Transcript
Katie Higgins: Drum roll, please. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR Texas is blue! You did it. Yay. Okay. We didn't even plan that. No. Look at that. Also we're both wearing pink.
Katie Higgins: We also did not plan that. We did not plan that. So I guess pink is our... pink is our blue bashful and blush over here yes my colors are blush and bashful There we go. Listen, cheap champagne. Opened one of these in a really long time. Okay. Let's see.
Katie Higgins: Well there we go. Well there we go. All right. We are recording on a Monday, which I don't think we've ever actually done. And I think I will post this today.
Katie Higgins: And... Because, uh... We are kind of a day late and a dollar short. A day late and a dollar short. But as as Emily likes to, or not likes to remind, Emily reminds me. We are not slaves to this, so it's okay.
Katie Higgins: We do this when we can do this. Exactly. so Cheers. Cheers to a great. A great. election. Yes. Yes. Okay. Now, not to immediately like uh,
Katie Higgins: launch launch into it, but Who's wearing Apple? This isn't the greatest champagne I've ever purchased. I'm going to be really honest. I haven't probably had this since.
Katie Higgins: Yeah. college i mean listen a little bit of andre to start the day what What says blue wave? uh, like some Cheap champagne. I love it I was not drinking this Tuesday night I I wish I had been at someone. it was just me and my kids so or like steven went to bed
Katie Higgins: Because he's not big on politics. And so I i would have. love to enjoy you were watching drinking the vintage rose right i was i was the vintage wow I think it was 2015. Oh my gosh. Or the the reserve no No, it it was the vintage. Okay.
Katie Higgins: amazing amazing so in a vintage we discussed last time was the year The year. So it was a spectacular year. Okay. So they... They save it. Rather than mixing it in with their blends. to make it the what you can count on.
Katie Higgins: it stays as a as a vintage okay so yes tell me about your election night Let's see. So it was last Tuesday. Is a week ago tomorrow, right? Yes. yes Okay. Okay. And.
Katie Higgins: Which also was set up day for Sugar Plum Market. Oh, I do want to hear all about this from. About, uh... Mercy Goods. I would love to hear all about this. So... I'm supposed to be heading up to load up the truck.
Katie Higgins: And at the last minute, I decide, you know what would make it really interactive and fun since my children are learning all about... democracy and and all the things. I decided I will make a giant map of the United States. Oh, okay. I will color code it according to the Senate seats. Okay. So basically you're running your own. I'm running my life own NBC. NBC. Like when the was the returns come in.
Katie Higgins: And then I decided, well, we have to know if it turns or not so i had to cut out The states. The states. In both red and blue. Oh, wow!
Katie Higgins: Because I didn't know which way it was going to go. do you have photos of this! I do! I do. well dang it so julie and i were like we need to An election party. I did decide. We shouldn't have gone to your house. So, yes. Look at. This?
Katie Higgins: So, I... Oh! The lighter blue are the ones we, we wheat Georgia and Colorado. Who is that? Oh, North Carolina. I think that was the first one that came in. Okay. Okay. but you're alone okay So this was like.
Katie Higgins: Here is how we stand. Yes. So I knew currently. We had 53 Republicans, 47 Democrats, two of which were independent. Okay. Okay. We needed four seats. Okay. And so North Carolina was the first return that came in. Okay. That flipped. Okay. Then South Carolina, Texas, and Kansas. We also picked up Iowa.
Katie Higgins: we And we're waiting on... We're still waiting on Maine. We got Maine. Mississippi, right? Waiting on Mississippi and on Alaska. Okay. yeah and Either one of those would be pretty momentous. Okay. Obviously Mississippi.
Katie Higgins: would be Like huge, huge. And right now it is leaning that way. I have found out through this whole thing. by the How? different.
Katie Higgins: Elections are state to state. Okay. Tell me. Cause I, i am apply this is amazing. Mississippi. does not do early voting. at all. Apparently not. Oh gosh! So you so have to go stand in line. Yes. And then in Alaska.
Katie Higgins: They count. what did i read that they count all of the Election Day votes on Election Day. But they will, today is the 9th. Oh, I think I did see something about this.
Katie Higgins: Until... The 10th. is the next drop i wonder if it's because of the way their mail works like they don't get mail as often well you gotta fly it in i mean it's a whole thing where some of those towns are you have to and then like folks.
Katie Higgins: are involved I'm sure. boats and planes boats and planes and depending on weather there's so there is really a problem Okay. Of things. So. So yeah, the map is still hanging.
Katie Higgins: by uh in the living room because we are still awaiting okay every day sophie comes to me and says do we have mississippi yet Oh my gosh. Not yet. I... Were you ever a teacher?
Katie Higgins: I homeschooled for like Yeah. Okay. I remember that. Three months. Yeah. Yeah. I do remember that. I do remember that. Gosh, worst year of my life. Honestly. I shouldn't say that. actually so this is this year's been a little bit of a but it was like what can we do no that is so cool for them to visualize and poor owen bless his heart was sick as a dog oh no so we don't have the flu okay we have this like
Katie Higgins: One day onslaught of sore throat and stuffiness. But the next day. Fine. or kind of to like where you just like have a like a meh cold the kind of thing yeah it's just like a light cold yeah so sophie had it and now i feel the starts of it so take your zinc today Okay, yes. I... I get... canker sores in my mouth. whenever I'm.
Katie Higgins: stressed, Or... If. my body is trying to fight off something and I like, cause it's autoimmune. And so like, instead of like, it's trying to fight off bacteria or whatever.
Katie Higgins: so instead so anytime i can I can usually tell if I'm like kind of getting... if my body's trying to fight a virus. I'll get. sores. And. I'm going to tell you what my body.
Katie Higgins: it What? but does but you're gonna think I'm crazy well well listen mine does a lot of weird things so i mean you never so i think i must be fighting something off because well because the twins keep saying stuff's going around at school yeah which means So I'm sure I'm trying to fight because I have a handful of them.
Katie Higgins: and i haven't had them in a long time because i'm not on a med right now that's really like working to do whatever it needs to do when you have an autoimmune disorder so i know i'm so so i'm so annoyed i have all these but Tis the season.
Katie Higgins: It's the season. so so yeah so we want oh wait but what does your body do when it's oh fighting off things so i have very vivid dreams okay okay and i dream nightly okay They're always in color. It's always very...
Katie Higgins: convoluted as dreams can be. Okay. Yes. I know I need to go to urgent care. when my dream goes black and white. What? and I'm being chased by Nazis.
Katie Higgins: This actually... Sounds is like something that... It is an immediate, oh, you know what? Actually, I think I'm yeah getting sick. I need antibiotics or... Some sort of. care uh that i cannot do with just a cup of tea and bone broth yeah i have an odd And again fascination is not the word obsession is not the word But I am.
Katie Higgins: fascinated by the nazis but i don't know that's not the right word to use right word yeah and that's that's why i'm prefacing this with That is not the right word. Because I don't have any positive feelings towards the Nazis.
Katie Higgins: But I am. That I am or or I am bewildered Bye. What? they were able to do.
Katie Higgins: how they were able to brainwash. Yeah. a nation. so thoroughly. that they were able to carry out what they carried out. So fascination is the wrong words, but like, I can't. But like...
Katie Higgins: you know what i mean like there was a fabulous documentary and i want to say it was ken burns And. You know what the scariest part of it all is? What? We, the United States of America.
Katie Higgins: Inspired. So many. of their laws and practices oh wait even when we were like good america back then Well, or is that not Jim Crow. Oh! You're right. Kind of bad things. Were we good Americans? See? This?
Katie Higgins: That right there. Emily, I feel like. I feel like... Nothing, nothing about, but I feel like I am a good. Representation.
Katie Higgins: Of. what it's like to grow up. In. a red state such as Texas. mm -hmm along the south. where I believe so fully.
Katie Higgins: In. the goodness of our government. That it wasn't until. I had my own experiences of... Seeing. the uh,
Katie Higgins: Miss... mistreatment seeing the the prejudice out there, the the privilege. that i have it ends Because.
Katie Higgins: I quite literally am like, oh. back in the good old days but oh my god no make america great days No, no. No. No, see, I hate those. You know that. Right. But, like...
Katie Higgins: That is how I... Yeah, i i so I still think that way. Yeah. and until i Until like so and someone like you that I trust goes, oh, Katie, no, no, no. And what I will tell you is I have barely scratched the surface of. things. One second. I'm just going to pause this really quick here.
Katie Higgins: Alright, quick UPS detour. okay But what I will tell you is okay I have scratched the surface of history. Like, I can just tell you the bullet points. Sure.
Katie Higgins: But. Yeah. Things, I mean, you look at civil liberties and civil rights, the civil rights movement. Yes. PS, huge shout out to LBJ for everything he did. Which what is so interesting because in my head, I'm like, oh, isn't LBJ just the guy that was president after?
