Washington Indivisible Podcast

We revisit our discussion about what it means for progressive activists to go on offense. Angel Padilla is Indivisible’s policy director, and he’s the author of the guide, Indivisible on Offense, which was released after the Democrats took the House in the midterm election. We talk extensively about how we should look to use our power most effectively in 2019.

This week, in the wake of the Mueller Report’s release—at least in its redacted form—we revisit the issue of impeachment and the many questions surrounding it with constitutional lawyer Ron Fein, author of the book ““The Constitution Demands It—the Case for the Impeachment of Donald Trump.”

A lot went right in the 2018 midterms, especially when it came to coordination between official campaigns and grassroots groups like Indivisible. We’re joined this week by Dylan Cate, formerly the Director of Organizing and Strategic Campaigns with the Washington State Democratic Party, to talk about how we can best apply those lessons to the upcoming 2020 elections.

And then, because 2019 is a year progressives are looking to do some real bench-building, we officially begin our coverage of local and municipal elections. Rituja Indipure is running for city council in Sammamish, and we have our discussion with her.

Links:

Dylan Cate’s article, “The Future of Field” (co-authored with Maria Beltran, Guillermo Mogollan, Garrett Moore, and Alexander Scott): https://medium.com/@dycate/the-future-of-field-lessons-from-the-front-lines-of-the-democratic-resurgence-d42f3b4186f9

Rituja Indapure’s campaign website: http://electrituja.org/?fbclid=IwAR1DuDrr8D8zPPI1pU7iSyy3G7xT7gaxoVxbSdPo2CApmO--ADGRxr7hQi0

Her campaign Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/electrituja/

So much of what we’re faced with politically in 2019 is variously overwhelming, disheartening, or difficult to understand and contextualize, and can often be a combination of all three. My guest this week is Teri Kanefield, whose influential Twitter feed offers cogent explanations that are both accessible and even encouraging about our political climate (which is no easy feat).

In our wide-ranging discussion, we break down authoritarianism, outrage overload, and, yes, the Mueller Report.

This week's calls to action include moves to end the Muslim Ban, make assault weapons illegal, and defeat the Taxpayer First Act of 2019.

Links:

Follow Teri Kanefield on Twitter: @Teri_Kanefield

Her blog: terikanefield-blog.com

The response to KOMO TV’s hour-long piece on homelessness called “Seattle Is Dying” has been swift and strong, particularly among the progressive community in the state. We talk with the project director for Seattle University’s Project on Family Homelessness, Catherine Hinrichsen, about her response, and about the work her organization does, which focuses in part on the power of storytelling to humanize the issue of homelessness.

Next, a group of Indivisible members and education advocates travelled to Olympia to testify on behalf of a bill that would institute a capital gains tax in Washington, funds from which would be used to fund vital services like education. We talk with Indivisible member Kathleen Heiman about her experience.

And we wrap up with our calls to action from research team leader, Stephen Wilhelm.

This week, we talk about how innovative legal strategies have been employed to achieve justice and equality, both throughout history, and in the Trump era. Robert Tsai is a professor of constitutional law at American University, and he joins us to discuss his new book, “Practical Equality: Forging Justice in a Divided Nation. We also get his thoughts on the current fight to get the complete Mueller report released.

Then, on our week in review segment, we talk about how Democrats can regain the narrative around Trump and the Mueller Report, and about how progressives and activists can effectively respond during what may be a long battle ahead.

We also our weekly calls to action with research team leader Stephen Wilhelm.

And we have a special treat: Seattle singer-songwriter and friend of the show Harris Schwartzreich has just released a brand new album called 'My Inner Voice Will Ring.' We close this week’s show with a single from the album.

Links:

Robert Tsai’s book, “Practical Equality”: https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Equality-Forging-Justice-Divided/dp/0393652025/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3KYEK7CMBTMSI&keywords=robert+tsai+practical+equality&qid=1554410635&s=gateway&sprefix=robert+ts%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

State Innovation Exchange: https://stateinnovation.org/

Harris Schwartzreich’s New Album, “My Inner Voice Will Ring”: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/harrisface3

Harris’s album release party: https://www.facebook.com/events/296236164412675/

This week, we revisit our interview with Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky. She is the founder of the Trauma Stewardship Project, and author of the book, “The Age of Overwhelm: Strategies for the Long Haul.”

In a conversation geared specifically toward the activist, Lipsky lays out the importance of recognizing you're in overwhelm, and how to--and, maybe more importantly--how not deal with it.

Links:

The Trauma Stewardship Institute: traumastewardship.com/

Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky’s TED Talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOzDGrcvmus

“The Age of Overwhelm”: www.amazon.com/Age-Overwhelm-Str…an+dernoot+lipsky

In the wake of the mass killing of 50 Muslim worshipers in New Zealand, a consortium of interfaith leaders and elected officials gathered on Monday at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in Redmond for an evening of grief, solidarity, and hope. We’re joined this week by the executive director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network, Aneelah Afzali, to talk about how we can combat the scourge of global hate and Islamaphobia.

