As we approach the one-year mark of A Couple Thinks, this week’s episode is a reflective one. We recorded our very first conversation on December 8th last year, before we even knew exactly what this project would become, and now here we are, 48 episodes later, talking more honestly (and more calmly!) about Trump’s second administration than either of us ever managed to do during the first.
In this episode, we look back at what it’s meant to create a space where we can process the chaos without letting it take over our lives. Lisa talks about how the podcast has become a “container” that keeps her from getting as ragey or stressed each night, and how grounding it feels to approach Trump Two differently than Trump One. We also reflect on the surprisingly creative, joyful, and strategic resistance we’ve seen this year—from frog-costumed protest dancers in Portland, to Home Depot “buy-and-return” ice scraper actions, to Disney boycotts, to the dedicated voters who are showing up to make a difference.
We also dig into the political shifts happening inside Congress and among GOP voters. We talk about reporting on Republican house members considering early resignations, the eye-popping number of House members who aren’t running for re-election next year, and the massive swings we saw in November—some over 15 or 20 points in districts Trump previously won. And we unpack the messy, faction-vs-faction GOP infighting that has opened the door to things like bipartisan discharge petitions—something so rare that Speaker Johnson has already seen more of them than the previous 30 years combined.
We even get into the more subtle things: the anecdotal stories from Thanksgiving gatherings where once-staunch MAGA relatives quietly admitted they’re done. The slow but steady erosion of Trump’s credibility as everything he promised—cheaper food, housing, healthcare—has gotten more expensive. And the difference between flashy, overnight victories and the long, cumulative “wave” created by lawsuits, protests, marches, postcards, and turnout.
As usual, we shift into action mode: current postcard campaigns, the Tennessee special election, the push from Indivisible to call senators about leadership changes, and a reminder to support small and local businesses during the holidays. And of course, we close with our joyful moments—from a big, warm Thanksgiving filled with family, singing, and leftovers, to painting the home office and clearing surfaces before Tucci the cat claims them for herself.
If you’ve been feeling the exhaustion, the slow burn of anxiety, or the impatience for things to turn faster—this episode offers a breath, a reset, and a reminder that change often builds quietly… until it doesn’t.
👉 Listen to the full episode and join us as we look back on a wild year, celebrate the progress, and think ahead to what the next twelve months might bring.
