1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: Me your Girl, Daniel Moody recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: I'm very excited for you to hear this episode coming 4 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: up because we have had the good, good pleasure of 5 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: speaking with Chris Melody Fields Figurio at BALLID Initiative Strategy 6 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: Center on a number of occasions. Right, and this time 7 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: this conversation takes place with roughly, as she says, for 8 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: tuesdays to go until the election is over, right, because 9 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: I think that we need a really important reframing around 10 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: election day. They are already more than half of the 11 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: states in this country have begun voting in this election, 12 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: and so November fifth is not the first day, but 13 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: the last day to vote. And Chris walks us through 14 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: the different ways that the Republican Party is using lies 15 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: and distortion and gas lighting in order to confuse voters 16 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: with a number of ballot initiatives that they are running 17 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: in states like Nebraska and Colorado and Arizona where you 18 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: have really important issues that are on the ballot, whether 19 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: that be an abortion ban, whether that is defunding of 20 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: public schools, as what is on the ballot in Colorado, 21 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: whether it is lowering wages for workers as it is 22 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: in Arizona. Republicans know that they can't win. They can't 23 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: win on their policies because their policies are unpopular, and 24 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: rather than address the needs of the American people, they 25 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: choose instead to force feed the public, whether they want 26 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: it or notitiatives and doing so under the cloak of 27 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: darkness or the cloak of lies. And you know, it 28 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: is the work that Chris is doing at Ballot Initiative 29 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: Strategy Center to ensure that people know what they're voting 30 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 1: for and understand what their yes and no vote actually 31 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: means to their future, to their day to day lives. 32 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: And you know, if you can imagine, there are close 33 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: to one hundred and fifty ballot measures that people will 34 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: be voting on in roughly forty one states across this country, 35 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: as well as the presidential But the only thing that 36 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: we're focusing on is that top of the ticket, But 37 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: on people's ballots after you're checking down those boxes, when 38 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: you flip over, there are really important ballot initiatives that 39 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: are out there that are there to either give you 40 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: more rights or take away your rights. So I implore 41 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: people to do your actual real research and head over 42 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: to the Ballot Initiative where they provide the context that 43 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: you need to understand so you know what you are 44 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: voting for. So that conversation, important conversation with Chris is 45 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: coming up next, folks. I am so happy when I 46 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: have the opportunity to sit down with our friend over 47 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: at Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Chris Melody Fields Figuriedo. Chris. 48 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: There are I don't even know, let's just say they're like, 49 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: I think we're at the time of this recording, thirty 50 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: three days until the election, correct, and which every time 51 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: I say that I and the ticker goes down, it's 52 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: like my stomach drops. And you know, while we're focused 53 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: obviously at the top of the ticket and who the 54 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: next president of the United States will be and whether 55 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: or not democracy survive, there are an overwhelming number of 56 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: ballot measures that Americans across the country in forty one 57 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: states and Washington, DC will be voting on that your 58 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: organization is following. Talk to us about just you know, 59 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: I know, I ask you every time that you come 60 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: on to kind of lay out to us what ballot 61 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: measures are, the importance of them, give it to us 62 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: in the context of some that like what's at stake 63 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: in some of these states, so that people understand that 64 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: after they finished checking president, you know this that the 65 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: other thing that for many you got to turn over 66 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 1: your ballot and here are all of the initiatives in 67 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: your state. So talk to us about that. 68 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 2: I would love to and thank you for having me again, 69 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: and not to give you any more anxiety, but to 70 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: give you even more compacts. We are four tuesdays away, y'all. Okay, 71 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: people are already voting. Okay, right, And so in the 72 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: states across the country. Really, the fundamental thing that is 73 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: at stake that is also playing out with Bawel measures 74 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 2: is freedom and democracy. And if you think about it 75 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 2: from the perspective of the reproductive rights ballel measures, the 76 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 2: fight for reproductive freedom is the fight for democracy. Think 77 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: about the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs and overturning roversus 78 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 2: Wade right, that's a part of our democracy. And then 79 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 2: the effect of that has been not only these abortion 80 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 2: bands in the States and these bills that have been passed, 81 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: but it has been upon us, the people, the active 82 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 2: participants of our democracy, to say that those decisions that 83 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: were made for us are actually not the world that 84 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: we want to live with. And so we are engaging 85 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 2: in our democracy and in ten states we are going 86 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: to vote yes for reproductive freedom because we think that 87 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: this is a private medical decision