce that she'd stay in the race (even though she'll inevitably get beat in her home state)Donald Trump was o...
Dan Pfeiffer on the Republican Counsel’s “Partisan Hit Job”
Dan Pfeiffer, former senior Obama advisor and host of Pod Save America, joins as a special guest to talk through some of the vibes this week! We ask Dan about special counsel Robert Hur’s report that he referred to as a “partisan...
Biden Calls Republicans’ Border Bluff
The VIBES THIS WEEK: A 3-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit unanimously ruled that citizen Donald Trump does not have immunity in the DC elections case saying “we cannot accept that the office of the...
Taylor Swift vs. the MAGA Media Machine
Senate Republicans and Democrats are reportedly nearing a bipartisan border deal. Trump called the deal “a disaster” without knowing what’s in it because, as Senate Republicans have admitted, it would weaken his grievance that Biden is ineffect...
Trump Takes New Hampshire, DeSantis Kisses the Ring
New Hampshire results are in with the expected results taking the headlines. Donald Trump won the GOP primary, while Joe Biden, who wasn’t even on the ballot (we explain why) overwhelmingly won with an organized write-in campaign. Nikki H...
Iowa Caucus Was Over Before It Began
The Iowa caucus was so noncompetitive that the story the media were selling was not who would win, but who would place second. Trump did indeed dominate, as expected. Networks called the race about 30 minutes into the process - before most vote...