Make It Make Sense Podcast with Davette B and Travis Lee

This week, Davette and Travis break down the budget bill that broke the internet—and maybe your future. We’re talking student loan garnishments, attacks on people with disabilities, billionaires getting tax breaks while everyone else gets the boot, and Trump making money off digital coins like it’s Monopoly.💸 Who’s getting richer?⚠️ Who’s getting left behind?🧾 And why are people calling this bill “beautiful” when it’s giving “let them eat crypto”? In this supersized episode, we name names (hi Budget Gang 👋🏽), follow the money, and connect the dots on how this budget is a setup for disaster. Plus, Davette shares a deeply personal story about receiving a garnishment notice—and why this fight is more than just politics. It’s survival.📣 THE RESISTANCE BRIEF: Here’s how we fight back1. Demand TPD (Total & Permanent Disability) Discharge ReformCall: 1-800-872-5327 (Federal Student Aid Info Center)Email: [email protected]: “Reinstate and expand automatic student loan discharge for all eligible disabled borrowers.”Contact your reps via openstates.orgAsk them to: “Protect low-income borrowers—ban wage and Social Security garnishments tied to federal student loans.”Post about the House Budget Committee members who backed this bill.Tag them. Call them out. Make noise.(Need help? We got the receipts in the episode.)The real history of student debt and disabilityBillionaire welfare and media spinDavette’s personal testimonyOur weekly segment: You Can’t Neva Eva Eva Eva Eva Eva Come to the Cookout2. Block Garnishment Expansions in Your State3. Name and Shame the Budget Gang✊🏽 Plus:📢 Let’s be clear: this Big Beautiful Bill is not just ugly—it’s dangerous.—🔗 Follow us and stay loud:📱 IG: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepod🎥 TikTok: @themimspodwdtlee#MakeItMakeSense #StudentLoanForgiveness #DisabilityRights #BigBeautifulBill #TrumpBudget #ResistanceBrief #TheCookout #DEIUnderAttack #FollowTheMoney

In a world that feels colder by the day, we’re turning up the heat with a full episode devoted to radical love. From the joy of Black excellence on center stage—hello Taraji, Usher, and Victoria Monét!—to the unapologetic artistry of Kendrick Lamar and Serena Williams, we’re spotlighting the beauty that still blooms in the chaos.But this isn’t just about feel-good moments. We’re grounding our conversation in the teachings of bell hooks, using her classic All About Love to explore how love—real love—can be a political act, a form of resistance, and a roadmap for collective healing.And don’t miss The Love Report—our special edition of the Resistance Brief—packed with real ways to put love into motion:THE LOVE REPORT: ACTIONS THAT CENTER LOVE AS POWERLove is radical. It’s not just about how we care for each other—it’s about holding power to account. Loving people means fighting for the systems they deserve. So this week, show your love by taking action:Hold the government accountable. Demand policies that reflect justice, equity, and care. Show up, speak out, and don’t let cruelty go unchecked.Defend Black & Brown women in power. From school boards to Congress, they are under constant attack. Call out the harassment, show up for them, and let them know: We got you.Send some love to your local library. With bans, budget cuts, and hate campaigns coming their way, libraries need defenders. Send a thank-you note, donate a book, or show up for the next board meeting.Protect the lovers of justice. Support activists, educators, and organizers who are fighting the good fight. Drop a Venmo, share their work, or offer help behind the scenes.Love on your community. Host a block cleanup, a healing circle, or a joy-centered event. Radical love shows up where people need care—not where cameras are.

