Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Political journalist and host of Vox’s America, Actually, Astead Herndon, returns for a conversation about the midterms, Trump’s waning credibility, and the tensions shaping the Democratic Party’s future.

He explains how Democrats can address the cost of living while confronting corruption and holding Trump accountable. He also shares what the 2024 election reveals about voters’ priorities and how the party can move beyond symbolic representation to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives.

Astead Herndon - @AsteadWH

Vox: America, Actually

Substack: The Midterms, Actually

Yasmin Radjy, executive director of Swing Left, joins us to discuss why Democratic campaigns need to build trust earlier, reach voters often overlooked, and invest in long-term organizing, not just focus on the next election. 

She explains how voter files are leaving a quarter of the electorate behind and where grassroots efforts can make the biggest difference for the upcoming midterms as we head into Election Day, and beyond.

Yasmin Radjy - @yasminradjy

Swing Left - @swingleft

Swing Left Take Action

Election Day is 40 days away.

Political Director of the California Donor Table Michael Gomez Daly discusses the upcoming midterms and the 862 votes that defied political consultants polling data and flipped a long-held Republican seat in California’s Central Valley during the 2018 election. 

He shares what that race can teach us about organizing in 2026, the limits of voter-propensity models, and why local, relationship-based organizing still matters in an era of increasingly sophisticated campaign data.

California Donor Table

California Donor Table LinkedIn

With the 2026 midterms less than eight weeks away, we sit down with veteran Democratic strategist and political data expert Tom Bonier to take a closer look at what the numbers are telling us about the electorate.

Tom is CEO of the TARA Group and a senior adviser and former CEO of TargetSmart, one of the country’s leading Democratic political data firms. He has also taught political science at Howard University.

Together, we dig into the battle for Congress, what Democrats’ performance among Black and Latino voters could mean in November, the changing electoral map, and...

Mila Atmos, host and executive producer of the new podcast series Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising, joins us to discuss the lasting legacy of Occupy Wall Street and how many of the ideas once considered radical have moved into the political mainstream.

She points out the through-line from Occupy’s “99 percent” movement, which started 15 years ago in September 2011, to Bernie Sanders and today’s progressive resurgence, as well as the movement’s shortcomings around race and the racial wealth gap. Mila also reflects on what Occupy can teach today’s organizers—and the Democratic Party—as the struggle over the party’s...

Political creator, influencer, attorney, and Reckoning Action founder Cheyenne Hunt discusses her work supporting survivors and how she helps bring allegations of sexual misconduct and assault by powerful political figures into public view. She takes us behind the scenes of how she builds trust with survivors, connects them with major media outlets, and uses a savvy mix of advocacy, law, and digital strategy to hold powerful people accountable—even when they're fellow progressives or Democrats. 

Cheyenne also shares the experiences that shaped her, her path from political creator, influencer, and congressional candidate to survivor advocate, and what her...

After the Supreme Court's Callais decision further dismantled the Voting Rights Act, where does Black political power go from here? We talk with UC Berkeley political scientist Jake Grumbach about why the old model of Black politics is no longer enough—and what a new strategy for building lasting political power could look like.

Jake Grumbach - website // @JakeMGrumbach

The Voting Rights Act Is Dead. Here’s a New Model for Black Politics by Jake Grumbach, Perry Bacon, The New Republic

Why do some politicians get to be "authentic," while others are told they're too polished, too outspoken, or simply not electable? Our latest guest Maya Rupert—author, political strategist, and one of the nation's leading voices on race and democracy (she’s also the former campaign manager for Julián Castro's 2020 presidential campaign, and for Maya Wiley's New York City mayoral campaign)—shares her views on the Democratic Party's approach to electability, media strategy, and what it will take to build a more inclusive and successful politics.

Maya Rupert - mayarupert.com

X: @mayarupert IG: @may...

As the our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, LaTosha Brown, organizer and Black Voters Matter co-founder, joins us to reflect on the unfinished struggle for democracy in the wake of the Supreme Court's assault on the Voting Rights Act. She shares her thoughts on the enduring importance of the South, the lessons of Selma, and how people-powered organizing can meet this political moment with hope, courage, and vision. 

LaTosha also argues that this moment requires us to think bigger than this year’s midterms, or even the next election. Building a multiracial democracy will require more than ele...

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joins Steve for a live conversation at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle about the growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world.

