Pod Save the People

Pod Save the People

News EN ↓ 437 episodes

On Pod Save The People, host DeRay Mckesson explores social justice, culture, politics – and the various ways they all collide – with cohosts Myles E. Johnson and Sharhonda Bossier. Each Tuesday, the crew digs into the current events driving the political discourse – bringing cultural context, actionable insights, and a hot take or two – to help empower listeners to engage as thoughtful members of their communities…and their group chats. Alongside special guests, the show uplifts overlooked news stories that impact people of color and amplifies underrepresented voices who are working to create...

Author

Pod Save the People

Category

News

Podcast website

audioboom.com

Latest episode

Mar 24, 2026

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Episodes

Justice for Ahmaud Arbery (with State Senator Bill Ferguson) 12.05.2020

Content Warning: Violence. This week, DeRay, Brittany, Sam, and Clint discuss social distancing arrests, Ahmaud Arbery's murder, pandemic-influenced police violence, and a Sioux tribe's fight with South Dakota's governor. Then, DeRay sits down with Maryland State Senator Bill Ferguson to explore what it means to be a legislator facing 2020's unexpected problems. Show links ProPublica - Early Data...

You Need Everyone (with Mike Schmidt) 05.05.2020

This week, DeRay, Sam, Brittany, and Clint discuss food stamp limitations, racial disparities in coronavirus deaths, Missouri prosecutors, and the imprisonment of housing insecure people in St. Louis. Then, DeRay sits down with Mike Schmidt, who is currently running to become the next district attorney of Portland. http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/senate-bill-would-disem...

Voting Rights and Medical Fights (with Vanita Gupta) 28.04.2020

This week, DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss college courses for inmates, the story of Onesimus, Fox News misinformation, and the Japanese island that ended quarantine too early. Then, DeRay sits down with President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Vanita Gupta, to examine the need for mail-in ballots around upcoming elections.  http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2...

Even the Best Players Have Coaches (with Dr. Clint Smith III) 21.04.2020

This week, DeRay, Clint, and Sam discuss stimulus checks for the rich, coronavirus' impact on the environment, and Trump's new commission on policing. Then, DeRay sits down with the newly minted Dr. Clint Smith III to discuss his dissertation, “What If They Open That Door One Day? What Education Means to People Sentenced to Juvenile Life Without Parole.“ SHOW NOTES Forbes - How some wealthy Americ...

Battle-Tested (with Mayor Lori Lightfoot) 14.04.2020

This week, DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss how the US Postal Service is critical to November elections, stimulus oversights for Black-owned businesses, pandemic jail quarantines, and coronavirus in Africa. Then, DeRay sits down with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to examine the response of America's third largest city to the current crisis. https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/chesapeake-j...

Exploitation of a Crisis (with David Cole) 07.04.2020

This week, DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss Florida's unemployment blowback, COVID-19's impact on the disabled, and the disease's spread across race and class lines. Then, DeRay sits down with David Cole from the ACLU to examine justice issues under coronavirus, including digital trials and discriminatory rationing.  SHOW NOTES Politico - Florida becomes a nightmare for Trump ProPublica - A...

Pandemics And Prison (with Keri Blakinger) 31.03.2020

This week, DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss Joseph Lowery's legacy, class divides in medical care, grocery store supply chains, and Rhode Island's quarantine enforcement. Then, DeRay sits down with Keri Blakinger from The Marshall Project, to examine the impacts of coronavirus on incarcerated people.  https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/heb-prepared-coronavirus-pandemic/ https://www.nytimes.c...

Even Alone, We're Still A Collective (with Rep. Maxine Waters) 24.03.2020

This week, DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss the coronavirus and its influence on food stamp recipients, abortion clinic closures, thermometer technology, and victims of domestic violence. Then, DeRay sits down with Rep. Maxine Waters to talk about the battles she's facing in D.C. and her hopes for our national recovery. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/health/coronavirus-fever-thermometer...

Take This Seriously (with Andy Slavitt) 17.03.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss the spread of coronavirus and America's responses regarding law enforcement, prison populations, border enforcement, and the elevated risked to the African-American population. Then, DeRay sits down to discuss COVID-19 with Andy Slavitt, former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Obama. Story Link...

System Not Psyche (with Jessica Pishko) 10.03.2020

This week, DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss the remaining Democratic nominees, coronavirus fears, new protest laws, and car repair vouchers distributed by police. Then, Deray sits down with Jessica Pishko, who investigates sheriff abuse of power, and how the system is rigged. https://blavity.com/cops-in-minneapolis-are-giving-out-vouchers-for-vehicle-repairs-instead-of-tickets?category1=pol...

Even The Best Players Have Coaches (with George Gascón) 03.03.2020

This week DeRay, Clint, and Sam discuss San Francisco's sentencing enhancements, Virginia's child parole, and the voter suppression of Pleasant Grove. Then, DeRay sits down with George Gascón, who is running to be LA's progressive new D.A. in the March 3rd election. Show Notes The Appeal - San Francisco D.A. To Announce Sweeping Changes On Sentencing Policy And Police Stops The Appeal - Virginia M...

