On Democracy with FPWellman

The latest jobs numbers came out today and it's a train wreck. The economy is reeling and all the Trump Administration and Republicans can do is lie about it. Out here in the real world we know what's happening and the Black community knows it better than anyone. Now that the 2026 midterms are approaching in just four weeks the NAACP is undertaking one of the largest voter-mobilization efforts in its history. Turning out over 6.5 million African American voters is no small task but they are on the way. Dominik Whitehead, the NAACP's Chief of Field, Membership Growth and Unit Sustainability, joins Fred Wellman to talk about what his organization is hearing from Black communities, the state of voting rights, the issues driving voters, and what it takes to turn civic engagement into sustained participation. This is another timely and motivational conversation! 
Learn more about their efforts at https://naacp.org/campaigns/power-your-vote
Sponsor:

Chapter: "For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to

speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to

www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy Paid Partnership

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any

government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory,

LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and

stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract.

Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a

database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search

among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a

result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently

we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide.

We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer.

You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of

products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov,

1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to

get information on all of your options.

Subscribe to Fred's Substack at fpwellman.substack.com

Furries in planes. That's literally what Senator Tommy Tuberville is talking about with 39 days until the midterm election. Really. He gave a whole speech about it and the danger of furry pilots, air traffic controllers (ATC), and flight attendants...on the floor of the United States Senate while running for governor of Alabama. You can't get a clearer picture of how broken the Republican Party is as they try to change the topic from anything other than the collapsing economy, the failing war with Iran, spiraling gas prices, and so much more. Famed Democratic strategist Joe Trippi joins Fred Wellman to discuss the threat of furries, the failed messaging from the Republicans, and much more in a freewheeling hilarious conversation. Don't miss this one.

SPONSORS

Chapter: "For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to

speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to

www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy Paid Partnership

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any

government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory,

LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and

stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract.

Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a

database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search

among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a

result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently

we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide.

We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer.

You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of

products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov,

1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to

get information on all of your options.

We are living in an information environment designed to keep us watching, clicking, reacting, and returning. But what happens when the things that capture our attention aren't necessarily the things that are true—or even important? We are now in a media ecosystem where algorithms and AI are driving the conversation to keep you online and, often, angry. Renowned independent media leader David Pakman joins Fred Wellman to discuss his new book, Pay Attention: How the Algorithms and Media Wars Are Suppressing Truth and Rewiring Your Brain, and the changing relationship between media, technology, politics, and truth. From algorithms and audience capture to outrage, thumbnails, AI, and the growing fragmentation of the media landscape, this is a conversation about what the attention economy is doing to all of us.

Learn more about the book: Pay Attention, Harper, on sale September 22, 2026, at https://davidpakman.com/

Sponsor: 

Chapter: "For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to

speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to

www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy Paid Partnership

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any

government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory,

LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and

stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract.

Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a

database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search

among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a

result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently

we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide.

We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer.

You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of

products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov,

1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to

get information on all of your options.

Subscribe to Fred's Substack at fpwellman.substack.com

Today is the 25th anniversary of the fateful events of September 11th, 2001. Many of us look back at how much our lives changed that day as we were shocked to lose thousands of our fellow citizens at the hands of ruthless terrorists. We were at war within weeks to root them out. A war that would grow to Iraq, Syria, and globally fighting Al Qaeda affiliates in Africa, Asia, and across the world. Now we are embroiled in a six month war with Iran and President Trump invoked that fight as an extension of the battles after 9/11 to make us safer. So, are we? Have we truly built security for our nation in this quarter century? If not, why? We have spent countless billions of dollars and lost nearly 8,000 lives in conflict and we can’t actually say we are safer for it. We need leaders that ask that question. Fred sits down with retired Army Brigadier General Steve Anderson to discuss that issue, what has happened, and where should we go to fulfill that quest for security and peace. Steven M. Anderson is a highly experienced logistician, environmental advocate, project manager, business developer, and service-disabled military veteran. He is the Executive Director of Business Development for the All Native Group, the government contracting entity of the Ho-Chunk Corporation and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, with annual revenues of over $200M and the #1 Small Business contractor for the US State Department. He serves on the board of directors of the VetVoice Foundation and is a regular contributor to the national security discussions occurring today.

Sponsor:

Chapter: "For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to

speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to

www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy Paid Partnership

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any

government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory,

LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and

stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract.

Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a

database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search

among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a

result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently

we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide.

We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer.

You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of

products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov,

1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to

get information on all of your options.

