Getting Hammered®

Jenna Lee of SmartHERNews joins Mary Katharine Ham this week and the two talk about Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Fresh out of a slightly unhinged, emotional carline kid pick-up in her Dolly shirt, MK pays tribute to the icon, legend, and downright funny lady who moved us in so many ways. Jenna talks about the make-up advice she got from the lady herself (!) while MK reminisces on a tip she got from another country music star. They talk about their favorite Dolly songs, especially the ones that got...

Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk college drop-off as Vic's is impending, the ludicrously designed dorm rooms they are seeing, and a recap of MK's 1,000-mile roadtrip. They talk Woke 1.0, primary updates, news from long-deployed Navy ships, some good news on violence and prescription drug prices, the death of Jason Arday, and a lifeguard comes to the White House!

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss new revelations about Dr. Anthony Fauci's concerns about the COVID vaccine causing miscarriages in the first trimester, as MKH reminisces about the immense social pressure and shaming pregnant women faced for declining the shot, as she did in early 2021. They also talk about AOC's egg-freezing journey (recorded before news broke that she broke up with her fiance), and how it's a soft presidential announcement, then we join her as she laughs off "Woke 1" without taking any accountability. They discuss Megan Romer's DSA disarray, and the excuses being made for Jason Arday.

Vic Matus and Mary Katharine Ham discuss Mamdani's groceries, the non-prosecution of the non-vandalism of the Reflecting Pool, the Iran war or lack thereof, Michigan and Wisconsin socialism, Texas looking iffy, whether we should cancel Thanksgiving with Francesca Hong, and a rant about the Gen-Zers after we heard about their parents calling their bosses again. We have to stop this. Also, MK and Vic confess the life skills they didn't have when they left home.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss Dr. Anthony Fauci's journal and what it reveals, the White House Correspondents Dinner and why it's destined to always be awkward, Mamdani and his big aspirations to arrest foreign leaders and start state grocery stores, and updates from Iran.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss the lay of the land for 2026 elections, give updates on Senate primaries in Maine, South Carolina, and Michigan, try to figure out Trump's recent speech, keep tabs on the bad lettuce, and offer thoughts on the Odyssey controversy.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about the untimely passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, the viral bison attack at Yellowstone and the cool grandpa at the center of it, and Senate race updates in Michigan, Maine, and South Carolina. They also pick favorite Sam Neill movies.

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Vic and Mary Katharine talk about Graham Platner's latest scandal (content warning), who wants him gone and who wants him to stay, along with the rise of socialists throughout the nation in deep-blue House Districts. They also cover America 250, Mamdani's and Trump's opposing views of America, and the FIFA controversy.

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This week's episode of Getting Hammered comes in the form of a bunch of readings from our Founders throughout June of 1776. Check the feed through June as we learn about George Washington's travails, watch the Lee Resolution pass the Continental Congress, see delegations argue with their hometown politicians over how they should vote, and hear why Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration! I'll add the the feed as we get closer to July 4th!

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss the ongoing-ish deal with Iran, and what all the actors are up to, the controversy at the Reflecting Pool, which is important to new one-issue fountain voters, Ro Khanna's wealth confiscation fantasies, the rise of the socialists in New York City, and the McD's apple pie, back on the menu! A sad goodbye to Georgia politico, tough lady, and damn good Dawg, radio host Martha Zoller.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss the Iran deal, what might be in it and what's not, and whether we are better off than before the war started. They talk UFC night at the White House, the charming Euros of the World Cup, Wemby, Brunson, and a touching tribute to Gene Shalit.

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This is from John Adams' later autobiography, but is based on contemporaneous notes, so we'll count it. It gives a great, and frank, assessment of his and Jefferson's strengths and weaknesses, plus a digression on the power of oratory and the power of shutting up, which many public figures could learn from today. The gist is "talk less, write more," if I may borrow from "Hamilton."

