Get ready for an hour and thirty-two minutes of thoughtfully curated interviews and jaw dropping political satire in, “Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins”, released in 2019 and created by Janice Engel to honor the willful honesty and unforgettable voice of Molly Ivins. In 1970’s America, there was a strong undertone of misogynistic and right-wing conservative narratives in media and journalism were heavily controlled by men.

Queue, stage right, and enter Molly Ivins – the fast-talking, spit-balling, whiskey-driven book worm, and socialite daughter of Texas elite oil tycoon Jim Ivins, who Molly nicknamed “The General”. Many said that the dissatisfaction her father expressed over her career choices alternatively brought her exuberant joy and pleasure in displeasing him. In an archived interview saying, ”It may be that my politics are the result of some teenage rebellion that’s lasted for 35 years.”

Molly’s readers couldn’t get enough of the humor and candor she used to shine light on corruption within Texas legislature and the elected officials within it. Molly started her career in the early 1960’s, and quickly faced pushback for covering civil-rights issues and topics that editors deemed to be unfitting for a female.

Inspired by her mentor John Henry Faulk, Molly became unstoppable – even by her editors. And became a national sensation ultimately going on to be published in printed newspapers all over the country. She even unofficially advised president Clinton, who she still went on to publicly shame along with his predecessor, George W. Bush in her book titled, SHRUB.

The documentary leaves you with an extremely vulnerable and relatable Molly Ivins, who after a full career in journalism watching the ups and downs of politics and poking holes in lie after lie, ends with a fear that Texas politics would soon overtake the nation’s politics. Before losing her battle with cancer, Molly openly asked citizens of America to save our country and pushback against immoral, harmful policies and the officials passing them. What would Molly Ivins think of the world in politics today?

Watch this documentary for free with a Butte County Library card on the Kanopy app!