As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Rebekah Caruthers, President and CEO of Fair Elections Center, joins The Margin to examine why this moment may be the most consequential for American democracy since Reconstruction.

Using the All Roads Lead South march in Selma, Alabama, as a starting point, this conversation explores why today's fight for voting rights feels fundamentally different—and why many civil rights leaders believe the South is once again at the center of the nation's democratic future.

Caruthers shares the remarkable story of her great-great-great-great-grandfather, who was enslaved, emancipated after Juneteenth, and went on to found a town in Texas. His extraordinary journey becomes a powerful lens for understanding Reconstruction, the violent backlash that followed, and what that history reveals about the unfinished work of American democracy.

In this episode:

"It took 87 years for Black folks to get their rights back. I'll be damned if we're gonna take another 90 years to get our rights back." — Rebekah Caruthers

The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, hosted by Jen Taylor-Skinner.

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A timely re-release exploring the history behind one of the Supreme Court's most consequential constitutional questions.

With the Supreme Court poised to issue a landmark ruling on birthright citizenship, I'm re-releasing one of the most important conversations we've had on the subject.

In this episode, historian Martha S. Jones discusses her groundbreaking book, Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America, which traces the origins of birthright citizenship long before the Fourteenth Amendment—and long before today's immigration debates.

We explore how free and formerly enslaved Black Americans fought to define who belonged in the United States, challenged efforts to deny them citizenship, and helped lay the foundation for one of the Constitution's most consequential guarantees. We also discuss the Dred Scott decision, the colonization movement, the legal strategies Black Americans used to claim their rights, and why understanding this history is essential to understanding the debate today.

Although this conversation was originally recorded in 2019, its historical context is arguably even more relevant today.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this episode and follow @electorette for more conversations on democracy, constitutional rights, and the people shaping America's future.

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For generations, Black women have been among the most influential voices in the fight to expand American democracy. Yet many of their stories have been overlooked—or erased altogether.

In this episode, political strategist, organizer, and author Atima Omara joins me to discuss her new book, The Instigators, which traces the legacy of Black women who challenged injustice, organized their communities, ran for office, and helped shape the country we know today.

We discuss why Black women have so often been the catalysts for democratic change, the historical figures whose contributions deserve far greater recognition, what Shirley Chisholm's legacy still teaches us about political leadership, and why today's movements have so much to learn from the women who came before them.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this episode and follow @electorette for more conversations on politics, democracy, and the people shaping America's future.

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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joins The Margin to discuss her campaign for governor and the challenges facing Michigan—from housing affordability and economic growth to protecting voting rights in an increasingly polarized political climate.

Benson reflects on defending Michigan's 2020 election in the face of election denialism, explains why she believes states must step in as federal voting protections continue to erode, and discusses the role Democratic governors can play as a constitutional check on presidential power. The conversation also explores her plans to increase housing affordability, support small businesses, grow wages, and strengthen Michigan's economy.

The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media exploring the issues, races, and ideas shaping the 2026 elections.

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Taylor Jung on how Zohran Mamdani uses media, messaging, and policy to shape public perception

Zohran Mamdani has been mayor of New York City for less than a year, but his influence already extends far beyond the five boroughs.

In this episode of The Margin, Taylor Jung, a journalist with Epicenter NYC, joins host Jen Taylor-Skinner to discuss Mamdani's first months in office, the excitement surrounding his inauguration, and why his approach to politics has captured national attention.

The conversation explores the policies Mamdani has begun to roll out, from housing to childcare, the challenges of governing after running on a bold progressive vision, and the growing role of content creators in shaping political narratives. Jung also discusses how Mamdani's team has used social media and highly produced digital content to build a national audience, the evolving relationship between journalists and influencers, and what it all means for political communication in the digital age.

As Mamdani's administration takes shape, the conversation offers a window into the opportunities—and challenges—of governing in a rapidly changing media environment.

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Just one year after Zohran Mamdani's rise to City Hall, New York City voters are headed into one of the most consequential primary elections of the 2026 cycle. With more than 200 offices on the ballot, the results could reveal whether the coalition that helped propel Mamdani to victory—a multiracial alliance of young voters, immigrants, and progressives—has the power to reshape New York politics for years to come.

In this episode of The Margin, host Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Mitra Kalita, co-founder and CEO of URL Media, former Senior Vice President for News, Opinion and Programming at CNN Digital, and founder of Epicenter-NYC. Together, they unpack the races drawing national attention, the candidates aligned with—and challenging—the city's political establishment, and the growing influence of issues like immigration, affordability, and economic justice on local elections.