Katie Higgins: jfk got shot right as texans that's basically all we know about exactly right which is shameful Well, I did get, I got intrigued that there must be more to know. win.
Katie Higgins: the daughter was pictured with Tallarico. last yes week. So I'm sure I'm sure. I'm telling you, it's history. I got to meet her one history once and she is just...
Katie Higgins: Fabulous. Okay, you know who I've been fascinated with? and this is because of the podcast I listened to called the big boo. the Teddy Roosevelt's daughter, Alice. Oh yeah. Oh my god, she's hysterical. There should be so many more books and films about about her.
Katie Higgins: Oh. my god because okay what was her snake called She had a snake that she carried around in her purse and it was named. Emily Spinach. Or Molly Spinach.
Katie Higgins: Something like that. and then But my favorite is this quote. that she said about Or, well, her dad said about her. I can either be president. of this country or i can parent alice i cannot do both i do feel like my mom feels that way about me a little bit i can either carry a snake around no i don't i'm not ever carrying a snake around never i don't like snakes
Katie Higgins: so So, yes. LBJ. Okay. Hugely important. to both Texas history and the civil rights movement. Okay.
Katie Higgins: not to belittle anything of what black Americans did. But as president, he was able to kind of do a fair amount.
Katie Higgins: Oh, interesting. Okay. and i need to look So read more about him. If you are. hurt him him him always we still haven't had a woman president i know all all of a sudden i was thinking of the daughter and i thought yeah and then i was like wait a minute nope nope and that's not what we're talking about Yes. Interesting. so Anyways, back to election night. Oh, yes. Election night with your. glorious poster so yes and i have the
Katie Higgins: The delight in my mother is from Washington state. Okay. She has two sisters. who are staunch democrats so grew up blue the way probably i grew up red yes Okay.
Katie Higgins: And so anytime there's anything noteworthy. in politics. There's a group. text Okay. Between the aunts and the nieces and all of that. Okay.
Katie Higgins: And so we were all texting. that night My aunt Pat, who is my dad's younger sister, she drove into town and watched the elections. And so, I mean, she is a tiny, tiny, tiny blue dot. Okay. DeWitt or Lavaca County. east texas right no you're west texas it's southwest but our But your dad's family originally was.
Katie Higgins: From Yogam. And that's how. Oh, Southwest. Okay. here Okay. So, so it was really kind of a fun way for all of us to celebrate together. Yes. And what I will say, I think we talked about this last week. I know I said it to somebody and I thought it was to you.
Katie Higgins: No matter which way. the election. goes. There will be. An amazing amount of hurt.
Katie Higgins: feelings, and so crushed spirit. And. the alarm of voter fraud. Oh. Okay. Now I have not, now we did not talk about this.
Katie Higgins: But. Maybe it was with Justin. I don't know. But I do. Because... so many people that I love and adore. R. Republicans.
Katie Higgins: it i did i i did have a major like heaviness on my heart on Tuesday, on Wednesday. for because people that I love were posting how scared they are.
Katie Higgins: And I had this, and I did have this one and i that I feel was very. God. given this like Heaviness. Because. Two years ago, I felt that sadness and that...
Katie Higgins: feeling of being afraid. you know because of how the election had gone and so i did I do. There was a lot of.
Katie Higgins: Yeah, you no matter how it went there was gonna be the hurt and the yeah that kind of a thing now i haven't heard anything though about vote voter fraud oh really Girl, yes, they are up in arms. Because I thought it was such a massive win and that it was like.
Katie Higgins: Where the hell were all these Democrats? We've never seen numbers like this before. clearly it was we don't even do we even have this many eligible voters in the state of texas interesting i mean i'm still a registered republican and i've now voted democrat twice So I think there is that shock. And I think there are a lot of Republicans that at least voted for Tallarico.
Katie Higgins: I think so. And I think more that. did Tallarico and Hinojosa. Yes and I am shocked. I am still shocked. The abbot didn't get it.
Katie Higgins: My sister was too. I think we thought, okay, Tallarico's got a pretty good chance. Yes. I don't know. I mean, as much as I love Gina, like right we all kind of said, I don't know what's going to happen. Right. We can't get that lucky. And now we have.
Katie Higgins: you know across the board yeah my sister said the same thing she was like i am shocked that What does your sister say? The government one.
Katie Higgins: The government won. the one your sister that Well, that one. Okay. The one sister. ive I have multiple sister -in -laws. I know, but you will say sister. True, you're right. On all of them. I'm like, okay, which one are we talking about here? Okay, so. Stephen's sisters are your sisters. Okay, so my brother's wife.
Katie Higgins: and my sister. We all vote the same. Okay. And. So I was texting with them and my mom who also. We all. But, you know, so with how excited we were. Because she's been interesting to chat with about. My mom or my sister? Your sister. She has been. Your actual sister. My actual sister. Because she.
Katie Higgins: for for the listeners. her being one of them she has worked on Capitol Hill. since she graduated from college from A and &M she got a an internship right out of and also i should probably not say how she votes i shouldn't say that but my sister is very moderate my sister very much votes on who the person is in their in their platforms And she, and it's because
Katie Higgins: And I've learned this over the last 20 plus years of. her living there and then now my brother -in -law that. when When you live and work on Capitol Hill for the government or around the government,
Katie Higgins: It's so much more. about the person. Because... They... Interact? With the people. yes the actual people and then the actual people how they treat their staff is who the other staffers are.
Katie Higgins: are with. And so I. I have... and so i would say my sister is very much a moderate because well i think she looks at both policy and person exactly she has to for her job yeah first of all And so, and I will say, I do think. most Americans should be doing. Which we should we really should. you know In this instance, straight ticket.
Katie Higgins: really helped us out yes but We really should be better educated voters. We really, we really, really should. with within with And citizens. With how much. quote unquote power the voters can. have.
Katie Higgins: you know I think I think it is very. But so I always I've always valued her opinion. And and it has been interesting. And when I was still a Republican.
Katie Higgins: I remember her saying, You know, Katie... you know Biden is one of the kindest men I've ever met up here. And I remember being like, oh my God, how can you say that? You're from Texas. And she was like, but Katie.
Katie Higgins: I interact with these people and their staff as as humans. And I remember that being a... It was in the years that I was like starting to... really wrestle with with my worldview. And.
Katie Higgins: I remember that really sticking out to me that. Oh my god, wait. Yeah, the way someone treats their staff. That's something I had grown up by. grown up on that value as being the daughter of of business owners that You know, my grandparents and parents owned restaurants. and I always took a lot of... pride in the fact that my parents and my grandparents treated every single employee in their restaurants With.
Katie Higgins: the utmost respect to the point where at my grandfather's funeral and my grandmother's funeral was people that had worked for them. As, as. It... janitors or fry cooks or you know out there and i That to me was something also in those years I was. that that they had passed, that I was.
Katie Higgins: you know working out my own world view like no that's the kind of human i want to be that. everyone I come in contact with feels. respected and valued.
Katie Higgins: the way my grandparents made them feel. And so then, so that was a value that I'd always had, or I'd had, especially in my adulthood. And then hearing my sister talk about that, like. how a politician treats their staff.
Katie Higgins: is so telling of the type of human they are and so anyways that's i that is just one of the things that kept got me starting to think about differently about just straight ticket republican for the rest of my life no one no ifs, ands, or buts about it, you know? And...
Katie Higgins: So anyway, so we were texting at the end of the night and my sister was so surprised because let's also be honest, James Tallarico is a white male. Right. A Latina woman. And so a Latina woman.
Katie Higgins: for governor. I don't think anyone was really betting on her No. And so this is. Incredible. i I really I mean, I was.
Katie Higgins: And then how how the first Native American governor. Yes. The first. black governor black female governor yeah which did you did you see the clip that was on the front page of the Atlanta News the next morning. No.
Katie Higgins: So. I saw this Wednesday morning. and You know you are much better well -read than me. Okay, it was on Facebook, first of all. Okay. So, I mean, it was on social media where I read it first. okay So then maybe I saw it. but essentially and i will paraphrase because if i read it i will cry again oh best But essentially.
Katie Higgins: The Atlanta front page read and had historical document That her... great great grandfather. was an enslaved mammoth.
Katie Higgins: and it listed his value. And I want to say it was like $10 ,000 or something, or $1 ,000 or something. And. Here she is, however many more...
Katie Higgins: generations removed. as the first female. black governor. In the entire United States. I was going to say in the entire United States. Oh my God. and Oh, I'm covered in chills. I know.
Katie Higgins: and where's my phone i want to look this up i have well i think i took a screenshot i will read it okay you want the exact no because to because it's like I read it to Sophie in the morning. and was just Absolutely in tears. See, and that right there. I know that white privilege is not something. that everyone is able to Understand.
