Madam Congress

On this episode of Madame Congress, Member Services Task Force Co-Chair Melanie Stansbury & Communications Task Force Co-Chair Shontel Brown discuss how Trump, Musk, & Republicans’ budget will harm women & families by cutting critical programs including Medicaid and SNAP.They also discuss their unique career paths and past as entrepreneurs, the importance of supporting workers, and their work to support small businesses. Stick around to the end to hear what life is like as a Member of Congress. Tune in!  

On this episode of Madam Congress, DWC Member Emeritas Kathy Manning and Annie Kuster recapped some of the highlights from the 118th Congress and shared their top lessons learned as women in Congress.The Congresswoman spoke about their favorite memories in Congress, including Rep. Kuster’s iconic “raise the roof” dance moves at the State of the Union and Rep. Manning’s creative messaging to advocate for her birth control legislation, the Right to Contraception Act. The pair also spoke about the highlights of their work for America’s women and families, including Rep. Kuster’s passion for working to end substance abuse and addiction and Rep. Manning’s leadership in increasing access to reproductive health care.This episode was recorded on December 18, 2024.

On this episode of Madam Congress, DWC Policy Task Force Co-Chair Sydney Kamlager Dove interviews DWC Member Emerita Barbara Lee about her legendary legacy in Congress and the progress she’s seen over her career in the fight for women and families, which all started when she met the first African American woman in Congress, Shirley Chisholm. The pair also discuss the progress that has been made and the work left to be done to increase access to reproductive care, women’s representation in leadership, and women’s rights globally.  This episode was recorded on December 4, 2024.

On this episode of Madam Congress, DWC Member Services Task Force Co-Chair Sara Jacobs and DWC member Suzanne Bonamici share the biggest challenges impacting our country’s child care system and opportunities for improvement.The pair covers legislation Democrats are working on to support child care, including measures  to support workforce development for child care workers, create child care options for service members, and expand child care during non-traditional hours. The Congresswomen also explain how investing in child care is both critical to children’s futures and to our economy.This episode was recorded on December 6, 2024.

On this episode of Madam Congress, DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair & Liaison Judy Chu and DWC Member Lizzie Fletcher break down the fight for reproductive freedom. Republicans have continuously threatened reproductive health care—but Congresswoman Fletcher and Chu explain that DWC members will always fight for a woman’s right to her own body and to health care. The pair also covers the differences in reproductive health care access in their home states, California and Texas. This episode was recorded on December 18, 2024.

On the Inaugural episode of Madam Congress, DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández and Chair Emerita Lois Frankel break down DWC’s work to fight back against Trump and the Republican Trifecta. Chair Emerita Frankel also reflects on her longtime leadership of DWC and shares advice with Chair Leger Fernández. The pair ends the episode with a lightning round of questions—tune in to hear about their hobbies, favorite musicians, and more.This episode was recorded on January 22, 2025.