1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Radio. Radio radiois a myth and bullshit. A radio phonic 2 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: novella Look At a Radio hosted by malamo Ala La 3 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Loco Moorees. Welcome back to Look at the Radio. Welcome 4 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: to season four b cass Bell rosas wanted for crimes 5 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: against the Patriarchy. We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to 6 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: bring you Quarantine Confidential, a special pandemic broadcast about our 7 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: experiences quarantine and COVID nineteen. I'm Theosa and I'm Mala. 8 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: Our intention behind this mini series is to archive our 9 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: experiences during this global coronavirus pandemic. Thank you so much 10 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: for joining us on this journey. Last time on Quarantine Confidential, 11 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: we talked about why, We talked about what us pussy, 12 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: the song by Cardi B making the Stallion as a 13 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: type of goddess worship. You can still tune into that 14 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: episode on Apple, Podcast, Spotify, SoundCloud, and audiobo. Make sure 15 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: to like, subscribe, comment, follow, share with your friends, family, um, 16 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: and your granny. Especially the WAP episode. I think that 17 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: the women of all ages need to hear that song 18 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: and the episode, so be sure to share with your 19 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: friends and fam Yes, absolutely, absolutely and just as a reminder, 20 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: folks are locomotives. You can subscribe to our newsletter called 21 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: Best SEATOS where we send you on our episode launches, 22 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: will have we will have in the very near future, 23 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: exclusive access to our webinars, first DIBs when our webinars 24 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: go on sale, and other great things that we have 25 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: for you have in store for you in the next 26 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: couple of months. 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As you know, we have now started 36 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: to include some ads in our episode, so if you're 37 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: not really about that you don't want to listen to 38 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: the ads while you're listening to your podcast, you can 39 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: head over to Patreon and get that ad free listening. 40 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: And as a reminder, we host our Oya looka segment 41 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: every Thursday at seven pm Pacific centerd Time on Instagram 42 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: Live and as you know our listeners, Oya lookas is 43 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: a segment where we answer listener questions, ask us anything 44 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: and everything. If you don't already, make sure to follow 45 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: us on Instagram and Twitter. We're at look at Underscore 46 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: Radio and if you are looking for a findom drain 47 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 1: and aspire to be our human wallet, you can escort 48 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: yourself to our venmo at look at What I Ask 49 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 1: Radio um and supports the pod. Thank you. My new 50 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: kink is having a man be my human wallet. That 51 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: is my new I agree completely alright, y'all, So we 52 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: have lots in store for you today. We have a 53 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: full length interview for the second half of this episode, 54 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: but before that, we of course want to talk about 55 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: saving the USPS, the Postal Service, the post Office. We 56 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: love USPS. So many small businesses use the post office, 57 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: the Postal Service to send out their packages, their products, 58 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: their creations, and the focus the past couple of weeks 59 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: in relation to the USPS has been about the elections, 60 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: but also keeping in mind senior citizens, folks with developmental disabilities, 61 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: folks with pre existing conditions, use the postal service to 62 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: also just pay their bills. Right, Maybe don't have access 63 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: to a computer, maybe you don't have access to WiFi, 64 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: so they still use good old snail mail. So the 65 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: USPS is so important to so many people at so 66 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: many different levels. But today we're gonna be talking about 67 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: it in relation to the elections. Absolutely, uh, we have 68 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, we spent a lot of time online, so 69 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: we've been reading articles. There's an article by Hartperd's Bazaar 70 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: talking about Donald Trump fought the equating mail in ballots 71 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: with voter fraud the way he's been talking about not 72 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: wanting to allocate um a proposed dollars in funding to 73 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: the USPS. They want three and a half billion dollars 74 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: for the mail in votes. Okay, universal mail in ballots 75 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: three and after they want billion dollars billion for the 76 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: post office. Now they need that money in order to 77 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: have the post office work so it can take all 78 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: of these millions and millions and ballots. Now in the meantime, 79 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: they aren't getting there. By the way, those are just 80 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: two items. But if they don't get those two items, 81 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: that means you can't have universal mail in voting. And 82 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: we've also seen photos being posted on Twitter from different states, Uh, 83 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: Oregon definitely now Los Angeles, California, but photos of what 84 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: looks like big trusts going around and literally collecting and 85 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: removing and driving off with blue USPS mail drop boxes. UM, 86 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: and I saw a photo on Twitter that was posted 87 00:05:55,200 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: about mail like delivery trucks being toad and taken away 88 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: and in the dead of night, and it's just really terrifying. 89 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: It's very scary. We're in a pandemic. We're supposed to 90 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: be at home. We're supposed to stay inside if we can, 91 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: if we're not essential workers and out in the field working. 92 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: But to not provide the option to folks, to disallow 93 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: the option of of of mail in ballots is just 94 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: horrendous and either forcing people out of their homes in 95 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: the middle of a pandemic or making it even more 96 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: difficult for working folks for essential workers to vote right 97 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: when folks are working. UM, folks rely on USPS for 98 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: their medicine, you know, and so if the mail is 99 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 1: not up and running, our community suffer. People suffer. So 100 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: we are really excited to share with you all. Now 101 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: we're gonna be interviewing a really incredible head on the 102 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: second half of this at the So, the name is 103 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 1: Mida Macias to the executive director of Latino Victory, and 104 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: she's going to be talking to us about their new initiatives, 105 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: the first Latinas Initiative. And we asked Myra about the 106 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: United States Postal Service, about mail and ballast, about elections, 107 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: and about Latinos, right, So the first Latinas initiative that 108 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: she's going to talk to us more about. It's a 109 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: joint partnership with actress Eva Longoria and women's rights activist 110 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: Cecil Richards designed to endorse and raise awareness of Latina 111 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: candidates running for offices that have never had a Latina 112 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: representatives before. So, believe it or not, believe it, there 113 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: are states, there are places where they have never had 114 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: Latinas in public office, right or in specific roles and 115 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: specific opposite positions. So we're gonna go ahead and tell 116 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: you a little bit more about Myra. Also, do you 117 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: want to like introduce a little bit more of Myra's 118 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: bio for the listeners. Absolutely. My Mada mass is a 119 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: highly sought after organizer, educator, and political operative. Mida was 120 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: named one of the American Association of Political Consultants Top 121 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: forty under forty nineteen. She grew up in Chicago's South 122 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: Side in the working class family of Mexican immigrant parents, 123 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: and went on to attend Yale University. After graduating, she 124 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: moved to Miami to work for a teach for America 125 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: and later she joined the Latino Victory Project in seventeen, 126 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: serving as national political director and Vice president. Mada was 127 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: an architect behind Latino Victory win rate in the cycle, 128 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: playing a critical role in electing the most diverse congressional 129 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: class in the US history. Super impressive. We're really honored 130 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: to have Maya on the podcast to share her wisdom 131 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: and her expertise with us and to give us a 132 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: little bit more information about how we can involve and 133 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: make sure that our votes are in and that they're counted. 134 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: So a little bit more about Latino Victory. Mighta is 135 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: the executive director of Latino Victory. The Latino Victory Fund 136 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: is a progressive political action committee working to grow Latino 137 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: political power by increasing Latino representation at every level of government. So, um, 138 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: that's what you can expect to hear on the second 139 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: half of this episode. As you know, we've covered Latinas 140 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: in politics before. We interviewed um Ya Serrada when she 141 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 1: ran for the Wittier City Council. And you know, it's 142 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: an election year, a really wild election year. There's so 143 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: much going on, and we're going to continue bringing the 144 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: Latin X and politics programming and conversations information to you 145 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: all out there so we can be informed, we know 146 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 1: what's going on, um and we can support the candidates 147 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: that represent our interests and that are running for offices 148 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: where we have never been before. Yes. Absolutely, you know, 149 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: I was just thinking last night, you know, not to 150 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: get too heavy, but I was exiting the freeway and 151 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: I saw a mural of Kobe Bryant and I thought, wow, 152 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: like Kobe Bryant died in and that it seems like 153 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: so long ago. And so we have that monumental death, 154 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: you know, that really affected and was felt in Los Angeles. 155 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: Added on compounded by the pandemic, and also it's an 156 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: election year. It's a presidential election year. It's wild. I 157 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: can't believe, is what it is. It's such a weird 158 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: time and we're going to continue to bring you this 159 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 1: really important coverage because it's crucial and you know, let 160 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: latin X folks really have voting power, and we're going 161 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: to talk about that in the second half of this interview. 162 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: But you know, it's it's a wild time out here, 163 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: but we are trying to bring you the best coverage 164 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: at all times, even in the middle of a pandemic. 165 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely the hardest working podcasters alive. If you will, we're 166 00:10:55,880 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: bringing you quarantine conference, pandemic coverage, election cover. We're talking 167 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: about we're talking about spect to a health range. The range, 168 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: the range, the range, the range. Yeah, you know, we're 169 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: still out here. We're hustling. As as we were doing 170 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: our little intra Mallah, I kept thinking like, is this 171 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: really a mini series? Is Quarantine Confidential a mini series anymore? 172 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: Or is it just a regular look at programming now? 173 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: I know, right, yes, I mean basically this is yeah, yeah, 174 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: maybe it it's a year long series. I hope it's 175 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: only a year. Lord series is the year that won't quit? 176 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: But neither neither do we. Alright, So we're gonna yes, 177 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: take that, alright, y'all. So we're gonna go into a 178 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: quick song break and we're and we're we're back. We're 179 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: going to be speaking with Mida Massias of Latino Victory 180 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: or Casa bell Ro and and and and and and 181 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: and and and and and and and and and and 182 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 1: and and and and and and Dell Rock Platins and 183 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: and the Lack and and and and and and and 184 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: um um from from m um um um um um 185 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: from from from of it and little ship um um 186 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:58,119 Speaker 1: m I'll by Local Motive. So today on the podcast, 187 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:04,359 Speaker 1: we have a really a credible, impressive important guest, Mara Massias, 188 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: who's here um as the executive director of Latino Victory, 189 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: the Latino Victory Project, and she's going to introduce us 190 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: to a new initiative that was just introduced like three 191 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: weeks ago. This is a brand new initiative through Latino 192 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: Victory and this is called the first Latinas Program. So Myra, 193 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: welcome to Local. Thank you so much for being here 194 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: with us today. Can you say hello to our listeners 195 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: so that they can they can get a sense of 196 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: who you are and welcome you to the local community. 197 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Thank you the Osa and Mala 198 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: and everyone listening to Local Radio. I love the name. 199 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: I definitely can relate and just so excited to be here. Um. 200 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, my name is Mida mass I'm the 201 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: executive director of Latino Victory and Latino Victory is a 202 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: national organization dedicated to building Latino political power and what 203 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: that means for us on a day to day basis 204 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: is helping support Latino progressive candidates up and down the ballot, 205 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: from school board all the way to the White House. UM. 206 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: But just a little bit about me, since you asked, 207 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: I'm originally from Chicago. I never thought I would be 208 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: working in politics because, as you probably all know, politics 209 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 1: runs deep in the waters of Chicago, and it was 210 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: just something that never interested me. UM. But I actually, 211 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: after college, UM, I did teach for America and was 212 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: teaching middle school language arts in a school in Miami. 