between a person who 88 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: is pregnant and their doctor, and then we shouldn't criminalize 89 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 2: people and their doctors, right like. That is what is 90 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: at stake here in the in the freedom and I 91 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: think the majority of us, and what we've already seen 92 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: is we actually do agree on things like reproductive freedom, life, 93 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: the importance of public education, life, the importance of raising 94 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: wages for people. The more of us, regardless of our 95 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: party affiliation, sometimes actually believe that is a way of 96 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: caring for each other. And so we are taking the 97 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: power and the agency into our own hands. And that 98 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: is why we are seeing these tricks come up, which 99 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: we always do in every ce, see these these dirty 100 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 2: tricks in every election cycle that can make it really 101 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 2: confusing for voters of what they may or may not 102 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 2: vote on. So that's what is really at stake in 103 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 2: this selection. And let's get into detail about exactly what 104 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 2: what are those those dirty tricks that I know you're 105 00:06:58,560 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: thinking about. 106 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, because here's the thing, Like, it's one thing to 107 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: get the signatures that you need to put up the 108 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: initiatives free and clear of distortion, free and clear of lies, 109 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: and allow the voters to have their say. But what 110 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: you all have been following, I want to go to 111 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: Nebraska first. Where you have been following are nefarious tactics 112 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: that are being used. So talk to us about the 113 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: twelve week abortion ban. They are in Nebraska titled the 114 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: Protect Women and Children Constitutional Amendment. 115 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: Well there it is right there in the title, and 116 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 2: that is what is often very confusing to people. And 117 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: what I ask of people is like to read between 118 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: the lines and read the details. So if you're a 119 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: voter in Nebraska, you're going to have two about measures 120 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: about abortion. One that is going to actually give reproductive 121 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 2: freedom and allow people to get that healthcare access, and 122 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 2: then there's one that is an actual ban. And in 123 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 2: particular in Nebraska, that abortion ban is the first thing 124 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: that's going to be when you go to that section 125 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: on your ballot. That's the first thing that's going to appear. 126 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: And on the bottom of the five measures that you 127 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 2: can vote on in Nebraska, at the bottom is the 128 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 2: one that actually is going to give you reproductive freedom. 129 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 2: So this is what we call a countermeasure. So we 130 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: know that reproductive freedom is incredibly popular. They gathered enough signatures, 131 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 2: we have been gathered singers across the country to put 132 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 2: these issues on the reproductive freedom on the ballot, and 133 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: then we've seen this countermeasure by the opposition that also 134 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: will confuse voters and they're not going to know exactly 135 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 2: what they're voting on. So that's why voter education is 136 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:54,479 Speaker 2: so critically important this year. There's another ballot measure in Arizona. 137 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: The way it is titled is the Tips Worker Protection Act, 138 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 2: which if you hear that on its well, that sounds great, right, 139 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 2: but actually it is going to treat tipped workers as 140 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 2: a subclass of workers and they could be paid twenty 141 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: five percent less per hour than the minimum wage in 142 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: the states. So that's something that what is playing out. 143 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 2: I mean, in Ohio they also were handed really bad 144 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 2: language on their redistricting ballot measure from the ballot board. 145 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: This is something they legally challenge and what we've seen 146 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 2: across the countries, everything is coming up in these legal 147 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: challenges where again the language, the way it is written 148 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 2: is incredibly biased, it's incredibly deceptive. We know that ohioans 149 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 2: that we are in fair of ending jerry managering in 150 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 2: their state and won a fair redistricting process, but the 151 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 2: way that the language is written makes people think that 152 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 2: that's not what they're voting for when you actually yes, 153 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: you should vote yes for that redistricting bowel measure in 154 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 2: Ohio because it is actually going to create a more fair, 155 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 2: citizen driven process to draw the lines in your state. 156 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: And so this is what we often see, and we've 157 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: seen it escalate, especially around these reproductive freedom measures, as 158 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 2: we have seen that really the people are in opposition 159 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 2: to our elected officials, to the people that we're putting 160 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: into office. They're actually not listening to the will of 161 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: the voters, and they are pulling out every trick in 162 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 2: the book to undermine our power, to undermine our voices 163 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 2: through these deceptive light, these deceptive languages, through this missing 164 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: disinformation that we're seeing out there. And what is really 165 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: required of all of us is to do the hard 166 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 2: work and read between the lines and really understand the 167 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 2: language and not just read the title right that can 168 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: be the very confusing, but really read the details of 169 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 2: what we may need to vote for, like in the 170 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 2: case of Ohio, was redistricting or what we may need 171 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: to vote against, like that Arizona proposition of one point 172 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 2: thirty eight that actually is not going to help tip towards. 