The Electorette Podcast

Representative Shontel Brown of Ohio discusses her key legislation, including the U-FIGHT Act: The Uterine Fibroid Intervention and Gynecological Health and Treatment Act, as well as, proposed legislation to minimize the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on all U.S. elections. This episode was made possible with a grant from the MacArthur Foundation through URL Media. From this Episod...

Special Coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago: Representative Lauren Underwood joins The Electorette to discuss a new resolution (Resolution 1386) just introduced by Democrats to counter the Republican's Project 2025, and its dark vision for the country. Underwood also discusses the Momnibus Act, Vice President Kamala Harris's support for maternal healthcare, and the palpable e...

Author, and award-winning political strategist, Atima Omara, joins me to discuss the energy and enthusiasm behind Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's campaign. We discuss whether this energy will translate to more trust and support for women candidates in the future, particularly Black women, and other women of color who run for office. We also talk about the chemistry between Harris and W...

Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, the Executive Director of Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), discusses November ballot measures, particularly initiatives that will expand abortion access in states where abortion has been restricted or banned. We also discuss how ballot measures allow ordinary citizens an avenue to transform their communities. From this Episode: Ballot Initiative Strategy Cen...

Leader Fentrice Driskell of the Florida House of Representatives discusses Florida's extreme abortion law, which earlier this year banned abortion at 6 weeks — before most women know they're pregnant. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, as there is an initiative on the Florida ballot this November, which, if passed, could significantly expand access in the state. Leader Driskell also...

Award-winning activist and author, Soraya Chemaly, discusses her new book, The Resilience Myth: New Thinking on Grit, Strength, and Growth After Trauma, and dismantles long-standing notions about what resilience is, while challenging us to rethink how we employ resilience as a source of grit and strength both within ourselves and for others. From this Episode: The Resilience Myth: New Thinking on...

Dr. Regina Davis Moss, the CEO & President of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, discusses the urgency of advocating for reproductive justice ahead of this election, the organizations decision to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president, and the history of the Reproductive Justice movement which marks its 30th anniversary this year. From this Episode: I...

Professor Emily M. Bender, and sociologist Dr. Alex Hanna discuss the impact of Artificial Intelligence and whether our government can protect us from its potential harms via legislation, and regulation. We also discuss the sociological harms of AI, as well as the environmental impact. Lastly, Professor Bender discusses the reaction to a paper she presented in 2021, titled "On the Dangers of Stoch...

Esteemed sociology professor, Jessica Calarco, discusses her new book "Holding It Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net." While other countries have an adequate social safety net, with services that include universal childcare, paid leave, and other services, America has instead locked women into this role. In this episode, Professor Calarco discusses how America has historically and sys...

GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, joins The Electorette to discuss their newly released data about LGBTQ voters, what this data reveals about LGBTQ voter engagement ahead of the election, and how anti-LGBTQ bills will not be a winning voter issue on the ballot. In our conversation, Ellis also addresses the following: Are LGBTQ voters enthusiastic about the upcoming election season? What e...

EMILYs List president, Jessica Mackler, joins The Electorette to discuss the importance of electing pro-choice, Democratic women to office—candidates who are unapologetic advocates for reproductive rights. We also discuss how unified messaging about abortion rights, among all Democrats, will energize voters. Lastly, we discuss the crucial role Vice President Kamala Harris has in being an outspoken...

Esosa Osa, the founder and CEO of Onyx Impact, an organization that fights the harmful information ecosystems that target Black communities, discusses how misinformation and disinformation campaigns target the Black community and voters. Osa served as the Senior Advisor to Stacey Abrams' gubernatorial campaign, and is the former deputy direction of Fair Fight Action — roles which helped hone her s...

Dr. Jade S. Sasser discusses eco-anxiety, climate guilt, and her new book, "Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question: Deciding Whether to Have Children in an Uncertain Future," as well as, the growing reproductive-resistance movement among young people who've decided to refrain from having children due to the looming climate crisis. From this Episode Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question: Deciding Whet...

