With just over two months to go until the November election, Democrats have been working on getting Donald Trump out of office by focusing on his character. In a new book “The Opportunity Agenda,” former Kansas City Mayor Sly James and real estate executive Winston Fisher say the party needs to look past the election and work on revamping its policy platform to help struggling Americans – especially amid a pandemic and an economic crisis. James joined Errol to discuss the importance of helping the middle class by investing in small businesses, increasing access to child care and improving education. And he talked about his experience leading Kansas City, Missouri, and weighed in on the influence of money in politics. 

Mentioned in This Episode:

The Opportunity Agenda

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It’s 1970, Richard Nixon is president and the United States is at war in Vietnam. In a new book, “The Hardhat Riot,” author and journalist David Paul Kuhn chronicles a day known as Bloody Friday, when anti-war protesters and construction workers clashed in Lower Manhattan. He joined Errol to explain how, at the time, New York City was a microcosm of class divide and how that was the day that sparked a shift of the white working class towards the Republican Party, forever shaping American politics. And he discussed how the events of that era ultimately led to Trump presidency and what lessons should be learned heading into Election Day.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Hardhat Riot

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At the end of July, the CEOs of tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google testified before Congress to answer questions about using their power to crush smaller competitors. Zephyr Teachout, an attorney with a background in corruption and antitrust law, is sounding the alarm about these big companies in her new book, “Break 'Em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money.” She joined Errol to explain why corporate monopolies are more powerful than government, pose a threat to our Democracy, and play a role in economic inequality across the country. And she discussed how monopolies exist in all sorts of industries, from pharmaceuticals to our food supply, and offered policy solutions to create a moral economy.

Mentioned in this episode:

BREAK 'EM UP: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money

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With just three months to go until the November general election, Jay Jacobs, the chair of the New York State Democratic Party, joined Errol Louis to talk about the final push to unseat Donald Trump and upcoming political conventions. He also weighed in on the future of the changing Democratic Party, with progressives winning both Congressional and State legislative seats in June’s New York primary. And with Jay being a Long Island-native, he discusses the shift of party allegiance in suburban communities across the country, which could be vital for Democrats at the ballot box in November.

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Wes Moore, the CEO of the Robin Hood organization, joined Errol to talk about his anti-poverty work amid a growing hunger crisis and racial wealth gap that’s been exacerbated due to the coronavirus pandemic. And as America confronts systemic racism, he discussed Robin Hood’s new efforts to fund nonprofits that have diverse leaders. He also walked Errol through his personal journey, from his Bronx and Baltimore roots to his time in the army and then serving as a White House Fellow. And he talked about his new book, “Five Days: the Fiery Reckoning of an American City,” which gives a front-row perspective of the Baltimore uprising after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Five Days, the Firey Reckoning of an American City

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The debate over how to reopen schools in the fall is happening in communities all over the country, with educators and families voicing health and child care concerns. But with coronavirus cases continuing to spike in other states, can New York City’s 1.1 million public school students take part in in-person learning? Or is remote learning the way to go?

Richard Buery, who previously served as deputy mayor in the de Blasio administration, joined Errol to talk about the future of learning as we face a pandemic. He also discussed the problem of segregation in city public schools and described his experience attending Stuyvesant High School, one of the city’s specialized high schools. And he talked about his new role as the president of the Achievement First charter network and made the case for charter schools.

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Tanzina Vega has covered race and inequality for many years, including as the current host of “The Takeaway” on WNYC Radio. As the national conversation around race spurs change across the country, she joined Errol to talk about the fight for diversity in her newsroom and at other news outlets. She also talked about how news organizations are changing the way they cover race and the philosophy behind editorial decisions at “The Takeaway.” And she discussed about how she charted her path in journalism, from a childhood in public housing to working at some of the top media companies in the industry.

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While New York City has been well on its way with reopening the economy and easing social restrictions, city officials have been working on figuring out how to find billions of dollars in savings after the coronavirus pandemic put the city deep in the red. Nicole Gelinas, an urban economics expert at the Manhattan Institute, joined Errol to walk us through the fiscal situation the city is facing and discuss the future of the city and what our elected officials should be doing. She also weighs in on Mayor de Blasio’s and Governor Cuomo’s handling of the pandemic, the recent protests and police reforms.

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Actor Michael K. Williams, best-known for his portrayal of Omar Little on “The Wire,” joined Errol Louis to talk about his advocacy efforts on criminal justice issues and his work with the nonprofit NYC Together. He also discussed his journey into acting, the story behind his signature facial scar, and how he draws on his Brooklyn childhood and personal experiences to bring his nuanced characters to life. And he explained how he using his projects to bring voice to his community and talked about the need for more diversity in Hollywood and filmmaking.

For more information on NYC Together: https://nyctogether.org/

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Anti-racism scholar Ibram X. Kendi, the author of the best-seller “How to be an Antiracist,” joined Errol to discuss the importance of people uprooting racism from themselves and from society, in an effort to build a more equitable future. And he talked about his new book “Antiracist Baby,” a tool for parents to talk about racism with their children.

For more on Race & Policing in America, check out Errol's past conversations with: Jelani Cobb: Race, Policing and a History of Injustice in America & Nikole Hannah-Jones: Talking about Race in America

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ABOUT THE SHOW

NY1’s Errol Louis has been interviewing powerful politicians and cultural icons for years, but it’s when the TV cameras are turned off that things really get interesting. From career highlights, to personal moments, to stories that have never been told, join Errol each week for intimate conversations with the people who are shaping the future of New York and beyond. Listen to "You Decide with Errol Louis" every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.