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 · Summer, Summer Summertime!

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IN THIS EPISODE:

In this short-and-sweet episode, we take a break from talking politics to share what we’re reading and watching this summer to rest and unwind. 

We talk Nikole Hannah-Jones’ 1619 Project and the latest news about her power move to Howard; we denounce any slander about NBC’s This Is Us, and we discuss the books on our list from James Patterson murder mysteries to Harvard professor Jesse McCarthy’s essay collection, Who Will Pay Reparations for My Soul.

References:

Sharline Chiang’s Picks

Stream

Disney+ — 101 Dalmatians - 1961 // 101 Dalmatians - 1996 // Cruella - 2021
Netflix — High on the Hog

Books

Chenxing Han — Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists
Nikole Hannah-Jones — The 1619 Project 
Madeleine L’Engle — A Wrinkle In Time

Fola Onifade’s Picks

Stream

Starz — Run the World
Hulu — Summer of Soul 

Books

Ashley Ford — Somebody’s Daughter 
Jesse McCarthy — Who Will Pay Reparations On My Soul 

Podcast

Brené Brown — Unlocking Us Podcast

Steve Phillip’s Picks

Stream

HBOMax — Hacks
NBC — This is Us
Amazon — Confederate States of America 

Book

James Patterson — Women’s Murder Club 

Background

Deadspin.com//Michael Harriot —  The Caucasian's Guide To Black Barbecues
Huffpost.com//Leigh Blickley — The 'This Is Us' Writers Room Is Truly Reflective Of The Show's Story
Gil Scott-Heron — Whitey On the Moon (Official Audio)
Nikole Hannah-Jones Statement // NAACP LDF — Nikole Hannah-Jones Issues Statement on Decision to Decline Tenure Offer at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and to Accept Knight Chair Appointment at Howard University

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Pride: Hope, Struggle, and Taking Back Power

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IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, we ground Republican anti-LGBTQ+ attacks in history, including the historical trope of protecting cisgender White girls from perceived threats that have no basis in reality. Then we’re joined by Rebecca Marques, Texas State Director for the Human Rights Campaign to talk about the organization’s efforts to fight back against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state and across the country.

Rebecca explains why we need to pass the Equality Act and put civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people into law, the importance of intersectionality within the fight for equal rights, and what’s keeping her hopeful as these battles play out in statehouses.

REFERENCES:

Rebecca Marques - Texas State Director, One America, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) - @_RebeccaMarques

Organizations

Equality Texas - @EqualityTexas

Texas Freedom Network - @TFN

Texas Organizing Project - @OrganizeTexas

Articles

The Atlantic // Ronald Brownstein – Why the 2020s Could be as Dangerous as the 1850s

GLAAD // Mary Emily O’Hara – Guide for Journalists: The Supreme Court’s Fulton v. Philadelphia Ruling This June

GLAAD // Ryan Roemerman – LGBTQ voters helped tip the 2020 election and we can do it again in Georgia

MAP (Movement Advancement Project) – New Report Highlights Unique LGBTQ Landscape and Advocacy in the U.S. South

The New York Times // Kara Swisher – Inside the Republican Anti-Transgender MachinePew Forum – Attitudes on Same-Sex Marriage

19th News  // Kate Sosin – The Supreme Court rules unanimously in LGBTQ+ rights vs. religious liberty case

Background

Bostock vs. Clayton County - Supreme Court ruling
HERO - Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
Proposed Federal Protections for LGBTQ+ people: The Equality Act
Emmett Till - Wikipedia
1712 Slave Codes - Preamble
Junteenth - Wikipedia
Wendy Davis - Filibuster

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Astead

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In this Episode:

In this episode, we sit down with one of the brightest rising stars at the New York Times—political reporter Astead Herndon—for sharp conversation and analysis about the nature of the moment we’re in. Astead, 29, shares why he sees election reporting as culture reporting, how he helped make the reparations debate a litmus test for Democratic Presidential candidates back in early 2020, and why representation alone doesn’t chin the bar for younger voters of color. 

We also discuss American journalism’s current gut check moment through the lens of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ recent denial of tenure at the University of North Carolina and how Astead shows up authentically at the Times (including getting paid to sing Beyoncé songs).

REFERENCES:

Astead W. Herndon, New York Times, National Politics Reporter – @AsteadWesley

New York Times - Outtake from “The Daily”

Nikole Hannah-Jones - @nhannahjones

New York Times // Nikole Hannah-Jones - 1619 Project 

New York Times Articles by Astead W. Herndon

 ‘These People Aren’t Coming From Norway’: Refugees in a Minnesota City Face a Backlash

Progressive Victories Signal Staying Power for the Movement

2020 Democrats Embrace Race-Conscious Policies, Including Reparations

Articles
Forbes - 30 Under 30 - Astead Herndon

The Atlantic // Ta-Nehisi Coates – Why Precisely Is Bernie Sanders Against Reparations? 

The Daily Princetonian // Marie-Rose Sheinermen  – Times reporter Astead Herndon talks newsroom diversity, 2020 election coverage

The Root // Michael Harriot – It Turns Out, All Those 'Woke' White Allies Were Lying

Slate // Aymann Ismail – “I Don’t See the Last Four Years as This Journalistic Anomaly”

NPR // Roberta Rampton – Trump Announces 'Patriotic Education' Commission, A Largely Political Move

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Tram Nguyen on How Virginia Turned Blue

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In This Episode:

Tram Nguyen, co-director of New Virginia Majority, talks with us about how her work with refugees and disaster survivors led her to electoral organizing, an effort that has transformed the former Confederate state of Virginia into a national leader in voting rights expansion and progressive ideals.

Tram also shares her family’s history of courage and resilience—from fleeing Vietnam to living in a refugee camp in Thailand to their early days as new immigrants facing racism in Virginia in the 1980s. We also discuss Virginia's upcoming gubernatorial election, who the New Virginia Majority is endorsing and why. 

References: 

Tram Nguyen, New Virginia Majority, Co-Executive Director - @tramNVM

New Virginia Majority - @NewVAMajority - Support New Virginia Majority Here

BPSOS Website

Virginia’s Movers and Shakers

Jennifer McClellan - @JennMcClellanVA 

Marcia “Cia” Price - @PriceForDel95

Lashrecse Aird - @delegateaird

Kathy Tran - @KathyKLTran

News Articles

NYT//Reid J. Epstein and Nick Corasaniti – Virginia, the Old Confederacy’s Heart, Becomes a Voting Rights Bastion

NYT//Tram Nguyen – Democrats Could Learn a Lot From What Happened In Virginia

OZY//Sharline Chiang - I Tried It … Being White

Background

Vietnamese Boat People

VA State Legislature - SAVE Program

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

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

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 · 100 Days In: Is Biden Actually a Progressive?

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IN THIS EPISODE:

In this week’s episode, we review some of the most consequential news out of Washington D.C., from President Biden’s American Families Plan to the latest DOJ confirmation hearings and the House Judiciary Committee’s historic approval of H.R. 40 (a bill that would establish a commission to study reparations). It’s safe to say we are pleasantly surprised with how well things are going.

REFERENCES:

Joe Biden - @JoeBiden & @POTUS

Vanita Gupta - @vanitaguptaCR

Kristen Clarke - @KristenClarkeJD

Kristen Clarke and Vanita Gupta being tapped for the DOJ

NYT // Katie Brenner – Senate Democrats joined by Lisa Murkowski, confirm Vanita Gupta for a top Justice Dept. job

NPR.org // Jason Breslow – Civil Rights Attorney Vanita Gupta Confirmed As Associate Attorney General

Newsweek // Kristin Clarke –  I Prosecuted Police Killings. Defund the Police—But Be Strategic 

NPR.org // Carrie Johnson – Kristen Clarke's Civil Rights Record Led Her To Barrier-Breaking DOJ Nomination

BuzzFeed News // Zoe Tillman – There Are 93 US Attorneys. Seven Are Women And Only Two Are Black.

American Families Plan 

WhiteHouse.gov // Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan

Washington Post // Jeff Stein  – White House’s new 1.8 trillion ’families plan’ reflects ambitions – and limits – of Biden presidency

NYT // Jim Tankersley – Biden Will Seek Tax Increase on Rich to Fund Child Care and Education

H.R. 40

Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips - Reparations 101

Congress.gov // Sponsor Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee – H.R. 40 - The Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act

Associated Press // Kevin Freking – House panel poised to advance bill on slavery reparations

Aljazeera // William Roberts – Reparations for US slave descendants gains momentum

NYT // Angela Glover Blackwell and Michael McAfee – Banks Should Face History and Pay Reparations

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Fighting the Same Beast: White Supremacy

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IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, we take stock of major news headlines from the latest police violence in Minnesota to the onslaught of voter suppression in Georgia and around the country. We also discuss Republican attacks on transgender rights as a part of their strategy to instill fear among their constituents by “othering” trans youth.

We end with a song called “A Prayer for Melvin Truss” by Jon Jang and Francis Wong and we offer it as a prayer for Daunte Wright, George Floyd and the countless others killed by police violence.

REFERENCES:

Queer Silicon Valley // 1985: Fatal Police Shooting of Melvin Truss Sparked Public Outcry

‘Prayer for Melvin Truss’ - written and performed by Jon Jang, Francis Wong, AsianImprov Arts

George Floyd Wikipedia

Daunte Wright Wikipedia

Virginia Delegate Marcia Price Website and @PriceforDel95

Campaign for Voting Rights #StopJimCrow2

Film

HBO Documentary Exterminate All The Brutes

Cinemablend // Corey Chichizola – Will Smith And Antoine Fuqua Explain Why They're Pulling Emancipation Movie Out Of Georgia In New Statement

Articles

Vox.com // German Lopez – Police officers are prosecuted for murder in less than 2 percent of fatal shootings

Brennan Center for Justice – State Voting Bills Tracker 2021 and Congress Must Pass the ‘For the People Act’

Politico.com // Nolan D. McCaskill and Zach Montellaro – All Eyes On Georgia. Again.

NYT// Nick Corasaniti and Reid J. Epstein – What Georgia’s Voting Law Really Does

NYT// Reid J. Epstein and Nick Corasaniti – Virginia, the Old Confederacy’s Heart, Becomes a Voting Rights Bastion

Opinion: Roll Call // Sylvia Albert – Why Congress must pass HR1 and the John R. Lewis Rights Act

Washington Post // Michael Scherer – Zuckerberg and Chan to give another $100 million for local election administrators despite conservative pushback 

Washington Post // Todd C. Frankel – More than 100 corporate executives hold call to discuss halting donations and investments to fight controversial voting bills

Seattle Times // Joseph O’ Sullivan – Bill restores voting rights to Washingtonians with felonies upon release from prison

The Appeal // Kera Lerner – Oregon Bill Would Enable People to Vote From Prison 

Anti-Trans News

19thnews.org // Kate Sosin – Arkansas lawmakers override governor’s veto of youth gender-affirming care and Senior White House official: Any attempt to discriminate against trans kids is ‘against the law’

Advocate.com // Trudy Ring – Reggie Greer Named White House Senior Adviser on LGBTQ+ Issues

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Bold Asian American Activism and Its Roots

Racist violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders isn’t new but neither is the community’s history of resistance.

In this episode, we speak with Professor Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, a national expert on Asian American history, about the rise in anti-Asian American racism and violence and how it fits into the larger historical and political context of white supremacy in the United States.

Judy, Steve and Sharline discuss the roots of their activism, the historical resilience of oppressed people in the face of white violence, and the enduring resolve of communities of color to establish justice and equality for all.

REFERENCES:

Judy Tzu-Chun Wu Faculty Website // UnLadylike2020 Bio
Judy Tzu-Chun Wu // A Trip Down Immigration Lane"
UCI Humanities Center Website
Asian American Studies Irvine - @UCIAsianAm
Sharline Chiang // OZY - Reclaiming 5 Ugly Letters
Atlanta Spa Shootings Wikipedia
Who Killed Vincent Chin? Documentary
The Great Battlefield: Investing in Communities of Color to Make Progressive Change w/ New Virginia Majority's Tram Nguyen Podcast
Fresh Off the Boat Wikipedia and Trailer
Margaret Cho’s All-American Girl Wikipedia - @margaretcho

Organizations

Stop AAPI Hate Website - @StopAAPIHate

Historical background

1882 Chinese Exclusion Act Wikipedia
Japanese Internment in the United States Wikipedia
Murder of Vincent Chin Wikipedia
1922 Ozawa vs. United States Wikipedia
1923 United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind Wikipedia

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Beto

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IN THIS EPISODE:

Texas might not be blue yet, but it’s getting there, and several leaders across the state are laying the foundation for a political transformation that’ll change the future of American politics.

In this episode, we speak with former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who’s following in the footsteps of former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams and doing the work to expand democracy across the Lone Star State. Beto joins us to talk about his innovative, historic 2018 Senate campaign, radical empathy as a framework for white progressives, and what the future of Texas politics means to the rest of the nation.

We discuss how he learned to be a white ally and his efforts to help seniors in Texas during last month’s devastating winter storm. He also talks about his future plans and shares the top three artists he would include on a road trip playlist! Spoiler alert: the Texas pride is real.

REFERENCES:

Beto O’Rourke - @BetoORourke
'I can think of nothing more American': Beto O’Rourke responds to question on NFL protests - Video
Colin Kaepernick - @Kaepernick7
Steve Phillips / The Nation - This Is Why Texas Is the Next Georgia 
Powered by People - @poweredxpeople
Texas Organizing Project - @OrganizeTexas
H.R.1 - For the People Act of 2019
Isabel Wilkerson - @Isabelwilkerson
Beyoncé - @Beyonce
Joe Ely - Website
Willie Nelson - @WillieNelson

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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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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Black History, Black Futures: A Conversation with Jessica Byrd

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IN THIS EPISODE:

It’s Black History Month (don’t tell Steve). While he may not be a fan of our very short month of Black history reflection, we can all agree that every month is a good month to highlight Black people leading the charge towards a better future for all of us. 

In this episode, we chat with Jessica Byrd—one of those dynamic Black leaders—about the “political renaissance” she’s witnessing in this country. One of the most important political strategists in the country, she’s the founder of the political consulting firm, Three Point Strategies, and was one of the co-founders of the Electoral Justice Project of the Black Lives Matter movement. She was just named to Time magazine’s Time100 Next list.

As we make our way into this new era in America, we will need the energy, insight, and drive of the next generation of leaders. We think that Jessica Byrd is among the most promising of that generation, and we hope you get to know her a bit better in our podcast.

References:

Jessica Byrd - @JessicaLBYRD, Founding Partner, Three Point Strategies
Time // Alicia Garza - Time100 Next - Jessica Byrd
National Black Political Convention or the Gary Convention (1972)
Black National Convention (2020)
The Movement for Black Lives 
Electoral Justice Project - @m4blEJP
Black Futures: An Ode to Freedom Summer Video

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Fast and Furious: Breaking Down Biden’s Executive Actions

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IN THIS EPISODE:

ICYMI, Joe Biden and his administration hit the ground running since his first official day in office. After four years of, well, you know, we like our White House this way: boring and efficient. Light on drama, heavy on getting stuff done. From COVID relief to immigration reform, Biden has signed a slate of executive actions signaling a surprisingly impressive understanding of what it will take to advance equity for millions of Americans.

In this episode, we take a high level overview of what Biden’s executive actions mean for the New American Majority. And we also introduce a new segment called “How We Win the Civil War” where Steve grounds our current political climate in the historical context of the U.S. Civil War that never ended.

REFERENCES:

Alida Garcia, Esq. - @leedsgarcia - VP of Advocacy, FWD.us & Founder, Inclusv
Susan Rice - @AmbassadorRice - Director, US Domestic Policy Council

Executive Actions

CNN.com // Kate Sullivan - Here are the executive actions Biden has signed so far

Articles

NYT Opinion Editorial // Ease Up on the Executive Actions, Joe!
New York Times // Jim Rutenberg, Jo Becker, Eric Lipton, Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Martin, Matthew Rosenberg, and Michael S. Schmidt  - 77 Days: Trump’s Campaign to Subvert the Election
The Root // Stephen A. Crockett Jr. - The Return to Boredom America Deserves
Newsweek // Jacob Jarvis - Joe Biden Signed More Executive Orders Than Trump, Obama Combined in Their First 12 Days
Newsweek // Aimee Allison - The Women Behind Biden’s Executive Orders I Opinion
Ms. Magazine // Carrie N. Baker - “Uplifting the Rights of Girls and Women in the U.S. and Around the World”: Biden and Harris Announce New White House Gender Policy Council
NPR.org // Barbara Sprunt - Biden Picks Susan Rice For Top Domestic Policy Position 

Book

Jean Guerrero // Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda

Pop Culture Reference

YouTube.com // Schoolhouse Rock -  I’m Just a Bill 

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Next: The First 100 Days

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IN THIS EPISODE:

We’re not crying, you are (okay, we’re crying). On January 20th, we watched history unfold as President Joe Biden and Madam Vice President Kamala Harris took their oaths of office.

In our newest episode we pause to appreciate the historic moment of a new administration and then turn our attention to discussing the top priorities for the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration. For the first time since 2010, with control of the executive and legislative branches, the Democrats are poised to deliver sweeping change for the American people. We reminisce on Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration and point to the successes and missteps of his, and his administration's, first few months in office.

We also share our feelings at the end of the dark era of the past four years as we enter this new, long-anticipated era.

References:

Joe Biden - @JoeBiden & @POTUS 
Kamala Harris - @KamalaHarris & @VP 
The White House - @WhiteHouse
Biden Inaugural Committee  – Watch the 59th Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris - @BidenInaugural

Articles/Polls

CNN.com//Ron Brownstein –  Trump leaves America at its most divided since the Civil War
Gallup.com // Jeffrey M. Jones – Last Trump Job Approval 34%; Average Is Record-Low 41%
NPR.org // Franco Ordoñez – On Immigration, Biden Goes Big In Opening Bid to Congress

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Who Is the Next Stacey Abrams?

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

In this Episode:

It’s a new year indeed. We’re just seven days into 2021 and the country’s New American Majority has wasted no time flexing its political muscle. While Republicans and Trump supporters make dangerous and desperate last-ditch efforts to overturn the will of the people, Georgia voters clapped back with a resounding “time’s up” and handed Democrats the reins to the U.S. Senate by electing Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

Their victory is the result of a 10-year effort led by Stacey Abrams, the first guest on our “Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips” podcast. To kick off this episode, we reflect on how Steve and Stacey met and how her vision transformed the state, and the country.

