In this Episode:

House Rep. Ruben Gallego joins the podcast to talk about his Senate campaign against Republican Kari Lake to replace former Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema and what a path to victory looks like in November.

Recorded well before the most recent political developments, this race remains critical to holding the Senate and being able to govern and advance a progressive agenda in 2025. 

He shares his journey to politics from working with veterans to fighting back against SB1070, aka the “show me your papers” law. He also discusses the impact of the attack on reproductive rights in Arizona and shares why focusing on Arizona’s issues instead of national conversations is the key to winning across the state.

REFERENCES:

Ruben Gallego - @RubenGallego

GallegoforArizona.com

In this Episode:

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.

REFERENCES:

Michael D Tubbs

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

Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Restorative Justice for the Classroom and Beyond

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IN THIS EPISODE:

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.

REFERENCES:

Representative Jamaal Bowman - @JamaalBowmanNY // IG: jamaalbowmanny

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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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 · Nina Turner Sees the Promise in the Problem

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In This Episode:

In this episode, former state senator and congressional hopeful Nina Turner joins us for a moving conversation about the legacy of civil rights leaders in Ohio and across the country and her goal to push their vision forward as a U.S. representative. She shares her political journey from the Ohio state legislature to her leadership at Our Revolution and her tenure as co-chair of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.

Turner discusses why this moment is ripe for bold, progressive change, her historical commitment to the Democratic Party as a fighter for working families in Ohio, and why arguments around “sloganeering” dismiss the importance of demanding better for the collective humanity, as many civil rights leaders have done in the past. 

REFERENCES:

Nina Turner – @ninaturner

“Hello Somebody with Nina Turner” – Podcast 

Nina Turner for Congress – Website

Democracy in Color Launch - Women of Color: Uniting the Party, Leading the Country – Video

Articles

Council on Foreign Relations // James M. Lindsay – The 2020 Election by the Numbers

19th News // Amanda Becker – Exclusive: Ohio’s Nina Turner picks up Ocasio-Cortez endorsement in U.S. House race

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Unapologetic and Authentic: St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones

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IN THIS EPISODE:

In one of the realest and most authentic interviews we’ve had with an elected official, we chat with St. Louis’ first Black woman mayor, Tishaura Jones. In this raw and honest conversation, Mayor Jones speaks straight from the heart about her path to politics; mental health and the dangerous myth of Black women’s “magical” resilience; her vision for public safety, and her love of good bourbon.

REFERENCES:

Tishaura O. Jones @tishaura

#StuffAdenSays

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones @saintlouismayor

TikTok: https://twitter.com/tishaura/status/1237520256861646849?s=20

Articles

Stlmag.com // Power List 2012: 100 People Who Are Shaping St. Louis Today

stlouis-mo.gov // Nick Dunne:

–  Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Signs Executive Order to Strengthen Police Accountability, Collect Corrections Complaints

– Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Passes FY2022 Budget with Amendments, Redirects Excess Police Staffing Budget to Diversion and Support Programs

 – Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Signs Crown Act Into Law, Vetoes Two Tax Abatements

Stlamerican.com // Featured – Tishaura Jones slams Post editorial board while declining interview

The Nation // Jimmy Tobias – Can a Champion of Black Lives Matter Become Mayor of St. Louis?

St. Louis Public Radio // Rachel Lippmann, Maria Altman, Jo Mannies, Jason Rosenbaum –  Alderman Krewson narrowly beats Treasurer Jones in St. Louis' Democratic mayoral primary

St. Louis Public Radio // Ryan Delaney – Treasurer's College Savings Program Has Detractors, But Parents Like It

LA Times // Stephen Caesar – L.A. schools police will return grenade launchers but keep rifles, armored vehicle

Shooting of Michael Brown – Wikipedia

Books
Walter Johnson – The Broken Heart of America: St. Louis and the Violent History of the United States

Richard Rothstein – The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Texas: Queer Cowgirls, Colonias, and Climate Change

In this Episode:

Following the lead of Georgia, a wave of new, fearless progressive leaders has been laying the groundwork for a political revolution in Texas. They’re changing the state's white cowboy narrative and with their leadership, the Lone Star State is poised to upend the political balance of power in America.

