1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to WOKF Daily with me 2 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: your girl, Daniel Moody recording pre recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: you know, I get a lot of messages from all 4 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: of you that asked me really important questions about how 5 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: you can best use your energy and time, how not 6 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: to lose your mind, and what are the best ways 7 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: to actually get involved right and not just feel hopeless 8 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: and like you are doing nothing. And you know, I'm 9 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: excited for today's conversation with the executive director of the 10 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. This conversation I thought was really 11 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: important and necessary because often times we think that we 12 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: understand what ballot initiatives are and ballot measures and what 13 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: the far right is pushing, and how we understand how 14 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: to push back, and a part of that is really 15 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: understanding the ways in which we have been led astray 16 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 1: purposefully in our understanding of civics and actually how government works. 17 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: And so this conversation with the executive director of BISK, 18 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: Chris Melody Field's figarato, is a really important conversation for 19 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: her to break down how we understand and use ballot 20 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: measures to our advantage, how states like Kansas and Wisconsin 21 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: were able to push back against their abortion bands by 22 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: ballot measures that the citizens put together in order to 23 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: have a voice. Right, Because it isn't enough just to 24 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: send these representatives in at the state, local, and fed 25 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: level and think that they're going to do the work. 26 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: There are other ways, other mechanations of our democratic system 27 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: that allow the people to have a voice. Now, don't 28 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,079 Speaker 1: get it twisted. Republicans are coming for this as well, 29 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: but it is really important. I think that in this conversation, 30 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: and I was grateful to Chris to teach me some 31 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: things that I didn't know, and that I think that 32 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: is really important as we are trying to hold on 33 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 1: to our democracy, as we are flexing our voice and 34 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: our power as the people, what it actually means to 35 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: put back. So this conversation with Chris, the executive director 36 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, is coming up next 37 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: and they also offer a way for you all to 38 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: get involved, to learn more and to build out community folks. 39 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: I am very excited to welcome to OKAP Daily for 40 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: the first time. Chris Melody Fields Bigaretto, who is like yes, 41 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: who is the executive director of Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, 42 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: an organization that works to create the vision, strategic planning, 43 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: and fundraising efforts around really important ballot measures that we 44 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: all end up voting on. Chris, I want to start 45 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: off with, first of all, explaining the difference, because we 46 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: just asked this before we started recording. Explain it. The 47 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: difference between what we are seeing past in state legislatures 48 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: regarding the erasure the criminalization of queer people, particularly trans 49 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: people in states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and the 50 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: list goes on, and actual ballot measures. 51 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: So the rajor difference between ballot measures and what we 52 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: see are alleged representatives and governments. And I say alleged 53 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: because I don't think they actually for the most part 54 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 2: listen to the people some of them, and what we're 55 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 2: seeing at the state legislative level is ballot measures actually 56 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: are a tool for us. You and me are community 57 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: members to go into our community raise some signatures so 58 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: on a different issue, right, different topics like raising the 59 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: minimum wage, affirming reproductive healthcare right. We actually have the 60 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: power in about half the country twenty five states plus DC, 61 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: to sign petitions and take these issues to the ballot 62 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: and then vote on them. Now, state legislators like of 63 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: Florida or a Tennessee or my home state of Texas 64 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: also have the power and authority to refer an issue 65 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: to the ballot measure, So the legislature can refer a 66 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: constitutional amendment on a number of issues. Now, that's the 67 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: major difference between what a bouot measure is. The intent 68 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 2: is really for it to be citizen led or citizen. 