Drawing from his new book, Chain of Ideas, Kendi explains how fear, division, and "Great Replacement" narratives are being used to undermine democracy and consolidate power. Together, he and Steve explore the connections between racism, political power, demographic change, and the fight for a multiracial democracy.

They discuss why expanding democracy—not retreating from it—is the path forward and what it will take...

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question.

In the final installment of the Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else? series, Robert Raben, founder and president of Raben and executive director of the Diverse Asset Managers Initiative (DAMI), sheds light on one arena where power operates largely out of public view: asset management and investing.

He shares the historical context of inequality in...

President and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Aaron Dorfman breaks down how right-wing donors and foundations spent money to curtail voting rights and reshape the broader political landscape.

He explains the often unseen role philanthropy plays in politics and the retreat from racial justice funding after the murder of George Floyd. He also shares why long-term investment in organizing and movement-building matters, and why he believes there is still an opportunity to build stronger, more aligned infrastructure for democracy, particularly in the South. 

Aaron Dorfman - ncrp.org

CNN NewsNight anchor Abby Phillip delves into the legacy of Revered Jesse Jackson and her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. 

She discusses Jackson’s groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns and what they mean for the fight we're in today.

She also traces Jesse’s role in shaping modern progressivism and his influence on figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, his complex relationship with President Barack Obama, and the continued relevance of Rev. Jackson’s political strategies in today’s landscape.

She discusses the multiracial coalition he assembled...

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question.

White men are 29% of the U.S. population, but dominate positions of power across nearly every sector. 

In Part 2 of this special series, Steve and Sharline turn to historical and scientific research to explore the existing justifications of inequality. They trace a throughline from slavery and Reconstruction to elite universities and modern-day DEI backlash. They also u...

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question.

In Part 1 of this special podcast series, three young people share their thoughts on the overrepresentation of white men in positions of power and influence. We ask them: is this reality the result of meritocracy or something else?

As part of this first episode, we also delve further into issues of diversity and equity in America,  f...

Three key voices behind the new documentary First They Came for My College join Steve to share how community, art, and activism became tools to fight back against censorship and ideological warfare at the New College of Florida.

Harry Hanbury, a seasoned filmmaker and alumnus of New College, shares behind-the-scenes insights to documenting the fight to save a campus under siege. Amy Reid, a former professor and board member, recounts the courage it took to stand up and resist the systematic erasure of LGBTQ+ and Black studies programs. And Gaby Batista, a former student journalist on campus...

Our guest needs no introduction. Stacey Abrams returns to the show to unveil her latest initiatives and share insights on building systems of justice and advancing equity.

She reflects on what this moment demands and shares her “10 Steps to Freedom and Power” framework. She explains how authoritarian tactics are evolving, how we must adapt in response, and why DEI has become such a central battlefield in the broader struggle over democracy and corporate accountability.

She also discusses the hard but necessary work of engaging non-voters and underserved communities, the lessons emerging from recent campaigns, and how...

This is a rerelease of an episode from 2023 with a new intro from our founder, Steve Phillips.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Eddie Wong, former national field director for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, joins Steve and Sharline to reminisce on the alliance that transcended boundaries of race, gender, and socio-economic status to create a powerful force for change.

Steve, Sharline, and Eddie delve into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that marked the coalition's journey, as well as its influence on shaping today's movements for social justice and equity.

New York Times White House Correspondent Erica Green shares candid and necessary insights into the increasingly explicit racial dynamics shaping American politics. 

She discusses the Times interview that forced Trump to publicly articulate his views on who faces discrimination in America and the blatantly racist video he shared on social media—and then deleted—of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. She also stresses the urgent need for media integrity and truth-telling in a moment ripe with distortion and disinformation.

Erica reflects on her reporting journey and the themes in her book...

Indivisible’s Leah Greenberg joins Steve and Sharline to discuss what we can learn from history about confronting rising authoritarianism and defending democracy today.

The organization’s co-founder and co-executive director, Leah shares how Indivisible (and the country) have evolved since 2016 and the role of big-tent coalitions in building effective resistance movements.

Leah also offers advice for new organizers entering the movement and stresses how pressure at the local levels can result in significant national outcomes.

Leah Greenberg - @Leahgreenb

Indivisible // Find a Local Group

In our first episode of the year, veteran journalist Ron Brownstein returns to offer a cogent analysis about the larger ongoing, existential battle over the identity of this nation and the fears and anxieties animating the Trump coalition. 

