Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

In this post-midterms 2026 Election Day episode, Sharline interviews Steve about what happened on Tuesday, why Dems were able to take back control of the House and Senate and much more in such spectacular fashion, and where we go from here.  Steve connects the results to decades of work for multiracial democracy, including the legacy of his late wife, Susan Sandler, whose support helped organizers...

Political journalist and host of Vox’s America, Actually, Astead Herndon, returns for a conversation about the midterms, Trump’s waning credibility, and the tensions shaping the Democratic Party’s future. He explains how Democrats can address the cost of living while confronting corruption and holding Trump accountable. He also shares what the 2024 election reveals about voters’ priorities and how...

Yasmin Radjy, executive director of Swing Left, joins us to discuss why Democratic campaigns need to build trust earlier, reach voters often overlooked, and invest in long-term organizing, not just focus on the next election.  She explains how voter files are leaving a quarter of the electorate behind and where grassroots efforts can make the biggest difference for the upcoming midterms as we head...

Election Day is 40 days away. Political Director of the California Donor Table Michael Gomez Daly discusses the upcoming midterms and the 862 votes that defied political consultants polling data and flipped a long-held Republican seat in California’s Central Valley during the 2018 election.  He shares what that race can teach us about organizing in 2026, the limits of voter-propensity models, and...

With the 2026 midterms less than eight weeks away, we sit down with veteran Democratic strategist and political data expert Tom Bonier to take a closer look at what the numbers are telling us about the electorate. Tom is CEO of the TARA Group and a senior adviser and former CEO of TargetSmart, one of the country’s leading Democratic political data firms. He has also taught political science at How...

Mila Atmos, host and executive producer of the new podcast series Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising, joins us to discuss the lasting legacy of Occupy Wall Street and how many of the ideas once considered radical have moved into the political mainstream. She points out the through-line from Occupy’s “99 percent” movement, which started 15 years ago in September 2011, to Bernie Sanders and today’s prog...

Political creator, influencer, attorney, and Reckoning Action founder Cheyenne Hunt discusses her work supporting survivors and how she helps bring allegations of sexual misconduct and assault by powerful political figures into public view. She takes us behind the scenes of how she builds trust with survivors, connects them with major media outlets, and uses a savvy mix of advocacy, law, and digit...

After the Supreme Court's Callais decision further dismantled the Voting Rights Act, where does Black political power go from here? We talk with UC Berkeley political scientist Jake Grumbach about why the old model of Black politics is no longer enough—and what a new strategy for building lasting political power could look like. REFERENCES: Jake Grumbach - website // @JakeMGrumbach The Voting Righ...

Why do some politicians get to be "authentic," while others are told they're too polished, too outspoken, or simply not electable? Our latest guest Maya Rupert—author, political strategist, and one of the nation's leading voices on race and democracy (she’s also the former campaign manager for Julián Castro's 2020 presidential campaign, and for Maya Wiley's New York City mayoral campaign)—shares h...

As the our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, LaTosha Brown, organizer and Black Voters Matter co-founder, joins us to reflect on the unfinished struggle for democracy in the wake of the Supreme Court's assault on the Voting Rights Act. She shares her thoughts on the enduring importance of the South, the lessons of Selma, and how people-powered organizing can meet this political moment with...

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joins Steve for a live conversation at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle about the growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world. Drawing from his new book, Chain of Ideas, Kendi explains how fear, division, and "Great Replacement" narratives are being used to undermine democracy and consolidate power. Together, he and Steve explore the con...

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question. In the final installment of the Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else? series, Robert Raben, founder and president of Raben and executive direc...

President and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Aaron Dorfman breaks down how right-wing donors and foundations spent money to curtail voting rights and reshape the broader political landscape. He explains the often unseen role philanthropy plays in politics and the retreat from racial justice funding after the murder of George Floyd. He also shares why long-term investment...

CNN NewsNight anchor Abby Phillip delves into the legacy of Revered Jesse Jackson and her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power.  She discusses Jackson’s groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns and what they mean for the fight we're in today. She also traces Jesse’s role in shaping modern progressivism and his influence on figures like Sen. B...

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question. White men are 29% of the U.S. population, but dominate positions of power across nearly every sector.  In Part 2 of this special series, Steve and...

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question. In Part 1 of this special podcast series, three young people share their thoughts on the overrepresentation of white men in positions of power and...

Three key voices behind the new documentary First They Came for My College join Steve to share how community, art, and activism became tools to fight back against censorship and ideological warfare at the New College of Florida. Harry Hanbury, a seasoned filmmaker and alumnus of New College, shares behind-the-scenes insights to documenting the fight to save a campus under siege. Amy Reid, a former...

Our guest needs no introduction. Stacey Abrams returns to the show to unveil her latest initiatives and share insights on building systems of justice and advancing equity. She reflects on what this moment demands and shares her “10 Steps to Freedom and Power” framework. She explains how authoritarian tactics are evolving, how we must adapt in response, and why DEI has become such a central battlef...

This is a rerelease of an episode from 2023 with a new intro from our founder, Steve Phillips. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Eddie Wong, former national field director for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, joins Steve and Sharline to reminisce on the alliance that transcended boundaries of race, gender, and socio-economic status to create a powerful for...

New York Times White House Correspondent Erica Green shares candid and necessary insights into the increasingly explicit racial dynamics shaping American politics.  She discusses the Times interview that forced Trump to publicly articulate his views on who faces discrimination in America and the blatantly racist video he shared on social media—and then deleted—of former President Barack Obama and...

Indivisible’s Leah Greenberg joins Steve and Sharline to discuss what we can learn from history about confronting rising authoritarianism and defending democracy today. The organization’s co-founder and co-executive director, Leah shares how Indivisible (and the country) have evolved since 2016 and the role of big-tent coalitions in building effective resistance movements. Leah also offers advice...

In our first episode of the year, veteran journalist Ron Brownstein returns to offer a cogent analysis about the larger ongoing, existential battle over the identity of this nation and the fears and anxieties animating the Trump coalition.  Ron, Steve and Sharline discuss voter behavior in the 2024 election cycle, from racial and gender dynamics in the presidential contest to the economic conditio...

In our final episode of 2025, Representative Crockett joins us to talk about what kind of leadership this moment requires.  Recorded just days before she officially entered the race, she shares her journey as a civil rights lawyer turned legislator and the experiences that led her to run for Congress.  She highlights key issues Texans are facing and discusses what it’s going to take to win her Sen...

Happy Thanksgiving! Our team is taking a break this week, so we’re re-sharing one of our most popular episodes from last year featuring somatics coach Viveka Chen, now with a brand-new intro from our co-host Sharline Chang.   In This Episode:  Let’s pause for a moment and remember that we need to take care of ourselves.  Leadership coach, transformative justice practitioner, and somatics coach Viv...

The 19th News’ childcare and economy reporter Chabeli Carrazana discusses the unique beat she’s formed and why reporting on the economy from a gender lens matters. Chabeli explains how the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted women of color, and she discusses the challenges faced by immigrant childcare workers in the wake of Trump’s immigration crackdowns. She shares the undue burden LGBT...