Louisiana Lefty

With this episode, it's the end of an era, as host Lynda Woolard closes out the Louisiana Lefty podcast. She goes through the current social media upheaval, the precarious situation with journalistic media, and the unsure political world we are heading into, as well as how she is approaching this new landscape. For now, follow Lynda Woolard here: BlueSky Substack You can continue to access archived Louisiana Lefty content on podcast apps, YouTube and our LouisianaLefty.Rocks website. If you plan to stay on any of the Meta properties, please read this article and consider making changes to your settings: So You're NOT Leaving Facebook Look through Lynda's initial suggestions for trustworthy media, which will be added to and updated regularly here. Find the Local Journalism Directory compiled by the  Media and Democracy Project here. The first 4 years of awardees of the Louisiana Organizer of the Month will remain archived on Louisiana Lefty's Facebook, Instagram and website. To keep up with future Louisiana Organizers of the Month, follow Step Up Louisiana: Facebook Instagram Twitter Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard talks with Kaitlyn Joshua, Louisiana organizer, wife and mom, and - over the last year - a central figure in the presidential campaign's Reproductive Freedom Tour. Learn more about Kaitlyn's miscarriage story. Learn more about Abortion America. Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram and TikTok (for now). Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard talks with New Orleans immigration lawyer Kathleen Gasparian as the nation prepares for a second Trump presidency.  You can connect with Gasparian Spivey Immigration through their website, Instagram, and Facebook. Listed are several of the immigration groups that need your support now: ISLA Home is Here New Orleans Project Ishmael Hagar's House Catholic Charities ALAS RAICES KIND Vera Institute ACLU SPLC Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Nick Laborde, Democratic candidate for Louisiana Public Service Commissioner, talks to host Lynda Woolard about the most important regulatory body Louisianans don't know about and the historic opportunity on Louisiana ballots this year. Find out more about Nick at nickforla.com. Follow Nick on Instagram and TikTok. Help talk to voters about Nick's campaign by visiting the Louisiana Democratic Party's “Do Something” page and making calls. Find out if Nick is on your ballot at GeauxVote.com. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, it's GO TIME! We give you a break down on the state of the presidential race and how to get engaged now to help turn out our voters. Our Dem professor, Stephen Handwerk, joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about this year's elections and future opportunities for Democrats in Louisiana.  Find ways to engage through our Krewe of Kamala Resource Guide: bit.ly/KreweOfKamala Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard shares info about her move to Delaware and the future of Louisiana Lefty. Follow Lynda on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, our progressive professor, Stephen Handwerk, returns to help us debrief the Louisiana Democratic Party DSCC and Party Chair elections. Here we come full circle from our January 2023 conversation on “Demystifying Party Chair Elections.”  Read The Illuminator's Piper Hutchinson's first hand report of the chair election: ​​Gaines takes over as La. Democratic Party chair after Bernhardt ousted in procedural fluke Listen to our interview with new state party chair Randal Gaines: The State Party Rises Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, the new chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party Randal Gaines talks to host Lynda Woolard about his initial plans for rebuilding and rehabbing the organization. Sign up for email updates from the Louisiana Democratic Party: louisianademocrats.org Follow the Louisiana Democratic Party on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, political professional Westley Bayas and host Lynda Woolard give a sneak peak of the Intro to Campaign Finance Disclosure Webinar available on Louisiana Lefty's YouTube. Watch the full webinar: Intro to Campaign Finance Disclosure Research Louisiana campaign finance reports: ethics.la.gov Research federal campaign finance reports: fec.gov Louisiana Democratic Party phone number: 225-336-4155 Follow Westley Bayas on Twitter. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard shares a Zoom event she recorded with our Democratic Party professor Stephen Handwerk and current Democratic Parish Executive Committee candidates.  Louisiana State Law on Political Parties, Parish Executive Committees RS 18:444 - RS 18:448: Start Reading Here  See what's on your March 23, 2024 ballot: Secretary of State Voter Portal Geaux Vote App Get more information on Blue Reboot: bluerebootla.org Find Blue Reboot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to all the Demystifying the Democratic Party series on the Louisiana Lefty podcast here: Demystifying the Democratic Party Archives - Louisiana Lefty Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard previews the year for Louisiana Lefty and introduces the origins of the Blue Reboot movement to reform the Louisiana Democratic Party. Get more information on Blue Reboot: bluerebootla.org Find Blue Reboot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. See what's on your March 23, 2024 ballot: Secretary of State Voter Portal Geaux Vote App Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Robert Mann, LSU professor, political historian, and former comms for Russell Long, John Breaux, and Kathleen Blanco, speaks with host Lynda Woolard about the changes needed at the Louisiana Democratic Party and the concerns he has for the state as a new administration begins. Connect with Bob on Twitter. Get Bob's book Kingfish U: Huey Long and LSU. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard celebrates her father, Ed Woolard, who recently passed away. This week she shares a previous interview on bipartisanship she did with him via Zoom when they were still separated by covid. The fun part for the listener is that Ed was a bit of a legend with quite a storied life, which very much comes across in the podcast. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Andrew Tuozzolo, Chief of Staff to New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno, as well as lawyer and politico, joins host Lynda Woolard for an insiders' walk through the recent past, the present, and the future of state Democratic Party politics in Louisiana. Connect with Andrew on Twitter. Read Lynda's piece in the Bayou Brief on the grassroots groups who helped re-elect Governor John Bel Edwards in 2019: Ground Game Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Host Lynda Woolard sits down with the co-founders of SBP, Liz McCartney and Zack Rosenburg. This wife and husband team started their organization as the St. Bernard Project to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Flood of 2005 destroyed so much of the New Orleans region of the Gulf Coast. Today, SBP works throughout the United States, with a stated goal of reducing the time between disaster and recovery. Their work has expanded beyond the important mission of rebuilding individual homes to a wide-ranging approach towards disaster preparedness and recovery, which includes their five interventions: Build, Share, Prepare, Advise, and Advocate. Get more information on SBP from their website: sbpusa.org Donate to or volunteer with SBP. Read about SBP in the Grist: What happens when America's flood insurance market goes underwater? Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Creating a functioning Louisiana Democratic Party is an existential issue for the survival of our state. (No hyperbole.) We are in a moment where we should be having friendly but clarifying conversations with each other, current DSCC members, and potential chair and executive committee candidates about the future of the party.  Check out our DSCC FAQ ONE SHEET: https://bit.ly/DSCCFAQ Read the DSCC Bylaws: https://bit.ly/DSCCbylaws Reach out via info@louisianalefty.rocks if you need more info on any of these points or if you'd like to be connected to other reform-minded Democrats working in your area. Listen to our Demystifying the Democratic Party Series: https://louisianalefty.rocks/category/demystifying/ Read Lynda's Post Mortem for MSNBC on the 2023 Louisiana Primary Elections: https://on.msnbc.com/3MegTVD Read Lynda's Post Mortem for the Bayou Brief on the 2020 Chair Elections: https://bit.ly/2020PartyChairPostMortem Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

This week we're sharing a short bonus episode with some inspiring words from Friend of Lefty, Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis. After the disastrous results of our October 14, 2023 Louisiana primary elections, we held a couple of live Zooms with Democrats interested in change at the state party. We'll be distilling that content for release in our next episode. Read Lynda's Post Mortem of the Gubernatorial Primary for MSNBC Check out our Podcast Series on Demystifying the Democratic Party Support our Democrats in the November 18, 2023 Runoffs! Dustin Granger for Treasurer Lindsey Cheek for Attorney General Gwen Collins-Greenup for Secretary of State Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Heading into the 2023 statewide gubernatorial primary elections, Representative Mandie Landry returns to the podcast to address host Lynda Woolard's top issues for Louisiana: Climate, Insurance, and the state of the Democratic Party. Read The Gambit's "Busted and Blue: Recent Elections have voters wondering where the Louisiana Democratic Party has gone" Learn more about the fortified roof program: https://ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes Learn more about the oyster shell program: https://www.nola.com/news/environment/new-restaurant-tax-credit-could-boost-oyster-shell-recycling Listen to Rep. Landry's Season 1 interview with Louisiana Lefty: Warrior Strength and Endless Compassion Connect with Mandie Landry via her campaign. Learn more about her work: https://mandielandry.com/legislation Volunteer or donate: https://mandielandry.com/take-action Follow Mandie Landry on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Democratic candidate for governor, Shawn Wilson, speaks with host Lynda Woolard about his lifetime of leadership preparing him for this moment. As Dr. Wilson tells it, public service is his ministry, and he's framed his campaign from Day One as a Bridge Builder, who can not only accomplish the literal work of government administration, but can also bring people together and cut through the divisions that so often hinder progress in our state. Connect with Shawn Wilson via his campaign. Learn