Our Presidential Roundtable 25.02.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss the entire list of Democratic candidates ahead of Super Tuesday.  https://burrow.com/PEOPLE https://www.betterhelp.com/start/?go=true&transaction_id=102011f543b6db7cfc943c926e757d&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=281&utm_medium=Desktop&utm_content=&utm_term=people&not_found=1&gor=start

What Should You Chase? (with Garlin Gilchrist) 18.02.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss Google's boundary redraws, college loans, the Party of Lincoln, and the Kentucky Derby. Then, DeRay sits down with community Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist to discuss criminal justice reform, tech feedback, and how there is a path forward for Flint.  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-african-americans-disappeared-kentucky-derby-1809631...

Hold Them Lovingly Accountable (with Michael & Pele Bennett) 11.02.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss solitary confinement, New York's free college program, prison torture, and the end of Confederate holidays. Then, DeRay sits down with the NFL's Michael Bennett and his wife Pele Bennett to discuss their new podcast, Mouthpeace , which explores sports culture and activism, issues of equity, relationships, and more. Show Notes The Cornell Chronicle...

Demand More (with Zach Norris) 04.02.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss Trump's extended travel ban, civil rights statues, birth tourism, and surgical gown shortages. Then, DeRay sits down with community leader Zach Norris to examine our broken mythologies surrounding crime and safety. https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/health/surgical-gown-recall-cardinal-health-trnd/index.html https://www.vox.com/2020/1/24/21077138/trump...

Know Your Limit (with Professor Richard L. Hasen) 28.01.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss Seattle's smartphone voting, Florida's felon fines, Houston's cancer clusters, and criticism of the 1619 Project. Then, DeRay sits down with election specialist Richard L. Hasen to examine frightening gaps in our voting security, regional pockets of governmental incompetence, and why he thinks we're in the midst of democracy's meltdown. Also, pleas...

Go Where the People Are (with Brittany Young) 21.01.2020

This week DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss facial recognition technology, the link between guns and racism, Johns Hopkins ending legacy admissions, and the public perception of Martin Luther King, Jr. Then, DeRay sits down with Brittany Young, who uses the Baltimore dirt bike community to inspire interest in STEM.  SHOW NOTES More about Brittany and her program The New York TImes - The Secr...

Imagine More Radically (with Saidiya Hartman) 14.01.2020

This week we've got DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam covering The Royal Family, racism in textbooks, poverty replacing the draft, restitution centers, and the marketing of drugs to jails. Then, DeRay sits down with 2019 MacArthur Fellow Saidiya Hartman to examine the complications in archiving black history.  https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/12/pharmaceutical-companies-are-marketin...

Do The List (with Teach For All CEOs) 07.01.2020

We're back! This week DeRay, Brittany, and Clint discuss IRS cheats, drug price increases, and the heartbreaking legacy of January 1 for enslaved people in the US. Then, DeRay sits down with three CEOs from various countrywide organizations within the Teach For All Organization. DeRay is joined by James Kassaga Arinaitwe from Teach for Uganda, Daniel Dotse, from Lead for Ghana, and Folawe Omikunle...

What's Good For Me Is Good For Society (with DA Rachael Rollins and College Behind Bars documentary) 24.12.2019

This week we've got two interviews: The first is with DA Rachael Rollins, who is the first woman to hold the office of Suffolk County D.A. and the first woman of color to serve as a Massachusetts D.A. Then, DeRay chats with the creative team (and one of the subjects) from the Ken Burns produced PBS docuseries College Behind Bars. Lynn Novick, director Sarah Botstein, producer Jule Hall, BPI alum N...

Every Little Bit Counts (with Mondaire Jones) 17.12.2019

DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss how an IRS notice saved 700 lives, death penalty repeal, Kentucky's voter rolls, and UNC's Silent Sam problem. DeRay talks to Mondaire Jones, who is running to be the first black and openly gay Congressman. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/upshot/irs-letter-health-insurance-fine-study.html#click=https://t.co/JFuWkzTTaY https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/07/opinio...

Democracy Is A Full-Contact Sport (with DeNora Getachew) 10.12.2019

DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss California's police policies, high interest loans, food safety risks, and how McKinsey helped the Trump administration. DeRay talks to DeNora Getachew from Generation Citizen. https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/461774-risking-food-safety-usda-plans-to-let-slaughterhouses-self-police https://www.propublica.org/article/they-loan-you-money-then-they...

In Your Skin (with Nic Stone) 03.12.2019

DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss the hidden history of slavery in the North, alien encouragement provisions, misguigded magistrates, and Iraqi protests. DeRay talks to author Nic Stone about her book "Dear Martin" and her flurry of new releases that aim to influence a younger generation's understanding of racism and fantastical visions of processing the past.  https://www.propublica.org/art...

No In Between (with Ibram X. Kendi) 26.11.2019

DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss WeWork's collapse, refugee resettlement, real estate investigations, and ballot organization lawsuits. DeRay talks to author and historian Ibram X. Kendi about what it means to be an Anti-Racist. https://qz.com/1741113/no-refugees-were-resettled-in-the-us-in-october-2019/ https://mashable.com/article/wework-2400-layoffs/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...

Let's Push Together (with Randi Weingarten) 19.11.2019

DeRay, Brittany, Clint, and Sam discuss Brooklyn's attempt to integrate middle schools, the psychology of inequality, partisan District Attorney problems, and Trump's EPA lighting the planet on fire. Then, DeRay chats with Randi Weingarten, the leader of the American Federation of Teachers, regarding union fights facing the nation. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/the-psychology-of-in...

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