1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Native Land Pod is a production of iHeartRadio and partnership 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: with Reason Choice Media. Well Come, well come, welcome, Well come, well, come, welcome, 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: welcome home. 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 2: You guys. 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 3: It's a really, really busy political season. So you guys 6 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 3: heard on the main episode we talked about is the 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 3: Democratic Party ten too big? And so we thought it 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 3: would be a good opportunity to talk about what is 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 3: it that we want from our political institutions and specifically 10 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 3: the Democratic Party, but maybe that and beyond. So we 11 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 3: wanted to have that conversation with you all today. Angela, 12 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 3: this is something that came to us from a viewer question, 13 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 3: and you thought it was important enough for us to 14 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 3: talk about in a larger capacity. 15 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: So why don't you kick us off with your thoughts? 16 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 4: Yeah. 17 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 5: I think that what I am really struck by are 18 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 5: the number of people who feel abandoned by a two 19 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 5: party system, and most specifically based on the people that 20 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 5: I speak to the most, or the people even write 21 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 5: into our show, comments under our posts, or they send 22 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 5: in videos, folks who feel abandoned by something that they've 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 5: been very, very loyal to, and I think those criticisms 24 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 5: are fair. I think with striking are the folks who 25 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,839 Speaker 5: the party has gone to court, has gone to pursue 26 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 5: and thereby leaving its base. Those folks don't feel seen 27 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 5: or heard either by the party allegedly, right like when 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 5: we look at the math, which a math and from 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 5: the most recent election, hundreds of millions of dollars were 30 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 5: spent to court Nikki Haley voters, then Lizen Dick Cheney voters, 31 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 5: then Never trumpers, all of these folks, and it looks like, 32 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 5: I know, Tip, you said that we shouldn't rely on 33 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 5: this data yet, but based on the data that we 34 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 5: do have at this point, I doubt it'll change that much. 35 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 5: Certainly won't get over into double digits. Four percent right 36 00:01:55,080 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 5: of Republicans voted for Kamala Harris in this last selection. 37 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 5: So to me, I just don't understand. I'm not, you know, 38 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 5: the best business person in the world, not the best 39 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 5: business mind, but I don't understand that ROI that return 40 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 5: investment doesn't seem sufficient. And then when I consider my 41 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 5: own needs, my family has always voted for the Democratic Party. 42 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 5: I can't think of a time where my parents didn't 43 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 5: support the Democratic Party. 44 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 4: But in Seattle, Washington, where I grew up, you know, my. 45 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 5: Dad has been on the opposite side of every elected 46 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 5: official because he's an activist. You know, he hasn't always 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 5: garnered friends. He's garnered some friendships in some working relationships, 48 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 5: but I think largely I have mostly felt abandoned by 49 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 5: the party my dad. One of his more recent battles 50 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 5: with the governor of the state until recently until assume 51 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 5: he recently is Jay Ensley. And when you look at 52 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,679 Speaker 5: the contracting dollars right of black folks who are in 53 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 5: business in the state and the number of contracts that 54 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 5: they actually gain from the state, it is ridiculous. We're 55 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 5: talking about like point zero zero one percent of contracting 56 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 5: dollars going to very qualified black businesses. So I guess 57 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 5: what I'm saying is I don't know where we really 58 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 5: fit because some of the things that we are actually 59 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 5: fighting for as a people should not be partisan either. 60 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 5: So I don't think that whether or not a black 61 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 5: business is qualified and gets contracting opportunities should be partisan. 62 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 4: I don't think that voting rights should be partisan. 63 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 5: I don't think that domestic violence or women's choice reproductive 64 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 5: justice should be partisan. So part of me feels like, 65 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 5: why should this be a struggle for either party. 66 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 4: When this is just like what is right is what 67 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 4: is humane? Right? 