1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to ok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Daniel Moody recording from the Home Bunker. Folks. 3 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: Often we have folks that join this show to talk 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: about democratic messaging, to talk about who they should be 5 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: outreaching to and how often and why why it should 6 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: matter that you roll up on black and brown communities 7 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: only two or three months before an election, as opposed 8 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: to you know, working three hundred and sixty five days 9 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: of the year to ensure that you are making your 10 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: party the most attractive right and developing policies that matter 11 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: and affect people's lives, and that they understand said policies 12 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: and why they need to vote for you, and so 13 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: on today's show, I'm really happy to welcome to ok 14 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: F Daily for the first time to Tenda Musapatiki. She 15 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 1: is the founder and CEO of Voter Formation Project, an 16 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: organization that she started in twenty twenty to diversify the electorate. 17 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: And you know, we get into a conversation today about 18 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: how while on one hand, the twenty twenty election was 19 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: the most historic in terms of voter turnout in the 20 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: midst of a pandemic, and at the same time it 21 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: is still retail politics and antiquated twentieth century retail politics 22 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: that the Democratic Party still uses. And it's like, when 23 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: are they going to get hip to how people think 24 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: where they are and how they engage and use that 25 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: in a way to bolster civic engagement. What would the 26 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: country look like if one hundred percent of the people 27 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: who were eligible to vote actually voted. What would it 28 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: look like if those that were in voter suppressed districts 29 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: and states, right were armed with information and power and engagement, right, Like, 30 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: what would that look like? And I know that there 31 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: are organizations on the ground, you know, that are doing 32 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: the best that they can. But it's also like, we 33 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: have an entire Democratic National Committee that has just seated 34 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: the South, seated the Midwest, and put all of their 35 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: stock in state in the coast. And we can see 36 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: by virtue of the flipping of Georgia and the flipping 37 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: back of Virginia that we should not seed anywhere. Right. 38 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: What we need to do is a mass education project. 39 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: And so I'm really excited for you to hear the 40 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: conversation with Tatanda coming up next. Friends, I am very 41 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: excited to welcome to WOKF Daily, to Tenda Musapati wait Musafa, 42 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: tell me again, Musapa Tiki to Tenda. Musapa Tiki, who 43 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: is the founder and CEO of Voter Formation Project, which 44 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: is an organization whose work is to try and create 45 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: the most diverse electorate possible by ushering black and Latina 46 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: folks who have faced the most severe barriers to the 47 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: ballot to the ballot. To Tenda, let's start out with 48 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: telling me more about your organization and what you were 49 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: thinking and was feeling about the strategies that you were 50 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: going to use in the most consequential election of our lifetime. 51 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, first, thank you so much for having me. 52 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: I am really grateful to be here. And it's a 53 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: huge moment, a huge moment for democracy. And so I 54 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 2: founded this org at the end of twenty twenty. I 55 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: had been in the communications, tech and democracy space for 56 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 2: a little over ten years at that point and knew 57 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: that I really wanted to start to build out an 58 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 2: organization that did the kind of work that I thought 59 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: was reflective for the moment, that really leaned into digital experimentation, 60 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 2: using the best tools that we have in digital marketing 61 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: to reach out to the people most disenfranchised in our 62 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: communities and who have the least information to the ballot box. 63 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: I also cared a lot about how it is that 64 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: people are treated in their workplaces and how it is 65 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: that we can create strong strategies and work while also 66 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: treating people with dignity and respect, because I strongly believe 67 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: that if you are going to be a warrior for 68 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 2: this moment, we need to be rested. 