Make It Plain with Mark Thompson

Following the horrific and racist attack on Asian women in Atlanta, Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos, Civiqs, and podcast “The Brief,” is back to explain how not only are hate crimes against Asians at an all-time high, but law enforcement contributes to the problem by downplaying the motive of the shooter (or in the case of the Capitol riots, taking selfies with insurrectionists). He also lets us know what Mitch McConnell is up to, why he had a temper tantrum on the senate floor this week, and where we stand on the filibuster & D.C. statehood. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What’s the likelihood of an American experiencing poverty? Turns out, it’s the majority. That’s what Mark Rank covers in his new book (co-authored by Lawrence Eppard and Heather Bullock) out now, “Poorly Understood: What Americans Get Wrong About Poverty.” There’s a common misconception that poverty is an issue of “them” when it’s really about “us” -- not an individual failing, but a structural one. How does that play out in our society and economy? Mark explains that, and what can be done to make systemic changes, in this eye-opening episode. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Closing out our coverage of the 56th Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Selma, Mark speaks with Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who details the significance of Selma to both himself and the country-at-large. Mark is then joined by Ilyasah Shabaaz, daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, as well as author, community organizer, and activist. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rev. Dr. Willian J. Barber II of the Poor People’s Campaign joined the discussion in Selma last weekend to draw the startling connection between poverty and voting rights. In this episode, Rev. Barber reminds us of the racist Southern Strategy from the 1960s and how it played out with not just Trump’s win, but continues to appear in the GOP’s ongoing efforts to suppress the vote of poor people and people of color. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Continuing our discussion and commemoration of the historic Bloody Sunday, Mark spoke with Martin Luther King III while in Selma about his father’s legacy playing out in 2020. He shares his thoughts on his father’s teachings applied today and how he might feel about all that has unfolded in the last year in the fight for racial justice. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

While in Selma last weekend commemorating 56 years since the historic Bloody Sunday, Mark moderated a panel discussion on voting rights and H.R. 40 with LaTosha Brown of Black Voters Matter, Pastor Michael McBride of the Black Church PAC, and Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (BlackPressUSA.com). This conversation pulls no punches in detailing what we are up against, but these strategy-experts know what it takes to combat voter suppression and they’re here to fire you up and ready you for the fight. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On Sunday, President Biden issued an Executive Order on voting rights, and Mark was in Selma, Alabama for the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration when that news became public. He was able to speak with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee to get her live reaction to Biden’s voting rights Executive Order as well as her status report on the reparations bill, H.R. 40. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Last month showed an increase of approximately 379,000 jobs, but we’re STILL at a loss of about 9.5 million jobs overall since coronavirus started spreading across the U.S.. Chad Stone, Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is back to let us know where we’ve rebounded, who is still disproportionately struggling, and how true recovery relies on the economy reopening safely. Unemployment and job losses come in many different shapes and sizes, and Chad is here to help us understand where the economy stands and the trends to be aware of. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today brings us part two of the African American Media Roundtable with Senate Democrats (roll back to Friday’s episode for part one), and we hear questions from reporters at Politico, the New York Times, Huffington Post, and more, including the kick-off question from our very own Mark Thompson. In this second part, the senators answer questions on the reparations bill (H.R. 40), where we stand on $15/hour federal minimum wage, increasing vaccinations and preventing exploitation from outsiders in communities of color, student debt forgiveness, schools reopening, and minority representation in the senate and how to increase that in 2022. Nearly the entire Democratic Caucus was present, and today we hear from the following senators: Senator Cory Booker (moderator) Senator Jon Ossoff Senator Alex Padilla Senator Patty Murray Senator Elizabeth Warren Senator Chuck Schumer Senator Sherrod Brown Senator Ron Wyden Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additiona

This week Mark participated in a roundtable discussion with Senate Democrats on a myriad of issues, including access to vaccinations with an emphasis on communities of color, coronavirus data collection, where the reparations bill (H.R. 40) stands, voting rights and GOP voter suppression, and what is included in the next coronavirus relief package. This is part one of a two-part series, and though nearly the entire Democratic Caucus was present, we hear from the following senators in today’s portion: Senator Amy Klobuchar (moderator) Senator Chuck Schumer Senator Cory Booker Senator Raphael Warnock Senator Patty Murray Senator Debbie Stabenow Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s #ThursdayKos and Markos is back to talk about his new obsession: Mississippi. He sees it as the next Georgia--a state worth focusing on to flip from red to blue. He also shares why he thinks Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are being jackasses, the hypocrisies of the criticism of Neera Tanden, and his reaction to the allegations against Governor Cuomo. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

