Pod Save the People

By Crooked Media

Society & Culture

What's Pod Save the People about?

Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with analysis from Kaya Henderson, De’Ara Balenger, and Myles Johnson. Then he sits down for deep conversations with experts, influencers, and diverse local and national leaders. New episodes every Tuesday.

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Power is Power (with Mary H...

09.19.2023

DeRay, Don and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — the "experts" paid to defend anti-trans laws, United Auto Workers strike moves full speed ahead, and the complex life of the first Black supermodel. DeRay interviews the tactical ...

Pod Save the People episodes:

09.19.2023 Power is Power (with Mary Hooks) DeRay, Don and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — the "experts" paid to defend anti-trans laws, United Auto Workers strike moves full speed ahead, and the complex life of the first Black supermodel. DeRay interviews the tactical ...
09.12.2023 Cruel Intentions (with Vincent Schiraldi) DeRay, Kaya, De'Ara and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — expiration of U.S. childcare relief funding, Florida college faculty members flee the school system, Fulton County DA claps back at Republican probe, and the Black designer behind ...
08.29.2023 Rocks and Glass Houses DeRay, Kaya, Myles, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — a racist attack on a Jacksonville Dollar General, delayed COVID care for patients of color due to faulty oxygen readings, Silicon Valley elite build a city from ...
08.22.2023 What Goes Around Comes Around DeRay, Kaya, Myles, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — the outcome of Maui fires, extremists recruited into US military, Little Rock's fight for Black History curriculum and the life and legacy of Clarence Avant.
08.15.2023 The Other Side is Diabolical (with Stanley Nelson & Valerie Scoon) DeRay, Kaya, Don, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — a study finding youth placed in adult prisons have their lives cut shorter, Alabama state refuses Supreme Court orders, false exceptions for restrictive abortion laws, and a ...
08.08.2023 Rock the Boat DeRay, Kaya and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — a mother in need misplaced by NYPD, the first of its kind Black fine art print fair, and one man's personal vendetta against affirmative action.
08.01.2023 The Sky is Falling DeRay, Myles, Kaya and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — misappropriation of taxpayer funds, Texas libraries converted to disciplinary centers, unengaged Democratic voters, and the life and legacy of Sinead O' Connor.
07.25.2023 Bird's-Eye View (with Christian Cooper) DeRay, Myles and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — Southern GOP refuse majority-Black district, famed forensic scientist indicted for fabrication, and an anti-trans message from Jess. DeRay interviews author Christian Cooper to about his new book Better ...
07.18.2023 Affirmative Tactics (with Donovan Ramsey) DeRay, Kaya, De'Ara and Myles cover the underreported news of the week on affirmative action — the irony of opposition, a push for adversity scores, and the future of diversity policies in Hollywood and corporate employment. DeRay interviews author and ...
07.11.2023 Then and Now (with Justin Simard) DeRay, Kaya, Myles and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — Minneapolis crime decreases with a shortage of police officers, the small group of conservative doctors behind restrictive trans & abortion policies, celebrity baby daddy drama makes CNN, ...
06.27.2023 Open the Can of Beans DeRay, Myles, Kaya and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — the world's first known drag queen, Black entrepreneurship in under-resourced D.C. neighborhood, an alarming trend of missing children in Cleveland, and the heightening suicide rate within the ...
06.13.2023 What Are The Options? DeRay, Myles, Kaya and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — hundreds of vacated convictions tied to rogue police officers, reparations versus resources in Minnesota, America's only Black boarding school in Mississippi, and the devolution of reality television.
06.06.2023 Decorum is Gonna Kill Us DeRay, Myles, Kaya and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — community policing in Brooklyn, the evolution of artificial intelligence, ongoing tragedy at Rikers and the life and legacy of Tina Turner.
05.23.2023 If We Fight, We Win DeRay, Kaya, and Don cover the underreported news of the week — the push back against Florida book bans, the end of affirmative action as we know it, and the disproportionate mortality rate of babies in the South.
05.16.2023 More to Life (with Jonathan Eig) DeRay, Kaya, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — Republicans plan to release Black youth criminal records, corporations infiltrate primary care services, and the harmful effects of Biden's open border on Black communities. DeRay interviews award-winning author ...
