1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I could be Stefan 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: never told you a production of Ihart Radio. 3 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 2: And today, y'all, we are coming back on with a 4 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 2: friend of the show. I think one of the first 5 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: friends that I made thanks to the show through the podcast. 6 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 2: I fangirled really hard. I think I was so giddy 7 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: when you came on that everybody was like, is she okay? 8 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: Because I was so excited to have you on. And 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 2: actually it was one of our last interviews that we 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: did in that studio because the pandemic had happened, we 11 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 2: quickly wanted to shut down. But with all of this, yes, 12 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 2: I'm building it up. We are here today with Representative 13 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: Park Canon of Georgia House District fifty eight. Welcome back, 14 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 2: Thank you. 15 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 3: I am still legislatively yours. I am still the youngest 16 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 3: Democrat elected to the House in Georgia and now I 17 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 3: am the secretary of the Caucus. 18 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 2: Yes, you have done so much, and if you can't tell, 19 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: I'm still fangirling because I have watched you continue to 20 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: grow doing so much for our community specifically and being 21 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 2: our voices, and very excited that you are continuing in 22 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: this track with our interests in mind, and I really 23 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 2: feel like you're one of the hopes that we have 24 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: when it comes to politics, because it's been disappointing. Let's 25 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: be honest, you know, I think we came back with 26 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: a lot of heartbreak in the last four years, a 27 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 2: lot of also, you know, restoration of faith as well. 28 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 2: But you are one of the few that I'll still 29 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: keep watching and have not been disappointed by. So thank you. 30 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 3: Okay, Honestly, I feel like there are some lesbian fore 31 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: mothers and some queer folks out here holding me accountable, 32 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 3: and so the work is definitely of our office, but 33 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 3: also I think of a lot of the people who 34 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 3: feel like things are broken now. 35 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: And of course you have given some of the things 36 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: that you've been doing and you're still doing, and we 37 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: have to put behind your title, you know, advocate. Of 38 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: course style icons still are because you're killing it well. 39 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 2: As I'm watching you on Instagram, I'm like, I need 40 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 2: silent advice from her reproductive justice advocate in Doulah. And 41 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: you've been fighting so hard with that. You're an author, Hello, 42 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: yes you are, and yeah, you've done so much and 43 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: we're so excited to have you back on And with that, 44 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 2: how have you been. How are you doing? 45 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 4: It's been interesting. 46 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 3: I now have two therapists and my team at the 47 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: Capital has grown to make sure that we've got everything covered, 48 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 3: and ultimately I've started ballroom dancing. 49 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 2: Cool. 50 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 3: Yes, your girl did a chat shot competition, and I'm 51 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 3: not going to get too much into it because it 52 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 3: was for charity. But I got the highest points in 53 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 3: the competition but walked away with no trophy because they 54 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 3: had a sudden dance off in a totally different genre 55 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 3: and I was just giving basic and they needed extra. 56 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 3: So the moral of the story is I'm fine, but 57 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 3: I'm still missing that trophy. 58 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: God, come on, we need to see clips of those 59 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 2: because I have questions. 60 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 4: I will email it to you immediately. 61 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 3: It's on my Instagram and your girl is still going 62 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 3: to therapy over it. 63 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: Too. 64 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: I would too. But that's still amazing that you went 65 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: and competed because for me, things like that, I'm like, no, 66 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 2: thank you. I would be on the sideline eating popcorn 67 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: watching you do it. 68 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 3: No, I really have to move a lot of the 69 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 3: stuff that happens at the Capitol out of my body. 70 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, And so I. 71 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 3: Go to the sauna and I go to stretch class 72 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 3: and physical therapy and just try to use some different 73 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 3: herbs in my baptob you know, just really trying to 74 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 3: get the white supremacy off of me. 75 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 2: Yeah. Oh, and in the state of Georgia, I can't imagine. 76 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: But with all that, you have been obviously very very 77 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 2: busy being on the front lines in Georgia politics. You've 78 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: been on the front pages of news all over the country, 79 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: all of the nation, fighting for your people in your community. Again, 80 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: that's a whole lot of responsibility being placed onto your shoulders. 81 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: I cannot imagine, and I'm thinking I don't think you 82 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: hit enough baths, enough of those to be able to 83 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: completely relax. But again, like guys said, just watching you 84 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 2: doing the work that you're doing, still fighting especially what 85 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: feels like an uphill battle constantly has been so it's 86 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 2: not just encouraging. There's so many words that I don't 87 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 2: have enough of because we know, again after being disappointed, 88 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: this is the moments where I'm like, yeah, I know 89 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 2: I'm significantly older than you, but you're doing all of 90 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 2: this work, and I know it has to be from 91 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 2: people like you, unfortunately, because you're the ones who really 92 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: really push it forward. 93 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 4: And I love that. 94 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 3: We're super future minded in my office, to the point 95 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 3: where we're thinking past the wars that we're in. We're 96 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: thinking past the brutality that we're seeing and past the 97 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 3: mortality experiences, really into a world that is infinite with opportunity. 98 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 3: So I think that this last session, I went in 99 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 3: thinking how can I serve members even when they don't 100 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 3: know they're being served, and how can I rest a 101 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 3: little bit more. So I've been calling myself internally the 102 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 3: sedentary secretary because I've been trying to sit down and 103 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 3: do the work more because people would always say, like 104 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 3: there goes part Candon, like her feet are going fast 105 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,119 Speaker 3: as down a hallway, and I enjoyed like the click clack. 106 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 3: But I've also realized being sedentary, being settled, helping people 107 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 3: see the power in, you know, being organized. So I've 108 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 3: been enjoying the sedentary secretary role a little bit this year. 109 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 2: Ooh, the power being organized. That's a statement that I 110 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: don't I don't understand. I need it, but I don't 111 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: understand it. Yeah, And as the secretary, I know you know, 112 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 2: and the world knows that a lot is happening right 113 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: now in Georgia. We are a pretty big focal point 114 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 2: for a lot of things, and one of the big things, 115 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: of course, has to do with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, 116 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: and in before then, even before then, conservatives in Georgia 117 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: have been working to completely dismantle abortion rights. We know 118 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 2: that it's been a thing. They've been doing this and 119 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: now have had the chance to run with that, unfortunately, 120 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: and they have places that six week ban in full fact, 121 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: and we know that access has been severely limited, even 122 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: though there's more support for abortion access than not like publicly, 123 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: but hey, who want Why do we care what the 124 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: people want? 125 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: Right? 126 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: What are some things we may not know about the 127 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: law that just that was passed. 128 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, so the law makes it ambiguous on to who 129 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 3: can drive into hov lane, because how does a police 130 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 3: officer decide who's pregnant or not? And when do you 131 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 3: decide that the pregnancy is viable enough to get out 132 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 3: of a ticket. It also makes it so that the 133 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 3: process of child support can be started while someone is 134 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 3: in the womb, And it also makes it so that 135 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 3: different health care facilities are criminalized ultimately for their role 136 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 3: in dealing with miscarriages. 137 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 4: So it's a pretty. 138 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 3: Intense reality that we have here in Georgia, which is 139 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 3: why I'm proud of organizations like ARC Southeast and the 140 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 3: Feminist Women's Health Center that still provide access to abortion 141 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 3: inside the state and also help you travel or get 142 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 3: childcare or hotel care if you have to go outside 143 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 3: of the state. And legislatively, we've been passing bills to say, 144 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 3: if you're going to make it so that people have 145 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 3: to remain pregnant and carry to term, then you're going 146 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: to need to change some systemic issues. So this year 147 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: we were able to create a new Commission on basically 148 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 3: Maternal Equity and Excellence, and so it will convene fourteen 149 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 3: different stakeholders who are not just obgi ns, but who 150 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 3: are system administrators and pelvic floor specialists and chiropractors who 151 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: can say what's wrong with George's healthcare system. As well 152 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 3: as we've put some more money in the budget for 153 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 3: our review committee, which when someone passes away in childbirth, 154 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 3: there's this review committee that figures out how it happened. 155 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 3: And that review committee has been so key. 156 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 4: Because it has proven that. 157 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 3: Eighty nine percent of the births that ended fatally in 158 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 3: Georgia were preventable. 159 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 4: So when things are preventable. 160 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 3: That means that we should start compensating people. So just 161 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 3: yesterday I put in a bill that would create a 162 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 3: survivor's fund for families of those who pass away in 163 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 3: childbirth right. 164 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, and as in fact, that was something I was 165 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 2: going to bring up because you've been sponsoring or introducing 166 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 2: bills since the new policies have happened with the overturning 167 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 2: of Roe v. Wade, trying to lessen the restrictions or 168 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: at least help those who are most affected by those 169 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 2: bills like HB one, I know, the Georgia pro Birth 170 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 2: Accountability Act, which was amazing, Like you have some of 171 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 2: the best I feel like, comebacks to, like the most 172 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 2: archaic and all awful bills or policies that have happened. 173 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 2: You just come back with like, Okay, well let's talk 174 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 2: about this instead. And I love that because you do 175 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 2: this in politics, you do this in policy form, and 176 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 2: I'm like, damn, I don't know if people realize how 177 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 2: artful this really is, and we don't talk about it enough. 178 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 2: But bills like this, which is something try to hold 179 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: people accountable for irresponsible bills that target pregnant people but 180 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 2: don't want to actually help or give a sense after 181 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 2: birth or in case of death. So you kind of 182 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 2: already talked about it, but can you elaborate more on 183 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 2: why these bills are important, why we need to keep 184 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 2: talking about it, and actually we need to make it 185 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 2: public for sure. 186 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 3: So, for example, a mama who is on Medicaid in 187 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 3: Georgia right now gets to have health insurance simply because 188 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 3: that person is pregnant, but as soon as the pregnancy 189 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: is over, they can be kicked off of Medicaid. So 190 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 3: we expanded Medicaid for mama's only postpartum in Georgia, and 191 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 3: that gives folks up to one year, which covers that 192 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 3: postpartum possible mortality period. But what we've seen is that 193 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 3: not only are people barely surviving that one year, but 194 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 3: they're having a lot of other complications and issues that 195 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 3: could be viewed from other medical perspectives if the system 196 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 3: was paying attention. 197 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 4: So, for example, we put a bill together this. 198 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 3: Year that says, why wait for the six week ob 199 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 3: visit to ask the mama how her mental health is. 200 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 3: Why don't we just have that happen at the newborn visit, 201 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: which happens within one week of birth and these bills 202 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 3: are so important for medicaid mamas because they're expecting that 203 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 3: the system is going to set off an alarm and say, hey, 204 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 3: it's time for you to come in for this visit. 205 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 3: Hey it's time for you to check in about birth control, 206 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 3: and the systems are not. The OB's are not talking 207 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 3: to the pediatricians, who are not talking to the labor 208 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 3: and delivery nurses, who aren't talking to the doulas. So 209 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 3: that's why it's so important that we put together this 210 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 3: commission where everyone can finally talk to each other and 211 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 3: get out of silos. And on top of that, with 212 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: the Survivor's Fund. We've been hit with naysayers who will say, well, 213 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 3: there is an anti gratuities clause in the state of Georgia, 214 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 3: which means that same way that legislators can't get free 215 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 3: tickets to things, that residents of Georgia can't just receive 216 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 3: free government money and free government you know items. 