Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Why Trump’s Health Matters to Democrats

Trump didn't believe in COVID; then he got COVID. Then he got better (or so it is seeming, at least for now). Schadenfreude abounded especially when the news that he had tested positive for the virus was first announced. In this episode, we talk about why our country, this election, and Democrats’ prospects for taking back the White House and Senate are better off if No. 45’s health stays steady/doesn't take a nosedive.
Our special guest Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and Twitter celeb for his insightful posts on Trump’s health, shares with us his thoughts on the president’s medical outlook. [17:22]
And data scientist extraordinaire Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega joins us to explain why the top two Senate races that progressives should be supporting in these final weeks before Election Day are those in Georgia and Texas. [37:21]
Also this episode—our 30th—marks the one-year anniversary of this podcast! Thank you to all of our listeners!
REFERENCES:
Dr. Bob Wachter - @Bob_Wachter
Steve Phillips // The Nation - These Are the States to Focus on to Flip the Senate https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/elections-senate-texas-georgia/
The New York Times // Tram Nguyen - Democrats Could Learn a Lot From What Happened in Virginia States Don’t Become Battlegrounds Overnight https://nytimes.com/2019/11/06/opinion/virginia-election-democrats.html
Megan Thee Stallion - @theestallion
Megan Thee Stallion // The New York Times - Why I Speak Up for Black Women https://nytimes.com/2020/10/13/opinion/megan-thee-stallion-black-women.html
Susan Sandler - Series of Essays: When I First Found Out I had Cancer - Website http://Braincancerandme.com
Senate Candidates
Raphael Warnock for GA - https://warnockforgeorgia.com
Jon Ossof for GA - https://electjon.com
MJ Hagar for TX - https://mjfortexas.com
Sara Gideon for ME - https://saragideon.com
Jamie Harrison for SC - https://jaimeharrison.com
Organizations
New Virginia Majority - https://newvirginiamajority.org
New Georgia Project Action Fund - https://www.ngpaf.org
Texas Organizing Project Website - https://organizetexas.org

What You Can Do Before Election Day

With Election Day only 33 days away, we answer a question on everyone’s mind—What more can I do in these final few weeks? In this episode, we offer suggestions on top actions you can take right now to make a difference before November 3rd. We also sit down with Krystal Ortiz, a director of NEWCO Strategies, who shares insight about strategic election-related volunteering options. Steve describes NEWCO, a political consulting firm, as “a quiet, behind-the-scenes force supporting a lot of the most important work happening in progressive politics and social change in this country.”
Steve also discusses what recent developments since RBG’s death have revealed about the exact nature of the fight we are currently in as a nation and why Democrats and progressives need to get clear on this, and fast.
REFERENCES:
Krystal Ortiz, Director at NEWCO Strategies - https://newcostrategies.com/krystal-ortiz - @klortiz14
Campaign Healthy Website - @EatReal2Win - https://healthycampaign.org
The New York Times // Lisa Lerer  - ‘Election Stress Disorder,’ the Sequel https://nytimes.com/2020/09/24/us/politics/election-stress-disorder.html
Bobby Seale Founder of the Black Panthers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Seale
Nse Ufot @NseUfot - Clip - Q&A: And She Could Be Next https://youtube.com/watch?v=rvcURUQhK0s
And She Could Be Next - https://andshecouldbenext.com
Where to Donate:
Arizona Wins - http://az-wins.org
New Georgia Project Action Fund Website - @ngpaction - https://ngpaf.org
New Florida Majority Website - @NewFLMajority - https://newfloridamajority.org
One Pennsylvania Website - @OnePennsylvania - https://onepa.org/vote
Casa in Action Website - @CASAinAction - https://casainaction.org/pennsylvania
Where to Volunteer if you have Time and Energy:
Swing Left’s The Last Weekends - https://thelastweekends.org/democracyincolor
Vote Forward Website - @votefwd - https://votefwd.org/democracyincolor
Protecting Voting Results:
Protect the Results - https://protecttheresults.com
Power the Polls - @PowerThePolls - https://powerthepolls.org
Television Show Choices:
Krystal: Schitt’s Creek, CBC/Netflix
Sharline: Avatar The Last Airbender, Nickelodeon/Netflix
Steve: Ted Lasso, Apple+; The Bridge, BBC; Trapped, BBC

Are We Going To Win?

