The Electorette

Latest Episodes:

Are Governors The New Power Players in U.S. Politics? A Conversation with Ofirah Yheskel Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Electorette, I’m joined by Ofirah Yheskel, Director of External Affairs for the Democratic Governors Association, to unpack the growing national influence of Democratic governors—especially in the face of Republican extremism and Trump-aligned policymaking.

We discuss two high-stakes gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill are stepping up to defend reproductive rights, protect access to healthcare, and push back against anti-democratic efforts like gerrymandering and Medicaid cuts. Their races aren't just local—they're national bellwethers for what’s ahead in the 2026 midterms.

From canceled medical debt in Michigan to creative policy leadership in states like Arizona and Illinois, this conversation spotlights how Democratic governors are becoming the last line of defense—and the first line of progress. Whether you live in a battleground state or not, now is the time to pay attention.

(00:00) The Role of Democratic Governors

Democratic governors protect civil rights, reproductive rights, and healthcare against federal challenges, emphasizing the importance of electing Democratic governors in upcoming races.

(08:11) Governor's Races

Virginia and New Jersey's pivotal elections feature bipartisan candidates Spanberger and Sherrill, challenging extreme Republican policies on healthcare and reproductive rights.

(16:28) Preparing for Critical Governor's Races

Democratic governors shape national politics, DGA involvement, battleground states, open seats, supporting candidates, and staying informed.

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Diplomacy vs. Disaster: Sara Haghdoosti on Building a Progressive Foreign Policy Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

What does a truly progressive foreign policy look like—and what happens when we abandon it?

Foreign policy often feels like a conversation for elites. But in this episode, Sara Haghdoosti, Executive Director of Win Without War, argues otherwise. She joins Jen Taylor-Skinner to unpack how the collapse of diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran—and Israel’s recent strikes—have pushed the world dangerously close to a wider war.

Together, they explore the long-term consequences of abandoning the Iran nuclear deal, the myth that Americans don’t care about foreign policy, and how militarism abroad fuels violence and repression at home. Most importantly, Sara explains why people-led movements—not politicians—are our best hope for peace.

They also discuss the critical role of women at the negotiating table, the urgent need to demystify foreign policy, and how today’s most pressing threats—like climate change and displacement—can only be solved through diplomacy.

(00:01) US Foreign Policy in the Middle East

Israel-Iran tensions, human impact, historical context of Iran nuclear deal, role of sanctions, and importance of people-led movements for peace.

(11:19) Progressive Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Solutions

Foreign policy, racism, and domestic impact are explored, emphasizing the need for progressive diplomacy and civil society's power in shaping political discourse.

(20:00) Reimagining US Foreign Policy and Diplomacy

Feminist activism, female leadership, grassroots organizing, and broadening perspectives in U.S. foreign policy.

(33:13) Challenging Islamophobia and Building Progress

Society's progress in combating Islamophobia, resistance to divisive rhetoric, and interconnectedness for a safer world.

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Beyond Protest: Kelly Hall on the Power of Ballot Measures When Democracy Fails Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Electorette, host Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Kelly Hall, Executive Director of The Fairness Project, to discuss how ballot measures are transforming the political landscape. As congressional dysfunction deepens and the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" threatens vital programs like Medicaid, direct democracy offers a bold and effective workaround.

Kelly breaks down the Fairness Project’s 2024 wins—where voters in red states overturned abortion bans, raised the minimum wage, and expanded healthcare access. These aren’t just policy victories; they’re blueprints for bypassing broken institutions and reclaiming power from unresponsive lawmakers. Ballot initiatives not only protect rights under attack—they can reshape public consensus and influence national debates.

From lawsuits to signature drives, and from grassroots momentum to constitutional amendments, this conversation is both a reality check and a call to action. Whether you live in a red state, blue state, or somewhere in between, ballot initiatives may be the most underused—and urgently needed—tool we have to defend democracy.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Empowering Voters Through Ballot Initiatives

Ballot initiatives empower citizens to enact change on critical issues in conservative states, influencing the national narrative.

(12:25) The Power of Direct Democracy

Citizen-initiated ballot measures serve as a tool for marginalized groups in red states, while corporations use them in blue states.

(24:14) Expanding Impact of Ballot Initiatives

Citizen-initiated ballot measures challenge conservative agendas and shape national discourse on reproductive rights, healthcare, and minimum wage.

(37:36) Mobilizing for Direct Democracy

Ballot measures are a democratic tool for change, but face challenges such as signature collection and threats from lawmakers.