Sondra Goldshein, the Executive Director of The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, discusses the organization's election-year ground game focused on electing candidates who support family friendly policies like childcare, elder care, and paid family leave. The organization is investing $40 million dollars to back the reelection campaign of the Biden/Harris administration, as well as, to suppo...

Dr. Venice Haynes, the Senior Director of Research and Community Engagement at United States of Care, an organization focused on building a better health care system by expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare, discusses their recent report which shows positive outcomes, particularly for Black women, when state-level Community Based Organizations (CBOs) are invested in maternal health. F...

Dr. Krystale E. Littlejohn, professor and author of the book "Just Get on the Pill: The Uneven Burden of Reproductive Politics," discusses her latest book, "Fighting Mad: Resisting the End of Roe v. Wade," a collection of 52 essays she edited alongside historian, and author Dr. Rickie Solinger. This incredible collection features essays from some of the most formidable thinkers, leaders, and activ...

Beatriz Lopez, the deputy director of the Immigration Hub, an organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies, discusses the GOP's strategy of using a multi-faceted misinformation machine to fuel anti-immigration sentiment — a fear-based strategy they've invested hundreds of millions of advertising dollars in, that they hope will result in a win at the ballot box. Beatriz Lo...

Betsy Campbell, the Chief Engagement Officer at RESOLVE The National Infertility Association, discusses the immediate, as well as the long term implications of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that granted personhood status to embryos created during fertility treatments — a decision which effectively banned IVF treatments in the state. Since the ruling, a number of IVF clinics in Alabama have susp...

Cybersecurity expert, Jackie Singh, who worked as a threat analyst on President Biden's campaign, discusses the ways in which Americans are being surveilled, and how the information collected is used to influence us in ways we've yet to fully grasp. We also discuss lax privacy laws, PSYOPS campaigns, and the best way to navigate the cyber landscape during one of the most important election cycles...

Frédérique Irwin, President of the National Women’s History Museum, discusses their current exhibit, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC. The exhibit traces Black feminism in Washington, DC from the turn of the 20th century through the civil rights and on through to Black Power movements of today. Curated by renowned historians Sherie M. Randolph and Kendra T. Field, the exhibition focuse...

Social scientist, and foremost expert on single life, Dr. Bella DePaulo discusses her latest book, Single at Heart: The Power, Freedom, and Heart-Filling Joy of Single Life. In this episode, Dr. DePaulo addresses misconceptions about single life and cites research, studies, and anecdotal evidence to counter longstanding narratives. We also discuss how legislation and policy centers families and co...

New landmark research, by Associate Professor Dr. Elizabeth Linos and co-authors, indicates that Black women may have worse career outcomes when their teams have a greater share of white colleagues. The research out of the Harvard Kennedy School finds that Black women on white teams are more likely to be labeled as "low performers." Additionally, they are promoted less often, and experience higher...

Amanda Litman, the cofounder of Run for Something, discusses the spate of book bans that have spread through libraries and schools across the country. We talk about who's behind the bans, and how Run for Something is working to counter them. Lastly, what can voters do right now to fight book bans in their local school districts. From this Episode PEN America | Report: "Banned in the USA: State Law...

Rudy Garrett from the Alliance for Youth Action discusses the power of building a political movement that centers a coalition of young, diverse voters and organizers. We also discuss the impact that Gen-Z voters will have on the upcoming election. Listen to All Electorette Episodes https://www.electorette.com/podcast Support the Electorette Rate & Review on iTunes: https://apple.co/2GsfQj4 Also, i...

Essayist and memoirist Leta McCollough Seletzky discusses her father-daughter memoir, "The Kneeling Man: My Father's Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.," which tells the story behind the famous photograph of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on the balcony of Memphis's Lorraine Motel. In the photo, there is a man kneeling over Dr. King holding a...