Washington Indivisible Podcast

This week, we talk victory for Washington Democrats in 2020 with the chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, Tina Podlodowski. If you are looking to volunteer, organize, or even learn how to become a delegate, this show is for you. We also discuss the March 10th primary, and we try to clear up any confusion around the new ballot.

Then, for those of us looking to make an impact in a swing state this year but who maybe can’t manage to get there in person, we talk with one of the creators of Postcards 2 WI, a volunteer-driven effort to ultimately send one million postcards to battleground states in the Midwest.

We also talk this week with a nurse on the front lines of a three-day strike on behalf of patient safety at Swedish hospitals in the Seattle area.

Links:

Attend an Organizing Academy with the Washington State Democrats: http://www.wa-democrats.org

How to become a delegate: WaElectionCenter.com

Postcards 2 Wisconsin: https://www.postcards2wi.com/

Register for WAISN’s Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day: https://www.waisn.org/2020-advocacy-day

Indivisible’s Hubdialer for calling (friendly) constituents in states with senators who are on the fence about witnesses and documents: https://act.indivisible.org/signup/impeachment-senate-calls

Theme music from https://filmmusic.io

"Pure Joy" by Otis Galloway

License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The fight for the Senate and the presidency is going to be fought in swing states across the country, and if you’re one of those people who’s looking to do some traveling as you volunteer in 2020, the Seattle-based organization Common Purpose can help you do it. (They also do a ton of work on the ground here in Washington) We speak this week with the founder of Common Purpose, David Domke, a professor of communications at the University of Washington.

Then, Seattle-based singer-songwriter Tae Phoenix joins us from Washington DC to updates us on her work with the #SwarmtheSenate, a collective of activist groups who are converging each day on the Senate and Senate office buildings to demand the removal of Donald Trump.

All that, plus our weekly call to action.

Links:

COMMON PURPOSE:

Sign up to do field work across the country with Common Purpose: https://commonpurposenow.org/2020fieldworksignups

Common Purpose Primary State Tour of South Carolina: https://commonpurposenow.org/tours

Introductory workshops for Common Purpose: https://commonpurposenow.org/events

TAE PHOENIX/#SWARMTHESENATE:

If you’d like to join Tae Phoenix at the #SwarmtheSenate protests in DC…

Tae’s email: [email protected]

If you can’t make it to DC, find a Remove Trump mobilization near you: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/remove-trump-mobilizations

To help Tae with her expenses in DC…

PayPal: [email protected]

Venmo: @TaeTaeTVK

Tae singing in the Senate Rotunda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI9J67kIXO8&feature=youtu.be&mc_cid=aec26e13c6

ADAM SMITH TOWN HALL:

Congressman Adam Smith’s Town Hall: Saturday, 1/25 from 11AM-1PM @ the Teamsters, 14675 Interurban Ave S #307, Tukwila, WA 98168.

Register for free tickets here: https://www.facebook.com/events/633148097225891/?ti=ia

Indivisible leaders are asking members to show up to push for a National Defense Authorization Act bill with the following provisions:

1. No use of funds for border wall

2. No US involvement in Yemen

3. Overturn transgender ban

4. Repeal the AUMF

HUMANE PET SALES BILL:

Humane Pet Sales Bill text and info: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2344&Initiative=false&Year=2019

Theme music from https://filmmusic.io

"Pure Joy" by Otis Galloway

License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week, Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives, Laurie Jinkins. As the House begins its 60-day term this week, they swear in a new speaker, one who makes history on a number of fronts. Speaker Jinkins joins us to talk about what we might expect on issues like capital gains, gun violence, healthcare, and more.

Then, our week in review panel, with Indivisible WA 8th founder Chris Petzold, and Chair of the King County Democrats, Shasti Conrad. We break down the final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses, and discuss the head-spinning week-that-was on impeachment.

And finally, a call to action to limit Trump’s ability to wage war.

