New Faces of Democracy (Nancy Bynum)

This episode of the podcast features Part 2 of the Flipping Florida Series with Dr. Fergie Reid, Jr. Dr. Reid talks about the strategy for flipping the state and its 29 electoral college votes blue, based on the work spearheaded by him and his father in Virginia, helping to flip that state in 2019. He explains the simple and intuitive concept, which is to register more voters and run candidates in every race, and why this strategy has been historically underutilized by Democrats. We talk about how Florida is ripe for the picking, with its many races in red districts uncontested by Democrats, and how Texas, Georgia and North Carolina are not far behind. And he speaks about the civil rights work of his father, Dr. Fergie Reid Sr. who ultimately became the first African American member of the Virginia state legislature since Reconstruction. To hear the first podcast in this series on flipping Florida, listen to How to Flip Florida Blue with 140 Florida Blue Project. To learn more about the work of Dr. Reid, Sr., go to 90for90.org or click here to donate to Florida Democrats in these forgotten but important races. 

Is registering Democrats the key to saving the world? That’s the premise behind Field Team 6 whose founder Jason Berlin is Nancy’s guest on this episode. Jason and Nancy first spoke five years ago when Field Team 6 was registering voters in parking lots. Now the group has grown into a grassroots powerhouse that is reaching millions of unregistered voters online and in person and getting out the vote in swing states and districts around the country. Jason and I talk about the massive volunteer army that powers his organization, with teams of experts in their fields; and the measurable impact of their work in winning elections with the slimmest margins of victory; and their initiative to combat ballot rolloff. In a time when it feels hard to smile, Jason and his great sense of humor make resistance fun. 

And one last thing – we are excited to announce that New Faces of Democracy is now a member of the Democracy Group, a network of podcasts and organizations that create educational content about democracy, civic engagement, and civil discourse. Check it out! 

Here is the New Faces of Democracy profile of Jason from 2020.

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Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here. 

If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.

If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!

Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.

This episode features a conversation with Jocelyn Bucaro of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Mobile Voting Project. Could mobile voting save democracy? Jocelyn and Nancy speak about how it’s already being used in many jurisdictions in the US and around the world; creating public trust in the technology; and how it has the potential to transform our hyper partisan political landscape and help our democracy work better for us all. For more information, go to the Mobile Voting Project website where you can also sign up to volunteer or follow them on social media.

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Drew Kromer, Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party in North Carolina. Could Mecklenburg County hold the key to flipping North Carolina blue?  According to Drew, the answer is yes. Nancy and Drew talk about the huge numbers of Democrats in the county and the slim margins needed to win state-wide races; why people have historically not shown up to the polls; and how to scale up their volunteer operation in time for November and create lasting Democratic infrastructure for the future. To donate or volunteer, see the links below.

https://www.meckdems.org/

https://swingbluealliance.org/northcarolina/

Today’s podcast features a conversation with Max Rose, founder of Sheriffs for Trusting Communities. Imagine a law enforcement officer with vast power and authority, little accountability and no meaningful term limits. That’s called a sheriff. It’s an elected position, but many of us do not look far enough down the ballot or even know enough to cast a vote. Nationwide, sheriffs make 2 million arrests every year, they control our jails and they have immense power in the civil arena as well when it comes to things like evictions, gun permits and civil asset forfeitures. Max and Nancy talk about the role sheriffs play in mass incarceration and deportation, the ties of some to the white supremacy movement, and what needs to be done to reform the office. Sheriffs for Trusting Communities works with local organizers to help educate people on what sheriffs do, elect new sheriffs that reflect the visions of their communities and then hold them accountable. Finally, Max provides the questions to ask of our own sheriffs to make sure they are reflecting our values.

Almost two months into the podcast, Nancy takes a break to muse on one theme that's been coming up a lot in her interviews: the importance of state and local elections.

This episode features a conversation with Sara Trail, founder of Social Justice Sewing Academy, an organization that provides young people in marginalized communities with free workshops to make textile art about social justice issues. You might think of quilters as little old ladies in rockers, but this fierce, young warrior will upend all your notions of what can be achieved through the artistic expression of quilting. The young makers use fabric, needle and thread in decidedly un-old lady-like ways to create arresting images where they can protest injustice and advocate for social change, giving them the chance to be heard for the first time. Sara and Nancy talk about how Trayvon Martin’s murder propelled her from a very young, very successful sewing career into tackling social justice issues with her craft; the community that has developed between the young quilt designers and the older, whiter volunteers who do the technical work to create the finished product, helping to bridge the divide between these groups; and the ways we can help, whether we can sew or not. To learn more about Social Justice Sewing Academy and ways to get involved by donating, sewing or mentoring, go to sjsacademy.com.

This episode features a conversation with Lindsey Drath, CEO of the Forward Party, a newly formed political party that intends to bring power back to the majority of Americans and take it away from the fringes. Imagine a world in which the will of the plurality rules, where the 70-80% of Americans who support things like gun laws and abortion and climate action have their say, instead of being governed by extremists. With the support of political luminaries from both major parties, like Andrew Yang, Evan McMullin, David Jolly, and Christine Todd Whitman, the Forward Party promises to return power back to the people with a bottom up approach where communities dictate policy, not the parties. How? Through the transformative power of electoral reforms like ranked choice voting, open primaries and independent redistricting committees that motivate candidates to appeal to the majority of voters. Listen to Lindsey and decide for yourself if this is a utopian pipedream or a realistic path out of our broken and polarized political system. For more information on the Forward Party, visit their website at www.forwardparty.com.

This episode features a conversation with Ravi Gupta, an Obama alum, podcast host and founder of Arena, an organization that trains and supports the next generation of Democratic candidates and campaign staff. After working on Obama’s campaign and then administration, Ravi stepped away to start a network of schools in the south but jumped back into political action immediately after the 2016 election. At Arena, Ravi uses his political expertise to identify and support transformative new candidates outside of the traditional political establishment who reflect the diversity of our society. Then he does everything possible to help them win at the state, local and federal level.  Arena also trains campaign staff, creating a talent pipeline to run those campaigns. Ravi and Nancy talk about how to make politics more transparent and equitable, ways to reach out to those on the other side of the political spectrum and what we can still do now, in the 11th hour before Election Day, to make a difference. 