217 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 4: And so some naysayers have. 218 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 3: Said, well, what does the state have to do with 219 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 3: a mama who passes away in childbirth's child going to kindergarten? 220 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 4: And our response is. 221 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: Everything, how can we make it possible that this is 222 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 3: not something that you can talk down on, but that 223 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 3: you can publicize. And so the way that we're seeing 224 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 3: this is if that review committee deems a death as preventable, 225 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 3: that pros takes one year, so it's at least a 226 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 3: year after the mortality, and then the family could apply 227 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 3: and by that point, you know, some of the grieving, 228 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 3: some of the trauma, some of the family issues might 229 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 3: have resolved a little bit, so that now you can 230 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 3: make a plan for that child's life and the guardian 231 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 3: or whoever it's going to be. And we're hopeful that 232 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 3: what we'll see is that people who have almost passed away, 233 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 3: which we call morbidity, maternal morbidity or a near miss, 234 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 3: that will start to catch some of their experiences too, 235 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 3: as they start to reach out to the committee to 236 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 3: share what's going on with them. 237 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, one of the things that we're seeing with all 238 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: of these walls or legislations that are being proposed that 239 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: are very anti abortion, anti reproductive rights is fear, I think, 240 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: in confusion, just mass confusion. So technically abortion is still 241 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: legal here and you've already talked about some things still 242 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: legal here in Georgia. I mean, what do the listeners 243 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: need to know when it comes to Georgia, and that. 244 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 3: Here in Georgia, if you take a pregnancy test and 245 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 3: you see that you're pregnant, you're going to need to 246 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 3: follow up and find how many weeks pregnant you are 247 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 3: because that determines your access to care. There are some 248 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 3: clinics that are able to provide abortion pills to you 249 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 3: if when you receive your ultrasound, if it says that 250 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 3: you're less than six weeks gestation, and if you are 251 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 3: over six weeks and it is not an extreme case 252 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 3: of incest or rate that you have reported to the 253 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 3: police and have a report for, then you will have 254 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 3: to go out of state to North Carolina and receive 255 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 3: services there, which they go a little bit further than 256 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 3: we do, but they also don't go as far as 257 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 3: the next state, which would be Virginia. So right now 258 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 3: we are seeing a lot of families leave Georgia and 259 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 3: head straight for Virginia without checking how far along they are, 260 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 3: just to make sure that they can get the best care. 261 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 2: Right, which is upsetting, Like, there's so many conversations that 262 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: need to be had with these kind of restrictions. But yes, 263 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 2: but they act like the fact of the matter is 264 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: it is still technically legal six weeks and of course 265 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 2: with the mini guidelines, that's just like we're like I 266 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 2: can't even I get so angry. I can't even talk, 267 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 2: like I'm just I'm just fumbling through the requirements that 268 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 2: they have set up for access and it is almost impossible. 269 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 2: It's kind of that same level of like they're hoping 270 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 2: that you'll go to a pregnancy center and like being 271 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 2: tricked into all of that. So I'm not even gonna 272 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 2: go into all that because I don't. I will flip things. 273 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 2: I will throw things apart right now, Like I just 274 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 2: want to throw things. So I'm gonna calm down. But 275 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 2: like there's so many things that need to be had, 276 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: but that things like the organizations that you were talking 277 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 2: about arec who I love. They are probably one of 278 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 2: my favorite organizations. Really do so much, but make sure 279 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 2: that they are fighting for reproductive rights in general, Like 280 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 2: they're not just working to help their clients, are helping 281 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 2: trying to help those in this area. 282 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 3: Which yeah, they're in the Amplify Coalition, which is a 283 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 3: collaborative of different nonprofits to amplify issues of reproductive justice. 284 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 3: So the Amplify folks have been down at the Capitol. 285 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 4: They have been doing great work. 286 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 3: And I'm super grateful too that we get to have 287 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 3: different converss, like about trans folks, about queer communities, about 288 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 3: how COP City impacts queer folks, and Amplify is really 289 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 3: leading on those issues. 290 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there's some big stuff I didn't even I 291 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 2: haven't even tried to bring up cop City because I'm like, oh, 292 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 2: that's another I bring it up in like sarcastic tone 293 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: because it's just still so bleak being in Georgia and 294 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 2: knowing what is happening here already, and you're like, well, 295 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 2: what with the people who I thought I could trust 296 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: in this city council? Really turned up disappointing, as I said, 297 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 2: But like this is when I'm talking about the amount 298 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 2: of disappointment that I've seen within our government who I 299 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 2: thought would do what was for the best interest, and 300 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 2: the fact that it's very like this is getting shorter again. 301 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 2: You're still on my list, Thank you so much more. Yeah, okay, yeah, 302 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 2: but you know, and on top of that, and in 303 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 2: this conversation, we have to talk about the voter suppression 304 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 2: stuff that has been happening and sat in the South 305 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 2: and in Georgia as well, and the continued use of 306 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 2: trickery and all the things that's happening here. And Georgia 307 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 2: has become a swing state. We know this and when 308 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 2: it comes to elections, and we've become a focal point 309 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 2: for many when it comes to the results in elections 310 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 2: and government. And even after both Kemp and Raethisberger confirmed 311 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 2: that there were no fraud or illegal doings in twenty twenty, 312 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: they still use that fear mongering to make it harder 313 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: for marginalized folks to vote. And they did this nicklely 314 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 2: and deceptively by signing the Election Integrity Act of twenty 315 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: twenty one, which I feel like is a slap in 316 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 2: the face in general, like that's such a lie. That 317 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 2: is not that is not what's happening. 