We are here for you. In this episode, we offer insight and analysis to help talk you and your friends off the ledge as we all anxiously wait and work towards the November elections, which is less than 50 days away.
We offer facts and information to back up our assertion that we truly believe Democrats have—in a fair election—an electoral advantage, even in a number of swing states. We hope this episode will sustain you and help you focus your energy and efforts in these final weeks before Election Day.
REFERENCES:
Ron Brownstein - @RonBrownstein
Joy Reid - @JoyAnnReid // TheReidOut https://msnbc.com/reidout
POLLS
Voter Doubt of 2020 Outcome Possible - Monmouth University Poll https://monmouth.edu/polling-institute/documents/monmouthpoll_us_091020.pdf/
The New York Times/Siena College National Poll https://scri.siena.edu/2020/06/24/biden-leads-trump-50-36-in-national-poll/
ORGANIZATIONS
Fairfight https://fairfight.com
PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste) https://pcun.org
Vote Save America https://votesaveamerica.com
Plant Based Fitness Oakland https://plantbfitness.com/
MEDIA
The New York Times // Astead W. Herndon Minnesota Seemed Ripe for a Trump Breakout. It Has Not Arrived. https://nytimes.com/2020/09/13/us/politics/Minnesota-poll-Biden-Trump.html
NPR Politics Podcast with Domenico Montanaro https://npr.org/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast
Brown is the New White // Steve Phillips https://thenewpress.com/books/brown-new-white
GENERAL
FiveThirtyEight Presidential Forecast https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/
Nixon’s campaign and “law and order” position https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon_1968_presidential_campaign
Voting Right Act of 1965 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965

Pass or Fail?: Report Cards for Democratic Super PACs

Hot off the press! Democracy in Color just released our 2020 Report Cards on the Democratic Party SuperPACs—the organizations that raise and spend hundreds of millions of dollars to elect Democratic candidates. These SuperPACs have already raised more than $600 million. We issue these Report Cards to reveal how these organizations are performing so far this cycle, whether they are on track in terms of spending and strategizing to win on Election Day. Spoiler alert: Most of them are barely getting passing grades.
We also take a moment to remember actor Chadwick Boseman, who starred in Black Panther and other movies, and who recently passed away at the age of 43.
References:
Democratic SuperPACs 2020 Report Cards: The Good, The Bad, and The Wasteful https://democracyincolor.com/2020overview
Ludovic Blain - @LudovicSpeaks // California Donor Table https://californiadonortable.org
Stacey Abrams - @staceyabrams // Fair Fight https://fairfight.com
Tram Nguyen - @TramNVM // New Virginia Majority https://newvirginiamajority.org
Tom Steyer - @TomSteyer // NextGen America https://nextgenamerica.org
Chadwick Boseman - @chadwickbosman // Black Panther - https://marvel.com/movies/black-panther

The Kamala Harris We Know

Few people know Kamala Harris like we in the Bay Area do. We discuss Joe Biden’s selection of the former San Francisco district attorney and Oakland native as his running mate. We also hear from one of Kamala’s long-time mentees—another Bay Area political star—Lateefah Simon, who was hired by Kamala 20 years ago despite not having a college degree at the time. Simon, an award-winning nonprofit leader and elected official who is currently president of the Akonadi Foundation where she runs one of the leading racial justice foundations in the country, talks about what it’s like when your mentor becomes the Democratic vice presidential candidate. She also shares how Kamala’s belief in the potential of and encouragement of young women like herself is just one example of her commitment to improving society and the lives of others.
References:
Lateefah Simon - @lateefahsimon // Lateefah for BART https://www.lateefahforbart.com
Kamala Harris - @KamalaHarris
2009 Bart shooting - Oscar Grant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Oscar_Grant
Organizations
Akonadi Foundation Website https://akonadi.org
Bart Board Website https://bart.gov/about/bod
MacArthur Fellows Program - Website https://macfound.org
Young Women’s Freedom Center Website https://youngwomenfree.org
Videos
Joe Biden Introduces Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) As Running Mate Clip https://youtube.com/watch?v=ymyY7jez0rM
Kamala Harris on George Floyd Clip https://youtube.com/watch?v=d_2KIrsaddA
Kamala Harris on her mother Clip https://twitter.com/mayaharris_/status/1293342255089168390