In this episode, Texas State Rep. Mary González joins us just mere hours after presiding over an appropriations subcommittee for the state, the 9th largest economy in the world. We discuss the political implications of the 2021 historic winter storm, the progressive power building movement happening in Texas, and the significance of her role as an openly queer woman of color in a historically conservative state.

And you heard it here first: Mary’s story will be a movie one day, starring Salma Hayek!

REFERENCES:

Texas State Rep. Mary González District 75 - @RepMaryGonzalez
Julián Castro - @JulianCastro
Colonia
2019 El Paso mass shooting
1835 Texas Revolution

Film/Actor References
The Hurricane - 1999 Film with Denzel Washington
Lonesome Dove - 1989 Mini Series with Robert Duvall
Salma Hayek

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In this Episode:

With the recent passing of Civil Rights legends Congressman John Lewis and Reverend C.T. Vivian, many people are focusing on who will take the baton of leadership and carry it forward. In today’s episode, we are joined by two of the country’s most inspirational young leaders — Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs and Stockton First Partner Anna Malaika Nti-Asare-Tubbs whose work will be featured in a new HBO documentary, “Stockton On My Mind,” which debuts July 28th. From Universal Basic Income to fighting for gender justice to being new parents, Michael and Anna discuss their respective and collective work to carry on the struggle for justice and equality.

References:

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs - @MichaelDTubbs
Stockton 1st Partner Anna Malaika Nti-Asare-Tubbs - @annas_tea_

Video Clips

Washington University in St. Louis - U.S. Rep John Lewis on Bloody in Selma
Visionary Project - C.T. Vivian: Freedom Rides
The Obama White House - President Obama Delivers Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches
The Obama White House - The Benediction at the Inauguration of Obama by Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery 

Michael Tubbs HBO Documentary

Stockton on my Mind - Television Tues, July 28, 9:00PM PT; On Demand Available Wed, July 29

At age 26, on the same day Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Michael Tubbs became the first African American mayor of his beleaguered hometown of Stockton, California, as well as the youngest mayor of a major American city. Stockton On My Mind, from filmmaker Marc Levin (HBO's One Nation Under Stress, Class Divide) follows Tubbs’ personal and political journey, exploring how growing up amid poverty and violence shaped his vision for innovative change.

Books

Anna Malaika Nti-Asare-Tubbs - The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation

In her groundbreaking and essential debut, Scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America's most pivotal heroes: Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin.

Martin Luther King Jr. - Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?
Connie Schultz - . . . and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man

Reports

San Joaquin Community Data Co-op in partnership with Anna Nti-Asare-Tubbs and Sukhi Samra // Report on the Status of Women 2018

Organizations: 

Economic Security Project 
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income 
Stockton Strong
Stockton Scholars

Other Authors and Writings

Steve Phillips - Justice and Hope: Past Reflections and Future Visions of the Stanford Black Student Union, 1967-1989.
Prof. Clayborne Carson - Martin Luther King Papers Project 
Author Paulo Freire

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Elizabeth Warren Talks Anti-Racism

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In this Episode:

As the nation continues to protest anti-Black police violence, including the recent killing of Rayshard Brooks, we sit down with Sen. Elizabeth Warren for a special episode to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, the potential for reparations, and what white allies should do in this moment.

“White progressives need to be active, anti-racist allies in this moment and beyond,” Warren says. “Being anti-racist means fighting for anti-racist public policy. Being race neutral just won't work.”

Our wide-ranging conversation begins with Sen. Warren’s response to the police killing of George Floyd, the ongoing global and national protests and how Congress is responding. We also discuss the prevalence of racism in virtually every American institution.