213 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: UM and was really really frustrated as a teacher because 214 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: you know, as a teacher, you're not just teaching UM students, 215 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: you're also acting as a counselor as a family member 216 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: at times, UM as a resource center. And I was 217 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: just really frankly frustrated that my students, UM, who lived 218 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: in Liberty City in Miami, We're dealing with a lot 219 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: of adult issue that prevented them from just coming into 220 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: the classroom and learning. You know, they lived in a 221 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: community that is a food desert. Many of their parents 222 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: had to work multiple shifts because we don't have enough 223 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: jobs with living wages, and so many of my sixth 224 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: grade students would come entired because they had to stay 225 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: up waiting for their parents to come back from the 226 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: night shift. And it was just really really frustrating as 227 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: a teacher, UM to feel like you had no power 228 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: to make sure that you were helping kids beyond the 229 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: four walls of your classroom, UM to just learn. And 230 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: that's when I decided to get involved in politics. I 231 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: realized that for me, I had the privilege to not 232 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: be involved. And that's a luxury because I knew that 233 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: whether or not I was involved in politics, Uh, you know, 234 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: the day to day impacts on my life weren't as 235 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: dire as they were for you know, students who you know, 236 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: can't even vote, right, so people like my students who 237 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: are affected by whose elected to their local you know, 238 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: school board, to their state legislature. And so I decided 239 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: to get involved. And I thought I was just going 240 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: to do a little summer stint, and I worked on 241 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: the Obama campaign in and I fell in love with organizing. 242 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: I realized very quickly, you know, just the direct impact 243 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: that you, as one person can have in helping educate 244 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: folks on how to be involved in the civic process, 245 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: and I fell in love. Uh. And here we are 246 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: years later, us still working in politics. And frankly, we 247 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: need more folks in the Latino community involved in politics 248 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: because the numbers are are dire. You know, we are 249 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: eighteen percent of the population, but only one percent of 250 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: elected officials are Latino. And if we don't have folks 251 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: that look like us, that sound like us, that have 252 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: our lived experiences, our issues are never to get the 253 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: attention that they deserve. And so I'm excited to be 254 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: here to chat a little bit about the amazing candidates 255 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: that we are supporting, and many of them trailblazers running 256 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: for the first time. Um. But definitely I did not 257 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: think I would be working in this field. But I'm 258 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: very grateful and honored to do this work every day. Amazing. 259 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: Thank you for sharing that background information with us. I 260 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 1: think it really um resonates, you know with a lot 261 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 1: of our listeners. Uh, to hear you talk about working 262 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: with youth, working with kids and seeing how much families struggle, 263 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: and how much parents struggle, and just how much folks 264 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: in our community work, but then we're not seeing we're 265 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:48,239 Speaker 1: doing all this labor and contributing as Latino people, as 266 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: essential workers and in all facets of society and really 267 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: contributing to the economy and keeping it going, but then 268 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: not getting the representation in rich turn um. And I'd 269 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: really like love to to kind of ask you about 270 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: that and how how do we up our representation? The 271 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: first Latina as initiative sounds incredible, and how did it 272 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: come to be? Yes? So this is like the million 273 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: dollar question mala where folks all over the country are 274 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: asking organizations like Latino Victory or Latino Operatives, you know, 275 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: how do we get more Latinos to be involved? And 276 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: part of that is because this cycle, Latinos are the 277 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: largest non white ethnic voting block. Um, so we have 278 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: the numbers to determine elections at all levels of government. 279 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: The path to the White House is going to run 280 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: through that, through the Latin X vote. And yet time 281 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 1: and time again, you know, we're constantly trying to figure 282 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: out how to engage latin X voters. And the answer 283 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: is a lot more simple than we think. It's really 284 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: just talking to folks in our community and for far 285 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 1: too long, campaigns have not done the proper work or 286 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 1: invested the resources necessary to engage or community. You know, 287 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: we can't be expected to vote for a candidate if 288 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: they don't ask for our vote. And it's as simple 289 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: as just making sure that you're asking folks in the 290 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: Latino community to support you and and making sure that 291 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: you're engaging them and you're talking about the issues that 292 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: folks in our community care about, um and those go 293 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: beyond immigration. You know, very often, uh, we are engaged 294 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: just on the immigration front, which obviously is a very 295 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 1: very important issue to our community. I'm the daughter of 296 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: immigrants who came to this country and documented, but we 297 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,719 Speaker 1: also care about bread and butter issues that affect all Americans, 298 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 1: things like healthcare, you know, things like access to good 299 00:19:55,720 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: paying jobs, access to high quality education. And so at 300 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: Latino Victory, you know, we're constantly sounding the alarm that 301 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: folks need to talk to us, and when they do 302 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 1: talk to us, it pays off. And part of what 303 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: we have discovered and really is our theory of change, 304 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: is that when Latinos are on the ballot, it increases 305 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: Latino turnout. And that's not just because me as a voter. 306 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: I'm looking at a ballot and I'm seeing, you know, 307 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 1: a Spanish surname, and I feel compelled to vote for 308 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: a person. That's because candidates that identify as Latino X 309 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: will go out of their way and engage our community. 310 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: They know where to find folks in our community. They 311 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: know how to speak to them in a culturally competent manner. 312 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: And that doesn't just mean translating things in a Spanish, right, 313 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: that means knowing the things that that affect our community. 314 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: Knowing um cultural relevant topics that can, you know, help 315 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: open the door for folks like my Diaz and my 316 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: three maths to begin listening to these elected officials or candidates. 317 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: And so why we're really excited about first Latinas is 318 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: because we've again, we've seen time and time again that 319 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: when the Latin X candidate is on the ballot, it 320 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: increases Latin X turnout, and not just for that candidate, 321 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: but for the top of the ticket, right. And so 322 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: we've had instances, for for example, in Virginia in two seventeen, 323 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: we realize that there'd never been a Latina elected to 324 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:36,959 Speaker 1: the Virginia Assembly. In Virginia has the oldest governing legislative 325 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: body in our country, and since the founding of that government, 326 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: we have never had Latina representation. And so Latino Victory 327 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: was supporting two candidates, Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Kuzman, and 328 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:56,199 Speaker 1: both of them, UM would would be making history if 329 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: they got elected as the first latin As elected to 330 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 1: again the oldest governing body in our country. And what 331 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,360 Speaker 1: we saw was that they were going out of their way. 332 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: They were going to the community centers that campaigns often, 333 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: you know, did not expend enough time. UM. They were 334 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 1: speaking to voters about things they cared about. They were 335 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: sharing their stories. Elizabeth Kuzman is an immigrant who was 336 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: not involved in politics, but got involved in the twenty 337 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 1: six team campaign supporting Bernie Sanders and since then was 338 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: fighting to make sure that folks like her children felt represented. 