100 days in—and we already need a nap, a protest sign, and a lawyer.Welcome to The Damage Report: Special Edition—where we break down the political whiplash of the first 100 days under Trump 2.0 and ask the only question that matters: how did it get this bad, this fast?We’re talking: • A Supreme Court that forgot the Constitution exists • ICE agents reopening Alcatraz (no Clint Eastwood, just fascism) • Tariffs on movies, books, and joy • Trans bans, Title IX rollbacks, DEI purges, and a Pope who’s Black, American, and already getting side-eyed by the regime • And of course—Trump declaring himself the world’s best war negotiator like it’s a deleted scene from The Apprentice: Dictator EditionBut here’s the thing: the people are NOT going quietly.From TikTok organizers to students in the streets, mutual aid networks to aunties calling Congress—we see y’all. We break it all down, connect the dots, and serve up receipts with a side of righteous rage.⸻RESISTANCE BRIEF – AKA: “Do Not Disturb, I’m Doing the Work” 1. Tariffs Got Us TwistedTrump’s taxing everything like culture personally insulted him in 1987. Books, music, food, and film are on the chopping block.Call 202-224-3121 and tell your rep:“These cultural tariffs are punishing students, artists, and small businesses. Shut them down.”Bonus: Tag your favorite indie bookstore or art house theater and ask how they’re impacted. 2. FDA = Fully Deregulated America?Food safety inspections are being tossed like leftovers.Email: [email protected] them:“We need accountability, not excuses. Restore full food safety inspections now.”Then post about it: If prices are up and safety’s down? That’s not inflation—it’s deregulation. 3. Protect a School Like It’s Beyoncé TicketsTrump’s coming for DEI and Title VI like they owe him money.Pick a school—your alma mater, your kid’s, or one from the OCR hit list.Write the administration and say:“Don’t cave. Don’t compromise. Stand for DEI and student safety.”Tag them publicly. Use your voice and your coin. Silence is complicity—and we’re fresh out of complicit.Davette:That’s your Resistance Brief, hot and ready like a Little Caesars pizza—but with way more power behind it.⸻Like. Subscribe. Drop a comment.Tell us what broke your spirit this week—or what you’re doing to keep fighting.Follow us:TikTok: @themimspodwdtleeInstagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepod⸻#TheDamageReport #100Days100Years #MIMSPod #MakeItMakeSense #ResistanceBrief #SaveTheFuture #CulturalTariffs #FDAChaos #ProtectDEI #AdoptASchool #BlackPopeEra #TariffsOnJoy #YouCantSitHere #StayLoud #DoNotDisturbImDoingTheWork

This week on The Damage Report, we’re pulling back the curtain on the chaos—and showing how it’s all by design. From Trump canceling a civil rights water settlement in Alabama, to RFK Jr.’s creepy DHS health registry plan, to the FDA straight-up stopping milk safety testing during a bird flu outbreak—we’re not just witnessing dysfunction. We’re watching the blueprint for Project 2025 in motion.We’ll break down:How DEI became the scapegoat for everythingWhat rollback looks like in real timeAnd who’s really behind the attacks on civil rights, public safety, and truth itselfPlus: we’ve got your Resistance Brief with real actions you can take right now—and yes, someone’s getting sent to the Principal’s Office.This ain’t just commentary.It’s strategy, it’s survival—and it’s about damn time we called it what it is.

This week on The Damage report, we're breaking down all of the mess coming from the White House in the past week. From unwarranted deportations, to normalizing hate, and even voter suppression; we've got all the troubling news from the Executive Branch and what you can do to help stop it. Thanks for listening and please us a comment with your thoughts!

What do the 1930s and 2025 have in common? A lot more than you think—and none of it’s good. In this special episode of The Make It Make Sense Podcast, Davette and Travis connect the dots between the rise of fascism in Hitler’s Germany and the authoritarian creep happening right now in the U.S.We dig into: • How oligarchs shaped policy then—and how they’re doing it again now • The eerie parallels between Hitler’s rise and Trump’s comeback • Book bans, anti-DEI laws, and the dangerous return of “purity politics” • The role of racist ideology in shaping American governance, past and present • And how fascism isn’t just back—it never really leftPlus, we wrap it all up with a Wanna Learn More? segment packed with must-read books and resources to help you stay sharp and stay resisting.Wanna Learn More?Books featured or referenced in this episode: • Stamped from the Beginning by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619–2019 (co-edited by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Dr. Keisha N. Blain) • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • Goodnight Racism by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley • They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer • The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt • The Road to Unfreedom by Timothy Snyder • Twilight of Democracy by Anne ApplebaumFollow & Support Us:TikTok: @themimspodwdtleeInstagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepodFacebook: The Make It Make Sense PodcastEmail: [email protected] us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mimspod#MakeItMakeSensePod #SameAsItEverWas #OldFascismNewFascism #StopAuthoritarianism #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory #BookBans #DEI #PodcastWithPurpose #StayLoud #ResistAndPersist #HistoryRepeats #MIMSPod

