Photo by Kaitlyn Austin and Casi Bjorgaard

With ICE detainments increasing by the day and traffic stops contributing to the danger of deportation, the Kansas City Democratic Socialists of America offers an opportunity to keep the community safe through their free Break Light Repair Clinic. 

The Kansas City DSA initially got this idea from the New Orleans DSA, which started the Brake Light Repair Clinic to reduce detention and police violence in the wake of the death of Philando Castile in 2016, all because of a traffic stop. Now that police are working with ICE, the need for community involvement has only become greater. 

“I joined the KCDSA this year, and I started getting involved and going to different events,” says Jacob Wallace, a volunteer with the KCDSA. “I work as a mechanic, and I thought that seemed like the perfect way to give back to my community. I didn’t have any real drive to get involved with them until recently, just due to the state of the world and how things have deteriorated with this current administration. I felt like I needed to get involved and do something, instead of sitting at home being anxious about everything. ” 

The Brake Light Repair Clinic is part of a bigger KCDSA local grassroots campaign called KC ICE Free, which focuses on protecting the community, getting people involved in canvassing, and making sure people know their rights.

Another way the KCDSA ensures the safety of our immigrant neighbors is Know Your Rights canvassing, which spreads useful information that people can use if they run into ICE, as well as the Monarch Pledge. This pledge is available for businesses and employers to sign, committing to a coalition of professional support against ICE. 

“KC Ice Free specifically seems to be one of the most active groups in the area that’s actually trying to help out the community,” explains Wallace. “For my job as a mechanic, I try to hold myself to a good standard and help people out as best as I can, but ultimately I am still operating within the structure of taking people’s money for a profit. In a way, the Brake Light Clinic helps me mentally just be like: ‘Ok, I am using my powers for good.’” 

For Wallace and other volunteers at the KCDSA, the main priority is to make the community safer. This isn’t just a job, it’s a service that creates a personal connection between volunteer and visitor. 

Photo by Kaitlyn Austin and Casi Bjorgaard

“We’ve heard so many people say this is what community should be like; it’s looking out for and trying to protect one another, especially because of situations caused by ICE,” says Wallace. “It’s also just nice to talk to people and get them acquainted with the DSA and our efforts, and show them we’re not just a glorified book club. We’re actively trying to make things better in the world.”

If you wish to get involved, you can volunteer at the next Free Brake Light Repair Clinic on July 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Good Shepherd United Methodist in Kansas City, MO, join in canvassing for the Monarch Pledge, or you can donate here. Check out the Kansas City Democratic Socialists of America’s website to learn of even more ways to help protect our community, or to join as a member. 

Juno Temple, Abbie Hern, Jeremy Swift, Jason Sudeikis, and Brendan Hunt attend a press conference and welcome fans to “Ted Lasso” Night fan event at CPCK Stadium in Kansas City // Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV

Before season four of Ted Lasso premieres on Apple TV on August 5, the cast stopped by CPKC Stadium on July 11 to celebrate with fans of the show and hold a press conference.

A portion of the upcoming season was filmed in Kansas City during the summer of 2025. Those lucky enough to have been in the area for those few weeks might’ve caught some of the action on the Country Club Plaza, where the retail store Jonny Was had been cosmetically converted to “Dazzle Me Moi” for filming. An added surprise was the cast coming out on stage to join Mumford & Sons in concert at Azura Amphitheatre on July 24, 2025, to join in performing the show’s title song. 

This weekend’s cast visit included Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”), Juno Temple (“Keeley Jones”), Brendan Hunt (“Coach Beard”), Jeremy Swift (“Leslie Higgins”), and Abbie Hern (“Gemma”), who dished about their return to Kansas City as well as teased themes and moments from the upcoming season. 

Season four sees Ted return to Richmond to coach a second division women’s football team and tackle the accompanying challenges of sexism, funding, and more with his signature sunny outlook. In addition to myriad Kansas City references that will delight locals, that cheery depth is an element that Sudeikis hopes Midwestern viewers will relate to. 

“There has been, from the get-go, a spirit of openness and enthusiasm, and certainly chattiness with my character that feels unique to the places we had the opportunity to grow up,” says Sudeikis. “There’s a congeniality there that can sometimes be confused, even though it’s kind and open, as being innocent and maybe even naive. I found that to not always be the case, and I hope folks back home will recognize that too. I think that’s one of the inside jokes, along with the [Gates Bar-B-Q, KC Current, etc] references.”

From the start of the show, there wasn’t a plan to film in Kansas City. In fact, the show’s story was wrapped up after season three, but just in case the series did continue, a few potential segues were included. 

Hunt explains that the show was always about the definition of home, to some degree, and due to the fact that “sneaky, sneaky little Wizard of Oz stuff [kept] happening,” the filming of both Sudeikis and character Ted’s home ended up organically coming together. 

The shift to women’s soccer was a practical choice for the writers, according to Hunt. He shared that the focus on a women’s team was specifically important to Sudeikis, and that a shift was also needed for the show to feel authentic. “We were starting to really test the limits of suspension of disbelief in terms of some of our players like being in their 30s and never having transferred from the team. That’s a little too much loyalty for a soccer team. That has allowed us the gift of not exactly starting from scratch, but at least feeling like it,” says Hunt.

Courtesy Apple TV

Temple’s enthusiasm matched her beloved character’s when discussing the feeling of being back in CPKC Stadium.

“It feels like the perfect moment to be talking about women’s football and really representing it. We actually got to film in the first-ever stadium built solely for women’s sports, in Kansas City. I had an experience walking into this stadium and through the halls here, and I was really moved; I didn’t know that was possible,” Temple says.

But soccer isn’t the only cultural element connecting the Ted Lasso characters. Jeremy Swift has been pleased to have visited Kansas City twice for his work on Ted Lasso, as he shares his character Leslie’s affinity for jazz: 

“Kansas City has always been legendary because when I was in my teens, I discovered Charlie Parker, and I think he was the greatest recorded musician that has ever been. I think he’s a genius. And I was lucky enough to work with Robert Altman, who was also from Kansas City, and I think he’s a genius, and I think Jason Sudeikis is pretty genius… so there’s something in the water here.”

The local nods continue as Lawrence, KS actress, educator, and influential theater local Jeanne Averill makes her debut in the Season 4 premiere of Ted Lasso. A free community watch party will be held at Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering in Lawrence on the show’s premiere date, August 5, at 8 p.m.