Arena: https://arena.run

Majority 54 podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/majority-54/id1309354521

Dress Rehearsal documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSSlxVMyKkk

This episode features a conversation with abortion rights activist Michelle Colon of SHERo (Sisters Helping Every Woman Rise and Organize), an organization dedicated to reproductive justice for black and brown women in Mississippi. While there’s no sugarcoating the dire state of abortion rights in our country right now, this conversation will help you pick yourself up out of your puddle of tears and start to take action. Michelle and Nancy talk about how Mississippi, with its myriad abortion restrictions, is virtually already in a post-Roe universe and how it will only get harder; the fraught history of bodily autonomy for black and brown women; and why we need to support local abortion organizations that are able to help women with the daunting amount of resources they will need when Roe is gone for good. You can donate to support Michelle's work at SHERo here. And below is Michelle’s list of other worthy grassroots groups that help women with those resources.

ARC Southeast arc-southeast.org

Indigenous Women Rising https://www.iwrising.org/abortion-fund

Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund www.msreprofreedomfund.org

New Orleans Abortion Fund

www.neworleansabortionfund.org

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund tbafund.com

National Network of Abortion Funds

abortionfunds.org

Yellowhammer Fund

www.yellowhammerfund.org

This episode features a conversation with Grace Cowan of Frogmore Stew, a podcast focused on South Carolina politics. Nancy and Grace thought it would be interesting, on the cusp of this momentous election, to see how life looks like on the other side of our red state and blue state fences. They talk about how when it comes down to everyday issues there really is a lot more blurring of the partisan lines than the media and national party propaganda would have us believe. They also discuss how certain issues like climate change can transcend party, and that, in the end, there is much more that unites us than divides us. Sure, we have different opinions, but in a nation dominated by an us vs. them mentality, this conversation will make you feel better about the prospect of coming together as a country again. We just have to keep talking. 

Frogmore Stew is a podcast about South Carolina politics, political history and political culture.  Grace and her guests talk through the intersection of national and state politics, she feature guests that give deep insight into a variety of topics, and she looks at how pop culture has become intertwined in our political vernacular.  Frogmore Stew is a realistic and educated approach to the policy issues that affect South Carolinians everyday. 

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here. 
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send an email to info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!
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This episode features Jackie Payne of Galvanize Action, an organization that focuses on moderate women living in rural, small town and suburban areas. These women want progress on key issues but aren’t reliably playing a role to get us there. Galvanize Action helps them connect with their values in a way that impacts their civic behavior. Nancy and Jackie talk about the neuroscience and behavioral psychology underlying the work at Galvanize Action; the nuanced concerns of this group of women that constitute the largest voting bloc in the country; and the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation. To learn more about Galvanize Action and see examples of their top-performing messaging, check out their highlights page.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!
• Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.

Nancy takes a break from the podcast to muse on the army of mothers powering the resistance. 

Welcome to Season 3 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum. Are you pooped from too much politics and a polarizing pandemic? Season 3 of the podcast is here to help. Because to be an engaged citizen and to save our democracy, you don’t have to act like you're on cable news. Activism doesn’t have to be angry, depleting and exhausting. Activism can be uplifting and energizing. It can connect you with communities of like minded people who care about the things you care about. And if all you have is an hour or two a week, that’s all you need. Season 3 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast will introduce you to people engaged in vitally important work making our country and planet a better place. And it will also give you ideas of ways for you to get involved. These conversations will help you find a path to sustainable, restorative activism that, like a great yoga class, takes a little work but feels really good. Please join Nancy for Season 3, coming soon at newfacesofdemocracy.org or wherever you stream your podcasts.

What to do after a disastrous presidential debate and devastating Supreme Court rulings? This episode features a conversation with Brian Derrick of Oath, who has one solution: smart, impactful giving to candidates up and down the ballot who will protect democracy and defend our most cherished rights. Oath is an online fundraising platform that helps Democratic donors identify where their money is most needed in the races that mean the most to them, whether their focus is flipping the House, state legislatures, reproductive rights and more. Nancy and Brian talk about the problem of wasted donations to long shot candidates; the nimble, data-driven scoring system they use at Oath to make their recommendations; and one side benefit of using Oath which is ending the nonstop barrage of emails and text messages from campaigns. Listen to the end to hear how to stay positive during what’s shaping up to be a challenging summer. To learn more about Oath, check out their website at oath.vote. 

This episode features a conversation with Nimit Sawhney of Voatz, a mobile voting app that uses cutting edge technology to make voting more accessible, secure and auditable. Spelled V-O-A-T-Z, the app is already in use in elections around the world and has the potential to transform our electoral system here in the U.S. Nimit and Nancy discuss the app’s blockchain-based technology; they do a deep dive on security concerns; and Nimit explains how Voatz has the potential to restore public trust in the voting process. 

This episode is the third in a series on the transformative power of mobile voting. The first was Episode 47 with Ramon Perez of the Digital Democracy Project, followed by Jocelyn Bucaro of the Mobile Voting Project in Episode 48. Taken together, these three conversations address the security of mobile voting, different applications for the technology, and why making it easier for people to vote may be the key to reinvigorating American democracy. 

You can try out the Voatz app for yourself by participating in the Digital Democracy Project, where you can tell your legislators how you want them to vote on upcoming legislation. It’s currently available for Florida residents only but will soon expand nationwide. 

Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here. 

If you like this podcast, please subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!

In this bonus episode, Nancy talks about four groups focused on chipping away at the margins in key, battleground states to beat Trump this November: 140 Florida Blue Project, Galvanize USA, Vote Values and American Bridge.

This week’s podcast features a conversation with artist Diana Weymar of Tiny Pricks Project. Diana is a textile artist who one day in 2018 had the impulse to embroider the words “I am a stable genius” onto an old piece of her grandmother’s needlework, and Tiny Pricks was born. Now Tiny Pricks is a public textile-based protest project with hundreds of participants around the world and 56,000 followers on instagram. Nancy and Diana talk about the importance of preserving Trump’s language and transforming it into something beautiful in protest, the therapeutic benefits of doing this work, learning to stay present with difficult emotions, the power of community, and much more.

