Motherhood, Addiction, and Democracy w/ Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen

Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole · Sep 13, 2026 · 47m

Leslie Herod is back in the studio with Cole Wist — and there is a LOT to talk about.

First, Leslie and Cole break down what’s taking over their feeds: influencer etiquette at the U.S. Open, the explosion of AI “slop,” Donald Trump’s latest online distractions, and what those distractions may be keeping Americans from talking about. They also reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, how divided the country has become, and what national unity looks like today.

Then, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen joins the show for a deeply personal conversation about her journey from community organizer to…