Season 7, Episode 4: Jenny McGrath, Rebecca Walston and Danielle S Castillejo on Elections

What are we willing to tolerate to stay close to power—and what would it take to choose something different? In this episode of The Arise Podcast, Rebecca, Jenny, and Danielle move from a candid disagreement about presidential electability into a deeper conversation about white male power, patriarchal violence, consent, and collective responsibility.

Rebecca asks what kinds of leadership the country is actually willing to accept, while Jenny and Danielle question whether pursuing politically familiar candidates can deliver the change people need. Discussing allegations of sexual violence and group-chat complicity involving Cornell fraternity members, the hosts examine how belonging and proximity to power can become incentives to protect harm. Jenny introduces “patriarchal bargaining,” Rebecca challenges the idea that bystanders bear no responsibility, and Danielle explores how people separate their stated morality from their actions through the framework she calls “white psychosis.” Together, they consider the relationship between dissociation, dehumanization, and accountability.

The episode closes with a call to informed, engaged voting: research candidates beyond party labels, follow through on your ballot, and consider how your choices affect those most vulnerable to harm. Throughout the conversation, the hosts return to a central question: What does responsibility require when we are not the people most directly affected?