Podcasts about Ohio Democratic Party

In episode 120, we are joined by the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Liz Walters! We talk about how became so passionate about politics, the biggest challenges Democrats face in Ohio, and how to turn Ohio into a swing state again. You don't want to miss this conversation!In January of 2021, Liz was unanimously elected as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. She is the first woman elected to this role and was re-elected in 2022 to a four year term. Throughout her career Liz has worked with people and organizations that support progressive values, including official offices, campaigns, and nonprofit and community organizations.Walters is also serving the citizens of Summit County as an At-Large councilmember, and previously served as Council President. She has been active on a wide variety of issues and led the passage and implementation of Paid Parental Leave for county employees, the only Ohio county to pass such legislation.She is a lifetime Girl Scout and has been active with the organization as a member, employee, or volunteer since the age of five. Liz earned a B.A. in History from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and her MPA from Cleveland State University. She and her rescue dog, Beatrice, live on the westside of Akron.Resources:* Ohio Democratic PartyConnect with USS:* Substack* InstagramThis episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:* Website* Instagram Get full access to United SHE Stands at www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

Whether you live in the heart of one of Ohio's big cities or in the rolling hills of Appalachia - or anywhere in between - what happens in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus make a huge difference in your life and what happens in our public school classrooms every day. That's why it's so important to have pro-public education lawmakers in the General Assembly and to hear from them about the big issues on the horizon for our public schools. OEA members were able to hear from a bipartisan panel of state lawmakers in December, 2024, about education priorities heading into the final days of the 135th General Assembly and looking ahead at what's coming in the 136th General Assembly as it gets underway in 2025.SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | OEA members have been weighing in on the Public Education Matters podcast and on podcasts in general to help shape the future of OEA's podcast. More feedback is always welcome! Please email educationmatters@ohea.org or complete the podcast survey here.Featured Public Education Matters guests: State Rep. Dani Isaachsohn (D-24th Ohio House District)In the Statehouse, Rep. Isaacsohn is committed to fighting for a world-class public education for every student, better childcare for parents, smarter housing policy to bring down prices and increase supply, and making sure that seniors have what they need to age with dignity. He also knows that we must tackle racial and income inequality head-on in order to make lasting progress. Rep. Isaacsohn's district includes almost half of the City of Cincinnati. He is a Walnut Hills High School graduate, and received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a master's degree from Cambridge University, and a J.D. from Yale Law School.State Rep. Justin Pizzulli (R-90th Ohio House District)Rep. Pizzulli's district encompasses all of Scioto and Adams Counties, as well as parts of Brown County. His priorities are protecting the sanctity of life, protecting Ohioans' second amendment rights, and promoting economic growth and prosperity. Outside of his role as State Representative, Rep. Pizzulli works as a realtor in Wheelersburg and as a Class 1 Commercial Freight Conductor in Portsmouth. He also has a packed resume of campaign and management experience. His previous experience and current careers allow him to bring a unique perspective to the table as an elected official and better represent the people of the 90th House District. Rep. Pizzulli lives in Franklin Furnace and in his free time, he is probably enjoying a movie.State Sen. William DeMora (D-25th Ohio Senate District)Sen. DeMora's passion for public service began at a young age. He grew up watching his father serve the people of his hometown, Euclid, as a city council member. DeMora took his passion for public service and civic engagement with him to The Ohio State University where he served as President for the Ohio State College Democrats and the Ohio College Democrats before graduating with honors.DeMora previously served as Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party and as Executive Director of the Ohio League of Conservation Voters. He has led numerous statewide and national political campaigns supporting candidates for municipal and statewide and national office, as well as for the Ohio General Assembly. DeMora has also served as Ohio Democratic Party's Convention and Delegate Director, where he has directed the Democratic National Convention's Ohio delegation for the past 8 election cycles. Senator DeMora continues to be a Senior Consultant and Parliamentarian for the Ohio Democratic Party as well as a campaign manager for several statewide and legislative candidates.He represents the 25th Senate District which encompasses areas of Franklin County, including  Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, Minerva Park, Upper Arlington, Valleyview, and The Ohio State University, as well as parts of Columbus,  Blendon Township, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Norwich Township, Perry Township, Plain Township, Prairie Township, and Sharon Township.Connect with OEA:Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topicsLike OEA on FacebookFollow OEA on TwitterFollow OEA on InstagramGet the latest news and statements from OEA hereLearn more about where OEA stands on the issues Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative WatchAbout us:The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools.Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. The content of this episode was recorded at the OEA Fall RA on December 7, 2024.

(OHIO NEWS CONNECTION) - The Ohio Democratic Party is ramping up to get more people thinking about running for statewide offices. The goal is to boost representation in upcoming elections because Democrats have noted too often, Republican candidates in Ohio run unopposed. The recruitment program is part of a national campaign led by the group Contest Every Race. Katie Seewer, press secretary for the Ohio Democratic Party, pointed out Ohio has thousands of local offices on the ballot. She said they have identified suburbs of major cities and rural areas as ideal spots for future contenders. "Once they're interested, we connect them with our county parties. We can get resources there," Seewer explained. "Then, we also provide training and teach folks how to get on the ballot, how to raise money, all that stuff that you need to know to run a campaign." The recruitment program includes text messaging infrastructure, coaching calls and meetings to organize and mobilize. Seewer argued finding candidates in every Ohio county who reflect their local communities is key to widespread voter representation. She added more than 200 people have reached out so far to express an interest since recruitment efforts began. Just under 72% of Ohio's registered voters cast their ballot in last year's presidential election. The outcome was not what Democrats had hoped for, although Vice President Kamala Harris' short but impactful presidential campaign has inspired more women to consider running for office nationwide. Seewer emphasized the recruitment efforts are open to anyone passionate about making change in their communities but acknowledged some women may need a nudge. "When we do these kinds of efforts to directly recruit folks, there are studies out there that show women need to be directly asked, where guys just think, 'Hey, I could do that,'" Seewer stressed. "When we're directly asking folks, it's definitely going to lead to more women in politics and running in these races." The recruitment program is casting a wide net for candidates to fill more than 6,000 offices, including village and city council members, school board members and other local positions. The deadline to file for the next election is Feb. 5.