339 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: And so when people were hearing about Elizabeth and excited 340 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 1: about making history, they also learned there's a huge race 341 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: for governor that's also happening. So while I'm learning about Holland, 342 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: while I'm learning about Elizabeth, and while they're the reason 343 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: why I'm going to go out and vote, learning more 344 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: about the top of the ticket also helps lift all boats. 345 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: For the progressive community. And so First Latinas is an attempt, 346 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: an initiative by Latino Victory to uplift these women that 347 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: are trailblazing. You know, it is egregious that in the 348 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: year we're still electing many First uh, it wasn't until 349 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: frankly that we had elected any type of Latinos to 350 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: Congress from the state of Texas. And when you think 351 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: about Latino states, you think about national Latino representation and politics. 352 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 1: We had Julean Castro running for President of the United States, 353 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: a Latino from Texas, and to think that we have 354 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: never before had Latinas in Congress from the state of 355 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: Texas is honestly embarrassing and and and it's egregious that 356 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: it's still happening. And so in we launched this program 357 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: called Year of the Latino because we started noticing as 358 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: a result of sen Um and Trump's election and really 359 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: just the the vitriol that he was spewing about the 360 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: Latino community, but also about women. We saw a lot 361 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 1: of women reaching out to us UM asking for information 362 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: on how to run, stepping up and seeing elected leadership 363 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: as a viable option for them. And in part because 364 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: again Trump showed us that you don't need to have 365 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: experience in politics to just decided to run for office. 366 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: And these women were running in part response to the 367 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: Trump to Trump's election, but also to reiterate their vision 368 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 1: for what this country means to them. We had candidates 369 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: in Texas, as I mentioned, we we didn't have any 370 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 1: representation before Latino. Victory recruited a woman named Veronica from 371 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: El Basso, UH and we supported Sylvia Garcia running in Houston. 372 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: Both of them got elected in But we also had 373 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,360 Speaker 1: women like searching Towards Small, who was a lawyer who 374 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: decided to step up and run for Congress in New 375 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: Mexico because she's a daughter the sorry the granddaughter of 376 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: a Mexican immigrant, and when she was hearing Donald Trump 377 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 1: talk about Latinos as rapists and criminals, she knew that 378 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: she had to step up and help tell a different 379 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: story about Latinos in this country and recreate or reimagine 380 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 1: and really frankly retell the story of our community within 381 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: this country. And because of that, UM we had an amazing, 382 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 1: amazing slate of first time Latino candidates running for positions 383 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: at all levels of government. UM in eighteen you know, 384 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: we endorsed six over half of our candidates, so it 385 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 1: was close to sixty some percent were latinas um and 386 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: again a lot of them made history, and so going 387 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: into we realized that there was still a lot of 388 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: work to do. So in spite of all of these wins, 389 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: you know, helped elect women again like Betonica Sylvia and 390 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 1: Texas Social in New Mexico, Alexander Cortez in New York, 391 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: Debbie mucrosol Power in Florida who became the first South 392 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: American immigrant to Congress, and the first Latina Democrat from Florida, 393 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: another huge Latino state. We never had a Latina Democrat 394 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: from Florida. They helped inspire more a new generation and 395 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: more women to step up and run. So fast forward 396 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: to we have candidates running who would make history as 397 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: as the first and so that initiative came out of 398 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: continuing to help UH support trailblazing candidates and really helped 399 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 1: tell their story because there's so many running all over 400 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 1: this country that would make history. In California, we have 401 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: a candidate named Georgia Gomez who's running in the San 402 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: Diego area and if she when, she would be the 403 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 1: first openly gay latin X candidate in Congress. In Texas, 404 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: we have a candidate named Candice Valenzuela who has a compelling, 405 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 1: amazing story. Um she was homeless as a little earl. 406 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: She really she really commends her her educators and the 407 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: public school system for her success. And she went on 408 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: to become a school board member because that's how committed 409 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: she is to making sure other people have an opportunity 410 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 1: like she did. And now she's running to be the 411 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: first Afro Latina in Congress. Amazing stories like this all 412 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: over the country where Latinas would be the first to 413 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 1: represent their districts, the first to represent their states, and 414 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 1: in states that you wouldn't even think for Latino states. 415 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 1: In Kansas in the Midwest, we have a candidate named 416 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 1: Michelle La La who's currently the mayor of Topeka, Kansas. 417 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,920 Speaker 1: She made history in two seventeen became the first Latina 418 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: elected to mayor of Topeka, Kansas, and in she's running 419 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: for Congress to be the first Latina to represent that state. 420 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: And we are just so inspired by all of these 421 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: candidates and wanted to make sure that we're telling their 422 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: stories because they are incredible candidates in and of their own, 423 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:06,479 Speaker 1: but that that um, that narrative about them making history 424 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: as a as a collective is so powerful. And we 425 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 1: know that there's a lot at stake in the selection cycle, 426 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: and we know that folks are constantly talking about the 427 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: presidential but we can't forget that down ballot candidates, whether 428 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 1: it's at your local level or at the federal level, 429 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: have such such a big impact on your everyday life. 430 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: And it is so important for young black and brown 431 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 1: girls to see women that look like them, you know, 432 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: stepping up and running, because it makes it possible for 433 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: us to believe that we deserve more from our government, 434 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: and it helps inspire a new generation of young women 435 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: who had never thought politics or government as a viable 436 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: career and are seeing amazing women breaking barriers and telling 437 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: them that they belong and that two can be part 438 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: of this movement for change. All right, So we do 439 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: want to take a minute and talk about our new 440 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: favorite earbuds. They are the amazing, amazing earbuds by Raycon 441 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: And whether you are working from home like we are 442 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: podcasting from home, or you're exercising, the newest model that 443 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: every day earbuds are the best ones yet. Six hours 444 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: of playtime, seamless, lucy paring, lots of base and a 445 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: way more compact design that gives you a really nice 446 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: noise isolating fit. I love wearing might eat break on 447 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: earbuds when I'm skating around. It's They're great. 