Full Transcript for How do We Turn the Blue Wave into Action and Concrete Change? with Dominique DiPrima

00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.319 Act was a huge victory and that it helped Americans. 36 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.580 It helped a lot of black people, but a lot 37 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:52.250 of other Americans too, because you could get health insurance, right? 38 00:02:52.310 --> 00:02:56.729 And you couldn't be disqualified for having a pre-existing condition. 39 00:02:57.150 --> 00:02:59.930 And what people don't realize is that a lot, one 40 00:02:59.969 --> 00:03:03.050 of the leading causes of bankruptcies in American families is 41 00:03:03.129 --> 00:03:09.319 medical debt. But that said, It was not a progressive victory. 42 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:13.719 It was a victory for Democrats. It was a victory 43 00:03:14.210 --> 00:03:17.330 in the sense of having somebody black in the White House. 44 00:03:17.370 --> 00:03:20.289 It was not a progressive victory. And we have a 45 00:03:20.330 --> 00:03:24.909 mixed bag here as far as this blue wave. We 46 00:03:24.930 --> 00:03:29.750 brought in some Democratic socialists, we brought in some progressive Dems, 47 00:03:29.810 --> 00:03:34.009 and we brought in some centrists. And so once again, 48 00:03:34.030 --> 00:03:37.629 we What we don't want to do is repeat the 49 00:03:37.669 --> 00:03:46.509 moment in terms of the Biden administration where moderate, or 50 00:03:46.590 --> 00:03:49.500 even what happened with Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, where 51 00:03:49.509 --> 00:03:55.939 the moderates come in, cannibalize the progressive points, cannibalize the 52 00:03:55.979 --> 00:04:00.460 DSA platform, and do a nerfed version of it, a 53 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:03.680 toothless version of it. that doesn't take it where it 54 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:07.539 needs to go and then it flops, or they promise 55 00:04:07.590 --> 00:04:10.770 it and don't deliver it. We have got to be 56 00:04:10.889 --> 00:04:16.170 vigilant about making sure this progressive agenda is actually enacted. 57 00:04:16.569 --> 00:04:19.149 And you know, it's interesting, this whole thing of people 58 00:04:19.189 --> 00:04:23.220 now calling themselves a DSA, they're either DSA affiliated or 59 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:27.720 they're DSA actual members, which is a club within the 60 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:31.139 Democratic Party. It is not an actual party unto itself. 61 00:04:32.269 --> 00:04:36.889 is because just like when progressive started to become more 62 00:04:36.930 --> 00:04:40.930 of a popular conversation, there were tons of folks that 63 00:04:41.449 --> 00:04:45.790 labeled themselves progressive, and they're not. They're demonstrably not. Their 64 00:04:45.829 --> 00:04:54.800 voting record is not. The positions they've consistently taken are moderate, centrist, corporate. 65 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:59.720 They're not. So for me, I'm never the one that's 66 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:04.350 going to say black is not a factor. But, and 67 00:05:04.389 --> 00:05:06.350 I'm never the one that's going to say class is 68 00:05:06.389 --> 00:05:09.449 not a factor either, but when people come out and say, 69 00:05:09.470 --> 00:05:13.379 you know, oh, I'm DSA. Oh, I'm the next Zoran Mamdani. 70 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:17.980 We need to check the resume, check the track record 71 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:24.089 because I, the progressive posers that we've had in the 72 00:05:24.129 --> 00:05:28.069 past 15, 20 years have done some real damage in 73 00:05:28.110 --> 00:05:32.389 terms of getting in and then causing massive disappointment, which 74 00:05:32.470 --> 00:05:36.329 makes people disillusioned, doesn't make them want to engage with 75 00:05:36.350 --> 00:05:41.930 the voting process and helps them buy into the bot 76 00:05:42.029 --> 00:05:46.490 talking point that all political parties and all politicians are 77 00:05:46.529 --> 00:05:52.129 the same, which is not the truth. Now, do corporations 78 00:05:52.189 --> 00:05:56.360 and money have a level of influence that they should 79 00:05:56.389 --> 00:05:56.889 not have? 80 00:05:57.500 --> 00:05:57.779 Yes. 81 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:01.529 And that is true of both parties. without a doubt. 82 00:06:01.990 --> 00:06:04.629 But the only way to change that is campaign finance reform, 83 00:06:05.490 --> 00:06:08.050 overturning Citizens United, etc. 84 00:06:08.069 --> 00:06:08.569 etc. 85 00:06:09.310 --> 00:06:12.949 Speaking of Citizens United, the Washington Post has a really 86 00:06:13.009 --> 00:06:19.779 interesting article about how the blue wave is now going 87 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:24.079 to put a bunch of pressure on the Supreme Court, 88 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:32.430 the extreme court justices, to step down now, the ones 89 00:06:32.470 --> 00:06:40.560 that are older, because if Democrats retain both houses, which 90 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:43.439 they will, I mean, which they will have at least, 91 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:48.579 you know, until the next election, and then we get, 92 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:51.329 and then, you know, we get a Democrat in 2028, 93 00:06:51.310 --> 00:07:04.089 some of these more seasoned Supreme Court justices will, if 94 00:07:04.129 --> 00:07:06.939 they pass away, then what happens? That means that that 95 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:11.699 Democrat will get to choose the next Supreme Court justice 96 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:16.360 and we'll start to see that body going back to 97 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:24.990 a more even, less activist court. So the domino effect 98 00:07:25.009 --> 00:07:29.649 of all of these wins is If the conservative justices 99 00:07:32.189 --> 00:07:36.110 retire now, before the new Congress is sworn in, then 100 00:07:36.149 --> 00:07:42.439 the president could put anybody in there, right? We could 101 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.439 have the pillow guy as a Supreme Court justice. But 102 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:50.790 if he doesn't do it, if they don't retire in 103 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:55.699 the next couple months... Now you've