This special episode of The Context includes voices from three previous guests on the show: James Comey, Stacey Abrams, and David Pepper. All three have had significant careers in public service, and all three have also written multiple novels. In these short excerpts, they all also argue that their creative writing is a method to communicate some of their knowledge and insights about democracy and public institutions. James Comey spent many years in public service, culminating in serving as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 until 2017. He is also a senior fellow at the Kettering Foundation. He's written three novels, including one that will be published next year. Stacey Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 until 2017, including six years as minority leader. She ran two celebrated gubernatorial campaigns in Georgia in 2018 and 2022. She's written eleven novels. David Pepper is a former elected official and an adjunct law professor who served as chair of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015 until 2021. He is also a senior fellow at the Kettering Foundation. He's written six novels. https://jamescomeybooks.com/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2214766/stacey-abrams/ https://davidpepper.com/ https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel

Today on Mea Culpa, I'm joined by David Pepper, political strategist, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and author of several books on preserving democracy in America. David provides insights into the Democratic Party's shortcomings that contributed to Trump's victory, including ineffective messaging and the failure to hold him accountable after January 6th. We also discuss recent events, such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dining at Mar-a-Lago and Luigi Mangione's alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and their impact on public perception of Trump's policies and actions. Finally, we address Trump's promises of retribution and the need to protect those, like me, who speak out against his authoritarian agenda. Thanks to our sponsors: Simplisafe: Go to https://SIMPLISAFE.com/meaculpa to get 50% off a select professional monitoring plan! Tommy John: Save 25% on your first order when you go to https://TommyJohn.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

* Eight Ways to Respond to Trump Election Victory Over the Next 4 Years; David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party & Author; Producer: Scott Harris. * Trump Voters Should Try to Understand Americans Who Oppose Their Convicted Felon President; Wajahat Ali, author and creator of The Left Hook Substack; Producer: Scott Harris. * Activists Demand NY Gov. Hochul Sign Law to Make Fossil Fuel Polluters Pay for Climate Costs; Sheldon Pollock, Retired Professor at Columbia University and Activist with Third Act; Producer: Melinda Tuhus.

Class, welcome our newest Pencil Buster, David Pepper! In addition to being a lawyer, a political fiction author, and former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, David is an educated educator, teaching election and voting rights law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. David joins Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny to talk about a strange phenomenon he observed in the 2024 general election. Across the country, voters cast simultaneous levers for Donald Trump and against vouchers. This pairing surprises us, because Trump campaigned hard on a platform with a central pillar of "school choice"- vouchers. So what happened? David Pepper went to a district where voters rejected vouchers 74-26 while choosing Trump 80-20. Grab your pencils, class is in session. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: David Pepper

David Pepper is a renowned political writer and the former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. He's written several books that are highly instructive for the current political moment as we prepare for Trump 2.0 - and Ohio has a lot in common with Texas when it comes to being overrun by opportunistic Republicans. How both of our states have fallen victim to GOP gerrymandering, how Donald Trump will try to use the same tactics to entrench his power and enrich his friends, and what we can do about it - for now, all in this great talk. David's video on how removing the accountability of elections via gerrymandering paves the way for corruption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDiQQHbYhHg David's latest book: https://a.co/d/19av1wV Thanks for listening - and please join us for one of our two upcoming holiday parties in Dallas and Austin! They're a great way to shake off the post-election funk, find your people, plug in and get active - now's the perfect time. Tickets and sponsorships: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024

