In this scorching episode of In The Meanwhile, Nora and Marcus sweat it out—literally and metaphorically—as they sit down with disability rights advocate and policy powerhouse Matthew Cortland. With razor-sharp clarity and raw honesty, Matthew unpacks how Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” budget is actually a legislative wrecking ball aimed at Medicaid, Medicare, and the people who need them most. Matthew shares their own survival story of chronic illness, insurance denials, and systemic gaslighting—and how that fight led them to become one of the country’s leading voices for healthcare justice. Part moral call to arms, part policy masterclass, this episode digs into why messaging matters, how personal stories can save lives, and what it means to organize like survival depends on it–because for millions, it absolutely does.
Mentioned in the episode:
Matthew Cortland | Data for Progress | Ady Barkan’s organization, Be A Hero | Little Lobbyists | AAPD | The House of God by Samuel Shem | Frank Luntz | Don’t Think of an Elephant!, by George Lakoff | Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salman Rushdie
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Nora and Marcus’ work on the podcast is separate from their professional roles and does not represent the views of their employers.
Music: No Tears for a Wolf · Ahamefule J. Oluo · Okanomodé. Used with permission.
Logo by Nikki Barron.
Transcripts are machine-generated and imperfect.
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