They also explore what some are calling the "Mamdani Effect": the emergence of a new generation of candidates, a changing Democratic coalition, and whether New York's political transformation offers a roadmap for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms and beyond.

Topics include:
• The candidates and races to watch in New York City's primary elections
• Zohran Mamdani's endorsements and political influence
• Immigration, affordability, and economic justice in local politics
• The future of progressive politics in New York
• What New York's elections could signal for Democrats nationwide

Mitra Kalita is the co-founder and CEO of URL Media, a network of Black and Brown community news organizations. A veteran journalist and media executive, she previously served as Senior Vice President for News, Opinion and Programming at CNN Digital and has held leadership roles at The Wall Street Journal, Quartz, and the Los Angeles Times. She is also the founder of Epicenter-NYC, a community-driven local news outlet serving New Yorkers.

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One of the most common—and least examined—words in politics is authenticity.

We hear it constantly when discussing candidates, campaigns, and electability. But who gets to be seen as authentic? And are all candidates judged by the same standard?

In this episode of The Margin, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with political strategist Maya Rupert, author of The Real Ones: How to Disrupt the Hidden Ways Racism Makes Us Less Authentic. Together, they explore how race, gender, and unconscious bias shape perceptions of authenticity in politics—and why those perceptions can have real consequences for candidates and campaigns.

Drawing on examples ranging from Kamala Harris and Barack Obama to Donald Trump and Jasmine Crockett, Rupert argues that authenticity is often less about honesty than about who voters and the media are willing to see as credible, relatable, and trustworthy.

As the 2026 midterms approach and attention begins to shift toward 2028, this conversation offers a timely look at the hidden standards that continue to shape American politics.

The Margin is a special election series from The Electorette and URL Media exploring the races, issues, and voters that will shape the future of American democracy.

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The Wisconsin Senate Democratic Leader on childcare, affordability, and the fight over Trump's anti-weaponization fund.

Wisconsin is once again at the center of American politics.

In this episode of The Margin, Wisconsin Senate Democratic Leader Diane Hesselbein joins me to discuss her effort to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to compensate January 6 insurrectionists and fake electors through the Trump administration's proposed anti-weaponization fund.

We also discuss Wisconsin's childcare affordability crisis, the looming expiration of childcare support programs, rising costs facing working families, and why Democrats believe they have a real opportunity to win a blue trifecta in Wisconsin this November.

The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media examining the races, issues, and communities that will shape the 2026 elections.

Topics:
• Trump's anti-weaponization fund
• Wisconsin fake electors
• Childcare affordability
• Cost of living and family budgets
• Wisconsin state politics
• 2026 midterm elections
• Democratic strategy in battleground states

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The Supreme Court recently preserved access to mifepristone, the medication used in nearly two-thirds of abortions in the United States. But according to Julia Kaye, Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, the legal battle over medication abortion is far from over.

In this episode of The Electorette, Kaye explains the ongoing Louisiana v. FDA litigation, why anti-abortion activists are increasingly focused on mifepristone, and how a little-known 19th-century law known as the Comstock Act could be used to restrict abortion access nationwide.

We also discuss the Trump administration's review of mifepristone regulations, the future of medication abortion, and why reproductive rights advocates view the Supreme Court's latest ruling as a temporary reprieve rather than a final victory.

If you found this conversation helpful, follow @electorette on Instagram and YouTube, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for more election analysis, democracy coverage, and nuanced conversations that go beyond the headlines.

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Connecticut is taking a different approach.

While many states have moved to restrict access to the ballot, Connecticut expanded voting access by passing its own John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act and implementing no-excuse absentee voting. At the same time, state leaders have found themselves responding to federal immigration enforcement, protecting access to schools and public services, and addressing rising costs for residents.

In this episode of The Margin, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont joins Jen Taylor-Skinner to discuss the state's efforts to strengthen voting rights, resist federal voter-roll requests, protect immigrant communities, and increase civic participation.

They also discuss Connecticut's high electricity costs, the regulation of utility companies like Eversource, and what states can realistically do to make life more affordable for residents.

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Lamont argues that states have an important role to play in protecting democratic participation and ensuring that residents feel invested in their communities.

Follow @electorette on YouTube and Instagram, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines.

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