There is no women’s history without Black women, and today we honor that in a conversation with Rukia Lumumba, Co-Director of the Electoral Justice Project of the Movement for Black Lives and Founding Director of the People’s Advocacy Institute. Women like Breonna Taylor remind us Black women experience disproportionate violence, and the work done at the Electoral Justice Project aims to restructure communities to better serve all Black people. Rukia’s team at The People’s Advocacy Institute is also working hard to help those struggling with access to food, water, and other basic necessities, while also serving as an incubator for transformative justice in the South. More information: https://electoraljusticeproject.org/ Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Bruce Levine is the author of "Thaddeus Stevens: Civil War Revolutionary, Fighter for Racial Justice," which is out TODAY. In this episode he talks with Mark about Thaddeus Stevens' revolutionary politics, as one of the first white people to demand reparations for slaves (freed Black people were the first). Stevens operated under what was an extremely radical and controversial belief at the time: that all should be treated equally under the law. Through his story, we see how politics are cyclical and much of what we're experiencing today, with H.R. 40 and Donald Trump's impeachment, can be related to Stevens' own journey as a politician ahead of his time. BUY "Thaddeus Stevens: Civil War Revolutionary, Fighter for Racial Justice" HERE: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thaddeus-Stevens/Bruce-Levine/9781476793375 Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for priva

Democrats had big wins in 2018 and 2020 when people showed up in record numbers to vote, and so it comes as no surprise that the GOP is getting busy with voter suppression tactics. In today’s episode, Elie Mystal, Justice Correspondent at The Nation, says that state legislatures have already prepared three times as many voter restriction bills this year as were proposed during the same period of time last year -- and that’s just one of several troubling statistics from Elie’s piece for The Nation (linked below). Read “The GOP’s 2022 Strategy: Voter Suppression or Bust” here: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/republican-voter-suppression/ Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the fourth and final installment of our Black History Month series on the history and significance of HBCUs, Mark speaks with three Black Sorority Presidents: Beverly Evans Smith, President of Delta Sigma Theta, Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, President of Zeta Phi Beta, and Dr. Glenda Glover, President of Alpha Kappa Alpha. These women oversee organizations that are an asset to not just HBCU campuses, but their communities-at-large. Coronavirus has presented its challenges, but they discuss how they continue to organize and grow within the confines of the pandemic, what they’re doing to get more Black women elected everywhere, and what it means to have Kamala Harris, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, serving as Vice President. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/pri

Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos, Civiqs, and new podcast “The Brief” is back to catch up on the week’s events, including the roadblocks to Neera Tanden’s confirmation to head the Office of Management and Budget, and the way Twitter was hypocritically weaponized against her. Markos also gives his reaction to the hearings on the Capitol insurrection, and why he thinks the 2022 midterms will “defy historical precedent.” Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Harriet Washington is an award-winning author and bioethicist, and in her new book (out now), “Carte Blanche: The Erosion of Medical Consent,” she takes on the assumption that we can’t and won’t be involved in medical research without our consent. The most current and well-known example is the story of Elijah McClain, who, after being wrongfully detained by police, was given ketamine as part of a non-consensual research study and it resulted in his death. Harriet digs into that research, the legislation that upholds these unethical practices, and why healthcare lobbyists need to go if we want to confront the problem. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dreisen Heath, a Researcher with Human Rights Watch, gave a memorable testimony at last week’s hearing on H.R. 40, which would create a commission on slavery reparations. In today’s episode she talks with Mark about her hopes for the future of H.R. 40 and seeing it leave the House for the first time in history (it’s been languishing there for decades). She also explains how the old arguments against reparations are now serving as a necessary reminder of why they are needed more than ever, and what the remaining threats against the bill are. And if we need help, is there international support? Learn more: www.hrw.org/reparationsnow Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As the fate of the reparations bill, H.R. 40, continues to hang in the balance, Mark talks with Kamm Howard, National Co-Chair of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA). Kamm details the next steps in the legal process, and responds to Herschel Walker’s comments that denied African Americans’ need and right for reparations. Kamm also shares his research on historical trauma and how that strengthens the case for passing H.R. 40. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Athletics are an integral part of HBCU life, and today Mark is joined by Howard University men’s basketball coach Kenneth Blakeney, who knows the challenges and the rewards all too well. He reflects on the importance of sustaining HBCU athletic programs and why Howard is looking for someone who brings more than athletic ability to the table. Coach Blakeney successfully recruited a 5-star center in Makur Maker to Howard over the Power 5 Conferences. The two discuss why African Americans often make up the majority of many athletic teams, but there are less than 5-percent of Black students at those same colleges and universities. They also share some memories of Coach John Thompson, and discuss the hard decisions a coach must make to protect and foster the growth of student athletes. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.c