1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to Ook f Daily with 2 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: me your girl. Danielle Moody recording from the home Bunker. 3 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: I can't express enough, folks, how much I genuinely can't 4 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: fucking stand Republicans, Like we need a new name for them, 5 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: because Republicans just sounds normal, right, Like it sounds like 6 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: a normal political party. It sounds like a normal group, 7 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: and that's not at all who the fuck these people are. 8 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: And I'm just like tired, I guess right like I'm 9 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: getting to a point where many of us are, which 10 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: is just tired and frustrated. So Fox has been going 11 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: after Senator John Fetterman and his attire, wearing jeans inside 12 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: of the Senate, and Marjory Taylor Green had the audacity 13 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: to talk about how a give etiquette, Like I can't 14 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: even get that sentence out without like giggling. This is 15 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: a woman who wore the Corilla Deville like fake fur 16 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: shawl and screamed at the President of the United States 17 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: during the State of the Union. But you want to 18 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: talk about etiquette. This is the same woman that has 19 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: stalked her colleagues and needed to get a restraining order. 20 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: You want to talk about decoran. This is the same 21 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: woman that like went around and terrorized a victim of 22 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: a mascullee shooting with a gun in her purse. That like, 23 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 1: you want to talk about etiquette, get the fuck out 24 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: of here. I'm just so sick and tired of their bullshit. 25 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: And you know so, John Fetterman has just been amazing 26 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: with his comebacks on social media, like you know, well 27 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: maybe if I, you know, play hide the sausage in 28 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: a theater full of families, then they'll turn me into 29 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: a deity. And that was one response which had sent 30 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: me cackling. And the other one was if those jag 31 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: offs in the House stop trying to shut our government 32 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 1: down and fully support Ukraine, then I will save democracy 33 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: by wearing a suit on the Senate floor. It's just 34 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: like his comebacks are so good because it just airs 35 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: out the absolute bullshit, like don't come you want to 36 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: you want to waste airtime talking about like decorum and etiquette. 37 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: And you have a fucking member of the House that 38 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: was going a second base in front of families while vaping, 39 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: and you all don't want to say shit about that. 40 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: You have a number of fucking people that are convicted 41 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: or being investigated on sex trafficking charges that are sitting 42 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: up in the House of Representatives. I don't give a fuck, Like, 43 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: who wears what? When? Do you know what I'm saying? 44 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 1: You have an entire insurrection like party that has been 45 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: given the gabble of the speaker to overthrow our government 46 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: from the inside out, to finish their hit job on 47 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: our democracy. But you want to talk about like clothing. 48 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: I just like, I'm just so fucking over these people. 49 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: You know, I'm over the coverage of the flame tortures. 50 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: Who you know who think kindly to burning books? And 51 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: what I realized is that these people have always existed 52 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: throughout our history, right, and at some times and at 53 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: some point they have more power or less power in 54 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: some instances and some points in history and time they're 55 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: pushed to the margins, and other times they take center stage, right, 56 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: And you know, this is a moment where these motherfuckers 57 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: are tap dancing on the grave of democracy center stage, 58 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: and motherfuckers are still like running their talking points and 59 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: the stories that they are being fed as if there 60 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:07,839 Speaker 1: is a both sides here. I'm just so over it, right, 61 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:14,279 Speaker 1: Like I'm absolutely over this like bullshit kind of politics. 62 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: Right now, and it's just like I get to a 63 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: place and I you know, we're we're coming up, dear friends, 64 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: where we're almost at the year marker to the presidential election. 