Raising Tomorrow
Hello and welcome to Raising Tomorrow, the podcast that brings together the voices, stories, and actions of those who are shaping the future today. I’m Karen Mulzac Watkins, your host, and I’m thrilled to have you join me on this journey.
In a world where every decision we make today has the power to shape the future, this podcast is dedicated to those committed to creating a brighter, more equitable tomorrow. Raising Tomorrow is about the collective effort it takes to build a better world for our children and communities—a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Raising Tomorrow
Shut Down, Power Up? Government Shutdown, Project 2025 & Who’s Really in Charge
Welcome to Raising Tomorrow: Democracy, Decisions & Our Children’s Future. I’m Karen Mulzac Watkins — mom, former elected official, education advocate.
Today we’re diving into something far bigger than headlines: the federal government shutdown, what it means when the machinery of democracy stops, and how it ties right back to Project 2025 — the plan to centralize power behind the scenes.
“When the lights go off in Washington, the bills keep coming at your kitchen table.”
This episode will walk through:
1️⃣ How a shutdown happens and what a “clean” funding bill means.
2️⃣ Who had the votes, what could have been done, and how Republicans & the Trump administration essentially caused it.
3️⃣ How this impacts your life — from food benefits to flights to federal workers.
And we’ll ask some hard questions: If Republicans really cared about Americans, why didn’t they just vote to keep the government open?
Let’s get started.
https://www.facebook.com/raisingtomorrowshow/
References:
- Heritage Foundation – Project 2025 Overview (heritage.org)
- ACLU – Project 2025 Explained (aclu.org)
- CBS News – What Is Project 2025? (cbsnews.com)
- Center for American Progress – FAQ About Project 2025 (americanprogress.org)
- Democracy Forward – People’s Guide to Project 2025 (democracyforward.org)
- U.S. Department of Education – FY 2025 Budget Summary
- National Center for Education Statistics – Title I Funding Overview (2023)
- Heritage Foundation – Project 2025: Mandate for Leadership (2024)
- American Progress – “Project 2025 Would Destroy Checks and Balances” (2024)
- Brookings Institution – “Growth of Executive Power” (2024)
- Congressional Research Service – IF12724 & R48523 (2023–2025)
- Reuters – “Trump Administration Must Fully Fund Food Aid Amid Shutdown” (Nov 2025)
- CBS6 Albany – “Judge Orders SNAP Funding; Vance Calls It Absurd” (Nov 2025)
- Bloomberg – “FAA Announces Nationwide Flight Reductions Amid Government Shutdown” (Nov 2025)
- Reuters – “How the U.S. Is Eating Trump’s Tariffs” (Oct 2025)
- USDA – “Trump Administration Expands Beef Imports from Argentina” (Nov 2025)
- BBC – “Trump Meets Hungary’s Viktor Orbán Amid Power ...