69 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: Driven, Okay. 70 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: And then our representative and governments are passing these laws 71 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: across and I think the opportunity we actually have right 72 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: now from bout measures, because these four hundred plus bills 73 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: that are, like you just said, a racing queer people 74 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 2: like myself across the country, is we the people actually 75 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: have the power and agency to say something different through 76 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: ballot measures. You know, some states like an Oregan that 77 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 2: is considering a reproductive healthcare bouot measure is actually looking 78 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 2: how they protect trans healthcare in their measure as well. 79 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: So that's a big difference. And then I think this 80 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: is the opportunity for us as citizens in this country 81 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: to actually tell a different story and narrative than what 82 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: we're seeing in these state legislatures to actually protect queer 83 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 2: and transfolk. 84 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: Can you talk to us about when you are living 85 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: inside of a Republican supermajority in a state legislature, what 86 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: it looks like, the work it goes into bringing up 87 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: then a ballot measure that you know would provide voice 88 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 1: to the people. So we saw this play out, I 89 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: believe what in Wisconsin around abortion. We saw this play 90 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: out in Kansas around abortion. And so I want you 91 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: to be able to explain how these kind of measures 92 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 1: work because the whole point is to give voice and 93 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: power to the people. But we're living inside of these 94 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: Republican supermajorities that are doing the exact opposite exactly. 95 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: Actually, this has become a tool in many states that 96 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: have Republican supermajority, So a Missouri, well back in the 97 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: day a Michigan. Luckily that there was a flip there, 98 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: so Missouri states like Missouri, Florida, Ohio where they have 99 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: the citizen led process, this has actually been a tool 100 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: of necessity for a number of advacy groups and citizens 101 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: to take these issues that are actually widely popular by 102 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: everyday citizens, like raising the minimum wage, like paid lead, 103 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: like affirmatively protecting the right to an abortion. That is 104 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 2: actually what has been happening in a lot of these 105 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: Republican trifecta states across the country. It's become this tool 106 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: of necessity for organizers to go in to their community, 107 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: have people sign a petition saying yes, we want this 108 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 2: issue on the ballot, and then whenever election day comes 109 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: or well in most you know, in some states, election 110 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: days actually may start a couple of weeks earlier through 111 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: early voting or absenceee voting to actually vote yes on 112 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: these issues or reject proposals like they did in Kansas, 113 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: in Kentucky, in Montana last year in twenty twenty two 114 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: reject abortion bands. So that's what is how it's been 115 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: playing out in a lot of states where we've seen 116 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: Republican trifectas. Now what we're also seeing in those same 117 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: states where there are Republican tri affectas or super majorities. 118 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: These GOP leaders are not happy with what the people 119 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: are doing, are not in alignment with their constituents, and 120 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 2: now our proposing changes to the BOWT measure process and 121 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: actually making it harder for you and me and members 122 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: of our community to take these issues that we are 123 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 2: no we know our people better than anyone else. Yep, 124 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 2: we know these issues are popular. They're trying now to 125 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 2: take this, this important tool for the people away. I mean, 126 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 2: this is literally happening right now in Ohio. 127 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: And what does tell us what does that look like 128 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: in terms of trying to again take away a democratic 129 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: tool from the people inside of a democracy that allows 130 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: you to have voice in between, you know, on election day, 131 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: in between elections and what have you. 132 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 2: So what's happening in the states right now are a 133 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 2: couple of things. One, so we all know, to elect 134 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: someone to Congress, to elect someone to our city council, 135 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: it requires a simple majority, right, fifty plus one percent 136 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: of the vote. That's how you win on election, right. 137 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: And what we are seeing in state legislatures across the 138 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: country is they are proposing bills that would require supermajorities 139 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: to pass these bout measures, so raising the threshold to 140 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 2: pass an issue at the ballot to sixty percent or 141 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 2: as high as sixty seven percent. Right. We're also seeing 142 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: state legislatures propose rules that would increase the signature how 143 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: many signatures have to be gathered in a particular state. Now, 144 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 2: you know, some people will say more signatures more democracy, right, 145 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: But we also know that actually has a relationship to 146 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 2: how costly campaigns can be. Right, more signatures, more people 147 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: you got to go into communities, the more people you 148 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 2: have to message to, more field operatives that you have 149 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 2: to have in the ground. Right. So that's another thing 150 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 2: that they're doing in state legislatures, and in some places 151 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 2: they are being as brazen as they possibly can, because 152 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: you know, we are in many states living under fascists. 