Make It Plain MIP with Rev. Mark Thompson

Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief,” is back for our weekly #ThursdayKos chat, and it begins on the subject of the politicization of Colin Powell’s death, and how anti-vaxxers (and the media outlets they flock to) are forgetting some key details as to why Powell passed away. Looking over at the senate, Mark and Markos wonder aloud if Manchin will help get rid of the filibuster in the name of voting rights, which he claims to support wholeheartedly. But if we want to stop the Sinema/Manchin circus, Markos explains why we MUST have successful midterm elections in 2022.

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The League of Women Voters, People for the American Way, and Declaration for American Democracy have initiated a season of direct action and civil disobedience at the White House to demand President Biden take action to end the filibuster and protect our voting rights. Mark participated in yesterday’s rally (stick around ‘til the end to hear him speak), where leaders of the movement demand President Biden and his administration address their campaign-trail-promise to protect our voting rights.

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Nadra Nittle is a Senior Reporter for Civil Eats and more recently she has taken on the title of author, with her book titled “Toni Morrison’s Spiritual Vision: Faith, Folktales, and Feminism in Her Life and Literature.” In today’s episode she discusses the many facets of the legendary Toni Morrison, which often lead us back to her spirituality and religion, and the ways we can see that play out in her inimitable literature.

BUY Nadra’s book here: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506471518/Toni-Morrisons-Spiritual-Vision

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How deeply do you understand the critical legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer? Dr. Keisha N. Blain is a historian and author of her latest book, “Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer’s Enduring Message to America,” and she shows how Hamer’s words still speak truth to power in our society and what that actually means. Dr. Blain familiarizes us with Hamer, who didn’t know she could vote until she was 44 years old, but eventually found herself on stage at the Democratic National Convention in 1964. But she also faced tensions within the democratic party and experienced a lot of difficult resistance to her radical honesty. But her dedication to her home state of Mississippi and to the movement are still evident today, as her message endures.

BUY the book here: https://bookshop.org/books/until-i-am-free-fannie-lou-hamer-s-enduring-message-to-america/9780807061503

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Nadya Okamoto is CEO of August, a company dedicated to producing sustainable, ethical, and impactful tampons and pads, as well as host of the newest podcast in the DCP Entertainment family, “Tigress.” She joins Mark to discuss the evolution of her career that began at the age of 16 and continues to evolve but always keeps her eye on the prize of abolishing the period tax and expanding access to affordable (if not free) period products. And as her podcast takes shape, she’s expanding into topics like mental health, sexual assault and harassment, and family dynamics. 

Check out Nadya’s show here: https://www.dcpofficial.com/tigress

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s time for #ThursdayKos and Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief,” is back to talk all things 2024. But before we climb that hill, there’s midterm elections to be had, and Markos explains why losing either chamber of congress will absolutely kill the Biden legislative agenda. Luckily we have organizers like Stacey Abrams who know how to engage with people outside of the election season, and Markos explains how that edge should give her the push she needs to be the next governor of Georgia. Over at Civiqs, where they’re tracking a plethora of polling data, Markos explains that Biden’s numbers have tanked with independents--that, combined with the fact that Trump could be a strong contender in 2024, should have us all contributing to organizations that will help us hold onto the hill.

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Last week, a few reputable news sources ran a story that the Biden administration had made a serious cut in their proposal to get relief funds to HBCUs--and that story was incorrect. Trey Baker is a Director of Public Engagement for the Biden administration and he tells us that, in truth, the Biden administration is currently proposing a historic amount of funding for HBCUs, but the total dollar amount is still undecided. That’s where congress comes in. 

See the HBCU-funding fact sheet here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/09/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administrations-historic-investments-and-support-for-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Chad Stone, Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is back for our monthly check-in on the economy via the jobs report. Chad points out that labor force participation is much lower than it would be in a normal strong labor market, because of the pandemic, and especially for parents. And September usually brings stronger numbers in education, as kids get back to school, but this year was lower than average, and Chad explains why. Ultimately, we’re reminded that COVID-19 is still driving the economy.

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Wisconsin has the highest race of violence and sexual assault against Indigenous women in the country. Justine Rufus and Skye Boniasnoke Alloway are Co-Chairs of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force of Wisconsin, and Skye explains one of the task force's main goals: get accurate data on the number of missing and murdered indigenous women, and work to break down the barriers that make that data collection so challenging in the first place. Justine and Skye share how the task force plans to tackle the systemic racism that has contributed to the distrust between Indigenous communities and law enforcement, and how that doubles down on what is already complicated and challenging: keeping Indigenous people safe, and accurately reporting the crimes against them.

*Producer’s note: Mark mentions that Gabby Petito was found in Wisconsin, which is incorrect. Gabby’s body was found in Wyoming.

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s not about comparing Gabby Petito’s case to those of Indigenous women, or saying that one is more deserving than the other--that’s not the case at all. It’s about cultural patterns, as Yonasda Lonewolf and Cliff Matias explain, and the fact that no missing Indigenous person has ever received national media attention. Yonasda makes a haunting connection between pipeline construction sites and murdered and missing Indigenous women, and points out how Pocahontas was actually the original missing Indigenous woman. And to round it out, Cliff shares some special events happening this weekend in New York City and other cities across the country to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Weekend.

Executive Producer: Adell Coleman

Producer: Brittany Temple

Distributor: DCP Entertainment

For additional content: makeitplain.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy