Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Trump’s Ticking Time Bomb

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In this Episode:

Lawyer and former federal prosecutor Subodh Chandra joins us to help wrap our minds around the myriad legal challenges Trump is currently facing, from the January 6 hearings to the multiple investigations taking place in several jurisdictions. Subodh breaks down what a federal search warrant signals, and how much leeway Trump has been given so far to comply with the rule of law (hint: a lot). 

Subodh’s explanation of the current state of Trump’s criminal investigations—and his overall optimism that our nation’s justice system will prevail—left us feeling fairly hopeful that the former president will, in fact, be held accountable for his crimes, and that we can rest assured that the levers meant to protect and ensure a functioning democracy have not completely disappeared.

REFERENCES:

Subodh Chandra - @SubodhChandra

Chandra Law

Documentary

137 Shots  2021, TV-MA

In this documentary, law enforcement faces scrutiny as Americans demand justice after police violence claims multiple Black lives in Cleveland.

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Analyzing Elections in Living Color

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In This Episode:

We discuss the political power of Black people and other people of color, who, when factored into the math, have the ability to tip the scale in this year’s midterms. Our resident data scientist Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega joins us to help explain some of the most significant takeaways that surface when we apply a race-conscious perspective to existing election analyses.

References:

Equis Research - 2020 Post-Mortem

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Why Ohio Is Trending Red: Conversation with David Pepper

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In This Episode:

Former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper joins us to discuss the state of U.S. politics through the lens of Ohio. David shares the work he’s done to hold the line against the disturbing trend of autocracy emerging across the state and in national politics at large. He breaks down the role state houses play in either helping or hurting our democracy. 

We also discuss David’s new book Laboratories of Autocracy, in which he outlines the dangerous strategic shift and development of white nationalism across the country—a backlash he attributes to the election of the first Black President.

REFERENCES:

David Pepper - @DavidPepper

Stacey Abrams

All In: Fight for Democracy

David Pepper’s Books

The People’s House (2016)

The Wingman (2018)

The Voter File (2020)

The Laboratories of Autocracy (2021)

A Simple Choice (2022)

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Lessons from the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement

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In this episode:

LGBTQ+ rights activist Julie Dorf joins us to share how she and a coalition of ragtag organizers created the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in the 90s, her role in and lessons learned during the struggle for marriage equality, and why she’s listening to her own “queer spawn” and younger activists on how to move forward in these times.

References:

Julie Dorf - @JulieDorf

Council for Global Equality

OutRight Action International

Act Up

Queer Nation

Roseanne episode - “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Mandela Barnes Final

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In this episode:

Lt. Governor of Wisconsin Mandela Barnes joins us to discuss his bid to become the first Black Senator from Wisconsin. He shares his working class roots as the son of union members and why the Senate needs more leaders who aren’t afraid to do what’s right and fight for social justice.

We discuss his 2018 race in which he became the first African American lieutenant governor in the state. We also find out how he came to have such a powerful name.

References:

Mandela Barnes - @TheOtherMandela - Mandela Barnes for Senate

Donate to Mandela Here

Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Plan

Nelson Mandela Wiki

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Art & Activism With Saxophonist Francis Wong

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IN THIS EPISODE:

To close out Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, San Francisco-based saxophonist and longtime activist Francis Wong joins us to talk about the revolutionary power of music and art. He shares how he came to pick up a saxophone in the first place and how music, especially jazz,  has played an important role in his activist work.

We discuss the role of multiracial unity and collective power in art and the ongoing fight for social justice in this country. Francis shares about his album with legendary drummer Max Roach and the record label he founded with composer and pianist Jon Jang, Asian Improv Arts. We also play excerpts from Francis’ extensive musical works.

REFERENCES:

Francis Wong - @franciswongsf

Asian Improv aRts 

Songs

Prayers for Melvin Truss

“Pie Jesu" from Gabriel Faure's "Requiem" 

Meditation on Integration

Miyoshi Sketches

Background Info

Chinese Exclusion Act 

Joseph Pierce, Union Army Soldier

Black Arts Movement 

Erhu instrument 

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In this Episode:

Pennsylvania State Representative Summer Lee joins us to talk about her race to become the first Black woman representing western Pennsylvania in the U.S. House; why her race is significant to the national progressive movement as a whole; and how she continues to overcome obstacles thrown at her from Republicans and mainstream Democrats alike.

REFERENCES:

Donate to Summer Lee Directly Here

@SummerforPA

Summer Lee for Congress (Watch Braddock video here)

Braddock, PA Wiki

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Midterms Update Q2

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In this Episode:

You want to contribute and we want to help you do it wisely. We explain why donating to Stacey Abrams’s  campaign is the most significant way to help Democrats transform the balance of power in this country this midterm cycle. We explain how her campaign can change Georgia (and the country) forever and shine a light on the groundwork being laid in Arizona to make it true Blue, and why you should be supporting the efforts there as well. We also highlight some vulnerable Republican incumbents in California who should be worried about holding their House seat come this fall.

Q2 is underway and you know what that means…prom season! Julie also joins the pod to give an inside scoop into high school “prama” (prom trauma and prom drama) before we dive into how to spend your political contributions this quarter. 

References:

Where to Give

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · How Georgia Flipped: Journalist Greg Bluestein on GAPolitics

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IN THIS EPISODE:

Greg Bluestein, Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s political reporter, joins us to break down Georgia’s political landscape from the Shakespearean-style drama that is GA’s Republican Party right now to Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign centered around expanding Medicaid.

Greg also shares his view as a longtime reporter of Stacey’s trajectory from her start in the state legislature to 2018 and current campaign to her legacy as “President of United Earth” on Star Trek. We discuss how exactly Democrats won Georgia in 2020, and the hidden figures of Georgia state politics.

REFERENCES:

Greg Bluestein - @bluestein

Greg Bluestein – Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power

“Politically Georgia” - podcast

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Talkin’ about Ketanji Brown Jackson

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IN THIS EPISODE:

We’re keeping it in the family as Steve’s niece Courtney Teasley joins the podcast to talk politics and pop culture from Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings to last week’s drama at the Oscars.

Courtney shares her experience of Jackson’s confirmation hearings and why Senator Cory Booker’s defense was so heartwarming. Uncle Steve breaks down his latest piece in The Guardian that grounds Republicans’ racist and misogynist attacks against Judge Jackson in historical facts.

We also discuss Courtney’s work as campaign manager for Khadija Babb who is running for judge in Davidson County, Tennessee.

REFERENCES:

Courtney Teasley - @cteasleylawfirm

Khadija Babb - @BabbForJudge

Article

The Guardian // Steve Phillips – Ketanji Brown Jackson hearing reveals Republicans’ racist fears

Book

Black Robes, White Justice by Bruce Wright

History

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Forrest & Maples Slave Dealers Advertisement

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IN THIS EPISODE:

Michael Tubbs, California Governor Newsom’s new “Anti-Poverty Czar” and former mayor of Stockton, CA, returns to our podcast to update us on his new book, The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home, his growing family, and his latest venture, EPIC (End Poverty in California).

He and Steve discuss the false and harmful perceptions against poor people, creative solutions to building wealth for all Americans, and the disproportionate impact of poverty on foster youth.

Michael also provides an update on the network he founded a few years ago called Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and how ending poverty in California can provide a roadmap for the rest of the country.

REFERENCES:

Michael Tubbs - @MichaelDTubbs

Organizations

End Poverty in California (EPIC)

Mayors for a Guaranteed Income

The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED)  

The Atlantic // Annie Lowrey – A Cheap, Race-Neutral Way to Close the Racial Wealth Gap

LA Times // Mackenzie Mays – Nearly a century after Upton Sinclair’s campaign, is California really ready to end poverty?

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom // Press Release – Former Stockton Mayor Michael D. Tubbs Named Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity

Michael Tubbs – The Deeper the Roots

Martin Luther King, Jr. – Where Do We Go From Here

Lorraine Hansberry – A Raisin in the Sun

Maid - Netflix Show

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Aimee Allison on the Power of Women of Color

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IN THIS EPISODE:

It’s a family reunion! Aimee Allison, founder of She the People and Democracy in Color’s former president (and original founder and host of this podcast), returns to reminisce and reflect with Steve and Sharline.

Aimee shares how She the People—a national network of women of color dedicated to transforming our country’s democracy and elevating the political voice and leadership of women of color—has been strategizing with women of color candidates this midterm election cycle. She reminds us that Democrats cannot win without women of color, who make up 20% of our nation’s population. 

Steve, Sharline, and Aimee discuss Biden’s historic nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson as our nation’s first Black woman Supreme Court justice and its significance during this year’s Women’s History Month.

Aimee also reflects on her time in the U.S. military and her choice to become a conscientious objector at the start of the Gulf War, and she offers her thoughts on the Russia-Ukraine war.

REFERENCES:

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · The First Black Woman Supreme Court Justice

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IN THIS EPISODE:

The first Black woman Supreme Court Justice is very likely somewhere prepping for her confirmation hearing right now. We discuss the news of Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement and Biden’s promise to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court. 

Steve, Sharline and Julie talk through the significance of this historic nomination, the potential candidates, and what Biden should take into consideration as he decides. Steve and Sharline also learn a lot about Julie, including finding out she was in the room where it happened while Anita Hill testified at Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearing in 1991.