153 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 2: They are purposed, like they tried to do in Mississippi, 154 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 2: they try to restore their ballot measure process, but then 155 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:22,599 Speaker 2: they would give the state legislature the authority to completely 156 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 2: overturn anything that the people voted on. So all of 157 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: these are. 158 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,599 Speaker 1: So what they want is the appearance of demoperience. Here's 159 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 1: here's this ballot measure that you have the ability to 160 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: vote on. But oh much in the same way that 161 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: we just saw the North Carolina state legislator decide to 162 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: over to overthrow the will of the democratically elected governor, 163 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: we're going to be able to still overthrow the will 164 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: of the people and say that, oh but we went 165 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: through due process. 166 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: Exactly exactly, And that is what we're seeing now. More 167 00:11:55,880 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: and more. And this is a response to us, the people, 168 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 2: where we are demanding a different world than what we 169 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 2: are seeing right now. Right, I think if you ask 170 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,079 Speaker 2: the majority, actually we know, if you ask the majority 171 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 2: of Americans, they support reproductive rights. We know this to 172 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: be true. And we saw that play out in twenty 173 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 2: twenty two when every single one of the abortion bands 174 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 2: lost and every single one of the abortion the affirmatively 175 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 2: protecting the right to abortion care all measures one in 176 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: all of the states where we put raising the minimum 177 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 2: wage at the ballot. We won. But we can't see 178 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 2: the We don't see our representatives in government, the people 179 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 2: who are supposed to represent us. They're not taking action 180 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 2: on the things that we need. They're not guaranteeing us healthcare, 181 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: which citizens widely want, right And this is really like, 182 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 2: this is the big I don't know, fall like you 183 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 2: we're in right now? 184 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: Is I like to just say, yeah, we're you know, 185 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: we're in a little bit of what I call a 186 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: fuckery pickle. 187 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 2: That's on that part right there, that far. 188 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,239 Speaker 1: You know, it's what do they say, it's a democracy 189 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: so long as you can keep it right. And I 190 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: think and I think that what you know, what your 191 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: organization is about. It is frankly, what I would have 192 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: liked when I was a teacher is actually teaching people 193 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: about civics and civic engagement. Right, So can you speak 194 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: so speak to that piece, because I think that when 195 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: we step back and we look at all of the 196 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: things that are happening in all the ways that that 197 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: we see the Republican Party literally trying to chip away 198 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: and I won't even say chip away anymore. It was 199 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 1: chipping in twenty sixteen. Now they're just hacking with with 200 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: the chainsaw away at our democracy. 201 00:13:58,520 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 2: You know. 202 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: I think about the way in which we refuse to 203 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: teach history, the way that we refuse to teach civics, 204 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: that a majority of people in this country really don't 205 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: know how government works, right, And what we assumed was 206 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 1: law was actually a handshake deal between the quote unquote 207 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: founding fathers in the assumption that all that entered into 208 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: government were going to be noble men. 209 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: Right. 210 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: So, so so talk to us about the I guess 211 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 1: that we're starting from the back here because there is 212 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: an educational hurdle that needs to that needs to be 213 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: met before you even get to the initia the ballot 214 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: initiative peace. 215 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean this is actually so fundamental to what 216 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: we are losing and have loss in in our education 217 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 2: system is the basics of like how government works, how 218 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: does a buil the law right? Why is it important 219 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 2: for you to serve on your jury, which is a 220 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: civic duty right? Or or to go out and vote 221 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 2: and what does that look like and how do you 222 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: engage in Like you know, one of the things I 223 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 2: love about bowel measures and it's an imperfect tool. It 224 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: is a completely imperfect tool. Like many of the things 225 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 2: that we're created in our democracy because you and I 226 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 2: were not included intended in the in the original design 227 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 2: of our democracy, is it actually requires us to go 228 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 2: into community, have conversations, knock on a door, have a 229 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 2: telephone conversation, text, go to the barbershop, right wherever, where, 230 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: wherever we communicate communist people and have a conversation about 231 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 2: why these issues are important and why we as a 232 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 2: community need to affirmatively protect something or are demand something. 