69 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 3: That way we can continue to persevere over time. 70 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: And I wasn't seeing that in any of the workplaces 71 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 2: I'd been in, except for corporate ones, which was very interesting, 72 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: and so I really knew that this organization needed to 73 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: exist to meet the moment, and we are really focused 74 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: on deeply understanding how it is that digital messaging can 75 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: impact people's thoughts and feelings and attitudes about civic engagement 76 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: while ahead of ever ever asking someone which is the 77 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: key gap that's been missing, I think many. 78 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 3: Of your listeners are familiar or even. 79 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 2: Working in the moment where we focus all of our 80 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 2: time and energy and attention on getting people to vote 81 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: between September and November of an election year, and we 82 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: are inundated with ads about candidates, We are inundated with 83 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 2: negative ads about issues that are tied to candidates, but 84 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: there is no year round work about how it is 85 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: that we make people feel good. 86 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: About civic engagement. 87 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: Why is civic agent engagement portant, Why do these institutions matter, 88 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: and why is it important that we don't just abandon 89 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 2: it because we think the system's broken, and the system 90 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: isn't broken. We don't have any messaging about that to 91 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 2: any community year round, particularly those most disenfranchised and feeling 92 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: the effects of our society as it is now. And 93 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: I really wanted to fill that gap because I think 94 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 2: one of the most powerful things about digital tools, especially 95 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: digital marketing, is one it's always constant and pervasive because we're. 96 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 3: On our phones all the time. 97 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 2: And two, it has incredible power to help influence people's 98 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: feelings and emotions daily, and it seems a huge strategic 99 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 2: loss not to use that most of the year every year. 100 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 2: It's insane, it's almost more costly not to And so 101 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 2: I really started this org not just to begin to 102 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 2: do this work, but measure its efficacy over time, which 103 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 2: is a big part of what we do, which is 104 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: a lot of digital marketing and research and messaging. But 105 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 2: it just seemed crazy to me that we had ceded 106 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 2: the Internet to these bad forces. Most of the you'ren't 107 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 2: expected to remedy. 108 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 3: It with like what a few two months and. 109 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: Like content for two months. That's not how psychology works, 110 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: that's not how human emotions work. And if we are 111 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: serious about protecting our institutions in our democracy, we need 112 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: to be serious about defending it in word and in 113 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 2: media every day. 114 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 3: Every day. 115 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: You know, talk to me about what you have discovered 116 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: over the course of time since the founding of your organization. 117 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: And you know, the question that I have really is 118 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: that do you really think that it is a mismanagement 119 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: or misstep on the part of let's say, the Democratic 120 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: Party in their lack of ability to educate and use 121 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: social media as a way to educate, or is this 122 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: just par for the course that you don't really want 123 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: that many people engaged in our electoral process, right, And 124 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: when I say not that many people engage, I mean 125 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: people of color, right and young people. We talk about 126 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: this every single election cycle, every single election cycle. It 127 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: is the same conversation. The messaging is bad, they don't 128 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: know how to speak to people, they don't get out. 129 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: It's not a three hundred and sixty five right style campaign. 130 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: It is one that is pushed in two months. And 131 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: so I wonder, one, do you think that this is 132 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: purposeful or is it just laziness, a lack of understanding 133 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: how social media and people work and think right? Or 134 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 1: is it purposeful? And if it is purposeful, a purposeful 135 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: marginalization of certain groups, then how does your organization and 136 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: the work that you are doing seek to really remedy that? 137 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: And is it more of a long term right, not 138 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: what I think the Democrats want and what Republicans want, 139 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: which is just, you know, give us a quick return. 140 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I would say I don't think it's purposeful 141 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: on the part of the Democratic Party. I do think 142 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 2: it's purposeful on the actors who most of the time 143 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 2: are in the Republican Party, who say that we have 144 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 2: voter fraud, we have insecure elections, we need to take 145 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 2: all these extra precautions, like that is a made up problem. 146 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 2: It is a made up problem. 147 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 3: It does not exist. That is not a thing. 148 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 2: Our elections are actually quite quite secure. And if you'll notice, 149 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: the people who tend to get arrested for voter fraud. 