65 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: And with each tweet, each story, each segment that is 66 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: put out, I am just overwhelmed with like the fuckery 67 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: you know that is at hand, and I have to 68 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: tell you I'll share with you all that this week. 69 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: If you're in New York, you already know that the 70 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: UN General Assembly took place, and so basically New York 71 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: City in Midtown has been like a complete gridlock. But nonetheless, 72 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: I had the distinct honor of being invited to the 73 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: United Nations General Assembly reception with the President and doctor 74 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 1: Joe Biden, and you know, it was held at the 75 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: Met Museum, which was just you know, it's just a 76 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: beautiful backdrop for anything. But what struck me aside from 77 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: I mean everyone was in that room, from Bill Gates 78 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: leaning against the couch that I was sitting on, to 79 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: designer Christian Siriano, to you know Broadways star, you know, 80 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: Billy Porter, to you know, just John Kerry, you know, 81 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: former Congressman, dignitaries. It was it was very wild. It 82 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: was one of those like very surreal moments. But what 83 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: struck me was in so much the people that were 84 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: in the audience. It was what Joe Biden said in 85 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: his roughly like three minute speech at the reception with 86 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: the first Lady, doctor jill By and by his side, 87 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: and he said this. He said that democracies around the 88 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: world are facing a considerable obstacle to their survival. President 89 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: of the United States, Joe Biden spoke about the rise 90 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: in anti democratic fervor in the United States. Now, I 91 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 1: want folks to understand that while we may talk about this, 92 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: and you may consume this knowledge because of listening to 93 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: shows like WOKF and others, that you get it. I 94 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: cannot express enough that that has never happened before at 95 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: the United Nations. That the President, both in front of 96 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: the actual General Assembly in his speech and then again 97 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 1: later that evening at this reception that I had the 98 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: opportunity to attend, stated that democracy in America is in 99 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: danger and if we fall, then all other democracies around 100 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: the world will fall. That is not a fucking understatement, 101 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: right like, that is not an understatement, That is not hyperbole, 102 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: that is not an exaggeration. That is pure, unadulterated fucking facts. 103 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: And what I want to see from this president from 104 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: now until the election day is consistency, daily, weekly talking 105 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: about the threats to democracy in this country that are 106 00:07:54,080 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: being waged by the Republican Party. You know, I want 107 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: Joe Biden to use the power of the White House 108 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: to do, you know, bring back the fireside fucking chats 109 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: with you know, leaders that have studied fascism and the 110 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: rise of authoritarianism nation, leaders that have fought through and 111 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: come out the other side, right which there are not many, 112 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: to use the opportunity at a time when Republicans are 113 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: seeking to erase every bit of truth and history and 114 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: uncomfortable feeling for white people, that Joe Biden would use 115 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: the power of the White House and his bully pulpit 116 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: to be the educator in chief to wake people up 117 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: on a regular basis as we make the countdown to 118 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: the most consequential election of our time. So when I 119 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: was standing in that room, just a few feet away 120 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: from the President of the United States, as he said 121 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: unequivocally that our country is under threat not by foreign agents, 122 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: but by those that are in our country, my hair 123 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: stood up because I don't think that folks recognize, particularly 124 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: corporate media, care to recognize just how fucking dangerous of 125 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 1: a time that we are in, because instead of running 126 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: with that story, the top news is Hunter Biden, a 127 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: man who has never run for elected office, isn't running 128 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: for elected office. So I don't give a fuck what 129 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 1: he has done in his private life. But if I 130 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: know what he didn't do, which is be a part 131 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 1: of his father's administration, I know what he didn't do, 132 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: which was walk off with two billion dollars just a 133 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: handful of months after his father left office, like Jared 134 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: Kushner did and Ivanka Trump did. Mind you, we always 135 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: want to put administration's families, Oh they're off limits? Will 136 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: Johnald Trump put his family in his administration so they 137 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: became public servants, so they aren't off fucking limits. Why 138 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: did they get two billion dollars? Because we've never heard 139 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: of any other staff of an administration walking off with 140 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: anything more than a couple of million dollars because of 141 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: a book deal. Not too fucking billion. But is that 142 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: any of the top stories in corporate media. No, So 143 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: when