Keith Mundy is running for Congress in the Ohio 5th Congressional District, and his campaign has been endorsed by the UAW Cap Counsel, AFL-CIO both regionally and at the State level, IBEW, OCSEA/AFSCME, and the Ohio Democratic Party. Keith is a past Teamsters and Steel Workers Union member who published the Cleveland National Labor Relations Board newsletter for over 12 years, and he discusses his campaign and the issues important to him.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Liz Walters, Chairwoman of the Ohio Democratic Party, discusses the November election, what pundits get wrong about Ohio voters, crucial initiatives on this November's ballot, and of course, Ohio's own J.D. Vance, and his regressive views about women, and reproductive freedom. Listen to All Electorette Episodes https://www.electorette.com/podcast Support the Electorette Rate & Review on iTunes: https://apple.co/2GsfQj4 Also, if you enjoy the Electorette, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review on iTunes. And please spread the word by telling your friends, family, and colleagues about The Electorette! WANT MORE ELECTORETTE? Follow the Electorette on social media. Electorette Facebook Electorette Instagram Electorette Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Liz Walters. Chair Walters first joined us on An Honorable Profession in 2021, but a lot has happened in Ohio over the last three years, including the state's high-profile abortion ballot measure passed in 2023 and Donald Trump's recent selection of Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Debbie and Chair Walters discuss Ohio's transition from voting for Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016, her thoughts on JD Vance as the Vice Presidential nominee, and why unlikely coalitions are the key to success for protecting reproductive rights. They also discuss what  Walters sees and feels on the ground in Ohio, and she outlines her three-part strategy for her party heading into November. Tune in to learn more from this engaging conversation.   IN THIS EPISODE: • [01:05] Introducing Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Walters • [02:37] How the public has responded to Kamala Harris entering the race. • [04:32] What is necessary for Ohio to do to make sure that Kamala Harris has a majority in congress. • [06:15] How Ohioans are responding to Trump's selection of JD Vance as his running mate. • [08:36] Factors that have turned Ohio from a Blue State into a Red one. • [13:16] Voter strategy that is rooted in understanding that issues are the same across contexts. • [16:17] Partisanship in Ohio and the two incumbents for Supreme Court. • [22:06] Liz's advice to Democrats in relation to the party neutral nature of the ballot. • [26:59] Details of the unconstitutional special election in the lead-up to the November election. • [29:39] Chair Liz's journey into office through community organization. • [32:21] How State Parties influence the political ecosystem. • [34:49] Balancing priorities while working as a local elected official.

00:00 Show open/ Inna Kinney of ECDI and Lisa Gutierrez of Columbus restaurant Dos Hermanos on the 2024 Great Lakes Lenders Conference for small businesses. 17:56 Dr. Steven Reed, President of American Optometric Association on the importance of eye exams for kids before the school year starts. 26:43 Face the State: Kamala Harris as the presumptive Ohio State Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), Delegation and Convention Director of the Ohio Democratic Party. 32:54 Face the State: Coverage of Ohio Senator and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate JD Vance's recent visit to Middletown. Zoning changes in Columbus with Mayor Andrew Ginther.

David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, discusses the importance of focusing on races beyond the presidential election, such as State House and Senate seats and governorships as well as the U.S. House. He highlights the need for Democrats to compete in every district and emphasizes the threat of Project 2025, a plan by Trump supporters to dismantle the government if Trump is reelected. Pepper also discusses the use of school vouchers to undermine public education and calls for action to protect public schools. He is writing a novel that exposes the dangers of Project 2025 with the aim to make the threat more accessible to voters. You can follow David's very important work on these and other key issues at DavidPepper.substack.com. Also check out more great information about David's causes at SaveDemocracy.us. Today's episode is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, more information at UFCW.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Veteran Transition: Insights from a Veteran LeaderOn my "Leadership" podcast, I had an enlightening talk with Connie, a veteran and chair of the Ohio Democratic Party's Veterans and Military Community Caucus. We discussed the hurdles veterans face when returning to civilian life and the essential support they need.Benefits and Healthcare ChallengesConnie shed light on the struggles veterans face accessing benefits and healthcare, especially those affected by toxic chemical exposure. We emphasized the need for both physical and mental health support, as well as programs to combat veteran homelessness and ease reentry into society.Veterans Treatment CourtsWe talked about veterans treatment courts, which provide a dedicated legal track for veterans with offenses often linked to their service. These courts understand veterans' unique situations, like traumatic brain injuries and PTSD, and work with VA hospitals to offer treatment over punishment.Reentry BarriersConnie recounted her own experience applying for a government lawyer role, where her veteran status and five years of experience weren't enough to secure an interview, illustrating the employment obstacles veterans encounter. We stressed the need for better reentry support, including healthcare, mental health services, and job opportunities.Military Families' StrugglesThe conversation also covered the emotional and mental strain on military spouses during deployment, highlighting the need for stronger support and resources for these families.Enhancing Healthcare and SupportConnie advocated for broader healthcare access, Medicaid expansion, and more veterans' homes for end-of-life care. She called for better mental health support and job opportunities for veterans transitioning to civilian life.Voting Rights and Food InsecurityWe touched on the need to improve voting rights for active-duty members and address food insecurity among service members and their families.Conclusion: A Call to ActionMy talk with Connie was a stark reminder of the multifaceted advocacy needed for veterans. From healthcare and mental health to employment and legal aid,  a comprehensive approach is vital. We must honor our veterans by ensuring they have the support for a successful civilian transition. I urge listeners and readers to think about how to aid veterans' well-being,  whether through advocacy, volunteering, or raising awareness. Every effort helps strengthen the support network for our nation's service members.Tamie Wilson is an entrepreneur, single mom and an advocate for all Ohio families, who has made it her life's work to help people live happier healthier lives. Tamie Wilson is a Candidate for Ohio's 4th Congressional District.*PAID FOR BY TAMIE WILSON FOR US*Connect with Tamie hereSee Tamie's you tube content -here-

American democracy is under attack, and much of the damage is done in statehouses. David Pepper explains how Americans' hyper-fixation on national politics opens the door for corruption and anti-democratic actions at the state level. In Ohio, state legislators have undermined democracy by manipulating election policies and drawing unfair legislative districts. Pepper discusses how all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, can incorporate saving democracy into their daily lives. David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, and adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He served as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015-2021. In addition to his daily Substack, he has written several books. Two address state-level attacks on democracy: Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines (2021) and Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American (2023). His other books are political thrillers, the most recent being The Fifth Vote (2023). He also serves as a Senior Fellow for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation. Links: https://davidpepper.substack.com/ https://laboratoriesofautocracy.com/ https://savedemocracy.us/about/

In a just-published book, the former head of the Ohio Democratic Party weaves a tale of a kidnapping of a local politician that everyone doubts, from the local newspaper to the local police.