Ron, Steve and Sharline discuss voter behavior in the 2024 election cycle, from racial and gender dynamics in the presidential contest to the economic conditions that impacted turnout for both Democrats and Republicans. 

Ron explains what led to Democrats’ resurgence in 2025 and he breaks down why Trump’s approval rating will be a key factor in how the party...

In our final episode of 2025, Representative Crockett joins us to talk about what kind of leadership this moment requires. 

Recorded just days before she officially entered the race, she shares her journey as a civil rights lawyer turned legislator and the experiences that led her to run for Congress. 

She highlights key issues Texans are facing and discusses what it’s going to take to win her Senate race in 2026.

Jasmine Crockett Senate Campaign Website

@jasmineforus

Happy Thanksgiving! Our team is taking a break this week, so we’re re-sharing one of our most popular episodes from last year featuring somatics coach Viveka Chen, now with a brand-new intro from our co-host Sharline Chang.

In This Episode: 
Let’s pause for a moment and remember that we need to take care of ourselves. 

Leadership coach, transformative justice practitioner, and somatics coach Viveka Chen (she/they) discusses the intersection of personal healing and collective liberation. Viveka shares insights from their work helping activists, organizers, and community leaders build resilience and fos...

The 19th News’ childcare and economy reporter Chabeli Carrazana discusses the unique beat she’s formed and why reporting on the economy from a gender lens matters.

Chabeli explains how the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted women of color, and she discusses the challenges faced by immigrant childcare workers in the wake of Trump’s immigration crackdowns. She shares the undue burden LGBTQ+ mothers face when it comes to healthcare, and she gives insight into the groundbreaking universal childcare program implemented in New Mexico. 

She also points to NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s agenda as a possible ...

For the Bay Area Book Festival’s inaugural Merritt Dialogue Speaker Series, Steve and writer Rebecca Solnit join Working Families Party California State Director Jane Kim for a hopeful conversation on changing the narrative and imagining a better future.

They cover several issues relevant to this political moment including, voter suppression, the climate crisis, youth activism, and media misinformation and disinformation. They also discuss why harnessing the power of the New American Majority hinges on progressives unapologetically fighting for racial justice and equality.

They share what is giving them hope in these harrowing times and an...

Somos Votantes founder and president Melissa Morales returns to discuss the critical role of the Latino electorate and what her organization is hearing from voters about our current political climate.

She unpacks how voter behavior among Latino communities shifted from 2020 to 2024 and the impact of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign to be the first woman president of the United States. 

Morales also explains recent polling data that shows waning support among Latinos for Trump’s policies, particularly as it relates to the economy and looming threats of deportation by ICE in immigrant communities. 

Executive Director of Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) Fahd Ahmed discusses Zohran Mamdani’s historic race for New York City mayor and the lessons for Democrats and progressives in future elections.

Ahmed explains how DRUM Beats NYC (DRUM’s sibling organization) has mobilized South Asians and working-class immigrants across the political spectrum in support of Mamdani, whose platform centers the material needs of working-class New Yorkers, such as housing, childcare, and transportation, as well as global issues including the war in Gaza.

Ahmed shares his view on the reluctance of some established Democratic leaders to e...

San Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer, and longtime observer of California politics, Joe Garofoli offers historical and political context to California’s growing role as a bastion against the Trump administration’s march towards fascism. 

He breaks down the upcoming November ballot measure to redistrict the state and neutralize the five additional Republican seats created in Texas. He also shares his view of Governor Gavin Newsom’s political trajectory, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ next move, and what all of this spells for 2026 and 2028.

Joe Garofoli - @joegarofoli // San Francisco Chronicle

Steve and Sharline reflect on Steve’s latest manuscript before diving into how they’ve been coping and surviving these last eight months of the second Trump administration.

They cover the key bellwether elections of 2025 that will be dominating headlines this fall from New York City’s mayoral race to the historic gubernatorial race in Virginia, one that will elect its first female governor. 

They discuss the significance of these upcoming elections and they touch on two key Senate races that could reshape Democrats' congressional power in 2026.

Emmy Ruiz, former advisor to the President during the Biden-Harris administration, and White House director of political strategy and outreach, returns to discuss the redistricting showdown in Texas. 

She dives into the impact of gerrymandering on democracy, and offers her thoughts on the response from Democratic-led states to Republicans' redistricting efforts. She also shares her insights on grassroots organizing, mobilizing voter turnout in key districts, and the evolving landscape of Latino voter behavior. 