150 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 3: Are the ones proving it doesn't exist. 151 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: Speaking on it. 152 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: Georgia indictments like those are the people who are in 153 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: trouble for like voter fraud and Rico, not voters. Okay, 154 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 2: so it's a made up problem. I will say, what 155 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 2: I think is happening on the Democratic party side is 156 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: the problem of inertia, where there is a set of 157 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: people who have determined and gained their power and their 158 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 2: financial power and their personal wealth through a series of 159 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 2: tactics and strategies that are no longer applicable for the moment. 160 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 2: I think we truly have a series of leaders, both 161 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 2: in office in many cases and behind the scenes, who 162 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: are ill equipped for this moment and who do not 163 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: understand the gravity and I think the intensity for which 164 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 2: younger people who I'm defining as forty five and under 165 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 2: are experiencing our country and our democracy, and therefore are 166 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 2: not yet ready or fully understanding the need for actual, prescriptive, 167 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 2: year round messaging. Because I think a big part of 168 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 2: the problem is the finances of it. And that's a 169 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 2: piece that like I think, you know, normal everyday people 170 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 2: don't think about, but because of my job, I think 171 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 2: about every day. It is the finances of who is 172 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 2: going to pay for this outreach all the time, and 173 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 2: if it's committees and candidates. 174 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 3: They have to fundraise for it. 175 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 2: They have to get that money from normal people, but 176 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 2: then they have to give it to candidates. 177 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 4: Right. 178 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: Our financial our eluctant financial system one is very fucked up. 179 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 3: There's way too much money in it. 180 00:10:54,360 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 2: And it is not designed for people to actually have 181 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 2: more folks voting, even though it is one thousand percent 182 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: in Democrat's best interest to have the most diverse electric possible. 183 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: That is oftentimes why you see Democratic campaigns running voter 184 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,359 Speaker 2: registration at all. In many cases, in many many demographies, 185 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 2: the equation to fifty plus one requires voter registration of 186 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 2: new constituents and the activation of lapsed voters. And the 187 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 2: folks who are the strategists, who wield the most power, 188 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 2: and who have the most influence, and who have the 189 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 2: most fundraising prowess have not yet adapted to this modern model. 190 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 2: The thing I have been telling people over and over 191 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 2: and over again, as I think many people, and I actually. 192 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 3: Think Joe Biden did this at first. He was like, 193 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 3: I can work with these Republicans, I know the blah 194 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: blah blah. 195 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 2: No, these are not the people that we were dealing 196 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 2: with before. We are in a completely new way of 197 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 2: these folks thinking. And Hitler did not become Hitler on 198 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: the first try. 199 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 3: No, it was the third. And guess where we're at. 200 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 2: So in this case, do I think that Donald Trump 201 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 2: has the longevity in terms of his health. 202 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 3: I don't know. Evil people tend to live longer. 203 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: But McDonald's tends to kill people. So what I'm saying, who. 204 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 2: Knows, But that facistic moment can absolutely get a new 205 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: leader who can usher it in. 206 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 3: Right. It's the ideas that we are fighting against here. 207 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 2: It is the marginalization of people. It is the factionism. 208 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 2: It is the people trying to equate democracy with fascistic 209 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: control based on religion. These are not American values at all, 210 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 2: and I don't think they know the majority of people 211 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,839 Speaker 2: do not hold those stances, which is why they're fighting 212 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: so hard to change the system that way that their 213 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 2: person can get in. And so the system and the 214 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 2: constructs for how we run our elections, particularly for people 215 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 2: on the left, is not meeting the moment. 