Katie Higgins: And. The fact that my grandparents never had an amount on them. is is one of those things that I just -
Katie Higgins: I just am.
Katie Higgins: There's not really words for it. In 1860. Okay. So this was the front page of Atlanta Journal Constitution, which is their newspaper.
Katie Higgins: kind okay In an enslaved man named Shepard Peake. was listed among the possessions of William Peake. a white man in Crawfordville. So they would take the last name of their owner? Okay. Yes. so whoever the owner was that became their that was your last name Okay. His value was placed at $1 ,400.
Katie Higgins: On another surviving document. Shepard signed his name with an X.
Katie Higgins: More than that. century and a half later. Shepard's great. great -granddaughter Keisha Lance Bottoms. as Georgia's governor. elect. Whoa!
Katie Higgins: so I think it is so amazing. that you have these stories. and How? It is, you know, the quote unquote minorities. Yes. And, and you know, it's black women.
Katie Higgins: Who came out in an amazing number. And are yet again. carrying this nation. Wow. You know, you do. You have the New Mexican governor yeah who she was, I think, a secretary of the interior during Biden's administration.
Katie Higgins: also i won't pretend to know i'm listening to you love these karmic moments. So in Mississippi, okay. Okay, first of all, the guy that is... the democratic candidates okay The. greatest.
Katie Higgins: campaign ad. ever. So the incumbent okay was caught in a moment. or During the election season and they were. talking to her about higher grocery prices okay and the cost of beef and she says well you know pick another protein And.
Katie Higgins: he took that that's like a let them eat cake moment it is the greatest you should look it up okay okay so But... He was... During the Biden administration.
Katie Higgins: And. I know your sister will fact check me on all of this. So she does like to give me a rundown. And she'll let me know if I get this wrong. But. He was presented.
Katie Higgins: as a candidate or or biden elected him to become a I think it was with... but was a federal judge, I believe, okay of some capacity. Okay. She blocks it.
Katie Higgins: with a slip. of that she is allowed to do as a senator. And now... Okay. She is... fighting for her life for these votes and had she just let him go on and be a judge god she could have gotten it maybe Maybe. I don't know. Maybe there would have been another Democrat that would have taken it away from her. Oh, wow. You have a guy in Iowa.
Katie Higgins: who he was a Democrat candidate. And. He... he won the primaries he's on the ballot he has suffered some sort of Health. issues okay and he decides you know what i'm gonna back off i don't know if i would if Elected.
Katie Higgins: could i serve my term because of these health ailments okay whatever that may be for him. Thank you. Whelmingly. one. Oh my god. People didn't care. The people said no. Nope, your name's on the ballot. You got my vote. Even you as a sickly man.
Katie Higgins: I shouldn't say that. my vote yes and so we just have to come out and say okay i'm gonna do my best yeah i i made i made this here i made this public yes yes yes so interesting i well and then which one you'll know you'll be able to correct this one Maybe you will.
Katie Higgins: Which what is the one? What state? founded the The KKK. I don't know, one in the South. It's one in the South, but I saw that one. Well, whichever one it was flipped. Oh, South Carolina, North Carolina.
Katie Higgins: but okay i because that was one i saw like like can you believe like the the the redemption here of i the state that founded the KKK now has a... Can also we rephrase that of like, Emily, you will know which state founded the KKK. No, no. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. i Let me rephrase that. Emily, you know these important civil justice things. No.
Katie Higgins: You know these important civil justice facts. So you will be able to. I can tell you both North Carolina and South Carolina flipped. So my assumption is it is one of those. It is one of those. Probably South Carolina.
Katie Higgins: Probably. Probably. Listen, and i like I've been to Charleston once. I can't wait to go back. I want to do a girls weekend there. It's such a lovely town. I have never been. to south korea i only ran here north carolina is beautiful steven airport has now no i doesn't But no. beautiful states you know I love Savannah Georgia that's as close as I got okay and I've never been there see listen there's all these places and I want to go to the Biltmore that's in North Carolina that's in North Carolina okay and I'm watching the Gilded Age right now so now I really want to go to the Biltmore
Katie Higgins: Because one of them are the that's the Vanderbilts? Vanderbilts. It's one of theirs. Built the Biltmore, and the Vanderbilts were one of the new... families in new york which i'm now learning all about you know who is also a vanderbilt in the present day who Well, now I've completely drawn a blank. Hang on. Because all I can tell you who's a Vanderbilt is... on Legally Blonde. No. Win Reese Witherspoon.
Katie Higgins: when what's his name goes for the other girl and he's like she's at vanderbilt i got i got it i got it i got it okay okay anderson cooper Is a Vanderbilt - Yeah. New money, new New York. But they have.
Katie Higgins: serious inheritance. stuff in their family like he oh has to crazy i like your work For his money. It is not handed to him. There's no money left or something. I listen. Well, okay. Then. i Now, switching to the men though.
Katie Higgins: I have been dying cracking up. about all of the memes that have come out or it's like i'm sure they're ai images of like it's like tiger beat from like our day the millennials here that are all we're the ones that are like whatever And it's like tiger beat and it's. Mamdani.
Katie Higgins: and Oh, it's like a Vogue cover shoot. Yeah, it's like, but it's like a boy band. It's like, it's like the boy band. I haven't seen those. It's like the boy bands that are taking over. You've got Tallarico. You've got Mom Donnie. You've got Joe Ossoff. Is that the really cute one? Yeah, yeah he's cute.
Katie Higgins: I mean, they're all cute. Yeah. But like, no. They're all a good looking guys. But Joe Ossoff, I did. And he's gay. There's another one. Right? He's the one that's gay? I don't know. No. so Okay. Are you thinking of... Oh, Buttigieg. Yeah, Pete Buttigieg. Yeah, I always say his name wrong. And then there's another one. Ooh.
Katie Higgins: he's like I don't know Kansas or Iowa or something Democrat but like on one of them he takes a guy like hunting with him like he's just like an all -American Joe kind of guy But they're all these.
Katie Higgins: You know, young -ish. uh -huh uh they're younger i think they're all younger than us emily okay can maybe just one of them be older than i know no but i think they're all like 37 literally i think all of them are 37 or 36 but good candidates yes yes and and also okay go for it you know and i will you're younger and have more energy than me great they right now the dream team okay i think especially based on the polling numbers that came out yeah after last week is.
Katie Higgins: Potentially Joe Ossoff being the 28th candidate. Okay. I saw a lot of that. With potentially because he overwhelmingly won and flipped the great state of Texas. Is. Tallarico. Tallarico. I've seen so many and comments saying this guy's got JFK vibes. This guy's got, this is. I mean, he's got great hair.
Katie Higgins: he does have great hair and very He looks like he could be from the 50s. You know what I mean? They just... They all look very presidential. They do. And they and then i saw I saw this one meme. Can we just have good air back in the White House? All a girl needed.
Katie Higgins: Or like... every all Every girl needed was politicians speaking in complete sentences. yeah like it's shocking Yeah. Like, I'm... Tal Mariko's acceptance speech...
Katie Higgins: Justin did make me cry. Yeah. So because it was so. Humble. i am embarrassed to say i did not listen to it in its entirety i read giant chunks I possibly didn't listen to it. and I may think I did. but but justin listened to it and okay did you listen to it and i said well i've read big chunks of it And, you know, it was so well done. it was Yeah.
Katie Higgins: And his thing was, it filled me with so much. help. Oh. And I think for a guy like Justin, huh for him to say that. is is pretty Breathtaking.
Katie Higgins: I've also seen... I think i and i think i would I would... drop dead in my in my so in my in my shoes. if steven said something like that because steven just doesn't Like when I was speaking about privilege earlier, that's he he was who I was thinking of Stephen Stephen is just, and I love my husband very, very much.
Katie Higgins: He is a wonderful father, wonderful provider, wonderful son, wonderful man. And, but he. Stephen is one of those people. that.
Katie Higgins: Because... He is truly a wonderful man that does not discriminate. against other people and he truly wants what's best for everyone no matter what you look like sound like talk like whatever like at work as a boss right When he manages people, he gets. he gets resounding reviews from anyone who he's managed whether they were Men, women.
Katie Higgins: gay, straight, different different cultures, different nationalities, different races, whatever. So Steven is truly one of those people that is just. He...
Katie Higgins: Well, and also he's autistic. So like he just looks at everything exactly as it is. And so he really struggles with. thinking that other men are horrible people.
Katie Higgins: Because he's not. Oh, I'm really good at it. I know. And if you ever need yeah an expert to teach a class. Exactly. But he's not. So he has he struggles. with the idea of white male privilege.
Katie Higgins: because he is not of the mindset of hurting anybody right Or, and so. So. sometimes i wish he would when i sit talk about white male privilege or white privilege he's like Katie that's not real and I'm like But it is real. No one ever listed our value as $1 ,400, Stephen.