But we also remind folks that the New American Majority is just getting started, and there are so many “Staceys” leading the way to turn the country’s demographic revolution into a political and electoral revolution. In this episode, we highlight seven people who are leading the way to real, systemic change in racial equity, immigration, and voter rights. [17:55]

REFERENCES:

7 People to Watch

Jessica Byrd, @JessicaLBYRD, Founding Partner, Three Point Strategies 
Anathea Chino @anatheabc, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Advanced Native Political Leadership 
Maurice Mitchell, @MauriceWFP, National Director, Working Families Party
Alejandra Gomez, @Gomez_Alex07, Co-Executive Director, Lucha Arizona
Andrea Guerrero, @guerreroandi, Executive Director, Alliance San Diego 
Vanita Gupta, @vanitaguptaCR, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and United States Associate Attorney General Nominee
Michelle Tremillo @MtremilloT, Executive Director, Texas Organizing Project

Other References

Stacey Abrams, @staceyabrams, Founder, Fair Fight
Ayanna Pressley, @AyannaPressley, Massachusetts Congresswoman
Nse Ufot, @nseufot, CEO, The New Georgia Project
“Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips” Podcast - Georgia: What Winning Looks Like 
Tweet - Stacey Abrams on Election Night

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Looks Like We Made It: The Silver Linings of 2020

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this year’s final episode, we look back at the last 12 months to find the silver linings of a rough year. Turns out, there’s still a lot to smile about.

Steve and Sharline share their gratitude for the new COVID vaccine and reflect on how basketball both modeled how to safely navigate the pandemic and also brought a lot of people joy in quarantine. We also point to some major victories in a fraught election year, from Trump’s impeachment in Season 1 of 2020 to the poetic justice of Georgia’s national significance.

We’ll see you back in 2021!

REFERENCES:

Barry Manilow -  Song “Looks like we made it”
Ed Yong // The Atlantic - How Science Beat the Virus and what it lost in the process
Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD - @KizzyPhD - a Black woman who is among the National Institutes of Health scientists working directly to develop and produce the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Aaron Gould Sheinin // Webmed.com - Black Scientist Plays Key Role in Covid Vaccine

The Late, Greats

John Lewis, congressman and civil rights activist, one of the “Big Six” leaders who organized the 1963 march on Washington. 
C.T. Vivian, minister, author, and close friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Reverend Joseph Lowery, minister, civil rights leader and founder of the SCLC—Southern Christian Leadership Conference—with Martin Luther King, Jr.

Journalist of Color

Jonathan Capehart @CapehartJ of The Sunday Show , MSNBC
Tiffany Cross @TiffanyDCross of Cross Connection, MSNBC
Rashida Jones @RJonesNews , incoming President, MSNBC
Michelle Ye Hee Lee @myhlee, reporter, Washington Post
Ahiza García-Hodges // NBC News - Rashida Jones named next president of MSNBC
April Ryan @AprilDRyan white house correspondent, theGrio.com; political analyst, CNN

Donate to Raphael Warnock & Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate, and to Fair Fight

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Georgia: What Winning Looks Like

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In this Episode:

It’s definitely December because holiday movies are streaming everywhere. But it feels like we’re in the middle of election season with the flurry of energy surrounding the upcoming Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by one of the architects of the political transformation of the Peach State—New Georgia Project Action Fund CEO Nse Ufot.

We introduce a new segment called “Don’t Get Me Started.” In this inaugural take, we sound off on the Democratic hand-wringing about the purported negative electoral impact of activist calls to defund the police. [4:26]

We talk to Nse about how community organizers won Georgia for Biden, what it’s going to take to make it happen again in January, and the multiracial coalition that’s putting in the work (we also learn about Nse’s long-standing relationship with Oprah!) [14:45]

References:

Nse Ufot - @nseufot - CEO of The New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan effort to register and civically engage Georgians. 

And She Could Be Next - Documentary 

Emily Badger // The New York Times - How Atlanta’s Politics Overtook the Suburbs, Too

Carlos Granda // abc7news - LA school district returns grenade launchers; keeps armored vehicle, M16s

Rashawn Ray // Brookings - What Does Defund the Police Mean and Does It Have Merit?

