Make It Plain with Mark Thompson

Abortion access is under direct threat right now--with greater intensity than in the time before coronavirus--because states that were previously trying to ban the medical procedure are using COVID-19 as leverage to push their agenda. How, exactly, are lawmakers trying to sneak their revamped abortion ban in? Could Roe v. Wade actually be overturned in the midst of this pandemic? Mark talks with legal historian, FSU professor, and author of several books on abortion (her latest is "Abortion and the Law in America") Mary Ziegler, who shares her expert insight and analysis on what could happen to the historic ruling that protects women's rights and what can be done to save it. 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

75-percent of coronavirus cases have no race and ethnicity data, despite the fact that it's a basic principle of public health. Dr. Judy Lubin, President of The Center For Urban and Racial Equity, explains that the data is critical in order to track the virus and target resources--and not having those numbers can creat a domino effect in unexpected ways. Dr. Lubin explores that and more in today's episode of MIP--be sure to catch her announcement for the upcoming webinar focusing on black public health and organizing around that. 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

Sen. Sherrod Brown is fighting for workers who didn't get the option to work from home during the pandemic, as their jobs became more essential than many of us ever realized--think bus drivers, grocery store workers, custodial workers, health care workers, etc.. In today's episode, he talks about his conversations with those essential employees and why they should receive a lump sum bonus for putting their lives at risk. Also in today's episode is an eye-opening conversation with Dr. James Hildreth, President of Meharry Medical College, where they recently rolled out Nashville's mobile testing, where they are up to 200+ people per day, and most are African-American. Aside from his insight on testing (and how there isn't enough happening nationally), but he has some harsh (and necessary) truths to share, and why you should plan on keeping your face masks at the ready for months to come. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand knows the importance of the United States Postal Service--especially in the upcoming presidential election--and she has a plan to save it. Did you ever consider the possibility of banking at the post office? Sen. Gillibrand has, and that is just one portion of her three-part plan to keep this crucial resource from sinking under the weight of coronavirus. ALSO in this episode is Eric Boehlert, Author and Publisher of pressrun.media, who refuses to sugarcoat Trump's misinformation campaigns OR how the press is covering him--and he is fed up with networks airing his daily "briefings." Listen to today's episode to learn about something Trump pulled straight from Putin's playbook: the fog of unknowability. 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

The death toll from coronavirus in the United States has topped 50-thousand, and Sam Smith, Founder and Editor of prorev.com, let's us know that's more than we lose to suicide in an entire year. Another death that Sam and Mark discuss, is that of the United States Postal Service--its still standing now, but the future is uncertain, and it just might have something to do with Trump not wanting people to be able to vote by mail in November. That and more with Sam Smith on today's episode of Make It Plain. 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

Senator Kamala Harris knows the public health crisis comes first, and the economic crisis follows--because without healthy Americans, nothing else matters. And that's why she's fighting for items in the next coronavirus stimulus package like free medical treatment and data collection based on race, in order to better target resources based on need. It's also why she's worried about states reopening businesses too soon, and what the repercussions could look like. Mark covers this and so much more with the former presidential candidate in today's 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

Did you know about the test before the test? It's the first step in the COVID-19 screening process that determines if you'll get the swab test--and it's linked to one of the reasons that African-Americans are disproportionately affected by coronavirus. Dr. Leon McDougle is the President Elect of the National Medical Association and he is on with Mark today to offer insight into the screening and testing process, how implicit racism could be a driving force, and why we're still missing crucial data. He also shares the details of the COVID-19 Health Manifesto collaboration with the National Medical Association and Rainbow PUSH. 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

Many, if not most, religious communities in COVID-19 affected areas are reacting responsibly to the coronavirus and implementing practices to honor social distancing--but we can't discount the effect of far-right propaganda. Katherine Stewart is an investigative journalist, frequent New York Times op-ed contributor, and author of "The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism," and in today's episode she dives into what Religious Nationalism is, how it comes into play with the Trump administration, and how that ultimately affects our country's response to coronavirus (with bits of reproductive justice and voter suppression mixed in--after all, we're talking conservatives here). 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

For every one COVID-19 mobile testing site in the United States, there are about 100 gun shops that offer drive-through purchasing--which is a new service made available in the midst of the pandemic, thanks to the Trump administration classifying these businesses as essential. And what we learned from March's data is that there were 1 million additional gun permit applications as opposed to March of 2019. Igor Volsky is the Executive Director of Guns Down America and an expert in gun ownership and the subsequent violence and deaths, and he says that while gun permit numbers are up, so are the number of phone calls to domestic violence and suicide hotlines, and that's not the only trouble afoot. Listen to this episode to hear more startling revelations, potential implications, and some ideas for how you can get involved from home. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-

