Tavis Smiley

Jared Holt, journalist, domestic extremism investigator, and senior researcher at Open Measures, shares his thoughts about last week's end of prosecutions for Jan. 6 participants as Trump's DOJ tries to rewrite history with pardons and denial.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Lead organizer for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California and reparations advocate Chris Lodgson offers his insights about California's Legislative Black Caucus pushing an effort to require large corporations to disclose historical connections to slavery as a new tactic for reparative justice.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual, and special contributor Dr. Cornel West shares his thoughts about politics, humanities, social justice, and more.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Maria Teresa Kumar, Emmy-nominated political activist and the founding president and CEO of Voto Latino, talks about trending political topics.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist, award-winning author, and attorney Desiree Cooper discusses her new book, Black Summers: Growing Up in the Urban Outdoors, a provocative collection of essays, poetry, and graphic stories about how racism shapes life in the urban outdoors.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Dr. Vincent Intondi, nuclear disarmament expert, professor, and author, shares his analysis of the nuclear deal between the White House and Saudi Arabia as we acknowledge the 81st anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki this week.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

White House correspondent, author, and host of A More Perfect Union on KBLA Talk 1580, Nii-Quartelai Quartey gives us a sneak peek of his exclusive interview with Maryland Governor Wes Moore after the governor became chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, discusses his uphill re-election campaign for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District as he battles redistricting.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) explains his decision to end his campaign due to Tennessee’s gerrymandered districts and what he believes will be the impact of his exit from the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy at University of Connecticut-Storrs, Dr. Lewis Gordon shares his insights about the political and social shifts of this moment, given the rise of progressive candidates offering a different vision for America. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Rachel Leingang, Midwest political correspondent for The Guardian, shares her reporting on this week’s primaries and her expectations for voters heading into the final weeks before the midterm elections.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former Democratic National Committee vice chair and gun violence prevention advocate David Hogg shares his thoughts on the state of the Democratic Party and what’s next for its leadership.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former Mayor of Pasadena and current CEO of LA Fire Justice Chris Holden joins Tavis in studio to discuss what’s next for residents after the L.A. County Fire Department concluded that California’s Eaton Fire, in January 2025, was sparked by an out-of-service Southern California Edison transmission tower.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Jeremy Allen, executive editor of the Michigan Chronicle, discusses the high-stakes Michigan Senate primary and other trending political topics.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editor-in-Chief and NABJ Convention Co-Chair Leroy Chapman Jr. shares his thoughts on the Georgia midterms, previews the upcoming NABJ Convention, and discusses the truth and power of Black journalism.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former NAACP President and Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Social Justice at Harvard, Cornell William Brooks, discusses the midterms, the state of democracy, and more.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Michigan State Representative and Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District Donavan McKinney discusses his campaign, the issues facing his constituents, and the progressive movement.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former Seattle City Councilmember and independent socialist candidate for Washington’s 9th Congressional District Kshama Sawant explains why Democratic Socialists of America-backed Democrats need to be more confrontational if they want to win.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

The trio congregate to talk about some breaking news regarding a case of their dear friend Mark Ridley Thomas. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Civil rights attorney and activist Connie Rice share her analysis about trending political topics.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Social justice leader, host of the monthly digital series Freedom Table, and creator of the How We Win newsletter, Rashad Robinson joins Tavis in studio to discuss his new book, From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter—and Win, and offers a practical, strategic roadmap for creating structural change.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual, and special contributor Dr. Cornel West shares his thoughts on religious freedom, democratic socialism, and more.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) checks in from the campaign trail in Michigan to discuss her re-election campaign and why she will continue to speak out on the issues if given another term.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Jamie Jackson, former aide in the Obama and Biden administrations, explains why DNC Chairman Ken Martin’s leadership is back in question, how Democrats need to reshape their messaging, and shares her analysis of trending political topics.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

William Lawrence, progressive congressional candidate for Michigan’s 7th District, discusses his platform, responds to the Congressional Black Caucus’s condemnation of his campaign, and explains how he plans to address the construction of data centers in his state.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Washington University professor and pastor Ryan Burge, creator of the Graphs About Religion Substack and author of The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us, examines the impact of President Trump on potential Gen Z churchgoers and more.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Civil rights attorney and social impact entrepreneur George Fatheree III and Yaba Baker, award-winning writer and the fourth great-grandson of David Drake, historically known as Dave the Potter, discuss their restitution campaign to retrieve Drake’s nearly 250 identifiable pieces from museums and private collections.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Christina Greer, political scientist, author, and professor at Fordham University, shares her analysis of trending political topics.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Dr. Erroll G. Southers, USC professor, homeland security expert, and President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration, discusses his new memoir, Inside the Castle Walls: An American Journey Through Espionage, Counterterrorism and Government, revealing the deeply personal story of racism and discrimination behind those roles. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly, associate professor of African American Studies at Wayne State University and author of Black Scare / Red Scare: Theorizing Capitalist Racism in the United States, discusses the latest State Department report, Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism, and the state of democracy.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Jen Bendery, senior politics reporter covering Congress and the White House for HuffPost, talks about trending political stories.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Director and writer Victor Gabriel and foster care reform advocate Jarrett Harper talk about their new L.A. Times Short Doc "I Got My Brother," which explores the foster care to prison pipeline through the eyes of formerly incarcerated Jarrett and his brother Baylon. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual, and special contributor, Dr. Cornel West shares his thoughts about politics, social justice, and more. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

breaking news reporter at The Hill, is back with the latest stories from Washington and an update on the un-enrollment scandal at her alma mater, Howard University. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate and writer of the Navarrette Nation at Substack, Ruben Navarette shares his analysis of trending political topics. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Civil rights icon and former Chicago alderwoman Dorothy Tillman breaks down her ten principles for building a nonviolent movement and why it takes strategy to endure the struggle of advancing civil rights.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

National Urban League (NUL) President Marc Morial talks about the NUL Annual Conference coming up in Nashville next week, the fight against redistricting, and the upcoming March on Washington for voting rights.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual, and special contributor Dr. Cornel West shares his thoughts on the reaction to Mayor Mamdani’s call to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and more.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Marcus Anthony Hunter, professor, founding chair of the Department of African American Studies at UCLA, and author of Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation, gives his analysis of trending political topics.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Erica Smiley, executive director of Jobs With Justice, discusses the rising Black unemployment rate and the future of workers’ rights during the Trump era.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.