In a just-published book, the former head of the Ohio Democratic Party weaves a tale of a kidnapping of a local politician that everyone doubts, from the local newspaper to the local police.

* Israel's Mass Killing of Palestinian Civilians in Gaza, War Crimes and U.S. Complicity; Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN); Producer: Melinda Tuhus. * Jewish Voice for Peace Protests Demand Biden, Congress Pressure Israel to Accept Gaza Ceasefire; Liv Kunins-Berkowitz, Media Coordinator with Jewish Voice for Peace; Producer: Scott Harris. * Ohio Voters Overcome GOP Obstacles to Approve Abortion Access Constitutional Amendment; David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party & Author; Producer: Scott Harris.

David Pepper is the former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. You may have seen one of his viral white board videos on twitter, where he breaks down Republican attempts to undermine our democracy. In this interview, David discusses the recent house speaker races, meeting Putin and the war in Ukraine, and how pro-democracy forces need to go on offense in order to preserve majority rule.  Check out David's new book, Saving Democracy, which details how every American can join this fight. Head to https://tryfum.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 by going to boatsbeets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Pepper, former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, joins Steve to discuss how Ohio became a red state in the last decade and what Democrats can do to flip it blue in order to defeat Donald Trump.To become a The Warning Premium Member and listen to the show 48 hours early with access to premium content visit: https://thewarning.supercast.com/Subscribe for more and follow me here:Substack: https://steveschmidt.substack.com/subscribeTwitter: https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSESFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveSchmidtSES/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarningsesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewarningses/

Thursday, August 17th, 2023   David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, and former elected official. He served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He's the author of several books, including the excellent how-to guide: Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American. We discuss how every one of us can use our personal footprint to lift democracy.   The forces attacking democracy are doing so in order to keep their minority worldview locked in. All Americans – and not only in swing states – are on the front line of democracy because the battle is waged in local government and state houses. Unsurprisingly, these very undemocratic and rigged state houses render broken and corrupted government. All state and local races should be contested.   Follow David on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DavidPepper    Follow Mila on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/milaatmos    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey!  http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard    Take the Democracy Group's Listener Survey! https://www.democracygroup.org/survey   Want to support the show and get it early?  https://patreon.com/futurehindsight    Check out the Future Hindsight website!  www.futurehindsight.com   Read the transcript here:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/use-your-footprint-for-democracy-david-pepper      Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: David Pepper Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. In that role, he was engaged in numerous fights and extensive litigation over voter suppression and election laws in the Buckeye State. Stemming from that work, David appeared in “All In”—the documentary highlighting Stacey Abrams' nation-wide fight for voting rights. Pepper has written four novels that bridge real-world politics and fiction—including A Simple Choice (released in August 2022)). His first novel, The People's House, earned praise for having “predicted the Russia scandal.” The Wall Street Journal named Pepper "one of the best political-thriller writers on the scene.”  Born and raised in Cincinnati, David is a fifth-generation Cincinnatian. David earned his B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and later earned his J.D. from Yale Law School.

A former chair of Ohio Democratic Party, David Pepper is the author of several books, including Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy. You may have caught him in a short segment with Rachel Maddow or Morning Joe. The day after Issue One was defeated in Ohio in August, 2023, he joined Rachel and David on the pod to talk about how the Democrats' strategy differs from the Republicans', how that must change, and how you can help. For more information: savedemocracy.us And don't forget to register and request your ballot EVERY YEAR at votefromabroad.org

On this week's episode of The New Abnormal, how the latest Ohio election should be a wake-up call to Republicans. David Pepper, the former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, joins to discuss. Plus! Nick Suplina, senior Vice President of Law and Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, describes how ghost guns are more terrifying than you can imagine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ali Velshi is joined by Judge J. Michael Luttig, Fmr. Federal Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, David Pepper, Fmr. Chairman, Ohio Democratic Party, Maya Wiley, President & CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D) Mississippi, Secretary Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, Paul Butler, Professor, Georgetown School of Law, and Joyce Vance, Former U.S. Attorney.

On this week's Community Focus, I'm joined by Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters to discuss Issue One, abortion, and a new contender taking on Senator Sherrod Brown in 2024.

* Ohio GOP's August 8th ‘Issue One' Referendum Would Impose Minority Rule David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party & Author Producer: Scott Harris * Teamsters Union Prepares for Historic Strike Against UPS Alex N. Press, staff writer at Jacobin Magazine Producer: Scott Harris * Long COVID Patients Band Together to Share Data on Effective Treatment Yochai Re'em, a psychiatrist in private practice in New York Producer: Melinda Tuhus

In this week's special episode, co-host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan engages in an urgent discussion about threats to our democracy with David Pepper, a former city and county official, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, and author of the new book, "Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American." Following his previous best-selling book that sounded the alarm about challenges facing our system, Pepper aims to offer an empowering guide with actionable steps that anyone, regardless of their background or location, can take to help protect our democratic process. Together, he and Debbie delve into the pressing need to understand the ongoing assault on democracy and explain the crucial role pro-democracy Americans play in defending it. They highlight the importance of actively participating in every election, holding extremists accountable, recognizing the importance of state legislatures, and harnessing the influence of city and county officials. Join us to gain valuable insights from this timely and thought-provoking conversation and develop a personal plan to help save democracy.

