In the Season 2 finale, Emily and James recap the night of firsts that was our 2018 US midterm elections. Join us as we discuss a few key victories, the ongoing results in Arizona, Florida, and Georgia, and lament about just how wonderful Beto O’Rourke is. Listen in and keep your elected officials accountable! Also, please take the time to remember those affected by both the Thousand Oaks shooting and the Woolsey Fires.

This week, James and Emily briefly recap Season Two guests and get you AMPED for tomorrow’s primaries. Have you voted absentee? (James did from Hong Kong in 2016!) Mailed in your ballot? Going to the polls nice and early Tuesday morning? Whatever you do, get out there, and VOTE! Tune into WE REBEL to hear a bit of insight on a few tight races in Georgia, Texas, and Florida — then circle back next week to rehash the results.

This week, WE REBEL speaks with Saru Jayaraman, the President of ROC United ROC Action and Director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley. A lifetime activist, Saru organizes workplace justice campaigns, conducts research and policy work, as well as partners with responsible restaurants. This industry — the second largest, yet the fastest growing sector — in the economy, operates in a pay structure with roots back to feudal Europe and slavery.

Mental Health Day wrapped up recently but it should be on something talked about everyday! Members of the LGBTQ community have numerous mental health resources that they may not even be aware of. That’s why we reached out to the co­president of Gaylesta, Chelsea DeMarte, to discuss the numerous benefits of seeking out a mental health professional.

Tiffany Muller, the President and Executive Director of End Citizens United, chatted with James and Emily about ending big money in politics and overturning Citizens United. The 2010 Supreme Court decision - Citizens United vs. F.E.C. - allowed special interest groups, corporations, and billionaires to drive unlimited and untraceable money into America’s elections. Tiffany and End Citizens United focus on electing pro-financial reform candidates, making money in politics a national priority, and more

This week, James and Emily speak with Gregory Joseph, who is the Communication Program Director for the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP). Focusing on the key issues surrounding the death penalty including racial bias, innocence, and economic implications, Gregory works with the NCADP team to educate the public and mobilize change. Tune in to learn how you can get involved and abolish this inhumane practice.

This week on WE REBEL, Dr. John Brooklyn joins Emily and James to discuss the state of the opioid epidemic in the United States. First, Dr. Brooklyn walks the pair through the history of this struggle in our society, then explains how Vermont’s “Hub and Spoke Model” provides an opportunity for medicine physicians and public health leaders to collaborate. By prioritizing care coordination and medication-assisted treatment, this model has seen increased treatment capacity statewide.

Emily and James sat down with Pulitzer Prize winner and lifetime journalist Hedrick Smith to talk all things FAIR elections. With the midterms upon us, we all need to ensure that we are registered and fight for fair voting rights. While voter suppression is rampant in some states, other mainly democratic states are creating early voting options and simplified registration processes.

James and Emily sit down with Lory Manning, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and current Director of Government Relations for the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN). Women have served and fought in every conflict since the American Revolution, yet despite their critical contributions to our national security, they continue to face barriers within the military and in accessing the VA benefits and services they have earned.

Cody Hounanian joins Emily James on WE REBEL to talk about his role as the Program Director for the Student Debt Crisis organization. Holding the fundamental belief that an educated workforce is essential our country’s prosperity, Cody and his team work to fight the ever-increasing costs of higher education. They work directly with borrowers to understand their challenges and fears, repayment obstacles and frustrations, as well as advocating for consumer protection policies with media and legislators.