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Vernetta Alston, a state legislator in North Carolina. In 2017, Vernetta pivoted from a career as a criminal defense attorney to run for public office on the Durham city council. She was then appointed to fill an empty seat in the North Carolina General Assembly last spring and now she is in the enviable position of being an unopposed incumbent in her race. Vernetta and Nancy talk about the state of the state in North Carolina, home of the Bathroom Bill and extreme partisan gerrymandering, and Vernetta explains what’s at stake if Republicans keep their majority in the legislature and what is possible if Democrats win. Vernetta also talks about life in the state capitol with the Republicans in power, having to deal with politics rather than policy, and how state legislatures affect people’s daily lives. Finally, Vernetta tells us why we all need to care about what happens in North Carolina in this election, no matter where we live.

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, a Republican whose office is in charge of election operations and voter registration in the Pennsylvania city. Nancy and Seth talk about why, despite enduring threats and harassment in 2020 from members of his own party, Seth remains committed to his mission of ensuring free, secure and transparent elections for all voters. They also discuss the importance of bipartisanship, what it means to be a principled Republican today, and why Seth has recently become affiliated with the Forward Party. This conversation will leave you feeling reassured about the prospects for this year’s elections and the people who run them in Pennsylvania, where the thinnest of margins can have the largest of impacts.

This episode features a conversation with Lisa Guide, co-founder of the Women Effect Action Fund, a group dedicated to achieving economic equality for women in our country. Lisa and her colleagues have spent the last four years focused on turning out the caregiver vote, and thanks to them women came out in force to vote in this past election, motivated by care economy issues. These are working moms, who have silently struggled for decades to fulfill their historical caregiver roles while also holding down jobs, often as the primary wage earners in their homes. Lisa and Nancy talk about why everyone loses when women must choose between staying home with a sick child or losing a day’s pay; why policies like paid family leave and childcare are just as important to our economy and infrastructure as bridges and roads; and how Covid has made the situation exponentially worse. This emergent caregiver voting bloc is urban, suburban and rural, Democrat, Republican and Independent and is a force to be reckoned with. In other words, I am woman, hear me roar. You can learn more about the Women Effect Fund at the link below. 

https://womeneffectfund.org

This episode features a conversation with Jason Springer about how the Education Truth Project, a New Jersey super PAC, is keeping school boards free of extremist voices. Jason and Nancy discuss how, in recent years, out of state groups have been infiltrating  local school boards, using children as pawns to advance political agendas; how we need to return to dialogue versus the “my way or the highway” mentality; and the importance of local solutions to local issues. For more information on the Education Truth Project, visit their website.

This episode features a conversation with Manny Yekutiel, founder of San Francisco phenomenon, Manny’s, a civic gathering space that brings people together for coffee, bagels and discourse. In this comfortable and friendly space, people gather for debates, to hear candidates like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and for something increasingly rare in our country today: dialogue. Nancy and Manny talk about how people are craving in-person experiences in an increasingly digital world; how to heal our political discord; and how to make politics fun, accessible and exciting. 

https://www.welcometomannys.com

This episode features Hollywood writer and producer Stacy Kramer who since 2016 has become a tireless fundraiser for Democratic candidates and grassroots groups. Stacy talks about how to make Democratic fundraisers more democratic, how her creative skills as a writer and her noodgy skills as a producer have benefitted her, and why making people feel included and engaged in the process is just as important as raising money. Listen for Stacy’s ideas on how to host successful fundraisers and creative ways to make them fun on Zoom. 

On this episode, Nancy welcomes back Melissa Walker of the States Project (formerly known as Future Now). Melissa appeared on the very first episode of this podcast, when deep in Covid lockdown, she schooled us on why we should be focusing on winning state races versus focusing on big, expensive federal seats. On this episode, Melissa is back to talk about why state elections matter now more than ever, how tiny margins can create huge policy and power shifts, and why this year’s elections in Virginia are of vital importance. Melissa doesn’t sugarcoat the fight that lies ahead, but she will give you the inspiration and information you need to be a fierce and focused warrior. For more information about the States Project and how to join or start a giving circle, check out their website at statesproject.org.

This podcast features a conversation with Alex Posen, co-founder of Resistance by Design, a company that designs accessories and products that allow you to tastefully and professionally express your political opinions. Alex knows beautiful design, having been creative director of her brother Zac Posen’s fashion line. Alex talks about the power of wearing your political beliefs on your sleeve, the therapeutic benefits of being a creative activist, and how having more women in government will save the world. 

This episode features a conversation with Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project, a nonprofit that is building political power for climate issues not by changing minds but by changing behavior. As a political campaign veteran, Nathaniel noticed that an enormous number of registered voters lists the environment as a top priority but does not vote. So he came up with the brilliant idea of turning them into consistent voters to build the political power to fix the climate crisis. Nathaniel and Nancy discuss the highly accurate predictive models that they use to identify these voters; how to turn these super environmentalists into super voters using behavioral science; and how once this environmental electorate is in place, politicians will have no choice but to act on climate and the environment. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to have a big impact on elections, including the ones right around the corner, there are many ways to get involved.

To volunteer for or donate to the Environmental Voter Project, go to www.environmentalvoter.org.

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If you like this podcast, please subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!

This season is dedicated to helping you get your head out of the sand after a brutally disappointing election, finding strength through community and taking action that helps real people in palpable ways. If you’re looking for rage, this may not be the place for you, but if you seek inspiration, and maybe even hope, then tune into to Season 5 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast.

This episode features a conversation with Aditi Juneja of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting efforts to undermine our right to free, fair, and fully informed self-government. In other words, while you spent the last four years calling your senator and phone banking, the superheroes at Protect Democracy have been doing nothing less than preventing our country from sliding into authoritarianism. Nancy and Aditi talk about the work the group did to protect the guardrails of democracy, what accountability should look like, and what changes we need in our government going forward to win back the faith of its citizens. If you’d like to learn more about Protect Democracy or support their work, you can do so at the link below.

https://protectdemocracy.org/donate/

This week I’m speaking with Mark Bergman, a lawyer and Democrat based in London, who since 2017 has been keeping his fellow Democrats abroad engaged in the political process here at home through conference calls with candidates, elected officials and democracy groups. Mark’s calls have featured sitting senators, state attorneys general, candidates for the House and Senate, and other prominent American political figures like James Comey and James Carville. With an audience maxing out in the double digits, the calls provide a relatively intimate opportunity for listeners to hear from and ask questions of these Americans who have stepped up to answer the call of our times. Mark and I discuss why it’s so important to keep Democrats overseas informed and engaged, and how, despite the sorry state of US influence abroad, these calls have instilled in him faith in our power to change things and optimism for the future. If you want to sign up for Mark’s weekly newsletter, email him at USvision2018@gmail.com.