Links:

Global Gender Gap Report: https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equality

Guide to Women's Marches in the state: http://womensmarch.com/sister-march

Theme music from https://filmmusic.io

"Pure Joy" by Otis Galloway

License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

We begin our first show of the year by talking about Trump’s dramatic series of escalations with Iran. Chris Franco is a former Ranger-qualified infantry commander who served a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Currently, he’s the Director of Veterans and Military affairs with the Truman National Security Project and an active member of Indivisible. He joins us to offer his insight on where things may go from here, and about what we can do as activists to push back.

Then, we are joined by our friend, 41st LD Senator Lisa Wellman, to review some of the victories for Democrats in 2019, and to forecast what may lie ahead in the upcoming 2020 legislative session.

And we end with a call to action for these very challenging times.

Links:

Indivisible's Call to Action to Rein in Trump's March to War: https://indivisible.org/demand-your-senators-rein-trumps-march-war

Join an Anti-War Protest: https://www.nowarwithiran.org/

Indivisible's Call to Demand Our Senators Support a Fair Impeachment Trial: https://indivisible.org/demand-your-senators-support-fair-and-open-impeachment-trial

Sign Up to Call Constituents in 13 States with Vulnerable Senators: https://act.indivisible.org/signup/impeachment-senate-calls

Theme music from https://filmmusic.io

"Pure Joy" by Otis Galloway

License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The show will be back next week, but this week, we revisit our favorite interview of 2019, a discussion with Indivisible co-founders and co-executive directors, Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, on their new book, “We Are Indivisible.”

Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Indivisible-Blueprint-Democracy/dp/1982129972/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=we+are+indivisible&qid=1578015020&sr=8-1

This week, in honor of the holiday, we revisit two of this year’s most popular segments. Jennifer Young is a therapist who specializes in trauma, and she’s also a leader with Indivisible Action Tampa Bay. She joined us twice this year to field your questions about how to stay sane and active during a challenging time, and for those of us who could use a refresher, we’re proud to present them again.

This week, Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Our associate producer, Charlotte Gitelman, sits down with the Massachusetts representative to discuss his bid for Senate in 2020.

Also, on this, our final show of the year, some thoughts on impeachment, on where we’ve been, and on what lies ahead.

As we all collectively gear up for 2020, we get a preview of some of the strategies and work that lies ahead to retake the Senate, keep the House, and win back the White House.

We check in with our friends Chris Petzold, founder and head of Indivisible Washington’s 8th District, and Will Casey, communications director for the Washington State Democrats, for a robust discussion about the congressional races here in the state, and also about the presidential race, as well as the impeachment process and what it might mean for the election.

Link:

Find an Impeachment Eve rally near you: http://bit.ly/impeachmenteve

Chris Armitage is a progressive running for Congress in Washington’s 5th district, which includes Spokane and Walla Walla, and which has been represented since 2005 by Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Armitage is the first candidate to ever mount a grassroots campaign in the 5th. He's also a military veteran and has served in law enforcement (two things not usually in the background of a progressive). In our wide-ranging discussion, we discuss the history of his district, his work in standup comedy and how it translates into politics, and about how to communicate to working class voters that progressive policy will best serve their needs.

Also, a special call to action for you, dear listener. We're looking for your feedback as we head into the most important election year in our lifetimes.

Links:

Chris Armitage's campaign site: https://armitageforcongress.com/

Donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/armitage-for-congress-1?refcode=web-donate-box

Find a Trump is Not Above the Law Impeachment Eve event near you: https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/impeach-and-remove/search/

This week, how to talk about impeachment. The holidays are upon us, and that may mean spending time with people who have… alternate views on the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump. We have what we hope is an entertaining presentation designed to arm you with talking points.

Then, we’re joined again by the Northwest Progressive Institute’s Andrew Villeneuve to talk about legislation he’s helping push through in Olympia to get rid of Tim Eyman’s advisory votes, those things that clog up our ballots each year. We also discuss the passage of the so-called car-tab bill, I 976, and about what may happen next.

Links:

David Roberts’ article on the crisis of truth in the era of impeachment: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/11/16/20964281/impeachment-hearings-trump-america-epistemic-crisis

Help get rid of Tim Eyman’s Push Polls: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-washingtons-legislative-leaders-you-want-tim-eymans-push-polls-repealed

See the list of Tim Eyman’s ballot initiatives that have been ruled unconstitutional: http://www.PermanentDefense.org