68 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 5: So I struggle with, like why am I having to 69 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 5: ideologically align with any party in this instance on these 70 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 5: set of issues. Some of these things find their partisan 71 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 5: Let's talk through these. Like I don't think livable wage 72 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 5: should be partisan, but I want people to earn a 73 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 5: livable wage. I don't think that like climate change should 74 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 5: be a debatable but for whatever reason, it is. But 75 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 5: I also want to figure out, like in our has 76 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 5: those hierarchy of needs, can we align on what our 77 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 5: value systems are and like what party, if there's a party, 78 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 5: can support those things. I know I just talked to 79 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 5: in the circles by bad y'all. 80 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: No, that's real, and I agree with you on what 81 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: you have identified as what really should be non parties 82 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: and issues. But it seems the other side works over 83 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: time to create the divide and not I can't really 84 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: gather for any other reason than to build their own 85 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: political power. It's like I've got to be opposed to 86 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: a woman's bodily alternomy because we got a whole extreme 87 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: quote Christian coalition who are betting on us to hold 88 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: this position. I've got to be against DEI and equity 89 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: and inclusion and making sure we have the work reverse workforces, 90 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: because I got a whole group of people sitting over 91 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: here in my back frame who are counting on me 92 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: to keep this workplace white. And so I don't even 93 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: know that. I think you would find that the people 94 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: within the party structure who would say these are kind 95 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: of natural and frankly human rights, and that I'll not 96 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: be divisive by and large, But that's not what we're 97 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 1: getting these days. What really alarms me. First of all, 98 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: I was visualizing Eddie Rye is standing up to Jay 99 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: Insley and jay z better fall back. But in all seriousness, 100 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: what I'm most concerned about as it relates to the 101 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: party system two things. One Already, for instance, in the 102 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: state of Florida, the largest political identity is Republican by 103 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: a million votes over Democrats, but then they're being closed 104 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: in on by independents, so we almost have a third 105 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: a third, a third where folks are choosing no party. 106 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: Now there is a consequence to this in my state, 107 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: we have closed primaries. It as exists in almost the 108 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 1: majority of states around the country, where if you don't 109 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: belong to a political party, you may not vote to 110 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: select who gets to become the nominee of that party 111 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: for governor, for US Senate, for really important seats. And 112 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: that is troubling to me because it's just now at 113 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: the point where black people can choose nominees of their 114 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: choices in a lot of states, where younger people in 115 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: coalition with the black and brown community can choose candidates 116 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: of their choice, and right at that very moment, we're 117 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: now seeing defections from the party and into an independent 118 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: structure who don't who don't have a voice in that process. 119 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: So that aloarns me at one level. The second thing 120 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: that alarns me as we think about takeaways from this 121 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: last election is just the same theme of the independence 122 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: and their performance have outperformed Democrats, meaning more people who 123 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: were non party registrants and the registratives independents. They showed 124 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: out the second highest of all groupings of voters by party, 125 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: including over the Democrats. And what is that saying? And 126 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: I think the complexity the problem that the Democratic Party faces, 127 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: which I consider myself a member of and have had 128 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: at various times leadership in and have been my state 129 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: party's standard bearer. When I was a nominee for governor 130 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: of Florida, and I took that as a real serious 131 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: responsibility to speak to the needs of the people in 132 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: our state who had basically withdrawn themselves from the process, 133 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: their belief in and their faith in the process, because 134 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: after all the sky is falling, and after all the 135 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: promises of what I'm going to do when you put 136 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: us there, these folks still buying laws were finding themselves 137 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: in the same unchanged political and social and living environments. 