This episode features a conversation with Andrea Miller, founding board member of the Center for Common Ground. The Center for Common Ground is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to turning out the vote of people of color in voter suppression states in the South. Nancy and Andrea talk about the most devious and extreme voter suppression tactics today; the tools and techniques to fight them; and the importance of teaching people how their government works. Andrea’s tireless work may ultimately make all the difference between red and blue in the coming elections, and you will learn how you can play a part in that too. For more information on the Center for Common Ground, visit their website.

This episode features a conversation with Jessica Alter and Krisserin Canary of Tech for Campaigns. After Trump’s Muslim ban in 2017, tech entrepreneur Jessica Alter couldn’t take it anymore and asked a few of her fellow tech workers if they were interested in volunteering their skills to help Democratic campaigns, and Tech for Campaigns was born. Tech for campaigns is now the permanent tech and digital arm for Democrats, offering access to best-in-class talent with their 15,000 volunteers focusing on state races. Jessica and Krisserin, a state director in charge of flipping the Texas State House, talk to Nancy about why they focus on state races, catching up with the Republicans who are 8-10 years ahead on tech and digital, and why no matter what happens on Election Day, they both know they will have left it all on the field.

On this episode of the podcast, Nancy has a conversation with Susan Rogan, founder of the political action newsletter Rogan’s List. A self-proclaimed “retired grandmother in a recliner,” Susan is also an activist icon thanks to her newsletter that has been dropping into inboxes since two days after the 2016 election. Having spent her career as an academic librarian, Susan talks about how she puts her organizational and research skills to use in a new way with the newsletter. Susan and Nancy also talk about new opportunities in activism created by the pandemic, the joy she gets from helping people take action, and the most important action steps you should take right now. In these days filled with loud and strident voices, Susan’s midwestern civility and lack of ego make for a refreshing listen.

Welcome to the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum.

This podcast features inspiring interviews with people who have transformed their lives since 2016 and who are transforming our political landscape. These are not career politicians or former cabinet members, but ordinary citizens who are starting organizations, running for office for the first time, using their creative skills and otherwise stepping outside of their comfort zones to stand up for our democracy. Along the way, they are discovering new skills and talents and creating new communities.

Nancy felt her own personal call to action in the aftermath of the election of 2016, when it became painfully clear how important it is to use our voices to stand up for the America we believe in. As she became increasingly politically active, she witnessed the emergence of an awe-inspiring phenomenon: people changing their lives to defend our democracy. She decided that the best way for her to help would be to share the work of these change-makers, and New Faces of Democracy was born. Since then, she has dedicated herself to both spreading the word about this new wave of activism and chronicling the tremendous political and patriotic energy of this time.

This podcast elevates and celebrates these new faces, and in the process, will hopefully inspire you and maybe even galvanize you to take action on your own. These are unprecedented times, but there is a silver lining. As we become more engaged citizens, our democracy will become stronger and more resilient– in fact, it’s already happening. So if you’ve had enough depressing news and are ready to feel hopeful and maybe even optimistic about the future, head over to newfacesofdemocracy.org where you can subscribe to the podcast, watch the videos and follow New Faces of Democracy on social media.

This episode features a conversation with activist Jess Craven of Chop Wood Carry Water. With close to half a million followers on TikTok and 53,000 subscribers to her substack, Jess is a fierce and passionate warrior for democracy. On this episode, Jess shares with Nancy her view of what it means to be an activist at this time full of so many unknowns, how to find hope through action, some of her favorite organizations right now, and so much more. Tune in for a dose of sanity and humanity, and you will leave both calmed and energized for whatever it is that lies ahead.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!

This episode features a conversation with data and analytics expert and political polling thought leader Mike Berland. Mike is the founder & CEO of research, data, and analytics firm Decode M and is an expert on how people think and behave as voters and decision-makers. Mike has appeared extensively on national television to speak about elections, candidates, and business issues. He has served as a strategic advisor to politicians like Michael Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton. and MSNBC has called him a “genius pollster.” Mike has also recently authored the book, “Maximum Momentum.” Mike and I talk about how polls should really be used, what the heck happened in the election, and how to harness the power of momentum to effect positive change in our society.

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Alex Kramer of Knock for Democracy. Alex is an actor/writer who discovered he had a talent for political organizing after the 2016 election. What started in a living room with a few dozen friends had grown by 2020 to more than 5,000 volunteers who had knocked on countless doors and dialed literally millions of numbers all in the name of, yes, democracy. Alex and I talk about how making the volunteer experience fun keeps people coming back for more; the power of community experience that feels joyous, connected and personal; and bringing back the lost art of civic and civil conversation with our fellow citizens. To learn more or donate, visit knockfordemocracy.org.

This episode features a conversation with Dana Castner, founder of Choice Tracker, a new and important tool in the fight for reproductive freedom. When the Supreme Court ruled in June 2022  that abortion laws must be decided by the states, that put a lot of power in the hands of our state legislators, many of whom we had never heard of, let alone knew their stances on abortion. That’s what Dana discovered and led her to start the all-volunteer group Choice Tracker just two weeks after the Dobbs decision. Nancy and Dana discuss the value in providing voters all the available information on their state representatives in one place; what actions people can take both in election cycles and off years; and why constitutional abortion protections are not enough to save us on their own. Listen to the end if you want to know how to bring Choice Tracker to your state and other ways you can help now, not just right before the next election.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here. 
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send an email to info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!

