Content warning: this episode includes a discussion of sexual assault.

Jill Wine-Banks talks with Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate in Arizona's 8th Congressional District. A former long-haul trucker and small-business owner with more than four million miles on the road, she explains why that experience qualifies her for Congress and what she'd tackle first, from Social Security and health care to lowering the cost of household goods. In August, while repairing her campaign signs late at night, Bernadette was sexually assaulted. She talks openly about the shock, anger and self-blame that followed, why she waited to report, and what friends, family and hotlines can do to help a survivor, including documenting what happened and getting a rape kit even before deciding whether to go to the police. And she explains why dropping out of the race never crossed her mind. If you or someone you know needs help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential and open 24/7: call 800-656-4673 (800-656-HOPE), text HOPE to 64673, or chat online at the link below. HELP AND RESOURCES RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ RAINN https://rainn.org/ National Sexual Violence Resource Center https://www.nsvrc.org/ Joyful Heart Foundation https://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/ End the Backlog (untested rape kits) https://www.endthebacklog.org/ LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE Bernadette for Congress https://bgp4az.com/ AP: Arizona congressional candidate says she was sexually assaulted while fixing campaign signs https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2026/10/08/arizona-congressional-candidate-says-she-was-sexually-assaulted-when-repairing-campaign-signs/ Joanna Connors, I Will Find You (Grove Atlantic) https://groveatlantic.com/book/i-will-find-you/

Four weeks from Election Day, Jill Wine-Banks sits down with Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, to ask the question keeping so many of us up at night: can the Trump administration interfere with our elections?

Aguilar's answer: elections belong to the states, and secretaries of state have been preparing since the last cycle. He explains how a group of Republican secretaries of state helped convince the Supreme Court to block the Postal Service's mail-ballot rule, and why Nevada won't run its voter rolls through the federal SAVE database despite pressure from the state's Republican governor.

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Cisco Aguilar for Secretary of State:

https://voteforcisco.com

Democratic Association of Secretaries of State:

https://demsofstate.org

The Nevada Independent: 185 voters flagged by the Trump administration are likely citizens, state says

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/185-noncitizen-voters-flagged-by-trump-admin-in-nevada-are-likely-citizens-state-says

Las Vegas Review-Journal: DOJ tells Nevada election chief he is under investigation

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/doj-tells-nevada-election-chief-he-is-under-investigation-3884314/

SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court denies the administration's request to implement parts of the USPS mail-in voting rule

https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/

Defending Our Vote: the ACLU's poll monitor and election protection program:

https://www.aclu.org/campaigns-initiatives/election-safeguarding

Jill Wine-Banks:

https://www.jillwinebanks.com

CHAPTERS

0:00 Meet Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar

2:45 "They're not going to take control of our elections"

3:53 Working with Republican secretaries of state

4:46 The Supreme Court, the Postal Service and mail ballots

6:47 Why Nevada won't use the federal SAVE database

8:30 16,000 "noncitizen voters" … down to zero

11:20 Seven grand jury subpoenas and a DOJ investigation

12:11 Jill: Are the Watergate prosecutors next?

13:06 Should secretaries of state be partisan?

14:32 The 2026 races and the insurance policy for 2028

16:35 500 bills to restrict voting: how you can help

17:52 Become a poll worker or poll observer

18:48 Federal monitors at the polls?

20:41 Thank you, Secretary Aguilar

Jill talks with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West president Dave Regan about Proposition 40, a California ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on residents worth more than $1 billion to help offset major federal healthcare cuts. Regan explains how the tax would work, responds to critics, and argues that the cuts could leave 3.5 million Californians without coverage and cost 150,000 healthcare jobs. They also discuss the billionaire-funded opposition, Governor Newsom’s stance, and the union campaign that put Prop 40 on the ballot.

Reparations and the Fight Against Historical Discrimination — An Interview with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss

Join us as we explore Evanston’s groundbreaking reparations program, the legal challenges it faces, and how it sets a precedent for addressing historical injustices. Mayor Daniel Biss shares insights on city-led reparations, the role of government in repairing past harms, and the broader implications for society and democracy.

Key Topics:
The origin and scope of Evanston’s reparations program, focusing on housing equity.
Eligibility criteria: who can apply and under what circumstances.
The legal battles, including Department of Justice intervention and constitutional considerations.
How the program differentiates from reparations for slavery, emphasizing local accountability.
The international precedent for reparations and lessons from Germany’s post-Holocaust efforts.
The political climate, attempts to rewrite history, and the importance of acknowledging past injustices.
The broader significance of reparations in fostering racial justice and societal healing.

Jill Wine-Banks is joined by award winning screenwriter of The Hunger Games, Captain Phillips, Richard Jewel and so much more Billy Ray, Its an engaging interview, Billy discusses his transition from screenwriting to YA novel writing, the environmental themes in his new book 'Burn the Water,' and the importance of storytelling in politics and society. He shares insights on building worlds, emotional storytelling, and the parallels between fiction and political messaging.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Billy Ray's Transition to Novel Writing
02:58 The World of 'Burn the Water'
05:56 Themes of Love and Equality
08:46 Environmental Concerns and Activism
12:00 Political Messaging and Storytelling
14:50 The Underclass and Societal Divisions
17:54 Imposter Syndrome and Personal Growth
20:55 The Future of Billy Ray's Writing Career

Jill Wine-Banks is joined by royal author Andrew Lownie to discus the ongoing scandal surrounding the British royal family, particularly focusing on King Charles and Prince Andrew. Lownie reveals that King Charles was warned about Andrew's misconduct and the implications of the Epstein scandal. He explores the potential for King Charles to abdicate due to public pressure and the legal ramifications of Andrew's actions, including the destruction of evidence and the serious charges he may face. The conversation also touches on the mysterious circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death and the broader implications for the monarchy.

Chapters
00:00 The Epstein Crisis and Royal Complications
04:06 King Charles: Knowledge and Complicity
08:54 The Financial Misconduct Allegations
14:37 Destruction of Evidence and Legal Implications
22:59 The Future of Prince Andrew and the Royal Family
24:11 Epstein's Death: Murder or Suicide?

Jill Wine-Banks and Rachel Van Landingham discuss the legal implications of Secretary Hegseth's actions against Senator Kelly, focusing on military law, the treatment of retirees, and the ethical considerations surrounding military conduct. They explore the boundaries of lawful orders, the concept of perfidy in warfare, and the broader implications of military actions in non-international conflicts. The conversation highlights the tension between military authority and legal rights, emphasizing the need for accountability and adherence to the rule of law.

Chapters:
00:00 Secretary Hegseth's Campaign Against Senator Kelly
02:41 Legal Implications of Hegseth's Actions
08:24 The Broader Impact on Military Retirees
09:20 Navigating the Risks of Speaking Out
10:27 Contempt and Military Law: A Complex Landscape
14:05 The Ethics of Military Engagement
19:16 Disobeying Unlawful Orders: A Military Perspective
25:16 The Role of Civilians in Military Operations
29:32 Understanding Perfidy in Warfare