This episode of Just Politics sounds a little different—and that’s the point.

Rather than diving into our usual policy discussion, hosts Colin and Eilis pass the mic to a group of young men wrestling with one of the most pervasive forces shaping our political and cultural moment: toxic masculinity. These college students are all part of NETWORK’s Carroll Coston Fellowship, a leadership program named after Sister Carol Coston, one of NETWORK’s founding sisters and its first executive director.

Together, they explore what it means to be a man in 2025, especially in the wake of the 2024 election, where the “manosphere” made headlines and MAGA bravado showed up in force on college campuses. These young leaders speak candidly about gender norms they’ve inherited, what they’ve had to unlearn, and how they’re trying to show up differently not just for themselves, but for the people around them.

You’ll hear from:

• Steven, a student at Barry University in South Florida, reflecting on faith and masculinity in a culturally complex environment

• JC, a student from Atlanta studying in rural Pennsylvania, who talks about online influence and its impact on young Black men

• Ben, who grew up in Kentucky and shares his evolving understanding of privilege, power, and accountability

• Jack, a social work student and trans man offering a powerful reflection on “collectivist masculinity”

• Jonathan, a business student at Marquette learning to speak up as one of the only students of color in the room

• Aaron, an international student athlete from Canada who reflects on masculinity in immigrant households and team culture

The conversation closes with where they’re finding hope and what examples of healthy, authentic masculinity they’re carrying with them into the future.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, organizer, or someone thinking about how culture is shaping politics, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

LINKS:

https://uscatholic.org/articles/202505/how-a-faulty-vision-of-christian-masculinity-harms-us-all/

https://uscatholic.org/articles/202505/toxic-masculinity-clashes-with-actual-catholic-teaching/

https://www.networkadvocates.org/vote-our-future/yall/

What does it mean to belong to a church—and a country—that doesn’t always welcome you?

In this episode, Colin Martinez Longmore sits down with Yunuen Trujillo for an open conversation about identity, faith, fear, and belonging. Trujillo is an immigration attorney, LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate, and lay minister. As an immigrant and a queer person who is both a practicing immigration lawyer and faithful Catholic, she shares her perspective on the emotional toll our current political moment takes on communities and individuals and what it takes to create spaces of healing and justice when institutions are often part of the harm.

Trujillo speaks to the fear that is often manufactured and weaponized by political leaders and the way that fear can infiltrate even faith communities, turning people against one another rather than toward solidarity. But she also shares her commitment to a hope rooted in community, resistance, and a belief that change is possible, even within institutions that feel resistant to it.

This episode explores her involvement with LGBTQ+ Catholic ministry, including her work in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and her founding of @lgbtcatholics Instagram page, a grassroots effort to build inclusive Catholic communities. She also highlights the essential role of allies, especially parents and grandparents, in shifting the church from within.

Whether you're navigating your own place within religious or political systems or simply seeking to be a better ally and community builder, this episode offers clarity, strength, and the reminder that hope is not naive—it’s necessary.

For more on supporting immigrant communities and LGBTQ+ Catholics:

An immigration attorney on the Los Angeles protests
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202506/immigration-attorney-los-angeles-protests/

Yes, pride is a sin. But it's also a virtue.
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202408/yes-pride-is-a-sin-but-its-also-a-virtue/

All love enriches our church
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202403/all-love-enriches-our-church/

Solidarity with immigrants: How Catholics can stand up
https://uscatholic.org/articles/2023/solidarity-with-immigrants-how-catholics-can-stand-up/

LGBTQ+ Catholics: A Guide to Inclusive Ministry
https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/5577-4/lgbtq-catholics.aspx

@lgbtcatholics on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lgbtcatholics/?hl=en

What do you get when 800 billionaires hoard more wealth than half the U.S. population combined? A rigged tax system and a society that leaves millions behind.

In this episode, longtime tax and budget expert Sarah Christopherson joins us to expose the political and moral cost of extreme wealth inequality. She explains how billionaires use loopholes, lobbying, and misleading populist messaging to avoid paying taxes and how those choices fuel poverty, hunger, housing shortages, and underfunded schools.

We also explore why promises like “no tax on tips” often do more harm than good and how slick messaging masks a dangerous reality: Tax cuts for the rich are often paid for by service cuts for the rest of us.

Alongside Sarah, we’re joined by Jarrett Smith, Senior Tax Lobbyist at NETWORK, who adds key context on upcoming legislation, policy threats, and what advocates need to know right now.

If you’ve ever wondered why billionaires pay less in taxes than you—or why it feels like everything is underfunded except for corporations—this conversation is for you.

Learn more and take action at networklobby.org. Follow us @NETWORKLobby on social media and join the movement for tax justice.

To learn more:

Sarah Christopherson’s website: https://www.scgchristopherson.com/

Tax Justice Calculator: https://networklobby.org/taxjusticecalculator/

Patriotic Millionaires: https://patrioticmillionaires.org/

Families over Billionaires: https://www.familiesoverbillionaires.org/