more: https://www.wilsonforla.com Get involved: https://www.wilsonforla.com/take-action Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sw-web Follow Shawn Wilson on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, sole 2023 Democratic candidate for state treasurer, Dustin Granger, speaks with host Lynda Woolard about long term lessons learned from his personal journey and his campaign. He's particularly devoted to making the case that Democrats need to highlight the party's superior record on the economy and push the progressive issues that poll so well, even in Louisiana. Connect with Dustin via his campaign. Learn more: https://www.grangerforla.com Volunteer: https://www.grangerforla.com/take-action Donate: https://secure.numero.ai/contribute/Dustin-Granger-for-State-Treasurer Follow Dustin on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand $ Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

This episode drops on the 18th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Flood that destroyed so much of New Orleans. Nakita Shavers, of the Dinerral Shavers Education Fund, Girls NOLA, and Boys NOLA, joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about how that historic tragedy impacted her personally and launched her journey into political activism. She goes on to share about the nonprofit work she does today in education and reproductive healthcare that fills in the gaps where our government and legislation fall short. DSEF Website: www.dsefnola.org DSEF Direct Donation Link - https://dsefnola.org/products/dsef-donation DSEF Email: dseducationalfund@gmail.com Girls NOLA will be opening registration for their upcoming cohort on September 1st. Find that link via their website or any of their social media pages. Follow Nakita on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Girls NOLA on Instagram. Follow DSEF on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Welcome to Season 6 of Louisiana Lefty! Host Lynda Woolard highlights key themes from Season 5, and gives a preview of our final full season. See all archives on Demystifying the Democratic Party here: https://louisianalefty.rocks/category/demystifying/ See all Louisiana Lefty archives here: https://louisianalefty.rocks/archives/ Please follow Louisiana Lefty on your favorite podcast platform and all our social media channels: Facebook Twitter Instagram Thanks to all our wonderful guests and contributors, with special acknowledgments to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as our Louisiana Lefty theme song.

As we complete our summer series of bonus episodes focused on "Demystifying the Democratic Party" with our progressive professor, Stephen Handwerk, we break down what coordinated campaigns between state parties and candidates are and why they are important. Find all our episodes in this ongoing series on our special Louisiana Lefty archives page: Demystifying the Democratic Party Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

As we continue our ongoing series on "Demystifying the Democratic Party" with Professor Stephen Handwerk, we explore what successful state Democratic parties are doing, and what the Louisiana Democratic Party could and should be doing. Check out the Louisiana Democratic Party Constitution and Bylaws. Find more information on how the Democratic Party operates in our "Demystifying" episodes: • Demystifying the DSCC [The Role and Responsibilities of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee] • Demystifying State Party Chair Elections [How Do We Get a Louisiana Democratic Party Chair?] • Demystifying Voter Reg vs GOTV [Balancing Voter Registration with Voter Mobilization] • Demystifying Democratic Alphabet Soup [Identifying all the National Democratic Groups and What they Do] • Demystifying Democratic Endorsements [How Do Candidates Get a Louisiana Democratic Party Endorsement?] Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

While Louisiana Lefty is on summer break, "Professor" Stephen Handwerk, former executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party and current DSCC member, as well as political consultant and strategist to the Association of State Democratic Committees on behalf of state parties, joins host Lynda Woolard for a bonus episode to break down the roles and responsibilities of the Democratic State Central Committee (the governing body of our state's Democratic party). For those interested in running for a seat on the DSCC, qualifying is in December for elections that will take place in March of 2024. State party chair and executive committee elections will be voted upon by newly elected DSCC members at the first general meeting of the body, most likely held in April of 2024. Stay tuned for our next two bonus episodes to learn more about what makes a successful state party and how coordinated campaigns work. For information on how we elect a Louisiana Democratic Party Chair, check out our bonus episode from earlier this year: Demystifying Party Chair Elections For information on how the state party endorses candidates, check out our first Professor Handwerk episode: Demystifying Democratic Endorsements Explore current Louisiana Democratic Party bylaws here: DSCC Rules, Bylaws, and Constitution