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Get off your order at by Recon dot 458 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: com slash look at that's by Recon dot com slash 459 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: look for percent off Recon wireless earbuds. Thank you so 460 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: much MITA for giving that content context and background about 461 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: the different Latinas that are running for office. We had 462 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: a young Latina that was running for a local district 463 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: in Whittier in the City of Whittier a couple of 464 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: months ago, and we talked about the importance of voting 465 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: in local elections. It's really what will affect your day 466 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: to day life the most. I know that this election 467 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 1: cycle is so crucial UM at so many different levels, 468 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: So thank you so much for bringing that background and 469 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: that context. Is so important that our listeners hear this 470 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: and and understand all the work that you're doing with 471 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: Latino Victory. I wanted to ask, how is it that 472 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 1: Eva Longoria and Cecil Richards became involved in Latino Victory 473 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: and really pushing the pushing the importance of voting, especially 474 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 1: at at all levels of the election cycle. First, thank 475 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: you so much for using your platform to spotlight local candidates, 476 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: because again, local candidates don't get enough of of the 477 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: platform or spotlight or recognition that they deserve. And at 478 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: the end of the day, there the people that have 479 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: the most impact on our everyday life. UM from you know, 480 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: helping with with potholes in the community, are helping build 481 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: UM new infrastructure to service our our communities. They deserve 482 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 1: more credit than than they tend to get, So thank 483 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: you for that. UM. As far as Eva and cecil's involvement. 484 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: Eva Longoria is actually the co founder of Latino Victory 485 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 1: and we're we're pretty baby org um and and punch 486 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 1: way above our weight level because we were just founded 487 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: in UM as a result of many Latinos getting involved 488 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:26,960 Speaker 1: in the presidential re election for President Barack Obama and 489 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: realizing that there are a lot of Latinos out there 490 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: who were supporting President Barack Obama, who were helping build 491 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 1: a community of Latino donors who were going to invest 492 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: in building infrastructure with it within our community, and yet 493 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: there's this huge lack of representation. And so Eva as 494 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: well as Henry Munos, decided to continue to build on 495 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: that work that they did for President Barack Obama's reelection 496 00:32:56,400 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: and founded Latino Victory. And it's a it's a superpack UM, 497 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: but it's also a a C four organization and a 498 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,720 Speaker 1: C three organization, and again, the goal really is to 499 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 1: help ensure that we're supporting candidates all over the country 500 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: UM that often struggle to get the attention and the 501 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: resources that they deserve to be able to compete in 502 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 1: in the districts are running UM. And so Eva, as 503 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,959 Speaker 1: as co founder, has been you know involved, very involved 504 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 1: throughout the years on different initiatives, and she cares so 505 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: much about electing more Latinas to office, and when the 506 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 1: opportunity for her to help launch first Latinas came up, 507 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 1: it was a no brainer. You know, she has build 508 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 1: this organization, has has been there from the beginning. It's 509 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 1: her vision that has helped ensure that we, you know, 510 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: six years later, are still doing this critical work. Uh. 511 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: And so we knew that she needed to help launch it. 512 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: And Cecie, who is a fellow the Hannah as as 513 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 1: Eva is UM Cecio Richards, who for a long time 514 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:11,280 Speaker 1: was at the helm of planned parenthood, has been fighting 515 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 1: to ensure that there are more pro choice candidates and 516 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 1: more women in an elected office who are going to 517 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:23,880 Speaker 1: be advocating for women's issues. UM. She recently launched an 518 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: organization called Supermajority, and Supermajority was co founded with a 519 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 1: group of women, very diverse women, including many many women 520 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 1: of color, who are at the front lines of fighting 521 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 1: for more inclusivity in our democratic and civic engagement processes. 522 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 1: And so, because of her long history of working to 523 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 1: ensure there is more equitable representation by women, we wanted 524 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 1: to make sure that we when we launched this program, 525 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: that we had someone like her also involved, who has 526 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: so much institutional knowledge, was invested so much time in 527 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: doing this work. And again, as a Texan Um, it 528 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: wasn't it wasn't too hard to get them both involved 529 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 1: because one of the biggest battleground states for the election 530 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: cycle is Texas and we know that in order to 531 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,439 Speaker 1: flip that state, Latinos are going to be a key 532 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:25,759 Speaker 1: key piece to making sure that the state turns blue. 533 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 1: And one of the top races in that state, and 534 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: the only Latina Democratic Latina that's running to flip a 535 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: Republican district is Candice Valenzuela, and as I mentioned, she 536 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: has such a compelling story and she's also working to 537 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: make sure that within the latinox community there's representation because 538 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: right now there is no Latina in Congress Um that 539 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 1: identifies as being after Latina or black Latina. And so 540 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: that launch was, as you mentioned, not too long ago, 541 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,840 Speaker 1: and and we had Eva and Sacio really helped anchor everything. 542 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, it's our candidates 543 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: that are making this initiative so successful and it's gotten 544 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:12,800 Speaker 1: so much attention because there really is a yearning for 545 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: more representation even within our community. UM. And so we're again, 546 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 1: we're super excited, and these candidates are amazing, and I 547 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:21,880 Speaker 1: could go on and on about how great they are. 548 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: So I'm just gonna stop otherwise you won't uh hear 549 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:27,279 Speaker 1: the end of me talking about how great they are, 550 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 1: though I love it. I mean, it's exciting to hear 551 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 1: about all these different leftinas, especially because you know, we 552 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: know of AOC on a very public scale. She's been 553 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:42,839 Speaker 1: very highly celebrated and in many ways embrace. She's also 554 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 1: experience a lot of hate, a lot of pushback, vitriol. 