318 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 3: That was their talking point for that year, integrity, and 319 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 3: we really read through it and helped them understand that 320 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 3: it was really just human rights violations. 321 00:19:54,359 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: So right, right, and you you actually decided to take 322 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: action on that. But before we get into that, can 323 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: you talk about why acts like these are harmful for 324 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: voters and do not put integrity into anything. 325 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, when you revamp the entire voting code, However, you 326 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 3: don't get input from First Amendment organizations, voting rights groups, 327 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 3: nor the offices at the local departments that are going 328 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 3: to effectuate the elections, you know that there is no 329 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 3: integrity to it. We have seen that in the recent elections, 330 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 3: people have continued to show up to early vote more 331 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 3: than they have shown up on election day. And that's 332 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 3: been great because then it gives you an opportunity to 333 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 3: vote in different places at different times. But also we 334 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 3: have seen some voter confusion as to what district they're 335 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 3: in because since I talked to y'all last we've gone 336 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 3: through two cycles of redistricting, whereas we only should have 337 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:00,120 Speaker 3: had zero. 338 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 4: So we had to. 339 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 3: Come in in a special session re draw maps. Then 340 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 3: they went to court, and then the court had to 341 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 3: decide if they complied with the Voting Rights Act. And 342 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 3: although we, along with ACLU and a number of other 343 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 3: organizations argue that they did not comply with the Voting 344 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 3: Rights Act, the Court's ruled in the favor of our 345 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 3: opponents and said that the maps could go into effect. 346 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 3: And so simply just helping people know what district they're 347 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 3: in right now has been important due to these voter 348 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 3: issues and changes over the past few years. 349 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and of course, as Georgia residents and voters, we 350 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: want to thank you because not only did you take 351 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 2: action against something that was so harmful to us, but 352 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 2: you helped bring attention to the n ethical practices and 353 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 2: policies like these. No matter what, they did not come 354 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 2: out looking good. There was nothing about this that was like, oh, yeah, 355 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 2: they're doing great hiding it. But while you were going 356 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 2: through this, you were a store, you were going on 357 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 2: the front page news everywhere. I remember seeing it going, yeah, 358 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 2: that's my girl right there, that's my friend. I was like, yeah, 359 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: if there were, But what was going through your mind 360 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 2: when all this came about when you were going at 361 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 2: the door, Like, if you want to talk about it, 362 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 2: you don't have going to detailed I know you've talked 363 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 2: about it many times, but having to stand at the 364 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 2: door trying to get their attention to be like, this 365 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 2: is not the way this works, and then having to 366 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 2: try to like just have an adult conversation is what 367 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 2: it's like. 368 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 3: This week is the three year anniversary of my unlawful 369 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 3: arrest at the Georgia State Capitol, and the reflections that 370 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 3: I have on it are twofold one that I am 371 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 3: actively suing the State of Georgia right now in order 372 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 3: for them to understand that they violated my rights and 373 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 3: there is compensation as well as changes that need to 374 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 3: happen so this does not affect another legislator. And secondly, 375 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 3: that the world is watching, the world has seen these 376 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 3: same officers arrest other elected officials in their capacity, that 377 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 3: the world has seen them pass voter challenge laws in 378 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 3: front of plantation photos, that the world has seen them 379 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 3: continue to evade responsibility for interfering with elections in Fulton County. 380 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 4: So as I reflect on it, I'm. 381 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:37,719 Speaker 3: So proud that Fannie Willis was recently elected the district 382 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 3: attorney when my unlawful arrest happened, and she was able 383 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 3: to drop the charges, and today we have been standing 384 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 3: with her. I am now the Fulton County Chair and 385 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 3: so as Fulton County elected officials, we have been supporting 386 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 3: her through this. 387 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 4: Time in which they have been trying to put her 388 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 4: on trial. But they should. 389 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 3: Be terrified because they have awoken so many other people, 390 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 3: Like in my experience, they woke so many people who 391 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 3: thought that voter challenges were of the past, and in 392 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 3: her case, they have awakened many individuals who can see 393 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 3: how masogyny plays into elected leadership and how at the 394 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 3: same time she has been phenomenal with her pursuit of 395 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 3: justice for all of Georgia and the nation. So I'm 396 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 3: feeling kind of excited that this is where we are 397 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 3: and that the eyes are still on Fulton County voters, right, I. 398 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 2: Will say, Like watching the TikTok videos of the different 399 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 2: testimonials and all that testifying happening, I'm like, Okay, I 400 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 2: am a millennial genexer. So when this phrase stand on 401 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 2: business came out, I was like, what now, I get it, 402 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 2: Like watching her, like, oh, that's what that means. Like 403 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 2: those are the moments and you doing what you did, 404 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 2: like standing there and making sure that people will understood 405 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 2: we're watching you. You can't hide this. We're not gonna 406 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 2: let you hide this. Like both of those moments are 407 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 2: like I get that, I get that phrase. 408 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 4: I'm here now, Yes, we stand for Fanie. Yes. 409 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 2: And I'm telling you what the level of professionalism that 410 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 2: she has like this is the I feel like a 411 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 2: battle of competence versus ignorance, Like the difference of like, yeah, 412 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 2: this is what this looks like, Yeah, I like it. 413 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 2: Thank you for representing Georgia in such a way for 414 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,439 Speaker 2: Fulton County. Right, but oh, I hadn't realized that you 415 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 2: are a chair for Fulton County. You're very busy. 416 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're very busy. Well again, thank you for being here. Okay, 417 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: speaking of we are back into presidential election season again. 