Make It Plain MIP with Rev. Mark Thompson

For every one COVID-19 mobile testing site in the United States, there are about 100 gun shops that offer drive-through purchasing--which is a new service made available in the midst of the pandemic, thanks to the Trump administration classifying these businesses as essential. And what we learned from March's data is that there were 1 million additional gun permit applications as opposed to March of 2019. Igor Volsky is the Executive Director of Guns Down America and an expert in gun ownership and the subsequent violence and deaths, and he says that while gun permit numbers are up, so are the number of phone calls to domestic violence and suicide hotlines, and that's not the only trouble afoot. Listen to this episode to hear more startling revelations, potential implications, and some ideas for how you can get involved from home. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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In the midst of the coronavirus, Trump has been communicating with leaders all over the world, but none as much as Putin, who he's been having regular phone calls with. This is what Max Bergmann, Co-Founder of The Moscow Project tells us in today's episode. He and Mark also get into how the coronavirus can potentially impact Putin's regime, how Trump's relationship with Putin has strained our ties with the European Union in ways that were once unimaginable, Putin's relishing in the transatlantic instability, and how Russia's efforts to interfere in our election are actually made easier by all of this chaos. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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The Trump administration continues to expand access to firearms during the Coronavirus pandemic, and so gun sales continue to rise, which is no coincidence--we’ve seen similar statistical jumps when Barack Obama was elected to office, as well as just after 9/11. That makes it a particularly interesting time to sit down with Frank Smyth, author of “The NRA: The Unauthorized History," who shares insight on how the ideology of the NRA's fiercely supportive members are a huge part of what upholds the organization, even in the midst of a national crisis. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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What happens to those who are incarcerated when a pandemic takes hold of our country? April Grayson is a National Surrogate for the REPRESENT JUSTICE Campaign, in addition to her work for the Young Women’s Freedom Center, a coalition of currently and formerly incarcerated women creating awareness of the unique issues facing women in prison, and she is working to shed a light on the vulnerability of inmates. There are no social distancing requirements within prisons, and if staff and guards choose not to wear masks, gloves, or other protective gear, they can easily walk the virus right inside. That brings us to Grayson's work, where she is asking governors and lawmakers to consider releasing the elderly or immunocompromised sooner than planned. She also discusses her experience as she was incarcerated for both the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks, and how inmates are left without information or resources to protect themselves from getting sick. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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FACT: The coronavirus is disproportionately killing people of color. Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change, knows this isn't a coincidence, it's because of the conditions that existed in our society before coronavirus arrived. But Color of Change came to life after another historic moment in this country--after Hurricane Katrina, "born in the midst of a crisis where government failure was at the heart of the impact," says Robinson. And now, Black America is feeling the depths of despair that New Orleans experienced; but Color of Change is working to find ways to provide lasting relief (read: systemic changes). Visit colorofchange.org and theblackresponse.org for more. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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Fox News is endangering people's lives with their misinformation--the gap has officially closed between their broadcast of lies and how it could impact viewers. As the President of Media Matters, Angelo Carusone deals with Fox fallacies daily, and he says that the damage is irreparable, as hosts show no shame in giving life to conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, Trump shows support and enthusiasm for a news program that suggested beating COVID-19 by pointing a hair dryer up your nose. #UnFoxMyCableBox Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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Tom Perez, Chairman of the DNC, says Trump's lack of leadership--including his initial denial of the seriousness of the virus and the press conferences he treats like campaign rallies--has landed us in the position our country is in, now leading the globe in the number of deaths from coronavirus. He discusses the vast differences between present-day and working with former President Obama leading the global response and preventing Ebola from becoming a pandemic; the hypocrisy in Wisconsin Republicans forcing the primary election, where the number of infected people continues to climb; voting in the November election, with concerns of another surge of the virus, and how it will be a state-by-state battle; Republicans using voter suppression to counteract their shrinking base; what proper mail-in voting should look like; a contingency plan for this summer's Democratic convention; and Biden's commitment to picking a woman. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com 

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Kim Ortiz, also known as Copy Watch Kimmy, is the Co-Founder of NYC Shut It Down and President of the Copwatch Patrol Unit Women's Division--and she is clear on why she became an abolitionist. Ortiz sits down with Mark to discuss that moment she became conscious about police brutality, her thoughts on stop-and-frisk and why Bloomberg would never be the right candidate, and how waiting on the government to make the necessary structural changes to the criminal justice system is a fruitless effort. She's also working on "Black Mama's Bail-Out," raising money to bail out black mom's before Mother's Day. Listen to this episode to hear about her strength, activism, and how you can get involved and help out in the simplest of ways. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com 

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Jessica Care Moore is a critically acclaimed poet with numerous collections, the founder and CEO of Moore Black Press, Executive Producer of Black WOMEN Rock!, and Founder of the literacy-driven Jess Care Moore Foundation. Her latest poetry collection, "We Want Our Bodies Back," is out now, and she talks with Mark about generating income as artists (especially in uncertain times like we're experiencing right now), seeking comfort in black artistry, perfecting her craft with nothing more than library books, and lifting up other women in the arts. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com 

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In the midst of coronavirus chaos, Rep. Jim Clyburn takes the time to talk with Mark about what's happening between the House and Senate, Mitch McConnell twisting Rep. Clyburn's words on the stimulus bill, how we can restructure systems so rural areas don't get left behind, why we're going to need more legislation down the road, concerns about voting in the primary and general elections (voter suppression, anyone?!), and why Trump is feeding us "Jim Crow with a new flavor" and how the House stopped the Trump family from benefiting financially from the coronavirus stimulus bill. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com 

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