555 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:50,719 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, she was verbally attacked by Rep. 556 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,960 Speaker 1: Head Yoho in a very public way, and you know, 557 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,800 Speaker 1: we heard her speech and we've seen the dialogue around that. 558 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 1: And she's not the only woman of color are in 559 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,840 Speaker 1: public office that has experienced right like this type of 560 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: of aggression and violence and pushed back once getting elected, 561 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 1: right and then once on the job and trying to 562 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:13,960 Speaker 1: do the job that you know, the community has elected 563 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:16,960 Speaker 1: her to do. UM. And so I'm kind of wondering 564 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 1: if UM for me, it sounds like there's a lot 565 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:24,759 Speaker 1: of aocs out there right, like if they're their groundbreaking there, 566 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:28,399 Speaker 1: they're entering into these spaces where we literally have never 567 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:34,000 Speaker 1: ever been before. What what kind of UM, I don't know. 568 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 1: Can we expect that a lot of these Latina candidates 569 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 1: will also enter into these um, you know offices and 570 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:45,920 Speaker 1: perhaps experienced a similar sort of pushback or vitriol or 571 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,040 Speaker 1: abuse the way that AOC and others have. Is this 572 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:54,279 Speaker 1: something that that that you know you see after you 573 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:59,799 Speaker 1: have elected latinas? And yes, the short answer is yes, definitely. 574 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 1: And and what I love and appreciate about AOC is 575 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:08,879 Speaker 1: that she has helped shine a light on what has 576 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 1: been happening for far too long to two women candidates, 577 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 1: but particularly women of color. And before I answer your 578 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:21,080 Speaker 1: question a little more, I just wanted to share an anecdote. 579 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 1: So my my goddaughter has staying with me for a 580 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:28,400 Speaker 1: couple of weeks this summer, and she frankly probably didn't 581 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:30,560 Speaker 1: really know what I did. She knows that I've worked 582 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:34,439 Speaker 1: in politics, UM, and we were watching the documentary Knocked 583 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 1: Down the House, and it was the perfect explainer for her. 584 00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:48,640 Speaker 1: UM to be able to see that that documentary and 585 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:53,800 Speaker 1: see the trajectory of candidates of color of women of 586 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:58,799 Speaker 1: color who frankly or fighting an uphill battle right. Fundraising 587 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,759 Speaker 1: is a keep part of running for office, and we 588 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:06,000 Speaker 1: know that it is especially hard for our candidates are 589 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:10,400 Speaker 1: Latino candidates, because many of us don't come from backgrounds 590 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:13,960 Speaker 1: that that are affluent or we don't have access to 591 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 1: these networks of wealth. And so it has been so 592 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 1: helpful and and inspiring to have someone just shine a 593 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:26,040 Speaker 1: light on these issues and be so transparent. Because these 594 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: issues were happening before AOC, they will continue to happen 595 00:39:30,239 --> 00:39:35,279 Speaker 1: after AOC. But what's been great, especially in this new 596 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:43,279 Speaker 1: reality of virtual and digital organizing, is our ability to 597 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 1: just call it out. And what I what I value 598 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:49,800 Speaker 1: so much about having this slate of first Latinas is 599 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:52,560 Speaker 1: that it's really lonely running for office. I mean, you 600 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:58,080 Speaker 1: are constantly having to be on your constantly working. Right 601 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:02,520 Speaker 1: now during covid UM, there's a lot of you know, 602 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 1: grappling with well do I ask people for money knowing 603 00:40:07,280 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 1: that there are people who are whose livelihoods have completely 604 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:16,120 Speaker 1: been destroyed by this pandemic um, knowing that resources are scarce, 605 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:18,080 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, you know, without 606 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 1: the resources to run for office, like, we can't change 607 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:25,920 Speaker 1: government if we don't have more Latinas, more black, more 608 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:30,880 Speaker 1: diverse candidates who are bringing up these perspectives and lived 609 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:35,239 Speaker 1: experiences that frankly have not been at the table. And 610 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:39,040 Speaker 1: so what has been great to see what our first 611 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:43,239 Speaker 1: Latina candidates is this community and the solidarity that they've 612 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:46,160 Speaker 1: been able to find, just knowing like, I'm not alone, 613 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:49,400 Speaker 1: There's someone else in Kansas who's fighting the same battle. 614 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:54,839 Speaker 1: And half the time that like affirmation is what you need, 615 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:59,480 Speaker 1: right because you said, these candidates are are beyond qualified, 616 00:40:59,560 --> 00:41:03,680 Speaker 1: they have the skills and most of the battle that 617 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 1: we face and that I've seen our candidates face as 618 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 1: Latinas or these like I don't they are imagined but 619 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:14,920 Speaker 1: also very real obstacles that are that are in our 620 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:19,360 Speaker 1: head and that are um constantly perpetuated by society that 621 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 1: we're not good enough, that we're not experienced enough, that 622 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:25,480 Speaker 1: we shouldn't be there yet, that we need to wait 623 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:27,680 Speaker 1: our turn before we decide to step up and run. 624 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:31,759 Speaker 1: And so having um first Latinas, having this group of 625 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:35,640 Speaker 1: women seeing themselves represented in their colleagues, being able to 626 00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 1: share best practices. You know, during our launch, we had 627 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 1: the panel with Cecio, with Eva um and just hearing 628 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:49,400 Speaker 1: them like encourage each other was so so so inspirational. 629 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:54,320 Speaker 1: And it goes a long way because these these candidates 630 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 1: have staff, you know that that basically laying out what 631 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:01,840 Speaker 1: they need to do. But the things that you can't 632 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:04,680 Speaker 1: teach right, the things that your campaign manager might not 633 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:08,880 Speaker 1: be able to fully instilling you is that sense of 634 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:12,840 Speaker 1: of self worth and belief that not only are you 635 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 1: good enough, but that you're not alone. And that is 636 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 1: why it's so important for us to be able to 637 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:22,640 Speaker 1: tell this story nationally because these candidates go through a 638 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:25,680 Speaker 1: lot and then when they get into elected position, as 639 00:42:25,719 --> 00:42:29,640 Speaker 1: you pointed out with the AOC and and Ted Yoho example, 640 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:32,759 Speaker 1: they're they're fighting these battles day in and day out, 641 00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:37,359 Speaker 1: fighting battles um you know, even internally within our own 642 00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:42,399 Speaker 1: progressive community or own Democratic party. Uh. And so they 643 00:42:42,719 --> 00:42:44,440 Speaker 1: that we need to have their backs. We need to 644 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 1: be uplifting them, we need to be supporting them and 645 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:49,840 Speaker 1: reminding them that the work that they're doing is so 646 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:54,800 Speaker 1: invaluable for our communities. It's so important that little girls 647 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:58,480 Speaker 1: see themselves represented um and and making sure that they 648 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:00,680 Speaker 1: know that they're not alone in this work, that they're 649 00:43:00,719 --> 00:43:02,640 Speaker 1: the face, and that they're the ones that are going 650 00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:04,359 Speaker 1: to get the scrutiny and they're the ones that get 651 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:07,680 Speaker 1: the attacked the attacks, but that we have their backs 652 00:43:08,080 --> 00:43:10,279 Speaker 1: and that the work that they're doing is making a 653 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:14,640 Speaker 1: difference in so many lives. Thank you so much, Mida. 654 00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:17,239 Speaker 1: I can definitely hear your passion for this, and it's 655 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:20,320 Speaker 1: so amazing to hear and to speak with you today. 