people want to talk about, oh, liberal media this 144 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: and liberal media that, that is a fucking lie and 145 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: a farce, because as somebody that has been in media 146 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: for over a decade, I can tell you liberal, progressive 147 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: ain't any of the words that I would attribute to 148 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 1: any any network, any C suite. Coming up next today, 149 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: which I'm very happy to welcome to the program for 150 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: the very first time, Kat Calvin, who is the executive 151 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: director and first time author. She's executive director of Spread 152 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: the Vote and Project ID and is the author of 153 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: American Identity in Crisis, which is out this week that 154 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: talks about the issues it takes to gain a government 155 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: issued ID and how it is a critical first step 156 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: in assessing resources and opportunities that have the power to 157 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: end cycles of incarceration, homelessness, and poverty and more. I 158 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: really enjoyed this conversation with Kat because you know, during 159 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: dark times you need to search for the light, and 160 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 1: Kat Calvin is one of those lights. So I really 161 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: hope that you enjoy this conversation and you know, get 162 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: her book as well as figure out how to get 163 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: involved with her organization that is essentially doing the Lord's work. 164 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 1: That conversation is coming up next, folks. I am very 165 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: happy to welcome to wok F Daily for the first time. 166 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 1: Founder and executive director of Spread the Vote and Project ID, 167 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: Kat Calvin, whose first book will come out on September nineteenth, 168 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: American Identity in Crisis, Notes from an Accidental Activist. Kat. First, 169 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: let's start out with tell us a bit about the 170 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: organizations that you have found and head. 171 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks so much for having me. So everything that 172 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 2: we do is focused on trying to help more people 173 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 2: get IDs. Twenty six million American adults don't have government 174 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: issued photo IDs, so all of our work is around 175 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 2: increasing the number of people who have IDs. We do 176 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 2: it in two different ways. We have our five oh 177 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 2: one C three nonprofit Spread the Vote plus Project ID, 178 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 2: and what we do on that side is work in 179 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 2: twenty one states on the ground every day just helping 180 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 2: individuals get ID, getting the vital documents, paying the fees, 181 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 2: helping with transportation, everything that they need to get an 182 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 2: ID in their hands. On that side, we also during 183 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 2: elections do a lot of voter education and voter turnout 184 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 2: work with our clients and communities. Then we have our 185 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 2: C four Project ID Action Fund, which is our political arm, 186 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 2: and we're trying on that side to increase ID access 187 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 2: through policy so that we can reach a lot more 188 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 2: people than the day to day on the ground work 189 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 2: that we're doing on the C three side. So we 190 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 2: have a bill in Congress, the IDs for an Inclusive 191 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: Democracy Act, that would establish a free federal national ID, 192 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 2: and we do state legislation. We've got actually a bill 193 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 2: that just landed on Gavin Newsom's desk in California a 194 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 2: few days ago, so hopefully he signs that. I am 195 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 2: all working to use policy and at all levels from local, state, 196 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 2: federal government to increase access to IDs. 197 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: Talk to us about, you know, about the importance of 198 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: your work and the power of IDs. I think that 199 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: for a lot of us, right who can open up, 200 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: you know, our wallet and have our driver's licenses or 201 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: have passports or these different forms are of or a 202 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: non driving ID, we take for granted what that ID 203 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: gives us the power to do. So can you speak 204 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: to why it's so important the work that you're doing 205 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: to ensure that twenty six million people do have that ID. Yeah? 206 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean, you know, you're right, we take it 207 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: for granted because we don't really even think anymore. But 208 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 2: all the times we have to pull our ID out, 209 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 2: But you need an ID to get a job, you 210 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 2: need an ID for housing, for healthcare, to have a 211 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 2: bank account. You know, if you want access to any 212 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 2: of the social services that are designed to help you 213 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 2: get back on your feet, like snap or WIG or medicare, 214 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: any of those things, you need ID. So it's really 215 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 2: the small plastic card that is the key to opening 216 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 2: up any opportunities that you are looking for to try 217 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 2: to advance yourself and even just survival. You know, most 218 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 2: food banks ask for ID before they hand out food. 219 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 2: A lot of homeless shelters ask for IDs before they 220 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 2: give you a bed at night. So even just day 221 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 2: to day survival, it's necessary. But there is no way 222 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: in this country to you know, pull yourself up by 223 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: your for burbial bootstraps, right to escape homelessness, to escape 224 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 2: poverty if you do not have identification. 