The Leslie Marshall Show

Why All Advocacy Organizations Should Adopt a Racial Equity Framework

Today's guest hosts are Brent J. Cohen and Edwith Theogene, Executive Director and Organizing Director for Generation Progress. 

Over the past year—a year in which we saw some of the largest uprisings in support of racial justice in many years, in addition to a pandemic that disproportionately impacted Black Americans—many Americans have undergone a reckoning on systemic racism and its impact.

As a result, many organizations in the progressive advocacy and policy spaces are incorporating a more intentional and intersectional racial equity or racial justice lens into their work. Their goal is to ensure that advocacy and policy on all issues—from climate to reproductive rights to student debt—acknowledges and addresses the way that race and racism furthers harm against Black, Indigenous, and other individuals and communities of color. 

To talk to Brent and Edwith more about what a racial equity framework looks like in practice, the resources that are available to organizations and individuals, and common missteps or misconceptions to avoid, they’re joined by two expert guests in the field.They are Nia E. Martin-Robinson, a founding partner at 'For The Culture,' and Krystal Leaphart, an operations and policy associate at the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women.

Generation Progress' website is GenProgress.org and their Twitter handle is @GenProgress.  Brent's Twitter handle is @BrentJCohen and Edwith Theogene's handle is @WhoIsEdwith.  Nia E. Martin-Robinso's Twitter handle is @NiaEshu and Krystal Leaphart's handle is @Krystallisms.

 

Investing in American Infrastructure

During this episode, Leslie is joined by United Steelworkers President Tom Conway(USW), North America’s largest industrial union.
They’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.

Leslie and Tom discuss America's desperate need for infrastructure investment, as evidenced by the recent failure of Texas' energy grid, and how that investment can create millions of stable, quality jobs.
Additionally, they analyze how the right infrastructure package can also boost America’s global competitiveness, strengthen supply chains, and ensure economic resiliency.

The website for the USW is USW.org. Their handle on both Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Black America

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Atiba Madyun, President/CEO of The Madyun Group, a government relations firm based in Washington, DC, as well as Party Politics US, a data collection firm that not only gathers data from American voters but also engages with young people to educate them on public policy.

Brad and Atiba discuss the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on black families, the racism that helped fuel the Jan. 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and how President Biden has done in regard to addressing racial inequality in America during his first month in office.

Atiba Madyun is the former Division Director of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, as well as the author of the novel 'Saving Grace,' which is available for purchase on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.  His website is AtibaMadyun.com and his Twitter handle is @AtibaMadyun.

During the second half of the show, Brad leads a political round-table with Tim Zenk and Mark Grimaldi.  The roundtable discusses the problems with the Texas power grid that helped to create the current energy crisis in the lone star state, and how climate change has factored into the problem.  They also discuss the opportunities and challenges presented to the Biden administration ahead of its upcoming push for an expansive infrastructure package.

Tim is a Principle at 'Molecule,' a business and public affairs company, a former Democratic staffer, and a well known renewable energy expert. His Twitter handle is @greencrude.

 

Mark Grimaldi has been a progressive political activist for the past 12 years. He volunteered for the campaigns of President Obama (2008 and 2012), Senator Bernie Sanders (2016), Secretary Hillary Clinton (2016), and President Joe Biden (2020). Mark is also involved in campaign finance reform efforts around the country, and philanthropic efforts for Cancer research. His Twitter handle is @MarkJGrimaldi.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles.
You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His Twitter handle is @BradBannon.

You can also watch this episode here on Periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1vOxwEYqoNMGB

Or here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeadlineDCWithBradBannon/videos/233538098438808

 

Biden Administration Approach on the Economy, China and Infrastructure

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.

The two discuss the Biden administration's plan to transform the American economy, how to deal with China, and what the administration's infrastructure plan should include.

The AAM website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their Twitter handle is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

World Renowned Infectious Disease Expert on CDC's New School Guidelines for COVID-19 Pandemic

First, Leslie gives her take on today's news in her 'Ripped from the Headlines' segment.

Here are the stories that she covered:

1. AXIOS: "Pelosi announces "9/11-type Commission" to probe Capitol attack after Trump acquittal"
2. AXIOS: "NAACP sues Trump for inciting Capitol riot"
3. AXIOS: "Biden extends mortgage relief, moratorium on foreclosures"
4. AXIOS: "Biden reopens federal health insurance marketplace for 3 months"
5. AXIOS: "Biden, Hill Democrats plan to unveil immigration reform bill this week"
6. WASHINGTON POST: "Biden is winning Republican support for his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan. Just not in Washington."

Then, Leslie is joined by Dr. Bob Bollinger, the Raj and Kamla Gupta Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Bollinger holds joint appointments in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in Community Public Health at the JH School of Nursing.

They discuss and analyze the CDC's new guidelines for how to operate schools safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Bollinger is Founding Director of the Center for Clinical Global Health Education (CCGHE). Their website is main.ccghe.net and their Facebook page is Facebook.com/CCGHE.

Taking Action to Shrink the Criminal Legal System

Today's guest hosts are Brent J. Cohen and Charlotte Hancock, Executive Director and Communications Director for Generation Progress.

With a new President in office and the balance of power in Congress shifted, many advocates and activists hope that bold action will be taken to shrink the criminal legal system and invest in communities to end the gun violence epidemic—which both disproportionately impact young people, especially young people of color.

Young people between the ages of 18 to 35 make up only 30 percent of the U.S. adult population, but they represent 60 percent of adult arrests and 42 percent of adult prison admissions. The consequences have lifelong implications for the young people caught up in this system—and the impacts fall hardest on Black and Latinx communities.