656 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:23,560 Speaker 1: You know, in the news, at least in the last 657 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: twenty four hours, you know, I've seen photos of the 658 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:31,240 Speaker 1: USPS mailboxes being removed in some parts of the country. 659 00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:35,680 Speaker 1: I've also heard that there have been removal of mail 660 00:43:35,719 --> 00:43:40,399 Speaker 1: sorting machines, and so naturally the public is freaking out. 661 00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:42,640 Speaker 1: There's there's somewhat of a panic, I would say, and 662 00:43:42,719 --> 00:43:47,200 Speaker 1: there's definitely been this online movement folks organizing themselves to 663 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:51,800 Speaker 1: support the United States Postal Service. And so what is 664 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 1: your take on what we're seeing and the threat? Is 665 00:43:56,239 --> 00:44:00,360 Speaker 1: there a threat against the US Postal Service? And what 666 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:06,160 Speaker 1: can we do as individuals? So it is just ridiculous 667 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:11,440 Speaker 1: that something so essential like our postal services under attack 668 00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:16,840 Speaker 1: under this administration, and what's really terrifying is that, you know, 669 00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:22,120 Speaker 1: half the battle sometimes with this administration isn't necessarily that 670 00:44:22,280 --> 00:44:25,680 Speaker 1: they're going to act on the things they say they 671 00:44:25,719 --> 00:44:28,560 Speaker 1: are going to do, which we know that they do act, 672 00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:31,800 Speaker 1: but half the time, like let's take the census question 673 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:37,600 Speaker 1: for instance, the fear that they inflicted on our community 674 00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:43,360 Speaker 1: was enough to do damage then actually acting not having 675 00:44:43,440 --> 00:44:46,480 Speaker 1: a census question on the senses right like we know 676 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:49,759 Speaker 1: there is no sorry, citizenship question, We know that there's 677 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:53,080 Speaker 1: no citizenship question on the census, but the fear they 678 00:44:53,239 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 1: created is enough to impact whether or not undocumented communities, 679 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:03,799 Speaker 1: whether or not you know, mixed status families feel comfortable 680 00:45:04,120 --> 00:45:06,120 Speaker 1: in filling out the census. And we know how important 681 00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:09,360 Speaker 1: the census is not just for elected representation, but for 682 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:13,799 Speaker 1: resources that are vital to ensuring um, you know, our 683 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:19,239 Speaker 1: communities thrive. Things like public education, funding, funding for libraries, 684 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 1: any type of social service, everything goes back to being 685 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:26,919 Speaker 1: counted in that census. And so why I think it's 686 00:45:27,040 --> 00:45:29,839 Speaker 1: terrifying right now. And there's a lot, as you said, 687 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:34,360 Speaker 1: there's a lot of um just skepticism and and folks 688 00:45:34,360 --> 00:45:37,320 Speaker 1: are trying to figure out what's happening. Is that you know, 689 00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:44,120 Speaker 1: regardless of whether or not Trump UM undermines or defunds USPS, 690 00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:48,240 Speaker 1: the damage is already being done. I'm getting text messages 691 00:45:48,360 --> 00:45:53,480 Speaker 1: from my cousins who are in Chicago, in a blue city, UM, 692 00:45:53,680 --> 00:45:55,640 Speaker 1: you know, in in a state that is that is 693 00:45:55,719 --> 00:45:59,000 Speaker 1: not a battleground state, asking whether or not they should 694 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:01,960 Speaker 1: sign up to vote by mail because they're reading these stories, 695 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:04,680 Speaker 1: are seeing the news uh. And so a lot of 696 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:07,560 Speaker 1: the work that organizations like Latino Victory and folks that 697 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:11,600 Speaker 1: are doing UM work in the progressive space is just 698 00:46:11,760 --> 00:46:14,439 Speaker 1: making sure that we're getting the right information. And that's 699 00:46:14,520 --> 00:46:17,839 Speaker 1: hard because, as you mentioned, it's changing every day, UM. 700 00:46:17,960 --> 00:46:24,239 Speaker 1: But there are still there's still so much work being 701 00:46:24,280 --> 00:46:26,640 Speaker 1: done around voting by mail. And we know, especially with 702 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:30,600 Speaker 1: COVID being a real UM, a real harm and still 703 00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:33,240 Speaker 1: a reality and it's going to be a reality in November, 704 00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:38,640 Speaker 1: we have to remind communities that voting by mail is 705 00:46:38,680 --> 00:46:41,759 Speaker 1: a safe option, right, and we have to ensure that 706 00:46:41,840 --> 00:46:44,960 Speaker 1: we're working with in state groups and national groups to 707 00:46:45,120 --> 00:46:48,319 Speaker 1: make sure that the information that is getting to our 708 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:52,399 Speaker 1: communities is accurate UM and that it is the most 709 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:54,759 Speaker 1: up to date. Because things are fluid and there are 710 00:46:54,760 --> 00:46:59,200 Speaker 1: a ton of petitions and a ton of UM work 711 00:46:59,239 --> 00:47:01,600 Speaker 1: being done in the coalition space to ensure that the 712 00:47:01,719 --> 00:47:05,520 Speaker 1: USPS has the resources it needs to be able to 713 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:08,759 Speaker 1: function to make sure that people who are voting by mail, UM, 714 00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:11,680 Speaker 1: you know, can can do so in a way that 715 00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:14,040 Speaker 1: is timely and ensure that their vote is counted. But 716 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:17,600 Speaker 1: they're also already a lot of UM a lot of 717 00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:21,520 Speaker 1: infrastructures in place in states to make sure that if 718 00:47:21,560 --> 00:47:23,800 Speaker 1: you do vote by mail, that your vote is being counted. 719 00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:26,000 Speaker 1: You know, in the state like Florida, there's a way 720 00:47:26,080 --> 00:47:29,480 Speaker 1: to track your ballot so that you know once it 721 00:47:29,560 --> 00:47:33,279 Speaker 1: gets to the Supervisor of Election. In a ton of states, UM, 722 00:47:33,320 --> 00:47:37,480 Speaker 1: they're working to put drop drop off location so that 723 00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:39,840 Speaker 1: when you get your vote by mail ballot, if you 724 00:47:40,200 --> 00:47:42,840 Speaker 1: don't feel comfortable putting it back in the post office 725 00:47:42,880 --> 00:47:45,720 Speaker 1: because you don't know putting it back in the mailbox, 726 00:47:45,760 --> 00:47:47,239 Speaker 1: because you don't know if the post office is going 727 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:49,479 Speaker 1: to get it to the Supervisor of Elections and time, 728 00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:53,200 Speaker 1: there are now drop off locations and what UM folks 729 00:47:53,280 --> 00:47:56,200 Speaker 1: need to do first, you know, feel free to visit 730 00:47:56,280 --> 00:48:00,120 Speaker 1: US at Latino Victory. US will have information on on 731 00:48:00,239 --> 00:48:03,480 Speaker 1: the changing landscape but making sure that we're getting our 732 00:48:03,600 --> 00:48:08,000 Speaker 1: information UM on a consistent basis, to be sure of 733 00:48:08,160 --> 00:48:11,479 Speaker 1: what the different protocols are in our state. I don't 734 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:15,680 Speaker 1: want people to fully um right off voting by mail, 735 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:18,719 Speaker 1: because that's what this administration wants. Like we know that 736 00:48:18,840 --> 00:48:21,719 Speaker 1: Donald Trump votes by mail in Florida, and if he 737 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:25,360 Speaker 1: really didn't trust in the process, he himself would not 738 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:28,400 Speaker 1: be doing this. But what they want is to create 739 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:32,439 Speaker 1: enough fear and enough doubt that people who may only 740 00:48:32,600 --> 00:48:36,440 Speaker 1: vote by mail because they have a pre existing condition 741 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:39,960 Speaker 1: that makes them more vulnerable to COVID or because you know, frankly, 742 00:48:40,040 --> 00:48:42,839 Speaker 1: people work and and don't have time to go vote 743 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:46,279 Speaker 1: on election day. UM. They want to instill that doubt 744 00:48:46,360 --> 00:48:48,759 Speaker 1: so that people just say, you know, I'm not sure 745 00:48:48,800 --> 00:48:51,200 Speaker 1: if my votes is even gonna get counted, why should 746 00:48:51,239 --> 00:48:54,879 Speaker 1: I vote? And they just suppressed the vote in that way. 747 00:48:55,760 --> 00:48:58,080 Speaker 1: And so thank you. They also thank you Mala for 748 00:48:58,440 --> 00:49:01,239 Speaker 1: for shining a light on this. UM. We're part of 749 00:49:01,320 --> 00:49:05,360 Speaker 1: a coalition that's actually sending a letter, and many groups 750 00:49:05,440 --> 00:49:09,319 Speaker 1: are sending letters to make sure that we're not defuncting USPS. 751 00:49:09,480 --> 00:49:11,160 Speaker 1: But I would say that the biggest thing that we 752 00:49:11,280 --> 00:49:14,080 Speaker 1: can all do is talk to our families about the 753 00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:18,080 Speaker 1: different ways of voting. If voting by mail UM is 754 00:49:18,840 --> 00:49:21,240 Speaker 1: causing you pause, Like, there are a lot of different 755 00:49:21,280 --> 00:49:23,879 Speaker 1: ways to vote. There's voting on election day, but there's 756 00:49:23,960 --> 00:49:27,800 Speaker 1: also early voting, and it varies by state and by county. 