1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Native Lampod is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership with 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: Reason Choice Media. 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 2: Welcome home, y'all. 4 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: It is another edition of mini pods with Native Lampod. 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 2: I am Angela. 6 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 3: Right. We are starting this mini pod with a question 7 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 3: we get all the time. 8 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: Folks are like, I do not like this two party system. 9 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: What's up with a third party? We hear about it 10 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: all the time. We have a listener's question. We're going 11 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: to go to that right. 12 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 4: Now, Miss Layla, and I am a twenty three year 13 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 4: old politic organizer here in Tennessee. I had a question 14 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 4: about convincing people to participate in our political system. I'm 15 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 4: realizing as I try to convince people or talk to 16 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 4: people just about what their views are, more and more 17 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 4: that they are just disaffected with it all. And with 18 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 4: the success of campaigns like the Uncommitted campaign in Michigan 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 4: had such little resources and they were able to get 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 4: some pretty quick policy movement, We're seeing that maybe hacking 21 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 4: the system is sometimes more effective than participating in the 22 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 4: way that we are all used to. Lots of people 23 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 4: are turning to third parties. Our two parties, major two 24 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 4: parties right now in the country are more beholden to 25 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 4: corporations and their bottom dollar than their constituents. And it's 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 4: really hard to ask people to vote for the lesser 27 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 4: of two evils every single time for those of us 28 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 4: who have our boots on the ground. So can we 29 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 4: ever escape this two party system? Can we hack the system? 30 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 4: Or are your guys' views? 31 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: I love this question? 32 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: Love it. Can you say Angela about because you got 33 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: this question as south by Southwest? Do you want to 34 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 3: tell that story? Because I thought it was such an 35 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 3: interesting question from an interesting person. If you want to 36 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 3: tell it. 37 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to first think, Layla, we were glad 38 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: that you felt comfortable enough to raise this question. I 39 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: think people, especially in an election year, get terrified about 40 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: people raising anything like this because they're like, oh my god, 41 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: you're trying to suppress votes, You're trying to take votes 42 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: away from this candidate or that candidate. 43 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,119 Speaker 2: And I don't think it's that at all. 44 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: Even her referencing of the uncommitted approach, which was in 45 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: my home state of Washington and our election, of course, 46 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: was just this past Tuesday. I don't know when this 47 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: manybody I was going to air, but it was what today, 48 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: it was March twelfth, is when the election was in 49 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 1: Washington State and there were tens of thousands of people 50 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: who voted uncommitted there. Of course, in Michigan, we saw 51 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: that when you're in a two party system, it is 52 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: really hard to feel like you're a part of a 53 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: representative democracy because you're forced to find yourself smushed and 54 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: contorted into a box that you may or may not 55 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: always fit in. There were actually two questions on the 56 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: podcast Leonard and I did with Vox Media at south 57 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: By Southwest. One was about is this actually a democracy? 58 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: We're telling people to go out and save this democracy, 59 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: but is it really a democracy when there's only two parties? 60 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: Third party, Libertarian Party? You know, what does it really 61 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: mean to be independent where you don't really see yourself represented? 62 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: And then another gentleman, the King Chris Smalls, who is 63 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: an incredible on the ground organizer. He's most known for 64 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: organizing Amazon employees to ensure their ultimate protections. 65 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: Overwhelmingly black and brown. 66 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: People working in the warehouses in Amazon and not seeing 67 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: themselves reflected in that trillionaire role that Jeff Bezos is 68 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: now in. And so he also raised some third party 69 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: questions and so I just I want to frame it 70 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: in that way. 71 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: I definitely want y'all to weigh in. 72 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: I think that I have this innate fascination with what 73 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: it means to have more representation across all kinds of lines. 74 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: I talked about at that panel on the other side 75 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: of apartheid being dismantled in South Africa, my dad getting 76 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: this poster from someone who's like a godfather, Mee Tony Orange, 77 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: May he rest in power and peace. 