The Electorette Podcast

Jesse Mermell, Congressional Candidate in Massachusetts' 4th District, discusses the importance of electing reproductive justice champions, her tenure as Head of External Affairs at Planned Parenthood, and how a conversation with Cecile Richards, shaped her views on electoral politics. Listen to All Episodes https://www.electorette.com/podcast Support the Electorette Rate & Review on iTunes: https...

Director of Democracy for the Indivisible Project, Meagan Hatcher-Mays, discusses the recent vote in the House of Representatives to grant statehood to the District of Columbia. If the bill were to pass in the Senate, DC would become the nation's 51st state. Meagan also discusses the history of the fight for DC statement, including arguments made against making DC a state. Listen to All Episodes h...

Cynthia Choi, Co-Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, discusses the rising wave of discrimination and hostility directed toward Asian Americans, as well as how xenophobic rhetoric from elected officials, including from the Trump administration, fuels that hostility. We also discuss Trump’s Chinese student expulsion, COVID-19 and building coalitions to fight anti-AAPI racism. Suppo...

Alexis McGill Johnson, the President & CEO of Planned Parenthood, discusses the direction of the organization, including how they will continue to fight to strengthen reproductive healthcare, expand access to all, and create a truly intersectional and inclusive coalition by partnering with activists and movements whose values align with that of Planned Parenthood. She also discusses how Planned Pa...

Professor Andrea Freeman, a Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii, and author of the report, The Government Must Increase SNAP Benefits and Eligibility to Avoid a National Food Emergency, discusses the country's food security crisis, SNAP benefits, and failings of the country's food policy, and how they affected by the Coronavirus Outbreak. Support the Electorette Rate & Review on iTunes: h...

Lauren Baer is a Democratic Strategist who is also a former State Department Official, and spent six years in the Obama administration, working as a senior adviser to secretaries of state Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, and to U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power. Lauren Baer also ran for congress in Florida’s 18th District, in 2018. Her campaign gained national media because she w...

Kathy Hochul, Lt Governor of New York State discusses the state's plan for reopening and rebuilding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. We also discuss the unique impact the pandemic will have on women, who have been on the frontline as essential workers. To learn more about New York's plan for recovery, please visit: http://forward.ny.gov/ Support the Electorette Rate & Review on iTunes: htt...

Fatima Goss Graves, the President and CEO of the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), discusses the unique ways in which the Coronavirus pandemic will affect women, as women are a large percentage of essential workers. We also discuss the economic impact to women and the growing childcare crisis. Lastly, we discuss a report published by the NWLC which outlines the investment needed to meet the coun...

Page Gardner is the founder and board chair of Voter Participation Center and its partner organization founder, the Center for Voter Information. The Voter Participation Center has helped 4.6 million voters register and get to the polls. Page Gardner was a pioneer in recognizing unmarried women as a key political voting bloc with significant and impactful political power. We discuss what's called...

Andrea Hailey is the CEO of Vote.org, the largest 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan voting registration and get out the vote tech platform in America. Vote.org has registered millions of voters over the years, and Andrea joins me to discuss how they are adjusting their efforts to support millions more voters during the pandemic, protecting the vote for the November election, what it will take to...

Rachel Barkow, vice dean and professor at New York University's School of Law, discusses how Governors can use clemency powers to slow the spread of COVID-19 in prison and jail populations, as well as, slow the spread to prison staff and family. Data for Progress Report: GOVERNORS MUST USE CLEMENCY POWERS TO SLOW THE PANDEMIC OUR LEADERS HAVE THE POWER TO RELEASE PEOPLE IN PRISON. NOW THEY MUST US...

Kat Calvin, founder and executive director of Spread the Vote, an organization that focuses on helping Americans get the ID they need to vote, discusses how the Coronavirus outbreak has affected these communities. We also discuss how the stimulus package and other relief efforts and resources fail to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Get 15% Off from M.M. LaFleur! M.M. La Fleur is offering...

MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO, Congressional Candidate for NY-15th Melissa Mark-Viverito is a Puerto Rican Democratic politician and former speaker of the New York City Council from 2014 to 2017, as well as councilmember for the 8th district from 2006 to 2017. Mark-Viverito is currently running for election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 15th Congressional District. We discuss the impact of COV...

KELLY BADEN Kelly Baden is the Vice President of Reproductive Rights for State Innovation Exchange, an organization dedicated to supporting and collaborating with state legislators by working with advocacy groups, think tanks and activists to provide the tools and information legislators need to be successful. We discuss the challenges state legislators face once elected to office, why its importa...

JESSICA POST Jessica Post, President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC.org) discusses their 2020 strategy to elect more state Democrats and win legislative majorities. We discuss their successes as grassroots fundraising and seats flipped from red to blue over the past 4 years. We also take a look back at the 2010 midterms. Support the Electorette Rate & Review on iTunes: http...

CHRYL LAIRD Chyrl Laird, is a political analyst, author and professor, who specializes in Race and Ethnic Politics and Political Psychology. In her new book titled, "Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior," which Laird coauthored along with Ismail White, they analyze the historical political patterns of Black voters, and explore the question of why Black Americans ar...

NADINE STROSSEN Nadine Strossen, is an activist, professor, and was the first woman and youngest president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She is also the author of the book "HATE: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, Not Censorship," which explores arguments around "Hate Speech" vs. "Free Speech." We discuss the definition of hate speech, and how one quantifies harm caused when...

Julie Kohler Julie Kohler, a Fellow in Residence at the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), discusses their new analysis which shows that women are more effective state legislators than men. We discuss the implications of these findings and discuss examples of how women elected to legislative positions have used this power to pass progressive legislation like Paid Family Leave or expansions to vot...

Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez is running for the Senate in the state of Texas, a seat which would help flip the state blue. Tzintzún Ramirez is a longtime organizer and the founder of a Texas-based nonprofit, JOLT, which mobilizes young Latino voters. Tzintzún Ramirez has received high-profile endorsements from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and actor, Alec Baldwin....

Bassey Ikpi Author Bassey Ikpi discusses her bestselling collection of essays titled "I'm Telling the Truth But I'm Lying," which explores the author's experiences through the lens of her mental health and diagnosis of bipolar II and anxiety. This stunning memoir in essay form is both vulnerable and beautiful, and a must-read. Get 15% Off from M.M. LaFleur! M.M. La Fleur is offering Electorette li...

Melissa Mark-Viverito, Congressional Candidate for NY-15th Melissa Mark-Viverito was a member of the New York City Council, representing District 8 during Michael Bloomberg's tenure as mayor. We discuss the harmful effects of the Stop & Frisk policy and other policies enacted during Bloomberg's time as Mayor, and what happened when she stood up and spoke out about the harm those policies caused th...

Carole Joffe, author of Obstacle Course... On this episode, I have a conversation with professor and abortion rights advocate, Carole Joffe. We discuss her new book, Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America. Get 15% Off from M.M. LaFleur! M.M. La Fleur is offering Electorette listeners 15% off of their first order when they use code ELECTORETTE. Just visit MMLaFleur.com...

Emily Tisch Sussman Discusses the 2020 Democratic Primary On this episode, I have a conversation with progressive political strategist and host of the popular political podcast, "Your Primary Playlist," Emily Tisch Sussman. We discuss the Iowa Caucus and the first Democratic debate following the caucus; as well as, make some predictions about the outcome of the New Hampshire Primary. Get 15% Off f...

AG, Co-host of Mueller, She Wrote On this episode, I have a conversation with AG, the semi-anonymous co-host of the award-winning podcast, Mueller, She Wrote. We discuss the Mueller Report, the impeachment trial, and the 2020 election. But we also an event that AG doesn't often discuss publicly; and that's being a victim of sexual assault while serving in the military. We discuss how she was treat...

Amanda Litman On this episode, I have a conversation with Amanda Litman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Run For Something, an organization dedicated to supporting and recruiting young progressives who want to run for office. Amanda discusses the importance of supporting down ballot races, what listeners can do to help Democrats regain legislative power, and the state of the 2020 primary race...