(45:07) Getting Involved With Fairness Project

Nature's timeline and stages of ballot measures, engaging with the Fairness Project, personal reflections, and a call to action.

#BallotMeasures #FairnessProject #ReproductiveRights #DirectDemocracy #Medicaid #MinimumWage #TheElectorette #AbortionRights #PoliticalPodcast #CivicPower #FightBack #BigBeautifulBill #KellyHall #RedStateResistance #DemocracyInAction

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The Big Beautiful Lie: Jessica Fulton on What the 2025 Budget Bill Really Means for Black Households Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Electorette, host Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Jessica Fulton, senior fellow with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, about the 2025 budget bill—rebranded by conservatives as the "Big Beautiful Bill"—and the devastating consequences it could have for Black households.

Rooted in the Joint Center’s policy brief, Centering Black Households in the 2025 Tax Debate, the conversation exposes how proposals like extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would continue to funnel wealth to high-income, disproportionately white households—while offering temporary, shallow benefits to working-class families. Jessica explains how policies that sound equitable on the surface—like tax deductions for tipped workers, child tax credits, and overtime exemptions—actually reinforce economic exclusion.

Together, they explore how tax policy has long been used as a tool of racialized wealth-building and why understanding these “wonky” details is essential to building a more equitable economy. They also touch on the dangers of cutting Pell Grants, dismantling agencies that support Black-owned businesses, and using budget reconciliation to pass policies that will have generational consequences.

This episode is a powerful call for greater transparency, stronger advocacy, and inclusive policymaking that truly supports all families—not just the wealthiest.

Episode Chapters:

(00:00) Tax Code, Wealth, and Racial Inequality

The Federal Tax Code perpetuates racial inequality, with implications for Black households, through policies like the 2025 Budget Bill.

(12:23) Tax Policy and Racial Disparities

Changes to child tax credit privilege higher-income households, exclude poorest families, and perpetuate systemic inequities.

(23:56) Tax Policy and Worker Income

Nature's financial burdens on low-income workers, tax treatment of tips and overtime pay, and erosion of worker protections.

(27:28) Tax Policies and Working Class Disadvantages

Tax policies can privilege certain workers, have political motivations, and create disparities between demographic groups.

(39:47) Tax Code and Racial Disparities

Examining how race affects taxation and economic disparities, and the importance of understanding and challenging these systems.

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More Than a Seat: Amanda Edwards on Legacy, Leadership, and the Fight for Texas’s 18th Congressional District Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Electorette, Amanda Edwards, candidate for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, joins host Jennifer Taylor-Skinner for a powerful conversation about legacy, leadership, and what it means to truly serve. A native of Houston’s 18th District, Edwards shares her deep personal ties to the community and reflects on the seat’s profound history—once held by trailblazers like Barbara Jordan and Sheila Jackson Lee.

Edwards discusses the impact of Governor Greg Abbott’s delay in calling a special election, which has left nearly 800,000 residents without representation during a time of crisis. From federal budget cuts to hurricane preparedness, she outlines why this moment demands urgent, community-centered leadership.

The conversation also delves into the disconnect between elected officials and constituents, with Edwards highlighting her commitment to restoring trust and accountability. She shares personal stories—like her father’s battle with cancer and her post-Harvey recovery work—and lays out her vision for building policies that support education, economic opportunity, and reproductive justice.

Edwards makes a compelling case for re-engaging disillusioned voters and ensuring that representation is not just symbolic, but truly transformative.

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The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück: Inside Hitler’s All-Female Concentration Camp Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with bestselling author Lynne Olson about her powerful new book, The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück. The conversation unearths the little-known history of French women—many from the resistance—who were captured and sent to Ravensbrück, the Nazis’ only all-female concentration camp.

Though they faced starvation, disease, forced labor, and the constant threat of execution, these women refused to surrender their dignity—or their purpose. They built a covert network inside the camp, shared banned news, sabotaged Nazi efforts, and supported one another through quiet but unwavering acts of resistance.

Olson’s research and storytelling illuminate the strength of ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances—and how their defiance, though often silent, continues to echo today.

This episode is a tribute to their memory, their courage, and a timely reminder that resistance takes many forms—and every act counts.

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Sarah Kate Ellis on the Slingshot Effect: Fighting Back with Joy and Power May 28, 2025

Show notes

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis joins The Electorette to talk about how we push forward in a moment of backlash. From corporate rollbacks on DEI to the rise of hate-fueled content online, we explore the forces working to dismantle progress—and how collective power, storytelling, and unapologetic joy can be our sharpest tools for resistance. Sarah Kate shares her “slingshot theory” of progress, and offers a rallying cry to prepare for the next election—and the long game ahead.