On this episode, Corinne Green, policy and legislative strategist for Equality Federation joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about the legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ communities, and the Transgender community specifically, in Louisiana and red states across the country. Connect with LGBTQ+ support groups through the links below: Louisiana Trans Advocates: https://www.latransadvocates.org  LocALL: https://www.latransadvocates.org/locall  Equality Federation: https://www.equalityfederation.org Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: https://pflag.org  Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Shreveport native D'Seanté Parks joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about her civic engagement app: 1000 More. Check out 1000 More at 1000more.org. 1000 More on Social Media: Twitter Facebook Instagram TikTok Sign Up for 1000 More's Weekly Newsletter. Learn more about the roots of propaganda in the United States through LSU's books on Ray Stannard Baker. Learn more about misinformation and disinformation from Harvard's The Election Influence Operations Playbook. Check out Media and Democracy Project's Local Journalism Directory.   Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Joel Emerson, former statewide organizing director for Mary Landrieu's coordinated campaign in 2014, joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about the lessons for Louisiana Democrats from that election. Joel also talks about the work he's doing today with the Universe app for local progressive candidates, and the new Louisiana 501(c)(4): People, Power, and Light. Find Joel on LinkedIn. Check out the Universe app. Schedule a Universe demo with Joel. Contact Joel about People, Power, and Light at peoplepowerandlight@gmail.com. Nominate an organizer to be a future Organizer of the Month. See all our past Organizers of the Month on the Bayou Brief gallery page. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, newly elected Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis speaks with Lynda Woolard about his 2022 campaign, his runoff victory, and his first 100 days in office. Listen to Davante's first appearance on the podcast from Season One of Louisiana Lefty: Run Before You Walk. Connect with Davante on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sign up to get emails from Davante via his website. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Brian Hansbury, co-founder of the Media and Democracy Project, joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about his group's work to watchdog the media and push back against misinformation, false equivalencies, and bad framing that shrouds the truth from the public. As the Media and Democracy Project is a completely volunteer run organization, they are always looking for new recruits. Find out how to get involved in their mission via the links below. Follow Media and Democracy Project on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram. Follow Fix Media Now on Mastodon and Twitter. Sign up to receive their newsletter. Register to attend one of their regular virtual meetings. Check out their ⁠Local Journalism Directory⁠. Watch Andrea Chalupa's film Mr. Jones. Watch Jen Senko's documentary The Brainwashing of My Dad. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, speaks with host Lynda Woolard to share the exciting news that the nonpartisan, nonprofit EVP is expanding their work into Louisiana! Their mission is simple, but effective: to identify inactive environmentalists and transform them into consistent voters to build the power of the environmental movement.  Learn more about the Environmental Voter Project at environmentalvoter.org. Follow Nathaniel Stinnett on Twitter. Follow EVP on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard speaks with Ciara Hart, chair of the Young Democrats of Louisiana (YDL), organizing chair of the Environmental Caucus for the Young Democrats of America (YDA), Democratic State Central Committee member, Lift Louisiana Advisory Board member, and former candidate for the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Their conversation focuses on the issues that most concern young voters, the current state of the Louisiana Democratic Party, and the opportunities Young Democrats can bring to both those situations in our state. Find Ciara on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow YDL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Get more information on the Young Democrats of Louisiana at GeauxDems.org. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, host Lynda Woolard continues her efforts to demystify state Democratic Party politics by speaking with Kirk Green, a long-time party official, a current DSCC member for District 69 in Baton Rouge, and an educator who wears many hats in his teachers' union. We discuss the 2020 party leadership elections, the previous and current state party administrations, and what needs to happen to move us forward. Connect with Kirk at prolescav@yahoo.com if you'd like more info on the Democratic State Central Committee. For more details on the upcoming state party official elections, check out our Bonus Episode: Demystifying Party Chair Elections Lynda wrote about the 2020 state party chair election for the Bayou Brief: How Do We Get A Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Anyway? Check here to find how your Democratic State Central Committee member voted in the 2020 Democratic Chair race: 2020 DSCC Chair Votes Find your state party representatives on the Louisiana Democratic Party website: Our Party: Our Leaders Look up information