Politics & Values: Tenacious D, Usha Vance, and Sticker Mule

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture

Summary: Feminist coaches Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into the political and cultural turbulence of the past week. The discussion touches on the backlash against Tenacious D, Usha Vance's complex positioning, and the controversial Sticker Mule email supporting Trump. With their signature no-nonsense approach, Becky and Taina explore the importance of clear values in personal and professional life, urging listeners to confront the messy realities of power, privilege, and political discourse.

Key Takeaways:

1. Questioning Narratives: The alleged assassination attempt on Trump raises questions about the authenticity of political events and the divisive impact on public discourse.
2. Unity vs. Division: Taina emphasizes the need for division from oppressors, challenging the notion of unity with those who perpetuate systemic violence.
3. Entertainment and Compliance: The controversy surrounding Tenacious D's canceled tour highlights the pressures on public figures to conform to prevailing political expectations, driven by capitalist interests and media conglomerates.
4. Privilege in Politics: Usha Vance's support of her husband JD Vance, despite his oppressive policies, showcases the allure of proximity to power and the complexities of personal values in political alignment.
5. Values in Business: The Sticker Mule email debacle underscores the importance of businesses clearly communicating their values to avoid alienating customers and fostering mistrust.
6. Historical Context: Political violence has deep roots in American history, and the narrative that it is a modern anomaly is misleading and ignores the country's violent past.
7. Role of Privilege: Becky and Taina stress the responsibility of those with privilege to actively dismantle white supremacist capitalist patriarchy, rather than merely seeking inclusion within it.

Resources mentioned:

• "They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South" by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers
• "Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance
• "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by Paulo Freire
• "All About Love: New Visions" by bell hooks
• "Sister Outsider" by Audre Lorde (featuring the essay “The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House”)

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges listeners to critically examine their own values and the systems they support, offering a candid look at the intersection of politics, business, and personal beliefs.

LEARN MORE:

• Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
• Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS