The Electorette Podcast

Amy Aronson On this episode, I have a conversation with Amy Aronson, author of the new book titled "Crystal Eastman: A Revolutionary Life." Crystal Eastman was an uncompromising feminist, an early advocate for workers' rights, reproductive rights, a socialist, and an anti-militarist. She was also branded the most dangerous woman in America. Eastman also helped write the Equal Rights Amendment and...

April Reign On this episode, I have a conversation with April Reign, the creator of #OscarsSoWhite viral hashtag and movement, created to confront the lack of diversity in the Oscars and movie industry as a whole. We discuss this year's Oscar nominations, changes to the industry since the #OscarsSoWhite movement began, and some reactions to criticisms of Hollywood's lack of diversity. Support the...

Kate Kelly On this episode, I discuss the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) with passionate advocate and activist for women's rights, Kate Kelly. We discuss the role that the state of Virginia will play in finally ratifying the ERA, after it was introduced nearly a century ago. About Today's Guest: In 2013 Kate Kelly founded a group called Ordain Women to advocate for gender equality in the Mormon Chur...

Kina Collins Kina Collins is a nationally recognized gun violence prevention and healthcare advocate running for the IL-07 Congressional District seat. Kina Collin's interest in activism began after witnessing gun violence as a 7 year-old growing up in Chicago. We discuss her candidacy against a 22-year incumbent, her success with pushing historic legislation for women, and the importance of healt...

Niccole Thurman Actress, Improviser & Writer, Niccole Thurman talks about politics, her roles satirizing conservatives on Comedy Central, and self-care in a toxic political climate. Niccole Thurman has most recently appeared on HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Shrill on Hulu. Previously, she was a Citizen Journalist on the Comedy Central show, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, where she brill...

Shanda Yates is running for Mississippi's House of Representative, a state crucial for Democrats to gain legislative power in the South, including putting a stop to extreme partisan gerrymandering and fighting back against the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. Support Shanda Yates' Campaign: Shanda Yates for MS House of Representatives Shanda Yates' on Twitter Shanda Yates' on Faceboo...

This episode explores a new report by Media Matters which reveals how television networks like MSNBC and CNN, allow Fox News to influence their abortion related coverage, poisoning the coverage with lies about abortion. Sharon Kann, an abortion rights and reproductive health program director at Media Matters, discusses the details of the report. EPISODE NOTES: Media Matters Report: Other networks...

Debra Rodman is currently a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and is now running for the Senate in Virginia's 12th District. This is one of the most important local elections for Democrats to retake the Senate and shift the balance of power. This is also one of the most important local election of 2019. In our conversation, we discuss the state of politics in Virginia including...

Emerge is an organization dedicated to recruiting & training Democratic women to run for office. In this conversation with A'shanti Gholar, the political director for Emerge, we discuss the challenges women running for office face including the hurdle of proving their "electability." GET $25 OFF OUR PURCHASE WHEN YOU SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by M.M. LaFleur. To redeem of...

On this episode, I talk with Emily May, the co-founder and executive director of Hollaback, an organization and campaign devoted to ending street harassment worldwide. GET $25 OFF OUR PURCHASE WHEN YOU SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by M.M. LaFleur. To redeem offer visit: https://mmlafleur.com/Electorette M.M. LaFleur is built on a core belief: When women succeed in the workpl...

A conversation with Dr. Fiona Vera Gray about street harassment and her book, The Right Amount of Panic: How Women Trade Freedom For Safety. We discuss the stories of women in her book who experienced street harassment and cat-calling as early as age seven. We also discuss the amount of labor women extend to secure their own safety in public. GET $25 OFF OUR PURCHASE WHEN YOU SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:...

This episode features a conversation with Jennifer Kavanagh, a political scientist and researcher for the RAND Corporation. We discuss their recent study, Truth Decay: A RAND Initiative to Restore the Role of Facts and Analysis in Public Life. RAND defines Truth Decay as the diminishing role of facts and data in American public life. We discuss the four trends that characterize Truth Decay as well...

What do Democrats need to win more legislative power throughout the country? To put a stop to extreme gerrymandering? To pass the Equal Rights Amendment, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights to all Americans regardless of gender? To pass stricter gun control laws? According to Nicole Hobbs, Executive Director of Every District, an organization dedicated to helping Democrats win mor...