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This bit of the journals of the Continental Congress from June 10, 1776 illustrates how some delegations were confused as to how to proceed on behalf of their colonies on the question of independence. They're trying to collect advice in time for the June 28 postponed decision on the Lee Resolution after the Declaration has been written.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus talk about accusations against Graham Platner, whose name it turns out MK has known for a long time before he ran for Senate. Updates on the L.A. Mayor's race , disappointment for Spencer Pratt, and the wacky ways they count votes, plus good news for Steve Hilton in California governor race. U.S. pilots are rescued by a U.S. drone after being shot down by a Iranian drone. Scott Pelley's pathos is too much for us, but the Euros discovering American small-town and Southern charm while in the States for the World...

Today in 1776, Gen. George Washington writes to John Hancock about perennial concerns— lack of pay, too-short enlistments of troops, and the lack of reliable battlefield information.

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On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia offers the resolution that eventually leads to the Declaration of Independence. Congress adopts the resolution with a plan to form committees to a) make foreign alliances as needed b) draft a declaration and c) wait three weeks to affirm the independence part of the resolution. The resolution, written in Lee's hand is short:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them...

Richard Henry Lee of Virginia writes from the Continental Congress to his friend, Landon Carter, a letter previewing the resolution he will eventually bring in Congress on June 7, which will then lead to the Declaration of Independence.

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"I received by Mr. Church a few lines from you; I wish to hear from you every opportunity tho you say no more than that you are well. I feel concerndleast your cloaths should go to rags having nobody to take any care of you in your long absence, and then you have not with you a proper change for the Seasons. However you must do the best you can. I have a suit of homespun for you whenever you return. I cannot avoid sometimes repineing that the gifts of fortune were not bestowed upon us, that I might have in...

Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus discuss Jill Biden's book rollout, Graham Platner's many, many scandals, and the A250 concert that wasn't. There is some singing. You're welcome.

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John Adams buys an expensive folio on this day and enters his first letter, to his wife. He also buys one for his professional correspondence, and I think we can thank Abigail for her annoyances with John's correspondence for the fact we have as many of Adams' letters as we do!

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Dear sir Philadelphia June 1. 1776

Your favours of May 14. and 22d. are now before me. The first I shewed to Mr. Morris, as soon as I received it. The last contains Intelligence, from Hallifax of the Streights to which our Enemies are reduced, which I was very glad to learn.

I am very happy to learn from you and some other of my Friends that Boston is securely fortified; but still I cannot be fully satisfied untill I hear that every unfriendly Flagg is chased out of that Harbour.

Cape Ann, I am sensible i...

Vic and Mary Katharine talk primary predictions (Cornyn vs. Paxton), a farewell to Thomas Massie and Stephen Colbert, the DNC's embarrassing autopsy, Memorial Day thoughts, along with recommended overseas American military cemeteries, and Vic has a beach read recommendation that is definitely at least PG-13.

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Vic and Mary Katharine talk about big victories on the parenting front at MK's home, foreign policy updates on Iran, China, Venezuela and Cuba, fully funtioning fountains, the war on NY pizza, and a new segment: Viruses With Vic!

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Vic and Mary Katharine valiantly fight technical difficulties (successfully!) of their own to tell you about the technical difficulties Virginia Democrats are facing on redistricting and the crashout they're having as a result. They update on SC, TN, FL, and AL before talking about the NYT's crazy Kristof column, Labor losses in Britain, Iran, and hantavirus.

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Vic and MK dive into the news that Graham Platner is the presumptive Dem nominee for Senate in Maine, which means everyone who is left of center has to pretend Nazi tattoos mean nothing about a person. We talk updates on Iran, continuing surprising alliances, and a legal update on the Voting Rights Act. Finally, updates on the Palisades Fire, not at all caused by climate change.

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Joseph Ward is a cousin and aide-de-camp to Gen. Artemas Ward. He is a frequent correspondent of Adams, reporting what he's seeing on the military front in Boston. Adams is worried about the British, still sitting around the harbor, trying to take over Boston again now that the Army is mostly in New York City.