got a majority, a 104 00:07:56.980 --> 00:08:00.870 solid Democratic majority in the Senate. He's not going to 105 00:08:00.930 --> 00:08:03.610 just be able to put anybody in there. And then 106 00:08:04.689 --> 00:08:10.870 come 2028, we'll probably get a Democrat in the White House. Probably. 107 00:08:10.910 --> 00:08:15.959 We don't know. Then they'll appoint someone and they'll have 108 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:21.750 the votes to confirm them. And hopefully they won't. drop 109 00:08:21.790 --> 00:08:25.089 the ball somehow, as we have done several times lately. 110 00:08:26.029 --> 00:08:31.790 Samuel Alito is 76. Clarence Thomas is 78. Um, and 111 00:08:32.929 --> 00:08:35.029 don't be surprised if you see either or both of 112 00:08:35.090 --> 00:08:39.389 them decide it's time to retire between now and, well, 113 00:08:39.730 --> 00:08:43.409 have to be pretty soon because Congress still has to 114 00:08:43.450 --> 00:08:46.190 be in session to confirm them and they have to 115 00:08:46.230 --> 00:08:50.610 do it before the new Congress is sworn in. So, um, 116 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:53.620 We shall see. They have to do it before the 117 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:57.220 new Senate is sworn in on January 3rd, but I 118 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:59.720 doubt that you're going to be having hearings for a 119 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:02.399 new Supreme, having a vote on a new Supreme Court 120 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:08.100 justice over Christmas. So it probably has to happen very soon. 121 00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:11.590 These are the kinds of things they say when they 122 00:09:11.730 --> 00:09:16.490 say elections have consequences. Republicans are afraid of a Ruth 123 00:09:17.250 --> 00:09:21.669 Bader Ginsburg situation. Ruth Bader Ginsburg stubbornly stayed on the 124 00:09:21.710 --> 00:09:28.590 bench until she was 87 and presumed that everything would 125 00:09:28.629 --> 00:09:34.500 be okay. And when she died, we got Amy Coney Barrett. 126 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:40.370 And so Republicans are afraid of a similar situation happening 127 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:42.639 to them. So don't be surprised if one of the 128 00:09:42.710 --> 00:09:49.169 two conservative seasoned justices decides it's time to say goodbye. 129 00:09:49.750 --> 00:09:50.429 Love to hear from you. 130 00:09:50.450 --> 00:09:50.570 809-20-1580, 809-20-1580. 131 00:09:50.570 --> 00:09:52.129 I'm Dominique DiPrima for KBLA Talk 1580. I do thank you. 132 00:09:52.149 --> 00:10:04.250 I appreciate your waking up with us. And we're, you know, 133 00:10:04.309 --> 00:10:09.029 unboxing this election, still looking at our question of the day. 134 00:10:09.090 --> 00:10:12.500 How do we turn Our Think Tank Thursday question, how 135 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:16.740 do we turn this blue wave into actual policies and 136 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:21.580 programs that will help people, the people that voted for this, 137 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:25.070 so we can keep the momentum going all the way 138 00:10:25.110 --> 00:10:27.970 into 2028? I do want to share some breaking news. 139 00:10:28.350 --> 00:10:34.570 Actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and 140 00:10:34.649 --> 00:10:40.399 sexual assault. He's a movie star. and he's also been 141 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:46.070 quite popular on, on, um, YouTube, former boyfriend of Katy Perry. 142 00:10:46.649 --> 00:10:48.889 He is going to be sentenced according to the judge 143 00:10:48.950 --> 00:10:55.769 to significant time. Um, and they didn't say what significant 144 00:10:55.820 --> 00:11:00.539 time yet, but the judge said he would face significant time. Um, 145 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:07.740 so that's breaking news coming in right now. Um, Russell Brand, 146 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:12.210 a very prominent actor, will now be going to prison 147 00:11:12.990 --> 00:11:20.450 for sexual assault. It seems like it's a different energy 148 00:11:20.549 --> 00:11:23.909 than Me Too. It's a different energy than 2020. But 149 00:11:24.330 --> 00:11:26.879 there is a lot of reckoning going on right now. 150 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:31.159 And I'm sure that these tech folks are having their 151 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:34.350 own reckonings. because they've leaned in really hard. Most of 152 00:11:34.389 --> 00:11:40.029 these folks, Bezos, Zuckerberg, Musk, Ellison, have leaned in really 153 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:45.899 hard to the Republican agenda. Imagine spending $ 200 million on 154 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:50.820 a race in Texas, and then Tallarico wins anyway. I 155 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:55.409 love that for us U.S. Americans, to remind us that 156 00:11:55.970 --> 00:11:59.090 even though the billionaires do have huge advantages with their 157 00:11:59.110 --> 00:12:05.269 money and influence, the people... can override that if we 158 00:12:05.350 --> 00:12:09.419 show up and show out. And that is what has happened. Um, 159 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.860 so the question is, how do we turn these wins 160 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:17.759 into action? How do we, yes, gloat, rest on your 161 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:22.330 laurels a little, enjoy the wins, but also, um, let's, 162 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:26.610 let's stay engaged, not go home and sit down. Well, 163 00:12:26.649 --> 00:12:30.570 that's over. So now I can, uh, rest. That's not 164 00:12:30.629 --> 00:12:37.090 what it is. Um, Because, you know, Democrats are a 165 00:12:37.129 --> 00:12:40.730 variety pack, and we are the ones that have to 166 00:12:41.070 --> 00:12:46.529 push the envelope. Janice Lewis George won in D.C. That 167 00:12:46.570 --> 00:12:52.169 wasn't a surprise. She's a black woman. She's replacing Muriel Bowser, 168 00:12:52.250 --> 00:12:56.629 another black woman. Muriel Bowser was very much a centrist. 169 00:12:57.590 --> 00:13:01.830 Janice Lewis George is very much a progressive. So here, 170 00:13:01.909 --> 00:13:04.720 that's what I'm talking about. You've got two black women, 171