173 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: The reality here is that Republicans are liars, Like it 174 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: isn't just Donald Trump, it isn't just a JD Vance, 175 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: It is the entire infrastructure that commands the Republican Party. 176 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: Because why would you have to lie to voters about 177 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: a ballot initiative that you thought that they would readily 178 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: vote yes on. Why would you have to use deceptive 179 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: tactics in order to change your fonts or misconstrue your 180 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: language and not just say clear what it is. 181 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 2: Well, it's because the reality is they can't win unfair terms, 182 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 2: and so they're changing the rules. They are deceiving voters 183 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: because that is the only way they know how to win, 184 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 2: because they are not on the side of the majority 185 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: of voters. And this is including their own constituents. If 186 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 2: you look at many of these progressive quote unquote progressive 187 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: right issues like raising the minimum wage, like Medicaid expansion, 188 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 2: like reproductive freedom, like very districting right, they have won 189 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 2: regardless party affiliation. That means Republicans, Democrats, independents are all 190 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 2: coming to vote together to vote yes on these issues. 191 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 2: And that is an opposition of their decided upon agenda 192 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 2: of what they are trying to push when they are 193 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: in power. And that is why these issues are so 194 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: fundamental to our democracy because in an ideal world, our 195 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 2: representative government right, it's responsive to us. But the reality 196 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 2: is we are moving closer to authoritarianism. We are towards 197 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 2: minority rule because unfortunately one particular party does not think 198 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 2: that they can win on fair frounds. 199 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: It just becomes so incredibly disheartening, Chris, for us to 200 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: try and work inside of a system that is becoming 201 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: increasingly rigged by the Republican Party. Like you said, they 202 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:33,079 Speaker 1: move the goalpost consistently, they rewrite the rules consistently so 203 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: that they can win. So what is it that organizations 204 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: like yours now are tasked with doing that is different 205 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: than let's say, eight and nine years ago, given how 206 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: the seeds of doubt and confusion have been planted about 207 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: our systems in general. 208 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: It's such a good question, Danielle, because at the same time, 209 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 2: an award that often comes up to me is simultaneity, 210 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 2: we're asking people to have faith in a system that, 211 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 2: for many of us, and we've talked about this before, 212 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 2: was never designed for us, especially if you're talking about 213 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 2: black and brown folks, if you're talking about queer folks, right, 214 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: you're talking about women. We're asking them to have faith 215 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: in a system that at the same time, those who 216 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 2: are in power are trying to change those rules. And 217 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 2: we're saying, hey, I need you to vote or be 218 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 2: a part of this, because actually, the only way we 219 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 2: change that system is by forcing those people who are 220 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 2: not listening either out of office or taking power into 221 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 2: our own hands and putting these issues before the ballot. 222 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: And then the reality is it is and I tell 223 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 2: people this that, like your vote is hurt, three of 224 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 2: a longer process, right, it's just the beginning of a 225 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 2: longer process for all of us to be civic participants 226 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 2: in the decisions that matter for our lives. So we 227 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: are asking you to have faith in maybe not in 228 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 2: the system, but in the people who are working that 229 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: are on your side. I have faith in you and 230 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 2: myself and my community, in the organizations that we work with, 231 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: because I know how much they care and love their 232 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 2: communities and I have faith in them, and so I'm 233 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 2: asking you to participate in the system that may not 234 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: be perfect. It is not perfect, right, But the only 235 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: way we can potentially change that system moving forward is 236 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 2: not by simply abandoning it, is by participating in it 237 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 2: and then going back and making demands, whether it's through 238 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 2: our state legislature, whether it's through a rules process, right like, 239 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: these are the things that this is how we are 240 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 2: governed in this country, and we just can't sit back 241 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: after election day and the reality after this particular election day, 242 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 2: the process is not going to be over. We are 243 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,239 Speaker 2: going to have to think about the certification of these elections. 244 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 2: And so what I'm asking folks is is like to 245 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 2: be these active participants, to hold power accountable and to 246 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: do the work to change those systems that aren't right 247 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 2: now working for us. 248 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: I appreciate the idea that we have to have faith 249 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: in each other at a time when institutions and infrastructure 250 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: are being tested, that we have to have faith in 251 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: in the people. And I think that that, to me 252 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: is probably the most insidious piece of what has helped 253 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: to distort and undo our faith in democracy is to 254 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: pit neighbor against neighbor, person against person is to instill 255 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: this sense of distrust and fear. And so because the 256 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: idea is that if you lose faith in institution and 257 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: you lose faith in people, then that is how authoritarianism 258 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 1: comes in. As people have begun voting in more than 259 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: half of the states, That's the thing that I kind 260 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: of had a reframe around is that the election is 261 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: not in four tuesdays, as you said, but the election 262 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: is over in four tuesdays because the election has already begun. 263 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: So what do you say to folks right now that 264 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: are feeling a sense of disillusionment that are just you know, 265 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 1: we at the time of this recording, we had yet 266 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: another bomb drop with regard to Donald Trump in January 267 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: sixth and trying to overturn the election and turn our 268 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: elections into a circus essentially, right, like, we're here because 269 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: of the decisions that were made four years ago to 270 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 1: discount the results of an election. If Donald Trump had said, yes, 271 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: I lost, and then but I'm running again in twenty 272 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: twenty four, we all would have gone about our business. Okay, 273 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: see you again in twenty twenty four, right, But that's 274 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: not what they did. So what do you say to 275 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: people now that are readying their ballots to cast or 276 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: have already about the future of our democracy and their 277 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: place in it. 278 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 2: It's such an important question because I go back to this, 279 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: this word that is constantly in my head around simultanety. 280 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: Many things can be true at once, and this what 281 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 2: is happening right now with the people who are voting now, yes, 282 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: the election ends and for Tuesday is it's a question 283 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: about what conditions do we want to continue to fight it. 284 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 2: We have lived under a Trump presidency. We have already 285 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 2: seen in our states what happens when we let authoritarianism's 286 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: the authoritarian minded people be in governance likea Georgia, like 287 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: of Florida, like my home state of Texas that are 288 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: facing these abortion bands where momas are dying. That is 289 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 2: literally what is happening right now. We know what that 290 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 2: world looks like, and I think all of us, I 291 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 2: think the majority, the overwhelming majority of us, does not 292 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 2: want that to be our story. And so if we 293 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: allow those people to maintain power, and even if the 294 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: system is not exactly ideal, it is truly about the 295 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: conditions that we want to fight under and who we 296 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 2: can put pressure on because they don't care. Authoritarianism that 297 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 2: it doesn't care. It's all about maintaining power. They don't 298 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 2: care about your voice. They don't care about the majority 299 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,719 Speaker 2: of people. And that is what I think people really 300 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: have to think about. It's like, what are the conditions 301 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 2: that I want to go and fight for reproductive freedom 302 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: or hold accountability around what's happening in cause of right? 303 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 2: What are the conditions that I want to fight under 304 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 2: in the future. 305 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: I think that that is the main that's the main thing. 306 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 2: Right. 307 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 1: They say, you know, keep the main thing, the main thing, 308 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 1: and that is it. It is what are the conditions that 309 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: we want to fight under? Because I think that two 310 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 1: folks have to realize that this is our new normal, 311 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: having to fight for our voice and our vote. This 312 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: is something that we thought was one and done with 313 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 1: the Voting Rights Act, and it isn't. Because we realize 314 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: that the Republicans continue to be really slick in their 315 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: maneuvering to do their best to undo democracy and it 316 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: will continue whether or not Donald Trump is elected in November. 317 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: They'll just find another wolf to fill the sheep's clothing. 318 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: I can't thank you enough, Chris for the work that 319 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: you continue to do for the fight that you continue 320 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: to have. And just as we close out, please tell 321 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: people how they can connect, how they can stay informed, 322 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: because it's necessary. 323 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely well. We have about measure Hub on our website 324 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 2: dot org. We try to keep it really simple for folks. 325 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 2: You can follow us on social media at Ballot Strategy 326 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 2: and that's where we're going to be sharing voter guides 327 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 2: the information from our partners in the states that are 328 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 2: working on these different issues. So I encourage you to 329 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,479 Speaker 2: go to our website. The bout measure Hub is a 330 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 2: treasure trow of information for you. And then on social 331 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 2: media we're sharing things like voter guides, like and in 332 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 2: Arizona where there is a voter guide to tell you 333 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 2: all the things to vote know on and other things 334 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 2: to vote yes for. So please follow us on all 335 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:36,400 Speaker 2: the ways you like to get your information. 336 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 1: Chris, I can't thank you enough for making the time 337 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: for WOKF and you know, I hope we will speak 338 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: to you after the election and see where things stand. 339 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: Really really appreciate you. 340 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,239 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me, Daniel, I love talking to you. 341 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, dear friends on WOKF. 342 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: As always, power to the people, and to all the 343 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: people power get woke and stay woke as fuck.