Katie Higgins: But he... He just can't quite get there. And but also I want to make clear I'm not like. dogging him because also his brain works very differently than mine or whatever but that kind of injustice does not exist in his brain it really doesn't and i think that is a yeah beautiful place to live it it really can i live there Can I? But the reality is. The reality is it's not true. But so Steven ever said. that tallarico's
Katie Higgins: acceptance speech gave him hope, I would fall over dead. Yeah. So I think it's been. And he will never listen to this, so it is okay that I said that. I don't think Justin would. yes steven's never It's okay, babe.
Katie Higgins: steven's like i have you all the time he goes did you have a good time all that's that and Truly, that's all I care about. Did I have fun? I did. And I talk to my sister more now, so hey. But... I think...
Katie Higgins: One of the things that... I think it was in Tallarico's speech. It talks about rebuilding community. and i Oh, he's big on that. Yeah. That is one of the things. without even realizing And putting a name to it. I think that is what has broken my spirit so much.
Katie Higgins: since Trump won. the first time in what was that 2016 oh i just got full like i'm about to cry you saying that That like. That hit a nail on the head. The business I... built in the Guild. was bringing people to a table was having people celebrating and learning and discussing things together at a shared table the reason i had a farm to table dinner was people you know breaking bread together and meeting new people.
Katie Higgins: at a table You didn't know who you were going to sit next to. It was a stranger. Yep. And I took that concept from Ms. Wilkes Cafe in Savannah, Georgia, because I thought it was such a beautiful way to sit down and have a meal with strangers.
Katie Higgins: And I did not realize it was this slow. chip away and and covid did us zero favors no it did it on this yeah it was so but right because then it was we have to separate we have to keep our people safe and this is how we keep our people safe is we don't interact
Katie Higgins: Right. If you interact. You could kill someone. You can hurt someone you love. Yes. So we're going to pull back even more. And this isolationist idea became.
Katie Higgins: accepted by so many others weaponized it they said i'm not going to isolate right and i judge you for isolating right here i'm gonna have all of this fun and i'm going to shame you for keeping these people healthy. right right right it was it was this constant framing of shame on you it was a it was on every on both sides it was it was on both sides and i'll judge you for having a party people might get sick i judge you for wearing a mask on an airplane yes right like on both sides yes and it became so pronounced in this
Katie Higgins: it like water faucet drip way uh -huh right all of a sudden People are so worn down. You don't pray like me. You don't eat like me. You don't look like me was accepted and we pulled.
Katie Higgins: that. interesting and people will say no no not me not me no i'll tell you i did my brother and i got in a legitimate screaming match at one point sure but you look at your neighborhoods you look at your communities i had such fear putting a Tallarico sign in my yard. oh I bet so I can't do it I don't want my neighbors to judge me I don't want them to isolate me because of how I believe.
Katie Higgins: right there's been such a resurgence i think in the catholic faith especially since Pope Leo has... Oh, yes, yes. been a point of coke and there are so many people that tell me about Catholic faith. which as a cradle catholic i'm like you're like wait a minute on a second But there is this constant isolation of you're not praying right. That's not right.
Katie Higgins: You are not right. I'm going to do the right thing. And community breaks. down. Oh, interesting interesting. Right? I had a discussion with somebody just yesterday. We were talking about nonprofit. And she said, oh, well, surely.
Katie Higgins: They. vote like else. And I said, no They're huge. and So what are you talking about? She goes, I assume because they were in nonprofit world and supporting nonprofits. They were liberal. And I said, oh, no. Yeah. But everybody has this idea. Uh -huh. Yes, very much so. I have this right.
Katie Higgins: And. We don't. There's so much. That now quickly becomes, well, who did you vote for? our Oh, definitely. Trump's doing such a great job or Trump's doing a horrible job or whatever it is. Right. Yes. And we are so quick to bring it up and then say, I'm not hanging out with that person anymore. Sure. Yeah.
Katie Higgins: And I am tired of it. That is not. the American way. That is not the land of the free, home of the brave. That is not the... Great American dream Americans that I know. Right. That is not the give me your poor huddled masses. Who said that? It's on the Statue of Liberty. Okay.
Katie Higgins: i' it's I'm sure it's a poem by somebody, but I just know it's on giving your poor and huddled masses. Okay. I love that. I love that. Your sister will fact check us. Yep. Yeah. I don't know. She might not know that one. I don't know. We'll see. I think it's a big one. I think so. I think so. Okay.
Katie Higgins: But I am so in encouraged. by this wave of Democrats that was elected. They do feel different. They feel. different than your textbook one right right right right of they They want...
Katie Higgins: An America that... I know in a lot of Republicans' eyes, it probably seems socialist or communist. Yeah, I think that's definitely, I'm seeing a lot of socialism fear. There's a ton of fear about that. right and I think what they are hearing about.
Katie Higgins: what they are hearing in the message. is it's like this. collaborative it is this joint machine uh -huh right like we all pay into it so everybody gets a good education, that everybody will be healthy and get good health care. And they're reading into it in a very negative way of like, no.
Katie Higgins: mccarthyism and communism and socialism and all of that right right and and those of us that voted. blue. Tuesday. said No, we want to be a united.
Katie Higgins: States of America again. We want to look out for. the child that is homeless, the child that does not have yes a lunch that, I mean, you look around at all the nonprofits just here in Fort Bend County. Okay. Yeah. Okay.
Katie Higgins: Those are the same needs on a much... bigger level. Right? Okay. You have lunches of love because kids can't. they don't have food at home they don't have means to have breakfast Okay? That's what I'm... international scale. but here in america Like.
Katie Higgins: That's a thing. That's a thing. yeah We want to find programming that will ensure. That people that are here in the United States are... taken care of that we are a community that we do love one another regardless of how you pray or if you don't. right exactly if you believe in a higher power if you don't yeah if you are black white.
Katie Higgins: Middle Eastern, you know, whatever it is. that you are taken care of and i think they are looking through it of of such a lens of fear. from what they know.
Katie Higgins: The messaging. They have received. That has become so apparent to me in the last week. I have. been Shocked.
Katie Higgins: Shocked. And also then my heart softened. By how when I read the comments out. what people are afraid of. Mhm.
Katie Higgins: the socialism. And then it looks like. transgender. is a huge topic. Like, I'm... Huge topic. I'm going to have my kids swap. well right and so i think that is so interesting to me.
Katie Higgins: And then it really, so this is something my sister has educated me on because what so much of her career was cybersecurity. That what we see in our social media.
Katie Higgins: is so tailored to are... Uh... leanings our political leanings And. I don't know, my algorithm messed up this week, big time. Okay, I also felt that way a little bit. I saw some things that I was like, oh, hold on. I've really worked hard to protect my peace and my algorithm so that it's the people I want to see.
Katie Higgins: fashion, and doggies. Right? And I got some stuff I didn't want to see. shoot How many Republicans did you have? Just spouting. Nonsense. And fear.
Katie Higgins: On Wednesday. Nonsense. Do you know how hard I worked to get my TikTok back right again? Oh, I bet so. i've I've hit the, I am, I am great friends with, I don't know. I'm not a big on TikTok just because I can't handle another app, but Instagram and Facebook.
Katie Higgins: And. And. And OK, well, OK, but people like. People I actually know. when I saw the comments. Made me it really did soften my heart and made me realize Oh. Wow, there is so much misinformation out there because Me as a Democrat.
Katie Higgins: No way ever in my life am I saying that I am voting for my child to walk into school as a girl and come out a boy. Also. Right. It did. Then I saw some things that cracked me up.
Katie Higgins: who has What school district has the money? to reassign a child. Right? Because they don't. Or put litter boxes in every room. Because how many times have we asked for tissue boxes? Exactly. Like, we need tissue boxes, not litter boxes. Do you know how expensive litter is? Come on. i Listen. Listen.
Katie Higgins: Listen. So. i read That was, but that was. that that I did have a softening of my heart in that regard. Now, I don't know if that softening will continue because...
Katie Higgins: if and when i ever have those conversations will it be received but like You know, because, okay. Michael is... autistic right One of the things I have learned over the years.
Katie Higgins: of having a child. of teenage age. that is autistic. is that quite a few I don't know. And that's why I'm saying I'm not going to use the percentages because I don't know them right this second.
Katie Higgins: It is very common though. Four. Autistic teenagers. to struggle with their gender identity.
Katie Higgins: because the areas of their brains that are affected by the autism is the same areas of the brains of the brain that is responsible. for gender identification.
Katie Higgins: interesting. So... I... And we know we know. We know so many people e walk around undiagnosed as neurodivergent.
