Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joins Steve for a live conversation at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle about the growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world. Drawing from his new book, Chain of Ideas, Kendi explains how fear, division, and "Great Replacement" narratives are being used to undermine democracy and consolidate power. Together, he and Steve explore the connections between racism, political power, demographic change, and the fight for a multiracial democracy. They discuss why expanding democracy—not retreating from it—is the path forward and what it will take to build the broad coalition needed to meet this moment. REFERENCES: Ibram X. Kendi - ibramxkendi.com // @ibramxk Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age - Penguin Random House

The 19th News’ childcare and economy reporter Chabeli Carrazana discusses the unique beat she’s formed and why reporting on the economy from a gender lens matters. Chabeli explains how the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted women of color, and she discusses the challenges faced by immigrant childcare workers in the wake of Trump’s immigration crackdowns. She shares the undue burden LGBTQ+ mothers face when it comes to healthcare, and she gives insight into the groundbreaking universal childcare program implemented in New Mexico. She also points to NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s agenda as a possible model for the next wave of universal childcare. REFERENCES: Chabeli Carrazzana - @ChabeliC_ The 19th News - Author Bio & Articles Breaking the News - Documentary

Somos Votantes founder and president Melissa Morales returns to discuss the critical role of the Latino electorate and what her organization is hearing from voters about our current political climate. She unpacks how voter behavior among Latino communities shifted from 2020 to 2024 and the impact of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign to be the first woman president of the United States. Morales also explains recent polling data that shows waning support among Latinos for Trump’s policies, particularly as it relates to the economy and looming threats of deportation by ICE in immigrant communities. REFERENCES Somos Votantes - somosvotantes.com // @SomosVotantes "Trump's Standing with Latino Voters Beginning to Collapse as Latino Men and Young Voters Decisively Turn Away" - Poll

San Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer, and longtime observer of California politics, Joe Garofoli offers historical and political context to California’s growing role as a bastion against the Trump administration’s march towards fascism. He breaks down the upcoming November ballot measure to redistrict the state and neutralize the five additional Republican seats created in Texas. He also shares his view of Governor Gavin Newsom’s political trajectory, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ next move, and what all of this spells for 2026 and 2028. REFERENCES: Joe Garofoli - @joegarofoli // San Francisco Chronicle

Emmy Ruiz, former advisor to the President during the Biden-Harris administration, and White House director of political strategy and outreach, returns to discuss the redistricting showdown in Texas. She dives into the impact of gerrymandering on democracy, and offers her thoughts on the response from Democratic-led states to Republicans' redistricting efforts. She also shares her insights on grassroots organizing, mobilizing voter turnout in key districts, and the evolving landscape of Latino voter behavior. REFERENCES: Emmy Ruiz - Twitter/X

In this re-release of our 100th episode, Erin Heaney, executive director of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), discusses the role of white allyship in the fight for justice and a multiracial democracy. REFERENCES: If you’d like to volunteer with SURJ, you can join their remote SURJ Action Hours: Summer to Grow, Turn Up the Heat campaign that takes place every other Wednesday through the summer or you can find an in-person meeting near you. On August 5 and 12, SURJ is also hosting a 2-part remote training session on how to show up for immigrant communities. Erin Heaney, Executive Director, SURJ - @heaney_erin SURJ - @showup4rj and surj.org "Progressives want to grow the ‘White Stripe’ of a multiracial coalition" Politico Transcript (unedited)

Deepak Bhargava, president of the Movement Action Fund, discusses the reality of the moment we’re facing and what it’s going to take to win back our democratic freedoms. He shares what history, both at home and abroad, can teach us about defending ourselves against fascism and authoritarianism and he explains why the “Sue, Protest, Vote” framework is not robust enough anymore. Deepak shares lessons learned from civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson, including how to engage nonviolent resistance as a way of life and he dives into what works and what doesn’t when it comes to winning power and protecting our rights. REFERENCES: Deepak Bhargava - Practical Radicals "We are no longer free. But we can win our freedom back" The Guardian q5xYpEyyhUhmJYLlA5qL