To discuss what it will take to solve these public health crises and address the harms that these systems have had on individuals and communities, Brent and Charlotte are joined by two expert guests.  They are Hassen Bashir, an advocacy associate with the team at Generation Progress, who is focused on criminal legal system reform and gun violence prevention, as well as Greg Jackson, the national advocacy director at the Community Justice Action Fund.

Greg's Twitter handle is @GregoryJackson and the handle for the Community Justice Action Fund is @CJACTIONFUND.  Generation Progress' website is GenProgress.org and their Twitter handle is @GenProgress.  Brent's Twitter handle is @BrentJCohen and Charlotte Hancock's handle is @Charlatanne.

The Role of Local Prosecutors in Fighting Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.
Here are the stories that she gave her take on:
1. AXIOS: "Day 1 of Trump's second impeachment trial"

2. AUDIO: House Impeachment Manager Jamie Raskin's opening impeachment trial statement

3. AUDIO: Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) refers to Trump's failed coup attempt as deserving of a mulligan

4. CNN: "Millions who likely voted for Trump want him barred from future office"

5. AXIOS: "CBO: $15 minimum wage would increase unemployment but lift 900,000 out of poverty"

6. CNN: "Georgia secretary of state's office launches investigation into Trump's phone call"

7. AXIOS: "How to deprogram America's extremists"

Leslie is then joined by Mimi Rocah, District Attorney of Westchester County, located just north of New York City, and a legal commentator.

The two discuss D.A. Rocah's new piece for USA Today, titled "We can fight hate in our communities before it escalates to violent crime and extremism."

Since taking office on January 1st, 2021, District Attorney Rocah has focused on rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the community, and shaping a safer and fairer criminal justice system for all of the county’s 950,000 residents. Rocah was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York for 17 years, including five years as Chief of the Westchester Division for the U.S. Department of Justice.  Mimi is also a legal commentator for national media.Her DA Twitter handle is @WestchesterDA and her personal Twitter handle is @MimiRocah1.

Senate Impeachment Trial, COVID-19 Stimulus, Marjorie Taylor Greene

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by John Nichols, the National Political Correspondent for 'The Nation,' and Author of the new book, "The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party." (Available for purchase here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48624170-the-fight-for-the-soul-of-the-democratic-party)
John's Twitter handle is @NicholsUprising.

Brad and John discuss the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of former President Trump, the COVID-19 stimulus, and the dangers of the extremism that is pushed by Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

During the second half of the show, Brad leads a political round-table with Edwith Theogene and Mark Grimaldi. The roundtable discusses the violent rhetoric of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and how Congress should respond to it.  They also get into the details of the $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package that has the backing of President Biden, including the expansion of tax credits for parents with children.  Additionally, they analyze what impact that cancelling student debt and raising the minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour would have on the economy.

Edwith Theogene is the director of advocacy for Generation Progress, the youth engagement arm of American Progress. In this role, Theogene works to develop and lead efforts that translate the experiences of young adults into concrete actions that advance progressive policies and increase voter turnout.Edwith's Twitter handle is @WhoIsEdwith.

Mark Grimaldi has been a progressive political activist for the past 12 years. He volunteered for the campaigns of President Obama (2008 and 2012), Senator Bernie Sanders (2016), Secretary Hillary Clinton (2016), and President Joe Biden (2020). Mark is also involved in campaign finance reform efforts around the country, and philanthropic efforts for Cancer research. His Twitter handle is @MarkJGrimaldi.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles.
You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His Twitter handle is @BradBannon.

You can also watch this episode here on Periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1gqxvoZwQzWKB

Or here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeadlineDCWithBradBannon/videos/771701863695318

Black History Month: The Pandemic's Impact on Black Families

Leslie begins the show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories she covers during the segment:
1. AXIOS: "Senate votes to advance budget resolution for Biden's relief plan"
2. AUDIO: President Biden today - There's nothing more important than us getting the resources we need to vaccinate Americans 
3. AUDIO: President Biden today - Would like to be doing COVID-19 stimulus with the support of Republicans, but they're just not willing to go as far as we have to go 
4. AXIOS: "Poll: Majority of Americans support $1.9 trillion COVID relief package"
5. AXIOS: "The Trump-COVID jobs legacy"
6. AXIOS: "House votes to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from committee assignments"

Leslie is then joined by Atiba Madyun, President/CEO of The Madyun Group, a government relations firm based in Washington, DC, as well as Party Politics US, a data collection firm that not only gathers data from American voters but also engages with young people to educate them on public policy.  

Leslie and Atiba discuss the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on black families, the high number of essential workers who are black, and how black people already face discrimination when receiving medical care.

Atiba Madyun is the former Division Director of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, as well as the author of the novel 'Saving Grace,' which is available for purchase on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.His website is AtibaMadyun.com and his Twitter handle is @AtibaMadyun.

What Should COVID-19 Stimulus Look Like?; Impact of Free Tuition on Public Colleges

Leslie begins the show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories she covers during the segment:
1. AXIOS: "Impeachment managers call Trump "singularly responsible" for Capitol riots"
2. AUDIO: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recounting her horrifying experience hiding in her office during the insurrection
3. REUTERS: "'He invited us': Accused Capitol rioters blame Trump in novel legal defense"

Leslie is then joined by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, an economic advisory firm and a Senior Fellow of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

They discuss his newest piece for 'Washington Monthly,' which is titled, "Biden Opts for Growth and Equity While Republicans Whine."  
Leslie also talks with Dr. Shapiro about the new report that he wrote on the impact that free tuition has on public colleges and universities.

Dr. Shapiro is an internationally-known economist who has advised, among others, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Jr., British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and then U.S. Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He was Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs in the Clinton Administration.  His website is Sonecon.com and his Twitter handle is @RobShapiro.