Katie Higgins: But also I think we have got, especially over the 13, Michael's 15. Now he was diagnosed right after two around three. So in the. the 12... ish years that i have been in the autism world and i have been vocal and active The whole time.
Katie Higgins: so much so that i was called i was told i was in denial i was told i was putting my Head in the sand. I was told that I was, I mean, I've had everything said to me. when it has come to advocating for my kid.
Katie Higgins: but I've held fast and I've been so grateful. First of all, privilege. I have the money. to get my kid what he needs. yes And then also ive I, we have. this And this, I do think, has been luck of the draw. jeat For me, it's gonna I'm going to say it's Jesus.
Katie Higgins: that we have found incredible providers that have now been a part of our support team for 10 plus years.
Katie Higgins: And I... can say without a matter without without a shadow of a doubt. Autistic teens. are very often struggling. with there it's not in before anyone asks me anything. Not that they will. I don't know. But this is not Michael.
Katie Higgins: But. Autistic teens. are struggling. with gender identification. And I don't know a single person anymore.
Katie Higgins: That will. minimize autism. We've come so far. Right. So far. So... I just don't know how.
Katie Higgins: is i guess it's it's you know it's it takes time it takes time because right from when Michael was diagnosed to now. is so extremely different. Then. I mean, my God, getting diagnosed now versus then.
Katie Higgins: The acceptance is so is so is palpable Still not where it needs to be, but it's palpable. Yeah. So... I feel like with.
Katie Higgins: Education. of And also. Also... Do you know what? The I means. in LGBTQIA+.
Katie Higgins: I'm gonna tell you if you don't. I was going to tell. a funny story and i remember this thing Okay. So remind me one. what I means, and I'll tell you a funny story when we're done recording. Okay. The I means intersex.
Katie Higgins: okay what does that mean That means when your precious little baby is born at the hospital...
Katie Higgins: The baby. has all the situations all the situations or some of both that is a great way to put it And I am just sitting here as a. Mom.
Katie Higgins: who has had now all three of my children. have some sort of diagnosis Mary and Maggie both have obsessive compulsive disorder, severe obsessive compulsive disorder, where they had to have treatment.
Katie Higgins: They have other diagnoses that they have not shared publicly, and I'm not going to share publicly. Wait. Michael has autism. epilepsy. And. and severe anxiety. wrapped up in those two.
Katie Higgins: All three of my children meet criteria for... disability. or some form of whatever. So i do I do know what it is like to be told.
Katie Higgins: Hey. Your child has a diagnosis that is going to affect them. for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine? Having a baby.
Katie Higgins: And being told by the doctor. that this precious little thing that you just gave birth to has some of both or parts of or whatever and then you have to make the horrendous decision.
Katie Higgins: Pick a side. Pick a side. As someone who has received diagnosis for their children. i would not wish that on that is that would have i would pick every diagnosis i have plus others before having to make that choice for my kid.
Katie Higgins: Because of the discrimination. because of the pain that child's going to go through. Because of the grief as parents. grieving one child or the other, you know, like. yeah I thought I had a girl. Now I have a boy. yeah Like.
Katie Higgins: but This is a real thing? I know Julia's sitting in there going, Katie, shut your mouth. she is she is we move on from this subject she is But when you, but that's where I. Where my...
Katie Higgins: Where my... empathy comes from is because I do not know what it is like to be in that position with that child. who I prayed for just like every other woman on that hospital floor. right And to tell those parents or that child.
Katie Higgins: Pick a lane. and And then. And then... It's going to be. Pick a lane, then it's going to be politicized and God forbid you pick the wrong one. Right. In 13, 14 years. you're going to be in some major trouble and that child's going to go through transition. Like, I mean, can you imagine?
Katie Higgins: Oh I'm all riled up now. And I think I'm in and the common. denominator is here. Right? Oh! Okay. You're right. Fear. and then the other common denominator which you were just talking about community is compassion with our with our neighbors. Right.
Katie Higgins: I mean I remember in 2016 when Trump was first elected. And I was. absolutely crushed it was not hillary that one okay I laid in bed for a week.
Katie Higgins: Oh wow. I watched The Crown. Good show. It was. It was. I i just... I was so... I felt so betrayed.
Katie Higgins: by my fellow Americans. yeah how could you pick this predator. Yeah. Right. And we got through it. We got through the four years. It wasn't ugly. yeah It wasn't pretty. We got through it. Well, I think those first four years as someone who voted for him in that election.
Katie Higgins: And also look. Hey, Emily and I can have a conversation. Right. How nice is that? You know, we were friends. We were friends. We became friends. We became friends during that time frame. I think we did. You're right. And.
Katie Higgins: but I was sad that you didn't vote for him. Well, sure. yeah Sure. I mean, i can of course I can see that. But looking back... I do think this is just my opinion.
Katie Higgins: I think those first four years he was tame. because he knew he needed to get reelected. Here's the deal. And it's like, when he got elected this time, he just went. Balls to the wall. The first four years... He had staffers that...
Katie Higgins: were incredibly intelligent they were and they were still establishment republicans right which i do still believe he then went on to fire All of them. Everybody. multiple types like i mean we would get some and then it was like okay okay they're fine yeah Yeah. Let's get another round in. Oh, they're fired. Yeah. So the first four wasn't.
Katie Higgins: horrible It wasn't great. right it wasn't horrible where I felt the world was ending. This round I can't tell you how many times I screamed at the screen during a debate.
Katie Higgins: when he would deny Project 25. okay you're gonna tell me what project 25 is like what stephen miller stands for Which, fun fact, he took over as chief of staff yesterday. And he's gone now. Oh! oh Oh, he's not the one that went out. oh No, that's the, what do they call her?
Katie Higgins: The Ice Maiden? Something like that. I think it's the Ice Maiden, maybe? Yeah. Uh, no, he took over. Fun fact. So project 2025 is this super. Oh, it's the. Icky. It's that horrible, horrible thing. Okay. And the whole time.
Katie Higgins: during every debate no that's not us we're not gonna do that And all of us other people are screaming at TV. Yes, you are. We don't believe you. And he is gone and enacted.
Katie Higgins: i'm like i don't know what chapter we're on now of this whole project but a lot of it has come to fruition is that tempted so that's where a lot of the disability cuts have come from Is that thing right? Yep.
Katie Higgins: yeah basically any kind of disgrace to liberty uh has come from that okay the i think the save act is in part from that so the save act did you get a lot of messaging about how we married women will lose the right. Yes. Yes.
Katie Higgins: It... That's basically the same act. And your sister is going to say, no, here's actually what it says. And I'm going to agree with your sister right now. preemptively But, yes, it is the beginnings of attempting to take away additional votes. So it's just it's just rolling back the calendar. Exactly. okay okay so but one of the architects of this project is stephen miller who now is now chief of staff He is now Chief of Staff. Cool. Fun fact.
Katie Higgins: We're going to bring it full circle. There's a word for this and I can't remember what it is. But... uh we'll bring it back to the nazis because okay I was gonna say where are we going with this okay yeah the anniversary of Kristallnacht Which is when the Nazis go through and they smash all of the windows and they torch and they.
Katie Higgins: Just do horrible things. all over Germany on November 8th. I can't remember the year. it Was it 1930? Nine? 38. And it's basically the start the start of the word establishing ghettos. We're establishing all of these things. We're going to start rounding up the Jews. Right.
Katie Higgins: it is It is. Arnold has a fabulous. uh speech about about all of this. Oh, okay. That i I recommend to you to go listen to. Are they Jewish? The Schwarzenegger? Schwarzenegger? Wait, wait. Maria Shriver. married.
Katie Higgins: Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is a Kennedy. Yes. But they're not Jewish. yeah No. Okay. Amen. but he references it it was during one i was it the first term.
Katie Higgins: I forgot he was governor of California. So, but it is the anniversary of it and a lot of people, even though Stephen Miller, from what I understand, had.
Katie Higgins: family that did survive the Holocaust. He. Is a neo -nazi, it sounds like. Is. a hard one to have love and compassion for.
Katie Higgins: well said thank you thank you well said i'm wearing my very diplomatic she is when i saw her today i was like uh someone needs to run for office in that outfit.
Katie Higgins: Heck yeah! Not gonna happen! I kind of... Sometimes I think I want to run for office. I think I'm just delusional enough. I think I have too much petty in me.
Katie Higgins: To actually do it. Interesting. I think we got it we got to maybe cross the bridge through menopause. And then maybe then maybe it'll settle out. Maybe so. Maybe. I don't know. Yeah.
Katie Higgins: Sophia Owen. could could run for. politics Oh, I love that idea. They're kinder than I am. they both Well, i I know Sophie better than I know Owen. And I mainly know Sophie through you.
Katie Higgins: but They do seem very kind. I do think, I think my daughters could also run for politics. run for run for office. But I think they would be... I don't know. They might get too angry too fast.