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.799 one replacing the other. The one that's coming in there 172 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:13.360 in D.C. is much more progressive. She's a proponent of 173 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:22.299 Medicare for all, universal health care, universal preschool, universal child care. 174 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:26.759 And she was expected to win, but to me it's 175 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:32.690 important because we're looking at the things that could represent... 176 00:13:33.250 --> 00:13:38.629 real shifts, real shifts in thinking. I think Jared Hill 177 00:13:38.690 --> 00:13:42.330 is right. We probably won't see the MAGA folks suddenly saying, 178 00:13:42.350 --> 00:13:45.840 you know, I'm going to go be in the pride parade. Yes, 179 00:13:45.909 --> 00:13:50.480 marriage equality is so right on. No, I don't expect 180 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.720 to see that. But what we can see is a 181 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:56.720 shift within the Democratic Party and in the shift in 182 00:13:56.740 --> 00:14:01.559 what we consider normal, moving the middle. I feel like 183 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:04.200 Part of what happened under Trump is we moved the 184 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:09.330 middle to the right. You watch a debate on CNN 185 00:14:09.370 --> 00:14:12.490 or MSNOW, and the person that they're defining as middle 186 00:14:12.549 --> 00:14:15.649 is someone I would consider a right-winger. The person they 187 00:14:15.690 --> 00:14:17.970 have on the right is a fascist, and the person 188 00:14:18.009 --> 00:14:20.330 on the left is a centrist. Maybe we can move 189 00:14:20.370 --> 00:14:25.600 the middle back where it's supposed to be. And this mayor, 190 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:33.220 this D.C. mayor, this black woman, Mayor Louis George, She's 191 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:38.110 got a special challenge because D.C. doesn't have statehood yet. 192 00:14:38.570 --> 00:14:42.169 It should. But since it doesn't, it's directly under the 193 00:14:42.230 --> 00:14:45.769 control of the resident. So she's got to go toe-to-toe 194 00:14:46.570 --> 00:14:50.299 with Drumpf. She doesn't get to have a Gavin Newsom 195 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:58.039 or a Javier Becerra or a Governor Hinojosa, Governor Westmore, 196 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:03.720 Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Her governor is the president. So 197 00:15:03.769 --> 00:15:06.740 she's going to have to go toe-to-toe with him in 198 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:10.799 order to deliver the things she's promised to D.C. residents. 199 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:16.299 Another reason D.C. should have statehood. But it's an example 200 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:21.440 of the small, medium, and large victories that are happening 201 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:24.820 and that are making impacts, which we will be unboxing 202 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:33.139 for weeks and months. Miles says, you're much more of 203 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:37.000 a skeptic, I think, than I am, which is amazing 204 00:15:37.019 -->

00:15:40.759 because I've been doing politics and activism for a long time. 205 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:44.590 And I always remain hopeful. Oh, yes, we can do it. 206 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:46.740 And yes, we can find a way to make them 207 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:48.679 do what they say they're going to do. And yes, 208 00:15:48.750 --> 00:15:53.549 we really can turn these wins into concrete victories for 209 00:15:53.590 --> 00:16:00.450 the people. What's your thought on how what you would 210 00:16:00.490 --> 00:16:02.950 like to see or how you would like, how we 211 00:16:02.990 --> 00:16:06.159 can make that happen. I mean, what is a concrete victory? 212 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:11.340 For me, a concrete victory in affordability is universal child care, 213 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:16.559 Medicare for all or universal health care, a public option 214 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:18.940 for my bank, a public option for my groceries. 215 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:22.980 For me, you know, I think that it's important that 216 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:27.230 we as a collective don't take our eyes off what 217 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:32.750 the main things are for what uh our collective wins 218 00:16:32.789 --> 00:16:35.210 i'm not saying that collective wins aren't great and it's 219 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:38.610 not a start and you know it doesn't give uh 220 00:16:38.690 --> 00:16:40.389 hope and room for improvement i just hope that except 221 00:16:40.409 --> 00:16:43.250 we just don't get distracted and pushed to you know 222 00:16:43.289 --> 00:16:45.299 to the back of the bus again in more ways 223 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.139 than one you're. 224 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:48.299 Talking about black people pushed to the back of the 225 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.799 bus pardon me you're talking about black people pushed to 226 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.600 the back of the bus. 227 