05.09.2023 We Are Human (with Stephanie Krent) DeRay, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — Toni Morrison's personal materials on exhibit at Princeton University, top A.I. experts warn of the technology's dangerous consequences, and flawed understanding of the Bystander Effect. DeRay interviews attorney ...
05.02.2023 May Day DeRay, Myles, Kaya and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — R. Kelly commissary inspires new federal rules for incarcerated people, young students forced to crawl under trains to get to school, a health condition seemingly reserved for ...
04.25.2023 Internet or Nothing (with Joanna Schwartz) DeRay, Myles, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week — including public outrage over Cleopatra's blackness depicted on screen, Lizzo leads a protest against Tennessee anti-drag laws, and a staple franchise goes out of business. DeRay interviews UCLA ...
04.18.2023 Defining Ourselves (with Jessica Wilson) DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including , a handgun that fires itself, a study that finds Black people live longer with access to Black doctors, big potential for the upcoming Freaknik documentary, ...
04.11.2023 The Veil is Gone (with David Gborie & Langston Kerman) DeRay, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including the DEA illegally purchasing customer data, DeSantis war on immigration, and the influential photographer who proclaimed 'Black is Beautiful'. DeRay interviews comedians David Gborie & Langston Kerman ...
04.04.2023 What's the Narrative? DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including secret funds funneled by the spouse of a Supreme Court Justice, the growing price of electronic messaging for imprisoned people, Questlove's Disney directorial debut, and a ...
03.28.2023 Political Weaponry (with Nicole Tucker-Smith) DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including Dollar Store's predatory tactics in urban communities, a NYC park built on top of a dark history, Stacey Abrams’ depart from campaign politics, and the end ...
03.21.2023 American Fever Dream (with Daniel Hatcher) DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including the short tenure of banking's sole Black C.E.O., extreme criminalization of abortion &miscarriage, transphobic behavior from Lil Nas X, and a deep dive into Black homes. ...
03.14.2023 Undo the Foundation (with Chip Jones) DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including hyper-relaxed police hiring practices, a 2023 ruling based on a 19th century law governing the treatment of enslaved people, federal efforts to bypass local governance, and ...
03.07.2023 Come to the Present Day (with Nick Brooks) DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including essential items invented by Black women, an end to SNAP emergency benefits, movement within the Biden administration, and an homage to ordinary Black life. DeRay interviews ...
02.28.2023 Make Time for You DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including 'Dilbert' comic dropped from newspapers after creator's racist rant, the hidden history of Aunt Jemima, contrasting views on luxury tiny homes and Charlie Mitchell, the first ...
02.21.2023 A Little Everyday (with Damon Young) DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week — including an attempt to eliminate paper mail for imprisoned people, conservative Republicans pushing a new form of cash welfare, a Black professor resists DeSantis’ Black history prohibition, ...
02.14.2023 All About Love DeRay, De’Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week— including Florida’s overzealous book censorship, thousands of kids missing from the post-pandemic school system, a Black city in America under all white jurisdiction, and the legacy of Paco ...
02.07.2023 Let the Good Be Good DeRay, De'Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week— including a young Black budding scientist honored by Yale University, the IRS racist auditing practices, disproportionate mortality rates amongst Black and white mothers, and contrasting thoughts on the ...
01.31.2023 Give Grace (with Ben Makuch) DeRay, De'Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week— including a Chicago-based gun manufacturer marketing rifles to children, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' depart from ABC network, an online community where home-schoolers learn how to turn their ...
01.24.2023 Learn to Apologize (with Ali Winston & Darwin BondGraham) DeRay, De'Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the underreported news of the week— including the GOP blocking certain foods from SNAP recipients, huge success from the first HBCU gymnastics team, a controversial Beyoncé concert and the shocking truth about early abortion. ...
01.17.2023 MLK Jr. Dream Chat In celebration of MLK Jr. Day — DeRay, Kaya, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week: a new memorial honoring the Martin Luther King family opens on Boston Common, Pittsburgh police ignore city ordinances against traffic stops, and ...
01.10.2023 Know When To Go (with Chris Gelardi) DeRay, Kaya, and De'Ara cover the underreported news of the week— including the killing of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba, Arizona prisons inducing labor against mother's will, and miscarriages punishable under post-Roe v Wade law. DeRay interviews investigative reporter Chris Gelardi ...
