The Electorette Podcast

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis joins The Electorette to talk about how we push forward in a moment of backlash. From corporate rollbacks on DEI to the rise of hate-fueled content online, we explore the forces working to dismantle progress—and how collective power, storytelling, and unapologetic joy can be our sharpest tools for resistance. Sarah Kate shares her “slingshot theory” of progress, and offers a rallying cry to prepare for the next election—and the long game ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In light of this week's Supreme Court hearing that could redefine birthright citizenship in the United States, we’re revisiting one of our most insightful episodes from 2019. Historian and legal scholar Martha S. Jones joins The Electorette to discuss her groundbreaking book, Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America. In this conversation, Professor Jones traces the legal and political battles waged by free Black Americans in the decades before the Civil War—activists who challenged the idea that citizenship was the exclusive domain of white Americans. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the 14th Amendment and reshaped the meaning of belonging in a multiracial democracy. This episode explores the deep historical roots of birthright citizenship, its radical origins in Black freedom struggles, and the enduring threats it faces today. Whether you’re new to the topic or returning to it with fresh urgency, this conversation offers critical context for understanding the legal, moral, and democratic stakes. (00:00) The History of Birthright Citizenship Professor Jones and I revisit the critical history of birthright citizenship in America, exploring the struggles of formerly enslaved Black Americans. (06:57) Interpreting the Constitution for Citizenship Free African Americans used military service and economic contributions to advocate for citizenship and equality, utilizing their legal literacy and the omission of race in early constitutional texts. (16:43) Debating Citizenship and Colonization William Yates, a white abolitionist, authored "The Rights of Colored Men" to align abolitionism with the founding ideals of the US. (28:44) Threats to Citizenship and Forced Removal Former slaves pursued citizenship in the US to avoid colonization, but faced fears and pressures, leading to self-deportation and parallels with modern immigration policies. (43:41) Global Implications of Citizenship Debate Political and humanitarian debates have global implications and contribute to ongoing crises, emphasizing the need for vigilance and awareness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In this episode of The Electorette, host Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Sophia Lin Lakin, Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, to discuss the organization’s leading legal challenge against a dangerous new executive order from Donald Trump. While the SAVE Act has stalled in the Senate, this executive order picks up where it left off—imposing a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration and threatening to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. Lakin breaks down the overlapping threats, including mass voter roll purges and the decertification of voting machines that could throw election systems into chaos. This conversation is a critical look at how the ACLU is working to defend voting rights and prevent the erosion of our democratic institutions. Episode Chapters (00:00) Disenfranchisement Through Voting Restrictions Discussion of ACLU lawsuit against Trump's executive order on voter registration, potential disenfranchisement, and impact on voting machines. (12:36) Challenging Voter Registration Provisions A court has issued an injunction against an executive order changing voter registration, impacting organizations and upcoming elections. (25:49) Protecting Voter Rights and Elections Establishing safeguards and rules to protect voters and democracy in the face of polarization and erosion of norms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

What happens when states gain the power to decide which healthcare providers Medicaid recipients can access? In this episode, host Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Elizabeth Taylor, Executive Director of the National Health Law Program, to break down the high-stakes Supreme Court case Medina v. South Atlantic. At its core, the case challenges whether individuals have the right to choose their own healthcare provider under Medicaid—a right that could be stripped away, with profound implications for reproductive health, gender-affirming care, and essential services for low-income, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Together, they explore how this case—and others like Health and Hospital Corp. v. Talevski—could reshape the legal tools individuals have to protect their healthcare rights, especially as conservative state leaders target clinics like Planned Parenthood. Elizabeth Taylor offers critical insight into the legal landscape, the political motivations behind these efforts, and why protecting Medicaid access is more urgent than ever. This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about reproductive justice, healthcare equity, and the future of Medicaid. Episode Chapters (00:00) Medicaid Recipients' Right to Choose Providers Medicaid recipients' right to choose health care providers, implications for access to care, and private enforcement of Medicaid rights. (10:56) Enforcing Medicaid Rights and Protections Supreme Court case impacts Medicaid rights enforcement, Section 1983 crucial for individual enforcement, potential threats to access to healthcare. (21:03) The Future of Medicaid and Healthcare Medicaid's critical role in providing sexual and reproductive health services, potential consequences of cutting funding, and the importance of treating healthcare as a public good. (27:53) Potential Impact of State Prevailing State's victory in legal case could lead to loss of healthcare rights for low-income individuals. Stay informed on timeline and thank Elizabeth Taylor for coverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Tariffs, Tax Cuts & the Corporate Scam Economy In this episode of The Electorette, host Jen Taylor-Skinner sits down with Lindsay Owens, Executive Director of Groundwork Collaborative, to dissect the chaos of Trump’s economic policies—and the hidden logic behind them. From erratic tariff announcements to the looming extension of the 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy, Lindsay reveals how economic “whiplash” is not just confusing—it’s calculated. We explore how these policies are fueling inequality, harming working families, and creating fertile ground for corporate profiteering. Lindsay also explains how recession fears—some legitimate, others manufactured—are being used as cover for price gouging, layoffs, and cuts to essential services like Medicaid and food assistance. This episode also revisits the devastating legacy of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, its role in pandemic-era profiteering, and why the American public never saw the promised benefits. With recession risks rising and the corporate safety net growing stronger while ours is being shredded, this is a must-listen for anyone trying to make sense of the headlines—and the high prices. (00:00) Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty Trump's tariffs create economic uncertainty, disproportionately affecting working and middle-class Americans while benefiting the wealthy and potentially causing a recession. (08:52) Effects of Economic Policies on Americans Trump's economic policies create uncertainty, risking recession and exploitation, with potential foreign policy motivations behind the trade war with China. (21:44) The Impact of Economic Policies Nature's impact on inflation in America and other countries, Biden's successful management, corporate price gouging, concerns about budget resolution's consequences. (30:49) Republican Tax Cuts Under Trump Presidency Republican trifecta focuses on tax breaks for the wealthy, with potential economic impacts and political motivations discussed by Lindsay Owens. #Tariffs #Shrinkflation #TaxCuts #TrumpEconomy #RecessionWatch #LindsayOwens #EconomicJustice #Electorette #GroundworkCollaborative #PriceGouging #BidenEconomy #ConsumerConfidence #PoliticalPodcast #FeministMedia #Medicaid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]