138 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: And so I worry that if we aren't very strategic 139 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: about where we decide to place ourselves, not only on 140 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: the spectrum of identity in politics, but also for the 141 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: purposes of gaining political power, so that we are at 142 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: the negotiating table deciding what goes where into whom I 143 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: feel that we negotiate ourselves into irrelevance, and I think 144 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: it has to be balanced by a real strategy of 145 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: building power and then with that power, negotiating better positionality 146 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 1: for ourselves, because I can't think of a more generous people, 147 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: a more inclusive people of people who are so attached 148 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: to the trauma that we've experienced over the course of 149 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: our lives that we identify with any community who is 150 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: experiencing trauma. We go to the defense, to the aid 151 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: of and then once those communities find themselves in positions 152 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: of power, they negotiate us out of the table. They 153 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: negotiate us away from power and away from positionality in 154 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: a way from getting what we need to serve ourselves, 155 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: our families and our communities. I don't know the answer, 156 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:11,439 Speaker 1: Tiff and Angela, but I do know that whatever that 157 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 1: answer is, strategy lays at the center of it. And 158 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: I think the strategy has to center our community and 159 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 1: our community's needs, and everything else is subjugated to that. 160 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: Not around a personality, not around a person, not around 161 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: a part of a state or a state, but around 162 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: our needs. And if you comport to that, if you 163 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: can perform on that and for us on that, then 164 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: we can talk. But outside of that, I can't do. 165 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: I receive what y'all were saying earlier around we're not 166 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: in the I can't be doing the coalition stuff right now, 167 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: and I'm not all the way there. But I will 168 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: tell you that my coalition is going to begin with 169 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: the folks who I care about the most and who 170 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: sit at the intersection of the greatest degree of harm 171 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: and impact from this society. That's who's at the center 172 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: of my coalition. 173 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 3: So I want to say really quickly first that there 174 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: are a lot of I would argue most states, if 175 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 3: you do not. 176 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 2: Belong to a party, you cannot participate in the primary. 177 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 3: There are a few states that have what they call 178 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 3: a jungle primary, which was what Andrew was referencing, where 179 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 3: anybody can vote for anybody. 180 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 2: There are some arguments to be made about that. 181 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 3: There's also a lot of arguments around ranked choice voting, 182 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 3: which means that you know, whoever got the most votes wins, 183 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 3: whoever got the second most votes, they can go to 184 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 3: a runoff or. 185 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: Sometimes first option, my second option, my third option, right, 186 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: and all those votes count exactly. 187 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 3: But what's interesting, we actually have a viewer question that 188 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 3: speaks to I think a lot of what we're talking about. 189 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 6: Good evening, Angela, Tiffany, and my man, Andrew. This is 190 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 6: Mante from Maryland, and I had a question for you. 191 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 5: Just like you, I've. 192 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 6: Mourned, I've asked numerous questions. I've avoided watching the news, 193 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 6: and you know, now I'm at the point of acceptance 194 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 6: and now I'm wondering based on something that you mentioned 195 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 6: in your mini pot about how we as Democrats failed 196 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,359 Speaker 6: at the ground roots level of reaching out to everybody 197 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 6: and organizing at that place. What should we do right now? 198 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 6: We got four years of BS that we know we're 199 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 6: gonna have to deal with, But what should we be 200 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 6: doing right now to prepare for those midterm elections and 201 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 6: especially for that presidential election in four years. Yeah, we 202 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 6: don't have a rough road to hole, but it is 203 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 6: what it is now. But what can we be doing 204 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 6: right now? What do we do at the ground roots level? 205 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 6: How do we organize at this point? What can someone 206 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 6: like me who does not live in a swing state 207 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 6: do to affect the overall the country. I just want 208 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 6: us to have a goal and something in mind and 209 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 6: motivate us for these next few years as we deal 210 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 6: with what we're going to deal with. But any ideas 211 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 6: you asked Ham will be most appreciated. Thank you for 212 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 6: all you do and welcome home. 213 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 2: Welcome home to you Monte from Maryland. 214 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 3: I love that question, and you know, I think Andrews 215 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 3: as a politician and Angela as a strategist definitely have 216 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 3: a lot to say about it. What I would say, 217 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 3: the first thing that is really important to me, especially 218 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 3: as a black man. You can stay informed and share responsibly, 219 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 3: like I always say. You though you're not in a 220 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 3: swing state, Maryland is solid blue, but I'm sure you 221 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 3: have friends outside of Maryland who might be in swing states, 222 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 3: who might not be as engaged in the process, who 223 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 3: might be frustrated like we all feel, who might be 224 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 3: ready to tune out and kick back and just throwing 225 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 3: up their hands like epic, because I know I feel 226 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: that way on some days. And you could be talking 227 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 3: to those people, checking in, letting them know. There are 228 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 3: no off year elections. There are still those local elections 229 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 3: that matter. If you're a parent, show up to those 230 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 3: school board meetings, encourage your other friends to do the same. 231 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 3: The state elections that matter, the state legislatures Republicans that 232 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 3: made big gains there as well. So if your friends 233 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 3: are in other places where that matters, pay attention to 234 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: what's happening there, even in Maryland, pay attention to what's 235 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: happening there, and just don't tune out, don't give up. 236 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 3: I think that's keenly the most important thing. And consider 237 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 3: yourself an organizer, you know, if you even But I 238 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 3: think it's also something important to say, even if it's 239 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 3: not a swing state, right, even though Maryland is blue, 240 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: there is still a party infrastructure there. I don't I'm 241 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,319 Speaker 3: not a member of the Democratic Party. I just vote 242 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 3: mostly are always a vote Democrat. But there's still a 243 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 3: party infrastructure there that needs to be disrupted. You can 244 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 3: still get involved on that level and make sure your 245 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 3: issues as a black man are heard, that you're represented, 246 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 3: because that's what we have to start convincing our people. 247 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 3: What does this democracy look like if you get to 248 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 3: shape it. And I think why we saw people stay 249 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 3: home a lot last cycle is they gave up on that, 250 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 3: on that part of the dream. They let America capture 251 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 3: their imagination in the wrong way. So even if you're 252 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 3: just tapping into the imagination of your group chat, your 253 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 3: college friends, your voids at the barber, whatever it is, 254 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: I hope you can be a voice to lead the 255 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 3: people to a righteous belief in what America owes us. 256 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 3: And as always I would encourage you to tell your 257 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 3: friends to tap in the native lampid where we keep 258 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 3: it a buck and we talk about things in a 259 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 3: very plain, digestible way to make people feel very welcome 260 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 3: and knowledgeable. 261 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 4: In this part of the process Turf. 262 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: I thought that was an excellent response, And really, all 263 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: I would add is one triple double down on your 264 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: point around not a swing state, but you are a state. 265 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: You are in a state, and that state has a mayor, 266 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: bunches of them all over. They've got school boards, they 267 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: have county commission races, they have municipal races. They got 268 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: judge races, state attorneys races, judges, judges, judges who seek 269 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: public office. So if there was a thing that I 270 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: would recommend, it would be I would get together with 271 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: those friends who are concerned and are interested and are 272 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: a little bit displaced by what's happening at the federal level, 273 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: and I would decide on some targets. How are those 274 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: school board members performing for you? Are they out there 275 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: banning books? Are they embracing curriculums that are inclusive of others? 276 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: How those city commission races are they appropriating money and 277 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: your part of the community and in parts of the 278 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: community that need investments the most. How those judges doing 279 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: those judges that like to be sleepy around election season 280 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: so you don't notice them, but when it's not an 281 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: election season, they are ruling against our people. Not giving 282 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: us chances, not seeing us as human in those courtrooms, 283 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: I would start to interrogate right where you live whether 284 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: or not the people are there and acting in your interests, 285 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: the people who are there if they are acting in 286 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: your interests, and if they are not. The beauty, but 287 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: also the disappointment about our process is is in midterm 288 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: elections and in local elections, the drop off of voters 289 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: is spectacular, and I don't mean that in a good way. 290 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: It is huge. The opportunity moment that that creates is 291 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: that you get to frankly, if you can organize a 292 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: few of your friends and hit some doors, you can 293 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: pretty much elect