225 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: And you talk about the fee associated with that, and 226 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: that is something that the legislation that you're put both 227 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: at the federal level and with California with Newsome, your 228 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: organization actually pays for that. So talk to us about 229 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: the barrier, the financial barriers to being able to get IDs. 230 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you know, if you need an ID, I'm 231 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 2: and it's your first time getting an ID in a state, 232 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 2: you need your birth certificate first off, and first of all, 233 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: if you go to vite the records and ask for 234 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 2: a certificate, they'll ask you for your ID. So there 235 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 2: are a lot of real bureaucratic struggles, and the rules 236 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 2: are different, not just state by state, but county by 237 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 2: county for how to get a certificate without an ID, 238 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 2: and so on top of figuring out all those rules, 239 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 2: per certificates cost money, and depending on what state you know, 240 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: they can be anywhere from fifteen dollars to in some 241 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 2: states we have to pay ninety dollars in order to 242 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: order certificate online and get it shipped, et cetera. So 243 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: that just initial cost is massive. But then you have 244 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 2: the cost of the ID, which ranges, you know, anywhere 245 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 2: from you can be five or ten dollars. Maybe in 246 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: some states it's like seventy and others. In California, our 247 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 2: ideas are thirty five. They went up four dollars this year, 248 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 2: but driver's licenses went up ten dollars to forty one 249 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 2: dollars in January, and they're going up singly, Yeah, every 250 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 2: single year. So the bill actually that's that's on Newsom's 251 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: desk would make driver's licenses free for unhoused Californians and 252 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 2: birth certificates free because birth certificates cost about thirty dollars. 253 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 2: And you know, I've had moms with five kids who 254 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 2: are in Section eight housing and she needs birth certificates 255 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 2: in order for them to have, you know, go to school, 256 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 2: in healthcare and all the things you need birthty rights for. 257 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 2: And if you're paying thirty dollars per person, including for infants, 258 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 2: you know, most people I barely have that money half 259 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 2: the time, right, Like, that's a lot of money. And 260 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 2: so you have all of the costs. And then you know, 261 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 2: every time that you changed your name, you need a document. 262 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 2: So you've got to pay for birthright or for marriage licenses, 263 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 2: for divorce decrees, right like county clerk charge for all 264 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,719 Speaker 2: of that. But then transportation is a barrier. More than 265 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 2: ten million Americans live more than ten miles from a 266 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: DMV and obviously, if you don't have an ID, you 267 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: can't drive, or at least not legally. And so, and 268 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 2: most of the country right does not have great public transportation. 269 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 2: We have a country that is largely rural and small towns, 270 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 2: and so then you have people who have to figure 271 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 2: out how do they get to the DMV and is 272 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: it a multi hour bus ride or are you paying 273 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 2: for an uber you know, et cetera, And so the 274 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:50,360 Speaker 2: costs really add up. And that's you know, we can 275 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 2: have a whole other conversation about what happens if you're 276 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 2: formally incarcerated and you have fines or fees or if 277 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 2: you have you know, tickets or registration are all the 278 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 2: different things that they will block your ability to get 279 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 2: an idea or a driver's license if you haven't paid 280 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 2: those and those can run up to the tens of thousands. 