Episode Description:This week on The Make It Make Sense Podcast, we break down the truth behind tariffs—what they actually are, how they work, and why Trump keeps pretending they’re a flex when they’re really just a fancy tax on us.Davette gives a history lesson that stretches from the Boston Tea Party to Trump’s Twitter tantrums, explains the difference between tariffs and a Value-Added Tax (VAT), and lays out how this mess impacts everything from your groceries to your job. Travis adds in his signature shocked reactions, and together they ask: Who’s really paying for this trade war? (Spoiler: it’s not China.)Links Mentioned in This Episode: • www.myvote.org – Check your voter registration • www.brookings.edu – Search “Tariffs 101” for nonpartisan explainers • https://ustr.gov – U.S. Trade Representative site (yes, it’s real and it matters) • Episode Resistance Brief – Action items from this episode on our InstagramFollow Us + Join the Conversation: • TikTok: @themimspodwdtlee • Instagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepod • Email us: [email protected] us grow the movement:Like the episode? Smash that like button, leave us a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode that makes actual sense. Your support helps us keep resisting, educating, and exposing the mess.

This week’s Damage Report is brought to you by the letter “O”… as in Oz, outrage, and oh no, what now?!We break down: • Dr. Oz Confirmed: Yes, that Dr. Oz. The wellness huckster turned political appointee. We talk about what this means for public trust, health policy, and the administration’s growing obsession with propaganda over credentials. • Nazi Quote on the House Floor: A member of Congress quoted Hitler — on purpose. We dig into who said it, who challenged it, and what the silence says about our political climate. • The Relationship Ban in China: A new directive bars U.S. citizens in China from dating Chinese nationals. This isn’t just xenophobia—it’s textbook fascism.And of course, we close with “You Can’t Sit Here” — our weekly moment of civic accountability.⸻THE RESISTANCE BRIEF: WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK 1. CALL YOUR SENATORSDemand accountability for Dr. Oz’s confirmation. We deserve better than quacks in lab coats.www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative 2. FLOOD YOUR SCHOOL BOARDAnd state legislatures with opposition to book bans. Read a passage from a banned book during public comment.pen.org/book-bans 3. SUPPORT CAMPUS PROTESTSStand with students punished for speaking truth. Protect academic freedom.aclu.org | chronicle.com 4. CONTACT THE STATE DEPARTMENTDemand answers on the international relationship directive. This isn’t foreign policy—it’s fascism.www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 5. TALK TO YOUR PEOPLEShare banned books. Share facts. The more they try to isolate us, the more we need to connect.⸻LISTEN NOWBecause they’re betting on confusion — and we’re here to make it make sense.#TheDamageReport #DrOz #BookBans #CampusProtests #RelationshipBan #MakeItMakeSensePod #ResistanceBrief #YouCantSitHereFollow the pod:TikTok: @themimspodwdtleeInstagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepodEnterYou


In this episode, we ask, what does the average citizen do when a group of masked men kidnap someone off the street? The Bystander Effect is alive and well, especially when the government is doing the kidnapping, and the ‘silent observer’ role has never been more on-brand. We’re talking about the shocking rise of government-sanctioned disappearances, and how watching women be attacked in public & doing nothing is as American as apple pie. Why do we, as citizens, fail to act despite our love for heroic films & tv? Is it fear? Laziness? Or are we just too busy scrolling through our feeds to notice? Tune in as we dive into the darker side of the Bystander Effect, break down how dictatorships turn abductions into an Olympic sport, and maybe, just maybe, figure out why we all seem to watch, then look the other way. Spoiler alert: it’s not as funny as it sounds… but we’ll still try to make it one.