233 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: And so that is what I've Actually one of the 234 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 2: things I really love about ballot measures is it's like 235 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: civics one oh one. It's like, actually, like you, civics 236 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 2: is community civics is a responsibility that we have to 237 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 2: participate into in government and also hold government accountable to 238 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: us because that is essentially who they work for. They 239 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 2: work for us, right, And that is what I've really 240 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 2: loved about. What I love of the possibility of bowt 241 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 2: measures is us going into community and having these conversations 242 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 2: and the story there are in many ways of storytelling 243 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 2: tool right, a way for us to tell our own 244 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 2: stories about it or create a narrative of actually what 245 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 2: we the people want. Right in Florida, right in twenty eighteen, 246 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: when Amendment four passed, which was a Bowet measure that 247 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:03,359 Speaker 2: restored voting rights to one point four million formally incarcerated 248 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 2: folks from a gym pro era law right from a 249 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 2: gym pro era that disenfranchised people lost their right to 250 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 2: vote if they served if they served time. One point 251 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 2: people voted to restore it, and then the legislature tried 252 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 2: to undermine that. But what was so important about Amendment 253 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 2: four It was led and designed by the most impacted 254 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 2: people from Desmond Meade, a formally incarcerated person who lost 255 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 2: their rights right his rights. It was led by him 256 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 2: and other returning citizens across the state like the field, 257 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 2: like who ran the field program, who knocked on doors? Right? 258 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 2: And that's what we're trying to do at BISK really 259 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 2: is public policy is often never never designed by the people, right, 260 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 2: somebody in DC or New York, San Francisco, right, often 261 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 2: very well some lobbying shop, very wealthy folks, mostly white people. 262 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 2: We're never included in those conversations. And what we're trying 263 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 2: to do at BISK is actually return this tool to 264 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 2: the people and ensuring that you know, if we're thinking 265 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 2: about you know, a paid leave BIW measured, like, why 266 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 2: are we not including the parents who are impacted, the 267 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 2: workers who are impacted by not having a policy that 268 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 2: gives them leave from work? Right? Why would we not 269 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 2: include them? And that's what really part of what I 270 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 2: think Florida and Amendment for show a possibility and what 271 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 2: we're seeing more and more across the country is, yes, 272 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: we have these tools in civic engagement, but are they 273 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: actually ours? And who gets to design them? That's you know, 274 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 2: that's what we're trying to do at BISK is actually 275 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 2: include us the people in that design from the beginning. 276 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: You know, one of the questions that I have for 277 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: you and again is about organizing people and the tools 278 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: that you're using. But how social media has both become 279 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: a hindrance as well as an avenue. Right, So, on 280 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: one hand, social media before a racist, misogynist, anti semitic, homophobic, 281 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: transphobic billionaire decided to buy Twitter, was the public square, 282 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: was how people movements and organizing was happening, right, being 283 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: aided by what was happening on the ground. But you 284 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: could spread the words so quickly with social media. And 285 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 1: it's the same way with ballot initiatives and measures that 286 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: happen across the country. So I wonder in the age 287 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: where each and every one of us on a day 288 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: to day basis is either deciding to leave the platform, 289 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: leave social media altogether, but are still looking at how 290 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: to connect, How is your how is bisk meeting this 291 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: really critical moment where we're losing the platforms and the 292 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: spaces that allowed for there to be more democratic engagement 293 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: by and for the people. 294 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 2: I mean, this is this is what earlier I told 295 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 2: you I have a complicated relationship with Twitter because same 296 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 2: I for so long that is where I got my news, 297 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 2: not just my news, my cultural conversations. You know, as 298 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 2: a latinx squeer woman like that. It was just so 299 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 2: important and critical, and you know, it's hard to have 300 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 2: those same conversations with so many people leaving the platform, 301 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 2: and and you know, for us, it's returning to some 302 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: of the tools that we've always known as human beings. 