Make It Plain with Mark Thompson

Jennifer Rubin left the Republican party, declaring herself a “NeverTrump, pro-democracy opinion writer,” according to her Twitter page. And now Politico has taken it upon themselves to try and bring her down, publishing an “off the record” email she wrote, escalating the drama, which as Eric explains, boils down to their anger over her very-typical press practices. Eric Boehlert is the writer and publisher of Pressrun.media, our stalwart source for holding the press accountable, and he unpacks the Politico/Jennifer Rubin story and explains how Politico’s act of publishing her off-the-record email proves the point she was making in the email in question. Eric also gets into the coverage of the California recall election, and how it isn’t surprising that the press isn’t calling it like it is, as Republicans’ embarrassing failure. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsP

Gina McCarthy is the former EPA Administrator for the Obama administration and she’s now back in the White House serving as the first-ever National Climate Advisor, and her appointment comes at a dire time in the process of climate change. We’re currently experiencing unprecedented and record heat levels across the country, and since there’s no turning back to “pre-heat” days, the Biden administration is focusing efforts on investing in communities to keep people safe. This includes fighting heat stress, managing forests, and improving work conditions for those who must be subjected to the intense heat. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jelani Cobb was watching the news one day when he heard a right-wing figure blatantly lie about Critical Race Theory (CRT). And as it’s become a widely discussed theory in the last year, Jelani knew he had to do his part to preserve the work and legacy of its creator, Derek Bell. Jelani is a Columbia Journalism professor, New Yorker columnist, and author of the book “The Matter of Black Lives,” and in his latest piece for the New Yorker, he details the life and work of the incredible Derek Bell, who begged the question: if the activism and anti-racist work that has been done was so momentous at its time, why are people of color still experiencing the same problems? In today’s episode, Jelani addresses the misinformation that threatens Critical Race Theory while diving into Derek Bell’s legacy as a man who practiced what he preached in every sense of the word, walking away from prestigious professional appointments as a stand against the racial injustices he witnessed and refused to be a party to. READ Jelani

A right-wing rally is headed to D.C. tomorrow (Saturday, Sept 18th), and the participants will be armed. Justin Wagner is the Director of Investigations for Everytown for Gun Safety, and the organization is concerned about what lies ahead for this particular rally, given that their data shows definitive proof that guns in the mix make the scenario more dangerous. Everytown released a report that looked at thousands of protests in 2020, finding 560 instances of open-carry and a nearly 6x greater chance the event will turn destructive or violent. This, of course, goes against everything gun lobbyists want you to believe, based on their claim that guns make us safer. But as Justin explains, it’s gun laws that make us safer, and their hope is this information will continue to push forward the work on gun law reform. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-

Gavin Newsome is safe, for now, after winning the recall election that threatened his position as California’s governor. Markos Moulitsas, founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief,” is back for #ThursdayKos, detailing Civiq’s extremely accurate predictions on the election’s outcome, despite minds like Nate Silver who was convinced Newsome was on his way out. Markos has an idea on how he got it wrong, how the recall works in California, and how the state wound up in this money-wasting mess to begin with. Mark and Markos also revisit no one’s favorite middle-man, Senator Joe Manchin, who met with Mitch McConnell with zero success for his watered down voting rights proposal. And while reproductive rights are under threat, Markos shows the ties between the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and voter turnout in 2022/24. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.c

Robert P. Jones is the author of “White Too Long” (which recently received the American Book Award), as well as a leading commentator on the crossroads of politics and religion. He brings us his expertise in data and theology with what he has titled the “racism index,” a scale used to examine the impact religion has had on a person’s potential racism through a series of racial attitude questions. His results were both affirming and surprising, and he explains them in today’s episode, as he and Mark question what a movement to integrate Sunday morning might look like. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

There is tangible momentum happening with cannabis reform at the state level, which might have you thinking that things have changed, but the people who are still sitting in prison for related offenses would beg to differ--as would Natalie Papillion, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Last Prisoner Project (LPP). LPP is an organization of attorneys, criminal justice reformers, advocates, and justice-impacted individuals who are dedicated to reforming cannabis law and policy, and working toward the release of those imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses; they recently submitted comments and suggested improvements to the cannabis reform proposal, “The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act,” offered by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, and Senator Cory Booker. Natalie details their feedback to the act, explaining how restorative justice elements are not where they need to be, and LPP has some specific revisions in mind. She also shares details of their recent par

The school year has begun for most people in the United States, but the big question still remains: are the children and faculty safe? Randi Weingarten is President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and she joins us from her Back to School tour to discuss the importance of getting kids back in community at school, but doing so safely. And in states like Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis refuses to administer the $7 billion dollars the state was granted in the American Rescue Plan to schools, that safety is what hangs in the balance. And if you’re a parent, who happens to disagree with what your local officials are doing to prevent children from being able to wear masks, Randi has a special request for you as your kids head back to the classroom. *This recording took place just after Hurricane Ida made its way through the Northeast. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://re

