Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Buttigieg’s Black Problem

We delve into Pete Buttigieg’s Black problem and the underlying causes. What are the real reasons why he is polling at 0% with Black voters? And why does it matter to all Democratic voters?
Ricky Klee, a college instructor from South Bend, Indiana who has carefully followed and written about Buttigieg’s administration for several years, shares his insights. We also preview a new report from Democracy in Color looking at Mayor Pete’s record on racial issues in South Bend.
Also, some reflections on Kamala Harris suspending her campaign and what it says about the Democratic Party and African American political trends.

The Thanksgiving Episode

It’s a very special Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips Thanksgiving episode!
Where else can you get caught up on the latest in presidential politics (Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Biden and more!) and also hear Thanksgiving stories from listeners who span the cultural spectrum of the rainbow? And speaking of the Rainbow, we share a special story of Steve’s recent encounter with Jesse Jackson at Washington’s National Airport.
All of that, plus a Hidden Figures segment on an inspiring Native American leader who has helped elect Congresspeople, advise major donors, and parlay her experience working at Nordstrom into a “styling” business for women leaders.

My Deepest Hope Is This Is An Inflection Point: A Conversation With Neera Tanden

Neera Tanden, who has been called one of our nation’s most powerful women in politics by Fortune magazine, is the president of Center for American Progress, the nation’s largest progressive think tank.
She sheds light on the impeachment hearings and what Democrats and progressives need to keep in mind at this moment.
We also find out how Neera, an immigrant whose family was on food stamps when she was a child, arrived to where she is today. We also learn about her favorite childhood dish!

How to Defeat a Racist: An Interview with Tim Wise

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.

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

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.

Iowa: How Democrats Win in a 90% White State

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.

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

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.

The Brown Girls Guide to Politics: Aimee Allison

The Brown Girls Guide to Politics Podcast is all about amplifying the voices of women who are too often forgotten in media coverage. Host A’shanti Gholar leads conversations with women changing the face of politics. In this episode, A'shanti sits down with Democracy in Color Podcast host Aimee Allison. Listen and enjoy!

Midterm Elections 2018: Not a Blue Wave, But a Brown One

Aimee sits down with political insider Tim Molina and Democracy in Color founder Steve Phillips to debrief on the wins and losses of this historic election. Women of color were the indisputable winners, with many becoming firsts, unseating incumbents, flipping state and Congressional seats, and generally announcing their political ascension. But there was also widespread voter suppression, overt racism, and a stark distance between white voters and everyone else up and down the ballot. This episode will break down what it all means and what happens next.

Political Organizer Nse Ufot

Nse Ufot calls in from one of the political hot zones leading up to the elections. She leads the New Georgia Project, in a state where a contentious gubernatorial race has raised the stakes and deepened awareness about voter suppression, electoral misinformation, and other tactics to deplete black and brown voter rolls.