Persisting

On this episode, we're going to say … see ya? Keep on keeping on? Peace out?  We are taking our progressive activism in some new directions and that means that we'll be putting the podcast on hiatus for a while.  But before we share our personal progressive next steps, let's have one last round of good news. 

In this episode, we talk about this simple idea: We Can Have Nice Things.  The corporate lobbyists and politicians owned by corporate lobbyists – cough Manchin, cough Sinema – want us to think we live in a world of scarcity. What does that mean? Well, in a world of scarcity, if you have a tiny little crumb, that means I don't have that tiny little crumb, and there's only one crumb so we have to fight over it. But that's really the wrong way to look at it. The fact is, if everyone in the country – the richest country in the world, by the way – if everyone just paid their fair share in taxes, we could rebuild the middle class, dramatically reduce poverty, and close the racial wealth gap, not to mention the racial health gap and the racial housing gap.

Last week we talked about the Texas abortion ban, and how it is, among other things, sure to drive up maternal mortality rates, disproportionately affecting women of color in the state. This week, we talk about what the Democrats in Congress are doing to ensure women's access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion and birth control, specifically what they are doing to address the crisis-level maternal mortality rates among Black women and other women of color.

We know that what is happening in Texas is outrageous, literally deadly serious, and infuriating. Today we bring you up to speed on the Texas abortion ban -- what it does, and what you can do to fight back. BUT we also remind our listeners that NOT every state is like Texas, and some states--for example Illinois, New York, and the District of Columbia--have enacted the Reproductive Health Act making abortion not only safe but also more accessible and affordable.  

One of the most neglected stories in American politics right now is how Democrats are translating the progressive wing of the party's vision for America into state-level policies that are helping people right now. From Connecticut to Virginia, Alexa & Terry discuss all the great policies being adopted across Blue America that deserve more attention.    

The recent transfer of power from the former Afghan government has caused immense uncertainty across Afghanistan. And as the Kabul airport remains the epicenter of global attention in Afghanistan, we must not forget the urgent needs of Afghan women and girls. Women's rights have a very uncertain future in Afghanistan and the dangers facing them can't be separated from the legacy of US policy in the region.   

The numbers don't lie. By the first week of August, 15% of all new Covid infections were in children. 96,000 children have been infected with the Delta variant and it's causing record hospitalizations for children. Not surprisingly, most of the children getting sick live in states with low adult vaccination rates. What can we do knowing our children can't be vaccinated yet? First of all, we have to recognize that we are not having a policy debate about vaccines. We are having an identity struggle with those who want white Christian patriarchal families to be at the top of the social pecking order. 

On this episode, we riff on a few topics that have been on our mind: The ideological death of Milton Friedman, the policing of women's bodies happening at the Olympics and, of course, good news. 

On this episode, Terry & Alexa talk about something that just happened that is good policy, good economics, and good politics: the American Rescue Plan's Child Tax credit. Last week, 39 million American parents began receiving a monthly child allowance and it's the biggest helping hand to American families in more than 85 years. They also share good news, kudo of the week, and - a new segment - one more thing. 

Recently a “heat dome” settled over the Pacific Northwest, sending temperatures to 113 degrees in the last week of June. The heat dome killed at least 116 people in Oregon and another 78 in Washington State.  Why are we seeing these climate disasters? It's because since the 1800s we have been burning fossil fuels for energy -- and it is killing our planet.  The tragedy is that we have known for a very long time, decades, what to do about it: transition our economy from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. And what is stopping us?  The oil and gas industry -- more specifically, men in leadership positions in the oil and gas industry -- preferred to kill the plant and condemn millions of people to suffer from drought, floods, catastrophic storms and catastrophic heat rather than give up their companies' profits and their own fat salaries and bonuses tied to company profits. 

On this episode, Terry & Alexa talk about a country at a political crossroads that leads either to an improved democracy that is on the real road to working for all of us, or a future that is authoritarian, and increasingly cruel. We use Jalani Cobb's excellent article, What Black History Should Have Already Taught Us About the Fragility of American Democracy to think through the importance of race for our democracy. And our kudos this week go to NFL player Carl Nassib who became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. He also donated $100,000, which was also then matched by the NFL, to The Trevor Project, ad suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth.     

This week we're taking a look at the starts and stripes. Just as words can become weapons, our flag has been politicized to the point that it is used as a "shield" of protection by the people who carried out the insurrection at our Capitol on January 6th. We talk about Macy Gray's recent essay calling the current flag  “tattered, dated, divisive, and incorrect." She says it “no longer represents democracy and freedom.” We couldn't agree more. 

One of the Republicans' favorite words is FREEDOM. And on this episode, Terry & Alexa talk about how it has become a code word for some pretty bad behavior that impacts ALL of us. We use as our framework an excellent article by Scott Galloway titled The Myth -and Liability - of America's Obsession with Rugged Individualism.   