757 00:49:28,200 --> 00:49:31,520 Speaker 1: But in some places, UM there are almost two weeks 758 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:34,480 Speaker 1: of early voting before election day, and we know that 759 00:49:34,680 --> 00:49:38,640 Speaker 1: because there's a longer period of time to early vote U, 760 00:49:38,800 --> 00:49:42,359 Speaker 1: there aren't as many lines. You can vote at your 761 00:49:42,440 --> 00:49:45,719 Speaker 1: leisure and you can go to a location that's close 762 00:49:45,800 --> 00:49:49,240 Speaker 1: to your home or maybe close to UM your work, 763 00:49:49,360 --> 00:49:52,560 Speaker 1: or close to a family's job, or et cetera. But 764 00:49:53,040 --> 00:49:55,759 Speaker 1: it's just educating yourself on what the protocols are in 765 00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:58,600 Speaker 1: your state, and you can always get this information from 766 00:49:58,640 --> 00:50:01,839 Speaker 1: your local county Supervisor of Elections. So what I tell 767 00:50:01,880 --> 00:50:05,839 Speaker 1: people do is google Supervisor of Elections, Google your your 768 00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:07,960 Speaker 1: state or your county, and you will get the most 769 00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:11,200 Speaker 1: up to date information there. Because again the goal of 770 00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:14,560 Speaker 1: this administration is to suppress the vote, and they're going 771 00:50:14,640 --> 00:50:16,680 Speaker 1: to do that through fear. They're going to do that 772 00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:20,480 Speaker 1: through UM, you know, trying to challenge the legality of 773 00:50:20,640 --> 00:50:24,040 Speaker 1: certain UH access to the ballot box, and what we 774 00:50:24,120 --> 00:50:26,200 Speaker 1: need to do is make sure that we're pushing back 775 00:50:26,280 --> 00:50:31,080 Speaker 1: by actually exercising our right to vote. Thank you so much, 776 00:50:31,200 --> 00:50:36,560 Speaker 1: Mida for that really specific information about how exactly right 777 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:39,920 Speaker 1: our listeners and their families and communities can find out 778 00:50:40,080 --> 00:50:43,480 Speaker 1: about early voting and their options in the places that 779 00:50:43,640 --> 00:50:46,040 Speaker 1: they live. I think that a lot of times, you know, 780 00:50:46,280 --> 00:50:50,560 Speaker 1: our election process can be extremely confusing and it's really 781 00:50:50,719 --> 00:50:54,000 Speaker 1: not info that's sort of just all over the place. 782 00:50:54,080 --> 00:50:55,680 Speaker 1: You got to go and sort of look for it. 783 00:50:56,200 --> 00:50:59,799 Speaker 1: And I think that there's um, you know, people uh 784 00:51:00,239 --> 00:51:04,759 Speaker 1: maybe get stressed out about about what the path and 785 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:06,759 Speaker 1: what are their true options and where do they get 786 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:09,759 Speaker 1: that info? So thank you for sharing that. Where can 787 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:13,640 Speaker 1: our listeners look up the Latinas running for office in 788 00:51:14,360 --> 00:51:17,960 Speaker 1: where they live? So again, um, going back to your 789 00:51:17,960 --> 00:51:21,759 Speaker 1: Supervisor of Elections office, like that is where you'll get 790 00:51:21,800 --> 00:51:24,920 Speaker 1: the most information. But as far as First Latinas, if 791 00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:27,880 Speaker 1: you go to our website, we have all of our 792 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:32,360 Speaker 1: candidates listed, and beyond having all of our candidates listed, 793 00:51:32,760 --> 00:51:37,480 Speaker 1: our social media so find us on Twitter, Facebook, um, Instagram. 794 00:51:38,280 --> 00:51:43,960 Speaker 1: We have a First Latinas update where every Friday we're 795 00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:48,399 Speaker 1: doing First Latinas Friday, and we're profiling some of our candidates. UM. 796 00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:51,799 Speaker 1: And the last thing I will say to get more 797 00:51:52,000 --> 00:51:56,560 Speaker 1: information is that we are actually going to be launching 798 00:51:56,760 --> 00:52:00,840 Speaker 1: an SMS program so that folks can text us and 799 00:52:01,160 --> 00:52:04,200 Speaker 1: and get information not just about what where you're registered 800 00:52:04,239 --> 00:52:08,480 Speaker 1: to vote, but how you can vote in your state. 801 00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:11,759 Speaker 1: Because as I mentioned, there is early voting, but there's 802 00:52:11,840 --> 00:52:15,239 Speaker 1: also voting by mail that is available, and and it 803 00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:17,680 Speaker 1: starts early, so if folks do want to do it, 804 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:20,000 Speaker 1: they just have to make sure that they're submitting their 805 00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:23,680 Speaker 1: ballot early. UM. And obviously election day and we know 806 00:52:23,800 --> 00:52:26,200 Speaker 1: that things are fluid, so want to make sure that 807 00:52:26,280 --> 00:52:29,399 Speaker 1: I get you all the number UM that you can 808 00:52:29,520 --> 00:52:33,800 Speaker 1: text us. So it is text vote to five to 809 00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:37,759 Speaker 1: eight eight six and that is v O T O. 810 00:52:38,480 --> 00:52:42,360 Speaker 1: And we will be updating information about again where to 811 00:52:42,440 --> 00:52:46,719 Speaker 1: go vote in your respective counting, your respective state, UM, 812 00:52:46,920 --> 00:52:49,680 Speaker 1: and that will continue to be updated as we get 813 00:52:49,719 --> 00:52:52,840 Speaker 1: closer to the election. You know, we are eighty some 814 00:52:53,120 --> 00:52:56,839 Speaker 1: days away and every vote is gonna matter. So thank 815 00:52:56,960 --> 00:52:59,680 Speaker 1: you mana thank yourself first China, a spotlight. I know 816 00:52:59,719 --> 00:53:01,640 Speaker 1: I saw like a broken record, but it's so important 817 00:53:01,680 --> 00:53:05,080 Speaker 1: that we're getting this information out and especially with COVID 818 00:53:05,640 --> 00:53:09,239 Speaker 1: UM that candidates aren't able to UM to go door 819 00:53:09,320 --> 00:53:12,279 Speaker 1: to door and go talk to our communities directly. It's 820 00:53:12,320 --> 00:53:15,120 Speaker 1: so important that we're having these conversations and a lot 821 00:53:15,200 --> 00:53:19,080 Speaker 1: of these campaigns are doing virtual events. And the one 822 00:53:19,719 --> 00:53:22,560 Speaker 1: UM silver lining that I think is coming out of 823 00:53:22,719 --> 00:53:27,280 Speaker 1: this COVID reality is that access to our elected officials, 824 00:53:27,400 --> 00:53:32,120 Speaker 1: access to our candidates UM has been democratized. It with 825 00:53:32,239 --> 00:53:35,000 Speaker 1: a caveat that if you have access to internet, right 826 00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:37,800 Speaker 1: because there are candidates all over the country, you know, 827 00:53:37,920 --> 00:53:41,359 Speaker 1: presidential candidates who are hosting virtual events that are accessible 828 00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:44,840 Speaker 1: publicly to everyone if you're if you have access to 829 00:53:44,920 --> 00:53:49,120 Speaker 1: internet or broadband and are able to visit their websites. UM. 830 00:53:49,200 --> 00:53:50,680 Speaker 1: So I think that we're in in a in a 831 00:53:51,400 --> 00:53:55,239 Speaker 1: very um critical juncture in our government, in our society 832 00:53:55,880 --> 00:53:58,880 Speaker 1: where we have the opportunity because COVID has shined a 833 00:53:58,960 --> 00:54:03,240 Speaker 1: light on all the charities that exist within our government, 834 00:54:03,320 --> 00:54:08,120 Speaker 1: within our institutions, we really have an opportunity to reimagine 835 00:54:08,239 --> 00:54:11,000 Speaker 1: what government looks like. Because I know people talk about 836 00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:14,040 Speaker 1: going back to normal, but the reality is that there 837 00:54:14,080 --> 00:54:17,759 Speaker 1: won't be a normal to go back to because things 838 00:54:17,840 --> 00:54:21,240 Speaker 1: as we know it are changed. And the silver lining 839 00:54:21,320 --> 00:54:25,880 Speaker 1: again is that we have the opportunity to elect leaders 840 00:54:26,640 --> 00:54:30,520 Speaker 1: who are living in this reality, who can't deny that 841 00:54:30,719 --> 00:54:33,680 Speaker 1: things are broken, that can't deny that there are institutions 842 00:54:33,719 --> 00:54:37,160 Speaker 1: that are not serving and centering communities of color and 843 00:54:37,200 --> 00:54:42,000 Speaker 1: the Latino community, and it is uncumbent upon us um 844 00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:44,840 Speaker 1: to help get them elected, but once they're elected, to 845 00:54:45,000 --> 00:54:49,640 Speaker 1: hold them accountable to make sure that the policy, the policies, 846 00:54:49,680 --> 00:54:53,040 Speaker 1: and the promises being made right now are actually acted upon. 847 00:54:53,719 --> 00:54:58,120 Speaker 1: And for my Latino Latin X voters, we are thirty 848 00:54:58,200 --> 00:55:02,360 Speaker 1: two millions strong. We are the largest non white voting 849 00:55:02,400 --> 00:55:06,800 Speaker 1: black this election cycle. We could literally determine all of 850 00:55:06,880 --> 00:55:10,080 Speaker 1: the battleground states if all of us turn out to vote. 851 00:55:10,360 --> 00:55:13,400 Speaker 1: And if you're not registered to vote now, um please 852 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:15,960 Speaker 1: do so, but also make sure that you talked at 853 00:55:16,040 --> 00:55:18,840 Speaker 1: least three people in your community and your friends, families, 854 00:55:19,120 --> 00:55:21,760 Speaker 1: Folks that have the ability to vote need to ensure 855 00:55:21,800 --> 00:55:24,200 Speaker 1: that they're registered and they're making a plan early to 856 00:55:24,320 --> 00:55:29,160 Speaker 1: go out and vote, because we will determine this election 857 00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:32,719 Speaker 1: if as a community we turn out. So thank you 858 00:55:32,840 --> 00:55:34,759 Speaker 1: the os MALA again for all of the work that 859 00:55:34,880 --> 00:55:37,239 Speaker 1: you do and the more conversations we have like this, 860 00:55:37,400 --> 00:55:41,360 Speaker 1: the better it is for UM electing diverse representation, but 861 00:55:41,520 --> 00:55:45,800 Speaker 1: really reimagining and fixing our government so that it serves 862 00:55:45,880 --> 00:55:49,600 Speaker 1: the people like it's supposed to. Thank you so much, 863 00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:53,120 Speaker 1: Mida for joining us on another episode of Look at Radio. 864 00:55:53,360 --> 00:55:56,480 Speaker 1: It has been such a treat having you. You are 865 00:55:56,560 --> 00:55:59,240 Speaker 1: a wealth of knowledge and our listeners are so lucky 866 00:55:59,520 --> 00:56:01,920 Speaker 1: that they are able to hear everything that you had 867 00:56:01,960 --> 00:56:04,560 Speaker 1: to say today, So thank you once again for joining us. 868 00:56:04,920 --> 00:56:06,840 Speaker 1: So to learn more about let Me Know Victory, you 869 00:56:06,880 --> 00:56:09,160 Speaker 1: can head over to let me Know Victory dot us 870 00:56:09,440 --> 00:56:11,560 Speaker 1: and we will link in the show notes all of 871 00:56:11,640 --> 00:56:15,680 Speaker 1: the different US resources that might not mentioned today on 872 00:56:15,760 --> 00:56:18,360 Speaker 1: the interview. So thank you again for tuning in and 873 00:56:18,440 --> 00:56:33,600 Speaker 1: we'll catch you next time. Radio Radio Radio Commi's a 874 00:56:33,719 --> 00:56:38,000 Speaker 1: Myth and Bullshit, a radio phonic novella Look at a 875 00:56:38,120 --> 00:56:40,480 Speaker 1: Radio hosted by Man and