216 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: In those lines, I agree with you wholeheartedly because I 217 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: think that there is an inertia and a complacency, and 218 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: I think to your point in the way that Joe 219 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: Biden even entered his first term as president, was you know, 220 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: I was a member of the good old Boys network, 221 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: Like there are still good Republicans. You know, this is 222 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: still the America of you know, my father and my 223 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: father's father. And I'm speaking at the factories and I'm 224 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: doing those things, and I'm just like, are we really 225 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: still doing retail politics in the same fucking way we've 226 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: been doing for the last like half century plus and 227 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: thinking that that's working in the age of TikTok and 228 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: Facebook and Instagram and threads and Twitter and x and 229 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: all like in every single other fragmented space that communication 230 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: flows through. And so to your point, it is bizarre 231 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: to me that we know right, like it is not 232 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: it's not unknown, the ways that social media gets after people, 233 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: the way that I can very much talk about my 234 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: favorite lufa and then that show up in all of 235 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: my advertisement on social media, right, the way that like 236 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: these algorithms are made to keep you on. And so 237 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: the fact that we haven't figured it out then, I 238 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: mean you have now and have the desire to tap 239 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: into what emotionally connects people to their devices and to 240 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: these platforms and then turn that into what also connects 241 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: you to your civic engagement, right and responsibility. I think 242 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: is just crazy at this point. Now I say that, 243 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: and I don't want to overlook the fact that the 244 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: last election happened in the height of a pandemic and 245 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: we had historic turnout. So talk to me about too, 246 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: the compelling nature not necessarily of the candidate, but of 247 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: the issues that we're facing that are driving people to 248 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: the polls that might not have gone to the polls 249 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: if we hadn't have been in the midst of a 250 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: pandemic with you know, the beginning of which began with 251 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: a facistic leader, you know, and then we're like, oh 252 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: my god, we're never going to get well if we 253 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: don't get rid of this guy. 254 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's god. 255 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: That election was just so revealing for a number of reasons, 256 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 2: but one I think a few things impacted it. One, 257 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 2: people were at home and had time to pay attention 258 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 2: to like the fuckery, right, Like people were not in 259 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 2: many cases rushing to and front work or like out 260 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 2: and about living their lives like we were in the 261 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 2: house or at work. And if you were at work, 262 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 2: you probably weren't happy about it because you wanted to 263 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: be in the house because there was a pandemic and 264 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 2: you were a frontline worker for whatever, like at whatever 265 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 2: job that you had. Right like that I think brought 266 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: to like a lot of things. The other thing that happened, though, 267 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 2: is we had governments really thinking in a way that 268 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 2: they never have about how can we still have people 269 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: both safely. And it's pretty incredible to me actually that 270 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 2: now that we still have this pandemic, by the way, 271 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 2: folks aren't still thinking about how to get as many 272 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: people to vote safely. Like we still live in the 273 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 2: United States of America where like everyone's getting shot frequently. 274 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 2: So why aren't we still thinking about how more people 275 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 2: can vote safely? 276 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 3: I'll tell you why. 277 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: Because there are people interested in making sure certain communities 278 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 2: don't get to vote safely. 279 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 3: And so in that. 280 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 2: The issues that like are heightened for people were ones 281 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 2: of education, access, wealth, like questions about safety at work, 282 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 2: and those issues still matter. So we ran a test 283 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 2: during the midterm cycle and found that issues framing for 284 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: younger voters in particular was extremely motivating for them to 285 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 2: feel better about saving engagement. So usually in previous election cycles. Again, 286 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 2: I've been doing this for a decade and like tracking 287 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 2: research and whatnot. Usually, the most impactful messages on turnout 288 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: or people registered to vote tend to be informational. A 289 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 2: huge reason why many people don't vote is they just 290 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 2: don't have enough information. It's not familiar to them. It's 291 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 2: a convoluted process. You have to take time out of 292 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 2: your day to do it, and so easy presentation of 293 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 2: the information necessary to vote makes a difference for many 294 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 2: many people. This was the first time in my life 295 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: I had seen an issues framing outperform an information framing 296 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: for a. 297 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 3: Certain cohort of people. And it is not. 298 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: Lost on me because when I think about millennials and 299 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 2: Gen Z, the world that we have grown up in 300 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 2: is very markedly different from that of our parents. We 301 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 2: are very acutely aware that the planet's going to burn 302 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 2: us up and could easily kill us or ruin our livelihoods, 303 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 2: because that is happening every. 