Republicans have passed or are trying to pass hundreds of bills to suppress the vote in our country. As you might imagine much of this effort is focused on key midterm senate election states like AZ, GA, WI, Co, IA and FL. And on this episode, we talk about what President Biden and the Dems are doing about it. Is it enough? What more can they do if it isn't? Today's discussion is informed in large part by two thoughtful articles by Ron Brownstein in the Atlantic.   

While many of us weren't looking, anti-abortion Republicans have been stripping women of their lawful right to abortion. The battle seems endless. Republicans are pushing 536 bills in 46 states targeting abortion access. Of those, 146 bills aim to completely BAN abortions and 61 anti-choice bills have already gone into effect in the past four months!    

So far this year, GOP lawmakers in 36 states have introduced more than 90 anti-protest bills aimed at stopping Americans from exercising their rights under the constitution to protest. For example, Florida's new law defines a “riot” as any public disturbance involving three or more persons that results in any injury or damage to property. It also grants immunity to drivers who hit protesters with their cars. Oklahoma and Iowa have now passed similar laws. And many others - including more progressive ones like Oregon - have similar bills in the hopper. So where are these laws are coming from? They are the backlash to the BLM protests of last summer.    

We had so much to say last week about the culture war Republicans are launching against Joe Biden's American Family Plan (and specifically how they relate to what we call the ongoing War on Women) that we are back for Round 2.  Nearly 3 million women left the workforce in 2020, and only 1.5 million had returned by late April of this year. Schools closed, which forced children home and increased burdens on women again to look after them. But that's just one part of the picture.   

On this episode we talk about the culture war Republicans are launching against Joe Biden's American Family Plan and specifically how it's related to the ongoing War on Women. Overall, women have lost a net of 5.4 million jobs during the pandemic-induced recession compared with 4.4 million lost by men.

On this episode, we talk about how broken policing is breaking our democracy. Negative interactions Black and Brown citizens consistently have with police contribute to lost trust in our government. This episode is informed by a great article by Zack Beauchamp published in VOX which talked about the recent incident where a group of boys on bicycles were stopped by police officers in the town of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

Caron Nazario. Adam Toledo. Daunte Wright. Robert Delgado. On this episode, we talk about the epidemic of police violence, the ugly history of policing in America, the militarization of the police, and what actions Persisters can take.  THIS WEEK'S ACTION:  SIGN THE ACLU'S PETITION TO STOP THE MILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE  

On this episode, we talk about media manipulation and the misinformation that results.  It's not pretty.  The Repugnant Republicans have corporate media sources eating out of their hands and many of today's best known “journalists” do their reporting based on ratings not truth. We are also doing a format breaker and talking in-depth about this recent, important article by Dan Froomkin that recently ran in Salon.  THIS WEEK'S ACTION: Join Indivisible's Truth Squad and stay on the lookout for media misinformation and bias.  https://act.indivisible.org/signup/indivisible-truth-brigade

  Gun violence has shaken the foundation of our society, from highly visible and fear-inducing mass shootings, to the daily toll of gun violence in our cities, to the firearm suicides that happen in the privacy of our homes. On this episode, we dive into American gun culture and the violence and hate crimes born of it.  ACTION ITEMS Thoughts and prayers are not enough to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous and hate-fueled individuals: We need action, we need laws without loopholes, we need comprehensive background checks, and this is a view supported by more than 90 percent of Americans and 90 percent of gun-owners. We agree with President Barack Obama who is calling on the Senate to act on gun violence NOW! ACTION #1: Tell your senators to pass House bills that improve background checks and close the “Charleston loophole.” Use Everytown for Gun Safety's tool to send a message to your senators ACTION #2: Tell Congress to pass universal background checks using Gabby Giffords' automated text tool --  TEXT UNIVERSAL TO 34131 ACTION #3: Demand a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.  President Biden has called for this, and we agree!  Use Brady's tool to let Congress know that you want them to act now to rid the country of this death-dealing weaponry.   ACTION #4: Take action from home by joining Everytown's The Gun Sense Action Network. Make calls or send texts when they are needed most!   ACTION #5: Follow March For Our Lives to deepen your activism for gun safety. Created by the student activists from Chicago and Parkland, Florida in the wake of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, this organization lays out ways you can get involved: Join a MFOL chapter; Call for a town hall to address gun violence; create a working group in your community to take action to end gun violence; fundraise for effective programs, and VOTE.      