the candidates of your choice to these 294 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: local municipal offices. Make your targets. Now, decide who's up, 295 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: and determine whether or not they are in service to 296 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: you or not being of service to you. And then 297 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: amongst you all, you figure out who you all are 298 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: going to run. And I don't mean just this question 299 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: or I'm talking for all of us. That's power that 300 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: we can command. And then once those folks are in 301 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: those positions, we can then elevate them to state legislature, 302 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: into congressional seats, into US Senate seats and so on 303 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: and so forth. I think y'all get the picture. But 304 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: this democracy is going to be saved by each and 305 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: every one of us acting right where we are. Swing state, 306 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: no state, no electoral vote. I'm not worried about that. 307 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: I'm talking about how we rescue this place is by 308 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,479 Speaker 1: putting ourselves in position so that when the opportunity creates yourself, 309 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: we got folks who are right, they're ready to move 310 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: into it. 311 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 3: And Mark o'nalley is trying to lead the Democratic Party. 312 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 3: I don't know if y'all saw that news. He's writ 313 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 3: in your backyard. He's right in Maryland, So make friends 314 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 3: and have him be sure to make you his friends. 315 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 5: Sorry, Angel, and that's definitely not an endorsement for the 316 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 5: incoming DNC chair. Just to be super super clear, let's 317 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,719 Speaker 5: go wide open race. I was going to say, Andrew, 318 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 5: one of the things that I know that you are 319 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 5: so gifted at is building a bench. 320 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 4: But I would caution us about building a bench before 321 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 4: we have a clear understanding of the needs of the people. 322 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 5: Your last point was an excellent point around, you know, 323 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 5: really making sure that you are running people and there 324 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 5: are ballid initiatives that speak to the needs of the 325 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 5: people of the masses. In order for us to do that, 326 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 5: we got to do a lot more listening. The question 327 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 5: was is the Democratic Party tent too big? I don't 328 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 5: know the answer to that, but what I can tell 329 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 5: you is I cannot think of a year where I 330 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 5: felt fully seen by the party. I had moments of 331 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 5: high hope. Nineteen eighty eight, Reverend Jackson, you know, I 332 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 5: was listening to his speech this morning. Roland sends it 333 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 5: periodically to a group chat that we all have, and 334 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 5: I was like, I just want to hear about the 335 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 5: importance of the Rainbow Coalition to get so I don't 336 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 5: lose hope in it. And I also think about two 337 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 5: thousand and eight, you know, crying with some of our 338 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 5: elder statesmen, some of our elder states women about the 339 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 5: importance of supporting President Obama for office. And I think 340 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 5: about your race, Andrew. It meant the world to me 341 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 5: to see you as a governor elect. I believed, you know, 342 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 5: who happened to be black, but spoke to the needs 343 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 5: of so many people. You were not myopic. But I 344 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 5: also think that some of these candidates are once in 345 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 5: a lifetime candidates they really are. I felt like I 346 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 5: might be potentially seen if Kamala Harris would have won, 347 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 5: And I felt a little seen when Katanji Brown Jackson 348 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 5: and Kamala Harris were named right by President Biden. 349 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 4: Just I just don't want us so. 350 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 5: Distracted by the symbolism of a thing that we lose 351 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 5: track of the very important substance of the thing. And 352 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 5: right now, what I'm deeply concerned about within politics overall 353 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 5: are the number of people who are erased in the process. 354 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 5: The turnout this election was abysmal. It is irresponsible, it 355 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 5: is reckless. But I don't hold that necessarily just over 356 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 5: the people. I have to hold that over the parties. 357 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 5: Who are you not speaking to? Who doesn't feel heard? 358 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 4: How can we reach you? 359 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 5: How can this podcast reach you so that we have 360 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 5: an understanding of the needs that of yours that are 361 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,719 Speaker 5: not being met, That must be that should be by 362 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 5: the political process, because your tax pay our dollars pay 363 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 5: for them to be met. 364 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 4: Right, Like, what do we need to do? I want 365 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 4: to get underneath that. I don't. 366 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 5: I do think the party might be too large, But 367 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 5: I think the party might be too large because it 368 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 5: hasn't figured out a way to adequately speak to the 369 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 5: needs of all these people. I also think that it 370 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 5: may not be large enough because as it is right now, 371 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 5: there's not a clear path to victory. So that means 372 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 5: that there's something missing. There are some issues missing. There's 373 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,120 Speaker 5: pieces of the platform that are missing. There's a Palestinian 374 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 5: American that didn't speak on the DNC stage in the 375 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 5: summer missing. 