78 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: And there were all of these. 79 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: Parties like by Labor, by soccer, by you know, conservatives, 80 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: I mean all of the libertarians, all of these varying wings, 81 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: like you found your political niche. It really was like 82 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: a niche democracy, democratic system, and still the ANC would 83 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: overwhelmingly win. But like just the fact that you could 84 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: see yourself represented up until the election, it empowered more 85 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: people to vote. And I think if ultimately our goal 86 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: is to get everyone involved. Right. We were talking earlier 87 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: in our side chat about this video from Louisiana where 88 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: folks are so frustrated. There's so many not just of us, 89 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: but people periods sat out of that election. Do you 90 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: really feel more heard by sitting out and protesting with 91 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: your vote? Tell me how that speaks up for your 92 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: interests at all, because now you' silenced yourself, right, You're like, 93 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: forget voter suppression. 94 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna supress myself. I don't get that. 95 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: And so I do want to figure out what it 96 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: looks like for us to journey towards a more representative, 97 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: diverse system. 98 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: So I do love this question. 99 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: I love the question and shout out to Chris Malas 100 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 3: who unionized Amazon workers, which is no small feat. So 101 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 3: shout out to him, and he thought he and Angela's 102 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 3: exchange on that panel was beautiful. So I want to 103 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 3: get to the meat of the viewers question and say, yes, 104 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 3: you can have third party candidates. Unfortunately, third parties are 105 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 3: so seduced by the presidential election where it is harder 106 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 3: to penetrate the system that we have. For one, you 107 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 3: have to consider your donor base, so where money flows 108 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 3: into and where they come from, and not a lot 109 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 3: will go to third party candidates because at that level, 110 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 3: most people do not see a pathway to presidency, especially 111 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 3: given the way the primaries the mis set up. Unless 112 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 3: there is a jungle primary, third parties are not often 113 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 3: on the ballocks. You have to be registered as a 114 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 3: Republican or Democrat. And if you're a registered Democrat and 115 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 3: you want to vote for someone who is in a 116 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 3: different party, then you don't have that option unless it's 117 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: a jungle primary, which means everybody can vote for everybody, right. 118 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 3: So that's something to consider. But the support for this 119 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 3: is increasing. In October of last year, Gallup Poll did 120 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 3: some really interesting research and sixty three percent of Americans, 121 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 3: regardless of what side of the aisle they vote on, 122 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 3: they supported a third party. Which makes sense because you 123 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 3: consider how many people are politically homeless when you come 124 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 3: to presidential elections. We're old enough to remember these people 125 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 3: often are spoilers, they are a problems. So we had 126 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 3: people like Ross Pureau run I think that was in 127 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 3: nineteen ninety two when he ran. We had people like 128 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 3: Ralph Nader, and so there's animosity that these people, you know, 129 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 3: detract votes and give one party or another favorable Here's 130 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 3: where third party candidates have a route which I think 131 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 3: can actually make waves. You can run in a state 132 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 3: legislature as a third party. You can run perhaps as 133 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 3: a member of Congress in a third party. In twenty 134 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 3: twenty two, forty three percent of people who ran in 135 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 3: state legislative race were uncontested. What that means is there 136 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 3: was literally only one party running, so they just had 137 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 3: a clear path to it. If you're somebody who has 138 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 3: these very strong beliefs and no party aligns with you, 139 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 3: run in your state legislature and that's where you can 140 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 3: ascend to power. So many former state legislators go on 141 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 3: to become members of Congress. Former President Barack Obama was 142 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 3: a state legislator before he ascended to the presidency of 143 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 3: the United States. So there is a path for you, 144 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 3: but it takes work. So you have to walk before 145 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: you crawl. You got to build brick by brick, and 146 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: it's a heavy lift. But I say, given the political 147 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 3: parties we see right now, let's lift heavy. 148 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: Okay, we'll be back right after this break. 