418 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:06,680 Speaker 1: Feels like we never left. But they're very similar scenarios 419 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: that we've seen before. But what are some things that 420 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: we should all be paying attention to right now? What 421 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: are some key factors we may need to know. 422 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 3: So the reason why we vote in the March primary 423 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 3: is to designate our party so that in the May 424 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 3: primary that candidates like myself can reach out to their voters. 425 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 3: And right now it's so important because we've had all 426 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 3: these redistrictings. So as much as people have been like, 427 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 3: I'm not interested in voting for either candidate, that's fine. 428 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:43,959 Speaker 4: I hear you. 429 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 3: The progressivism has not been there, and we would regress otherwise. 430 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 3: But this is a system of participation. It does not 431 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 3: award people who do not participate. So I am pushing 432 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 3: for voter participation as a process. I want you to 433 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 3: know what district you were in last election and which 434 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 3: one you're in this time. I want you to know 435 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 3: what was your polling place and what is it now, 436 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 3: because even my polling place change this election, and I'm 437 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 3: the elected official, so I know that for other people 438 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 3: the process of receiving a notice in the mail and 439 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 3: saying this says my polling place has changed? 440 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 4: Do I believe it? Is this real? Is this not? 441 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:40,959 Speaker 3: There is going to take more voter touches from myself 442 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 3: the candidate, to help people feel like, Okay, yeah, this 443 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 3: is real. I've gotten a notice in the mail. Park 444 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 3: Cannon's office has told me on letterhead, and then I 445 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 3: also received a campaign literature from her. But if you 446 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:58,200 Speaker 3: don't participate, you literally don't get put on the super 447 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 3: voter's list. So you drop from being a person who 448 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 3: has voted in three of the four previous elections to 449 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:11,400 Speaker 3: two of the four previous elections. And it wasn't because 450 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 3: of anything other than your unwillingness to vote for a 451 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 3: specific candidate to which you could write in. So we've 452 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 3: been talking a lot about folks, you know, needing to 453 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 3: understand the point of the primaries is really to help 454 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 3: us figure out what is our database and so all 455 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 3: the data folks out there, all the people who are 456 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 3: good at Excel spreadsheets, all the people who do real 457 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: estate and who do generating leads, you understand why having 458 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 3: data that is accurate is important. Secondly, the issues that 459 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 3: hit the federal level really come to pass at the 460 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 3: state level. So when we're talking about issues of immigration, 461 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 3: as much as it is the federal government's purview to 462 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 3: determine policies related to how they treat people migrating, how 463 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 3: they fund the resources for them, and how they deal 464 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 3: with criminalities, it comes to bear with a local sheriff 465 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 3: deputy pulling someone over. 466 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 4: And so we need. 467 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 3: To be clear that when we vote for the federal elections, 468 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 3: we are enabling or disabling local actors to do what 469 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 3: needs to be done to not violate people's human rights. 470 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 3: And my concern right now is that people feel like 471 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 3: this is us showing our loyalty to federal actors, when 472 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 3: really this is us being the first line of defense 473 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 3: for our lofe local people to be okay. And so 474 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,400 Speaker 3: our office can't wait to get out of session. 475 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 4: We finish on the twenty eighth, and we are going. 476 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:15,479 Speaker 3: To be knocking people's doors hosting events, having rallies not 477 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 3: for candidates but for. 478 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 2: Cause, right, which I've seen you've been doing during the 479 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 2: middle sessions as well. I know you've been doing those things. 480 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 2: And I think, yeah, that important message of like how 481 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 2: how it does affect what's going on in a local level, 482 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 2: and we have to be careful and watch it, like 483 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: all of these things interact together, and it does affect 484 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 2: us all as we've continued to see things that have 485 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 2: happened on a federal level in the Supreme Court has 486 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 2: absolutely drastically affected all of us, even though it's supposed 487 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 2: to be with that whole intent of being state rights bs. 488 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 2: But you know, that's a whole different conversation, which is 489 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 2: what the concern is. Which is that conversation, Because yeah, 490 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 2: I'm definitely one of the I'm like, I don't like 491 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:04,560 Speaker 2: my options, but I'm gonna go with the lesser equal, 492 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 2: and I know it's important that I have to stick 493 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 2: to that because when we were laxed for a second, 494 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 2: and I don't think I was that laxed to begin 495 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 2: like I say this, and that I voted and I 496 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 2: was concerned, and I remember people being like, it's not 497 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 2: that big of a deal. When Trump came through, it's 498 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 2: not that big of a deal, and we saw like 499 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 2: it's been a wreck. It's been a wreck. Uh. 500 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 3: My legislative life has been starkly different throughout the three 501 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 3: presidencies I've served under Obama, Trump and Biden. And what 502 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 3: I can say is that if you're not concerned with 503 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 3: supporting a federal candidate, think about the impact that either 504 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 3: of those presidencies would have on Queer local elected officials 505 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 3: like myself who are defending against these issues. Like just 506 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 3: scale back and think about how it empowered folks like 507 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 3: us who are on the ground and who know our 508 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 3: community as well, so that it feels less icky. 509 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 2: Right, that's a good way to say. Sorry. I know 510 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 2: it gives you the ick, but you got to figure 511 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 2: out what it really does mean. 512 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 3: Think about me, Think about me and my shoes and 513 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 3: my glasses and me being bopping around the streets of Atlanta. 