Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Politically, We Need To Respect The Chitlins - A Thanksgiving Special

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 - https://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. https://braincancerandme.com
Clint Smith // The Atlantic - In 1864, Like in 2020, America Just Got Lucky https://theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/11/election-when-america-narrowly-avoided-disaster/617176/
Sweet Honey in the Rock - Ella’s Song https://youtube.com/watch?v=U6Uus--gFrc

After the Election: America’s Road Ahead

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:
John Loredo - former member of the Arizona House of Representatives (1997-2005), Founder Arizona Wins! http://az-wins.org/
Donate to Raphael Warnock & Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate, and to Fair Fight https://secure.actblue.com/donate/warnock-ossoff?refcode=podcast
Democratic Party of Georgia - Georgia Runoff Strike Team Sign Up https://mobilize.us/democracyincolor/event/362551/
America Votes Georgia Volunteer Sign Up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfKPID0RoAGR2KUsg1sWHioMFVKfk0lTSUzQ-xVWElv1pjOg/viewform
Edison Research // New York Times - Election Exit Polls https://nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/exit-polls-president.html
Roxane // The New York Times - I Am Shattered but Ready to Fight https://nytimes.com/2020/11/05/opinion/trump-supporters-election-2020.html
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Election Results 2020 (23:22 - 23:55) https://youtube.com/watch?v=LyC855KdBKo
11Alive - Atlanta takes to the streets to celebrate the Biden and Harris win https://youtube.com/watch?v=C7p94KMgITk
One Arizona https://onearizona.org/
Lucha https://luchaaz.org
Our Voice, Our Vote https://ourvoiceourvote.us
Mi Familia Vota https://mifamiliavota.org
Chispa Arizona https://chispaaz.org
Unite Here http://unitehere11.org
Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy: CASE http://case-az.org/

Special Election Episode: The Next President

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 - former member of the Arizona House of Representatives (1997-2005), Founder Arizona Wins! @JohnLoredo10 http://az-wins.org/
Ron Brownstein - @RonBrownstein - senior editor at The Atlantic and senior political analyst for CNN - Twitter thread https://twitter.com/RonBrownstein/status/1323644768807628802
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 https://theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/millennials-and-gen-z-will-soon-dominate-us-elections/616818/
Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips podcast with special guest Ron Brownstein - One Virus, Two Americas https://democracyincolor.com/podepisodes/2020/4/2/one-virus-two-americas
Tram Nguyen // The New York Times - Democrats Could Learn A Lot from What Happened in Virginia https://nytimes.com/2019/11/06/opinion/virginia-election-democrats.html

The Four Things to Watch on Election Night

With just five days left before Election Day, we offer a How-To guide of what to watch for as election results unfold on November 3rd. We hone in on the top four signs to watch for to get a sense of who is going to win. Our favorite data scientist, Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega, breaks down which states and counties to keep an eye on—and at what time of the night. Also, Steve and Dr. Julie give us their quick gut-check: whether they think certain swing states will end up going for Biden or Trump.
REFERENCES:
Election Night 2020 - Follow Along At Home With Democracy in Color on Election Night http://democracyincolor.com/election
Dave Wasserman // NBC News - Will Trump Win Again? Watch Florida’s Sumter County for first election night clue. https://nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/will-trump-win-again-watch-florida-s-sumter-county-first-n1243497
Allen Smith // NBC News - 'Nothing happening': Third-party candidacies appear less a factor in 2020 https://nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/nothing-happening-third-party-candidacies-appear-less-factor-2020-n1240433
Protect the Results - https://protecttheresults.com

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