192 All News: Nike’s Kaepernick Ad Campaign, The Kavanaugh Hearings, and The White House “Insider”

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Nichole

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Today we’re doing a news-only episode, talking about our thoughts and feelings around the recent Nike campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick, the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, and the anonymous White House “insider” who posted an opinion piece in the New York Times last week.

In This Episode

We were too bummed out by this week’s (well, technically, last week’s) news to do a fun episode, so we decided to just talk about the news instead. Content warning for Trump, social justice issues, everything bad in the world. Don’t listen if you’re in a bad head space! The three major news stories we cover with links to the articles we read: Nike Ad
On September 3rd, former N.F.L. quarterback Colin Kaepernick became the face of Nike’s latest ad campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of their “Just Do It” campaign, signing a new multiyear deal after being signed but not used by Nike since 2011. We have mixed feelings about this campaign – on one hand, exposure for activists like Kaepernick is always a good thing, highlighting the work he’s done and the sacrifices he’s made in order to spread his message. On the other hand, we are, of course, wary when corporations profit off of anti-oppression movements, particularly when they exploit people of color to do so. We break down the strategy behind Nike’s use of Kaepernick, why they are doing it now versus two years ago when his national anthem protests started, the scandals Nike is trying to distance itself from, Nike’s continued relationship to the N.F.L., Kaepernick’s collusion case against the N.F.L., and Trump’s thoughts about N.F.L. players taking a knee and the impact of this on coaches in the N.F.L. Articles

Nike Returns to Familiar Strategy With Kaepernick Ad Campaign | Sept 4, 2018 | NY Times
Colin Kaepernick’s Nike Campaign Keeps N.F.L. Anthem Kneeling in Spotlight | Sept 3, 2018 | NY Times
At Nike, Revolt Led by Women Leads to Exodus of Male Executives | April 28, 2018 | NY Times
Ex-Employees Sue Nike, Alleging Gender Discrimination | August 10, 2018 | NY Times
Colin Kaepernick’s Collusion Case Against the N.F.L. Will Advance | August 30, 2018 | NY Times
Nike is facing a new wave of anti-sweatshop protests | August 1, 2017 | QZ

Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings
Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on July 9, 2018, to fill the seat vacated by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who decided to retire seemingly out of nowhere. We are, like many U.S. citizens, terrified at the ramifications of Kavanaugh’s nearly guaranteed spot on the Supreme Court, not only because it will tip the scales in favor of a severely conservative court, but also because Kavanaugh is young and could potentially be ruling on case law for generations to come. As we see it, a seat on the Supreme Court is in many ways more powerful than the presidency itself and oh god why is the country burning down around us. We get into the details around Justice Kennedy’s relationship to the two Supreme Court nominees that Trump has picked in his short one and a half year term as President, Judge Kavanaugh’s stance on several social justice issues, and the protests that have taken place during the Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings last week. Articles

Is the Trump White House behind Justice Anthony Kennedy’s Supreme Court retirement? | June 29, 2018 | The Independent
Donald Trump Made Justice Kennedy an Offer He Couldn’t Refuse | June 29, 2018 | Vanity Fair
Brett Kavanaugh’s Dangerous Relationship With Race In America, Explained | September 7, 2018 | News One
Kavanaugh ‘abortion-inducing drug’ comment draws scrutiny | September 07, 2018 | CNN
Kavanaugh’s abortion views under new scrutiny | September 8, 2018 | The Hill
What could happen if Roe v. Wade gets struck down? | September 4, 2018 | Washington Post
Supreme Court hearing: Kavanaugh voted to delay abortion for unauthorized immigrant teen in Texas | September 7, 2018 | Dallas News
SCOTUS Nom Brett Kavanaugh Won’t Give An Opinion On Gay Marriage | September 7, 2018 | OUT
Brett Kavanaugh, who has ruled again campaign finance regulations, could bring an avalanche of big money to elections | July 12 2018 | The Intercept
John Dean: If Kavanaugh’s confirmed, a president who shoots someone on Fifth Avenue can’t be prosecuted in office | September 7, 2018 | NBC News
Supreme Court nominee has argued presidents should not be distracted by investigations and lawsuits | July 9, 2018 | Washington Post
The Resistance At The Kavanaugh Hearings: More Than 200 Arrests | Sept 8, 2018 | NPR
Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings: What’s Wrong With This Picture? | September 6, 2018 | NPR
Kavanaugh Hearings, Day 3: Booker Has His ‘Spartacus Moment’; A Mulligan On Mueller | September 6, 2018 | NPR
Kavanaugh Hearings, Day 1: Protesters Focus On Roe; Attempted Handshake Goes Viral | September 4, 2018 | NPR

White House Insider
Last week, the NY Times published an anonymous opinion piece by someone who is said to be a senior official in Trump’s administration that is working against him in league with other senior officials. The insider details Trump’s reckless, dangerous, immature and immoral behavior and beliefs. Like, yeah, dude, we know. We don’t have a ton to say about this but thought it worth mentioning since it fits with the theme today and was a big news story. Overall, this person isn’t actually telling the country anything new or useful, and doubles down on their conservative views and going as far as to say they think this administration has done a lot of good. Barf. No thanks, canceled! We’re tired of everyone getting cookies for half-measures and are certainly not in the mood to give them to someone who is proud of the increases to our military and the tax reforms that have passed since Trump took over for basically saying nothing new and doing nothing substantial to change anything. Nope, not doing it. Article