281 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: I mean, damn, you know, like you know, it's just 282 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: it's like it just when I think about stay by 283 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: State in the example that you gave of the mother, i'mlike, 284 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 1: that is just a rack of fees, right that are 285 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: people even aware of that until they're going, you know, 286 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: to the DMV or have made it there or trying 287 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: to get a bed that it is It is so 288 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 1: financially burdensome in order to be able to get these 289 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: kind of resources, Kat, how did you become passionate? How 290 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 1: did you become the accidental activists for IDs? Uh? 291 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: You know, so it's funny because it really was a 292 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: little bit of an accident. I've always been an activist. 293 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,479 Speaker 2: I find other organs and then I so I got 294 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 2: burned out and I swear I'd never run another nonprofit again. 295 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 2: And that lasted a year, and then I'm the sixteen 296 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 2: election happened and I had through law school and for 297 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 2: a long time really been paying attention to voter suppression 298 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 2: and to voter IDs, what was happening with that, and 299 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 2: how little attention early on was being paid. And so 300 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 2: after the election, when it was very clear that voter 301 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 2: ID laws had had an impact, I started spread the 302 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 2: Vote with the idea of helping people get IDs to vote. 303 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 2: And you know, I've I've had a passport since I 304 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 2: was an infant, and then I got a military idea 305 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 2: at ten and a driver's license at sixteen. Right, so 306 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 2: I've never had a conscious moment of not having an ID. 307 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 2: So I had no clue it just I was like 308 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,479 Speaker 2: everyone else. This is why I never get upset when 309 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 2: people don't know this is an issue. I didn't know 310 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 2: this was an issue even after I started the ORC, 311 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 2: because it was like a lot of body you know, 312 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 2: most people have ID, but you know, there's just this 313 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,680 Speaker 2: small group of people who need IDs to vote, and 314 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 2: I'm almost immediately after starting a you know, we started 315 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 2: doing a ton of research and realizing how big the 316 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 2: numbers were. But we also started talking to people and saying, hey, 317 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 2: you know, can we help you get you know, a 318 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 2: free voter I D so you can vote. And people 319 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 2: would look at us and say, I need a job, 320 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 2: I need a place to sleep, I need to be 321 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 2: able to feed my children. I need an ID to 322 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,239 Speaker 2: do that. Are you gonna help me with that? And 323 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 2: we realized really quickly like, oh, this is a much 324 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: bigger issue, like this is this is why voter ID 325 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: laws exist because there already was this population that was 326 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 2: very easy to discripinate against and suppress. But I cannot 327 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 2: look at people and say, oh, I'm only going to 328 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 2: help you get this like little free thing that will 329 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 2: help you vote, when what you need is to be 330 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 2: able to have a home and you know, food on 331 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 2: the table and healthcare. And so we switched everything about 332 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 2: how we thought we were going to run the organization 333 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 2: in order to help people get these dmv IDs. But now, 334 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 2: after over eleven thousand people that we've helped get IDs, 335 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 2: We have all of these stories, and I have seen 336 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 2: time and time and again how much it changes people's 337 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 2: lives when they get an ID. You know, one of 338 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: the things people say to us all the time is, 339 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 2: I'm a person again, because you just you're not a 340 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 2: person in this country if you don't have an ID 341 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 2: and you can't do anything and you can't survive. And 342 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 2: we have people, you know, ten twenty thirty years. I 343 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 2: had a man earlier this year in my car just 344 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 2: bawling because he hadn't had an ID in ten years, 345 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 2: and my social workers hadn't been able to help him. 346 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 2: No one had been able to help him, and he 347 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 2: had it in his hand out after we left the 348 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 2: DMV and he was so overwhelmed, you know. And we 349 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 2: also have had cases. You know, we see that it 350 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 2: really is life for death. You know. We work with 351 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 2: a shelter in West Virginia where they and you know, 352 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 2: shelters of food banks don't turn people away because they 353 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 2: don't have ID because they want to, but it's usually 354 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 2: because of some sort of government funding that they're getting 355 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,719 Speaker 2: that they have to make sure they have ID, make 356 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: sure they live with it, a certain zip code, whatever 357 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 2: these rules are, and so at winter night they had 358 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 2: to turn someone away because they didn't have ID, and 359 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 2: then that person frow to death on their doorstep that night. 