Texas lawmakers are busy at work restricting reproductive healthcare access, but they’re simultaneously expanding the right to carry a firearm with one of their newest laws--a law that is opposed by the majority of Texas voters as well as law enforcement officials. Igor Volsky is the Executive Director of Guns Down America and he points to the research that shows states that pass more permissive gun-carry laws immediately see an increase in gun violence, meaning they just made their constituents a lot less safe. Igor also shows us how President Biden’s agenda is falling short on gun reform, as the administration has yet to kickstart their promised fight to end gun violence. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Markos Moulitsas discusses the California recall, anti-vaxxers and Texas’s assault on Roe on this week’s Thursday Kos. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you know that the handful of guests invited on the top three news networks to comment on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan are also responsible for pushing for the invasion 20 years ago? Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters for America (MMFA) shows how that small group of guests appeared on those networks to discuss Afghanistan a total of 51 times in 10 days, ultimately shaping the coverage and giving little to no time for those who have been advocating for peace. And it should come as no surprise those people have a vested interest in the war itself. Additionally, Angelo and his team at MMFA demonstrate how the media did not adequately cover Trump’s deal with the Taliban and largely ignored the sole congresswoman who voted against invading Afghanistan.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Voting and reproductive rights are under attack, reparations have not been paid, gun violence is a public health crisis, and our climate is worsening by the day. So it only makes sense that our country’s biggest civil rights leaders would gather in Washington D.C. for a historic Make Good Trouble Rally, in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, to fire up the masses and speak to the realities that we are collectively facing at this time. Today you will hear from: Congresswoman Cori Bush; LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright, Co-Founders of Black Voters Matter; Alicia Garza, Black Futures Lab; Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Chad Stone, Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is back for his monthly diagnosis of our economy and our recovery since we fell into a COVID-19 recession. Where did we gain and lose, and what is the story behind the numbers? Chad breaks it all down from the August jobs report in today’s episode. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Voting rights and reproductive rights are under attack, reparations have not been paid, gun violence is a public health crisis, and our climate is worsening by the day. So it only makes sense that our country’s biggest civil rights leaders would gather in Washington D.C. for a historic Make Good Trouble Rally, in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, to fire up the masses and speak to the realities that we are collectively facing at this time. Today you will hear from: Congressman Jamaal Bowman; Rev. Dr. William Barber III and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Co-Chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign; Deborah Watts, Representing the family of Emmett Till Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court refused to intervene when they were brought an emergency appeal for an egregious Texas law that effectively brings Roe v. Wade to an end. Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief,” explains that he believes the way we fight this is through expanding the court itself. But he’s already sweating the 2022 midterm elections, explaining why we have a difficult uphill battle and need to craft the proper messaging to ensure we get the kind of turnout we had in 2020. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Daniel Markey is the author of “China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia,” and academic director of the Global Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. From 2007-2015, he was senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. He lends us his expertise on Afghanistan as he and Mark discuss the war that has spanned Professor Markey’s entire professional career. Professor Markey explains that the transition could have definitely been smoother, and mistakes have been made, but he also understands the situation the Biden administration found themselves in and why they had to act on the promise of pulling out of Afghanistan once and for all. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Amara Enyia is the Policy and Research Coordinator for Movement for Black Lives, and in today’s episode, she details a report the organization recently released, which demonstrates how the United States government persecutes activists with the hope of dissuading them from taking any kind of political action. Though it’s easy to blame red states like Florida for putting laws in place that would criminalize peaceful protest, the Biden administration is not off the hook, as they have yet to take meaningful action to prevent that criminalization of protestors. Dr. Enyia also points to the disparity in language when discussing those who participated in protests, like those for George Floyd or Breonna Taylor, compared to those who participated in the January 6th insurrection. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh returns to MIP to discuss the $3.5 trillion dollar budget resolution recently passed by the House, which advances a bipartisan infrastructure bill and brings us a step closer to sweeping protections to our voting rights. Secretary Walsh explains how the infrastructure plan will leave no community behind, in an attempt to right the wrongs of history that previously left marginalized people out. He details the tangible ways we’ll see improvements in our communities as a direct result of this investment. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Back in July, Texas House Democrats left the state and headed to Washington D.C. in order to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass voting restrictions in order to suppress the vote. Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett (representing the 100th District) was one of those legislators, and she joins the show today, still holding strong in D.C., while some of her colleagues have decided to return to Texas therefore reinstating quorum. She explains that while she hopes they’re onto something she doesn’t yet understand, she wants to know why they’d potentially assist in passing legislation that includes provisions directly targeting their county and constituents. She also discusses the possibility of federal lawsuits against the state of Texas for passing such restrictive legislation, infringing on citizens’ right to vote. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy

Markos Moulitsas is in for #ThursdayKos and he digs right into the latest numbers that show a dip in President Biden’s approval rating. He and Mark also take a look at the many opportunities Democrats could be seizing, if Republicans weren’t working overtime to stop them--and let us not forget how Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin make it that much more difficult. Markos also speaks to the realities of pulling out of Afghanistan. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy