Make It Plain MIP with Rev. Mark Thompson

Republicans used the filibuster to squash a bill that would have created a commission to investigate the deadly insurrection on January 6th. Now, Speaker Pelosi is floating the idea of an independent investigation--so what could happen next? Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief,” explains that, while there are benefits, the outside commission would be without a crucial legal power. Markos also gets into some news out of Arizona, and an organization that is dedicated to candidate recruitment at the local level, helping people through the process of their first run for office.

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

America is the wealthiest country in the world and yet our federal paid leave, or rather, lack thereof, comes up way short in comparison to other countries. Carol Joyner is the Director of Labor Project for Working Families and in today’s episode, she explains that we’re at a pivotal moment in our country’s history where we have the potential to pass the first federal paid leave mandate--but how likely is that to actually happen? She fills us in on the challenges the legislation faces, why she’s optimistic, and where there is still room for improvement on the granular details. She also details how Labor Project for Working Families, in conjunction with a nationwide network of unions, partners, and organizations, have worked to pass paid leave legislation in 9 states and Washington D.C. over the last 20 years.

More information: https://familyvaluesatwork.org/laborproject/

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

Racial injustices in the criminal justice system are front of mind for many people today, but one element of that system is not discussed nearly enough, says author Jonathan Rapping, and that’s public defenders. Jonathan is a criminal defense attorney and author of “Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice,” where he explores this gap in our public discourse and unveils the burden it places on those who are arrested, often disproportionately affecting people of color. In today’s episode, Jonathan explains how public defenders are overburdened and that trickles down into what plays out in court, which he rightfully reframes as a violation of our constitutional right to access legal representation.

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

Throwback episode! While you enjoy your Memorial Day, we’re bringing you this panel discussion from March 2021. As more people gain access to the coronavirus vaccine, this panel discussion provides insight from leaders of both medicine and faith. Moderated by our own Mark Thompson, the panelists explore how the vaccine works, community fears and hesitations, and what outstanding questions remain. 

Panelists: Dr. James K. Hildreth, President of Meharry Medical College; Rev. A. Oveta Fuller, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Michigan Medical School; Dr. Chu Chu Onwauchi-Saunders, Pediatrician and Medical Epidemiologist; Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Leading Pastor at Concord Baptist Church of Christ

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

Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters for America, is back to MIP for an update on what the conspiracy factory known as Fox News is up to -- especially since the latest campaign to get companies to divest from the media conglomerate. Also on today’s agenda is CNN finally sending Rick Santorum packing for his inaccurate and racist comments on Native Americans and the history of the United States. Also out of CNN is the revelation that media personality Chris Cuomo had been participating in official planning conversations, complete with PR team, to advise his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on how to handle the sexual harassment allegations against him.

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

What’s Senator Joe Manchin getting in the way of this week? Markos Moulitsas is back for #ThursdayKos and he gives us the update on Manchin gumming up the works on the filibuster, infrastructure, and more. Mark and Markos also take a look at another senator, admittedly with more fondness, as they discuss Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s moves to hold big corporations accountable. And we also get the latest on the potential doom ahead for Trump and his withering legal team -- who will turn on him next?

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 was announced last week that the Supreme Court would be taking up a case on abortion, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and major collective concerns were raised. Here to address those is Morgan Hopkins, Director of Political Strategies at All* Above All, an organization dedicated to their 4-part BOLD Action Plan in the continued fight for abortion justice and reproductive healthcare. Morgan shares her concerns on SCOTUS taking the case, but also dives deep into what has been, and will continue to, pop up in the meantime: state-level restrictions on access to reproductive healthcare and abortions. But she remains hopeful, especially as we wait on President Biden’s latest budget, which could include a key abortion-related detail that would be a milestone in reproductive justice.

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

We remember George Floyd on the day of his murder and measure the progress made in keeping Black people safe in their communities.

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

Scott Dworkin is the Co-Founder of the Democratic Coalition and Host of podcast “Dworkin Report.” He also founded the Impeachment Task Force, which makes him the perfect person to talk to on the latest Trump news, this time courtesy of New York Attorney General Tish James, who announced her office’s criminal investigation into the Trump Organization last week. Also on the topic of Trump, and the insurrection he helped fuel, Scott tells us why the GOP should have never ousted Liz Cheney because of her position on the events of January 6th, and why he thinks most people are missing a key detail that makes her an incredibly powerful figure. Scott also shares his thoughts on the 2022 midterms, including where he’s feeling optimistic and why he thinks we have no better option than the unfortunate Joe Manchin right now.

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

Ari Berman is the Voting Rights Reporter for MotherJones, and he received an exclusive scoop via leaked video that shows the leader of a top conservative group bragging about being the architects behind the new voter suppression law in Georgia--and they’re doing the same thing with similar bills across the country (story/video link below). These were the words of Jessica Anderson, the executive director of Heritage Action for America, a sister organization of the Heritage Foundation, in front of a room of donors. Ari explains how the group is funded by dark money, having raised and shelled out at least $130 million dollars with absolutely no trace of where it came from. They also discuss why Ari is pessimistic about the potential for action in the senate to save voting rights and what actions we can take in our communities to protect against voter suppression.

Read Ari's reporting on this and more HERE: https://www.motherjones.com/author/ari-berman/

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