514 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 4: Like, focus on that side. 515 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 2: Here and before we end, because there's still several more 516 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 2: things that we don't talk about, but we do have 517 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 2: to throw it back to our last interview with you, 518 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 2: when we talked about how you got into politics to 519 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 2: begin with and your advice for others who are interested 520 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 2: as well. And not only did you give us some 521 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 2: great advice then and listeners, but you've actually written a 522 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 2: book to give a step by step guide and insight 523 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,960 Speaker 2: into running for office that's titled The Universal Guide to 524 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 2: Running for Office State Level, which, by the way, I 525 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 2: found out the d KABA library. I was very I 526 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 2: was like, yeah, library system and I was able to 527 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 2: check it out and read through it, so I was like. 528 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 1: Look at here. 529 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 3: Honestly, shout out to my friend Michelle who has been 530 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 3: getting my books into library systems in different places, and 531 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 3: anyone who's listening. If you want a copy for your 532 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 3: local library, just present it to them and they should 533 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 3: be able to put it on the shelf. 534 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's great. I was so excited to get it. 535 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:37,959 Speaker 2: And not only do you give straightforward practical advice like 536 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 2: raising funds and campaigning and paperwork even and even about 537 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 2: like yard signs, like you were all in it, but 538 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 2: you talk about the need for justice inclusion care as well. 539 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 2: I'm gonna quote from the book because you know that's 540 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 2: what I like to do. Bring the issues of all 541 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 2: types of justice to the forefront of your campaign, racial, economic, transit, healthcare, 542 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 2: environmental ability, reproductive, criminal, restorative, global, and social to start 543 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:05,760 Speaker 2: a list of some that voters care to hear from 544 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,760 Speaker 2: you about. This is one of the most liberating parts 545 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 2: of running for office because it truly allows many viewpoints 546 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 2: and needs to be explored and expanded based on your actions. 547 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 2: And I feel like, even though that sounds obvious, I 548 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,760 Speaker 2: don't think we get to truly witness this in many politicians, 549 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:27,839 Speaker 2: in many people in government. So can you expand on 550 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 2: my practicing? I want to say this. I see this 551 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: as empathy essentially and care intersectionality, But can you expand 552 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 2: onto why it's important to have this type of lead 553 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:37,840 Speaker 2: in politics and policy. 554 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 3: When candidates realize that people want to vote for more 555 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:48,960 Speaker 3: than just talking points, but for actual, lived experiences and 556 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 3: opportunities for collaboration, then things are better. Because if I 557 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:59,320 Speaker 3: walk up to someone's porch and they've done some renovations, 558 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,239 Speaker 3: I'm excited to talk to them about who do they 559 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 3: use and how did it work and why do they 560 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 3: decide this style and etc. Versus me just walking up, 561 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 3: putting the flyer on the door, and walking away. If 562 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 3: I just leave my flyer, all they see are talking points. 563 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,399 Speaker 3: But if I actually try to engage with them, try 564 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:21,839 Speaker 3: to go to their neighborhood meetings. I get to hear 565 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:26,400 Speaker 3: about what's going on. And maybe for some communities the 566 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 3: idea of renovating your porch is controversial because it needs 567 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 3: to fit into a artistic. 568 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 4: Mold of the neighborhood, you know. 569 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:40,240 Speaker 3: But for other communities it's a sign of economic prosperity 570 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 3: to be able to, like redo your grandmama's porch, And 571 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 3: so there's some code switching of course that takes place 572 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:51,680 Speaker 3: as a candidate, and really, campaign managers and campaign team 573 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:54,640 Speaker 3: members are the ones who can help you to stay 574 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 3: to the ground. Like maybe out of a block of ten, 575 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 3: you knock five doors and your tear em knocks five, 576 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 3: but at least you have that come together conversation where 577 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 3: you're like, Okay, what were they talking about over there? 578 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,800 Speaker 4: And I'm excited that now that we are. 579 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 3: Experiencing the COVID a different way and people are open 580 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,440 Speaker 3: to seeing each other face to face and being out 581 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 3: in community events, that candidates who are running this cycle 582 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:29,239 Speaker 3: will have the opportunity to be more external and to 583 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 3: be more long winded. But it was just a function 584 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,280 Speaker 3: of the pandemic that I feel these past three years, 585 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:40,319 Speaker 3: candidates have really had to be concise, and so I'm 586 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 3: hopeful to see more folks reach into our groups, reach 587 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 3: into the book and try to come up with some 588 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:48,359 Speaker 3: like savvy slogans and interesting campaigns. 589 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 4: And I've been seeing some of. 590 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 3: Them around, Like the yard signs are coming out now, 591 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 3: and people are really starting to, I think, pull their 592 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 3: identities to the front instead of pushing them back. 593 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 2: I love that. I also love that you put your 594 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:04,400 Speaker 2: glasses that's part of your yard sign. 595 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,439 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, it was so good tested it it said 596 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:11,799 Speaker 3: looking out for you, for thinking, and so I want 597 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 3: more candidates to do things like that. Like there's a 598 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 3: young elected official who just got into the house and 599 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:22,800 Speaker 3: his last name is Bell. So on his yard science 600 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 3: he has a bell and then like all of his 601 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:27,840 Speaker 3: things is like wake up, it's time right, or like 602 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 3: you know, the bell is ringing for justice. And so 603 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 3: I think that when candidates start to get into more 604 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 3: creative ways of campaigns, that you get people to come 605 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:40,840 Speaker 3: to you instead of you having to go to them. 606 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 2: Annie loves a good pun, so she's she's down for 607 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 2: all those. And you, as you were talking, you are 608 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:57,839 Speaker 2: currently in election season yourself, and now you are a pro. 609 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 2: You are a pro at this, but I'm sure as 610 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:03,880 Speaker 2: time has changed, as candidates have changed, as federal levels changed, 611 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:08,799 Speaker 2: and as our societies changed, you've had to adapt to it, 612 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:11,759 Speaker 2: like you talk about the pandemic and COVID and having 613 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:15,920 Speaker 2: to change in that way. Is there or maybe you didn't. 614 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,840 Speaker 2: I'm assuming this is my assumption, But is there anything 615 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 2: different you're doing this time around than you were before. 