Veepstakes! - The women who could be vice president (Part 2)

A vice presidential candidate will be chosen by Joe Biden any day now. The top six finalists are Kamala Harris, Susan Rice, Karen Bass, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth and Val Demings. We discuss the historic significance of this year's vice presidential selection process. We also dive into factors Biden is likely weighing before making his decision, and the maddening critique of some Black women contenders as being “too ambitious.” And lastly, Steve, who is friends with four of the people Biden has considered, offers his prediction—who he thinks the winner of the 2020 Veepstakes will be!
References:
Democracy in Color - The White List https://democracyincolor.com/signhr40
Potential VP Picks
Stacey Abrams - @staceyabrams
Karen Bass - @RepKarenBass
Val Demings - @RepValDemings
Tammy Duckworth - @SenDuckworth
Kamala Harris - @KamalaHarris
Susan Rice - @AmbassadorRice
Elizabeth Warren - @SenWarren
Book
Richard Ben Cramer // What It Takes: The Way to the White House https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/380057.What_It_Takes
Scholarship
Cecil Rhodes Scholarship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Rhodes
Organization
Venceremos Brigade - Website https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venceremos_Brigade
Audio Clip
C-SPAN - John McCain Speech 2008 Republican Convention https://www.c-span.org/video/?280812-2/open-phones

Passing the Baton

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjZZ3r7Nuuk
Visionary Project - C.T. Vivian: Freedom Rides https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zTjNKLVLO4
The Obama White House - President Obama Delivers Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvAIvauhQGQ
The Obama White House - The Benediction at the Inauguration of Obama by Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb2UJ6r1A3E
Michael Tubbs HBO Documentary - Stockton on my Mind - Television Tues, July 28, 9:00PM PT; On Demand Available Wed, July 29 https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/stockton-on-my-mind
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 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20202078.Anna_Nti_Asare_Tubbs
Martin Luther King Jr. - Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211888.Where_Do_We_Go_from_Here
Connie Schultz - . . . and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10928._and_His_Lovely_Wife
Reports
San Joaquin Community Data Co-op in partnership with Anna Nti-Asare-Tubbs and Sukhi Samra // Report on the Status of Women 2018 https://www.michaeldtubbs.com/stockton-womens-report
Organizations: 
Economic Security Project https://www.economicsecurityproject.org/
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income https://www.mayorsforagi.org/
Stockton Strong https://www.stocktonstrong.org/
Stockton Scholars https://www.stocktonscholars.org/
Other Authors and Writings
Steve Phillips - Justice and Hope: Past Reflections and Future Visions of the Stanford Black Student Union, 1967-1989 https://exhibits.stanford.edu/stanford-pubs/catalog/pw849rd2893
Prof. Clayborne Carson - Martin Luther King Papers Project https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/about-papers-project
Author Paulo Freire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire

Reparations 101

School is not back in session yet but clearly there are a lot of people who need schooling, especially when it comes to understanding reparations. In this episode, "Professor” Steve Phillips breaks down the history of slavery and its legacy in this country and answers the question: Does the U.S. government owe anything to Black Americans? We also talk about why it's so important for Congress to act now and pass HR 40, the bill to establish a commission to study the legacy of slavery and to make recommendations about possible remedies, including reparations.
References:
Sign our Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-black-americans-deserve-reparations-demand-congress-commission-a-reparations-study-now?source=direct_link&referrer=group-democracy-in-color
H.R. 40 is a bill that would create a commission to study the effects of slavery on African Americans and explore possible remedies—including reparations
Congress.gov -  https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40
Other Reparations Resources
NJ-S322 - New Jersey Reparations Task Force https://www.billtrack50.com/BillDetail/1169949
Forbes // Rachel Sandler - California Assembly Passes Reparations
Bill https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2020/06/13/california-assembly-passes-reparations-bill/
Reparations to Japanese Americans - Civil Liberties Act of 1988 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Liberties_Act_of_1988
Video and Audio clips
Martin Luther King Jr. I Have a Dream Speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARvrvJV4th4
Trevor Noah on the Daily Show - The Reparations Debate Should America Compensate the Descendants of Slaves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uf_XDFXvzU
Beverly Hillbillies - Opening and Closing Theme Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvE9zJgm8OY
Daily News Post Reports Podcast, hosted by Martine Powers - Why Americans Don’t Learn About Tulsa, or Junteenth https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-reports/why-americans-dont-learn-about-tulsa-or-juneteenth/
TIME - Mitch McConnell Says Reparations for Slavery Are Not a ‘Good Idea’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQz7kL_qrE4
PBS News Hour - Ta-Nehisi Coates Full Opening Statement on Reparations at House Hearing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcCnQ3iRkys
Books
Sven Beckert - Empire of Cotton https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20758057-empire-of-cotton
Articles
The Nation // Steve Phillips - This is the Perfect Moment to Push for Reparations https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/black-reparations-hr40-congress/
The New York Times // Angela Glover Blackwell and Michael McAfee  - Banks Should Face History and Pay Reparations https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/opinion/sunday/banks-reparations-racism-inequality.html
The New York Times // Nikole Hannah-Jones - What is Owed https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/24/magazine/reparations-slavery.html
Study
National Bureau of Economic Research - “Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal?” https://www.nber.org/papers/w9873

Trump Is In Trouble

From failed political rallies to plummeting poll numbers to big losses in the Supreme Court, Trump is descending rapidly toward the nadir of his presidency. We discuss how the political tide is turning in America and why this is happening. In addition, our special guest—“Super Lawyer" and former Supreme Court clerk Stacey Leyton—offers insight into last week's major decisions and a “behind the scenes” look at how the Supreme Court functions.
References:
Stacey Leyton is a partner at the San Francisco law firm Altshuler Berzon where she practices constitutional and labor law. - @Stacemundo // https://altshulerberzon.com
Ruth Bader Ginsburg - @scotusginsburg
Civil Rights Act - Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Action_for_Childhood_Arrivals
Book:
Bruce Wright - Black Robes, White Justice https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/795527.Black_Robes_White_Justice
Court cases:
Dred Scot v. Stanford - In 1857, right before the Civil War, in the Dred Scot case, the Court held descendants of Africa, “had no rights which the white man was bound to respect” and could not become U.S. citizens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott_v._Sandford
Plessy v. Ferguson - In 1896, after the destruction of Reconstruction, the court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson, the separate but equal case, they wrote, “The white race deems itself to be the dominant race in this country. And so it is in prestige, in achievements, in education, in wealth and in power. So, I doubt not, it will continue to be for all time if it remains true to its great heritage and holds fast to the principles of constitutional liberty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plessy_v._Ferguson
Ozawa v. United States - In 1922, the court ruled in the Ozawa vs United States case that Asians could not become U.S. citizens because they were not white (citing the original immigration law restricting immigration to “free white persons.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozawa_v._United_States
Video Clips:
ABC13 Houston - Houston members of FIEL, Dreamers React to DACA vote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxi0NIDpD74
Bostock vs. Clayton County oral arguments US Supreme Court - Stanford Professor Pam Karlan making her case last October in court https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO81baYrWPk

Elizabeth Warren Talks Anti-Racism

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
The CFPB is committed to providing consumers with up-to-date information and resources to protect and manage their finances. https://www.consumerfinance.gov
Author Ta-Nehisi Coates - https://ta-nehisicoates.com
Press Releases:
Warren to Introduce Legislation to Investigate and Hold Police Officers and Departments Accountable for Discriminatory Practices https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/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 https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-reparations-bill-reaches-12-senate-cosponsors
Elizabeth Warren and Ro Khanna Unveil Essential Workers Bill of Rights https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/elizabeth-warren-and-ro-khanna-unveil-essential-workers-bill-of-rights