304 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 3: Day in our livelihoods. 305 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 2: We are the first generations to understand that it is 306 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 2: very likely that we could get shot at school, and 307 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 2: we have to practice how not to get shot at school. 308 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 2: This is a generation of people who have not been 309 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 2: able to afford housing. This is a generation of people 310 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 2: who have not been able to afford rent. This is 311 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 2: a generation of people that when they had their first 312 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 2: kids there was a formula shortage. This is a generation 313 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 2: of people who, you know, church was not a thing 314 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 2: that we went to, but yet we're being told what 315 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 2: we can do with our bodies because people went to 316 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 2: church and institution that is deeply unfamiliar to most of us. 317 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: This is the first generation to lose many rights for 318 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: half of this population when there weren't any. This is 319 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 2: the first generation that had the bravery to be out 320 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 2: and be clear and be told to sit back down. 321 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 2: We are living in a fucked up situation compared to 322 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 2: our parents, and so it is not surprising to me 323 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 2: that these issues and things that we want to fix 324 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: that are frankly being forced upon us from a generation 325 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: with outsize power. 326 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 3: Are animating. 327 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 2: And when I explain that to people, they're like, oh 328 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 2: my god, Genz's been through so much on like the 329 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: millennials too, Like, it is not lost on me that, like, finally, 330 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 2: when y'all realize that we are not children anymore, that 331 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: we actually are like the middle aged John Tie's watching 332 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: the kids on TikTok with Bama Rush That is me 333 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 2: currently all the time. 334 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, we couldn't feed our kids, like people couldn't feed 335 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,120 Speaker 1: their children because of systems set up by the older generation. 336 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,239 Speaker 2: We can't afford college, we can't afford homes. We are 337 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 2: mired in debt. 338 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: It's like the cantiford college. Can't afford not to go 339 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: to college, right, like can't afford can't afford not to work. 340 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 1: But there are no jobs like it is you know, 341 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,719 Speaker 1: when you list out all of the ways in which 342 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: the latest two generations have been robbed of the prosperity 343 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: that prior generations, it was just a given right, It 344 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: was just a given go get your ged. Here's Levittown 345 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: for you. Here are all these things, here's the GI bill, 346 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: here's the new deal. Here are all of these opportunities 347 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: for you to build inside of the middle class. And 348 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: what did we give millennials? Kind of like like r 349 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: not getting taught in school and not. 350 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 2: Being forced to go to war right like and when 351 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 2: I say forced for a lot of low income people, 352 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 2: the military is the best. 353 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 3: Option for you because housing education. Right. 354 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 2: We live in a system that has been rigged against 355 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 2: us while being told that the. 356 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,640 Speaker 3: Generation should each make each generation wealthier, and that never happened. 357 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 2: Right us, So, yeah, and issues are animating. 358 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 3: It's we also saw. 359 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: An instruction that was fun, right that that was great too, 360 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: also televised. You know, when we think about the issues 361 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 1: being animated, when we think about this generation, these generations 362 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,959 Speaker 1: that are coming now being less fortunate than the generations 363 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: that went prior, when we think about oh, not to 364 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: mention the fact that, you know, authoritarianism is not only 365 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: taking a hold in the United States but around the world, 366 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 1: and that thirty percent of the population would love to 367 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: appoint Donald Trump as their king right as opposed to 368 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: have a democracy that is multiracial so that they can 369 00:20:54,760 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: continue to have this fallacy of white supremacy and the 370 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: privilege of their of their skin. When we take all 371 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: of those things into consideration, you still have a large 372 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: slot of people who are like, government does not work. 373 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: These are all of the reasons why government does not work. 374 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: So why the fuck am I voting? What do you 375 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: say to that? 376 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 3: A few things. One, it's a very rational thought. 