Whose Kitchen Table?

This week, the Drs discuss the effects of firing thousands of federal workers, particularly doctors, nurses, therapists, and social workers at the VA. They also analyze the expansion of the DOE’s understanding of the ban on affirmative action and how “kitchen table issues” center white, middle and upper class concerns.Word of the Week [1:25]: Language Choices: Shaunna and Lisa speak to how diversity, equity, and inclusion language is disappearing due to the new presidential administration. What does it mean if organizations and universities start using inexact words instead?Phase 1 [5:53]: #FiredFeds: Unfortunately, the federal government employee purge has hit about 30,000 people (and counting) since February 2025. #Veterans -- one of our most vulnerable populations are getting hit the hardest by the massive reduction as both employees and recipients of VA services. How will the entire country manage this hemorrhaging?Phase 2 [18:20]: Who's Kitchen Table?:  The lack of coordination among Democratic representatives is undeniably clear, yet there is recent evidence of how out-of-touch Dems are. The push to drop the #woke branding and adopt the #kitchentableissues implicitly assumes that these proverbial tables are for white, hetero, and "normative" households only.Phase 3 [31:01]: Dear Colleague, Again: The Department of Education's #doe Office of Civil Rights #OCR sent a letter to all colleges and universities expanding the meaning of the #SCOTUS decision striking down affirmative action. The kicker? Compliance in two weeks. The Drs. talk about their familiar stomping ground of higher education in a rocky new landscape. Referenced in the show:These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration - NYTVeterans are being hit hard by Trump administration firings - CNNTrump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo - AP NewsDepartment of Veteran Affairs Reduction in Force MemoWhat the data says about federal workers - Pew ResearchTrump says the federal workforce is too big. Here's what to know about its size - CBS News[un]phased unedited Episode 139: Wake Up...Stay Woke!Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter - Feb 14th 2025Colleges Have No Idea How to Comply With Trump’s Order - The Atlantic