on past and upcoming Democratic Party elections on the Secretary of State website: Get Election Information: Search For Candidates Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Welcome to Season 5 of Louisiana Lefty! Host Lynda Woolard highlights key themes from Season 4, and gives a preview of a very big year for Louisiana. Revisit Lynda's Bayou Brief piece, which she penned when the Alito draft on the Dobbs decision leaked: A Fight Worth Having Please follow Louisiana Lefty on your favorite podcast platform and all our social media channels: Facebook Twitter Instagram If you've missed any episodes from our previous seasons, you can find them all in our Louisiana Lefty Archives. Thanks to all our wonderful guests and contributors, with special acknowledgments to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as our Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty has been on winter break, but recent events with the Louisiana Democratic Party prompted us to quickly put out an episode to address some of the questions about how we get state party leadership. On this episode, host Lynda Woolard and “Professor” Stephen Handwerk break down how we get - or change - a Louisiana Democratic Party chair. Spoiler Alert: it all starts with electing representatives to our party's state governing body, the Democratic State Central Committee, or the DSCC. Lynda had previously written the story of the 2020 state party chair election for the Bayou Brief: How Do We Get A Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Anyway? Check here to find how your Democratic State Central Committee member voted in the 2020 Democratic Chair race: 2020 DSCC Chair Votes Find your state party representatives on the Louisiana Democratic Party website: Our Party: Our Leaders Look up information on past and upcoming Democratic Party elections on the Secretary of State website: Get Election Information: Search For Candidates Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty is on winter break, but still releasing mini-pods. On this episode, host Lynda Woolard acknowledges the pitfalls that exist for digital organizing on Twitter now that the platform has been purchased by a so-called free speech absolutist and conspiracy theorist, and suggests some common sense security measures users can take to protect themselves. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty is on winter break this month, but we're still releasing Action Lefty mini-pods. This week, host Lynda Woolard goes over some of the simple ways - besides phone banking and text banking - you can use your smartphone to help your favorite candidate. Make sure you are following Louisiana Lefty on your favorite podcast platform, and help us reach more listeners by giving us a 5 star rating and review where available. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty is on winter break, but still releasing mini-pods. On this episode, host Lynda Woolard speaks with Maria Harmon and Laramie Griffin of Decarcerate Louisiana, as they recount what went wrong with the November 8th vote on Constitutional Amendment 7, which sought to remove slavery from our state constitution. Little was known in Louisiana about the fact that we were part of a bigger national movement, and were one of the Freedom Five, in which four other states also put slavery on their 2022 midterm ballots. Louisiana was the only state where the amendment failed. Through this conversation, as well as others linked to below, we're hoping to put in a fuller context what happened and what needs to happen in Louisiana to remove the stain of slavery from our current constitution. Ultimately, this is a call to action, to follow the lead of the criminal justice reform groups who are working on this issue, and to get engaged starting as early as when the opportunity to put this up for a state-wide vote returns to the Louisiana legislature in the upcoming term. Follow Decarcerate Louisiana on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Follow Maria Harmon on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Follow Abolish Slavery National Network on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Listen to more on this topic from Omari Ho-Sang on the Lefty Lagniappe video we did with her, as well as her full podcast episode: Freedom Fighter. Listen to Decarcerate Louisiana's Curtis Davis speak with Omari Ho-Sang on What's Up Nation. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Omari Ho-Sang, North Louisiana organizer with Black Voters Matter, talks to host Lynda Woolard about the 365-day-a-year work of movement building, the possibilities for big progress in the state, and the fact that there is a role for every person to play in moving us forward. Email Omari to find out more about partnering with Black Voters Matter: omari@blackvotersmatterfund.org Follow Omari on Facebook and Instagram. Listen to Omari's radio program What's Up Nation on KMJJ 99.7 FM Mondays at noon, or catch it syndicated on Sundays at noon at 997kmjj.com. Watch Omari's radio segment with Curtis Davis explaining Constitutional Amendment 7 (Slavery on the Ballot). Find out who your Louisiana legislators are (you have on state senator and one state representative) at: legis.la.gov/legis/findmylegislators Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