Katie Higgins: See, that's my problem. They won't have the ability to. And Sophie's really good about using her words. But they're also only 13, so who knows.
Katie Higgins: So I think I think uh maybe my children could have a future in politics i think i'm too
Katie Higgins: rage -driven. Interesting. I actually think I'm just delusional enough. That I could maybe do it. I'd be too petty the power would go straight to my head Interesting.
Katie Higgins: And I know this about myself. And that's okay. That's so good for you to know this about yourself. That is okay. No, believe me, my husband will never. I... to basically do whatever I want at all times.
Katie Higgins: This is one of those things where Stephen would come to me and go. Katie? Please. for the sake of Anything. That you care about.
Katie Higgins: Don't run for office.
Katie Higgins: So I guess I won't. I might actually lose my marriage if I do. So maybe not, maybe not, but I'm pretty good at convincing Steven of things now. I'm going to circle back to politics one more time, and then we can we can put it to bed. What what did surprise me? Okay.
Katie Higgins: is down. the entire ballot. how blue it went, including here in Fort Bend County. And yeah I will say. I am someone. We're open tomorrow.
Katie Higgins: Somebody's at the door. Yes, sorry about that. I do pride myself on looking at each candidate and at policy and see what aligns with.
Katie Higgins: my beliefs and Also what I know of the person. Exactly. And I was surprised to see i was really so many Republicans. get voted out that i'm like but these are actually really great yeah amazing people here same in Fort Bend County and I I do believe that we need people in office of multiple.
Katie Higgins: belief systems. I don't disagree. It's what makes us. great is having all of these different viewpoints. you know, and and And so I was.
Katie Higgins: I was sad to see that Happen? Same. And I'm curious to see what happens in the 28th election. Agreed. I think, so my sister did share with me this article written by and John Schott, is what I'm going to say.
Katie Higgins: I don't know if that's actually. the person's name but it's whoever is going to be the second most powerful person in the House of Representatives. okay he's a democrat and he won't be the speaker of the house but he'll be elected No, no, got elected. So now that the Democrats have power.
Katie Higgins: But, like... Because I know there's a big call right now to... Say no to Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. for speakers oh okay so i don't know like is that you know what i can't oh yes do this let me see let me see i actually pull this up really fast here so Because will they be hard enough?
Katie Higgins: Will they hold the line? what Well, what this was about was. that We need as The Democratic Party needs to understand.
Katie Higgins: That. This was not. Not a win for the Democrats. Not a win for the Democrats. this This was a... We say no to Trump. Yes. Is what this was. Okay, exactly. Okay, so yes i'll I can find this later. Yes, this is this not a win. It's not a win for the Democrats. Now, what I think is... we this round had some really Good people.
Katie Higgins: awesome people come through that i think will and i do this what is hard a lot of times especially there's establishment on both sides right oh definitely And well, we've seen it. We've seen it so intensely on the Republican side.
Katie Higgins: Right. But you take... These 37 year olds, right, that we've discussed already. Oh wait, hold on. That was backwards because... Establishment Republicans to me are still the classy ones. Whereas it's these new MAGA Republicans. Yeah, but the ones that have been in power for forever. Oh, okay. Like Paxton.
Katie Higgins: Right. he I mean, too long. Chuck Schumer. Yeah, that too. Nancy Pelosi. yeah mean I mean, I can say it on both sides. She's been around since I was a kid. Right? Like, I can say it on both sides. These people that have been there forever, like, it's time to get out.
Katie Higgins: But also times are changing. We are of an age now. Right? You look at our childhood. Our childhood was all about cutting the plastic rings on Coke.
Katie Higgins: bottles so you didn't kill any Sea life. Right. Right. We had Save Everything. You had pla Captain Planet. You had... All of these different... thing Interesting. Okay. Yeah. that we were raised on this ideology of saving. the world.
Katie Higgins: And now we are at a point where we are established enough in our lives. We are educated enough. We are at a point where we can run for office. And we can stand up and say, no.
Katie Higgins: This is what we are going to do for our earth. for our children. for our elders, all of those things. And it is. different in many ways than what a traditional Democrat maybe would stand for. True, I do. You're right. And and what a typical Republican. What a traditional Republican would have done. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Right?
Katie Higgins: And. Times are changing. They are. And so must our government. Yes. Yes is yes. Right? The boomers are not.
Katie Higgins: in charge anymore. and they really need to get off Facebook. No kidding. and And AI, probably, for that matter. Yes, that too. So. So I think it's very interesting to see.
Katie Higgins: this all play out because beliefs are shifting. Yes. We were all raised in the late eighties, early nineties. and even into mid -90s. of certain values of saving the planet.
Katie Higgins: of saving children. of saving the elderly, etc. that then goes on to create you know, people will call it the woke culture or the canceled culture, but they are so much more.
Katie Higgins: accepting. mm -hmm Of so many things. than we are. than the boomers are, right? Like we become more and more and there needs to be this transformation. Yes. So my hope is. Democrats, don't mess this up. don' Seriously, don't mess it up.
Katie Higgins: Like, don't go in. With your beliefs, sit and listen. Sit and listen. Sit and listen so that in 2028... You all get elected again. And same to Republicans. True. Because honestly.
Katie Higgins: As of right now... as a Republican, how can you not look at your party and say, how can we come through this? Right. Right. Like you have the ones, the Bush Republicans who are looking at everything. Okay. Did you, did you hear this? I, I was watching, ABC for the returns.
Katie Higgins: And. I... Think. I think I... i did not check this beforehand. If we ever get huge, we will check things before we say them. Okay. Julia, that's going to be your job. That'll be your job, Julia. Okay. Okay. one Fact checking us. Okay.
Katie Higgins: Listen, I've been watching Nobody Wants This. I'm... getting I'm getting, I'm like, listen. Emily, I think we have... If you don't watch, nobody wants this. No. What is it? It's this show on Netflix. Thanks.
Katie Higgins: It is. The third season just came out. Kristen Bell is the... Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are the two. And he's a rabbi. He's a rabbi, and it is the most darling show. I haven't watched it, but I see the little clips on TikTok. You like TV. Right?
Katie Higgins: I don't have the... The. the attention span right now for tv Okay. Unless it's a crime documentary or a cult documentary. and Oh, I'm so into it. Locked in. I'm so into it as well. This is, I'm going to say something so bad.
Katie Higgins: This is something that's so bad. I miss the Lindsay Clancy trial so much. <unk> just it's We're waiting for season two to drop. I know we're waiting for season two of the Lindsay Clancy trial, but that is the worst thing ever. I can say this is a girl's life. It is. Yeah. And and I know that, I be i mean, i I am so... empathetic towards her.
Katie Higgins: For so many reasons, as so as the country is, you know, I feel like the majority of the country was on her side because of all sorts of reasons. women and hormones. Mental health. Mental health and the crazy husband.
Katie Higgins: Right. Which he has not earned himself any favors over the last few weeks with the motions and the things. No, none at all. Okay. Anyways, though. Peace.
Katie Higgins: it and So I... I do recognize that as a woman's life. okay so please know that's but i do miss it And I do, i'm a I'm a prime candidate for a cult.
Katie Higgins: I love you to be included. I love to be included. You really are. Julia is too. I'll come get y 'all. Okay. Yeah. We love, we love to, we love a community. we love Justin and the needville boys. They'll love it. They'll train it like special ops. Oh, we love something to get excited about.
Katie Higgins: I love, I love a reason. Might be why I'm a Democrat now. because I talk to my mom and my sister too much. I know I could never be targeted by one because they will just tell me.
Katie Higgins: What the hell are you talking about? Oh, no. And I think I'm rather persuasive. I think in a small way, I've created a cult. it Not really. Not really.
Katie Higgins: I'm waiting for you to explain. Okay. Okay. So. For a while... You know, people would say like EK, my, my boutique is such a community. I don't think it is as much as it used to be, if I'm being completely honest. And that's what I do here is I just talked to my friend, Emily. so I don't know if you know this, but I got on stories and shared my heart.
Katie Higgins: this past week I started to watch it, but you took a long time. It was too long. It was too long. As my Gen Z manager of my companies would say, Katie. nobody is listening to you first of all can you throw some like words on the screen can you give me the uh listen i got to the point where i was not gonna i it was too long even for me But at that point I was like, I'm not doing this again.
Katie Higgins: And I had been challenged by my friend, Kimmy. to do this. I watched that one. Yeah. So really that was it. Yeah. That was it. My friend, Kimmy, you know, times are a tough in the retail world. world.
Katie Higgins: across the board not just me across the board right yeah it's not just me i've seen good friends show up yes You go to the dang grocery store and everything. What we used to be 200 is 400 now. We'll pick another protein.
Katie Higgins: Pick another protein, she says. I'm going to drop that. Uh... We only eat chicken and beef. What am I supposed to choose? Switch to pork. pork Steven won't need it.
