Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Latest Episodes:

ACLU’s Cecillia Wang on the Legal Battle Against Trump Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

ACLU Legal Director Cecillia Wang explains the strategy behind Trump’s barrage of executive orders to reverse decades of progress and unleash the power of the federal government against anyone who is not a straight, white man.

She describes his overall goal of creating “in-groups” vs. “out-groups” of people by attacking the structural reforms of Reconstruction, scapegoating immigrants, and targeting trans youth. Cecillia shares the country’s history of anti-immigration policy and how Trump’s attacks on immigration have shifted from his first term. She also discusses the importance of mass movement alongside legal action in fighting for social justice and equality.

Cecillia reminds listeners that we are not starting from scratch and that despite America’s history of racism and exclusion, there is also a rich legacy of struggle and progress.

REFERENCES:

Cecillia Wang, ACLU National Legal Director - Bio

RSVP for the ACLU's Know Your Rights Trainings

Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson Is Excited for the Power of the People Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Former co-executive director of the Highlander Center Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson shares why this moment is ripe for transformative social change towards justice and progress.

Ash-Lee discusses the role and impact of Highlander, including its legacy of identifying and supporting movement leaders from the Civil Rights era to the Black Lives Matter movement. She also shares why she remains excited at this moment, despite increased attacks on American democracy.

REFERENCES:

Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson - @_AshDashLee_

Virginia is for Lovers of Democracy Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Tram Nguyen co-executive director of New Virginia Majority, returns to the show to help break down why Virginia remains at the forefront of what progressive change can look like and what can happen when we transform a state. She discusses how she decided on her vote to help elect the new head of the DNC and shares her experiences as an Asian American growing up in Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. She also explains how Medicaid expansion became an electoral tool for pushing progressive policy in the Virginia legislature and the critical races happening in the state in 2025, including the race for governor and House races where the multiracial coalition can make a true difference.

References:

Tram Nguyen - @tramNVM

New Virginia Majority - Website / @NewVAMajority

The End of the Trump Era with Maurice Mitchell Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

The beginning—and the end—of the Trump era is here.

National Director Maurice Mitchell returns to the show for a three-peat to discuss how the Working Families Party (WFP) is approaching these next four years under Trump and why they’ve dubbed the next ten years as the “Working Families’ Decade.”

Maurice lays out a compelling vision for the future of American politics and explains why he and the WFP see an opportunity to fill the inevitable gaps that will emerge during Trump’s presidency as he toes the line between the billionaire coalition and some disillusioned working-class voters.

He explains what Democrats need to do as they recalibrate and why the “woke-ism” debates are a distraction from the real issues facing the multiracial working class.

References:

Maurice Mitchell - @mauricewfp.bsky.social

Working Families Party - workingfamilies.org

"Left Organizing Is in Crisis. Philanthropy Is a Major Reason Why" by Nina Luo, The Nation

Looking Ahead to 2025 Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Happy New Year!

To kick off 2025, Steve and Sharline look ahead to 2025 and dig into key areas of focus as we enter a new Trump administration.

They discuss three dominant yet fundamentally incorrect mainstream narratives about the 2024 election. In addition, they survey the current race for the next DNC chair, including the lack of diverse candidates. They also highlight the slate of key members of Congress we’ll be watching from Texas’ Greg Casar to Arizona’s Ruben Gallego to California’s Lateefah Simon.

Building Solidarity with USC Professor Manuel Pastor Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

For our final episode of the year, Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity, joins Steve and Sharline to discuss lessons learned from this year’s presidential election including how to understand Latino political identity and the role of narrative and messaging in building broad coalitions.

Manuel touches on the dangerous rise of technoauthoritarianism and shares his framework for how progressives can and should be thinking about geography and political strategy.

REFERENCES:

Manuel Pastor - X: @Prof_MPastor & Bluesky: @profmpastor.bsky.social

Self Care Is Radical Work with Somatics Coach Viveka Chen Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Let’s pause for a moment and remember that we need to take care of ourselves.

Leadership coach, transformative justice practitioner, and somatics coach Viveka Chen (she/they) discusses the intersection of personal healing and collective liberation. Viveka shares insights from their work helping activists, organizers, and community leaders build resilience and foster connection in the face of systemic injustice.

Viveka discusses healthy ways to deepen our capacity for change, how to transform burnout into sustainable action, and she shares grounding practices for getting through the holiday season and beyond.

Viveka, Steve, and Sharline also share how they’re each finding gratitude in this moment and take a moment to breathe deeply and reflect.

REFERENCES:

Viveka Chen - Strozzi Institute

co-LAB Collective's Radical Sabbatical

co-LAB Collective's Helpful Frameworks for Hard Times

When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse // Norma Wong

Where We Go From Here: Post-Election 2024 Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

Steve and Sharline reflect on the results of the 2024 election and where we go from here as a nation. They share how they’re processing their feelings and discuss top takeaways of this election cycle including the impact of sexism, how to understand the exit polls, and changing voter dynamics across the country.

They also lift up lessons learned and future strategies centered around state and local elections, as well as key leaders, groups, and organizations that will be central to the fight for a multiracial democracy in the coming months and years.

REFERENCES:

Steve's Recs for what to do and who to support:

Subscribe to: Stacey Abrams' Assembly Required podcast
Get involved with: Working Families Party
Learn about: Michael Tubbs
Support: LUCHA
Follow: Congressman Greg Casar

All Eyes on Pennsylvania Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

Philadelphia-based journalist Ernest Owens joins Steve and Sharline to share how things are shaping up in one of Democrats’ most critical states leading up to Election Day. Ernest describes the current energy in the state and the nuanced levels of engagement he’s witnessing compared to previous elections. He shares what’s top of mind for Black voters in Philly including his take on the media’s hand-wringing about Black male voters.

References:

Ernest Owens - ernestowens.com @mrernestowens

Understanding the Black Male Vote with Perry Bacon Jr. Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

The media can’t seem to stop talking about Black men. So, we decided to do something radical: let two Black men discuss Black men. Washington Post opinion columnist Perry Bacon Jr. returns to the show to share his thoughts on where VP Harris’ race stands, how he’s thinking about Black voters, and the evolving media landscape in this election.

REFERENCES:

Perry Bacon Jr - Washington Post, @PerryBaconJr & @perrybaconjr.bsky.social

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