Happy Mother's Day! 2026

This week on The Necessary Conversation, we celebrate Mother’s Day with a an update on Bob.

And we cover the biggest political issues of the week, which have Mary Lou getting even closer to leaving the Maga cult.

🗳️ Democracy is crumbling in real time. In the wake of the Supreme Court's gutting of voting rights protections, Tennessee carved up a majority-Black district in Memphis, Alabama passed a law to ignore its own primary results, Louisiana's governor suspended primaries after votes had already been cast, and South Carolina is looking at eliminating its only Democratic district. Seven of the 13 House members targeted by these Republican-drawn maps are Black or Latino. Democrats are countering with their own maps — but Virginia's Supreme Court just struck theirs down. We ask: is any of this fair? Is any of it not racist?

🐂 Trump unveiled a 22-foot gold-leafed statue of himself called "Don Colossus" at his golf course in Miami. Evangelical and Jewish clergy consecrated it with prayers at the base. Christian commentators are calling it a modern-day golden calf straight out of the Book of Exodus. A Catholic newsletter wrote that "a faith that cannot say no to a golden calf is not Catholic." We ask Mom — as a Catholic — does this bother her?

💣 Week 10 of Trump's war with Iran and the ceasefire is officially dead. Trump launched "Operation Project Freedom" to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran responded with cruise missiles and drones, the U.S. destroyed six Iranian boats and disabled two oil tankers, and at least one sailor was killed. Trump called it "just a love tap" and insists the ceasefire is still in effect. Iran's foreign minister says otherwise.

🎉 We simmer down for a breather.

🎤 Trump threw a tantrum at ABC's Rachel Scott for asking why he's focused on construction projects while the country is at war and gas prices are soaring. He called her question "a disgrace to our country" and a forensic lip reader confirmed he called her "a bitch" on camera. This adds to a pattern that includes calling female reporters "piggy," "ugly, both inside and out," and "stupid and nasty."

🏗️ Remember when Trump said taxpayers wouldn't pay "a dime" for the White House ballroom? This week Senate Republicans tucked $1 billion in funding for it into an ICE and Border Patrol bill. Trump has said "I'm paying for it," "100% by me and some friends," "no charge to the taxpayer whatsoever," and "zero taxpayer dollars." Now we're paying for it. Sound familiar? Something about Mexico and a wall comes to mind.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

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