Katie Higgins: Well. Wanting ain't getting. Listen, I do like a good portrait. No, I mean prices have gone up. Across the board. Astronomically. And.
Katie Higgins: I can only, I mean, like. These are luxuries. right like buying yourself a new christmas sweatshirt Or a new sweater. True. It's a luxury. That's a luxury, right? And if you're deciding...
Katie Higgins: on beating your kids. like Hey, this is the weekly budget for gas, for groceries, for everything else. Everything's getting a squeeze. Yeah. Well, and I'll like, I, my husband provides for us very, very well.
Katie Higgins: And we are very much in a squeeze right now where like. literally at the end of last month, beginning of this month, like paying all the early November bills, he and I both looked at each other and went.
Katie Higgins: Uh... whered Where did it all go? yeah where did it all go and we and and like And the holidays are right around the corner. And the holidays are right around the corner. And by no means am I going to sit here and say that my husband does not have a good job.
Katie Higgins: And. like But a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to. It does not. This is the first time I've really felt it. that inflation piece. Like even, even in, in my store, in my company.
Katie Higgins: We were looking at some numbers the other day. And it was like, oh, my God, the I think the expenses are what is. Making. things so difficult not necessarily the sales coming in it's just that the sales coming in does not go as far. yeah As they did last year.
Katie Higgins: And that was. validating on one hand but then also What do I do next? What can I do? and here in Houston.
Katie Higgins: It's Nutcracker Market Week. And, you know, I pulled out a nutcracker. And in a lot of ways, I'm proud of that because I recognized my limitations this year.
Katie Higgins: i i I looked. Add it. With just. truth and whatever and like I could have stayed in it and And Julie and I would have been asleep for the next 16 weeks.
Katie Higgins: because we would have had to pull it together, the two of us. And then we would have had a team to do it, but. i don't she and i would be We just we didn't have the team.
Katie Higgins: we didn't quite have the finances i could have i could have pulled it together i could have And I'm being very honest here. But like. I have been around long enough. that i have people in my corner i could have pulled it together But I still didn't have the team.
Katie Higgins: that I had last year. And so I made this decision that I felt like was. me being actually freaking adult for the first time in a long time which is so hard i hate adulting And...
Katie Higgins: But man, this week I'm so sad. I'm so sad that we're not there. I'm so sad, but I'm also. We're going to go. We're going to go and hold our heads up high. Because we have friends there that we love and adore. And also I do feel.
Katie Higgins: confident in the choice I made. For. me and my company and my family and my team and all of that. But. This has been...
Katie Higgins: It's been a year. And I, it's been a challenge and I, and I am not the only one. It's not just me and my isolated personal situation. And it's because actually when I look at things, we've actually done really well this year.
Katie Higgins: but like i said it's not the sales coming in it's the expenses going out that are So. Hi. and it's not just for one business it's for american families yeah Big time.
Katie Higgins: Yeah. Yeah. Like, so, I mean, and cause and like I said, I'm feeling it like literally at the end of the month or at the early, early of November, Steven and I both looked at each other and we went, Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Katie Higgins: We usually have... xyz after we pay all these bills and now we're going oh We just have the Z. enter we just have the z or maybe half of a z yeah you know and mary and maggie and michael are like wait are we Are we poor? And we're both like...
Katie Higgins: No. We're not. But I remember that. Oh, I tell my children. You do? Okay. Well, I remember. as a kid. I remember i as a kid being scared. So I don't want my kids to be scared. I always ask Justin, I said, are we at red beans and rice territory? Listen, I love red beans and rice. I cannot eat it. I have not eaten it since I was a child. Tell me, is that what your mother would make you eat? Is that what y 'all would eat? Was red beans and rice? To me, that is the signaler.
Katie Higgins: Right? like Okay. Because you, I think we're almost out. uh well look at that there's enough just enough for you do you want more no go ahead no okay that it to me is the signaler interesting if we're eating red beans and rice because i'm gonna need to ask your mom how did she make these red beans and rice because that is my favorite but i don't like sausage anymore the casing freaks me out
Katie Higgins: I don't know. You don't like that natural casing? It's a texture thing. Some people... they... I mean, you could probably just I know last time we, Stephen, Stephen made a meal last week. That was this really delicious Italian sausage and orzo situation. And he, he took it out of the casing for me. Cause I, I cannot eat the casing anymore. I cannot, it freaks me out.
Katie Higgins: that bite I'm just going to say it just to drive her crazy. That is. it's like there's like a There's like a noise that it makes when you when you bite down on it. I'm telling you, and I think this is a perimenopause thing. My tastes have changed so. Much of yours.
Katie Higgins: No. No! Like, I could live right now on chicken noodle soup. That's all I want. No. No. What can you look at what or French fries? I love. now french fries. I love a french fry. But to be fair, my whole life I could have lived off a french fry. I see, same, same. Did you know McDonald's used to offer a humongous size fries? No. Did you know in the McDonald's app you can get one free fry a week?
Katie Higgins: Did not know. uh -huh it's not been good for my weight Amen. But no, red beans and rice to me is the signaler. because as a child I remember where it felt like and my mom will be like no we didn't have it that often and in my memory but in your memory you did it would be like we would like that was dinner every night for a month.
Katie Higgins: Okay. right okay like that's the signaler But you think about it. a Pound of beans, dried beans, is like nothing. $2. Yeah. Right? you get You can get a 25 -pound sack of rice. For also $2.
Katie Higgins: Well, it's not $2 anymore. Okay, not anymore, not anymore. maybe five but it is It is very inexpensive. So you can. Even if you decided, hey, we're not going to put sausage in it. And also super nutritious, let's be honest. Let's be honest.
Katie Higgins: Yeah. a dark fi A dark red kidney bean is very good for you. It is. It is. How would your mom season it?
Katie Higgins: I have no idea. She just made it. And I just remember the Tabasco conversation. Everybody in the house would put Tabasco on it and it would come to me and mom would say, do not put any in your house. See you. Because if you do, you won't eat it. Oh, okay. Because I'm a weenie. Do you not like a spicy situation? I can handle minimal spice. Interesting. Interesting. That singular jalapeno and Sandy's skinny margarita at Sandy's is all I can handle. That sounds really yummy.
Katie Higgins: It is really yummy. It's very good. and some nachos from sandy sounds good right now too so i did do sugar plum tell me about sugar plum to wrap this up it was great i mean it's exhausting as always which you know from doing nutcracker yes yes sophie shopped sugar plum for the first time and i said okay imagine this but like eight times larger are you gonna take her Are you going to Nutcracker?
Katie Higgins: No, because Sophie looked at me. She goes, I don't think. i'm ready And I said do not. Julie and I are going to go on Thursday. If you'd like to go. Oh, no, I have to make. tortellini i'm making tortellini on brodo that night my aunt from washington is coming into town you' And you're going to make it from scratch, right? I am. I am making tortellini on brodo. So I will hand roll all the cutie patootie little tortellinis. That's amazing. And make bone broth from scratch. Incredible.
Katie Higgins: And I told the kids. What are you going to put in the tortellini? So it is prosciutto. pork tinderloin Parmesan.
Katie Higgins: Wow. Spices. So a boar. And I think there's chicken in there as well, maybe. A beef and pork. medley of sorts it's delightful yeah and it's in like this super like flavorful Uh... Broth.
Katie Higgins: And I promised because I would make cowboy cake which is that like the it's like texas sheet cinnamon chocolate sheet cake yeah and then well i'll be for dinner I'm just kidding. Let me come up.
Katie Higgins: I might. My Aunt Christy would love you. Okay. Okay. She's undiagnosed ADHD, so. Well. Just a heads up. Listen, listen. Love this. Oh, but tell me about Sugar Plum. Yeah. yeah So Sugar Plum was great. Okay. the The number one thing for us at Mercy Goods is.
Katie Higgins: we are reaching new audiences, right? And so we got the word out about Mercy Goods okay for several days. We blew our sails out of the water from us. Okay! yeah so that is huge oh that makes me so happy to hear that yes Now I will say Zach. they we got a new toy donated it and it's like,
Katie Higgins: Like a blue laser light. And so on the spot, he was able to provide. Personalization on leather goods. Oh. Right there. so That's fancy. Yeah.
Katie Higgins: It was. I think by day two, he was regretting that decision because they were selling like hotcakes and he was like, oh is this the kind of thing we could have him come here for a pop -up i realize that's just too blocks over. Yeah.
Katie Higgins: Oh, luggage tags. Like it's great for gifties, especially for your husband. so one of the ideas that they don't i do what do they do does mercy goods do a peak friday situation
Katie Higgins: probably not a what a pink okay i yeah i have an idea i'm excited i don't know what that means okay yeah uh but like leather like padfolios or portfolios oh where if you wanted your husband's name What I thought was the cutest, there was a woman who got, we did leather coasters and you could personalize them on the spot. It was so cute.
