Transcript

“We are not ready to put at risk the lives of those who are going to be on the front lines. And let’s be clear, we’re talking about populations that are likely to be people of color... and likely to be women. These are low-wage workers who do not have the luxury of refusing to return to work. If they refuse the call of their employers, because we live in a right-to-work state, they are subject to termination. This means that people are literally being told to either come back to work, or risk the lives of your families.” - Stacey Abrams

In today’s episode, co-hosts Dr. Celine Gounder and Ron Klain speak with Stacey Abrams, a national leader in voting rights and former Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, about Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to re-open much of the state amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss how some populations, such as low-wage workers and people of color, will bear the brunt of this decision, as many are forced to choose between their jobs and the safety of their loved ones. They also discuss what voter suppression is how citizens can still exercise their right to vote in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. They talk about how the pandemic could affect the 2020 census. Finally, they discuss how the pandemic has exposed inequities in the U.S., and what can be done to close the gaps that remain in order to come out of this pandemic stronger than ever as a country.

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