REFERENCES:

Business Insider // Brent D. Griffiths – Reagan's White House made sure the president stuck by his promise to name a woman to the Supreme Court — they knew the politics would help too

CNN // Ron Brownstein – The surprising liberal consensus emerging about Biden's Supreme Court decision

Steve Phillips – Obama Should Nominate a Woman of Color to Replace Scalia on the Supreme Court

Democracy in Color Podcast - Trump is in Trouble

History // Sarah Pruitt – How Anita Hill’s Testimony Made America Cringe—And Change

Shows

Eyes on the Prize documentary. Find it on HBO and PBS
Summer of Soul. Find it on Hulu.

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · How to Win with Georgia's Bee Nguyen

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IN THIS EPISODE:

The Secretary of State race in Georgia will play a consequential role this election cycle and beyond. That’s why Rep. Bee Nguyen, Stacey Abrams’ successor and the first Asian American woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly, is running to fill that seat.

Bee joins us to discuss the Senate’s failure to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation, the history of voter suppression in Georgia, and why she’s running to be the first Asian American to hold statewide office in the Peach State. She also shares how she celebrated this Lunar New Year.

Happy Year of the Tiger!

REFERENCES:

Representative Bee Nguyen - @BeeforGeorgia - Website

Stacey Abrams - Website

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - @aaaj_atlanta - Website

Tết - Lunar New Year

Articles

Atlanta Magazine // Kelsey Gee – “We cannot out organize a subversion of democracy”: Democratic rising star Bee Nguyen is vying to be Georgia’s next elections chief

Brennan Center for Justice – Voting Laws Roundup: October 2021

MSNBC // Steve Benen – Trump-backed Republicans want to oversee upcoming state elections

NBCnews // Claire Wang – How Georgia's 1st Vietnamese American state rep is continuing Stacey Abrams' fight

The Slate // Jeremy Stahl – The 2022 Races That Could Determine if Trump Steals the Election in 2024

USA Today // Phillip M. Bailey – In 2022 midterms, a new 'Big Lie' battleground: secretary of state elections

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Redistricting 101

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In this Episode:

As redistricting maps get finalized across the country, Democrats are in better shape than most pundits predicted following the 2020 election. Steve, Sharline and Julie share updates on the redistricting process and dive into the numbers to highlight how and where Democrats should focus their energy and investment to win this year.

We also discuss what’s wrong with the commonly held belief that the President’s party always suffers in the midterms. And Steve shares important takeaways from his latest article in The Guardian on the fight for voting rights.

REFERENCES:

Martin Luther King Jr. quotes

“So the great stumbling block and a stride toward freedom is not the white citizens counselor or the Ku Klux Klan or but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice, who prefers a negative peace, which is the absence of tension to a positive peace, which is the presence of justice who constantly says, I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action.”

“The white backlash of today is rooted in the same problem that has characterized America ever since the black man landed in chains on the shores of this nation.”

Nikole Hannah-Jones – @nhannahjones Twitter Thread

The Cook Political Report // David Wasserman – Redistricting Snapshots: Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina

FiveThirtyEight // Geoffrey Skelley and Nathaniel Rakich  –  Why The President’s Party Almost Always Has A Bad Midterm   

Loyola Law School  – What is Redistricting? 

NBCnews // Rebecca Shabad – Wave of retirements rocks Democrats' hopes of holding the House

NPR // Carol Ritchie, Rachel Treisman, Nell Clark and Chris Hopkins – Start your day here: Senate Democrats force a showdown over voting rights measures

The New York Times // Nick Corasaniti, Reid J. Epstein, Taylor Johnston, Rebecca Lieberman, and Eden Weingart  – How Maps Reshape American Politics  

MSNBC // Jonathan Capehart – The Bye Line: Don’t Sit Out the Midterms  

The Washington Post // Dan Balz – Ohio voters asked for fairness in redistricting. They didn’t get it.

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · One Year Later: The Attempted Coup That Couldn’t Stop The Rise

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In this Episode:

One year after the deadly insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021 in the U.S. Capitol, Steve, Sharline and Fola reflect on the failed attempted coup. Steve provides an update on his forthcoming book, How We Win the Civil War, and draws parallels between the Civil War era and this current moment in history. Fola also shares her view on the rise of Black women in politics and media, from Stacey Abrams to writer and director Issa Rae, and the significance of Black women’s visibility. CW: adult language.

References:

Baltimore Plot

Vox // Zack Beauchamp – How does this end? Where the crisis in American democracy might be headed.

The Undefeated // Evette Dionne – Black women are more visible than ever. Now what?

The Lily // Sarah Fowler – The Capitol riot was uniquely traumatic for congresswomen of color: ‘We knew that we were targets’

The Paris Review // David L. Uline – Claudia Rankine, The Art of Poetry No. 102

The Nation // Steve Phillips – Texas Is Winnable. Beto’s the Candidate to Do It.