12.20.2022 Practice Patience DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including organ thieves, former slaveowners in US Congress, Native American business directory and Lizzo recreates the famous Annie Lee painting Blue Monday. Happy Holidays!
12.13.2022 Plan for Good (with Ricki Lake and Kalen Allen) DeRay, Myles, De'ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including the first Black women on Minnesota's senate, schools mandatory JROTC enrollment, thieves targeting EBT snap funds, Will + Jada broadway buyout. DeRay interviews Ricki Lake and Kalen ...
12.06.2022 Learn Something New (with Sam Quinones) DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including unexploded bombs on Hawaiian lands, US army bases named after Confederate traitors, and a Strange Loop broadway play review. DeRay interviews Sam Quinones about his newest book The ...
11.29.2022 Tap In (with Wendy Sawyer) DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including a hip-hop store ran by undercover cops, Chance the Rapper's free music festival in Ghana, top universities boycott school rankings, and a pedophilic Balenciaga ad campaign. DeRay ...
11.15.2022 Find a Book (with Kevin Hazzard) DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including the newest additions to the national portrait gallery, youth voters turn back midterm red wave, an out of touch Broadway play, and a UK law that will ...
11.08.2022 Enjoy the Light (with Dr. Rebecca Kavanagh) DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including Black women Republicans in Congress, the correlation between Black women's health and retirement planning, a Native American adoption law in Supreme Court, and an unusual casting for ...
11.01.2022 Every Little Counts (with Dr. Lawrence Brown) DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including an abortion pill network, higher mortality rate for Babies born to Black mothers who use fertility treatments die at far higher rates, fresh trial for Black Panther Mumia, ...
10.25.2022 Take A Chance DeRay, De'Ara, Kaya, and Myles cover the under-reported news of the week - including the shortage of Black sperm donors, anti-colorism protests erupting throughout Mexico, housing rights for squatters, and racism within cardiac care.
10.18.2022 Prepare for the Polls DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including stock increases for companies hiring Black CEOs, a school board's attempt to hijack a Black student podcast, poor ventilation in nail salons impact on reproductive health, and ...
10.04.2022 Choose Your Fight DeRay, Myles, De'Ara and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including accountability for celebrities and online harassment, the predatory nature of the parent plus loan, single mothers forced to reveal sexual histories or forfeit welfare benefits and a ...
09.27.2022 Marathon not a Sprint (with Jelani Anglin & Kim Belizaire) DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including non-profit hospitals exploit poor patients, the working class Black men who pioneered emergency medicine and the life and legacy of Pharoah Sanders. DeRay interviews Jelani Anglin and Kim ...
09.20.2022 Let it Go (with Baynard Woods) DeRay, Myles, and De’Ara cover the underreported news of the week— including mismanaged funds within the Homeowner's Association, the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, and pedophilic accusations against Tiffany Haddish. DeRay interviews author and journalist to chat his new book Inheritance: ...
09.13.2022 Do the BIG Thing DeRay, De’Ara, Myles and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including private schools flushed with private money, pandemic impact on math and reading progress, the conservative evolution of rapper Jay Z, and Samuel Jackson's broadway debut.
08.30.2022 Plan the Visit (with Dwayne Betts) DeRay, De'Ara, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including the first Black woman to compose music for NYC ballet, affirmative action's return to the Supreme Court, Torrance police officer's racists text messages exposed, and an unexpected ...
08.29.2022 Introducing Imani State of Mind: REALailties of being a Black in America Systematic racism, police brutality and generational trauma all play a huge role into the mental health of the Black Community. The ladies of Imani State of Mind are taking a deep dive into what it really means to be Black ...
08.23.2022 Stick Around for Friends (with J. David McSwane) DeRay, Myles, Kaya and De’Ara cover the underreported news of the week— including U.S postal workers dying from heat stroke, Minneapolis plan to fire white teachers, Kanye West on Fox News, and artist Isaac Julien breathes new life into the ...
08.16.2022 See for Yourself (with Elizabeth Pfiester) DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including stolen skulls of Black Philadelphians displayed in Ivy League schools, the massive effort to change the way kids are taught to read, and the life and legacy of ...

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