Make It Plain with Mark Thompson

Today's episode is a lesson in how the government seeks to weaken certain demographics by separating children from their families (especially when we're in the midst of a cultural uprising)--a tactic that is certainly not new, but more relevant than ever as COVID-19 rages on. "The Trump administration was able to accomplish what it set out to do in 2018 and 2019" to immigrants, says Dr. Laura Briggs, author of five books including her latest, "Taking Children: A History of American Terror." The administration has now effectively ended the legal asylum program, with only 2 people granted asylum in the U.S. since March. Meanwhile, in ICE Detention Centers, children are living in danger as the facilities put them at high risk for contracting coronavirus and officials aren't even reporting cases. Mark and Professor Briggs get into this and so much more, from CONTRA and the crack epidemic to the major flaws within the child welfare system. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Bri

Susie Madrak of CrooksandLiars.com had a 10-week illness that she suspects was a bout of coronavirus (you're going to have to listen to the episode to hear about her testing situation)--something that was "like a burglar hitting every room of the house" as she experienced everything from loss of taste and smell to difficulty breathing. And as a cancer survivor, she figured it best to employ a few methods that she now credits with saving her life. So what are her thoughts on Trump now actively working to reduce COVID testing? Well, it's part of his plan to make sure there isn't a large voter turnout in November, says Susie. After coronavirus talk, they get into possible Biden VP picks, Aaron Zelinsky's scathing testimony about Roger Stone and the Department of Justice, Michael Flynn's case inching toward dismissal, John Bolton's interview with Stephen Colbert, and the return of baseball as 40 MLB players and staff test positive for coronavirus over the last week. It's a mixe

If you're looking to support an organization that is doing the literal work to dismantle systemic racism, then look no further than Color of Change. Their team goes straight to the sources that are contributing to and supporting white supremacy--like the time they successfully pressured Mastercard to stop processing funds for hate groups and white supremacist organizations. Arisha Hatch is the Vice President and Chief of Campaigns and she joins today's episode to tell us about what they've got their sights set on next: cop reality shows that glorify and romanticize police brutality and racism. They're looking to get the show "Cops" off the air for good, and in the process, they're shining a light on sketchy relationships between production companies and police departments that let the departments be choosy about what content is shared and sometimes, evidence just happens to go missing. Lastly, this conversation would not be complete without discussing the org's hard work to fix

On the heels of the disturbing revelation that a noose was left in NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace's garage, Mark talks with Andrew Lawrence of MediaMatters.org, who says there's no difference between those who support the confederacy and those who support Trump--it's his ironclad base. The two also do some unpacking of recent Tucker Carlson broadcasts, which come complete with politicians suggesting that those considered "high risk" for coronavirus should sacrifice their lives for the economy and Carlson himself pushing the conspiracy that Black Lives Matter protests have the goal of white genocide. This episode has some heavy stuff but Andrew does not fail to bring some comedic relief--especially when he calls Trump a "tub of goo." 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 & O

It's summertime, but school is in session with today's panel, folks! Last week, the Supreme Court handed down a historic ruling on Title VII, which now provides employment protections to LGBTQ+ people. But what does that actually mean? That's the focus of today's panel featuring Joshua Matz, Partner at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLC, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law School, Rev. Irene Monroe, Educator, Host of All Rev'd Up on WGBH in Boston, and Rick Rosendall, Columnist at the Washington Blade. Joshua Matz wrote a legal brief, along with Professor Larry Tribe of Harvard Law School, where they argued that this case is actually simple if you apply the plain text of the Civil Rights Act directly to the facts of the case, as you'll inevitably reach the conclusion--and that they did. Though the ruling is a huge step forward, the panelists agree this is one small piece of a larger push for equality. And as Rev. Irene Monroe points out, the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation must work harder to ce

Today is the final episode we will be sharing a personal poverty story ahead of the Poor People's Campaign holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington TOMORROW, June 20th. Today's speaker is India from Arkansas, who shares her experience with predatory landlords who exploit those living in poverty. Up next is a conversation with Majority Whip James Clyburn. The former history teacher holds class for us on Juneteenth and tells the story of the most significant person in South Carolina's history: Robert Smalls, a former enslaved person who recruited 40,000 African Americans into the Union Army and later became a Congressman. MORE INFO on the Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington: june2020.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-O

First up: The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Francine from Chula, MS, who has some words to share on the systems and politicians in this country that keep people poor. Next up is Sen. Kamala Harris, who, along with Sen. Cory Cooker and the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, authored the Justice in Policing Act, which seeks to hold police officers accountable when they break the law. It's not all-encompassing, as they know there are changes that need to be made at the community level, but it's a start--a start that holds consequences for murdering unarmed, innocent Black people. In this episode they discuss what's in the bill, including bans on choke-holds, subpoe

First up: The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Hope, a woman who experienced the military poverty draft and is now working to change the system that keeps people poor for generations. Next on today's agenda: is anyone surprised to learn the Trump administration is breaking the rules again? Charisma Troiano, Communications Director of Democracy Forward, says federal law (under the Affordable Care Act) requires a new special enrollment period to open when consumers are faced with "exceptional circumstances," like, say, a pandemic. But Trump hasn't done so, despite the fact that millions have lost their jobs and insurance because of coronavirus. In response to that, and on beha

The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Karla, a deaf student who lost her much-needed financial aid when her dad got a raise. The rest of today's episode is devoted to the paradox of Blackness right now: am I willing to risk sacrificing my own life to save my own life? Mark explores that question with Akilah Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist currently covering the healthcare beat for ProPublica.org, who recently spent time talking with Black protestors who have to consider that very question as they head into the streets every day to stand up to police brutality. Hear what she learned from the people who are putting their immediate well-being on the line for what they hope will b