Four years ago, Jordan Zaslow was busy with her life running an advertising and entertainment production company, but when things shut down during covid in 2020, she found herself with time on her hands and lots of worries about the upcoming election. So she and her team decided to channel that anxiety into making pro bono campaign ads for female Democrats running for office, and Her Bold Move was born. Her Bold Move is now in their fourth election cycle and dedicated to electing more “pro-women” women who will influence policy on issues that matter to women, like reproductive rights and affordable childcare. Jordan and Nancy speak about the unique challenges and pressures women face when running for office, why we can’t leave behind women running in red state races, conquering imposter syndrome, and much more. If you want to learn more about Her Bold Move and help get more women into the rooms where it happens, check out their website, www.herboldmove.org, where you can also find links to their social media.

This episode features a conversation with Elizabeth Fernandez of Movement Voter Project. Movement Voter Project is based on the ingenious concept of empowering local grassroots groups that work in and are trusted by their communities to bring home important wins for Democrats during elections. MVP provides local groups around the country with support and training and frees them up from time-consuming fundraising to focus on their important work helping and advocating for their neighbors. And when elections roll around, these organizers are perfectly positioned to get out the Democratic vote in ways that no outsider could replicate. MVP may fly under the radar but its reach is deep and wide, having raised $100 million in the last election cycle. Nancy and Elizabeth talk about MVP’s astonishing impact in 2020; why the key to lasting progressive change lies in empowering local community organizers; and why they need support all year, every year and not just during the big elections. 

https://movement.vote

In this week’s bonus episode, Nancy talks about trends in creative activism she’s been hearing about.

This episode features a conversation with Emily White of #iVoted Concerts. For all the technology in our world today, voter turnout tactics, like door knocking and phone banking, have seen remarkably little innovation in decades. But when, in 2016, Wisconsin native and music industry insider Emily White first heard about the narrow vote margin that helped Donald Trump win the White House in her home state, she thought, “Wait a minute, that’s the size of a concert venue!”. That was the lightbulb moment when Emily came up with the idea of organizing election night concerts with free tickets for people who show a selfie in front of their polling place. The result has been a beautiful marriage of music and data to engage more voters and strengthen democracy. Emily and Nancy talk about the fact that young people are twice as likely to attend a concert than vote; the MIT analysis showing the remarkable increase in voter turnout that resulted from #iVoted Concerts; and the highly targeted, data-driven events planned for this year around the country, particularly in swing states. If you want to learn more about #iVoted Concerts or to support their work, check out their website where you can donate and find links to their social media.

In 2018, Zak Malamed was living the millennial dream with a job at Facebook. But after coming home from a trip to Auschwitz to images on CNN of internment camps on the Mexican border, he decided he could no longer sit on the sidelines and he needed to do something that felt more purposeful. Since then, he has founded The Next 50, a group focused on helping young people harness their grassroots political powers through political giving. Zak and Nancy discuss how political giving and proximity to power can engage young voters in the political process, how Democrats need to catch up to the GOP in cultivating young voters and the importance of supporting young candidates in down ballot races. If you want to feel hopeful about the next generation and the future of our country, this episode is for you. To learn more about and support The Next 50, go to https://thenext50.us or subscribe to his blog at https://zakmalamed.substack.com.

This episode features Stacy Kramer who first came on the podcast two years ago as a newly activated Democratic fundraiser who was making fundraising more Democratic. But after the disappointing down ballot results for Democrats in 2020, she took a hard look at what had gone wrong and realized that giving large amounts of money directly to candidates and campaigns is not a winning strategy. Now she has changed activist gears and is a consultant at Blueprint, a division of the political action group Swing Left. At Blueprint, Stacy is dedicating her time to building up local grassroots civics groups in order to build Democratic infrastructure so that Democrats can win. Stacy and Nancy talk about the law of diminishing returns when it comes to campaign giving, how Republicans have been successfully cultivating the grassroots for decades, and the expertise that Blueprint provides, giving donors the assurance that their gifts will have maximum impact. To learn more about Blueprint, go to blueprint.swingleft.org or email Stacy at stacykramer@me.com.

Stacy talks about the following resources on the podcast:

The Losing Democrats who Gobbled Up Money by Michael Sokolove in The New Republic

Kyle Spencer’s book Raising Them Right: The Untold Story of America's Ultraconservative Youth Movement--and Its Plot for Power will be published in the fall.

Nancy follows up on her conversation about sheriffs with Max Rose on Episode 13 of the podcast to explore what happened in the sheriff elections last month.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/election-graham-north-carolina-protest/2020/11/01/beee5d8c-1c64-11eb-90dd-abd0f7086a91_story.html

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/935873090/for-immigrants-election-promises-relief-from-an-atmosphere-of-terror

https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/gwinnett-county-elects-its-first-black-sheriff-result-likely-means-gwinnett-will-end-participation-in/article_7c38ed66-1eaf-11eb-a288-2b0ea359bfce.html

https://cobbcountycourier.com/2020/04/craig-owens-candidate-for-cobb-county-sheriff/

https://www.advocate.com/election/2020/11/06/lesbian-running-sc-sheriff-defeats-male-boss-who-demoted-her

https://www.vox.com/2020/11/17/21558400/sheriff-ice-north-carolina-georgia-287g

https://theappeal.org/politicalreport/guide-prosecutor-sheriff-elections-2020/

https://twitter.com/Taniel/status/1329907283271225347

This episode features Indian-American activist and racial justice leader Nisha Anand of Dream Corps. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha’s expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps’ CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha and Nancy speak about how we can and must work with people across the divide to come up with lasting solutions to our biggest problems; how these solutions are enriched, not compromised, when we find common ground; and an optimistic take on our ability to tackle the climate crisis. If you’re interested in learning more about Nisha’s journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion, check out her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground.

What if Trump wins? On this episode, Nancy has a conversation with Mark Bergman about something none of us want to think about: what would happen to the rule of law and American democracy in a second Trump term. Last spring, Mark was an observer at a series of large scale simulated exercises (aka war games) stress testing democracy under an authoritarian ruler. Hosted by the Brennan Center, a nonpartisan think tank at NYU Law School, the exercises were conducted as part of theDemocracy Futures Project. Nancy and Mark discuss the outcome of the games, our lack of preparedness for an unfettered Trump, a few positive takeaways and important groups defending democracy that need our support. The number one most important lesson of these exercises? Elect Kamala Harris on November 5th.