Author and philosopher Kate Manne discusses her book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny. GET $25 OFF OUR PURCHASE WHEN YOU SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by M.M. LaFleur. To redeem offer visit: https://mmlafleur.com/Electorette M.M. LaFleur is built on a core belief: When women succeed in the workplace, the world becomes a better place. M.M.LaFleur was founded by three women and...

What does good, solid Paid Leave Policy looks like? And what should we look for as savvy constituents. Andie Zuniga of PL+US to discuss Paid Family Leave Policy. We talk about what coverage should include, the number of weeks that have been shown to be effective, and what we should expect from politicians crafting Paid Leave policy. Visit PL+US (Paid Leave for the US) to follow and support their w...

Professor & Author Catherine Squires discusses her book Dangerous Discourses; Bringing Intersectionality to a Mass Shooting and the #SayHerName Movement in relation to the C SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by M.M. LaFleur. M.M. LaFleur is built on a core belief: When women succeed in the workplace, the world becomes a better place. M.M.LaFleur was founded by three women and is...

Katie Bethell, founder of the PL+US (Paid Leave For the United States), talks about their national campaign to win paid family leave by 2022. PL+US has already had several successes within the private sector and has already won paid family leave for nearly 6 million Americans. We talk about the necessity of paid leave beyond mothers and babies; paid leave is a human right and if implemented correc...

Author & researcher, Celeste Watkins-Hayes, discusses her new book "A Life : How Women Living with HIV/AIDS Confront Inequality" which explores the AIDS/HIV epidemic by following the transformative arc many women took to shift from “dying from” AIDS to “living with” it. OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by M.M. LaFleur. M.M. LaFleur is built on a core belief: When women succeed in the wo...

In this episode I discuss the Russia and Putin's history of launching cyber-warfare and espionage campaigns including the one against the US during the 2016 presidential election. My guests are Laura DuBois and Marley Clements, producers of the documentary Active Measures. We discuss how Russia successfully compromised the 2016 election as well as Trump's connections to Russia dating back to the 8...

Reproductive Rights activist Asha Dahya discusses the reproductive rights movement from the lens of an ex-evangelical, turned passionate advocate and activist seeking reproductive justice for all. Follow Asha Dahya OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by M.M. LaFleur. M.M. LaFleur is built on a core belief: When women succeed in the workplace, the world becomes a better place. M.M.LaFleur w...

Wagatwe Wanjuki is a feminist activist, writer, speaker, and digital strategist best known for her work as a national campus anti-violence advocate. She's a founder of the anti-rape organization Survivors Eradicating Rape Culture and is a founding co-organizer of Know Your IX’s ED ACT NOW campaign. Wanjuki is a rape survivor, and we discuss her experience in dealing with her university and the cos...

Rita Bosworth was driven to start The Sister District Project, an organization dedicated turning states blue by winning state legislative elections, shortly following the 2016 election. By controlling the balance in state legislative seats, Democrats will have more power to create fairer redistrciting maps, stop extreme partisan gerrymandering, create a more balanced Congress, and even stop and re...

Sayu Bhojwani, founder & president of New American Leaders, an organization leading a movement for inclusive democracy by preparing first and second generation Americans to use their power and potential in elected office. Bhojwani is an activist, an advocate, speaker and writer, and in our conversation, she discusses her journey to American citizenship, her role as New York s first Commission of I...

Writer Chavisa Woods is a Shirley Jackson Award-winning author and three-time Lambda Finalist, and she joins me to discusses her new book, 100 Times: A Memoir of Sexism. In her book, Woods shares one hundred personal stories of sexism, harassment, discrimination, and assault. In our conversation, Woods shares many of the same experiences she shares in her memoir, recounting her experiences with se...

Carol Anderson, professor, historian and the award-winning author of "One Person, No Vote..." and "White Rage...." discusses modern and historical patterns of voter disenfranchisement and suppression. Also, if you enjoy the Electorette, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review on iTunes. Also, please spread the word by telling your friends, family and colleagues about The Electorette! WANT MORE...