On this episode, Louisiana author Sam Spitale joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about his brand new book, How to Win the War on Truth. This illustrated guide blends together politics, history, and psychology, as well as insights on the forces of power and media literacy, to create a roadmap for Americans to become better informed voters and better purveyors of truth. Buy How to Win the War on Truth through Quirk Books. Follow Sam on social media: Twitter Facebook Instagram Watch the documentaries mentioned in the podcast: Hot Coffee The Brainwashing of My Dad Find other books mentioned in the podcast: Economix How Civil Wars Start Foxocracy Suggested in How to Win the War on Truth, and recommended by Louisiana Lefty: The Harvard Implicit Bias Tests Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Chris Pourciau is a Criminal Justice Reform advocate and political operative who led efforts to pass Constitutional Amendment 2 in 2018 for the Unanimous Jury Coalition as Deputy Campaign Manager. On this episode, he talks to host Lynda Woolard, who joined his team in the final months of that campaign to manage their statewide field efforts. Continuing Louisiana Lefty's study of UJC, Chris and Lynda dig deeper into every aspect of the campaign to illuminate what made it successful and further illustrate why it should be a model for Democratic candidates and causes of the Left in the Deep South. While we're releasing this episode on a day when the nation is heading to the polls for one of the biggest elections of our lifetimes, the podcast isn't focusing on that, because our goal is to create evergreen content as a roadmap for long term progressive organizing. The big takeaway, once again, is that the work towards future victories is a year-round, multi-year effort. There are no shortcuts. There is no magic. But if you're doing it right, within that work, you'll find camaraderie, joy, and glimmers of progress. Connect with Chris on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Connect with New Orleans Rising PAC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Watch Let Me Find Out (VOTE! Yes on 2) Remix featuring 5th Ward Weebie, directed by BMike. Watch Which Side Are You On (Yes on 2 version) by ani difranco. Find more info on the constitutional amendment and the people who worked to get it passed: The Unanimous Jury Coalition on Facebook Yes on Amendment 2 on Facebook Louisiana Lefty episode with J.P. Morrell on passing the Unanimous Juries amendment out of the legislature: S1:E13 Reform Without Fear with J.P. Morrell Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Madison Smither, a young advocate and Democrat from Louisiana who's currently attending the Harvard Kennedy School with a focus on climate and new energy, joins host Lynda Woolard to share her experience at the inaugural Global Clean Energy Action Forum and her research on the Inflation Reduction Act's provisions that address climate change. Connect with Madison on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Check out Madison's research on Light Pollution: safelightatnight.org Learn more about the Global Clean Energy Action Forum: gceaf.org Read the following for more about the provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act: Vox - The U.S. Finally Has A Law To Tackle Climate Change Forbes - Energy Provisions In The Inflation Reduction Act DOE - The IRA Drives Significant Emissions Reductions And Positions American To Reach Our Climate Goals White House - State Fact Sheets: How The IRA Lowers Energy Costs, Creates Jobs, And Tackles Climate Change Across America Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Michael Hobbs, born and raised in the Deep South, is a Marine Veteran who served in the Iraq War and a political operative currently working to combat partisan and racial gerrymandering in Ohio. Between those two plot points in his life story, he's been involved in Democratic campaigns in both Ohio and the great state of Louisiana as everything from field organizer to campaign manager. On this episode of Louisiana Lefty, he joins host Lynda Woolard to offer a fresh perspective on the Louisiana political landscape, to share lessons learned working outside the state, and to assert that the time is ripe to make Democratic investments in the American South. Connect with Michael Hobbs on Facebook. For more information on the national groups Michael has worked with, check out Tom Steyer's youth voting organization Next Gen America and Eric Holder's redistricting organization All On The Line. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Angelle Bradford, activist and executive committee at-large member of Louisiana's Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club, joins host Lynda Woolard to discuss her work on Climate Justice and Transit Equity. We address the intersectionality of this issue, particularly in our Gulf state, with the environment, wildlife, pollution, healthcare, workers' rights, economic justice, and quality of life. Follow the Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Connect with Angelle via email. Follow the Sierra Club's national accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sign up to volunteer with the Sierra Club on races for the midterm elections - and beyond - through their Mobilize page. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Andy Berke, senior Biden administration official and U.S. special representative for broadband with a mission of internet access and equity, joins host Lynda Woolard to discuss his recent trip to Louisiana. While here, he attended the inaugural Louisiana Internet for All Summit where he announced big digital infrastructure investments for our state and spoke with Louisianans in rural as well as urban areas to find out what issues we've been experiencing with connectivity. Acknowledging that high speed internet is now a part of critical infrastructure, President Biden has made a pledge that every American - including every person in Louisiana - will have access to affordable, reliable high speed internet. To stay in the loop on broadband equity efforts, follow the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Twitter and Facebook, and follow Andy Berke on Twitter. While many of the new investments in Louisiana's infrastructure are just getting started, there is already an option to visit http://affordableconnectivity.gov to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps provide more accessible and affordable internet service to lower income households. Read more about efforts to close Louisiana's digital divide in the Alexandria Town Talk: • Hundreds of millions headed toward expanding high-speed internet across Louisiana • Broadband expansion in Louisiana has companies looking to recruit, train local workers Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Sara Tabatabaie, chief political officer and communications director for #VOTEPROCHOICE, joins host Lynda Woolard in a conversation about the importance of building a Pro-Choice Democratic bench at the local level and the work their organization is doing to elect Pro-Choice candidates up and down the ballot. Sign up for Action Alerts and get your local Pro-Choice Voter Guide at voteprochoice.us. Connect with #VOTEPROCHOICE on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Read Lynda Woolard's Bayou Brief piece on Abortion Rights and the 2022 Midterms here: A Fight Worth Having. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Drew Prestridge, president at Prestridge Political, joins host Lynda Woolard to talk about creating fundraising plans for candidates, beginning a career as a finance director, and developing a range of skill sets to increase your value on political campaigns. Connect with Drew on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Welcome to Season 4 of Louisiana Lefty! Host Lynda Woolard highlights key themes from Season 3, and gives a preview of the next phase. Please follow Louisiana Lefty on your favorite podcast platform and all our social media channels: Facebook Twitter Instagram Check out all the great Louisiana organizers we've celebrated on Bayou Brief's Organizer of the Month Gallery. If you've missed any episodes from our previous seasons, you can find them all in our Louisiana Lefty Archives. Thanks to all our wonderful guests and contributors, with special acknowledgments to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as our Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty is on summer break, but we're releasing mini-pods. This week, we've got clips from an advocacy event we did last week, based on a piece host Lynda Woolard wrote for the Bayou Brief in response to the overturn of Roe by the Supreme Court. We had Deon Haywood, Executive Director of Women with a Vision, speak about what's happening in the Reproductive Justice space in Louisiana. We had State Representative Mandie Landry address what's been going on with our legislature and in the courts. And our host spoke about ways Louisianans can contribute to Democratic wins in the midterms such that we can restore our federal protections for the people of our state, which have shielded us for years, and which we desperately need back. Watch the full recording: What Comes Next? Advocacy Zoom Read the article in the Bayou Brief: “A Fight Worth Having” Find the 2022 Midterms cheat sheet here: bit.ly/BayouBrief2022Midterms Connect with Women With A Vision: wwav-no.org Connect with Representative Mandie Landry: mandielandry.com Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty is on summer break, but we're still releasing mini-pods. This week, Westley Bayas returns to the podcast to speak with host Lynda Woolard about GOTV or Get Out The Vote: what it is and what it is not. Find GOTV and other campaign trainings at the National Democratic Training Committee's website: traindemocrats.org. Connect with Westley Bayas III on Twitter. Listen to Westley's previous episode from Season 1: Never Yield: Louisiana Forever with Westley Bayas Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.

Louisiana Lefty is on summer break for the next three episodes, but we're still releasing mini-pods. This week, Stephen “Professor" Handwerk returns to the podcast to speak with host Lynda Woolard about the difference between the civic engagement of voter registration and the electoral work of Get Out The Vote. Visit IWillVote.com to check that your own voter registration is active and to make any necessary updates before the midterm elections. Don't forget to share that link across your social media accounts to recommend that your friends and followers do the same. Connect with Stephen Handwerk on Twitter. Previous Professor Handwerk episodes are available on the following topics: Season 1: Demystifying Democratic Endorsements Season 2: Demystifying Democratic Alphabet Soup Find more Louisiana Lefty content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at LouisianaLefty.Rocks. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.