The Black community is experiencing a disproportionate amount of deaths from both the pandemic AND a police-demic, and the Action Center on Race and the Economy (ACRE) is at its intersection fighting for justice and searching for solutions. Maurice BP-Weeks, Co-Executive Director, and his colleagues at the organization were already working on the eviction crisis that was sparked by coronavirus outbreak; now, in the midst of a national uprising against policing, they're splitting their efforts to simultaneously research the ins and outs of police budgets, uncovering the hard truth that they're bloated with cash and get a hefty handout every time they ask. They're also looking at how we can move forward with specific demands, and deciding on what those demands should be, in order to make permanent change for police budgets in this country. Get into that and more in today's episode. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content:

Choo choo! All aboard the hot mess express, destination: Georgia. This episode is essential listening for understanding how voter suppression works, with Georgia's primary election as our case study. The state's primary election, which was held on June 9th, was an absolute disaster, with voters mysteriously purged from voter rolls, polling location changes that weren't communicated to voters in time, and a whole lot of "weird" circumstances that prevented people from voting; but take it from Anoa Changa, Staff Reporter at ourprism,org, this situation is by design! And the real kicker is that politicians are using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to shut down polling centers completely, instead of relocating them to ensure citizens have access to exercise their right. Get a grip on this knowledge now to adequately prepare yourself for what you might be up against when you go to cast your vote in your state's primary, or worse, in the 2020 general election. Producer's Note: The

ICYMI yesterday's announcement, the Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Antoine, a 23-year-old fast food worker who only makes $7.25 an hour. The rest of today's episode is also about numbers, but of a different kind. Mark talks about Civiqs and polling quite a bit with founder Markos Moulitsas, but today we've brought in the organization's Director, Drew Linzer, to dive deeper. Civiqs has polled opinions towards the Black Lives Matter movement on a daily basis since 2017, and right now in the United States, it is the most favorably viewed political organization or politician among any national organization--including Trump and the former favorite, Barack Obama. Hear the breakd

With historic job losses from coronavirus, the gap has never been wider between the rich and the poor. The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority, and that's what you'll find at the top of today's episode. After that, you'll hear Mark's conversation with Leigh Chapman, Director of Voting Rights Program for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. In this unprecedented moment in history, do you feel democracy has failed you? Do you wonder if there's actually any point in voting? Leigh wants to reaffirm your power as a voter and remind you that showing up to the ballot box to cast a vote is also a form of protest. More info on the Poor People's Campaign March here: june2020.org Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distrib

"We cannot turn to a new chapter until we have political change and change of law," says Joe Sanberg, entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Aspiration. And in the midst of coronavirus, as we are finally getting a collective grasp on how essential workers are grossly underpaid, Joe is focusing on changing something specific: the minimum wage. And forget about $15 dollars--he says businesses across the country should be paying employees a minimum of $25 dollars an hour. He didn't pick this number out of a hat, though, and in today's episode you'll get to hear his strategic insight and how companies of all sizes can work to implement this necessary standard. For more on Joe, check him out on Twitter @JosephNSanberg 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

The jobs report is never as simple as some headlines make it seem; yes, unemployment dropped by just over 1-percent, but it went UP for African-Americans, explains Chad Stone, Chief Economist for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. There's other details to consider too, like the fact that the additional unemployment insurance of $600 dollars per week is set to end on July 31st, and we have yet to see what reopening the economy does to the coronavirus case numbers. Mark and Chad unpack this and more in today's essential 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

In today's episode we travel down to Alabama, where there is a gubernatorial candidate who is currently running on a platform to pubicly lynch convicted drug dealers. "He's throwing red meat to his base," says Benard Simelton, President of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. Meanwhile, the state is starting to reopen and coronavirus is still a major concern for residents. Another pressing matter in Alabama: the 2020 Senate race, which could potentially see the infamous Jeff Sessions running against Senator Doug Jones. 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

The work on the ground is not near done, says Irna Landrum, Campaigns Manager DailyKos, as activists in Minneapolis are trying to find a balance in demonstrating and caring for the community. She and other reporters and activists have found accelerants hidden in alleyways and on private property, gasoline in water bottles, and are wary of any sudden and explosive sounds resembling gunfire. But listen to this episode to find why she sees this time as both scary and hopeful. And with Markos’ polling knowledge, the three of them circle around the question that remains at the back of our minds: what could all of this potentially mean for Trump, Biden, and the 2020 election? 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 our country remains in a state of unrest, Congressman Don Beyer of Virginia's 8th District is not shying away from calling George Floyd's death what it was: murder. In today's episode, he reflects on that as well as his discomfort with the fact that some people seem more upset about property damage than what is happening to human lives. You'll also hear why he calls Trump a modern-day George Wallace, his thoughts on re-opening states (remember coronavirus?), and why he's confident in Joe Biden's campaign for 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/privacy

Dr. Conrad Worril, Chairman Emeritus of the National Black United Front, renowned Pan-Africanist, reparationist and mentor to a generation of activists, once minimized the importance of elections in achieving freedom for African Americans. But as he battles COVID-19 and cancer, he says that we have no choice in 2020 but to vote Trump out. Roland Martin co-hosts this important interview with a movement OG. 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 do you think Malcolm X and Dr. King would be doing right now in response to the murder of George Floyd? Organize, educate, and agitate, says Dr. Peniel Joseph, author of "The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr." Today's episode gives historical context for understanding how the dangers of being black in the 1960s are not different from today, as white privilege and white fragility continue to destroy American democracy. Listen to the episode then hit the link below to get his book. BUY "The Sword and the Sheild: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.": https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/peniel-e-joseph/the-sword-and-the-shield/9781549156434/ 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://red