David Pepper is back. He's the former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party and his latest book Saving Democracy is out now. Topics: David shared some effective and easy ways to help save democracy--and they don't require much of your time; why it's so important to win in local and state elections; David shared some of the more egregious laws/abuses happening on the state level and he ended with what we have to be optimistic about heading into 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Reed Galen is joined by David Pepper, the Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party and author of the new book, Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American. They discuss how gerrymandering not only leads to manipulated representation, but also it leads to poor candidate quality, poor policy outcomes, and rewards extremism. Plus, once Americans understand the threat to their democracy…what can they do to save it? If you'd like to connect with The Lincoln Project, send an email to podcast@lincolnproject.us.

Air Date 3/21/2023 Today, we take a look at how GOP-controlled states are subverting democracy with a form of "competitive autocracy" and some of the horrifying legislation these states then pass after they are no longer subject to the opinions of the general public. Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com  Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support Join our Discord community! Watch/Listen: The Laura Flanders Show SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The Autocratic Nightmare of State Republicans (David Pepper Interview) - The David Pakman Show - Air Date 2-5-22 David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, author of the book "Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines." Ch. 2: Republicans Are Staging A Legislative Coup - More Perfect Union - Air Date 1-5-22 Republicans are now carrying out a legislative coup by rigging a decade of elections. Ch. 3: Laboratories of Autocracy – David Pepper – It's the States, Stupid! - The Al Franken Podcast - Air Date 10-29-22 The former Ohio Democratic State Chair on how state legislatures are dismantling democracy. Ch. 4: The Fight for Fair Maps - The Takeaway - Air Date 7-18-22 After each census every 10 years, a fight for redistricting ensues.  Ch. 5: Failing (Red)States - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 3-4-23 Ralph welcomes William Kleinknecht, author of “States of Neglect: How Red-State Leaders Have Failed Their Citizens and Undermined America” Ch. 6: Ending my sm sabbatical since Houston is once again under attack by the party of "small government" - princewilliamhtx - Air Date 3-15-23 Ch. 7: Wherever you live in America, here's why you should care about Governor Abbott's removal of school board members in Houston. - isiahrmartin - Air Date 3-16-23 Ch. 8: “Plantation Politics”: How White Mississippi Lawmakers Want to Seize Power in Majority-Black Jackson - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-9-23 Mississippi's Republican majority in the state Legislature has put forth a slew of bills in recent months to put the majority-Black capital of Jackson under a white-led superstructure. Ch. 9: These Republicans are Trying to LITERALLY Send Your Kids Back To The Mines - The Young Turks - Air Date 2-11-23 Iowa Republicans are proposing a new bill that would change Iowa's child labor law to allow teens to work more dangerous jobs. Ch. 10: How Moore v. Harper Could Reshape Democracy - The Takeaway - Air Date 12-8-22 The Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Moore v. Harper this week, a case that involves North Carolina's Republican-led-state legislatures' efforts to pass gerrymandered maps. BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 11: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Rolls Back Child Labor Protections in Arkansas - The Young Turks - Air Date 3-10-23 Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law that would make it significantly easier for children to work extremely hard jobs. Ch. 12: Missouri law barring police from enforcing federal gun laws creates confusion - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-26-23 Missouri has some of the most permissive gun laws in the nation. A state law passed in 2021 is making it harder for police to enforce federal gun laws. Ch. 13: Tennessee legislator shocks with lynching suggestion - Alex Wagner Tonight - Air Date 3-3-23 Jelani Cobb talks with Alex Wagner about a Tennessee legislator suggesting that lynching be added as an option in new state death penalty legislation. VOICEMAILS Ch. 14: Re-indigenization - VoicedMailer Daniel FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 15: Final comments on how to fix the states SHOW IMAGE:  Description: Partial illustrated map of the U.S. "Red states" are black. A hollow-eyed elephant is overlaid on top of them. Blue and purple states are visible. Credit: Composite by A. Hoffman, License: CC By-SA 4.0. Map image credit: “Last 2 Election Red States and Blue States and Purple States” by BobWyatt07, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped, color-filled red states to black 