Katie Higgins: She goes, I have four dogs. Can we put the silhouette? of each of the breeds and their names on the coaster and i decided that my house cannot go forward another day without a daisy coaster without daisy coasters for everyone oh my god i want to do one for every dog i've lost and have right
Katie Higgins: That's incredible. Right? Okay, Zach. So the luggage tags, I mean, it it went really, really well. Oh, I love this. It did. got I actually have already purchased several.
Katie Higgins: christmas gifts i i that would be and a fantastic gift right you know and especially like for in -laws where you're like i don't know what to do Well, if you have... Family that travels, luggage tags. This is you know also purely for myself, but I think a gift for Steven. and we know he doesn't listen and he doesn't listen so this is fine this is totally fine We.
Katie Higgins: Listen, I love, chat do we have established this, my... non -blue thing is chat gbt her non -blue thing is what would we say Timu or Shian or something? like Yeah. Shimu. Shimu. I'm just going to make up names.
Katie Higgins: Okay. So... with our house that we've been renovating. Chat GBT gave us the name of our house. It's the Higgins Woodland Manor.
Katie Higgins: I love you. that. For me to put that on a coaster, a set of coasters. You know what else he can do? Not just on a coaster. What? You could get... Custom Rocks tumblers made for Stephen.
Katie Higgins: Oh. Like a little short glass. Oh, Zach does this? Yeah, does it on the machine? Oh, interesting. And it'd be our very own when you come to our house. Can I get you a whiskey drink? In my... my wine glass or a wine glass the hit and it's in its custom higgins woodland manor exactly oh I'm excited.
Katie Higgins: For the listeners. So we purchased. a built in the 90s log exterior cabin home.
Katie Higgins: and we are renovating it. And. And I have to admit, I never ever thought I'd utter these words. I love living in my log cabin house.
Katie Higgins: But I... Very Laura Ingalls of you. Isn't it? But i I get home and I immediately... Am at peace. to the Point where...
Katie Higgins: Clutter? In the kitchen.
Katie Higgins: Not all over the rest of the house, mind you. But in the kitchen, clutter doesn't bother me. Because and when I say clutter Let me be very clear. As I have a...
Katie Higgins: husband with autism and i have obsessive compulsive disorder which is not what you think it is but Either way, I still can't stand this. Bye. It's fascinating. having shared a hotel room I know, I know, right? And if you look at my back room here at the shop, you would be shocked.
Katie Higgins: But in my house, I really struggle with. things, whatever. But in the kitchen for the first, my kids have been shocked recently. that They're like, mom doesn't.
Katie Higgins: flip her shit. when I leave my gym bag. on the counter. This is a safe space for all. I feel safe there. Yes. I also have to tell you. I decided last week and you inspired me.
Katie Higgins: Did I? because you inspire me so often to be more cultural and things so tell me What did I inspire? speaking of the house you inspired me so you know i am in the process of finalizing decisions because I would like to redo our master bath. That's okay. I'm so excited in the master bathroom. We have like,
Katie Higgins: like a separate toilet yes yes you have to have that it's on toilet room we built yeah in our open where we did we had to renovate our bathroom our master bathroom in the new house and we had it it was out lema it was Apparently in the 90s that's what they did. No. No. So we walled that in and put wallpaper in. We already have a separate. Pooper.
Katie Higgins: Right? Love that. And I decided... based on the conversation we have had about your What's the word?
Katie Higgins: What's the word I want? your wallpaper the wallpaper in that powder bath powder bath Okay. I decided I'm going to put Because I think it'll only take two rolls. Oh, I'm so excited.
Katie Higgins: I'm going to put whatever, and I'm still looking. Okay? Bye. whatever. because it should only take two rolls. wallpaper speaks the most. two.
Katie Higgins: my heart Oh, I love this. And I cannot wait. So excited. Like, I realize, like, Justin doesn't know what wallpaper costs. No. steven does know now oh no no because he has picked wallpaper no justin is not involved in any of these two two well because At my house we have two powder rooms.
Katie Higgins: And what we decided was I get one powder room. That he gets no vetoes and he gets one powder room with no vetoes. You get a. You get a pretty room and he gets a pretty room. Exactly. He is wallpaper.
Katie Higgins: Only two rolls. Over 700. And he did not know. until it was done. that that's how much but it makes a statement it's so good Ugh! But then he found a new wallpaper last night and he's like, should I re -wallpaper my powder room?
Katie Higgins: It's too early, Steven. I know. I said no. I said no. But let me be clear. This new powder room has the Sasquatch on it, like Bigfoot. I would have gone with that if it had been. It was a new arrival. It was a new arrival. It wasn't available when we were choosing wallpaper. I know so sad. See if it goes on Black Friday sale and then buy the rolls. Yeah, we'll put it somewhere else. Yeah.
Katie Higgins: Yeah. Okay. Keep going. I don't know what I was talking about you You are going to pick a wallpaper that speaks to your heart. That was it. That was the statement. Only two rolls. Because I only need two rolls to do that bathroom. You can do that under $1 ,000 and it's going to be the unbelievable.
Katie Higgins: And Justin's big choice for that is he wants the. toto potty. Oh, yes. And I know that my wallpaper should. that costs less it cost less than the toto potty my mother has the toto Good day.
Katie Higgins: the the major one. added to her toilet in her master bathroom. And I'm going to tell you it is the most. luxurious thing in the entire world yeah so justin what in a perfect world he wants the whole and and my thing is It's incredible. Get it. It's the only toilet we have in our place in the house.
Katie Higgins: Like all the others we've replaced with like the, you can flush 600 golf balls. Yes. Right. and So that's the only one we haven't done. And I'm like, okay, when we do it, we're going to do it and we're going to do it right. And you can get your Toto.
Katie Higgins: and i'm okay if you don't know about this guys it is like this fancy schmancy i'm sure the actual toilet is even more than what my mom has So tell me about it. So it has like a remote control. oh The seat will heat. Yes.
Katie Higgins: it's got a sprayer it's got anything and it's like okay with my mom's and so i'm sure the one you're looking at it's like it's a little integrated thing you have this is your mom just has a seat my mom has i think the only difference is it's just completely integrated it is completely So you walk into the room, the little toilet room.
Katie Higgins: and it immediately activates. like it's sensor it's sensor uh motion motion hey katie motion no motion activated so it it the top comes up Oh, it's very Feng Shui. Yes. and then it starts to warm.
Katie Higgins: The seat starts to warm as soon as it. and Oh, by the time Listen, I stayed at my mom's house. the other day months ago to take care of Millie.
Katie Higgins: Her dog. while my mom was out of town. And in the middle of the night when I went to pee, And I'm like, oh, you know, looking for the room. right So it's this soft blue light.
Katie Higgins: So it senses my emotion. Of just coming in the potty room, the little toilet room. And it. lifts the seat, And it warms the... toilet seat so that by the time I had sat down, which was not long,
Katie Higgins: It was warm. Soft blue. Like soft blue light. I... peed It sprayed. I went back to bed. is fascinating.
Katie Higgins: I have been fighting just one of a day because it weirds me out. No. do it and you will never go back. Many people. You will never go back. Do it. So at our old house, we, Steven got to where he put the days on everything, but they were not the fancy kinds like my mom has. Right. Cause there's like a $30 one from Amazon. He's like, let's just get that. I'm like, I don't know about this. Okay.
Katie Higgins: At first, the $30 one from Amazon. Feels lovely. It really does. It feels fresh. But then you go to your mom's house? Exactly. Because what is it called? I think it's good it's like a cutesy name.
Katie Higgins: The one on... oh there's several on amazon now okay so well the one that used it was like a it was like a cutesy little name Yes, I thought mine were very refreshing.
Katie Higgins: Is the word I'm going to use. Refreshing. okay And then I used my mom's. And that was straight up luxury. for the queen.
Katie Higgins: well there you go so i am going to need you to get your wallpaper in this potty Amen. and report back. I will. That's what I'm going to need. It probably won't happen until January. Well, that is just two months away. i am is it oh maybe february then okay I'm almost done to designing. Almost. I'm so excited. I feel like we've talked about all sorts of shit today. We really have. Majority politics. And here's... it And for the...
Katie Higgins: If you're listening, politicians. Don't fuck it up. Yeah. That's what we want to tell you. First of all. Don't fuck it up. we We like being filled with hope. We like loving our neighbors. Yes. We want to have compassion for all. That too.
Katie Higgins: All of that. and That's about it. It really is. you know If we could just do those things. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, it's okay by me It would be okay by me as well.
Katie Higgins: I agree. Okay, all right well. Till next time. Till next time. Bye!