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MK and Vic talk Mary Katharine's live experience of an attack on democracy and free speech and the subsequent press coverage, which veered very quickly away from another attempt on the president's life and into centering media and making other people the victims. Also, is it okay to take the wine?

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The Continental Army deals with all kinds of personnel problems and shortages. In this case, Washington is taking the step of explicitly requesting better pay for his aides, as he works them very hard and must trust them with so much. He is afraid the good ones will leave his employ to seek other options if he can't pay them adequately.

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A salty episode of Getting Hammered as Vic and Mary Katharine contemplate exporting the governance of Fairfax and Arlington to the rest of Virginia and what that means for the state and national politics. Also, a little bit of SPLC news and MK's kid destroyed another thing after a long dry spell!

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Vic Matus and Mary Katharine Ham talk about Iran, the blockade, the strategy, and the negotiation-athon. They also talk about Trump's AI post, backlash to it, and his fight with the Pope. Allegations against Swalwell continue to rise, but there's a reason they're all happening now. And Artemis II inspires us!

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My friend Sarah Isgur joins the podcast to talk about her new book, "Last Branch Standing," which is a very fun read about the Supreme Court, its history, the data on the current Court's decisions, and human stories of the Justices and their clerks and everyone's hijinx along the way. If you feel media coverage of the Court isn't giving you the big, real , complex picture— it often isn't— this is a good place to start getting better understanding. I really enjoyed it!

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In this letter, Adams addresses all of the concerns and questions of Abigail's March 31 letter. He is glad to hear of her joy at the relative non-destruction of Boston and the fact that their house there stands. He ansers her concerns about Virginians and women's rights, though in a somewhat jokey tone. He has more serious thoughts on this account in other letters.

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Vic is on Spring Break this week, so Kelly and MK discuss the daring Iran rescue, how in the world it's possible for people to be mad at it, growing polarization over even the best news, how we are Victor Glover fan girls and Artemis is also daring and astounding. Trump is on his holiday mean tweets again, California is defrauding us, and we sell Girl Scout cookies. Which one of us is better at it? Plus, more auctioneering practice!

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In this letter from Abigail to John, you can tell his absence is taking a toll on her. She tells of all the work she has to do on the farm, hoping to prove herself as a "farmeress" as he proves himself a statesman. She sounds a little nervous and sad as she wishes in vain for news of when he might come home. Boston is mourning its dead after the Brits have left town and she tells of a funeral she attended.

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On this Spring Break edition of Getting Hammered, Vic and MK finally try the Big Arch, and because they didn't want it to get cold, they do that first and talk about burgers for half the show! After that, Iran, #NoKings, and polyamory. Mixed bag today!

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In this famous letter, Abigail is still annoyed that John doesn't write often enough or come home. She is still a passionate advocate for liberty and impatient for a declaration. She is a serious critic of slaveholders in Virginia, wondering openly if they can possibly really be devoted to the cause of liberty when they deprive their fellow man of theirs. She also gives her thoughts on how the new government should treat women, saying they will "foment rebellion" if not considered in the laws of this new country.

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Kelly Maher guest-hosts with Mary Katharine Ham today, tells us about her new adventure in auctioneering, and we talk about all the people who don't understand capitalism— Kathy Hochul, Hasan Piker, Abigail Spanberger, D.C. government.

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In this letter to his friend, Horatio Gates, Adams touches on Boston and whether the Brits are really gone, talks about a recent resolution allowing privateers to take British boats, and then the challenges of forming a Republic of 13 colonies.

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Enjoy the details as Washington realizes he has to impress upon his soldiers how to act once they're in Boston. This is a very explicit effort to make sure the uncomfortable lines between Boston inhabitants who are leftover royalists, patriot residents, possible spies, and Continental soldiers are observed with as little drama as possible, and all conflict dealt with in legal avenues.

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Gen. George Washington seems to let himself be happy in this letter to Hancock about having cleared the British army out of Boston, which they find in fairly good condition after 11 months of siege and occupation.

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