In the midst of the coronavirus, Trump has been communicating with leaders all over the world, but none as much as Putin, who he's been having regular phone calls with. This is what Max Bergmann, Co-Founder of The Moscow Project tells us in today's episode. He and Mark also get into how the coronavirus can potentially impact Putin's regime, how Trump's relationship with Putin has strained our ties with the European Union in ways that were once unimaginable, Putin's relishing in the transatlantic instability, and how Russia's efforts to interfere in our election are actually made easier by all of this chaos. 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 Trump administration continues to expand access to firearms during the Coronavirus pandemic, and so gun sales continue to rise, which is no coincidence--we’ve seen similar statistical jumps when Barack Obama was elected to office, as well as just after 9/11. That makes it a particularly interesting time to sit down with Frank Smyth, author of “The NRA: The Unauthorized History," who shares insight on how the ideology of the NRA's fiercely supportive members are a huge part of what upholds the organization, even in the midst of a national crisis. 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 happens to those who are incarcerated when a pandemic takes hold of our country? April Grayson is a National Surrogate for the REPRESENT JUSTICE Campaign, in addition to her work for the Young Women’s Freedom Center, a coalition of currently and formerly incarcerated women creating awareness of the unique issues facing women in prison, and she is working to shed a light on the vulnerability of inmates. There are no social distancing requirements within prisons, and if staff and guards choose not to wear masks, gloves, or other protective gear, they can easily walk the virus right inside. That brings us to Grayson's work, where she is asking governors and lawmakers to consider releasing the elderly or immunocompromised sooner than planned. She also discusses her experience as she was incarcerated for both the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks, and how inmates are left without information or resources to protect themselves from getting sick. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor

FACT: The coronavirus is disproportionately killing people of color. Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change, knows this isn't a coincidence, it's because of the conditions that existed in our society before coronavirus arrived. But Color of Change came to life after another historic moment in this country--after Hurricane Katrina, "born in the midst of a crisis where government failure was at the heart of the impact," says Robinson. And now, Black America is feeling the depths of despair that New Orleans experienced; but Color of Change is working to find ways to provide lasting relief (read: systemic changes). Visit colorofchange.org and theblackresponse.org for more. 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

Fox News is endangering people's lives with their misinformation--the gap has officially closed between their broadcast of lies and how it could impact viewers. As the President of Media Matters, Angelo Carusone deals with Fox fallacies daily, and he says that the damage is irreparable, as hosts show no shame in giving life to conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, Trump shows support and enthusiasm for a news program that suggested beating COVID-19 by pointing a hair dryer up your nose. #UnFoxMyCableBox 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

Tom Perez, Chairman of the DNC, says Trump's lack of leadership--including his initial denial of the seriousness of the virus and the press conferences he treats like campaign rallies--has landed us in the position our country is in, now leading the globe in the number of deaths from coronavirus. He discusses the vast differences between present-day and working with former President Obama leading the global response and preventing Ebola from becoming a pandemic; the hypocrisy in Wisconsin Republicans forcing the primary election, where the number of infected people continues to climb; voting in the November election, with concerns of another surge of the virus, and how it will be a state-by-state battle; Republicans using voter suppression to counteract their shrinking base; what proper mail-in voting should look like; a contingency plan for this summer's Democratic convention; and Biden's commitment to picking a woman. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP E

Kim Ortiz, also known as Copy Watch Kimmy, is the Co-Founder of NYC Shut It Down and President of the Copwatch Patrol Unit Women's Division--and she is clear on why she became an abolitionist. Ortiz sits down with Mark to discuss that moment she became conscious about police brutality, her thoughts on stop-and-frisk and why Bloomberg would never be the right candidate, and how waiting on the government to make the necessary structural changes to the criminal justice system is a fruitless effort. She's also working on "Black Mama's Bail-Out," raising money to bail out black mom's before Mother's Day. Listen to this episode to hear about her strength, activism, and how you can get involved and help out in the simplest of ways. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertisin

Jessica Care Moore is a critically acclaimed poet with numerous collections, the founder and CEO of Moore Black Press, Executive Producer of Black WOMEN Rock!, and Founder of the literacy-driven Jess Care Moore Foundation. Her latest poetry collection, "We Want Our Bodies Back," is out now, and she talks with Mark about generating income as artists (especially in uncertain times like we're experiencing right now), seeking comfort in black artistry, perfecting her craft with nothing more than library books, and lifting up other women in the arts. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at 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 midst of coronavirus chaos, Rep. Jim Clyburn takes the time to talk with Mark about what's happening between the House and Senate, Mitch McConnell twisting Rep. Clyburn's words on the stimulus bill, how we can restructure systems so rural areas don't get left behind, why we're going to need more legislation down the road, concerns about voting in the primary and general elections (voter suppression, anyone?!), and why Trump is feeding us "Jim Crow with a new flavor" and how the House stopped the Trump family from benefiting financially from the coronavirus stimulus bill. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rep. Val Demings (D-FL10), who served as a Manager in the House Impeachment hearings, spoke with Mark this morning about today's House vote on the historic $2 trillion dollar coronavirus stimulus bill. Despite the importance of getting this bill passed, she also touched on why we'll need more legislation going forward, the danger of the Trump administration downplaying the pandemic, why we should be prepared to see confirmed case numbers continue to rise, and some insight on the inaction of her home state's governor, Ron DeSantis. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain Daily Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jennifer Epps Addison is the President and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy and CPD Action, where they utilize a network of grassroots organizations across 34 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, in the fight to break up the status quo and reinvent the structures of our society. At CPD and CPDA, they believe in universal housing, fundamental transformations of immigration processes, and uprooting the legal system—and they also believe in electing Sen. Bernie Sanders to be the next president. This episode has the potential to get you fired up! Listen to hear about their incredibly thoughtful process of choosing to endorse Sen. Sanders, as well as a look inside all of the tireless work they do at the community level to change this country. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: Subscribe to the Make It Plain LIVE Daily Call-in Show Mon-Fri 7-9a ET at makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and op