On this episode of The Make It Make Sense Podcast: The Damage Report…Let’s talk about the absolute clown show that popped off this week when a National Security Advisor—yes, someone with the keys to actual war plans—accidentally added a journalist from The Atlantic to a Signal group chat where highly classified U.S. military strategies were being discussed.We’re breaking it all the way down: how does something like this even happen? Is our government really this reckless, or are we watching a calculated leak dressed up as incompetence? Either way, someone hit “add to chat” and damn near started World War III. Make it make sense.Then, we shift to the latest local disaster with national implications: Elon Musk is trying to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court. And while that sounds like parody, it’s very real. If we let billionaires snatch up judicial seats like limited-edition Teslas, what happens to your state next?So here’s what we need y’all to do:If you live in Wisconsin, vote for Susan Crawford on Tuesday, April 1st.Let Elon and the rest of these power-hungry oligarchs know: our democracy is not up for auction.Thanks for listening—and you already know:educate, empower, mobilize.

In this episode of Men Be-Having Badly, we’re unpacking the bizarre world of men with money and privilege who think their cash gives them a free pass to treat people like disposable accessories. From Isaac Hayes’ son, who threw a tantrum online when a woman dared to say no to him (cue the meltdown of the century), to Elon Musk, who’s out here trying to build a harem of broodmares to populate Earth with kids he doesn't seem to care about—this episode has it all. Tune in as we break down how some men believe that wealth means power over everything, including decency. Spoiler: It’s all fun and games until you realize they’re playing Monopoly with real lives.

This week on the show, we're addressing the current situation with our Pres and his Doge cronies wanting to close the doors of the Department Of Education. We start with a lesson about what exactly the DOE does and who it serves. After that, we're joined by our special guest, Angela Harris, to help make sense of why the funding coming from the Federal Government is so important for low income families and what will happen if it is suddenly cut off. Angela has been a Milwaukee-area educator for over 20 years and is a tireless advocate for the rights of minority children in our public school system. She shares personal experiences and insights as to why we need to keep education free for everyone and why privatization of our schools is a terrible idea. Also, stay tuned until the end when we give you some tips on what you can do to help stop the insanity and save our public education system in this country. Thanks for listening and please leave us a comment with your thoughts!

Welcome to Men Be-Having Badly, the podcast that’s like a bad date—awkward, hilarious, and you’ll wonder how we all got here. In our teaser episode, we dive into a disturbing trend: Men who somehow crash out after fumbling with successful women, and then—get this—respond with a diss track! That’s right, fellas. You lost a good one, and instead of learning, growing, and getting your act together, you’ve chosen to make music that sounds like a drunk karaoke night. Thanks for listening and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

This week on The Damage Report, we're talking TARRIFF threats and why a trade war with our closest ally (Oh, Canada!) is just a really bad idea. After that, we went on a FIELD TRIP to see Bernie Sanders speak on his Fighting the Oligarchy tour. Also, Davette looses her mind and has the RANT of a lifetime! You don’t want to miss this! Thanks for listening and please leave us a comment with your thoughts!

This week on the podcast, we're kicking off Women's History Month by welcoming our very special guest, Iuscely Flores, to the the show to talk about DACA and The Dreamers! Iuscely is the Racial Equity And Economic Justice Advocate for Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and has some great information to share with us about our hostile immigration laws in this country and how they actually affect people's lives every day. Through simplified explanations of complicated governmental policies and personal experiences, we learn what it's really like to struggle in this country as an undocumented person and what we can do to help fix this very broken system. Thanks for listening and please leave us a comment with your thoughts!

This week on The Damage Report, we welcome back returning guest Ava Germain to talk about all the messy news that is breaking this week. From the despicable Tate brothers being allowed back into the country under questionable circumstances to grown ass men acting like petulant children inside of OUR Oval Office; we're dissecting the damage and coming up with ways to fix it. Thanks for listening and please leave us a comment with your thoughts!

The IRS and the possible disbandment of it have been in the news lately, so we're breaking down the history of the agency and why it's a necessary evil in all of our lives. Sure, on the surface it might seem like a great idea to get rid of income taxes, but could the alternative be worse for low income families? Tune in to find out what we think and leave a comment with your thoughts!

