March Madness may be over but we’re gearing up for a…Narrow November with our very own set of 16 congressional districts that have the potential to flip the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
Data expert Dr. Julie Martínez Ortega joins Steve and Sharline to discuss the updated New Majority Index (NMI) and which districts they’ll be watching closely ahead of November elections.
Lateefah Simon—Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) board member, MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, and Congressional candidate—shares her path to politics, including her work with Vice President Kamala Harris during Harris’ time as San Francisco Attorney General.
Lateefah shares why she decided to run for office and offers insight on how grief has been a catalyst for her political work and activism. She also courageously expresses her thoughts on the war in Gaza and says what few are willing to say.
Lateefah Simon - @lateefahsimon
Sarah Alvarez, founder of Outlier Media, a Detroit-based service journalism organization, shares what she’s hearing on the ground in Michigan following the protest “uncommitted” vote by more than 100,000 people during the state’s recent Democratic presidential primary.
She shares what role today’s journalists must play in filling information gaps at the local level, and why nonprofit news organizations like the one she’s built are needed today.
Sarah, Steve, and Sharline discuss Michigan’s historical significance in the larger scheme of national politics. Sarah draws parallels between the ways politics and journalism-as-usual are failing those who need the most support and deserve the most attention.
Outlier Media - outliermedia.org
Steve and Sharline celebrate the release of the paperback edition of How We Win the Civil War, which comes out Tuesday, March 12. They discuss how the political landscape has changed since the first edition launched in 2022 and why How We Win is more pertinent now than ever.
They also discuss the book’s reception since its first release and the exciting partnerships that have developed with groups and organizations who resonate with How We Win’s message.
Steve shares his hope and vision for this new edition and the parts of the book that have become his favorite.
Buy the second edition of How We Win the Civil War!
Podcast episode: "White People and the Fight for Racial Justice with SURJ's Erin Heaney"
Award-winning journalist and editor-at-large at The 19th News Errin Haines joins us to talk about her game-changing work at the digital news startup centered on gender, politics, and policy.
She also talks about Breaking the News—a documentary that chronicles the origins of The 19th—which debuted on PBS this week.
Errin shares some of the publication’s history-making moments, including her early coverage of the Breonna Taylor killing that brought a gender perspective to the conversation of racism and police brutality. Errin also shared insight into how The 19th nailed the first sit-down interview with Kamala Harris after she made history as the first African American (and Asian American) vice presidential candidate.
Errin also dives into the current election cycle; The 19th’s new fellowship (a partnership with The 1619 Project’s Nikole Hannah Jones); and The 19th’s newest product—“The Amendment” podcast, which Errin hosts.
Solano Community College’s Vice President of Student Affairs Lisa Neeley discusses her work at Solano and the California college’s commitment to Black students and other students of color in the face of increasing backlash against DEI efforts.
Neeley talks about Solano’s programs and processes to ensure equity and inclusion such as the Black Falcons Success Program and her hopes for other higher education programs around the country.
Lisa Neeley - @Lisamarieneeley
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Back for a third episode, former mayor of Stockton, California and friend of our show Michael Tubbs returns to update Steve and Sharline on his inspiring and rapidly growing effort to end poverty in America and to help bring Dr. King’s vision for a just and equitable society to fruition.
Michael talks about his award-winning 2023 documentary “It’s Basic”, which follows several universal basic income (UBI) pilot programs around the country and the successes and challenges they’ve faced along the way. He also describes the growing popularity of UBI in political and pop culture circles, including on the award-winning television sitcom Abbott Elementary.
The founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC) and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), Michael also weighs on this week’s New Hampshire presidential primary results.
March 17, 2022 - "Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips" - Michael Tubbs is the Anti-Poverty Czar
July 23, 2020 - " Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips" - Passing the Baton
In the first of what will be several episodes throughout this year focused on the 2024 election cycle, Steve and Sharline frame up the Republican presidential primary calendar and what they’ll be watching as results roll in.
The New York Times’ Astead Herndon also phones in from Iowa where he’s preparing to cover the Republican Iowa Caucus and discusses the current state of the race, his analysis on the unwavering support of Trump’s base, and what to expect from a potential second Trump presidency.
He also shares his thoughts on Nikki Haley’s appeal with conservatives and the evolving role of race and ethnicity in both parties.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora
2023 has come and gone! If you missed any of our episodes this year, this is the one to tune into as Steve, Sharline, and Fola share highlights from some of their favorite episodes this year. The team also shares what’s on their minds and in their hearts as they look to 2024.
See you in the new year!
Episodes mentioned
Not Your Grandparents’ Greenpeace with ED Ebony Twilley Martin
George Floyd’s America with Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa
White People and the Fight for Racial Justice with SURJ’s Erin Heaney
Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s Beth Broderick on the Power of Storytelling
Are you curious about what a truly powerful (and progressive) alternative political party could look like in the U.S?
National Director of the Working Families Party Maurice Mitchell returns to talk about what it means to create a multiracial and multicultural progressive, working-class party and what that looks like strategically within a two-party system.
He discusses WFP’s 25-year history, the inspiring slate of elected officials they’ve championed, and the party’s first national convention in Philadelphia back in October. Maurice shares his take on the connections between the movements of today and the Civil Rights Movement of 1965 and how he’s thinking about the upcoming election year.
He also shares how he stays connected to his love of music and the artist within.
Maurice Mitchell - @MauriceWFP
Working Families Party - @workingfamilies workingfamilies.org
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Washington Post opinion editor Alexi McCammond dives into the changing digital news landscape and the role of traditional, legacy news media in reaching newer, more diverse (and often, more progressive) audiences.