Mark S. Bergman is a former international corporate lawyer who, through 7Pillars Global Insights, LLC, comments, briefs and convenes on a range of political, geopolitical and democracy-related topics. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Crisis Group, a Director of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to reversing the rising tide of polarization, extremism, weaponization of hate and disinformation worldwide), a Director of Bellingcat US and a Director of TIM Cooperative (an NGO focused on information quality). Mark is also a member of the National Finance Committee of the Democratic National Committee.

Pro-Democracy Organizations Recommended by Mark

Protect Democracy

Democracy Forward

Principles First

State Democracy Defenders Action

ACLU

The National Immigration Law Center

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send an email to info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!

This episode features Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices, and renowned artist Gayle Kabaker, talking about their artistic collaboration in the name of women’s empowerment around the world. Self-described as "two crazy women with bold ideas," this dynamic duo came together to create a book and exhibition entitled “Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower.”  The project includes portraits of 100 global women leaders redefining power and celebrates Vital Voices’ mission to support women’s leadership to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Alyse, Gayle and Nancy talk about how women lead differently and how that leadership style is sorely needed right now; the power of art to transform the way we think about things and shift culture; and the gratification in creating art that makes an impact and inspires others. To purchase the book and learn more about Vital Voices and Gayle Kabaker, see the links below.

https://www.vitalvoices.org

http://gkabaker.com

Janelle Christensen is a professor and head of the Florida Democratic Environmental Caucus. Margie Stein is a political activist who has found her niche in fundraising for Florida state races. Together, this dynamic duo are spearheading an effort to turn Florida blue by taking a page out of the Virginia playbook that helped flip that state in 2019. Their program, called 140 Florida Blue Project, has recruited democratic candidates to run in all 33 of Florida’s state legislature races in which the Republican candidate had been running unopposed. We talk about why it matters to chip away at the margins in red districts, building democratic infrastructure and momentum for future election cycles and the path to winning Florida’s 29 electoral votes for Biden. This is grassroots activism at it’s grassiest in arguably the most important swing state in the country, and you will be amazed at what these two have pulled off in a few short months. If you want to get involved or support 140 Florida Blue Project, you can donate here or reach out to Janelle at Florida140Blue@gmail.com. 

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Claire Ullman and Sandy Radoff of the voter outreach group Students for Justice. In 2020, Claire was a professor who was trying to help her students whose summer jobs had gone up in smoke during the covid lockdown. Sandy was an active volunteer with the Center for Common Ground. The two of them saw an untapped resource to help get out the vote of people of color in voter suppression states, and Students for Justice was born. Sandy, Claire and Nancy discuss repurposing skills from earlier careers to do good; the importance of giving students leadership and political organizing experience; building intergenerational bonds; and the very real impact that postcards, phonebanking, textbanking and social media outreach have on elections. If you liked my earlier conversation with Andrea Miller, founder of the Center of Common Ground, you’ll love learning about the ripple effects of her work here. And it’s easy for you to get involved by hosting a virtual house party to introduce your friends to Students for Justice. Just go to the “House Parties” link on their website. To learn more about Students for Justice, go to studentsforjusticevote.org.

This episode features a conversation with Claire Atkin of the ad tech watchdog Check My Ads. Our online world has become incredibly complex, bringing with it myriad opportunities for bad actors to manipulate opinions, ideas and ultimately our political system. You may not know what ad tech is or why we need a watchdog, but the bottom line is that Claire and her colleagues at Check My Ads have ventured deep into the weeds to defund online platforms that promote hate and disinformation by taking away their revenue sources: ads. Claire and Nancy talk about the “donut of grifters” on the internet who have monetized the politics of hate through digital advertising; the intentional opacity of the ad tech industry that keeps advertisers from knowing where their online ads are placed; and the great successes that this small but mighty team at Check My Ads have had thus far. If you want to learn more about Check My Ads, you can check out their website where you can make a donation or sign up for their newsletter with regular calls to action. 

This week’s episode goes local with Gordon Herr, Chairman of the Democratic Committee in Southampton NY, and member of the Board of Elections in Suffolk County, Long Island. Gordon demystifies the voting process for us and will help put your mind at ease about voting during a pandemic in this most crucial of elections. Gordon tells us everything we need to know about absentee ballots, early voting and more. New Yorkers, this one’s for you, but there’s plenty for others too as Gordon and Nancy talk about standardizing the voting process at the federal level, why to get involved in your local democratic committee and how local government is where it’s at for fixing our democracy from the bottom up. 

This episode features a conversation with Sarah Curmi, Executive Director of Sister District. Founded in the aftermath of the 2016 election, Sister District is a women-led grassroots political group that is dedicated to building lasting Democratic power in state legislatures. The group is powered by volunteers in blue districts that pair or “sister” up with key swing districts where their efforts can really move the needle. Unlike some other groups that have petered out over the years, the folks at Sister District have taken their mandate and run with it, expanding their operations to much more than just elections. Sarah and Nancy talk about the secret sauce that makes Sister District different, their work with local grassroots groups, and the community that people can find within the local chapters. Sister District is doing really interesting, smart and multifaceted work; you can check out their website to learn more and get involved.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!
• Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.

On the last episode with Stacy Kramer of Blueprint/Swing Left,  we got a bird’s eye view of why we should support grassroots groups in swing states. This week, Nancy is following up with a “boots on the ground” perspective from Diana Robinson, civic engagement director at Make the Road Pennsylvania. Diana discusses her group’s support of working class Latinx communities year in and year out, and how that translates into votes for Democrats when elections roll around. Nancy and Diana also talk about what life is like in a deeply divided battleground state like Pennsylvania, how the group’s advocacy is making a real impact, and why they need money now to knock on doors and educate voters before the elections.

To make a donation or learn more about Make the Road Pennsylvania (a 501(c)(3) organization), go to https://www.maketheroadpa.org/donate.

To make a donation or learn more about their electoral 501(c)(4) arm, Make the Road Action, go to www.maketheroadaction.org.