360 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 2: You know. And it literally when we say it's life 361 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 2: for death, it's literally life for death. You know the 362 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: number of women who I've helped who live on skid row, 363 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 2: which is a dangerous place for anyone, but especially women. 364 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 2: You know one of my clients, Ronda, who is amazing. 365 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 2: She was a deaf black woman living alone in a 366 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 2: tent on skid row. It was so dangerous for her 367 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 2: and she was so scared and she needed an idea 368 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 2: in order to be somewhere safe. And with so many 369 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 2: women who are having horrible things happen to them and 370 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 2: they dispege, it's like, please, I need an idea. I 371 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 2: need to be inside. I need to be somewhere safe. 372 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 2: And it literally is life or death for people. And 373 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 2: the more you do this, after you know thousands and 374 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 2: thousands of people, I am. I'm so obsessed with like this, 375 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 2: Like there are twenty six million people who desperately need IDA, 376 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,479 Speaker 2: and I will do anything. If the devil came down 377 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 2: tomorrow and said we you sell your soul in past, 378 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 2: your bill in Congress, I wouldn't think twice, because I 379 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 2: have seen so many times that this means everything to people, 380 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 2: and that we have to help people get IDs for 381 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 2: just a moral imperative, but also for the health and 382 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 2: security of the country. 383 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: Talk to me about some of the pushback then, because 384 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 1: these stories, I mean, just the few that you that 385 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: you offered, are terrifying and heartbreaking, right and I and 386 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: I say that because again, as somebody sitting in a 387 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: space where I've never had to be concerned about having 388 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: an ID or like where's my birth certificate or being 389 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: able to get these things, have not had this in 390 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 1: the front of my consciousness as to why it's so important. 391 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: And yet we know that policy is created purposefully in 392 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: order to carve out people from being able to access 393 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:47,120 Speaker 1: you know, the quote unquote American dreams. So what are 394 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: some of what is some of the pushback that you receive, 395 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: you know from legislators who say, oh, no, we can't 396 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: possibly get this done. 397 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I get different forms of pushback on different 398 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 2: and sides. And I will say the number one issue 399 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 2: and the reason I wrote a book and the reason 400 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 2: that I try to knock on doors on the hill 401 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 2: is that It's really an issue of ignorance, right, People 402 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 2: just don't know. This is an issue people have no 403 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 2: concept of the numbers, right, like twenty six million. That's 404 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 2: more than the population of every state except California and Texas. 405 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 2: It should be a national emergency, but people really don't know. 406 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 2: And so a lot of it is just just getting 407 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 2: people to understand. And when I first started this, and 408 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 2: I would speak and I would talk about the numbers, 409 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 2: and I would have people accuse me of lying, like 410 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:34,399 Speaker 2: in the room, and I was like, I'm not lying, 411 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 2: Like here's the study. This is true, but like the 412 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 2: numbers are so big, it's hard for people to understand. 413 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 2: I'm you know, on on one side from the left. 414 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 2: What I often get is a lot of reactive fear 415 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 2: of the idea, of a national idea. And I always 416 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 2: go with the government then would have our information and 417 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 2: I'd say the good them already got, like what what 418 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 2: country are you living in? You know. One the way 419 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 2: that COVID really helped is that I can now say 420 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 2: to people, you know, the government, I was able to 421 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 2: figure out how much you make where you live and 422 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 2: how many children you have and send you a check 423 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 2: for the exact amount of money that they thought you 424 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 2: needed without ever asking you to fill out a piece 425 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 2: of paper. The government knows everything about you. So we've 426 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 2: got to stop having this fear that the left often 427 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 2: has where we're so afraid of some sort of imaginary 428 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 2: fascism or some imaginary something that we're willing to cut 429 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 2: out or ignore the issues of the most vulnerable because 430 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 