Emmy Ruiz - Twitter/X

United We Dream Co-founder Cristina Jiménez joins Steve to discuss her new book, Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power & Real Change. 

She shares the impact of American foreign policy around the world, but particularly in her home country of Ecuador, that led to mass migration movements in search of safety and stability. She discusses the role of eugenics in immigration policy, and how her experiences as a young person led her to activism. Cristina also shares what she’s learned as an organizer and what she believes is necessary to navig...

In this re-release of our 100th episode, Erin Heaney, executive director of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), discusses the role of white allyship in the fight for justice and a multiracial democracy.

If you’d like to volunteer with SURJ, you can join their remote SURJ Action Hours: Summer to Grow, Turn Up the Heat campaign that takes place every other Wednesday through the summer or you can find an in-person meeting near you. On August 5 and 12, SURJ is also hosting a 2-part remote training session on how to show up for immigrant communities.

...

Steve and Sharline share how they’re processing the last several months before diving into the books and television shows that are helping them regroup, from Sharline’s first watch of Gilmore Girls with her daughter to Steve’s love of British murder mystery books. 

They also share how they’re finding humor on social media and in live comedy clubs.

Sharline's Recs

Soul Authority: Liberatory Tools to Heal from Oppressive Patterns and Restore Trust in Your Heart Compass by Loraine Y. Van Tuyl

On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Mothe...

Deepak Bhargava, president of the Movement Action Fund, discusses the reality of the moment we’re facing and what it’s going to take to win back our democratic freedoms.

He shares what history, both at home and abroad, can teach us about defending ourselves against fascism and authoritarianism and he explains why the “Sue, Protest, Vote” framework is not robust enough anymore.

Deepak shares lessons learned from civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson, including how to engage nonviolent resistance as a way of life and he dives into what works and what doesn’t when it co...

New York Times bestselling author and scholar Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs discusses her new book Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us and why she set out to write a book that makes plain one of the organizing principles and primary barriers to progress in the U.S.

Against the backdrop of what’s happening in L.A. right now, Anna’s book offers insight into whose values and ways of life Trump is fighting to protect. Anna dives into the nuances of sexism and racism, sharing stories from her personal life that illuminate the many ways...

Director of Mission Telecom Giving Ashindi Maxton shares why she’s viewing this otherwise harrowing political climate as a moment of opportunity. 

Ashindi discusses the role of philanthropy in social justice movements, including its strengths and limitations and how she’s helping to transform the sector into one that is more social justice oriented, innovative, and capable of stepping up to the challenge.

She offers a global perspective on social justice and how different movements are finding new ways to secure funding towards their mission. She also shares insight into her new role at Mission Telec...

Way to Win Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jenifer Fernandez Ancona shares the organization’s research findings about where Democrats went wrong in 2024 and what it’s going to take to win in 2026 and beyond.

She explains what the data really shows about last year’s election and how her organization’s qualitative focus groups reveal a fundamental error in Democrats’ understanding of where the party goes from here.

Jen shares what she’s hearing from voters who sat out of the 2024 election, including how they perceive the Democratic Party and their opinion of Vice President Ka...

Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor Garlin Gilchrist discusses his race for governor in 2026 and lessons learned as the state’s second-in-command in the middle of the extraordinary crisis that was the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He shares his wins in office, including advancing criminal justice reform and expanding broadband access, as well as what he believes went wrong in the 2024 election. Gilchrist also shares why his unique background as a software engineer turned community organizer makes him fit to lead the state and he shares his vision for the future of Michigan.

Lt. Govern...

Thea Lee, economist and former deputy undersecretary for international labor affairs at the Department of Labor, provides insight to Trump’s economic madness and the global chaos unleashed. 

Thea offers us a 101 on tariffs and their role in economic policy. She explains why Trump’s trade policy lacks credibility in its purported goal of supporting workers and manufacturers. She also lays out the consequences of tariffs, from hurting small businesses to increasing the cost of living for the most vulnerable, including Black and Brown communities. 

As a longtime champion for worker’s rights, Thea shares lessons...

House Representative and Chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Greg Casar (TX) breaks down the evolving role of the CPC in this current Trump era and shares what the Democratic Party needs to do to regain trust and power among voters.

He discusses the future of the party and emphasizes the need to build a multiracial working-class coalition that is not afraid to pick big fights. 

Congressman Greg Casar - @RepCasar (official) & @gregcasar (campaign)