HBO TV series – Insecure

HBO Documentary – Insecure the end

Stacey Abrams, Candidate for Governor, GA

Cheri Beasley, Candidate for Senate, NC

Val Demings, Candidate for Senate, FL

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Suzanne Gamboa

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In This Episode:

Veteran journalist Suzanne Gamboa, of NBC.com, joins us on our last podcast episode of the year to discuss immigration and U.S.-Mexico relations, Texas’ growing status as a political battleground especially in the upcoming midterms, and the importance of the Latino vote.

We also discuss her path to journalism and how and why she helped create the race and ethnicity beat at the Associated Press during her time there. She also shares what shows she’s watching as she winds down the year.

References:

Suzanne Gamboa - @SuzGamboa

Articles
NBCnews.com // Suzanne Gamboa and Nicole Acevedo – Where do Latinos live? The census shows population growth where you least expect it
The New York Times // Simon Romero, Manny Fernandez and Mariel Padilla – Massacre at a Crowded Walmart in Texas Leaves 20 Dead
NBCnews.com // Suzanne Gamboa – El Paso, grieving after the Walmart massacre targeting Latinos, now battles coronavirus

TV Series
Netflix - “Gentefied”

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Questions from the Audience

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IN THIS EPISODE:

You asked, we answered. From the increasing weaponization of “critical race theory” to the ongoing discrepancy between what Democrats say about turnout vs. what they actually do, Steve, Sharline and Julie answer your questions on air and attempt to make sense of the latest in political news including last week’s election day results. 

Also, our podcast turned two! The team reflects on the last two years of producing the “Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips” podcast and we catch you up on Steve’s latest writing across the web.   

REFERENCES:

Jesse Jackson 1988 Democratic National Convention - Speech

Justin Bibb, Cleveland Mayor-Elect - @BibbForCLE

Michelle Wu 吳弭, Boston Mayor-Elect - @wutrain

Articles

The Guardian // Steve Phillips – Democratic strategists are embracing ‘popularism’. But they’ve got it wrong

The Guardian // Steve Phillips – How big a deal is Biden’s infrastructure bill? Our panel responds

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In this Episode:

The U.S. is “not a nation of immigrants” despite popular opinion, especially among many Democrats. In this episode, we speak with acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz about her newest book Not A Nation of Immigrants: Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy, and a History of Erasure and Exclusion. Founder of Advance Native Political Leadership Anathea Chino also joins us to discuss the growing political power of Indigenous people across the country.

Roxanne and Anathea share their own politicization stories and their opinions on the growing trend of land acknowledgments. We also discuss the increased representation of Native people in shows like FX’s Reservation Dogs and Peacock TV’s Rutherford Falls.

References:

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz - @rdunbaro
Not "A Nation of Immigrants": Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy, and a History of Erasure and Exclusion - Website

Anathea Chino - @anatheabc
Advance Native Political Leadership - @AdvanceNativePL.

FX on Hulu - Reservation Dogs

Peacock - Ruthorford Falls

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Who and Where to Watch in 2022 Midterms

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In this Episode:

Ahead of the 2022 midterms, we survey the landscape of key races in battleground states and discuss why they matter, as well as which exciting candidates to watch. We explain how Democrats can break the “midterm curse” and why investing in voters of color across the South and Southwest is the way to win next year.

We also dive into a brief commentary on sports and racial justice as we discuss the recent resignation of former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. Turns out you can’t "End racism” with a backlog of racist emails.

References:

One Arizona - @OneArizona

Montserrat Arrendondo - @Montsevida8

LUCHA Arizona - @LUCHA_AZ

Alex Gomez - @Gomez_Alex07

Tomas Robles - @TomasRobles14

Stacey Abrams - @staceyabrams

Rafael Warnock - @SenatorWarnock

Bee Nguyen - @BeeForGeorgia

Cheryl Beasley @CherylBeasleyNC

Val Demings - @valdemings

Lina Hidalgo - @LinaHidalgoTX 

Mandela Barnes - @TheOtherMandela

Articles 

The Nation // Steve Phillips – Primary Krysten Sinema - She’s Actively Alienationg the Very Voters that Make Up the Coalition that Elected Her

Democracy in Color // Fola Onifade – Black Candidates Will Help Democrats Win These 4 Swing Senate Seats in 2022  

The New York Times // Ken Belson and Katherine Rosman - Raiders Coach Resigns After Homophobic and Misogynistic Emails

CNN // Steve Almasy with contributions from Jill Martin and Jason Hanna – Jon Gruden has resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after reports of homophobic, racist and misogynistic emails

“SNL” - White Like Me with Eddie Murphy 

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