377 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 4: I'm not going to look at folks who have had 378 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 4: a system not work for them and have never seen 379 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:36,400 Speaker 4: change or you know, monumental change happen between between administrations 380 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 4: and say it's a rational thought. 381 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 2: But let's look at locally how these things can help. 382 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 2: I think local elections are a really strong and easy 383 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 2: and fast demonstrator of how government can be helpful. Right 384 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: like if you are looking at your local school system 385 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 2: and your school district, and I think that's one of 386 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 2: the backlash things that's going to. 387 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 3: Happen for the tactic of let's change. 388 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 2: All of our school policies and let's make our schools 389 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 2: like matic for right wing policies. People are not realizing, 390 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 2: oh shoot, who I vote for at this local level 391 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 2: impacts my kids, their education, their access to things. It 392 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 2: impacts the roads, it impacts my local taxes, it impacts 393 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 2: my direct life. And I think once that starts getting 394 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 2: explained to people and you start showing concrete examples, another 395 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 2: good one at the national level would. 396 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:22,719 Speaker 3: Be called them bidom bucks. 397 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: We came out of a pandemic, you got extra money, 398 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 2: we had our student loans pause, like all of these 399 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 2: things that had made a difference in people's lives. We 400 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 2: need to tie that back in a very coherent way 401 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 2: to show no, you might not see change overnight, but 402 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 2: there are marginal things that happen when you participate, and 403 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:41,360 Speaker 2: there are very bad things that can happen. 404 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 3: When you don't. But we have to make the case. 405 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 2: I don't think it's right to judge people who have 406 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: made that basis based on their life experiences. We have 407 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 2: a responsibility, especially as people who are working in the 408 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 2: democratic space little de democratic space, to make sure that 409 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 2: we are making the case. I just don't think it 410 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 2: is fair for people to get upset at certain populations 411 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 2: for not voting for Democrats when they don't put the 412 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 2: work in to explain why they should. 413 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: Right right. Last question for you. 414 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 3: Is this. 415 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: We have in next month is Voter Registration Day National 416 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: Voter Registration Day that's happening on September nineteenth. What do 417 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: people need to know? What can they learn from your organization? 418 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 1: How do they get involved? Tell us all the ways? 419 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 2: Yes, thank you so much so. National Voter Registration Day 420 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 2: is so exciting. A few ways people can get involved 421 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 2: one bare minimum. Please tell people in your community to 422 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 2: register to vote and why they should. I think that 423 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 2: is like way more impactful than people realize, and it 424 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: can make a marginal difference because elections have been won 425 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: and lost by one vote. Second, our website is www. 426 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 2: Dot voter for meproject dot com. We are on I 427 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 2: refuse to call it x. We are on the artist 428 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 2: formally Twitter, Twitter, voter Formation, and we are on Instagram 429 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 2: as well at Voterformation Project and you can follow us there. 430 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 2: You can contribute at any one of those sites and 431 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 2: give to us. That way we are able to spread 432 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 2: the good word about democracy to the communities that need 433 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 2: it most. 434 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 3: We also are on Threads at voter Formation Project. 435 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 2: We are on all the places, so please give us 436 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 2: a follow, please support us if you would like. That 437 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,199 Speaker 2: would mean the world to us for our organization and 438 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 2: I can't wait for Threads to get hashtags. That way 439 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 2: I can concred myself from the artist formally known as Twitter. 440 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 441 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: Same same to Tenda, thank you so much for making 442 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: the time to join WOKF and I hope that we 443 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:52,719 Speaker 1: will have you back because we got the most consequential 444 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,199 Speaker 1: election of our time coming up and people need to 445 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,360 Speaker 1: hear more from you. So appreciate you. 446 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 3: Thank you. 447 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, dear friends on woke 448 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: A app as always power to the people and to 449 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: all the people. Power yet woke and stay woke as fuck.