Yo. Virginia (former capital of the Confederacy) turned blue. Kentucky (home of Moscow Mitch) elected a Democratic Governor. We were there. We won. That's it. That's the episode.
Special shoutout to @NewVAMajority for being a strong local partner in Virginia and for teaching everyone how to build long-term change. 2020, we're coming.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits here
David joins us from the road, on his way to meet Kamala Harris. Charles & AJ nerd out on the Watchmen and its political and social implications for people of color. Plus, an update on impeachment, spoiler alert: he’s goin’ down.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits here
Anand + Ta-Nehisi
This week Elizabeth Warren brings our focus to Amazon's impact on local Seattle elections, and we digest a recent visit by Ta-Nehisi Coates as he challenges our perspectives on hope. We also have the pleasure of responding live to our first sternly-worded email about our civic work, and we take note of this week's Impeachment "sit-in"…
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits here
AJ @ SIC
Somebody messed up and let us tape our podcast live. So we on-ramp an audience to CP starting with impeachment (while cursing a lot), touching on our upcoming trips to Kentucky and Virginia (this month!), and highlighting Republican Senators who are at risk in 2020 (yes!). After that light stuff, we give them the a heavy dose of reality as we address the recent police shootings, and how we all can do our part. Also, there may have been some peach mints passed around.…
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits here
The Westerlies, raw
This week we explore the intersection of art, civics, and... jury duty, with our special guest Riley Mulherkar of the brass quartet, the Westerlies. Riley breaks down the meaning behind #BrassRootsActivism and explains how he uses his platform to affect change in the civic space. AJ takes us to school with a history lesson from Wilmington NC and how it relates to our current political climate. Oh and we made sure to include your weekly dose of #impeachment updates + insights.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits here
Kamala in Seattle, 9.27.19
Kamala Harris has our hearts, but does she have our votes? And is everyone here feeling her? We start with an impeachment update (because we GOTTA keep talking about it!) but turn quickly to “funt” Kamala and why the black community hasn't received her as Obama's heir apparent. We introduce Common Purpose team member Maria Abando to talk about Kamala's Seattle visit, and the personal meaningfulness of candidate Harris' election run. Then AJ takes us on another historical journey with her, this time through Chicago on POC representation.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep15shownotes
Don't play with me. Are we doing it this time? We jump headfirst into the impeachment conversation, the Professor takes us through the details and he and Charles have it out over why it's taken so long. Then AJ takes us through her trip to Nashville, with a highlight of the Highlander School and the Nashville All-Stars. John Lewis serves as our guide through the episode as a witness to both historical moments: today's impeachment and yesterday's civil rights movement. Let's get into some good trouble....
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep14shownotes
Why do we still have to talk about the fucking debates? We have to, and we do again this episode with a few takes on the 3rd #DemDebates. Then we dig into an election that could matter more to folks closer to home: the city council race in SeaTac. There, a conservative largely white city council makes decisions for a majority POC (People Of Color) community. That plus #blackgirlmagic within this week's #climatestrike.
Also, CALL US. Please. 360-797-9121 ;-)
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep13shownotes
We jump into the loss in North Carolina, and explore a key shift in a meaningful demographic that could play a larger role in 2020 elections. Then we show off a member of our squad, Maggie Rittenhouse, and talk about her intro to civic action and Common Purpose. AJ takes us on her continuing exploration of the 1619 Project and its connection to the Red Summer of 1919, and we all wish Valerie Plame was the woman your mom left your dad for.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep12shownotes
With a team in Charlotte in support of the special election there, we go all-in on North Carolina. We've got 2 team members calling in from the field, and a focus on an election to fill a seat that's been vacant for nearly a year after election fraud on the GOP side. Plus we celebrate 2 birthdays: Civil rights activist Claudette Colvin and @Beyonce.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep11shownotes
Elizabeth Warren stopped by Seattle for one of her largest rallies to date – with over 15,000 people in attendance! We'll break down her visit and what it means for her candidacy. Also, The #1619Project made a lot of noise when it first dropped, and from teaching curriculum to inspiring new work, we look at some of it's long term impact.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep10shownotes
Jay Inslee bows out of the Presidential race, and we go in on Jay-Z and his deal with the NFL (again). One is a farewell to a leader who's cemented his position as a champion for the cause, the other is a leader who's loyalty to the cause is in question. Also, our friends have feels... All of that plus a special shout-out to Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer.
Show Notes w/Homework + Music Credits: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep9shownotes
Trump has pushed through 43 federal judges to lifetime appointments in only 3 years, a third of all appeals court judges in the country. We dive into the history and the future implications of federal judge power in America, and connections to our work in key states. That, plus a debate around Jay-Z's deal with the NFL and a highlight on NYT's #1619Project.
Episode music brought to you by Seattle area artist Samurai Del! https://www.samuraidel.com/
Show Notes: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep8shownotes
The President's a racist and we're all paying for it. This episode we recognize the gravity of the moment and the passing of the great Toni Morrison. We also Keep On talking about the fight for Presidential election swing states, control of the Senate and advocacy for voters across the country.
To join the fight with a traveling team Now, go to cpnow.org/fieldwork.
To join the growing community of Millennials learning how to take the first step towards civic engagement, sign up for more info at vacayfordemocracy.com.
Show Notes: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep7shownotes
Historic diversity, the most progressive politics in a generation and one of the largest ever age difference between candidates, the debates were all of this plus an unexpected winner on sex appeal alone. This and Cardi B out here giving all of us the free civics lessons we never learned in school.
We get asked a lot what our opinions are on Presidential candidates, so since we thought that talking Mueller and Trump's racism didn't need more words this week, we decided to launch a series where we evaluate the front-runners. Mayor Pete is up first, and we didn't hold back...
Show Notes: https://www.moreperfectaf.com/ep5shownotes
This week is all about The Squad: Ayanna, Ilhan, Rashida and AOC. We get into the generational implications of The Squad's presence on the political and popular stage, the roots of the popular usage of "squad" and reaction to He Who Shall Not Be Named's racist tweets. Plus as many 80's references as we can make in a single episode (apparently).
We take a look at this week's Supreme Court decisions and what counts as a win in the Trump era, along with how Common Purpose will activate in critical states to bolster progressives for 2020. Plus how court decisions are like Christmas presents until Clarence Thomas ruins it all.