149 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 5: You know, I agree with a lot of Whatsman said 150 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 5: we should clarify first and foremost that we are not 151 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 5: a two party only system. We are a manifold party. 152 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 5: There are many parties that show up on my ballot. 153 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 5: I can tell you that preference primaries are for the 154 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 5: purpose of where you have multiple people running to represent 155 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 5: their party. You then have to make a choice to 156 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 5: whittle that down to a single person who will be 157 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 5: representing that party. In this country, however, we do have 158 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 5: two major parties, which takes up the bullworth of resources, money, 159 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 5: attention time, And then there are third there are outside 160 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 5: parties who then create a set of rules. Let's take 161 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 5: the presidency for example, there's the Presidential Commission on Debates 162 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 5: who then put in place a set of rules that 163 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 5: then you must meet this criteria, this criteria, or this 164 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 5: criteria or and this criteria in order to appear on 165 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 5: a nationally televised debate stage. If you are not on 166 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 5: a nationally televised debate stage, you are likely not going 167 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 5: to be considered much in the conversation because the overwhelming 168 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 5: majority of Americans will not know you exist at all. 169 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 5: When when I ran for governor, I competed in the 170 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 5: Democratic primary to be our party's nominee. But there were 171 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 5: several other candidates on the November ballot who were not 172 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 5: a Democrat or didn't run for the Democratic nomination, but 173 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 5: they were given consideration on the ballot. So, to keep 174 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 5: it honest, we are not a two party We are 175 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 5: not a two party exclusive only system. We have a 176 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 5: multiple party system representative of a democracy and in other 177 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 5: countries that have multiple party systems that are thriving, what 178 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 5: you end up with. Take Great Britain, for instance, you 179 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 5: oftentimes see a prime minister producer who is equivalent in 180 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 5: this country for life of a better reference as president 181 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 5: of that country, but prime minister. And because they have 182 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 5: a healthy system of multiple parties, you often find that 183 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 5: they end up producing compromised governments. And what that term 184 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 5: basically means is that unlike in this country you produce 185 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,959 Speaker 5: a democratic president or a Republican president per se, and 186 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 5: those countries you produce a president a prime minister who 187 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 5: is only prime minister because they had to coddle together 188 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 5: a number of parties in order to create the majority. 189 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 5: And if they lose the support of any significant faction 190 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 5: of that system that they have pulled together, they are 191 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 5: no longer prime minister and they got a call for 192 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 5: another election. We saw that actually happen play out during 193 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 5: these over these last several years, where Great Britain's gone 194 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 5: through three or four different prime ministers and very short order. 195 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 5: One of them only lasted a week, I think, and 196 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 5: then they had to bring in someone that's right right. 197 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 5: And here in the United States, so very dynamic and 198 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 5: elastic systems that exist around the world that can produce 199 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 5: a form of leadership and a form of governing. And 200 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 5: they are enduring systems, by the way, in this country, however, 201 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 5: and I wish I could just chalk it up to 202 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 5: they're not being enough money to support a third party. 203 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 5: I have not drawn the conclusion. That is not the 204 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 5: conclusion I draw as to why they have not been 205 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 5: viable here. Ross Perot didn't need anybody else's money, build 206 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 5: money from his own pocket and compete it at every level. 207 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 5: He only just had enough support to make it through 208 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 5: the presidential debate commissions criteria at that time to be seen. 209 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 3: I don't agree you can do that now legally, right 210 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 3: and so fun. 211 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 6: No, don't you have a limit? 212 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 3: Isn't there a limit? 213 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: Right? In order to finance here the. 214 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: Commission and to clear the commission, I think now you 215 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: have to have a certain of dollars from a certain 216 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 1: number of donors. 217 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 6: That's largely white and males. 