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In this Episode:

With the impeachment trial underway in the U.S. Senate and the Republicans doing everything in their power to cover up Trump’s corruption, we unveil an innovative new formula for ranking winnability of 2020 Senate elections and look at what it will take for Democrats to flip control of what’s supposed to be “the world's greatest deliberative body.,” [09:16], Plus, we sit down with one of the year’s most inspiring Senate candidates in the country, Texas’s Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez as she explains why Trump’s team is “deeply afraid of people like me.” [21:23].

References:

The Nation Magazine: 12 States Where Democrats Could Flip the Senate

Communities for New California

Texas Organizing Project

Cristina Ttzintzun Ramirez For Texas

TV Shows: The Bridge (Danish: Broen; Swedish: Bron); The Terror; Motherstruck

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In this Episode:

Are white male presidential candidates receiving preferential treatment from the Democratic Party? As the Democratic presidential primary field grows whiter and more male, we discuss how the Party and its rigid reliance on polling and fundraising numbers in its debate qualification rules give white men an advantage. We also explain what the Party should be doing to change this fact.

Also in this episode: Reflections on Julian Castro and the ending of his campaign; spotlight on Hidden Figure Maya Rupert, Castro's campaign manager, and what we did over the holidays.

References:

The New York Times/Siena College Research Institute: Iowa Poll October 25-30, 2019

Democracy in Color: Polling Bump for White Male Presidential Candidates

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In this Episode:

Since so much of the news is alarming and frequently depressing, we wanted to close out the year with a more inspiring and hopeful episode by sharing the Top 10 Stories to Give Us Hope Heading into 2020. In this episode, we count down the top victories, trends, and developments that should allow us to enter the new year with the energy and optimism we’re all going to need!

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In this Episode:

We delve into Pete Buttigieg’s Black problem and the underlying causes. What are the real reasons why he is polling at 0% with Black voters? And why does it matter to all Democratic voters?

Ricky Klee, a college instructor from South Bend, Indiana who has carefully followed and written about Buttigieg’s administration for several years, shares his insights. We also preview a new report from Democracy in Color looking at Mayor Pete’s record on racial issues in South Bend.

Also, some reflections on Kamala Harris suspending her campaign and what it says about the Democratic Party and African American political trends.

References:

20:50 - New York Times: Pete Buttigieg Is in Bad Shape With Black Democrats. Here’s Why

34:12 - The Root: Pete Buttigieg on Institutional Racism, Economic Inequality, and White Supremacy

39:34 - New York Times: 1619 Project

Democracy in Color: Sound Bend, Indiana Hiring & Contracting Diversity Under
Mayor Pete Buttigieg Report

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In this Episode:

It’s a very special Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips Thanksgiving episode! 

Where else can you get caught up on the latest in presidential politics (Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Biden and more!) and also hear Thanksgiving stories from listeners who span the cultural spectrum of the rainbow? And speaking of the Rainbow, we share a special story of Steve’s recent encounter with Jesse Jackson at Washington’s National Airport. 

All of that, plus a Hidden Figures segment on an inspiring Native American leader who has helped elect Congresspeople, advise major donors, and parlay her experience working at Nordstrom into a “styling” business for women leaders.

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In this Episode:

Neera Tanden, who has been called one of our nation’s most powerful women in politics by Fortune magazine, is the president of Center for American Progress, the nation’s largest progressive think tank.

She sheds light on the impeachment hearings and what Democrats and progressives need to keep in mind at this moment.

We also find out how Neera, an immigrant whose family was on food stamps when she was a child, arrived to where she is today. We also learn about her favorite childhood dish!

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In this Episode:

Tim Wise, one of the most prominent anti-racism writers and educators in the country, offers insight to what we can learn from his experience working on a campaign to defeat an actual former member of the KKK, David Duke, in the 1990s (during Duke’s run for U.S. Senate and the governor’s seat in Louisiana), and what that experience can teach us today as we work to oust Trump. 

Wise also weighs in on this current impeachment moment and the dynamics of patriotism versus white supremacy.

Earlier this year he wrote a Twitter thread about how Democrats fail to understand how to confront an opinion who openly fans the flames of racism. That thread was retweeted 21k times.

Wise is the host of the podcast Speak Out with Tim Wise. He is the author of more than seven books, including White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.

Since 1995, Wise has delivered speeches at more than 600 college campuses across the nation. He has trained teachers, corporate employees, non-profit organizations and law enforcement officers on addressing and dismantling racism.

We also find out what Tim wanted to be when he grew up when he was a kid, and how that inadvertently led to the work he does today!

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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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In this Episode:

Iowa, the state that launched Barack Obama’s campaign, is arguably the single most important state in this current Democratic nomination contest. It’s also the quintessential swing state. Two Iowa experts discuss what it takes to win and where things stand in the race.

Steve chats with two guests with deep history in Iowa politics: Pat Rynard, founder and managing editor of Iowa Starting Line, a news outlet that covers the Iowa Caucus and other Iowa political news, and Irene Lin, former campaign manager for J.D. Scholten, a Democrat who ran in Iowa’s 4th congressional district in 2018 who nearly toppled Representative Steve King in a heavily Republican district. 

They focus on how the caucuses in Iowa, which begin on February 3 in 2020, as the first contest in the Democratic presidential nomination process shape the races that follow. Pat and Irene weigh in on how each candidate is doing in the state so far and whether championing equality for people of color inevitably sends the message that you don’t care about economically-anxious whites. Everyone also answers: which concert would you most like to have front-row seats to?

Visit Iowa Starting Line

iowastartingline.com

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In this Episode:

Trump’s power has always been grounded in fanning the flames of white racial resentment, and it’s no accident that the most racially diverse Congress in history is now holding him accountable.

Steve and Sharline weigh in on the October 15 Democratic debate and the state of the Democratic presidential nomination contest and then dive into the topic of impeachment, namely the ongoing impeachment inquiry of No. 45. Much of the current news analysis tends to focus on how a majority of “the American people” now oppose No. 45, but in reality what has changed is that many more white people have finally had enough of this president. Voters of color have opposed Trump from day one and wanted him out. Black and brown legislators wanted him impeached ages ago. Steve also breaks down the most critical factors in understanding the prospects of the various candidates running for president.

Also in this episode: Maxine Waters singing the Black National Anthem at Jesse Jackson’s presidential announcement speech; Hidden Figures Subodh Chandra and Meena Morey Chandra, and “The Dr. Is In.”

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