Daily Kos' The Brief

This week Markos and Kerry talk about how every step the Republican Party makes seems to be into another pile of manure. From Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inhumane political chicanery to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s poorly received abortion bill, the GOP isn’t making any friends, even with their own voters.

Kerry Eleveld makes her triumphant return from maternity leave! Markos and Kerry speak with prominent American political strategist and president of New Democrat Network Simon Rosenberg. Simon talks about what the data is saying and why the “red wave” has turned into a ripple.

Daily Kos election’s expert Steve Singiser joins Markos to talk about what he has seen this year that gives him real hope the Democratic Party can fend off a “Red Wave” midterm. 

It has been a few weeks of vacation. Kerry is on maternity leave! Markos is joined by Daily Kos' Cara Zelaya to talk about how optimistic the numbers have been over the past few weeks since the Grand Old Party got its wish to steal away reproductive rights from tens if not hundreds of millions of Americans. Markos and Cara also talk about President Biden’s big move reducing student debt and how much more robust his plan is upon deeper inspection.

In this episode of The Brief, first aired on Feb. 10, 2021, we speak with historian Kathleen Frydl. Discussing what it would take for Biden to be the next FDR, the Republican party's dedication to whiteness, and what historically makes for a good progressive presidency. We also discuss with Daily Kos’ own Joan McCarter all about the Senate, how the present political climate figures into their agenda, and what the consequences of falling short could be for Democrats. 

In this episode of The Brief, first aired on June 7, 2022, we are joined by the executive director of Guns Down America and author of the book Guns Down: How to Defeat the NRA and Build a Safer Future with Fewer Guns, Igor Volsky. He joins Markos to discuss Uvalde, Texas, and what Democrats and Biden are and are not doing to solve our country’s gun safety issues.

In this episode of The Brief, first aired on June 8, 2021, we speak with Vivian Topping, director of advocacy and civic engagement at the Equality Federation, and Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights about the record-setting pieces of legislation the GOP has put forward to try and hurt transgender Americans.

In this episode of The Brief, first aired on Feb. 15, 2022, we speak with University of California-Berkeley law professor Ian Haney López, a bona fide real-world Critical Race Theorist. Not the fake ones that conservatives are hyperventilating wherever Black people might reside, like in school and public libraries.

In this episode of The Brief, first aired on May 17, 2022, Washington state Sen. Emily Randall, who has been knocking on doors in her tough swing district in the Kitsap Peninsula and Matt Hildreth, executive director of RuralOrganizing.org talk about being on the ground talking with voters in rural areas and urban areas before, during, and after the leaked Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. They have some interesting insights into how much of an effect it is having on voters and organizing for the midterms as well as some good ideas for what Democrats need to do to be successful in saving our democracy.  

In this episode of The Brief, first aired on May 31, 2022, Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, joins Markos to talk about his New York Times best selling book, Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution. After decades, the Republican Party finally achieved the Supreme Court they wanted—a radical conservative court, vastly out of step with the American public, that is destroying all the freedoms we cherish, from our right to privacy (abortion, contraception, same-sex marriage, and even interracial marriage), to our right to vote, to our right to stay alive. Mystal comes in to talk about the history of the court and the intellectual bankruptcy and inherent racism of Justices like Alito or Thomas and their “originalism” take on our Constitution.