She sheds light on the disconnect she’s seeing between older left-leaning politicians and young people, and her expectations from a coalition of young voters and people of color as the 2024 election cycle draws closer.
Alexi McCammond - @alexi
Steve Phillips // Washington Post - California Senate race will prove whether Democrats care about diversity
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Former Obama staffer and founder of EquisLabs Stephanie Valencia discusses her path to politics and why Latino voters are the “X factor” in today’s political landscape. She explains how political strategists should think about the expansive and diverse Latino electorate, and what progressives are getting right and wrong about engaging with Latino voters.
She also explains the creation of the Latino Media Network and the targeted effort to reach Latinos where they are, including via radio and WhatsApp.
Stephanie Valencia - @stephanievalenc
EquisLab / @EquisLab / @EquisResearch
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Spooky season is upon us!
Actress and activist Beth Broderick, best known for her role as Aunt Zelda in the 1996 hit TV show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, joins Steve and Sharline to talk about the ongoing actors’ strike, the power of narrative, and her life’s journey at the intersection of politics and entertainment.
Beth discusses her decades-long involvement in progressive and social causes, the legacy of “Sabrina” and shares her thoughts on the future of Hollywood.
Beth Broderick - @BethBroderick
Beth Broderick: Wit and Wisdom from a Woman of a Certain Age - Substack
Beth Broderick // The Huffington Post - The Betrayed
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Steve takes the hot seat as a guest on his own show in this penultimate episode of our special podcast series! Steve and Sharline discuss his forthcoming book How We Win the Civil War and how the concept developed over the last few years.
Sharline shares how she and Steve came to be a book publishing power team, and Steve discusses the formative experiences that have shaped his work and his path to writing (Jesse Jackson quotes, included).
CW: Adult Language
Steve Phillips - @StevePtweets
Steve Phillips // New Press - How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good
Isabel Wilkerson // Random House - Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
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Rhiana Gunn-Wright, a key architect of the Green New Deal and one of our nation’s leading figures in the fight for climate justice, joins the podcast to talk about what a green transition can and should look like in the U.S.
Rhiana shares her path to the climate movement and how the Inflation Reduction Act leaves Black people behind. She also breaks down the importance of policy-making in the greater environmental justice movement.
Rhiana Gunn-Wright - @rgunns
Rhiana Gunn-Wright // Hammer & Hope - Our Green Transition May Leave Black People Behind
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
School is back in session!
Our in-house data expert, Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega, joins Steve and Sharline for a data deep dive into the electoral landscapes of Kentucky and Mississippi, two states in the heartland of America with unique opportunities for Democrats to lean in and win this November.
We also touch on Virginia for a quick discussion about the state legislature races also happening this fall. We wrap with an update on the current slate of Republican presidential candidates, and Steve shares who he thinks poses the biggest threat to Democrats if he or she were to win the Republican presidential primary.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
It’s our 100th episode!
Erin Heaney, executive director of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), joins us to discuss the role of white allyship in the fight for justice and a multiracial democracy.
Erin shares her path to organizing, her hopes for SURJ, and details on the White Stripe Project—a new initiative between the Sandler Phillips Center, the Working Families Party and SURJ focused on increasing the number of white voters committed to progressive causes.
Erin Heaney, Executive Director, SURJ - @heaney_erin
SURJ - @showup4rj and surj.org
"Progressives want to grow the ‘White Stripe’ of a multiracial coalition" Politico
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Eddie Wong, former national field director for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, joins Steve and Sharline to reminisce on the alliance that transcended boundaries of race, gender, and socio-economic status to create a powerful force for change.
Steve, Sharline, and Eddie delve into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that marked the coalition's journey, as well as its influence on shaping today's movements for social justice and equity.
Original coalition members also share personal anecdotes, insights, and reflections on how the Rainbow Coalition ignited a transformative movement that redefined the landscape of social and political activism, and the impact of Reverend Jackson’s visionary leadership in their own lives.
Jesse Jackson 1984 Democratic National Convention Speech
Rainbow Coalition Recordings:
Dr. Amanda Kemp
Pierre Barolette
Theresa Montaño
Ellen Spears
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
Congressmember Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) joins Steve and Fola to talk about his time as an educator, from being a crisis intervention teacher to founding his own school.
He shares what he sees as the role of the Squad; how he got involved with Justice Democrats; and what led him to run for office in the first place. He shares his thoughts on the major issues we’re facing in K-12 education, from attacks on LGBTQ+ youth to the conservative backlash against so-called “critical race theory,” and Republicans’ refusal to take action on gun legislation.
Rep. Bowman also shares what’s giving him hope and answers a very important weight-lifting question.
Representative Jamaal Bowman - @JamaalBowmanNY // IG: jamaalbowmanny
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
In a personal and moving conversation with Sharline, Steve shares the winding, yet connected roads that led to his first keynote speech at the City University of New York’s School of Labor and Urban Studies’ fifth commencement ceremony.
Steve discusses the art and poetry that inspired his speech and the childhood memories that resurfaced as he wrote. In his advice to the graduates entering the workforce at one of the most critical times in our country’s history, he shares key lessons from his time in political and labor movements to his time spent writing How We Win the Civil War. He also honors Susan’s legacy and the friends they gained in their joint effort to make a difference in the world.
CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Commencement 2023
Barbara James-Hogu - "Rise and Take Control"
Margaret Walker - "For My People"
Sonia Sanchez - "Middle Passage"
