<![CDATA[Ashley, Please]]>Ashley, Please is your unhinged civic education.

Every episode, we take one concept: how Congress really works, why midterms shift presidential power, what the news cycle keeps getting wrong and we break it down completely. And we cover the news.

Every week, through the lens of someone who has watched it be made, spun, blocked, and passed at three in the morning when the cameras were off.

Subscribe. Share it with the person in your life who keeps saying they don't follow politics because that's exactly who this show is for.

Part civic class. Part podcast. Fully unhinged.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sat, 18 Jul 2026 01:08:00 GMTTue, 26 May 2026 20:54:23 GMT60Ashley M. Munson<p>Ashley, Please is your unhinged civic education.</p><p></p><p>Every episode, we take one concept: how Congress really works, why midterms shift presidential power, what the news cycle keeps getting wrong and we break it down completely. And we cover the news.</p><p></p><p>Every week, through the lens of someone who has watched it be made, spun, blocked, and passed at three in the morning when the cameras were off.</p><p></p><p>Subscribe. Share it with the person in your life who keeps saying they don't follow politics because that's exactly who this show is for.</p><p></p><p>Part civic class. Part podcast. Fully unhinged.</p>episodicAshley M. Munsonmsashleymunson@gmail.comno<![CDATA[Ep6: What Season of Scandal is This?]]>This week on Ashley, Please, we unpack the rumors surrounding Mitch McConnell, the aftermath of Lindsey Graham's death, the growing Cyclospora outbreak and public health funding cuts, and the latest controversies involving ICE. This time it's not formal, I'm ranting.

]]>20bf4754-0f77-40a8-8fe7-2ceb5161093eTue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT<p>This week on Ashley, Please, we unpack the rumors surrounding Mitch McConnell, the aftermath of Lindsey Graham's death, the growing Cyclospora outbreak and public health funding cuts, and the latest controversies involving ICE. This time it's not formal, I'm ranting.</p>no00:17:346Ep6: What Season of Scandal is This?full<![CDATA[Ep5: Local Politics - The Boss Level Nobody Plays]]>Your city council controls your rent, your zoning, your local budget, and your daily life. A 29 year old just ended a 30 year congressional career by showing up to the rooms most people skip. Here’s what that means for you.

]]>4331c217-796e-4bd0-8ea7-5a7980f39264Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:43:45 GMT<p>Your city council controls your rent, your zoning, your local budget, and your daily life. A 29 year old just ended a 30 year congressional career by showing up to the rooms most people skip. Here’s what that means for you.</p>no00:21:415Ep5: Local Politics - The Boss Level Nobody Playsfull<![CDATA[Ep4: This Week in “They Said What?”]]>The Supreme Court just changed asylum law, and the VP went to the Nixon Library and said Watergate was no big deal. This is your week in American politics.


]]>6a9bd12a-1d58-4ccc-b780-59e7ab8065feTue, 30 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT<p>The Supreme Court just changed asylum law, and the VP went to the Nixon Library and said Watergate was no big deal. This is your week in American politics.</p><p><br /></p>no00:21:424Ep4: This Week in “They Said What?”full<![CDATA[Ep3: Midterms - The Election Nobody Shows Up For]]>Here's what you now know that most people don't: The presidential election is not where presidential power is decided. It's where it starts. Midterms are where it either survives or gets dismantled. And 40% turnout means most people are handing that decision to a minority of voters who showed up. That is not abstract. That is the story of every major legislative fight you've watched stall or explode in the last decade.

Ep3 dives into how midterm results shift or destroy presidential power, why turnout is the whole game, and what this week's news tells us about where that power sits right now.

]]>3b036594-7506-4ff1-9a60-0938bdc1e654Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:54:03 GMT<p>Here's what you now know that most people don't: The presidential election is not where presidential power is decided. It's where it starts. Midterms are where it either survives or gets dismantled. And 40% turnout means most people are handing that decision to a minority of voters who showed up. That is not abstract. That is the story of every major legislative fight you've watched stall or explode in the last decade. </p><p></p><p>Ep3 dives into how midterm results shift or destroy presidential power, why turnout is the whole game, and what this week's news tells us about where that power sits right now.</p>no00:20:313Ep3: Midterms - The Election Nobody Shows Up Forfull<![CDATA[Ep2: Civics Didn't Hit Different Until Now]]>How Congress actually works: committees, leadership, gridlock and why a story from this week is a perfect case study in all of it.

The conversation also covers the challenges of teaching civics to different generations, the mechanics of Congress, the failure to extend FISA Section 702, engaging young people in politics, the legislative process, power dynamics, reaching different generations, and influence and pressure in politics.

]]>b3000f54-6c01-49bf-a893-c16bc2f52ca1Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:00:00 GMT<p>How Congress actually works: committees, leadership, gridlock and why a story from this week is a perfect case study in all of it.</p><p></p><p>The conversation also covers the challenges of teaching civics to different generations, the mechanics of Congress, the failure to extend FISA Section 702, engaging young people in politics, the legislative process, power dynamics, reaching different generations, and influence and pressure in politics.</p><p></p><p></p>no00:26:272Ep2: Civics Didn't Hit Different Until Nowfull<![CDATA[Ashley, Please. (An Introduction.)]]>The origin story. Why this podcast exists, what you're going to get out of it, and the college catchphrase that started it all.

Ashley, Please — Meet Your New Favorite Civic Problem.


]]>0d385284-9deb-4cf6-b2c9-384c461e6436Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:59:33 GMT<p>The origin story. Why this podcast exists, what you're going to get out of it, and the college catchphrase that started it all. </p><p></p><p>Ashley, Please — Meet Your New Favorite Civic Problem. </p><p><br /></p>no00:15:391Ashley, Please. (An Introduction.)full<![CDATA[Ashley, Please - Trailer ]]>Welcome to Ashley, Please.

The podcast for people who know politics matters but don't always have the time, energy, or emotional bandwidth to figure out what politicians are talking about. I'm Ashley Munson, and every week we're translating political jargon into plain English, exposing the fine print nobody reads, and connecting the dots between government decisions and your everyday life.

Because somewhere between City Hall, Springfield, and Washington, somebody made a decision that affects your paycheck, your neighborhood, your future... or damn near all three.

Part civic class. Part podcast. Fully unhinged.

So whether you're politically obsessed or politically exhausted, pull up a seat.

]]>f332c60a-2515-41bb-815e-28ccb23745f9Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:17:01 GMT<p>Welcome to Ashley, Please.</p><p></p><p>The podcast for people who know politics matters but don't always have the time, energy, or emotional bandwidth to figure out what politicians are talking about. I'm Ashley Munson, and every week we're translating political jargon into plain English, exposing the fine print nobody reads, and connecting the dots between government decisions and your everyday life.</p><p></p><p>Because somewhere between City Hall, Springfield, and Washington, somebody made a decision that affects your paycheck, your neighborhood, your future... or damn near all three.</p><p></p><p>Part civic class. Part podcast. Fully unhinged.</p><p></p><p>So whether you're politically obsessed or politically exhausted, pull up a seat.</p>no00:01:06Ashley, Please - Trailer trailer