On this episode, we dive into the rampant voter suppression bills being propagated by the GOP nationwide. Over 253 at this point! But there are actions we can take to fight voter suppression before these bills become law in states like Georgia and Arizona, states that have key Senates races in 2022 (not a coincidence).  This Week's Actions: Tell Congress to support voting rights and stop suppression REGISTER VOTERS with the Sierra Club Write a letter to Support the For the People Act Stop the Filibuster   

We take a deep dive on all of the groundbreaking progressive solutions in Joe Biden's just passed America Rescue Plan. It is so much more than just a stimulus check.  THIS WEEK'S ACTIONS: ACTION 1 Call your U.S. Senators at (833) 942-1345 to leave a message: "The Senate must end the filibuster to stop voter suppression & restore our democracy." End the Anti-Democracy Filibuster! We will never pass the bold, progressive agenda we need as long as Republicans can use the filibuster to block legislation.  ACTION 2 Sign Common Cause's petition to eliminate the filibuster:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-eliminate-the-undemocratic-senate-filibuster ACTION 3 Tell Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to join the majority of Senate Democrats who are ready to eliminate the filibuster  https://forthepeople.indivisible.org/sinema/

The filibuster is being used by Republicans to STOP the Biden agenda at every turn. It is an outdated senate machination with a long history of being used to suppress the votes of people of color. It is also used by the Republicans to impose minority rule and ignore the will of the majority of Americans. Today we unpack the issues around the filibuster and why we must end or at least reform its use in the senate. THIS WEEK'S ACTIONS: ACTION 1 Call your U.S. Senators at (833) 942-1345 to leave a message: "The Senate must end the filibuster to stop voter suppression & restore our democracy." End the Anti-Democracy Filibuster! We will never pass the bold, progressive agenda we need as long as Republicans can use the filibuster to block legislation.  ACTION 2 Sign Common Cause's petition to eliminate the filibuster:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-eliminate-the-undemocratic-senate-filibuster ACTION 3 Tell Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to join the majority of Senate Democrats who are ready to eliminate the filibuster  https://forthepeople.indivisible.org/sinema/ACTION 1(A):   

More than 45 million Americans carry $1.6 trillion in student debt. It is the second biggest area of debt in the US after mortgages. Elizabeth Warren has said that canceling student loan debt is the single most effective executive action that President Biden can take to kick-start this economy.  She along with some other Democrats in Congress are pushing for $50,000 in permanent relief, but the Presient supports forgiving only $10,000. On this episode, we take a deep dive into the debate around canceling student loan debt --- another issue that is about economic justice, and also racial and gender justice.

Americans working for the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 haven't had a raise in twelve years! In this episode, Alexa and Terry talk about why a $15 minimum wage is not just about economic justice, but also racial and gender justice as well – – and what we can do to make it happen.

As the country's poor get poorer and our middle-class teeters on collapse, Persisters everywhere are getting pretty tired of hearing about the "trickle-down” economics. Tune in to hear about the new study published by the London School of Economics that debunks trickle-down with hard data. Spoiler alert: Tax cuts for the rich only increased the wealth of the top 1% and didn't spur growth or reduce unemployment. But wait, there's more! Since the COVID 19 crisis began, Jeff Bezos' wealth grew by roughly $70 billion, Elon Musk's by $132 billion. We need a big change and it's called a wealth tax. This week Alexa and Terry will unpack the deets on Elizabeth Warren's two-cent wealth tax.

The Impeachment trial of Tyrant 45 is over. A strong bipartisan majority — 57% — found him guilty but that wasn't enough to clear the two-thirds required for conviction. In this special edition of Persisting, Alexa and Terry unpack the key issues of the trial with insight and passion  

On this episode, we talk about what it means to be pro-democracy, what the anti-democracy GOP is trying to do, and who's funding those anti-democracy politicians. We also talk about HR-1 and HR-51, two important bills we need you to take action on.  Here's the deal:  1. The 712,000 residents of the District of Columbia pay federal income taxes—more per capita than any other state—yet are denied representation in Congress. Moreover, on January 6th, the District had to rely on President Trump to get the National Guard help it needed during the terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol. Every other state can call up the National Guard directly. H.R. 51 would recognize DC as our nation's 51st state. The House and Senate must act now to pass it! Sign this petition to support DC statehood.  2. To create the kind of change voters want to see in our democracy, our next administration and Congress must support the passage of HR1— the For the People Act — a once-in-a-generation democracy reform package to clean up our political system, expand and protect voting rights, get big money out of politics, hold elected officials accountable for corruption, and create a democracy that values the voices of all Americans. Sign the petition to demand the Senate to pass HR1.  

Alexa and Terry talk about Joe Biden's progressive agenda, the impeachment of whats-his-name, and ridiculous Republican double standards.    Action Items:  1. We need 67 votes in the Senate to convict Trump and ensure he can never run for office again. Don't believe the political pundits, 45 can be convicted in the Senate. Sign this petition, then call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and ask them to hold Trump accountable for his actions on January 6th. Sign the petition.  2. Our country is gripped by four great crises: the pandemic, the climate crisis, systemic racism, and the threat to our very democracy. We must act boldly and swiftly. The voters gave Joe Biden the most votes of any president in history, and voted for a Democratic House and Senate — with a clear mandate to act. We cannot allow Mitch McConnell to use the Jim Crow filibuster to veto our bold progressive priorities. Sign the petition.   

There's more than one reason to celebrate January 20, 2021.  This is a podcast for progressive activists who believe our country can live up to its promise if we persist in civic engagement and holding our government officials accountable. Each week we discuss the topics that matter most because of their impact on our lives and country. We identify the underlying issues, the progressive road forward and concrete actions we can take to make a difference - now.