The 80/60/40 Strategy Podcast

This began with a dream. I was watching a group of enslaved people moving through a forest at night. It was completely dark. They could not use light. They could not call out. They were being chased, and fear was beginning to spread. Some of them started running in the wrong direction. Then something changed. Those who had found the right path began tapping on the trunks of trees. The sound was no...

Blactivate the Vote is a strategic initiative by the Texas Progressive Policy Institute designed to transform how political campaigns engage with Black voters across twenty states. Moving away from traditional, last-minute turnout tactics, the program focuses on building long-term trust and addressing the "trust debt" created by previous cycles of inconsistent outreach. The framework utilizes spec...

The Texas Progressive Policy Institute (TPPI) is a communications and engagement consultancy dedicated to advancing social equity and civic participation within the African American community. Through its BlactivateUSA initiative, the organization coordinates a national network focused on turning policy research into direct community action. The provided documents outline a dual-track model that a...

Jasmine Crockett already has most of the Black community's enthusiastic support, but that does not mean the rest of the Democratic Party automatically will. This is a 4-alarm-fire alert to every candidate running for office this election cycle across the country. Let’s unpack why. Full episode available to paid monthly members of the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engageme...

Is it structural neglect or the lack of courageous discourse from candidates that's causing the widening chasm between the Democratic Party and its Black base? Listen to this lively debate between our hosts, Queensly Billups and Damon Tucker, who offer differing opinions on what has to be done to re-engage and to rebuild trust with Black voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. (SPOILER ALERT:...

The provided text is an excerpt from a podcast script for BlactivateTheVote2026 , an audio series produced by the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement. This episode, titled "Why Most Candidates Lose Black Voters Early," serves as a guide for political candidates and consultants focusing on the critical role of African American voter engagement in 2026 competitive race...

There are meaningful reasons why Black people move collectively in the ways we do. Here is a glimpse into what the workplace experience looks like for many African Americans. We hope it offers insight and encourages deeper understanding. When we engage each other with authenticity and care, everyone benefits.

The Judicial Leadership & Learning Lab (JL3) is a statewide civic development and judicial innovation program created by the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement (TPPI). Designed for Texans ages 15 and older, JL3 cultivates the next generation of jurists, court administrators, policy thinkers, community advocates, and justice reform innovators. The Lab provides a...

In this episode, we walk through the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement’s newest policy brief on the unemployment crisis impacting Black communities. Our discussion sounds the alarm on Black joblessness, which has soared to 1.8M jobs lost in just 11 months--more than twice the natinal average of whites--and how this disparity produces concentrated harm in housing, f...

In this episode: Our hosts introduce listeners to the mission of the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement and explain what makes TPPI different from traditional think tanks or policy organizations. Instead of focusing on white papers or political strategy, TPPI operates as a civic engagement consultancy that helps policymakers, candidates, and civic leaders build the...