Hey Gritty Kitties. Welcome to Catty Chats from Cat Ladies for America where we talk to people who are trying to make things suck less in new and interesting ways.

In this episode we talk to Anne Lehman of the fames Smitten Kitten in Minneapolis: The adult sex toy shop & community hub were at the heart of a lot of the mutual aid and community resistance organizing in Minneapolis at the height of Metro Surge, continue to be, and were before Metro Surge came to town

We catch up with Anne to talk about not just things that happened back in December January February of 2026 but also what is still going on there. How desperately they need help. How while ice may have changed how many photo ops they take they are still decimating the community

They are also decimating the economy of that community. Destruction of property. There are businesses that can't find workers. There are all kinds of residual effects.

So what do they need now? An important thing to learn since this sort of siege & attack on how communities function is going happen in cities and counties on some level across in the United States.

And we also god damn it have some f*cking fun.

We have a new segment called 9 Vibes that I started with Anne cause I know her well enough to take a flyer on this one
We're gonna be doing it in every episode
called “9 vibes” - nine questions things like what is your laser pointer, and who's giving off Big Cat Energy.

Anne and I talk about how sometimes against our will we both wind up being the kind of optimist who think we should go ahead and try to put a show on in the barn.

But remember: everybody's gotta take a break sometimes. Once in a while you just gotta scream into a pillow or just out loud in the street just scream out loud in the street everyone will understand. I bet nobody would give you a moment's trouble if you just stood out in the street and yelled “everything this f*cking sucks!” In fact I might try it tomorrow

We also have a lot of ADHD fever dream going on between the two of us.

This episode is also an interesting behind the scenes look at how they got started in mutual aid long before metrosurge

And despite ourselves we have some f*cking fun.

Claws OUT! MEOW

#ice #icedetention #minneapolis #minnesota #election2026 #mutualaid

Hey Gritty Kitties. Welcome to another episode of CATTY CHATS. Where we speak to people trying to make things suck less in new and interesting ways. This week we're speaking to immigrant & civil rights activist, wife, mother & fellow Jersey girl, GABY SOTO.

Gaby was at the heart of the advocacy for detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark NJ weeks and months before the hunger & labor strike and accompanying support by outside advocates left a peak around Memorial Day weekend 2026. She started just trying to get a hearing & release for her husband, Martin, who was held despite no prior criminal record and being in the immigration process.

We wanted to do a long form interview to hear in more detail the story of her and her family, the community that helped her and that she helped right back and where do we go now that the noise has settled down. Their story reflects so many others, including how the cruelty is the point, the coercion and violation of laws and rights used to try to get people with a right to be here to give up, the insane profit taking off the backs of detainees required to work for often as little as a dollar a day, and so many other injustices.

We also discuss the disappointments she encountered working with some elected officials, how they protected ICE and not protestors, citizens and families and so much more. Most importantly, we discuss where we go from here.

And yet, she has so much hope - and even joy and motivation to help others. This is really the perfect story to hear and questions to reflect upon as we head into the 250th anniversary of the United States.

HELP DETAINEES & SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW JERSEY:

COSECHA NJ

Detention Center Commissary and Communication Fund
FOODFORNJ.ORG
SOMA Mutual Aid Collective Grocery Cards
Gov Sherrill & Sens Kim & Booker Contacts

HELP GABY & THE SOTO FAMILY DIRECTLY WITH LEGAL FIGHTS & EXPENSES
Petition to allow Martin Soto to await his further immigration process outside detention
Gaby's Venmo for expenses: @gabrielasoto-ve
Vote for their daughter for Toddler of the Year

Hey, Gritty Kitties! Welcome to another episode of "Catty Chats"

Today we are talking to Oye Owolewa who is running for a DC City Council at large seat.

He first came to my attention because he was doing a lot of work
protesting the new ICE headquarters that is slated to be constructed in the 8th Ward of Washington DC.

The people of DC has been going through a lot of their own special struggles
because they have fewer rights than other states, counties, or cities because they do not have voting representation in Congress which is connected to a myriad of other ways they are not allow to make their own decisions and control their own destiny.

Just one example: The President of the United Statesis the head of the National Guard of Washington DC and you can remember perhaps
how that is a problem when you have things that happen like say
January 6th.

We get into many of the nooks and crannies of how dangerous it is for ALL of us that the people of DC are singled out to have taxation without representation, despite states with smaller populations having at least one congressperson and two Senators - and that's the just the tip of the iceberg.

Learn more about this pharmacist turned first Nigerian American elected to Federal Office and fighter for DC sovereignty & safety at https://www.vote4oye.com/

CLAWS OUT!