References:

Senator Warren - @SenWarren
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Website
Author Ta-Nehisi Coates - Website

Press Releases:

Warren to Introduce Legislation to Investigate and Hold Police Officers and Departments Accountable for Discriminatory Practices
Booker Reparations Bill Reaches 12 Senate Cosponsors
Elizabeth Warren and Ro Khanna Unveil Essential Workers Bill of Rights

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IN THIS EPISODE:

Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan's lieutenant governor, talks to us about life on the frontlines in a battleground state that is dealing all at once with the COVID-19 crisis, armed protesters storming the Capitol demanding the lifting of stay-at-home orders, and ensuring a safe and fair Fall election in a state Trump won by just 10,704 votes. [8:15]

Gilchrist, a 38 year-old political rising star, also shares with us the story behind his unlikely path from Microsoft software engineer to second-in-command state leader, the first African American to ever hold the position. Gilchrist is chair of the recently created Michigan Coronavirus Taskforce on Racial Disparities, one of the first taskforces of its kind in the country.

We also talk about how the indifference coming from the White House in the face of catastrophic human suffering reveals the lack of a shared “social contract” when it’s the lives of people of color that are being disproportionately affected, and we discuss the implications for progressive politics and policy.

References:

Garlin Gilchrist - @Garlin and @LtGovGilchrist
Gretchen Whitmer - @GovWhitmer
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun - @DrKhaldun
Ron Meloni - Audio Clip
Michigan Coronavirus Taskforce on Racial Disparities - Executive Order 2020-55 (Covid-19)
The Atlantic Monthly // Adam Serwer - The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · I Survived, But What About Georgia

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IN THIS EPISODE:

Nikema Williams, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, talks to us about both her personal experience as a COVID-19 survivor and her continued efforts as a State Senator to keep her constituents healthy and safe in a state that is one of the first in the nation to lift its shelter-in-place order, according to Governor Brian Kemp’s plans. Williams shares valuable lessons for states across the country debating when and how to reopen.

References: 
Nikema Williams - @NikemaWilliams

Georgia Democratic Party - Website//@DPGChair

The Washington Post // Reis Thebault, Andrew Ba Tran and Vanessa Williams - For black folks, it’s like a setup: Are you trying to kill us? 

Stacey Abrams - Meet the Press video clip. 

CBS’s American legal web TV series - The Good Fight

Hulu TV drama series - Little Fires Everywhere

Celeste Ng - Little Fires Everywhere novel

Director David Yates and Writer J.K. Rowling - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 

The French Georgia Choir message to Kemp: No Sir Kemp. Stay Home! #StayHomeGeorgia

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In this Episode:

The Washington Post recently wrote that Stacey Abrams is the most impressive Democrat in the country. Abrams, the first Black woman gubernatorial nominee in U.S. history, spoke for all Democrats in America when she delivered the Response to the State of the Union Address in February 2019, and she could be our nation’s next V.P.

Stacey and Steve were introduced to one another eight years ago and have been working together ever since to make this country more equitable. They discuss how to talk openly and directly about race in today’s politics, and this administration’s—and this nation’s—racism and history of white supremacy this election cycle without losing white voters. Other topics: impeachment, the plethora of talented people of color in politics, and favorite soap opera characters from the 80s. Co-host Sharline Chiang joins them in the conversation. 

Stacey is a lawyer, nonprofit CEO and author. She is the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives. She was also the Democratic nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. As the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, Stacey won more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history.

“What we proved [during 2018 campaign] was that by paying attention to communities, by centering their needs, and by talking about core issues that cut across all of these communities, including the white community, that you can get votes. Because not only did I triple Latino and Asian Pacific Islander turnout, increased these participation rates by 139%, increased Black participation by 40%, I actually received the highest percentage of white votes in a generation. It disproves the myth that by acknowledging race, by acknowledging harm, that you somehow disadvantage yourself in the larger community.”

— Stacey Abrams

Check out Stacey’s organizations to learn more about her work for voters rights:

Fairfight2020.org

Faircount.org

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