David Pepper returns! He's the author Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines and he's the former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. Topics: David described what Democrats got right in 2022 and what still needs attention (hint, hint: state legislatures); the danger MAGA extremists pose and how to combat them; Why Trump could dominate the 2024 primaries; how to fix the problem of purchased politicians who allow corporations to get away with murder and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carolyn Harding with Rachel Coyle. We'll discuss the good, bad and dangerous Lame Duck Bills at the Statehouse, as we speak. Rachel Coyle, Innovation Ohio's Communications Director, was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and political science from The Ohio State University and a master's degree in political communication from American University. Rachel brings a broad range of Ohio political experience to Innovation Ohio. She has held legislative and campaign roles with the Ohio Senate Democrats, directed communications for Joe Schiavoni for Ohio Governor and Cathy Johnson for Ohio Senate, and served as press secretary for the Ohio Democratic Party. She has previous experience with nonprofits as well, having managed grassroots advocacy and mobilization at ACLU of Ohio. In her free time, Rachel operates the popular advocacy training program “How Things Work at the Ohio Statehouse,” which teaches Ohioans how to be effective Statehouse activists. If you're a concerned Ohio citizen, and on Face Book, go today to Rachel Coyle's, How Things Work at the Ohio Statehouse, page. You'll find imperative information and guidance to help you take action at the State House to protect the issues you're fighting for, or against. https://innovationohio.org/ https://www.facebook.com/InnovationOhio https://www.facebook.com/groups/howthingsworkoh GrassRoot Ohio - Conversations with everyday people working on important issues, here in Columbus and all around Ohio. Every Friday 5:00pm, EST on 94.1FM & streaming worldwide @ WGRN.org, Sundays at 2:00pm EST on 92.7/98.3 FM and streams @ WCRSFM.org, and Sundays at 4:00pm EST, at 107.1 FM, Wheeling/Moundsville WV on WEJP-LP FM. Contact Us if you would like GrassRoot Ohio on your local station. Check us out and Like us on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/GrassRootOhio/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassroot_ohio/ If you miss the Friday broadcast, you can find it here: All shows/podcasts archived at SoundCloud! https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753 GrassRoot Ohio is now on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../grassroot-ohio/id1522559085 This GrassRoot Ohio interview can also be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ/ Intro and Exit music for GrassRoot Ohio is "Resilient" by Rising Appalachia: https://youtu.be/tx17RvPMaQ8 There's a time to listen and learn, a time to organize and strategize, And a time to Stand Up/ Fight Back!

Learn more about BigTentUSA Episode Information HereDavid Pepper,renowned author, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party (2015-2021), and election law professor. Pepper will discuss one of his recent books, Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call From Behind the Lines. He will discuss how state legislatures are becoming anti-democratic forces and what we can do to fight back. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

In this episode, I'm chatting with author David Pepper about his new novel A Simple Choice, independent bookshops, his non-fiction book Laboratories Of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call From Behind The Lines, and the importance of strengthening democracy at the state level.David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021.In that role, he was engaged in numerous fights and extensive litigation over voter suppression and election laws in the Buckeye State. Stemming from that work, David appeared in "All In"—the documentary highlighting Stacey Abrams' nation-wide fight for voting rights.Pepper has written four novels that bridge real-world politics and fiction—including A Simple Choice (released in August 2022)). His first novel, The People's House, earned praise for having "predicted the Russia scandal." The Wall Street Journal named Pepper "one of the best political-thriller writers on the scene." Born and raised in Cincinnati, David is a fifth-generation Cincinnatian. David earned his B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and later earned his J.D. from Yale Law School.David finished first out of 26 candidates in his first run for political office, and served on Cincinnati City Council from 2001-2005. In 2006, he flipped Hamilton County blue for the first time in 40 years when he ousted the incumbent commissioner; he then served on the Commission from 2007-2010, including as its president in 2009-2010. David was the Democratic candidate for Ohio Auditor in 2010 and Ohio Attorney General in 2014. He was elected chair of the Ohio Democratic Party in December 2014.In 1999, David clerked for the Honorable Nathaniel Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. After 2000, David also worked in the Cincinnati offices of major law firms Squire Sanders and Blank Rome, focusing his practice on commercial and business litigation, and appellate litigation. David also teaches election and voting rights law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.Between his undergraduate and law school years, David spent three years doing international work in St. Petersburg, Russia. Based out of the Center for Strategic and International Studies—a Washington D.C. think tank—he served as a research intern for Zbigniew Brzezinski for part of 1993, followed by several years as the assistant director of a project providing technical assistance to the City of St. Petersburg as it underwent economic reform. In that role, David interacted with international figures such as Henry Kissinger, Paul Bremer, ambassadors, members of Congress, business leaders, and Vladimir Putin, who was then Vice Mayor of St. Petersburg. David Pepper A Simple Choice, David Pepper Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines, David Pepper The Voter File, David Pepper The Wingman, David PepperThe People's House, David PepperLies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, James W. Loewen Democracy in America, Alexis De TocquevilleSupport the show

On today's 94th episode of The Thriller Zone, stellar author and political specialist David Pepper joins the show to talk about his latest thriller A Simple Choice. Hillary Rodham Clinton says, "David Pepper has written another thriller ripped from the headlines." Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, says, "Pepper comes through again with this clever tale of how cyber sabotage of elections, coupled with highly concentrated ownership of traditional media operations, can undermine American democracy." And I say, come on in, the thrillers are hot and the topics are interesting! As backstory, David Pepper is the author of The Voter File, The People's House, The Wingman, and Laboratories of Autocracy. he earned his BA from Yale University, and his JF from Yale Law School. He has clerked for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals, served in local elected office in Ohio, worked for major law firms, and taught election and voting rights law. David served as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015 to 2021. To learn more and David, his background, and most importantly his books, visit: https://DavidPepper.com (DavidPepper.com). As always, please follow us on both Twitter and Instagram @thethrillerzone, and on the web at https://TheThrillerZone.com (TheThrillerZone.com) and https://YouTube.com/thethrillerzone (YouTube.com/thethrillerzone). Mentioned in this episode: AB-Do Like Me-082522 There was a time when I built my own website. Yeah, that worked out really well. Until it didn't. Talking about hassles. Listen, don't do like the "old me" do like the "new me" and hire AuthorBytes.com for your new website. Warwicks-CraftsmanTools-9822 When I was a kid my Dad only bought Craftsman tools. Why? Because they were dependable, and never broke, but if they did you could return no questions asked. That's Customer Service, built upon Integrity. THAT'S Warwicks.com

