Washington Indivisible Podcast

Aneelah Afzali is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and she's recently been named executive director of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound's American Muslim Empowerment Network, or AMEN. We speak with her about:

- The recently anti-Muslim demonstrations (and the amazing counter-protests) at the mosque at Federal Way

- Her work with Pastor Terry Kyllo, visiting church congregations in rural Washington communities to talk about Islam

- Dispelling misconceptions about Islam

- How you can get involved in combatting Islamaphobia

All that, and our weekly Dose of Good News to kick off the New Year!

Links:

https://islamophobianetwork.com/

http://www.islamaphobia.org

Our Year in Review show! We first talk about the passage of both the GOP tax bill, as well as the DACA- and CHIP-deficient continuing resolution.

Then, Josh and Chris each offer commentary on their top five most consequential stories of the year! (It's sort of our version of a top ten list...)

- Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on the passage of the GOP tax bill, the damage it's likely to do, and how to fight back.

- The ACLU of WA's Technology and Liberty Project Director, Shankar Narayan, on the FCC's ruling reversing net neutrality, and what the ACLU is advocating.

- Dr. Shannon Hader, former director of HIV & TB for the Center for Disease Control, on the Trump administration’s move to ban the CDC’s budget office from using seven specific words and phrases.

- Plus coverage of Indivisible Washington's 8th District's candlelight vigil for the working class.

Chris and Stephan discuss the Doug Jones win in Alabama, and what that might mean for Democrats and grassroots groups (not to mention the Trump and GOP). Then they break down the latest status of the GOP tax plan, and what's next.

We speak first this week with Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th district, Shannon Hader, about her work with the CDC, and about how she differentiates herself from a large field of candidates.

Then we talk to DACA recipient, activist, and Washington resident Monserrat Padilla about her experiences both as an undocumented immigrant and as a transgender woman, and we discuss her fight for a clean DREAM Act.

Shannon's website: http://www.drshannonforcongress.com

Shannon's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/DrShannonForCongress

Stephan, Chris, and Josh discuss the sexual harassment cases that continue to make headlines in both Washingtons, and how the Democrats are working to differentiate themselves in the way they handle them.

They also talk about gun safety in light of the recent school shooting in Pierce County (as well as the vote in the House on interstate concealed carry).

First, we talk with Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th district, Brayden Olson, about his plan to create jobs, his approach to healthcare, and about how his business successes have informed his campaign.

Then, we're joined by Julie West, district coordinator for Indivisible Alabama District One, to give us a view of the Alabama Senate race from the ground, and what people outside of the state can do to help.

Finally, we have some sounds and voices from the tax bill protest at Congressman Dave Reichert's office in Issaquah.

Links:

Brayden Olson's website: http://www.braydenforourfuture.com

Doug Jones's campaign website: http://www.dougjonesforsenate.com

Julie West's PayPal (for contributions): [email protected]

This week, Stephan, along with panelists Josh Trupin (Democratic Chair of Washington's 8th Congressional District) and Chris Petzold (founder and head of Indivisible Washington's 8th District) celebrate Flynn-dictment Friday (thanks to Chris for that gem), and talk about what may come next for Trump and co.

Then a discussion of the Senate's push to ram through their junk-laden tax reform bill, with an eye on what's next in the resistance, both for the Democrats and for Indivisible.

And, finally, the three talk about Dino Rossi's work as a Trump super-delegate in the 2016 Republican National Convention, and Josh issues a challenge to Rossi to own Trump's agenda.

This week, we talk with Suzi and Eric LeVine about their work with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a project launched by Barrack Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder to fight Republican gerrymandering throughout the country. In addition to a long list of achievements in the public and private sectors, Suzi LeVine is the former ambassador to Switzerland, and Eric LeVine was appointed by President Obama to serve as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

Then we chat with Lisa Brown, the Democratic candidate running against Cathie McMorris Rodgers in the 5th congressional district, about the politics in her district and how it's shifted over the last 20 years, and how her years as Washington State senate majority leader make her uniquely suited to break up gridlock in DC.

And then, we have our Indivisible member project with Indivisible Bainbridge Island's Holly Brewer.

Links:

National Democratic Redistricting Committee: http://www.ndrc.com

Democratic National Committee: https://democraticredistricting.com/

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee: http://www.dlcc.com

Lisa Brown for Congress: https://lisabrownforcongress.com/

This week, a talk with Democratic candidate for congress in the 8th CD, Toby Whitney, about his policies, his strategies, and why he promised himself he'd quit his tech job by 40 in favor of public service.

Then we chat with Summer Stinson, president of Washington's Paramount Duty, an organization dedicated to making sure state public schools are well funded, about the recent McCleary ruling from the Washington State Supreme Court and what it means for schools.

Finally, a talk with chicken-wrangler Kat Martin about a protest she's organizing in Seattle against the GOP tax bill, as part of a number of protests happening across the country on Monday, November 27th.

And we have a profile of Indivisible member Brenda DeJardin!

Links:

Toby Whitney's webpage: https://www.tobywhitneyforcongress.com/

Washington's Paramount Duty: http://paramountduty.org/

Trump Tax Scam Info: http://www.trumptaxscam.org

Email address for your personal stories about how the tax bill will affect you: [email protected]