2: of some sort of false idea of safety. And so 431 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 2: that's really the argument that I get from the most 432 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,479 Speaker 2: on one side. The other side, It really is, you know, 433 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 2: it's just like, well, you know, there's a by bar 434 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 2: partisan agreement that this is. And the way that we 435 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 2: position the bill is it's a job spill, right, we 436 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 2: need twenty six lain Americans to be American not to 437 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: be able to get jobs, right, Like that's it's so 438 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 2: not such a no brainer. You know, it's going to 439 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 2: reduce homelessness, it's going to reduce forcientivism, it's going to 440 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 2: reduce crime, it's going to increase the tax space, right 441 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:58,959 Speaker 2: like all of these things. Everyone gets that. But then 442 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 2: on the right you have the problem. Well yeah, but 443 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 2: then if they had this idea, they could also vote. 444 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 1: It's like, well yes, that right. 445 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 2: Fortunately, that's the kay, I'm so sorry. But you know, 446 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 2: my whole thing, and one reason that we've really been 447 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 2: able to avoid a lot of right wing backlash with 448 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 2: our org is you know, I'm a big nerd, I'm 449 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 2: a lawyer. My way of rebelling is by just following 450 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 2: the rules really well. So I was just like, all right, 451 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 2: you want people to have id's, we'll just get them IDs, 452 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: you know. And so because we're just doing what they 453 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 2: said they wanted, which of course they just didn't think 454 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 2: anybody would do, we don't get a lot of backlash. 455 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: But you know, that's that's one of the things that 456 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 2: we have to just say, like, yeah, if they have this, 457 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:41,879 Speaker 2: unless you want to separate your state and federal elections, 458 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 2: like yeah, they're gonna be able to vote. But also 459 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: you have, you know, forty thousand unhoused people in your streets. 460 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 2: Maybe giving them all an ID would help produce that issue. 461 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 2: And so it's it's it's you know, both sides. The 462 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 2: more I have conversations, understand logically why this is important, 463 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 2: but it's the sort of knee jerk reactions you get, 464 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 2: I'm that we have to sort of work through and 465 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 2: how people understand like this is more important than these 466 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 2: like small fears that you have. 467 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: You know, what I find interesting too is that in 468 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: in a lot of states, right, they have tried to 469 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: pass legislation around providing IDs to those that are undocumented 470 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: so that they can work, right, so that people can 471 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: work and like you know, quote unquote earn their keep 472 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways. And there's been a lot 473 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: of pushback against that as well. And I just wonder, 474 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: you know, it's funny when you say, like I just 475 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: followed the rules, right, Like they just didn't expect anybody 476 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: to follow the rules and go ahead and say, oh, 477 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: you say, you know you need an ID to vote, Okay, 478 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: So then we're going to get a bunch of people 479 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: IDs and then make you know, obstacles to that. I 480 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: guess when you see this number, this twenty six million, 481 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: what does the time frame look like, kat to be 482 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 1: able to get this done? And what do you see 483 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: as the appetite nationally to be able to get something 484 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: like this done? When we see, you know, the Republican 485 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: Party is willing to shut down the government pretty much 486 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,960 Speaker 1: over anything. Right, They're not actually interested in legislating, they're 487 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: not actually interested in helping the American people, and so 488 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: do you look at places like California to be then 489 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: let me tackle this state by state and show a 490 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: model right that the federal government can follow. 491 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's in so many ways where we 492 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 2: are right now the bill. We recognize that right now 493 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 2: there are fringes on both sides that are not actually 494 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 2: interested in any kind of legislation and they're just interested 495 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 2: in creating chaos. And so there isn't really a chance, 496 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 2: you know, in our there two really really very notorious 497 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 2: figures are on the committee that our bill is in, 498 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 2: and we just know like, well, as long as they're 499 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 2: on the committee, like nothing's getting through. And so we 500 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 2: are in Congress right now working to get as many 501 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 2: members on board as possible and supporting the bill, working 502 