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest host Jefferson Smith is joined by former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, and author of Laboratories of Autocracy, David Pepper. Are our state houses becoming incapacitated by the invasion of white supremacists and right-wing extremists? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail. Herle Burly-ites, our guest today can accurately be described as a political renaissance man. His name is David Pepper. David Pepper is a Yale educated lawyer.  He's a former politician, serving on city council in Cincinnati, and as a member of Hamilton County, Ohio, Board of Commissioners. He's the former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, stepping down after the 2020 elections. And, get this, he's also an author, hailed as “one of the best political-thriller writers on the scene” for his fiction. Bill Clinton … yes, Bill Clinton … gushed about his latest novel, “The Voter File”. We'll explore a little about David's backstory. But, all of that is not really why we wanted to talk to him here today. His latest book is a work of non-fiction called, “Laboratories of Autocracy”. In it, David argues that the greatest threat to American democracy is not the “Big Lie”, or January 6th and the limo-lunging behaviours of Donald Trump. It's not the antics of federal politicians like Marjorie Taylor Green and Jim Jordan. Rather, his thesis is that it's the anonymous, often corrupt politicians operating in statehouse after statehouse across the country, who pose the greatest dangers to democracy. Politicians who hack away daily at the core principles and place American democracy at its greatest peril since the Jim Crow era. We'll talk about all of that and David's thoughts in the book about how America can fight back.Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch conversations from The Herle Burly on YouTube. 

The greatest threat to American democracy, says David Pepper isn't the high-profile antics of national politicians. In his new book, Laboratories of Autocracy, he posits that the greatest danger to democracy is in our own statehouses, and the dismantling of democratic institutions is happening right under our noses.rnrnPepper points to often unchecked state legislatures that enjoy immense power with what seems like total anonymity. Most Americans cannot name their state representatives, yet state legislators make critical decisions on economic policy, budgets, energy policy, criminal justice, education, and more. And on the heels of the Ohio Supreme Court dismissing the fourth set of redistricting maps due to gerrymandering, statehouse decisions can easily influence federal politics in favor of a single party.rnrnPepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, adjunct professor and the former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. Join us to hear how he believes citizens can protect democracy at in their communities, at the state level, and around the country.

Nina Turner talks about her latest congressional race, which she lost, where the Congressional Progressives Caucus was, & what's next for her. Amy Vilela talks about her own congressional race for Nevada's First District. https://twitter.com/amy4thepeople https://twitter.com/ninaturner Amy Vilela grew up in poverty, relying on programs like WIC & SNAP in order to make ends meet as a single-mother. She took classes at night while working multiple jobs to become the first in her family to earn a degree. She became a national advocate for Medicare for All after her daughter Shalynne died at the hands of our nation's profit-driven healthcare system. After working her way up to become a CFO, Amy has since retooled her professional experience to provide vital campaign services to other progressive candidates. In 2020, serving as a State Co-chair, Amy led the charge for Bernie Sanders' landslide victory in the Nevada caucuses. The Vilelas first moved to Nevada when her husband, Major David Vilela, was transferred to Creech Air Force Base. If elected, she would be the first ever active duty military spouse to serve in Congress. In addition to Congresswoman Cori Bush & Senator Nina Turner, Amy's campaign has attracted national attention and has been endorsed by Brand New Congress, Sunrise Movement Las Vegas, the Center for Biological Diversity & more. Nina Turner, the oldest of seven children, grew up in a working-class family in Cleveland's Lee-Harvard community. Her Mother was a nurse's aide & her Father was a truck driver. Experiencing the impact of income inequality firsthand, Turner took her first job at age 14 to help support her siblings & keep the family afloat. Turner's Mother battled high blood pressure her entire life & died at age 42. This experience exposed to Turner the serious problems with our health care system, especially for Black & lower-income families. After working her way through college and graduate school (she earned an Associate's Degree from Cuyahoga Community College & a Bachelor's and Master's from Cleveland State University), she started a career dedicated to keeping Ohio working families afloat too. Turner made history in 2005 as the first African American woman to represent Ward One on the Cleveland City Council, & again in 2008 as the first African American woman to serve as a State Senator in Ohio's 25th District. In the legislature, Turner repeatedly defended against attacks on women's health care freedom & partnered with working families & organized labor to protect collective bargaining rights. As a champion for criminal justice reform, she led the effort to create Ohio's first task force on police & community relations in the wake of tragic police killings in Ohio & across the country. Turner went on to serve as the Chair of Party Engagement for the Ohio Democratic Party, leading the effort to build a more robust & inclusive organizing infrastructure & support for local Democratic candidates across the State. Turner took her record of accomplishment & commitment to justice nationwide when she became a national surrogate for Bernie Sanders' 2016 Presidential campaign & National Co-Chair for Bernie 2020. In those roles, she traveled coast to coast building support for progressive values such as a $15 living wage, free education from kindergarten through college & health care as a human right in the form of Medicare for All. Between those two campaigns, Turner also served as the President of the national grassroots political organization “Our Revolution.” Nina Turner is a wife, mother & proud grandmother. A former Assistant Professor of History at her alma mater Cuyahoga Community College, she is also the current host of the “Hello Somebody” podcast on iHeartRadio. ***Please support The Katie Halper Show *** On Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thekatiehalpershow Follow Katie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kthalps Callin link: https://www.callin.com/episode/nina-turner-amy-vilela-qsJgTwzHDK

