Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Lawyer and former federal prosecutor Subodh Chandra joins us to help wrap our minds around the myriad legal challenges Trump is currently facing, from the January 6 hearings to the multiple investigations taking place in several jurisdictions. Subodh breaks down what a federal search warrant signals, and how much leeway Trump has been given so far to comply with the rule of law (hint: a lot).
Subodh’s explanation of the current state of Trump’s criminal investigations—and his overall optimism that our nation’s justice system will prevail—left us feeling fairly hopeful that the former president will, in fact, be held accountable for his crimes, and that we can rest assured that the levers meant to protect and ensure a functioning democracy have not completely disappeared.
REFERENCES:
Subodh Chandra - @SubodhChandra
Chandra Law - https://chandralaw.com/about/meet-the-team/subodh-chandra
Documentary
137 Shots 2021, TV-MA https://netflix.com/title/80172819
In this documentary, law enforcement faces scrutiny as Americans demand justice after police violence claims multiple Black lives in Cleveland.

We discuss the political power of Black people and other people of color, who, when factored into the math, have the ability to tip the scale in this year’s midterms. Our resident data scientist Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega joins us to help explain some of the most significant takeaways that surface when we apply a race-conscious perspective to existing election analyses.
REFERENCES:
Equis Research - 2020 Post-Mortem https://equisresearch.medium.com/2020-post-mortem-part-one-16221adbd2f3

Former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper joins us to discuss the state of U.S. politics through the lens of Ohio. David shares the work he’s done to hold the line against the disturbing trend of autocracy emerging across the state and in national politics at large. He breaks down the role state houses play in either helping or hurting our democracy.
We also discuss David’s new book Laboratories of Autocracy, in which he outlines the dangerous strategic shift and development of white nationalism across the country—a backlash he attributes to the election of the first Black President.
REFERENCES:
David Pepper - @DavidPepper - http://davidpepper.com
Stacey Abrams - https://staceyabrams.com
All In: Fight for Democracy - https://allinforvoting.com
David Pepper’s Books:
The People’s House (2016) - https://bookshop.org/books/the-people-s-house/9781619845121
The Wingman (2018) - https://bookshop.org/books/the-wingman-9781619848719/9781619848719
The Voter File (2020) - https://bookshop.org/books/the-voter-file/9780593083956
The Laboratories of Autocracy (2021) - https://bookshop.org/books/laboratories-of-autocracy-a-wake-up-call-from-behind-the-lines/9781662919572
A Simple Choice (2022) - https://bookshop.org/books/a-simple-choice-9780593419731/9780593419731

LGBTQ+ rights activist Julie Dorf joins us to share how she and a coalition of ragtag organizers created the International and Human Rights Commission in the 90s, her role in and lessons learned during the struggle for marriage equality, and why she’s listening to her own “ spawn” and younger activists on how to move forward in these times.
References:
Julie Dorf - @JulieDorf
Council for Global Equality - http://globalequality.org
OutRight Action International - https://outrightinternational.org
Act Up - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACT_UP
Nation - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_Nation
Roseanne episode - “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Ask,_Don%27t_Tell_(Roseanne)

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 https://mandelabarnes.com
Donate to Mandela Here - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/demco-barnes
Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Plan - https://osce.wi.gov/pages/cleanenergyplan.aspx
Nelson Mandela - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

To close out Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, San Francisco-based saxophonist and longtime activist Francis Wong joins us to talk about the revolutionary power of music and art. He shares how he came to pick up a saxophone in the first place and how music, especially jazz, has played an important role in his activist work.
We discuss the role of multiracial unity and collective power in art and the ongoing fight for social justice in this country. Francis shares about his album with legendary drummer Max Roach and the record label he founded with composer and pianist Jon Jang, Asian Improv Arts. We also play excerpts from Francis’ extensive musical works.
REFERENCES:
Francis Wong - @franciswongsf
Asian Improv aRts - https://asianimprov.org
SONGS
"Prayers for Melvin Truss" - https://asianamsmakingmusic.tumblr.com/post/55447694876/jon-jang-4-in-one-quartet-prayer-for-melvin
“Pie Jesu" from Gabriel Faure's "Requiem" - https://youtube.com/watch?v=rnCKf1--leM
"Meditation on Integration" - https://youtube.com/watch?v=rnCKf1--leM
"Miyoshi Sketches" - https://youtube.com/watch?v=iBKV-B8Nf0c
BACKGROUND INFO
Chinese Exclusion Act - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act
Joseph Pierce, Union Army Soldier - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Pierce_Chinese_Union_Army_Soldier_In_14th_Connecticut_Infantry_Regiment.jpg
Black Arts Movement - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Arts_Movement
Erhu instrument - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erhu

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: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/demcosummerlee
Summer Lee - https://twitter.com/SummerForPA
Summer Lee for Congress (watch campaign ad here) - https://summerforpa.com
Braddock, PA Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braddock,_Pennsylvania

You want to contribute and we want to help you do it wisely. We explain why donating to Stacey Abrams’s campaign is the most significant way to help Democrats transform the balance of power in this country this midterm cycle. We explain how her campaign can change Georgia (and the country) forever and shine a light on the groundwork being laid in Arizona to make it true Blue, and why you should be supporting the efforts there as well. We also highlight some vulnerable Republican incumbents in California who should be worried about holding their House seat come this fall.
Q2 is underway and you know what that means…prom season! Julie also joins the pod to give an inside scoop into high school “prama” (prom trauma and prom drama) before we dive into how to spend your political contributions this quarter.
REFERENCES:
Where to Give: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/demcoq2pod

Greg Bluestein, Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s political reporter, joins us to break down Georgia’s political landscape from the Shakespearean-style drama that is GA’s Republican Party right now to Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign centered around expanding Medicaid.
Greg also shares his view as a longtime reporter of Stacey’s trajectory from her start in the state legislature to 2018 and current campaign to her legacy as “President of United Earth” on Star Trek. We discuss how exactly Democrats won Georgia in 2020, and the hidden figures of Georgia state politics.
REFERENCES:
Greg Bluestein - @bluestein
Greg Bluestein – Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power http://bookshop.org/books/flipped-how-georgia-turned-purple-and-broke-the-monopoly-on-republican-power/9780593489154
“Politically Georgia” - podcast https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vQ01HQTExNjQ0Njk5NzI

We’re keeping it in the family as Steve’s niece Courtney Teasley joins the podcast to talk politics and pop culture from Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings to last week’s drama at the Oscars.
Courtney shares her experience of Jackson’s confirmation hearings and why Senator Cory Booker’s defense was so heartwarming. Uncle Steve breaks down his latest piece in The Guardian that grounds Republicans’ racist and misogynist attacks against Judge Jackson in historical facts.
We also discuss Courtney’s work as campaign manager for Khadija Babb who is running for judge in Davidson County, Tennessee.
REFERENCES:
Courtney Teasley - @cteasleylawfirm - http://cteasleylaw.com
Khadija Babb - @BabbForJudge - https://babbforjudge.com
ARTICLE
The Guardian // Steve Phillips – Ketanji Brown Jackson hearing reveals Republicans’ racist fears https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/25/ketanji-brown-jackson-hearing-reveals-republicans-racist-fears
BOOK
Black Robes, White Justice by Bruce Wright https://goodreads.com/en/book/show/795527.Black_Robes_White_Justice
HISTORY
Nathan Bedford Forrest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest
Forrest & Maples Slave Dealers Advertisement https://liveauctioneers.com/item/81539672_advertising-forrest-and-maples-slave-dealers-1859-4x8