Pod Save the People
Subscribe now: DeRay’s new show on activism, social justice, culture, and politics.
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Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson takes you inside conversations about culture, social justice, and politics by exploring the history, language, and people who are shaping the struggle for progress — and talking about the steps that each of us can take to make a difference. You can listen to the teaser below, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
9.26.17: Didn’t Get Here Alone
DeRay, Clint, Sam and Brittany talk about Puerto Rico, NFL protests, North Korea and police union contracts. The New Yorker writer Evan Osnos joins to help us understand North Korea past and present having just returned himself from a visit. Phil Weiser, former Obama staffer and current candidate for CO’s Attorney General, helps us understand antitrust issues and why he’s running.
9.19.17: We Can All Win
DeRay talks with TN State Senator Lee Harris about the outrageous prison sentences related to drug free school zones. Sheriff Tom Dart from Cook County joins to talk about reducing the jail population in big ways. Sam, Clint and Brittany are on again to talk this week’s news, including St. Louis and The Emmys.
Show notes:
http://hightimes.com/business/marijuana-industry-projected-to-create-nearly-300000-jobs-by-2020/
9.12.17: Navigating Identity and Navigating Justice
DeRay and Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) help us understand the federal budget, including the latest debt ceiling deal among Trump, Pelosi and Schumer, how the DNC is preparing for 2020, and the opioid crisis in KY. Actress Dawn-Lyen Gardner from Queen Sugar joins DeRay to talk about being an activist actress and what it’s like have Ava and Oprah as mentors. Brittany, Sam and Clint join for the weekly news and some celebration of Sloane and Serena.
9.8.17: BONUS: Her Wings Were Clipped Short
DeRay speaks with Marissa about her experiences and perspectives as a DACA recipient. Eric Columbus, former special counsel for Homeland Security, joins to share more information about DACA and what’s next, and Clint joins to share a burning thought on the recent national DACA conversation.
9.5.17: We Don’t Know How This Movie Ends
Brittany, Clint and Sam join to discuss this week’s news, including the threat to DACA and Houston. Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams joins DeRay to chat about her campaign and the potential of being the first Black woman governor — ever. Arne Duncan and Curtis Toler meet up with DeRay in Chicago to talk about their work at Chicago CRED, providing economic opportunities to reduce violence.
8:29.17: Justice in 36 Seconds
DeRay sits down for a personal conversation with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to talk about her path, bond and bail systems, the pace of justice, and her vision for justice. Sam, Brittany and Clint join to talk about a wild news week. AZ State Senator Reggie Bolding processes Arpaio’s pardon with DeRay.
8.22.17: On Their Shoulders
Colin West, Nnamdi Asomugha and and Matt Ruskin from the film Crown Heights stop by the studio, and President Obama’s former Drug Czar, Michael Botticelli, joins to help listeners understand the opioid epidemic from a health and policy standpoint. DeRay processes the world after Charlottesville with Brittany, Sam and Clint. Birmingham mayoral candidate, Randall Woodfin, joins DeRay briefly to discuss the biggest issues facing his city.
8.15.17: The House We Live In
DeRay talks to Common about The 13th’s Emmy nomination, Charlottesville, and art + activism, criminal justice and the NFL. DeRay chats with Nathanial Pearlman about the Resistance Dashboard. Clint, Brittany and Sam join to talk about the history of white supremacy in relation to this past week’s news.
8.14.17: BONUS POD: Charlottesville
DeRay talks with Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe about the deadly white supremacy violence in Charlottesville, VA’s police and state response, and the leadership needed to move forward locally and nationally. Wes Gobar and Devin Willis from UVA’s Black Student Alliance join DeRay, as does Danyelle, the NAACP’s UVA chapter leader to talk about their experiences on the ground and what’s next.
8.8.17: Win the Available Victory
DeRay interviews NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio at Gracie Mansion about policing, universal pre-K, and turnstyle jumping. Sam, Clint and Brittany join to talk about the myths of meritocracy and rehabilitation and a myriad of other issues facing America. DeRay and Chris Hayes talk about the debt ceiling, the opioid crisis, and cross-racial solidarity together.
8.1.17: Don’t Forget Your Purpose
Sam, Brittany and Clint are on for the news, and Andy Slavitt joins for another health care update. Former US Secretary of the Navy under Obama, Ray Mabus, joins DeRay to talk about the joint chiefs’ reaction to Trump’s transgender ban by tweet, climate change as a national security issue, and our international reputation. DeRay sits down with rap artist Vic Mensa to talk about misogyny, hypermasculinity, therapy, Malcolm X and police violence, all related to Vic’s new album, The Autobiography.
7.25.17: Stay in Your Lane Sounds a Lot Like Stay in Your Place
DeRay, Brittany, Sam and Clint talk about prisons, inequitable foster care practices, Trump’s refusal to enforce public law and the new Confederate show. Andy Slavitt joins for a healthcare update. DeRay sits down with Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges to talk about the police killings of Justine Damond and Jamar Clark. Golden Globe winning actress Tracee Ellis Ross joins DeRay to talk about activism, hand washing her clothes, and what’s next in her career.
7.18.17: This is No Time to Grow Weary
DeRay, Brittany, Clint and Sam discuss the week’s news and Andy Slavitt joins for a timely health care bill update. Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor and head of public and intergovernmental affairs for President Obama, joins DeRay to talk about criminal justice, reparations, and reflections on eight years in the White House. Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak meets with DeRay to reflect on local leadership and talk about the future of the DNC.
7.11.17: A Box Won’t Fix Racism
DeRay sits down in person on his birthday to discuss the news with Brittany, Sam and Clint. Andy Slavitt joins again this week for brief health care updates. DeRay talks at length with Governor McAuliffe about restoration of voting rights, the Governor’s biggest regrets, and a fiery conversation around voter apathy. Nikkita Oliver, Seattle mayoral candidate, joins to share more about why she’s one of 21 candidates in Seattle.
7.4.17: Intentional Inequity
DeRay speaks with Senator Schatz from Hawaii about the current political context and also brings back Andy Slavitt, the former head of Obamacare for 3 years, who provides a brief update on the status of the healthcare legislation. Clint Smith III is back and joins DeRay and Brittany to discuss the news, with a particular focus on intentional inequity.
6.27.17: Education Nation
DeRay speaks with Andy Slavitt, the former head of Obamacare for 3 years, who provides a brief update on the status of the healthcare legislation. Clint Smith I back and joins DeRay, Sam and Brittany to discuss the news, including recent studies about discrimination and news about adoption and other issues. Former Secretary of Education John King joins to discuss the state of public education , reflections on the current administration and what’s to come. Also, Kelly Ward who is leading the nation’s redistricting work tells us what’s at stake and what we can do.
6.20.17: FCC and Me
DeRay speaks with Andy Slavitt, the former head of Obamacare for 3 years, who provides a brief update on the status of the healthcare legislation. Clint Smith joins DeRay and Sam to discuss the news, including updates from the Dept. of Education and Hawaii’s recent legislation. FCC Commissioner Mignon joins to discuss the work of the FCC and Lee Petro, a lead lawyer working on prisoner rights, joins to illuminate the work of ensuring that the incarcerated can connect with loved ones.
6.13.17: When You Have To Face Yourself
DeRay sits down for a candid conversation with Katy Perry in person about race, cultural appropriation, allyship, political tension in her family and what Katy’s doing to grown and learn. DeRay chats with Clarence Wardell of Results for America about using data on policing, schools and the environment to foster American cities that work. Brittany, Sam and DeRay dive into this past week’s news including environmental conditions at prisons and the DOJ’s latest emoluments defense. This episode is dedicated to people taken from us in the Pulse nightclub shooting one year ago.
6.6.17 Do You Love Justice, or Not?
DeRay talks candidly with Congressman and DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison (MN-5th) about Resistance Summer, who’s on the 2020 Presidential bench, Comey’s upcoming testimony, Kushner’s security clearance, engaging black women in the DNC, and why we have to keep fighting for justice. DeRay, Sam and Brittany talk through this past week’s news, and DeRay shares new data on which federal elected officials are holding town halls alongside a conversation with Jimmy Dahman at The Town Hall Project.
5.30.17: The Iconography of Resistance
DeRay, Brittany and Sam go deep on the past week’s news, including the economics of mass incarceration, emoluments, education budgets, and the troubling work to preserve Confederate monuments. DeRay speaks with Vanita Gupta, former head of the Civil Rights Division at DOJ, about civil rights retractions under Sessions, burning criminal justice questions and civil asset forfeiture. This episode is dedicated to victims of violence worldwide, past and present.
5.16.17: Behind the Vote
DeRay sits down to talk about voting rights with Carolyn DeWitt, Executive Director of Rock the Vote, Kristen Clarke, head of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, and Tomas Lopez of the Brennan Center for Justice. DeRay, Brittany and Sam spend extra time digging into the past week’s explosive news cycle, plus BET Award nominations.
5.12.17: BONUS POD with Edward Snowden
DeRay speaks with Edward Snowden about his perspective on Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director Comey, the intersection of race and surveillance, the relationship between the police and the government, and his thoughts about his own status returning to America.
5.9.17: “Product, Not the Producer”
DeRay, Brittany Packnett and Sam Sinyangwe are together again to talk about the most important news of the past week. Then, Grammy-award winning artist and activist John Legend joins DeRay to talk about parenting, women’s reproductive rights, mass incarceration and using his celebrity for good. And NYU professor and federal “numbers geek” David Kamin looks at Trump’s proposed tax code changes through a historical lens.
5.2.17: American Do-Over
In the inaugural episode, DeRay is joined by Senator Cory Booker to reflect on Trump’s First 100 Days and the work that lies ahead in Congress. Andy Slavitt, the former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare join to discuss Obamacare as compared to TrumpCare. DeRay, Brittany Packnett and Samuel Sinyangwe talk about the most important items in the news for the past week.