376 00:20:55,760 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 4: There are you know, like we're like, we we have 377 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 4: a problem in this country. 378 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 5: I'm saying we and we have a problem, like we 379 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 5: got to figure out a way not to treat people 380 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 5: like they don't matter and then just erase them and 381 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 5: then hope they don't show up to vote against us. 382 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 5: Like that's not that's not democracy. 383 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: To me, No, but it is very emblematic of what 384 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 1: it means to try to arrest power. And I think 385 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: all parties, regardless of you know, affiliation, ultimately that's what 386 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: they're climbing toward. That's why I elected officials aren't really 387 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: out for everybody to vote. They're out for the people 388 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: who are going to vote for them, to ensure that 389 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 1: they get out to vote. That's why we are doing 390 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: Valterea rallies all over the city. We're doing voter rallies 391 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 1: in places where we're trying to stimulate a particular vote 392 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: to vote a particular way to achieve a particular win, 393 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: and I would. 394 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 4: I would. 395 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: I think part of the let me acknowledge that it 396 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: is easier to do the job that Republicans have to do. 397 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: It is it is much easier if we were their party, 398 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: and that's because they are. They are the they are 399 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: the majority, and largely are are organized around the protection 400 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: of that majority, and whatever ways we want to start 401 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 1: to shred it, but largely it's we have power and 402 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: it is our job to keep it. And if that 403 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: means I'm going to harm myself, but my alignment and 404 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: proximity to the people who are at the top of 405 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: that chain is so close that I'll benefit from it, 406 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:22,120 Speaker 1: then I'll make that sacrifice. So their job is easier. 407 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: Ours is harder. And the other thing about our job 408 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: is we think that everybody in that coalition shares our 409 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: belief system along the spectrum of policies, and some folks 410 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: are just there because the other side won't make a 411 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: home for them, the other side will not be in 412 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: coalition with them, and so they're here in this shared space. 413 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: But quite frankly, they ain't standing with us on black lives, 414 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: then I going to stand next to you on issue X, 415 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 1: Y and Z, and so the listening part is going 416 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,439 Speaker 1: to be important. But then also some hard decisions are 417 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: going to have to be made if this is only 418 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: cozy for you for this reason, hey, we can't rock. 419 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: Well this istitly a conversation that is ongoing. You can't 420 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 2: get to it all now. 421 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 3: But yeah, we we all have so much to say 422 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 3: about this, but we we we lose our just so 423 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 3: you guys know, we normally we like keep the party going, 424 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 3: but we lose our our video crew at a certain 425 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 3: hour and we we definitely want to honor workers right here, 426 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 3: so let our go. So this is but what will 427 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 3: we visit this conversation many times and and would love 428 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 3: to hear your thoughts and and your suggestions about it. 429 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 3: Like we said, we want to make sure that you 430 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 3: all have a seat at the table too and how 431 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 3: you think we should move forward. So thanks for tuning 432 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 3: into this mini pod. Remember our minipods drop every single Monday. 433 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 3: You can catch them on YouTube. You can also get 434 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 3: them anywhere you hear your podcast and be sure to 435 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 3: tune in and we'll see you next week on our 436 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 3: main episode. 437 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 2: We'll also see you every Monday on the minipod. 438 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 4: Thanks for tuning in, Welcome home, Yeah. 439 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: Native Lampard is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership with 440 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: Reaisent Choice Media. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the 441 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,959 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 442 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: favorite shows.