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,760 Speaker 2: on getting as many external partners on board, working on 503 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 2: getting a Senate side bill, like doing everything we can 504 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 2: so that, you know, when Marjorie Taylor Green and Lauren 505 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 2: Bourberd are no longer on our committee, then we could 506 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,479 Speaker 2: try to push it through, right but we know like 507 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 2: there's no point in really putting a lot of energy there, 508 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 2: and then that is exactly why we're also working on 509 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 2: the states and working on California. You know, we've got 510 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 2: some veterans focused bills that we're working on in Florida 511 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: and Rhode Island and some of the different states, because 512 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 2: you know, it's it's infuriating, and there's a whole chapter 513 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 2: in my book about veterans because there are so many 514 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 2: veterans who don't have IDs, and it's both infuriating on 515 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 2: a level of well, they're veterans, and it's embarrassing that 516 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 2: we're not taking care of them, but also they're the 517 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 2: only group that both side of the aisle pretend to 518 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 2: care about, and yet we are ignoring them. And if 519 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 2: we're not even helping veterans, we're like, we're never going 520 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 2: to help you know, foster youth right like or anybody else. 521 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 2: And so we are also really starting out. We've got 522 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 2: another veteran focus built. I'm in California and working in 523 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 2: other places because we figure that is the lowest hanging 524 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 2: through and the easiest way for us to get in 525 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 2: and have conversations and even in Florida be able to 526 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 2: go and say, hey, you guys have a lot of 527 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 2: veterans who don't have id's and get bipartisan support and 528 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 2: then hopefully that will help open the door to being 529 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 2: able to expand legislation and ID access for more and 530 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 2: more folks. And yeah, exactly, and we can work state 531 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 2: by state, you know, we can work. We're working with 532 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 2: mayors and county officials and city councils on you know, 533 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 2: what are different ways that they can increase ID access 534 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 2: in their in their jurisdictions. You know, we're advising places 535 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 2: on municipal IDs and like, how can you do that, 536 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 2: and really trying to expand access as many places as 537 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 2: possible so that we offer that model so that we're 538 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 2: opening it up to more people while we work on 539 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 2: the big goal of passing our bill in Congress. 540 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: Amazing, Well, Kat, please tell people listening how they can 541 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: get involved with Spread the Vote and Project ID and 542 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 1: offer you know, their their their help, their donations to 543 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: this cause. 544 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so a few things. So you can get my 545 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 2: book American Identity and Crisis, which comes out on Tuesday, 546 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 2: I'm you can, and that's it's available everywhere I'm and 547 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 2: that I'm really excited about it. It's short, I tried 548 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 2: to make it funny, I'm you know, but hopefully we'll 549 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 2: give folks a real understanding of what this issue is 550 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 2: that they can then talk about it with their friends, 551 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 2: their family, their members, whatever you can. Also, if you're 552 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 2: interested in learning more about the bill, you can go 553 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 2: to idfour id dot org and learn all about the bill, 554 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 2: and there's also a whole page on there for how 555 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 2: you can get in touch with your members of Congress 556 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 2: with scripts and all sorts of things so that you 557 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 2: can ask them to support the bill. And you can 558 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 2: go to PROJECTID dot org I'M and see more of 559 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 2: our work there I'M and there's take you to spread 560 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 2: the vote into other places. And also there's a link 561 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 2: there to donate, which would be amazing because we are 562 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 2: trying as hard as we can to do work on 563 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 2: the ground, to do policy works. It's a small team 564 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 2: trying really to do as much as we can to 565 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 2: make sure that everyone gets an ID. 566 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 1: Amazing again, folks, the book is American Identity in Crisis. 567 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: Notes from an accidental activist, Kat, Thank you so much 568 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: for making the time to join wok F. Really appreciate 569 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 1: you and all of the work that you're doing. 570 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. 571 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 1: That is it for me today. Dear friends on wok F. 572 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 1: As always, power to the people, and to all the 573 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: people power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.