616 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:26,680 Speaker 3: This time around, we're working backwards from the voter registration 617 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:31,439 Speaker 3: deadline instead of working backwards from election day, So we're 618 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 3: thinking about by the voter registration deadline, people should have 619 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:41,000 Speaker 3: these three things they're polling place in mind, the candidates 620 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,320 Speaker 3: they're willing to vote for, and who it is that 621 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:47,240 Speaker 3: they're going to turn out, instead of waiting until after 622 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:50,920 Speaker 3: the voter registration deadline, when then you might not be 623 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 3: able to get some registered or you might not be 624 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:55,959 Speaker 3: able to change your address. So I think that that's 625 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:59,440 Speaker 3: going to help us to increase our turnout by just 626 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:03,120 Speaker 3: making sure that folks know where to vote and have 627 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 3: those decisions made sooner. 628 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:17,120 Speaker 5: Yes. Yes, So. 629 00:39:17,239 --> 00:39:19,800 Speaker 1: One thing you did in your book that wasn't quite 630 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:23,360 Speaker 1: what we expected was that you had a whole section 631 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:26,319 Speaker 1: of affirmations. So can you talk about what made you 632 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:28,920 Speaker 1: decide to put that in there and why you think 633 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:30,520 Speaker 1: that is something that is important. 634 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm a doula, so I'm always helping folks with 635 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:40,120 Speaker 3: their emotions. And I realized that candidates need a doula too, 636 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 3: because you face the world as yourself and then come 637 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:50,760 Speaker 3: home and take care of your family life, and sometimes 638 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:52,480 Speaker 3: even the folks closest to you. 639 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:54,840 Speaker 4: Don't know how to help. 640 00:39:55,520 --> 00:40:01,759 Speaker 3: So placing on paper some of your affirmations based on 641 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:05,320 Speaker 3: the things that you've gone through, I found can really help, 642 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 3: especially when, for example, I was trying to figure out 643 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:12,960 Speaker 3: like am I gonna be ten minutes late to this 644 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:15,719 Speaker 3: neighborhood meeting or am I going to stop and get 645 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:20,839 Speaker 3: me a bubble tea? One of my affirmations is I'm 646 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:25,360 Speaker 3: going to get that bubble tea because my mouth is 647 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 3: now juicier and I've got some you know, good feelings 648 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:33,800 Speaker 3: going on. I can kind of come into the meeting 649 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 3: and people are like. 650 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 4: Oh, she drinks boba. Yeah she drinks boba. Oh what 651 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:37,960 Speaker 4: kind of boba? You know? 652 00:40:38,239 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 3: And so it helped me to get out of just 653 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:45,319 Speaker 3: the cookie cutterness of campaigns and so I have some 654 00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:50,040 Speaker 3: really interesting affirmations in there that are things like related 655 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:52,279 Speaker 3: to the bubble tea, but then also things that are 656 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 3: about your aspirations for the world, Like I'm so glad 657 00:40:57,080 --> 00:41:01,959 Speaker 3: that I wrote the affirmation we can win without war 658 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 3: in my book back in twenty twenty one, because I. 659 00:41:08,040 --> 00:41:09,920 Speaker 4: Still feel that way. 660 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 3: I still feel like the binary conversations that are happening 661 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:14,760 Speaker 3: about global justice right now. 662 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:18,200 Speaker 4: We can win this without the war. We really can. 663 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:20,520 Speaker 4: We got to figure it out. 664 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:27,160 Speaker 3: But letting folks write their own affirmations, I'm hopeful will 665 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,759 Speaker 3: bring them closer to their communities too, and then be 666 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 3: like a journal that they can look back on in 667 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:36,959 Speaker 3: their candidate experience and not feel like it's all washed 668 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:37,439 Speaker 3: over them. 669 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. You know, one of the affirmations that kind of 670 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:42,799 Speaker 2: surprised me when I was ringing through it was I 671 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:46,399 Speaker 2: will hold myself accountable because that's not the typical that's 672 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:49,239 Speaker 2: not the typical affirmation that you you know, like we 673 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:51,880 Speaker 2: might joke about, I feel good today, I feel pretty 674 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:54,279 Speaker 2: all these things. But that was a surprising one because 675 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:56,560 Speaker 2: I'm like, ah, that's some real talk to yourself, Like 676 00:41:56,719 --> 00:41:59,879 Speaker 2: that's that's an interesting affirmation in understanding that you're gonna 677 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:03,160 Speaker 2: have to take a minute and realize what that actually means. 678 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,040 Speaker 2: But with that, for us who are just trying to 679 00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:11,160 Speaker 2: get through this year and hopefully not have a horrible, 680 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:15,560 Speaker 2: horrible result, can you share a good affirmation for us 681 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:17,680 Speaker 2: to start with, because that's not a typical thing that 682 00:42:17,719 --> 00:42:18,040 Speaker 2: I do. 683 00:42:18,760 --> 00:42:20,160 Speaker 4: Yes, we are. 684 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:26,360 Speaker 3: Of the practice that we practice. So if we practice 685 00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 3: to not vote, we are going to continue to see 686 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:35,560 Speaker 3: our access to the ballot go away. If we practice 687 00:42:35,840 --> 00:42:42,400 Speaker 3: being in positivity with our neighbors, like not being gentrifiers 688 00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:47,000 Speaker 3: who call the police on black people, then we too 689 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:52,400 Speaker 3: will probably face better circumstances when it comes to our policing, 690 00:42:52,480 --> 00:43:00,120 Speaker 3: our mortality. And as legislators, we jump out of the 691 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:05,920 Speaker 3: legislative session into the campaign cycle overnight. But for voters, 692 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 3: this is going to feel like a long time, like 693 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:12,920 Speaker 3: just from March until November. And so what are the 694 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:17,280 Speaker 3: practices that you can put in to make this chunky, 695 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:20,759 Speaker 3: to make this soup have some taste, to give it 696 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 3: a vegetable and a tofu. And so I'm hopeful that 697 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:27,640 Speaker 3: people will be like, oh, you know what, I could 698 00:43:27,719 --> 00:43:31,640 Speaker 3: do a voter registration check on my neighbors. I could 699 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:34,600 Speaker 3: text five people and ask them before the voter registration 700 00:43:34,719 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 3: deadline if they're registered. I could go to a rally 701 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:41,520 Speaker 3: or plan a rally, like I could decide to drive 702 00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:44,040 Speaker 3: some people to the polls and then I could vote. 703 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:48,880 Speaker 3: So hopefully we are you know of the practice that 704 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:50,399 Speaker 3: we practice like it. 705 00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:52,719 Speaker 2: I like that you also added tofu like that's that's 706 00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:58,080 Speaker 2: not difficult, like it's a super over here, soa and 707 00:43:58,160 --> 00:44:01,640 Speaker 2: I love having to to all of it. Kimchichi k 708 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:05,160 Speaker 2: all the tofou play, thank you. Yeah, and uh, you've 709 00:44:05,200 --> 00:44:07,600 Speaker 2: done so much and you've kind of already talked about 710 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:10,440 Speaker 2: it because you were talking about ballobagazing and realizing that 711 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:16,120 Speaker 2: you need to leave some of the darkness when it 712 00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:19,600 Speaker 2: comes to policy being in government work behind and let 713 00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:21,440 Speaker 2: it off of you a little bit. But can you 714 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:24,000 Speaker 2: tell us some things that you are some other of 715 00:44:24,040 --> 00:44:27,480 Speaker 2: the things, or just even go into more detail on 716 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:31,160 Speaker 2: how you try to relax and pause from the chaos 717 00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:32,160 Speaker 2: of all of this. 718 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:36,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I learned from the legislator who left the seat 719 00:44:36,680 --> 00:44:46,960 Speaker 3: before me that burning out happened within a system of people, 720 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:50,120 Speaker 3: within a group of people, and it's not always personal. 721 00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:54,120 Speaker 3: So when I'm seeing other legislators be like, I don't 722 00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:56,759 Speaker 3: want to qualify for reelection. I can't deal with this 723 00:44:56,880 --> 00:45:00,239 Speaker 3: constituent reaching out to me about cop city, I don't 724 00:45:00,239 --> 00:45:04,319 Speaker 3: know what to say about issues that are global or 725 00:45:04,360 --> 00:45:07,240 Speaker 3: domestic issues, or I don't want to be a surrogate 726 00:45:07,320 --> 00:45:11,200 Speaker 3: for this person. I can start to hear the burnout 727 00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:16,720 Speaker 3: happening too, and I can be somewhere, maybe further along 728 00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:19,920 Speaker 3: in my healing process to help them along too, And 729 00:45:19,960 --> 00:45:22,239 Speaker 3: I can just ask them like, hey, you do know 730 00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:24,840 Speaker 3: that there's this one organization that will pay for a 731 00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:27,439 Speaker 3: therapist for us, or hey, do you want to come 732 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:30,279 Speaker 3: with me and work out before session? And I'm not 733 00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:34,120 Speaker 3: solving all the issues that they have, but just kind 734 00:45:34,120 --> 00:45:38,799 Speaker 3: of calming the collective burnout in some ways is important. 735 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:40,960 Speaker 3: And then when people decide that they do want to 736 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:42,800 Speaker 3: move on, that they are going to run for something 737 00:45:42,880 --> 00:45:45,719 Speaker 3: higher or they're not going to run for reelection, like 738 00:45:45,840 --> 00:45:50,040 Speaker 3: really taking the time to not just forget them. They've 739 00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:52,360 Speaker 3: served the state of Georgia and there are a number 740 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:54,360 Speaker 3: of people who are not going to run for reelection 741 00:45:54,840 --> 00:45:57,879 Speaker 3: who I am right now starting to figure out, well, 742 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:00,560 Speaker 3: what will my friendship look like with them? And what 743 00:46:00,640 --> 00:46:02,640 Speaker 3: are the things that maybe I can learn from them 744 00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:05,720 Speaker 3: in their time here so that I can continue forward. 745 00:46:06,280 --> 00:46:08,560 Speaker 3: So check on your legislators, you know what I mean. Like, 746 00:46:09,840 --> 00:46:11,560 Speaker 3: we need y'all to check on us. We need to 747 00:46:11,640 --> 00:46:14,640 Speaker 3: check on each other. We need a lot of help. 748 00:46:15,680 --> 00:46:17,279 Speaker 2: Let's go ballroom dancing. No, I'm just kidding. 749 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:20,800 Speaker 4: I don't want to go Friday nights here dance studio. 750 00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:26,799 Speaker 3: It is three okay, it is open floor and there 751 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:30,600 Speaker 3: are instructors there, and you just come in, get you 752 00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:36,480 Speaker 3: a little savisa or a little wine water, gatorade, whatever you like, 753 00:46:37,280 --> 00:46:40,840 Speaker 3: and then they'll call out like chatcha, and then everyone 754 00:46:40,840 --> 00:46:43,560 Speaker 3: goes to the floor and you know the chat scha. 755 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:46,319 Speaker 3: You know it's a specific step, and so then they'll 756 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:50,240 Speaker 3: start calling it out one two three cha cha cha 757 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:53,879 Speaker 3: two three chat chat ya, and so you just kind 758 00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:56,359 Speaker 3: of start getting in where you're fitting in. The song 759 00:46:56,560 --> 00:46:59,800 Speaker 3: is over, then they'll call for sasa one two three 760 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:04,160 Speaker 3: one two three one two three one two three, and so. 761 00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:05,279 Speaker 2: People kick it in. 762 00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:07,439 Speaker 4: You could you could you gonna make it? 763 00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:09,520 Speaker 2: I'll just say, I feel like I'm getting a lesson. 764 00:47:10,080 --> 00:47:13,200 Speaker 2: I stick with Zoomba. That's the very least like I'm 765 00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:15,040 Speaker 2: gonna do some zoomba. That's that's the level. 766 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:18,680 Speaker 4: It has elements of it all. So that's excellent. 767 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:22,319 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it so much. Well, thank you, 768 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:24,600 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you so much for taking the time 769 00:47:25,320 --> 00:47:27,799 Speaker 1: to be here with us today. Hopefully we'll have you back. 770 00:47:27,840 --> 00:47:29,320 Speaker 1: Hopefully you'll be a recurring guest. 771 00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:34,040 Speaker 2: I would love quicker than this though years. 772 00:47:35,120 --> 00:47:38,160 Speaker 1: No, yeah, not every four years. We we should shorten that. 773 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:41,960 Speaker 1: That gay. But where can the good listeners find you? 774 00:47:42,320 --> 00:47:42,719 Speaker 4: Right now? 775 00:47:42,760 --> 00:47:45,920 Speaker 3: I'm at the State Capitol in room six o seven, 776 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:50,440 Speaker 3: and that is where you can come hang out in 777 00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:53,080 Speaker 3: my pink and blue chairs. I have a pink desk. 778 00:47:53,719 --> 00:47:58,240 Speaker 3: The girl has signs that support folks of all backgrounds 779 00:47:58,680 --> 00:48:02,560 Speaker 3: and a really diverse team. After April, we will be 780 00:48:02,680 --> 00:48:07,799 Speaker 3: at the Lola, which is our community coworking space. It's 781 00:48:07,840 --> 00:48:11,960 Speaker 3: a femme owned and operated coworking space across from Pont 782 00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:14,920 Speaker 3: City Market, So come check us out at the Lola. 783 00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:18,919 Speaker 3: And then heading up to November, we will be going 784 00:48:18,960 --> 00:48:22,879 Speaker 3: across this country to try to raise money for Democrats 785 00:48:22,960 --> 00:48:26,960 Speaker 3: in Georgia. We will be at the DNC in August 786 00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:30,960 Speaker 3: in Chicago, and all times in between we will be 787 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:35,480 Speaker 3: on Instagram having a good time at Park Canon fifty eight. 788 00:48:36,239 --> 00:48:40,480 Speaker 1: Yes, I love it. I love it so much, Thank you, 789 00:48:40,840 --> 00:48:44,120 Speaker 1: thank you again, and we'll be we'll be in touch 790 00:48:44,320 --> 00:48:47,520 Speaker 1: about future future discussions. 791 00:48:46,880 --> 00:48:50,680 Speaker 2: More things, maybe dancing. I want to see eighty bottom dance. 792 00:48:51,360 --> 00:48:53,600 Speaker 4: Yes, I love it. 793 00:48:53,640 --> 00:48:55,359 Speaker 3: And we would also love to have y'all a day 794 00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:58,080 Speaker 3: at the Capitol one day, you know, like sometimes we 795 00:48:58,160 --> 00:49:01,000 Speaker 3: invite different media folks and they brought cast live from there, 796 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:04,640 Speaker 3: or we set up certain interviews, or you can just 797 00:49:04,680 --> 00:49:05,400 Speaker 3: come for a tour. 798 00:49:05,600 --> 00:49:05,839 Speaker 4: You know. 799 00:49:06,320 --> 00:49:08,080 Speaker 3: Have you all seen the two headed cow and the 800 00:49:08,080 --> 00:49:08,880 Speaker 3: two headed snake? 801 00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:11,240 Speaker 2: You know, the last time I was at the Capitol, 802 00:49:11,280 --> 00:49:13,200 Speaker 2: I really think it was my eighth grade trip. So 803 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:17,040 Speaker 2: it's been a hot minute. Like I'm not gonna age 804 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:20,680 Speaker 2: myself but over Yeah, it's been a long time. 805 00:49:21,840 --> 00:49:23,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, we sound it. 806 00:49:23,640 --> 00:49:25,600 Speaker 3: I would love to have y'all come visit me one 807 00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:27,360 Speaker 3: day and thank you again for having me. 808 00:49:27,600 --> 00:49:30,200 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for coming on such a joy. 809 00:49:30,360 --> 00:49:30,840 Speaker 4: I love this. 810 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:34,080 Speaker 1: If you would like to find us listeners, you can. 811 00:49:34,360 --> 00:49:37,560 Speaker 1: Our email is Stephanie Mom steph atiheartmedia dot com. You 812 00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:39,520 Speaker 1: can find us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, or 813 00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:41,680 Speaker 1: on Instagram and TikTok at Stuff when they never told you. 814 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:43,440 Speaker 1: We have a tea public store, and we have a 815 00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:45,480 Speaker 1: book that you could get wherever you get your books. 816 00:49:45,719 --> 00:49:48,720 Speaker 1: Thanks as always too our super producer Christina or executive 817 00:49:48,719 --> 00:49:51,839 Speaker 1: producer Maya, and your contributor Joey. Thank you and thanks 818 00:49:51,880 --> 00:49:53,880 Speaker 1: to you for listening stuff I ever told you. Suspection 819 00:49:53,880 --> 00:49:55,919 Speaker 1: by Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, 820 00:49:55,920 --> 00:49:57,960 Speaker 1: you can check out the heart Radio app, Apple podcast, 821 00:49:58,000 --> 00:49:59,520 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite show.