303 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 2: Like you know, I'm an organizer. I grew up, you know, 304 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 2: in politics, and you know, you go to people, you 305 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 2: meet people where they are. For a long time, that 306 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 2: was where social media is. But that we're still we're 307 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 2: still We're still out in parking lots, We're still going 308 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 2: to the grocery store. We're still going to get our 309 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 2: hair done right, We're still go I'm still going to 310 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: the nail salon, which I'm doing on this weekend because 311 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 2: my hair, they my nails are looking rough right now. 312 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 2: And so part of what we do is like giving 313 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 2: folks the tools so to do that. What is now 314 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,119 Speaker 2: called relational organizing to me is just organizing. It's just 315 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: like community, community communicating to humans and then also figuring 316 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 2: out the other places people are gathering online right there. 317 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 2: I mean, is it you know, making sure that people 318 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 2: have the tools and resources in that signal chat that 319 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 2: they're having with you know, twenty of their other friends 320 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 2: like get making sure that we equip them with the 321 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 2: tools there right to have that conversation with with folks 322 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: and there in their their group chats, that's like signal chat. 323 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 2: That's where my friends and I are are at. So 324 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 2: it's also like thinking about the other places like TikTok 325 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 2: where young people that's where they gather. That is my 326 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 2: fifteen year old, that is where she is on a 327 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 2: daily basis. Right, figuring out those those other avenues and 328 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 2: the best way to use those platforms and trusted messengers 329 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 2: in those platforms, That's the way that we've been doing it. 330 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 2: And then asking I mean we've been asking ourselves as 331 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 2: an organization, like is our certain platforms like a Twitter 332 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 2: where we actually want to be? If our people aren't s, 333 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 2: it's not, it's not a trusted resource, then you know 334 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 2: we're all I think a lot of us are asking 335 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 2: ourselves that question, is is that the place we want 336 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 2: to be? And for what we're trying to do is 337 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 2: focus ourselves, our time and other platforms. 338 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that it's really important one for all 339 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: of us who are parts or live at the intersections 340 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: of communities that are under attack for us to weigh 341 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: the energy, right, is it worth being on a Twitter? 342 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: Is it worth being in these spaces that are set 343 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 1: up now as attack zones, right as opposed to what 344 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: they were, which was you know, the town square where 345 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: we could have you know, conversations. And so before I 346 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: let you go, Chris, please tell folks you know that 347 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: are listening how they can get involved with your organization 348 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: and how they can learn more about ballot measures that 349 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: are happening in their states. 350 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 2: Well, we try to keep it really easy for folks. 351 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 2: We had. Our website is www dot ballot dot org. 352 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 2: All of our social handles are at ballot Strategy. One 353 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 2: of the cool resources that I really encourage people to 354 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 2: go to on our website is our ballot measure Hub, 355 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 2: and that is like a resource we updated every two 356 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 2: weeks what are the potential ballot measures that are coming 357 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 2: into to your state. We also feature different campaign leaders, 358 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 2: different folks across the country that are leading amazing organizations 359 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 2: on the local level that are I mean to us, 360 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 2: we provide the resources to the folks on the ground, 361 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 2: and we serve as a conduit or a community, a 362 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 2: connector to the groups on the ground that are doing 363 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 2: this amazing work so ballot dot org or at Ballot 364 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 2: Strategy on all all of the socials where we actually 365 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 2: try to explain something that's often really obtuse to and 366 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 2: can be kind of wonky, we try to really break 367 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 2: it down for folks. 368 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: Well, Chris, thank you so much for the work that 369 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 1: you're doing at ballot and should have Strategy Center at 370 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 1: BISK and for making the time to join wok app. 371 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: I think that you are on the front lines of 372 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 1: a valiant fight of reconnecting people to democracy and their voice, 373 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: and we just really appreciate you. 374 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 2: Appreciate it for the opportunity that is it for me today. 375 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: Dear friends on wok app as always power to the 376 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,640 Speaker 1: people and to all the people. Power, get woke and 377 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: stay woke as fuck.