Donate or Volunteer 

Donate - The New Georgia Project Action Fund

Volunteer - The New Georgia Project

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Politically, We Need To Respect The Chitlins - A Thanksgiving Special

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

IN THIS EPISODE:

Thanksgiving is different this year, but it could’ve looked even more terrifying if not for the millions of people who persisted in myriad ways to forestall fascism, kick Trump out of the White House and reclaim our country for the multi-racial majority.

To celebrate, Steve, Sharline, and Julie gather around a virtual table for a little fun Thanksgiving dinner game of “This or That.” [5:43]

We then take time to reflect and thank all the people who helped us get through 2020 in our personal lives and in the political sphere as well. [13:01]

Thank you to all our listeners and Happy Thanksgiving!

REFERENCES:

Nse Ufot - @nseufot, CEO of The New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan effort to register and civically engage Georgians. @NewGAProject
Stacey Abrams - @staceyabrams - fairfight.com
Aimee Allison - @aimeeallison, founder and president of She the People, a national network elevating the voice and power of women of color. @_shethepeople
Susan Sandler - When I First Found Out I Had Cancer, a book which chronicles her journey with cancer and provides resources for survivors and their loved ones
Clint Smith // The Atlantic - In 1864, Like in 2020, America Just Got Lucky
Sweet Honey in the Rock - Ella’s Song

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · After the Election: America’s Road Ahead

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

In this Episode:

With the defeat of Trump, we managed to forestall fascism for the moment, and the entire world is taking a collective sigh of relief. Over the course of Election Week, we flipped Arizona and Georgia blue, witnessed record turnout across the country, and propelled Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House. In this episode, we revel in the victory just a little longer before honing in on what’s next—winning two Senate runoff races in Georgia in January so Democrats can take control of the U.S. Senate.

We also talk with our data expert, Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega, and Arizona strategist John Loredo, founder of Arizona Wins, about what the election results reveal about the American character and what we have to do to build lasting progressive power in the coming years. John also shares how Biden winning Arizona is the culmination of a sustained 10-year effort to turn the state blue, and he offers important lessons learned for the future of Democratic politics.

References:

DONATE to Raphael Warnock & Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate, and to Fair Fight
Democratic Party of Georgia - Georgia Runoff Strike Team Sign Up
America Votes Georgia Volunteer Sign Up
Edison Research // New York Times - Election Exit Polls
Roxane Gay // The New York Times - I Am Shattered but Ready to Fight

Special Guest

John Loredo - former member of the Arizona House of Representatives (1997-2005), Founder Arizona Wins! 

Arizona Organizations

One Arizona Website
Lucha Website
Our Voice, Our Vote Website  
Mi Familia Vota Website
Chispa Arizona Website
Unite Here Website 
Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy: CASE Website

Video Clips

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Election Results 2020 (23:22 - 23:55)
11Alive - Atlanta takes to the streets to celebrate the Biden and Harris win

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Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips · Special Election Episode: The Next President

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

In this Episode:

Steve, Sharline and data scientist Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega give us a post-Election Day update of everything that went down last night. They talk about what surprised them, what gives them hope for the future of the New American Majority, and what to expect over the next several hours and days.

References:

Scott Walker - @scottwalker - 45 Governor of Wisconsin (2011-2019)
John Loredo - @JohnLoredo10 - former member of the Arizona House of Representatives (1997-2005), Founder Arizona Wins!
Ron Brownstein - @RonBrownstein - senior editor at The Atlantic and senior political analyst for CNN - Twitter thread
Excerpt from thread: An E-day thread: For 4 years, Trump has governed as a wartime president for red America, w/blue America, not any foreign adversary as the target. That's provoked an enormous reaction from the diverse, well-educated urban centers & inner suburbs driving eco growth & innovation
Ronald Brownstein // The Atlantic - The GOP’s Demographic Doom Millenials and Gen Z are only a few years away from dominating the electorate
Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips podcast with special guest Ron Brownstein -One Virus, Two Americas
Tram Nguyen // The New York Times - Democrats Could Learn Alot from What Happened in Virginia

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