This week on the show, we're remembering two tragic moments of American History on The Blackest Black History Report. First up is the rise of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the eventual terror attack that led to it's complete destruction. After that we're sharing the story of Emmett Till, who after being falsely accused of offending a white woman, was kidnapped and brutally lynched. Thanks for listening and please remember to leave us a comment with your thoughts!

This week on The Damage Report, we're starting out the show with Davette singing Happy Birthday to herself while Travis wears his grumpy pants! After that, we get down to business with breaking down all the mess from the hostile government takeover shenanigans from the past week. From DOJ scandals to freedom of the press, we're covering it all! Stay until the end and we've even got some tips for surviving your next protest event! Thanks for listening and please leave us a comment with your thoughts!

It's a coup d'etat! This week, join Davette and Travis as they explore coups and talk about their thoughts on how to fix this crazy situation that we find our country in. There also might be a discussion around the genius of K Dot! Thanks for listening and please leave us a comment about what you think!

This week on the Blackest Black History Report Ever, we’re talking about Kendrick and how he is living Black History! Then, Davette gives this week’s in depth report on Black Women and their contribution to the exploration of the final frontier, Space! Also, wait till you hear who gets the Omarosa award this week, it’s a real SHOCKER of a recipient!

This week on the podcast, we're covering all of the mess that this President has been up to and the potential damage to our country if these policies are actually implemented. From shutting down USAID to mass government worker firings to creating a war chest to fund likely future conflicts; this is indeed the Project 2025 blueprint and we're seeing it being executed in real time.

We're taking a break from our weekly Damage Report during February to bring you a series of shows to highlight Black Americans that we think normally don't get enough recognition during Black History Month. This week we're talking about historian and author, Carter G. Woodson, who is credited with being the father of Black History Month!

The Executive Orders have been coming in hot and heavy from the Oval, so this week we're making sense of what they are and how they work. From The Emancipation Proclamation to the Muslim Ban, are they laws? Are they guidance? Come with us and you’ll see! Thanks for listening and please leave a comment with your thoughts! https://time.com/6971088/adolf-hitler-take-power-democracy/ https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/president-donald-trump-executive-orders-list

On The Damage Report for this week, we're covering all of the harm that has been done to our country so far during the second term of the Clown-In-Chief. The end of DEI, Jan. 6th thugs freed with no consequences, political opponents fired without cause, and SO MUCH MORE! Tune in to keep up with the mess! https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/26/politics/voter-reaction-trump-first-week-aotm?cid=ios_app https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/president-donald-trump-executive-orders-list https://time.com/6971088/adolf-hitler-take-power-democracy/

This week on the show, with Special Guest Ava Germaine, we're discussing the motivation behind the 92% Brunches that happened on Jan 18th. She's a social media influencer that Davette has been OBSESSED WITH lately for her witty content. She and Travis have a GREAT discussion on why Black women are tired and should focus on self-care for healing instead of spending the next 4 years aimlessly and endlessly marching. Follow her at @ai0fe714 on Instagram & TikTok! Thanks for listening and leave us a comment on what you think!

Current events dictate that we cover breaking news, so we present a new type of bonus episode, the Damage Report! We discuss Snoop Dogg performing for the inauguration, the TikTok ban, and Trump's questionable moves just before retaking the most powerful office in the world. Thanks for listening and please leave a comment with what you think on these issues!

This week on the show, we're breaking down our understanding of what the role of the executive branch of our government is and bringing awareness to a bill that is being proposed in the House concerning women's healthcare! Also, stay tuned until the end because we've got something to say to Elon Musk as well. Thanks for listening and please remember to comment and subscribe!

In our first episode, we explore the true meaning of the 14th Amendment and how it actually affects our lives on a daily basis. All American citizens are supposed to be protected under this law, but does a bias exist that makes some of us more equal than others? Tune in to find out what we think and join in the conversation!

This episode is meant to introduce our audience to our hosts, Davette Baker and Travis Lee, and let you know what our goals are for this podcast! We aim to take on one complicated political or social issue every episode and try to educate ourselves and the audience on the subject to hopefully make more informed decisions when it really matters. We'll have fun along the way and ask that the audience join in the conversation to make our world a better place!