Then, for the second year running, the Crosscut Festival returns to Seattle. We talk with the director of the festival, Jake Newman, about the over 75 top-name guests, including Valerie Jarrett, Macklemore, Janet Napolitano, and many others, who will converge on Seattle University on May 3rd and 4th.

We also have our weekly calls to action with research team leader Stephen Wilhelm.

Links:

Learn about the Islamaphobia Network:

http://www.islamaphobia.org

http://www.islamaphobianetwork.com

Sign the Petition to Repeal the Muslim Ban:

http://tinyurl.com/repealtheban

Take Action with Your Representatives to Repeal the Ban:

http://www.repealtheban.org

Support the WA State Hate Crimes Bill:

http://bit.ly/WAnoPlace4hate

Support the WA State Religious Accommodations Bill:

http://bit.ly/WARelAccomodations

Demand Public Schools Respect All Religions:

http://bit.ly/ssdreligiousaccomodations

Sign the Petition to Change Violent, Islamaphobic City Names

http://tinyurl.com/changecityname

Donate to the Victims in New Zealand:

http://app.hhrd.org/NewZealand

http://www.launchgood.com/christchurch

Attend Upcoming Events to Get to Know Your Muslim Neighbors:

- Mosque visit at MAPS on April 6th: http://tinyurl.com/visitmaps

- Peace Assembly and Community Dinner at Sammamish Mosque: https://www.facebook.com/events/975489695990339/

- Sammamish Community Iftar on May 19th: http://bit.ly/SammamishIftar

https://festival.crosscut.com/

http://www.leg.wa.gov

Crosscut's article on fuel standards and gas prices in WA: https://crosscut.com/2019/03/what-would-clean-fuel-standard-mean-wa-gas-prices?utm_source=Crosscut+Daily+-+031919&utm_medium=email

Senate Bills in Consideration by House Committees:

House Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Committee

• SB 5077: Prohibits single-use plastic straws

• SB 5577: Concerning the protection of southern resident orcas from vessels

House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee

• SB 5497: Keep Washington Working; Establishing a statewide policy supporting WA’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace

• SB 5181: Temporarily restricting firearms access after involuntary 72-hour hold

• SB 5508: Clarifying background check requirements for concealed pistol license

House State Government Committee

• SB 5063: Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots

• SB 5294: Creating legal provisions for legislative service

• SB 5287: Ensuring accurate redistricting

House Bills in Consideration by Senate Committees:

Senate Environment & Technology Committee

• HB 1110: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation

• HB 1578: Reducing threats to southern resident orcas by improving the safety of oil transportation

• HB 1579: Implementing recommendations of the southern resident killer whale task force related to increasing chinook abundance

• HB 1341: Concerning the use of unmanned aerial systems near certain protected marine species, including southern resident orcas

Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources Committee

• HB 1114: Reduces food waste to fight hunger and reduce environmental impacts

Senate State Government Committee

• HB 1379: Concerning disclosure of contributions from political committees to other political committees

• HB 1251: Concerning security breaches of election systems or election data including by foreign entities

This week, we’re joined by Indivisible’s national political director to talk about the 2020 presidential primary. Mari Urbina has written a guide detailing how Indivisible groups can help to nominate a strong candidate, how can we all work together during that process, and then, how we can channel the political clout and grassroots power we’ve amassed over the last two years.

Also, for years, Washington has selected delegates for Democratic presidential candidates by caucus, but that could be changing. Washington Democratic State Committee member Josh Trupin joins us to talk about why.

And we wrap things up with our weekly call to action with research team leader Stephen Wilhelm.

Links:

Mari's Primary Guide: https://indivisible.org/blog/primary-2020-how-we-engage-win

Info about Primaries: https://indivisible.org/resource/get-ready-primary-season

Mari’s Twitter: @tiamari489

http://43rddemocrats.org

https://www.facebook.com/groups/43rddistrictdemocrats

[email protected] via gmail.com

This week, we talk to gun control activist Igor Volsky about his new book, “Guns Down,” which lays out his strategy of putting the focus on gun manufacturers, dealers, and the NRA as a way to address and mitigate gun violence in America.

On our week in review, we discuss Jay Inslee’s now official 2020 presidential bid, about Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s Medicare for All bill, and we talk about a move in the state legislature to call a constitutional convention in an effort to overturn Citizens United. Panelists: Chris Petzold (Indivisible WA 8th District); Summer Stinson (Washington's Paramount Duty)

We also have our weekly call to action with research team leader Stephen Wilhelm.

Links:

https://gunsdownamerica.org/

Igor Volsky's book, "Guns Down": https://www.amazon.com/Guns-Down-Defeat-Build-Future/dp/1620973197/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AOMFADGMUINE&keywords=guns+down+igor+volsky&qid=1551854409&s=gateway&sprefix=guns+down%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-1