How to Defeat a Racist: An Interview with Tim Wise

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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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Stacey Abrams: "We Have Always Found a Way Forward"

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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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Iowa: How Democrats Win in a 90% White State

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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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Impeachment: What’s Race Got to Do With It?

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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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