On this episode of the podcast, Nancy has a conversation with Samra Brouk, who is running for state senate in upstate New York. Up until now, Samra’s career has been in public service, seeing the impact of government policies on people’s lives up close, and now she wants to use that insight as a lawmaker helping to craft those policies. Samra talks about finding common ground among the voters in her diverse district, the importance of nurturing political talent in state legislatures and the effect of Covid-19 on the issues people are facing today. Samra also gives her advice to women, and particularly women of color, thinking of running for office. If you want to hear what the future of leadership sounds like, this podcast is for you. Samra is smart, thoughtful and cares deeply about improving people's lives. She is also a rising star, and this won’t be the last time you’ll hear her name.

This episode features a conversation with Marcia Greenberger, a true pioneer of women’s rights law through her work at the National Women’s Law Center in Washington DC. Marcia and Nancy speak about the early days of women’s rights law, the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the path ahead for advancing women’s equality under the law. In the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death, Marcia tells us what tools we still have at our disposal to keep up the fight and gives us hope for the future. 

This episode with Daniel Katz of the Rainforest Alliance, is the first in a two part environmental series on thinking globally and acting locally. While you probably know that rainforests around the world are in danger, you may not know that rainforest destruction wreaks havoc on the climate and puts us all in danger. You also may not know that, here in the United States, we as consumers are culpable in aiding and abetting global rainforest destruction. Daniel and Nancy talk about the connection between rainforests and climate, why deforestation is taking place, and ways our personal choices can help save the rainforests to save the world. And if this episode gets you thinking, be sure to check out Part 2 of the series coming soon which will be a deep dive into plant based eating.

To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance, go to www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Welcome to Season 2 of the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum. In this season, Nancy will look back at the gains we have made in protecting our democracy, the healing and rebuilding that needs to take place, and an optimistic look ahead at the opportunities for real progress under the Biden administration. Join Nancy for inspiring conversations with people at the grassroots and the grasstops who are making this all happen, political newcomers and policy leaders alike, all of whom share a common goal of bringing us closer to a more perfect union and the America that we believe we can be.

This episode features Professors Melody Barnes and Laurent Dubois, co-directors of the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, practitioners and students to study the urgent challenges facing democracy today and advancing its prospects for the future. Nancy, Melody and Laurent discuss the threats to democracy from both Melody’s public policy and government background and Laurent’s historical perspective; the inherent conflict within democracies between disempowered groups voting for change and entrenched interests that seek to restrict access to the ballot; and while we have a lot of work to do, reasons to be optimistic.

https://democracyinitiative.virginia.edu

This episode features a conversation with Martha Shockey of the grassroots political action group, Indivisible Georgia. A soft-spoken powerhouse, Martha talks about all the hard work that groups like hers put into Biden’s win in the state and what they are doing for the two Senate runoffs on January 5. Martha and Nancy discuss the tremendous hurdles created by the Republican’s sophisticated voter suppression tactics executed with surgical precision; how she and others are working to rebuild the Democratic infrastructure in a state that national Democrats had written off; and why it’s important for all of us to do what we can to help get out the vote in the runoffs. If you’d like to donate to help Martha’s group continue to get out the vote, you can do so at the link below. There are also links for phone banking and postcard writing.

To donate:  https://secure.actblue.com/donate/IndivisibleGA04.  

To phonebank: https://swingleft.org/events/t/ga-runoff-all

To write postcards: https://postcardstovoters.org

This episode features a conversation with Eliza Nemser, an earth scientist who is worried about the earth. So worried, in fact, that she pivoted from science to politics to found Climate Changemakers, a group of concerned citizens who take meaningful action to elect climate candidates and advance climate policies. Eliza and Nancy talk about how we can’t science our way out of climate change, it’s a political issue; why her group is defiantly non-partisan; and what we can achieve when we carve out just one hour a week for productive, collective climate action.

To learn more, visit www.climatechangemakers.org.

This week features a guest episode from Democracy Works, a podcast dedicated to answering the question “What Does it Mean to Live in a Democracy?”.  Each week, the podcast examines a different aspect of democratic life, like voting, criminal justice or the free press. Produced by The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State, Democracy Works showcases some of the finest academic minds studying these issues today. Like New Faces of Democracy, Democracy Works is focused on the role each of us can play in building and sustaining a healthy democracy. This episode features a fascinating discussion with Robert Lieberman, professor of political science at Johns Hopkins and co-author of the book,  “Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy”. To learn more about Democracy Works, you can visit their website at democracyworkspodcast.com. 

On this episode, Nancy speaks with Desiree Tims, a young congressional candidate in Ohio’s 10th district. There are a lot of firsts when it comes to Desiree. This is her first time running for office, she is the first member of her family to graduate from a four year college, and if elected, she would be the first African American AND the first woman to represent this district. The southwest corner of Ohio in many ways presents a microcosm of the issues plaguing our country -- with skilled but unemployed or underemployed former steel workers, a crumbling infrastructure and residents still grieving from a mass shooting last year. Desiree talks about how she will address pressing issues in the district like income inequality and gun violence, why she entered politics and her advice for women thinking of running for office. They say that as goes Ohio’s 10th, so goes Ohio and as goes Ohio, so goes the nation, so this race matters to all of us, wherever we live. Between Desiree’s vision for change and her infectious laugh, this episode will surely make you smile and leave you hopeful about our future. To learn more about Desiree, go to her website and don’t miss the viral video she made with her cousin, rap artist YelloPain.

Nancy is joined by guest host Betsy Morgan on this episode featuring superstar activist Jess Piper speaking about how Democrats can win with rural voters. Jess has become a prominent voice for rural Democrats and in her work at Blue Missouri, she and her colleagues are working to run a Democrat in every race in the state. Jess, Betsy and Nancy talk about the desperate state of affairs in rural Missouri where infrastructure has been gutted by the Republican state supermajority; what Democrats get wrong when it comes to rural voters; and how a relatively small increase in Democratic turnout in those areas can have outsize impacts on top of ballot races.

To learn more about Jess and her work, check out her Substack newsletter and to support Blue Missouri, you can do so here.

The University of New Hampshire study that Jess refers to in the podcast can be found here.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!
• Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.