218 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 5: To me, it makes sense that some people are behind 219 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 5: you if you're running for president of the United States 220 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 5: and you want to compete for my time and attention 221 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 5: and everybody else is to become president of the United 222 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 5: if you're just self funding, never believed in that, I 223 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 5: just don't think you should. You haven't shown me that 224 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 5: there's a constituency that believes anything that you believe enough 225 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 5: to give you five dollars, two dollars, one dollar. I 226 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 5: love that the request is not by an amount of money, 227 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 5: but by a number of people, and a democratic society 228 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 5: is showing a critical mask of folks are like with you, 229 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 5: even if it is not enough to compete with the 230 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 5: major two party system. But we do have avenues, two 231 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 5: diverse ideas. But in this country, for whatever reason, y'all, 232 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 5: we have settled, you know, largely behind this sort of 233 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 5: two party system as a way to negotiate power. But 234 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 5: there are already ways in which we can penetrate the 235 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 5: process through through a part in an organization outside of 236 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 5: the two party system. And I think Tiffany's suggestion around 237 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 5: why don't we start local, why don't we start within 238 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 5: a state, is a really good example of how we 239 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 5: start to build some will for this thing to actually work, 240 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 5: because right now, buy and large, most people just don't 241 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 5: think it work because they've never seen it work. But 242 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 5: what if we started in one city or a collection 243 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 5: of cities, and then those collections didn't produce House and 244 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 5: Senate representatives at the state level. And then we thought 245 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 5: we could grow this thing and then compete for a state. 246 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 5: There are ways to do it, y'all. We got to 247 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 5: be willing to put into work. 248 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 4: Though. 249 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 1: You know the thing that I think is so interesting, 250 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 1: You said, what if we started? I would say, what 251 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: if we just built upon the successes that are already there. 252 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: I think about Fanny Louhammer, who co created, co founded 253 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: the Mississippi Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. She was phenomenal. She 254 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: literally changed the direction of this country and helped to 255 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: push voting rights across the finish line. They're sole objective 256 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: with that party was to challenge the Democrat Democratic Party's 257 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: efforts on civic participation. So sometimes there are parties created 258 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: to do certain things. I also, I'm not admiring them. 259 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 1: I'm admiring their organization. But when you look at that 260 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: Affordable Care Act. On the other side of the Affordable 261 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: Care Act, the Tea Party Caucus was stood up. The 262 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: Tea Party Caucus has now morphed into the Freedom Caucus. 263 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: But they're sole purpose of existence, Well, it was supposed 264 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: to be just fiscal conservativism. But that's not all their 265 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: sole purpose of well, yes, but their sole purpose is 266 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: to make the Republican Party more conservative. I maintain that 267 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: we could have a black party that makes the Democratic 268 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: Party more beholden to black interests. 269 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: Maybe we broaden it. 270 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: Reverend Jackson used to talk about the Rainbow Coalition that 271 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: wasn't by accident. I just recently posted a nine minute 272 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: speech from his Democratic National Convention speech that Roland posted. 273 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: Its extremely brilliant. He is selling us on the idea 274 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: that we should actually listen to, that we're stronger together, 275 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: and this Rainbow Coalition can be responsible for raising up 276 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: a new America, you know, a more perfect union. That 277 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: is what this is all about. So sometimes the party system, 278 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: to your point, Andrew's a good one. It's a two 279 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: party majority, two majority party system. But that's not the 280 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: only parties. And there is still space for us to 281 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: do the very thing we need to get done so 282 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: that our folks aren't feeling discounted and disenchanted with the process, 283 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: uninspired if they see somebody who's finally standing up saying 284 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: the things they need to hear, making the demands they 285 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: want to see happen. Maybe that's what the purpose of 286 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: the party. Maybe it's more of a caucus vibe. 287 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 3: Well, I was just gonna say, because the difference between 288 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 3: Vanny Lou Hamer and the Tea Party is the Tea 289 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 3: Party they were already elected officials who we were. 290 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 5: They joined the ELECTI officials largely joined. 291 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 3: So the Tea Party existed in it because I only 292 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 3: really heard about them in Congress. 293 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 5: So the people created them, so I. 294 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 2: Didn't know that the Tea part already was established. 