David Pepper is an author and the former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. In his new book, Laboratories of Autocracy, David argues that the greatest threat to American Democracy is not the alt-right, January 6th, or even Donald Trump, but rather, the corrupt politicians in state houses across the country.  You can find David on Twitter @DavidPepper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American democracy is under attack. There is precious little time to save it. Many still aren't focused on the greatest risk: Statehouses! Corrupt politicians in statehouses across the country are experimenting with ways to undermine democracy in a cynical quest for power. David Pepper, author of "Laboratories of Autocracy," joins us to talk about this ongoing threat and what we must do about it. David Pepper is the author of Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines." He is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. He has engaged in numerous fights and extensive litigation over voter suppression and election laws in the Buckeye State. He will talk about the assault on democracy at the state and local levels and what to do about it.

On Episode 102 of Prognosis Ohio, Dan Skinner talks with David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and author of Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines. Dan and David talk about the corrosive and antidemocratic effects of corruption, including gerrymandering and pay-to-play politics in Ohio, and unpack the ways in which these trends undermine health outcomes in Ohio. For show notes, streams, social media links, and to find out how to support the show, check out the show's website at prognosisohio.com.

There may not be a presidential race, but it's hard to overstate the significance of the political year ahead. It's not just that 2022 brings the usual statewide contests--Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and so forth; Ohio has an open senate seat with a formidable roster of primary contenders, including political neophytes, a celebrity author, and a firebrand former state treasurer. The GOP's incumbent governor faces an insurgent primary effort to his right. And new district boundaries will change the dynamics in 15 congressional races, as well as in state legislative seats. Plus, this is all happening with relatively new state leadership in both major political parties.rnrnOhio GOP chairman Robert Paduchik took over leadership of the state party in February of 2021, having previously served as Donald Trump's Ohio campaign manager in 2016 and co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 2017-2019.rnrnElizabeth Walters was elected chair of the Ohio Democratic Party in January 2021. President and at-large member of Summit County Council, Ms. Walters was raised in Northeast Ohio, was the party's previous executive director, and is the first woman to serve as chair.rnrnJoin us, in-person at the City Club on January 14th for a conversation moderated by Andy Chow of the Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau.

David Pepper, former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and author of "Laboratories of Autocracy" talks about how state legislatures are leading us own a forced march toward the end of democracy in America.Call-in at 1-866-416-RICK (7425) to join the show.Want more #RickShow? Go to https://www.thericksmithshow.comThe Rick Smith Show streams live every weeknight from 9p-11p EST on YouTube & Twitch TV, and the show runs every night in prime time on Free Speech TV.Be sure to add the FSTV channel on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, on the FSTV iOS app, or find it in the regular channel lineup on DirecTV or Dish.Radio listeners – You can find us in most major markets, including New York City on WBAI 99.5 FM, Los Angeles on KPFK 90.7 FM, Chicago on WCPT AM 820, Columbus on 98.3/92.7 FM, Minneapolis on AM950, and many others. Check your local listings.Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R), of District 2, announced her run to represent Ohio's 9th congressional district — but some have questions. On this week's Community Focus, I'm joined by David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. | Note: I did reach out to Gavarone's campaign for an interview this week, but was told she wasn't available.

David Pepper returns! He's an author and the former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. We discussed his latest book, Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines. David outlines what's wrong, what's trouble and most importantly, what voters can do to stop the fascist autocrats from winning. So much is happening in the State Houses but hardly anyone is paying attention. If you care about saving American democracy, please take a listen and then buy David's book. We have less than one year but we can do it! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Far more than the high-profile antics of politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene or Jim Jordan—and yes, even bigger than Donald Trump's "Big Lie”—our guest today says that it is anonymous, often corrupt politicians in statehouses across the country who pose the greatest dangers to American democracy. Our old friend David Pepper is the former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. Born and raised in Cincinnati, he's served in city and county offices, run statewide in Ohio, and has a law degree from Yale. But he's also an accomplished author of works that are eerily prescient about American politics. He's written Laboratories of Autocracy, a chilling new account of just how bad things have gotten at the state level, and what we can do to fix it.

As we often say on the show, we believe democracy happens between elections. With Election Day looming we wanted to turn our attention to What's Next. We have two special guests this week who are always thinking about the long game. Jordan Hawkins, Deputy Engagement Director at Ohio Democratic Party, is on the podcast for the first time while Morgan Harper, the former grassroots candidate for Ohio's third congressional district, joins us for the second time, as our first reoccurring guest. We discuss the importance of continued civic engagement to ensure transparent and effective representation and how we can engage beyond electoral politics. Follow Morgan @mh4oh and Jordan @J_Hawk_TheDon. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For all things voting in Ohio go to makeitcountohio.com. If you need a FREE ride to the polls call or text Columbus Stand Up at 614-259-7391. Our end clip this week is Sean Penn appearing in the 1993 documentary, The Last Party. Hosted by Robert Downey Jr., the film satirically covers the 1992 election including both the Republican and Democratic conventions with equal criticism. Hosted by EhKees & Tareya. Recorded & Edited by The Dreamcatchers Recording Studios; Executive Produced by Jenn Nielsen; our Post Production Assistant is Callan Reese. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/columbus-cant-wait/message