On this week’s episode, Nancy speaks with Katie Paris, founder of of Red Wine & Blue. Red Wine &Blue is an Ohio-based group that’s harnessing the political power of suburban women to save democracy while having a good time. Politics, fun and festive cocktails usually don’t go together but Red Wine & Blue is lightening up the conversation for women who don’t consider themselves political but also don’t want Trump to define them, thank you very much. Katie and Nancy talk about how the path to victory runs through suburbia, the power of personal networks and the joy we find in our communities. Finally, Katie lets us know how we can join in on the fun. 

This episode of the podcast features a conversation with Katie Michel, owner of Planthouse Gallery in New York City and a member of Victory Garden Collective, a group of women artists using their craft to exercise their patriotic duty. While the group started in 2016 to support Hillary Clinton in anticipation of her victory, it morphed into an act of political resistance under Trump. Just as victory gardens in WWII provided sustenance and nurturing, so has the Victory Garden Collective in providing sustenance to both the artists and their audience during a challenging four years while nurturing the resistance through works that unite activism with a tongue-in-cheek domesticity. Nancy and Katie talk about the power of political art to unite, console and inspire us; finding joy in being part of the conversation; and the multitudes of women who have discovered their political voices in the last four years and made them heard.  

https://planthouse.net/print-editions/

And now for something completely different with this episode on plant based eating. This is the second in a two part environmental series on thinking globally and acting locally. In the last episode, Nancy spoke with Daniel Katz of the Rainforest Alliance about the global effect of rainforest destruction on climate change and that the main cause for this destruction is cattle raising. But it’s not just cattle in rainforests that are the problem. Worldwide, animal agriculture accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than the entire transportation sector combined, which clocks in at 13%. This all means that eating a plant based diet has more of an impact on climate than driving an electric car. So this episode focuses on acting locally, and I mean hyper-locally because the most powerful personal action we can take to fight climate change is changing our diet.

Our guides for this exploration of plant based eating are friends and veteran vegans, artist Gayle Kabaker and Suzette Moyer, design director at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Gayle, Suzette and Nancy are all at different stages of their plant-based journeys – Gayle has been a vegan for 8 years, Suzette for two and Nancy is the newcomer since a recent diagnosis of high cholesterol.  In this preach-free zone, Gayle, Suzette and Nancy talk about tips, tricks, hacks and recipes, the vegan glow and demystifying weird-sounding ingredients. And if Gayle’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she appeared on earlier episode of the podcast, speaking about her work at Vital Voices to raise up women leaders around the world.

So if you want to lose weight, if you want to improve your overall health, if you’re just curious or if you want to change your diet to save the planet, then this episode is for you. And be sure to check out the website at newfacesofdemocracy.org for additional recipes and resources.

On this episode, Nancy welcomes Catherine Vaughan back to New Faces of Democracy. Catherine is Co-Executive Director of the Democratic political action group, Swing Left, and she was one of the first people Nancy profiled at New Faces of Democracy in 2018. Catherine and Nancy do an election debrief and discuss lessons learned this year. Catherine talks about all the progress we have made over the last four years and the work that remains, making democracy a habit, and reasons to be hopeful. She also tells us the most impactful ways we can help in the upcoming Georgia Senate runoff, no matter where we live. 

Swing Left’s Georgia program: https://swingleft.org/p/flip-georgia?refcode=sl_homepage

Catherine’s video on New Faces of Democracy: https://newfacesofdemocracy.org/catherine-vaughan/

This episode features a conversation with Ramon Perez of the Digital Democracy Project. Imagine a world where you have the same access to your representatives as a lobbyist or a wealthy donor, where you get to say how you would like them to vote on a bill and see how they vote in real time. And it’s all on an app on the phone in your pocket. That’s called the Digital Democracy Project, and it’s currently a reality in Florida with plans to expand to all 50 states. Ramon and Nancy speak about how tools like blockchain keep the app safe and secure; how most people are more nuanced than our partisan system would have you believe; and why we shouldn’t have to wait four years to have a say in the running of our government. To learn more about the Digital Democracy Project or watch Ramon’s TED talk, visit their website.

Nancy catches up with activist Margie Stein of 140 Florida Blue who continues to work tirelessly to make Florida blue again. Nancy and Margie speak about why she is once again recruiting and funding Democrats to run in every single Florida district, even where Democrats don’t normally win; the reverse coattails effect; the abortion amendment on the ballot; and the path to making Florida a swing state once again. It does cost money to help a candidate run, but the long term impact could be priceless. Click here to donate and click here to watch David Pepper’s video on 140 Florida Blue. 

This episode features a conversation with Amanda Carpenter of Protect Democracy, a cross-ideological nonprofit devoted to stopping authoritarianism. Nancy first featured Protect Democracy on this podcast four years ago, shortly after the January 6th insurrection. Given the rollercoaster that we have been on since then, and the new and dangerous threats that we face as a country, this seemed like a good time to check back in. Amanda and Nancy discuss the challenges of imposing political consequences without political power, and how the pro-democracy coalition must channel the energy and anger of the current moment into meaningful pressure from the outside in and the bottom up. They also talk about he ways in which Trump is following the authoritarian playbook to dismantle democratic institutions, as well as specific, concrete actions that we can all do to protect democracy.

Mentioned in the episode:

Sign up for the If You Can Keep It newsletter

The Authoritarian Playbook for 2025

How *You* Can Protect Democracy

How to Pay Attention

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.

If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.

• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!
• Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.

Welcome to the New Faces of Democracy podcast. This episode features a conversation with Melissa Walker of Future Now Fund, a group started in 2017 dedicated to electing more Democrats to our state legislatures and supporting them with policy expertise once they’re in office. Melissa talks about how to be most impactful with your activism, what it means to take down a Republican supermajority, and why state legislatures are where it’s at if you want to transform American politics and improve people’s lives. Melissa also discusses the power of giving circles, building community and how you can join in on the fun. Please enjoy this conversation with Melissa Walker.   

Who among us isn’t feeling at least a tinge, if not a tsunami, of panic right now, with a disastrous debate, dystopian Supreme Court decisions and Project 2025 lurking in our nightmares? I’m not good at sitting with anxiety, so my reaction is always to get to work – and right now that means more new episodes of the New Faces of Democracy podcast. So if you’re looking for a balm for your frazzled soul, check out the new season that’s well underway featuring conversations with people who are nothing short of warriors for democracy.