295 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: And then they put forth they like almost like they 296 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: put forth a slates. 297 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 6: And then members of Congress adopted it. 298 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: So they the Tea Party was like, this is our values, 299 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: and people were like, cool, I rock with those values. 300 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: They were then elected and then they were the Tea 301 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: Party in Congress, later becoming the Freedom Cockers. 302 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 6: But they were Republicans though Republicans, right. 303 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they were the caucus of that party. 304 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 5: I would also say there were people in the foundation 305 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 5: of the Tea Party movement who were not political in 306 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 5: the first place. They got engineer. Again, this is the 307 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 5: advent came under Barack Obama's administration. 308 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 6: So you had a very. 309 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 5: A shared fear of a lot of people coming together 310 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 5: trying to figure out how they were going to negotiate power. 311 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 5: They did produce candidates, but they also endorsed candidates who 312 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 5: had already been elected before. And they had candidates, they 313 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 5: had office holders who then defected into the Tea Party 314 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 5: coalition because they saw where the heat was on the 315 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 5: Republican side. 316 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: Okay, and it was based on conceding to the demand. 317 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 5: They ceded to the demands. 318 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 3: They take their two paths we've laid out then for 319 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 3: a third party, you know that. I think that's the 320 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 3: best answer. And unless Andrew you had something something. 321 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 5: Else, just to just to underscore the power of negotiating room. 322 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 5: And that's what Angela hit on with and low Hamer 323 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 5: as well. We were like, look, we ain't gonna be 324 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 5: seen at all in the Republican Party. We know that 325 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 5: it doesn't even make sense to put forth that threat 326 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 5: because we're not demonstrable enough here to make a difference. 327 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 5: But in a now reformed, new looking Democratic Party which 328 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 5: lost all its you know, white Southern support and black 329 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 5: folks then got the right to vote, and we're now 330 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 5: here negotiating. We're a different voice now because we can 331 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 5: withhold support, we can make that choice not to give 332 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 5: you our votes in for Fannie Lou Hamer. It was 333 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 5: in the nominating process, just like when we saw folks 334 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,959 Speaker 5: in Michigan withhold their divorce, their support for Biden. It 335 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 5: was in the nominating processes where they made the difference 336 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 5: and call for you know, uh, recognition of all of 337 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 5: us who make this party work. 338 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 6: Yes, shout out. 339 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 3: To Fanny Lou Hammer, angela, this women's history, this black 340 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:11,479 Speaker 3: women's history. I love that you brought her up, though, 341 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 3: because I didn't even make that connection to her in 342 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 3: the third party. But that is frime example. Read about her. 343 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 3: That's our little mini call to action. If you don't know, 344 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 3: if you are out here part of one of these 345 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 3: leaderless movements and try to organize, read about what people 346 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 3: have done before you, because even if you don't agree 347 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 3: with that, you can learn something from it. 348 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 5: And it's just funny. It's more profound because it reminds 349 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 5: us that nothing ever said or done is new. Yeah, 350 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 5: it's never that there are. 351 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 3: All right, Nick knows we gotta go, We we do 352 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 3: gotta go, but we'll We'll end this on a Fanny 353 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 3: Litu Hammer quote, and she says, none of us are 354 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 3: free until all of us are free, and that's what 355 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 3: we got to remember. 356 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: So shout out to freedom. And I'm not talking about 357 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: the Freedom Caucus, but shout out to freedom. And may 358 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: we all get a little closer to what we really 359 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: want in this political process by making sure that we 360 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: see ourselves reflected by carving. 361 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 2: Out our own path. 362 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: Welcome out out to y'all, great answers, Thank you Leila 363 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: for your question. 364 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 3: Welcome home y'all, Thanks for listening. Everyone, tune into our 365 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 3: main episode on Thursday, and don't forget to tell a 366 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 3: friend about how. 367 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 2: Much you love Native Lampod. Welcome Home, y'all. 368 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: Native Lampod is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership with 369 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: Reasoned Choice Media. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the 370 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 371 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: favorite shows.