Are Our Branches All Broken? The Cosby and Castile Verdicts, and the Super Secret Senate Health Care Law

Summary: Senate Republicans say they’re going to fix the health care system by July 4th, but they won’t say how. A jury couldn’t convict Bill Cosby or the officer who shot Philander Castile, and we’re wondering about the effectiveness of all three branches of government. Our membership drive continues, and we hope you'll head over to our Patreon page to support the podcast and receive bonus content. We're close to our first goal of $3,000 per month, and we'll be producing a new series of podcasts when we reach that goal. Thank you for supporting us! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Aaptiv is more than a fitness app -- it's on-demand audio fitness with the advice of a professional trainer and a perfect playlist. Go to aaptiv.com and enter the promo code PANTSUIT for a 30-day free trial when you sign up for a monthly subscription. Credo Mobile allows you to turn your phone into a powerful tool in the fight for social justice. By using Credo, you generate donations for progressive causes at no extra cost to you. Fight for justice and forget data limits by going to credomobile.com/pantsuit. CREDO Mobile What if you could make the world a little bit better every time you used your cell phone? Well, it turns out you can, thanks to CREDO Mobile. Because, whenever you use a CREDO product or service, you generate critical donations for progressive causes and vital activism work – at no extra cost to you. With over $150,000 donated every month to nonprofits like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, CREDO truly does give you the power to make positive social change every day. Not to mention, they offer coverage on the nation’s largest and most dependable 4G LTE network, and you can easily transfer over with your existing number. So, if you want a better world for all of us, AND a better way to stay connected to it, you want CREDO mobile. And, right now, CREDO has a special deal for our listeners. Go to CREDOMobile.COM/pantsuit and get 2 smartphones FREE plus 50% off unlimited talk and text. Or call 1-866-689-0099. It’s time your phone company represented your values. Leave us a review on iTunes by clicking here! Subscribe to Episodes: iTunes | Android Subscribe to our weekly email and get a free Pantsuit Primer audiobook! Follow Us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook The Pearls We discuss the verdict in the Philando Castile murder trial and the hung jury in Bill Cosby's case. We're wondering how much the near universal outcry regarding the Castile verdict is influenced by the gun industry, and we're struggling with the Cosby jury's inability to reach a unanimous verdict. Should the standard for convicting a police officer be so high? What about the standard for sexual assault convictions? We also briefly discuss Michelle Carter's conviction for texting encouragement for her boyfriend's suicide. Beth compliments Senator Claire McCaskill for taking her colleagues to task on the health care law. Sarah compliments President Trump for his DACA announcement. The Suit We discuss the process by which Senate Republicans are secretly drafting health care legislation. The AHCA continues to be extraordinarily unpopular. Even fellow Republicans are frustrated by the process of drafting an alternative. Governors and most constituents are urging Senators to rethink the bill, and we are aghast at the process of drafting this legislation in secret then attempting to ram it through the Senate through the reconciliation process. Even Republicans who are close to the process can't describe what the policy objectives are. The Heels Sarah talks about a new perfume she's loving, and Beth discusses Leah Remini's Scientology and The Aftermath.