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Before the 14th: Black Activists and the Battle for Citizenship May 16, 2025

Show notes

In light of this week's Supreme Court hearing that could redefine birthright citizenship in the United States, we’re revisiting one of our most insightful episodes from 2019.

Historian and legal scholar Martha S. Jones joins The Electorette to discuss her groundbreaking book, Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America. In this conversation, Professor Jones traces the legal and political battles waged by free Black Americans in the decades before the Civil War—activists who challenged the idea that citizenship was the exclusive domain of white Americans. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the 14th Amendment and reshaped the meaning of belonging in a multiracial democracy.

This episode explores the deep historical roots of birthright citizenship, its radical origins in Black freedom struggles, and the enduring threats it faces today. Whether you’re new to the topic or returning to it with fresh urgency, this conversation offers critical context for understanding the legal, moral, and democratic stakes.

(00:00) The History of Birthright Citizenship

Professor Jones and I revisit the critical history of birthright citizenship in America, exploring the struggles of formerly enslaved Black Americans.

(06:57) Interpreting the Constitution for Citizenship

Free African Americans used military service and economic contributions to advocate for citizenship and equality, utilizing their legal literacy and the omission of race in early constitutional texts.

(16:43) Debating Citizenship and Colonization

William Yates, a white abolitionist, authored "The Rights of Colored Men" to align abolitionism with the founding ideals of the US.

(28:44) Threats to Citizenship and Forced Removal

Former slaves pursued citizenship in the US to avoid colonization, but faced fears and pressures, leading to self-deportation and parallels with modern immigration policies.

(43:41) Global Implications of Citizenship Debate

Political and humanitarian debates have global implications and contribute to ongoing crises, emphasizing the need for vigilance and awareness.

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The ACLU vs. Trump’s Executive Order: A Legal Fight to Protect the Vote May 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Electorette, host Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Sophia Lin Lakin, Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, to discuss the organization’s leading legal challenge against a dangerous new executive order from Donald Trump. While the SAVE Act has stalled in the Senate, this executive order picks up where it left off—imposing a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration and threatening to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. Lakin breaks down the overlapping threats, including mass voter roll purges and the decertification of voting machines that could throw election systems into chaos. This conversation is a critical look at how the ACLU is working to defend voting rights and prevent the erosion of our democratic institutions.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Disenfranchisement Through Voting Restrictions

Discussion of ACLU lawsuit against Trump's executive order on voter registration, potential disenfranchisement, and impact on voting machines.

(12:36) Challenging Voter Registration Provisions

A court has issued an injunction against an executive order changing voter registration, impacting organizations and upcoming elections.

(25:49) Protecting Voter Rights and Elections

Establishing safeguards and rules to protect voters and democracy in the face of polarization and erosion of norms.

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Who Gets to Choose Your Doctor? The Supreme Court Case That Could Reshape Medicaid May 01, 2025

Show notes

What happens when states gain the power to decide which healthcare providers Medicaid recipients can access? In this episode, host Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Elizabeth Taylor, Executive Director of the National Health Law Program, to break down the high-stakes Supreme Court case Medina v. South Atlantic. At its core, the case challenges whether individuals have the right to choose their own healthcare provider under Medicaid—a right that could be stripped away, with profound implications for reproductive health, gender-affirming care, and essential services for low-income, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Together, they explore how this case—and others like Health and Hospital Corp. v. Talevski—could reshape the legal tools individuals have to protect their healthcare rights, especially as conservative state leaders target clinics like Planned Parenthood. Elizabeth Taylor offers critical insight into the legal landscape, the political motivations behind these efforts, and why protecting Medicaid access is more urgent than ever.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about reproductive justice, healthcare equity, and the future of Medicaid.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Medicaid Recipients' Right to Choose Providers

Medicaid recipients' right to choose health care providers, implications for access to care, and private enforcement of Medicaid rights.

(10:56) Enforcing Medicaid Rights and Protections

Supreme Court case impacts Medicaid rights enforcement, Section 1983 crucial for individual enforcement, potential threats to access to healthcare.

(21:03) The Future of Medicaid and Healthcare

Medicaid's critical role in providing sexual and reproductive health services, potential consequences of cutting funding, and the importance of treating healthcare as a public good.

(27:53) Potential Impact of State Prevailing

State's victory in legal case could lead to loss of healthcare rights for low-income individuals. Stay informed on timeline and thank Elizabeth Taylor for coverage.

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