Subscribe to Fred's Substack at fpwellman.substack.com

Gerrymandering is one of the most powerful—and least understood—ways politicians can manipulate American democracy. Redistricting wars have broken out across the United States with the latest skirmish happening right in Missouri this week. Ohio has become one of the clearest examples of how redistricting can go wrong, even after voters overwhelmingly demanded a fairer and more transparent process. Fred is joined by Rory Riley Topping and Josh Rultenberg, authors of the new book Draw the Line in Ohio: How One State’s Fight for Fair Maps Explains Gerrymandering in America, to break down how Ohio's redistricting system became so dysfunctional, how politicians use mapmaking to protect their power, and what voters can actually do to fight back. Through Rory's legal expertise and Josh's firsthand reporting from the Ohio Statehouse, they'll explain why what happened in Ohio matters far beyond Ohio—and why fair maps are fundamental to American democracy.

Pennsylvania could once again be at the center of American politics in 2026. With several competitive House races that could help determine control of Congress, and a political landscape that remains deeply divided, the Keystone State may offer Democrats one of their clearest paths to rebuilding power in Washington. Fred is joined by Conor Lamb, former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 17th District, former federal prosecutor, and Marine veteran, to discuss what Democrats need to do to win Pennsylvania, the state of the rule of law under President Trump, attacks on reproductive rights, the future of the filibuster, and the increasingly complicated politics around our trade war with Canada.

Sponsors:
Chapter: "For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy Paid Partnership

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Subscribe to Fred's Substack at fpwellman.substack.com

Working Americans know the truth: the economy is in freefall and getting worse. Costs for gas, food, healthcare, and energy keep climbing while our wages stay flat and jobs dry up. All of this is only made worse because the Trump Administration and the Republican Congress only worsen this situation by lying to our faces daily about the causes, deflecting blame onto anyone but themselves. They deny that Trump was already President for four years, deny the global pandemic, and promote absolute delusions about the Iran War to avoid any accountability for passing the Big Billionaire Bill and starting this unplanned conflict. To make matters worse, we can't even trust whether the statistics they are issuing are real or fabricated. Fred is solo this week to discuss the economic reality and the unhelpful lies.

 Sponsor: Chapter"For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy *Paid Partnership*
Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Subscribe to Fred's Substack at fpwellman.substack.com

Christian nationalism has moved from the political margins into the center of American political power. As religious movements increasingly influence government, public policy, and the Republican Party, a growing debate is emerging over what that means for the future of American democracy and the constitutional separation of church and state. Fred is joined by Congressman Jared Huffman, author of the new book No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism, to discuss the roots of Christian nationalism, its role in the January 6th insurrection, its growing influence inside government, and what it will take to build a broad coalition capable of defending secular democracy and religious freedom. Stay to the end as Fred dives into the growing wage gap and how close we are to disaster if we don't make real change soon. Learn more about Jared Huffman at jaredhuffman.com

Sponsor: Chapter"For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy *Paid Partnership*

Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Young voters could once again play a decisive role in the 2026 midterms, but campaigns can't simply assume young people will show up at the polls, nor can they assume we will keep them engaged if campaigns don't deliver quickly. Following Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, questions are growing about what motivates younger voters, how campaigns can actually reach them, and whether Democrats are finally figuring out how to turn Gen Z engagement into votes. More importantly many are misreading what his election, Mamdani's, and others mean. It's not the factions; it's the promises of delivering on their ideas. Voters are looking for change and they want it now not ten years from now. Fred is joined by Santiago Mayer, Executive Director of Voters of Tomorrow, the nation's largest Gen Z-led voter engagement organization. With more than 11,000 members across 25+ states and 32 million voters reached during the 2024 cycle, Santiago has a unique perspective on what young Americans care about, what they're responding to, and what it will take to make Gen Z a powerful force in November.

Learn more at votersoftomorrow.org

Sponsors:
CHAPTER: 
"For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial  937-507-8644 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to www.askchapter.org/ondemocracy *Paid Partnership*”
Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
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The United States once again finds itself confronting a never ending conflict in the Middle East following President Trump's continued military escalation in Iran with no end in sight and no good options to end the war. As lawmakers debate the President's authority, America's role in the region, and the potential costs of another prolonged conflict, many are asking whether history is repeating itself and what comes next? Fred is joined by renowned historian and American University professor Dr. Allan J. Lichtman, creator of the "Keys to the White House" forecasting system, to discuss the historical parallels between today's wars and past presidents, the constitutional balance of war powers, and the 2026 midterm elections in light of his upcoming book, "Great American Presidents: The Twelve that Transformed the Nation," available for pre-order now! Dr. Lichtman is a preeminent American historian, political analyst, and the Distinguished Professor of History at American University in Washington, D.C., where he has educated students and shaped historical discourse since 1973. Recognized for his scholarly rigor and media acumen, Dr. Lichtman has established himself as one of the nation’s most authoritative voices on the American presidency and political history. Dr. Lichtman is perhaps best known globally for developing "The Keys to the White House," a pioneering election prediction system created in collaboration with geophysicist Vladimir Keilis-Borok. Focusing on historical patterns and the stability of the incumbent party rather than transient polling data, this model famously allowed Dr. Lichtman to accurately forecast the winner of nearly every U.S. presidential election from 1984 through 2024, including the upset victory of Donald Trump in 2016.

Sponsor: Smalls