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:54.629 Exactly okay i got you As always, for sure. 228 00:16:55.190 --> 00:16:58.110 But yeah, just like I said, as black people, let's 229 00:16:58.149 --> 00:16:59.690 keep our eyes, like I said, on the prize, on 230 00:16:59.710 --> 00:17:04.950 the main things that, you know, affect our households and 231 00:17:05.009 --> 00:17:11.279 keep our topics and conversations in the ether and atmosphere 232 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:15.019 as well. Because, you know, we can get swallowed up 233 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:18.000 with this being a, hey, this is your guys' win. 234 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:21.059 We have a lot of other things that are Pressing 235 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:24.500 in our day-to-day life as well, in addition to, you know, 236 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.920 the wins that we are getting. 237 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:26.599 Like, wins work. 238 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:29.799 We'll take wins, but let's not act like the, you know, 239 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.069 winning a round isn't winning the fight. 240 00:17:31.869 --> 00:17:35.930 Well, and not only that, I think winning a round 241 00:17:35.990 --> 00:17:38.730 isn't winning the fight. And what you said is also important. 242 00:17:39.210 --> 00:17:41.230 Winning a face isn't winning the fight, right? 243 00:17:41.269 --> 00:17:41.549 For sure. 244 00:17:41.730 --> 00:17:47.130 So, Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms is wonderful. You know, that's great. 245 00:17:47.430 --> 00:17:50.359 I'm celebrating that victory. And the fact that, as Jarrett 246 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:55.099 pointed out, there's eight black women in statewide leadership. The 247 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.200 win is what they'll do when they get in there. 248 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:59.079 The win is not just getting them in there. 249 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:02.319 You know, I'm from Vegas. Shout out Aaron Ford. You 250 00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:04.079 know what I mean? Our new black governor in Nevada. 251 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:04.900 Shout out to him. 252 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.380 I was laughing about that, too, because our neighbor in 253 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:09.720 Nevada now has a black governor. 254 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.069 Yeah. 255 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:13.200 California hasn't done that. We're supposed to be so woke. 256 00:18:13.269 --> 00:18:14.650 We ain't had a black governor yet. 257 00:18:14.690 --> 00:18:16.130 You feel me? So that's why I feel like the... 258 00:18:16.029 --> 00:18:17.089 Not even close. 259 00:18:19.670 --> 00:18:22.529 It's important that we don't, like I said, just don't 260 00:18:22.569 --> 00:18:24.539 take the black face as the black win. 261 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.920 Take black power as the black win. 262 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:29.380 Let's stop talking about black excellence and let's really get 263 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:33.859 some black power talking to... into the conversation and let's 264 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:36.599 even establish what black power is and may. 265 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:36.880 Be, you know? 266 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.440 Well, yeah. 267 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:39.809 And to me, that's important too, not just because of 268 00:18:39.849 --> 00:18:42.549 the black power, but because when you make concrete, when 269 00:18:42.569 --> 00:18:48.369 you have concrete victories, then you do actually help people and, 270 00:18:48.650 --> 00:18:52.230 and you help not just black people, you help working 271 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:55.720 class people because there is a class element to this, right? 272 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:59.339 So if we enact policies that help black people, uh, 273 00:19:00.589 --> 00:19:02.829 They're going to help other people too. They're going to 274 00:19:02.869 --> 00:19:07.250 help working class people. That's how you consolidate power. That's 275 00:19:07.289 --> 00:19:12.920 how you build power. Okay, Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms delivers 276 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:17.819 for Georgians. She delivers for black people, but she delivers 277 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:22.099

concrete victories for the working class. Then they're going to say, 278 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:26.480 we should reelect this black woman who can bring forth 279 00:19:26.549 --> 00:19:30.920 black power because she's effective. For black people and the 280 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.680 working class. 281 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.519 I mean, you're saying reelect. 282 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:35.920 I mean, look, you do something like that, she could 283 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:39.119 run for president in 2028. 284 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:39.799 And likely will. 285 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.460 And might will. 286 00:19:41.569 --> 00:19:43.950 I would hope she wouldn't do it in 2028. I'd 287 00:19:43.990 --> 00:19:45.930 hope she'd serve at least four to eight years as 288 00:19:45.990 --> 00:19:46.920 governor and then do it. 289 00:19:47.490 --> 00:19:49.250 Even if she loses, it'll be midterms so she won't 290 00:19:49.269 --> 00:19:52.519 have to run again. She can effectively lose and still 291 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:54.859 remain the governor, I'm assuming, right? 292 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:58.700 Yeah, but my point is I'd like to see her 293 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:02.640 do great things for Georgia, get out from under the 294 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:08.359 Kamala situation, and run in 32 as an accomplished governor. She, 295 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:12.200 you know, she's already accomplished now, but I definitely see 296 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.140 that in her future though, Miles. I think you're right 297 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:18.049 about that. 809-20-1580. If you want to weigh in, I'd 298 00:20:18.069 --> 00:20:20.230 love to hear from you. We've got news traffic and sports, 299 00:20:20.470 --> 00:20:24.130 then more only here. Indeed it does. And I'm so 300 00:20:24.190 --> 00:20:25.630 glad to talk to you this morning. 301 00:20:25.650 --> 00:20:29.799 809-20-1580. 800-920-1580. 302 00:20:29.910 --> 00:20:34.339 How do we turn a black hurricane into some real gains? 303 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:38.200 That's the question. Going to Corey, calling us from L.A., 304 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:40.559 Jambo Olahotep. What's up? 305 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.440 Jambo, hola. 306 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:48.190 Thank you for taking my call, Dominique. I would like to, 307 00:20:48.630 --> 00:20:51.869 you know, propose or say that I think that what's 308 00:20:51.990 --> 00:20:54.410 needed now and what's been needed but what would be 309 00:20:54.490 --> 00:20:58.390 useful now would be some progressive think tanks. on, you know, 310 00:20:58.490 --> 00:21:01.769 really analyzing the progress that can be made in this 311 00:21:01.849 --> 00:21:05.140 dire time over the next two to four years, you know, 312 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:07.240 because we have things that we want, that we definitely 313 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:10.240 need to do. We need to rectify and undo a 314 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.480 lot of the damage that's been done, you know, in 315 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:16.509 recent history, but also what else, like I read somewhere that, 316 00:21:16.589 --> 00:21:18.730 you know, with the majority that we have right now, 317 00:21:19.869 --> 00:21:24.150 the Democrats could remove or undo the electoral college. 318 00:21:23.829 --> 00:21:24.509 If they wanted to. 319 00:21:25.549 --> 00:21:28.710 I think that we should put forward understanding what the 320 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:32.700 Trump administration, what the resident administration, you know, what they 321 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:35.700 did and really put some goals up as far as 322 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:40.920 whether it's removing the Electoral College, whether it's implementing more 323 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:45.200 rank choice or runoff voting, whether it's overturning Citizens United 324 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:47.500 and getting the money out of politics. What are some 325 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.920 of the bigger goals? What are some of the things 326 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:51.440 that we could really do if we put our minds 327 00:21:51.529 --> 00:21:54.210 to it, not having a Hakeem Jeffries, the Speaker of 328 00:21:54.230 --> 00:21:56.559 the House, what are some of the big things that 329 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:59.400 we can do? So we have some real, you know, 330 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:03.059 along with getting justice from these criminals that have been, 331 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:06.000 you know, we want all the things we want affordability. 332 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:09.400 We want to rectify things and we want justice. Like 333 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:12.289 all these things are available. So having some think tanks 334 00:22:12.329 --> 00:22:15.130 that could put together some layout plans, like even if 335 00:22:15.170 --> 00:22:18.049 we didn't win the house, you know, the white house in, 336 00:22:18.250 --> 00:22:21.390 in 28, the, we still could do these things the 337 00:22:21.430 --> 00:22:23.390 next years. And if we do X, Y, Z, uh, 338 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:25.240 the next four years could look like this. 339 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:28.180 Yeah, I mean, I think the think tanks are good 340 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:31.039 as long as those thoughts turn into action, you know. 341 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:36.180 And I do think you're right. I mean, I haven't 342 00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:38.519 looked into that. I haven't been tracking that. I've been 343 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:42.940 hoping for the repeal of the electoral, you know, abolishment 344 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:47.809 of the electoral college. That, along with D.C. statehood, Puerto 345 00:22:47.829 --> 00:22:50.529 Rico statehood if they want it, otherwise if they don't 346 00:22:50.569 --> 00:22:55.549 want it, you know, independence. And then Changing the way 347 00:22:55.609 --> 00:22:57.769 we do our formula in the Senate so that the 348 00:22:57.829 --> 00:23:02.210 senators are proportioned to the population of the state rather 349

00:23:02.250 --> 00:23:06.400 than two per state. Those things alone would make it 350 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:09.940 to where we had a more representative democracy so that 351 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.799 if you have a Mississippi, it doesn't end up being 352 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:17.599 controlled by the people that are the minority in there 353 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:20.079 because they have more money and they have more influence. 354 00:23:22.250 --> 00:23:25.569 Yeah, I think we should just do, I agree, and 355 00:23:25.609 --> 00:23:28.630 I think that a collective national picture so that we 356 00:23:28.650 --> 00:23:31.750 can really see where the big gains are, those things 357 00:23:31.890 --> 00:23:35.299 plus whatever the big gains and possibilities are, some things 358 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:37.039 are probably going to be a lot easier than we 359 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:41.079 realize now that, you know, you realize how much control XYZ, 360 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:43.480 whether it's the, you know, whether it's the Senate or 361 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:46.599 the president has in these types of things, you know, 362 00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:48.809 getting a good national picture so we could really see 363 00:23:48.829 --> 00:23:51.789 where all those gains could be and then pushing for them. Like, 364 00:23:51.809 --> 00:23:53.750 this is the time. Like, we, you know, this is 365 00:23:53.829 --> 00:23:57.099 a blue-black tsunami that just happened. Let's push for the 366 00:23:57.130 --> 00:24:00.059 things that we want and need here, since obviously the 367 00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:02.299 demons have no problem doing that whatsoever. 368 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:06.059 And they've been, those demons have been very effective. I mean, 369 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:11.089 that's the thing that, you know, that is so daunting, 370 00:24:11.390 --> 00:24:14.970 because the move fast and break things philosophy of the 371 00:24:15.009 --> 00:24:19.250 tech bros has actually been quite effective this time. We 372 00:24:19.289 --> 00:24:23.880 see how Elon Musk went in there and dismantled USAID, 373 00:24:26.950 --> 00:24:31.789 did major damage on the Department of Education, and gutted 374 00:24:31.869 --> 00:24:35.049 all of these departments like the Environmental Protection Agency. So 375 00:24:35.089 --> 00:24:39.630 what does it look like to turn that back? What 376 00:24:39.650 --> 00:24:42.559 does it look like to undo that stuff and still build, 377 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:45.980 like you're saying? Because playing defense is not enough. We 378 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:48.539 have to go on the... offense. It's not just pick 379 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:51.000 up the pieces so we can get back to stasis. 380 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:53.299 We've got to find a way to move forward. And 381 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:57.480 that's why I think the bolstering and leaning into the 382 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:02.039 actual socialists in the DSA, the actual

progressives in the 383 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:04.740 progressive caucus, um, is, has to be part of the 384 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:09.400 solution to rest the control of the democratic party away 385 00:25:09.509 --> 00:25:12.869 from the corporate Dems, the James Carvels of the world 386 00:25:12.910 --> 00:25:16.859 that want to sit up there and, you know, demonize 387 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:20.059 progressives and say, Oh, don't call yourself democratic because we 388 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:22.940 are the Democrats. Well, we're in a democracy. People have 389 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:26.539 called themselves democratic, this, that for forever. So you, the 390 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:31.990 centrist corporate establishment do not get to have a hold 391 00:25:32.109 --> 00:25:34.869 on any of that. 100%. 392 00:25:35.230 --> 00:25:38.609 And I mean, we actually should wrestle ourselves away from 393 00:25:38.650 --> 00:25:41.890 this quote unquote, the so-called two party system, which is 394 00:25:41.950 --> 00:25:44.109 really a one and a, and a barely little bit 395 00:25:44.210 --> 00:25:47.160 of a party system. Um, that we have because we 396 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.819 do need progressive options. We do need actual controls. And 397 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:53.859 it's also a shame that, you know, so many people, 398 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:56.420 if it wasn't for the fact that these people, the 399 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:01.539 residents in Zilk were so vile and ignorant and blatantly 400 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:07.279 unjust and blatantly opportunist, that's, you know, that they may 401 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:10.099 not have moved as many people to get out and 402 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:12.279 do something on this realm, you know, but we do 403 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:14.700 have to get ourselves organized. It's not just about voting. 404 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:20.519 And it's unfortunate that if they were smarter, if they 405 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:24.049 had packaged themselves decently, you know, they might have gotten 406 00:26:24.089 --> 00:26:27.069 away with even more for longer because of the apathy and, 407 00:26:27.529 --> 00:26:30.809 you know, the way this country does keep people's minds 408 00:26:30.970 --> 00:26:34.490 occupied and keep people feeling impotent, you know, in this process. 409 00:26:34.809 --> 00:26:37.509 But fortunately, they were as ugly and dumb and ignorant 410 00:26:37.569 --> 00:26:41.710 as they are. And also, of course, the affordability parts 411 00:26:41.750 --> 00:26:44.079 of the other people who still wouldn't have moved you know, 412 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:47.200 have moved because of those reasons, but at least we 413 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:49.460 have movement and we really have to take advantage of it. 414 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:52.660 Yeah, that's a fair point. I mean, I think that's 415 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:56.480 where we were actually blessed with Donald Trump. I know 416 00:26:56.500 -->

00:26:58.960 that sounds crazy, but the fact that he would sit 417 00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:01.539 up there and say, I don't care about affordability, I 418 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:04.599 just don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon. The 419 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:06.440 fact that he would sit up there and say, I 420 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:10.119 don't care about gas prices, we're making tons of money. 421 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:14.490 And He just said that out of his mouth. I 422 00:27:14.509 --> 00:27:18.940 think that did help a lot because although some folks 423 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:23.039 will follow him no matter what he says, there are 424 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.980 a sizable number of people who probably voted for him 425 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:29.289 that said, what? You're a billionaire. Your billionaire friends are 426 00:27:29.309 --> 00:27:32.049 getting rich. We can see it. They're getting billions and 427 00:27:32.089 --> 00:27:37.450 billions richer. Meanwhile, eggs prices still haven't gone down. Gas 428 00:27:37.509 --> 00:27:41.420 prices are going up and we're losing rights. So I 429 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:47.579 think that is a good point, Corey, because they're so bold. 430 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:51.119 They're emboldened. They feel like they can get away with anything. 431 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:56.130 Can you imagine? You raped and sexually assaulted, allegedly, numerous 432 00:27:56.190 --> 00:27:58.250 people and everyone knows about it and you still got 433 00:27:58.309 --> 00:28:02.369 re-elected president. The Supreme Court, the extreme court tells you 434 00:28:02.390 --> 00:28:06.430 you have immunity. Of course you think you're invincible. Of 435 00:28:06.529 --> 00:28:08.470 course you think you don't have to follow any rule. 436 00:28:08.789 --> 00:28:11.400 Of course you... Of course you can play in the 437 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:16.829 faces of your own base, let alone black people. Corey, 438 00:28:16.849 --> 00:28:19.140 I appreciate the call. I always love talking with you. 439 00:28:21.289 --> 00:28:23.009 Thank you. Thank you for taking it. And thank you 440 00:28:23.029 --> 00:28:24.950 for all that you do. Let's get on these think 441 00:28:24.990 --> 00:28:27.750 tanks and let's push a big progressive plan. 442 00:28:28.690 --> 00:28:31.490 Absolutely. Think Tank Thursday is what we're doing around here. 443 00:28:31.789 --> 00:28:38.170 Corey called me at 800-920-1580, 800-920-1580. I invite you to 444 00:28:38.210 --> 00:28:40.789 do the same, Miles, with the question, what is black 445 00:28:40.849 --> 00:28:45.529 power even? People say there's no black agenda. I don't agree. 446 00:28:45.609 --> 00:28:51.190 I think there's a lot of concepts and demands that 447 00:28:51.210 --> 00:28:55.079 have been consistent. You can look at the Black Panther 448 00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:57.220 Party 10-point plan. It's a lot of the same things 449 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:04.859 we're still fighting for. Housing, equal justice, protection of our 450 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:08.670 voting rights. But how do you build that power? How 451 00:29:08.690 --> 00:29:13.109 do you get those wins? And I love what you said, Corey, about, 452 00:29:13.130 --> 00:29:15.829 you know, if the Dems do have the power to 453 00:29:15.869 --> 00:29:20.500 make bold changes, i.e. whether it's expanding the Supreme Court 454 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:24.779 or putting forth legislation that would term limit the Supreme Court, 455 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:28.420 getting rid of the Electoral College. Those are the types 456 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:31.200 of foundational changes they need to do right now before 457 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:36.529 they get voted out again. before they start shooting themselves 458 00:29:36.589 --> 00:29:39.519 in the foot again while we have the political capital. 459 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:45.180 let's make some actual impactful changes that would have a 460 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:52.829 lasting effect on creating that multi-ethnic direct democracy that we 461 00:29:52.970 --> 00:29:59.690 claim to have, that we claim to be a model of, 462 00:29:59.730 --> 00:30:06.619 but have not yet quite manifested at all. Let's go 463 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:10.539 to Rod calling us from L.A. Good morning, Rod. You're 464 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:12.619 on the radio. I'm blessed. How are you doing? 465 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:15.059 How are you this morning? You know, I was going 466 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:19.650 to say, remember, in California, Tom Bradley lost the governorship 467 00:30:19.690 --> 00:30:20.650 by half a point. 468 00:30:21.250 --> 00:30:23.609 Okay, you're right. He did come close. I knew someone 469 00:30:23.630 --> 00:30:26.710 was going to say that. And that's where the term, 470 00:30:26.750 --> 00:30:29.789 the Bradley account, effect comes because people lied in the 471 00:30:29.829 --> 00:30:31.589 polls and said they were going to vote for him 472 00:30:31.609 --> 00:30:33.869 and they didn't. Yeah, you're right. He did come close, 473 00:30:33.890 --> 00:30:35.519 but we still haven't had a black governor. 474 00:30:36.150 --> 00:30:39.240 Oh, no, you're correct. We clearly have not had one. 475 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:44.279 But again, the issue was, you know, when people sometimes 476 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:46.319 say we've never been close and it's like, oh, yes, 477 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:46.779 we have. 478 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:50.099 Yeah, and I didn't realize it was half the point. 479 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:52.119 By the way, I didn't realize it was that close. 480 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:55.440 I knew it was close because people thought he was 481 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.500 going to win and he didn't. 482 00:30:57.789 --> 00:30:59.789 Oh, as a matter of fact, when the, you know, 483 00:30:59.849 --> 00:31:04.690 that night, people were celebrating that he had won. And 484 00:31:04.710 --> 00:31:06.789 then it was kind of

like as they began to 485 00:31:06.869 --> 00:31:09.789 count the other ballots that it came clear that he lost. 486 00:31:10.349 --> 00:31:13.930 Yeah. And you know what he didn't do? He didn't say, ah, 487 00:31:15.049 --> 00:31:17.150 they cheated. I really won. 488 00:31:17.170 --> 00:31:19.109 No, he didn't. 489 00:31:19.170 --> 00:31:23.279 I mean... Yeah, Tom was a great guy. But I 490 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:26.619 just wanted to make sure that you knew that because... Yeah, I. 491 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:28.319 Mean, I did know it and I thought about it 492 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:33.390 right after I said it. But, you know, I guess 493 00:31:33.630 --> 00:31:36.869 that is very close and that's fair. But I just 494 00:31:36.890 --> 00:31:40.849 feel like for us to be as supposedly progressive and 495 00:31:40.910 --> 00:31:45.390 woke and multicultural as we are, the fact that we 496 00:31:45.470 --> 00:31:48.609 haven't had a black governor and the fact that we, 497 00:31:49.690 --> 00:31:53.220 you know, just... Yes, we've had a black mayor here 498 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:55.500 in Los Angeles, but if you look at the other cities, 499 00:31:56.259 --> 00:32:02.099 San Francisco and L.A. are the main ones. The leadership, well, 500 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:05.339 we had Willie Brown. He had a lock on California 501 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.259 for a long time. 502 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:12.410 Yeah, I mean, well, you had Willie as mayor, Tom 503 00:32:12.450 --> 00:32:13.049 Bradley as mayor. 504 00:32:13.089 --> 00:32:16.190 Well, I was talking about a speaker. I was talking 505 00:32:16.210 --> 00:32:18.910 about the Willie Brown speaker of the House era, which was, 506 00:32:19.509 --> 00:32:20.450 I don't know, long, right? 507 00:32:21.829 --> 00:32:25.029 Oh, yeah, he did. Willie was speaker. Karen Bass was speaker. 508 00:32:26.750 --> 00:32:30.890 She sure was. First black woman speaker in the country, 509 00:32:31.950 --> 00:32:35.529 I believe, of a statehouse in the country. So, Rod, 510 00:32:35.549 --> 00:32:37.990 what was your point, though? I mean, other than the correction, 511 00:32:38.029 --> 00:32:40.289 which I do appreciate. I meant to do it myself, actually. 512 00:32:40.670 --> 00:32:45.930 But where are you landing here? And I'm not complaining, saying, oh, 513 00:32:45.970 --> 00:32:49.000 Becerra shouldn't be governor. I'm not saying that. So please 514 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:51.829 don't put words in my mouth. You know, congratulations to 515 00:32:51.849 --> 00:32:55.029 Javier Becerra. What I'm talking about, I was just talking 516 00:32:55.069 --> 00:32:59.329 about Nevada. They just elected a black governor, and they 517 00:32:59.410 --> 00:33:01.970 are our neighbors. And they are often seen as being 518 00:33:02.009 --> 00:33:05.289 more conservative than California. That was my only point. 519 00:33:06.690 --> 00:33:09.390 Oh, yeah. No, I mean, there's some things coming. I mean, 520 00:33:09.430 --> 00:33:13.259 Nevada has picked up a number of black people working 521 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:15.119 in Las Vegas. Yeah. 522 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.000 And Reno. 523 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:21.819 So, yeah, there's a good population in Nevada. of black 524 00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:26.440 people and liberal people. You know, they're seeing some of 525 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:28.690 their legislative seats change over as well. 526 00:33:28.910 --> 00:33:30.890 A lot of them are from L.A. because they move 527 00:33:30.910 --> 00:33:34.289 there looking for more affordable lifestyles. 528 00:33:36.150 --> 00:33:38.130 Yeah, you're absolutely right. 529 00:33:38.170 --> 00:33:41.799 I met so many people from L.A. when me and 530 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:45.160 Miles were working with Michael Baysden and we were doing 531 00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.359 a lot of work in Vegas. 532 00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:46.519 Yes. 533 00:33:48.049 --> 00:33:50.309 That's where I met Miles, and that's where I met 534 00:33:50.329 --> 00:33:52.869 a lot of Angelenos. But it's a fair point, Rod, 535 00:33:52.910 --> 00:33:54.410 and that was a long time ago, and it was 536 00:33:54.450 --> 00:33:56.430 a different coalition than the one that would have to 537 00:33:56.450 --> 00:34:03.990 be built now. We do have black folks in statewide office. 538 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:07.599 Secretary of State Shirley Weber won by a lot. I 539 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:10.199 was looking at the numbers. She won by 45 points 540 00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:14.099 or something in L.A., but statewide she still did quite well. 541 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:19.619 Malia Cohen crushed it. So it's not like we're not 542 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:23.789 present in leadership. I was just making a comparative analysis 543 00:34:24.250 --> 00:34:26.889 with our supposedly conservative neighbor, Nevada. 544 00:34:26.909 --> 00:34:32.750 And don't forget the other sister who got elected. 545 00:34:32.789 --> 00:34:35.269 Which other sister are you talking. 546 00:34:36.230 --> 00:34:36.630 About? 547 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.510 Cole. 548 00:34:38.489 --> 00:34:39.119 Malia Cole. 549 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:42.099 Yeah, I just said that. I just said that two 550 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:45.920 seconds ago. Yeah, Malia Cohen, the controller, who is a 551 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:51.500 fabulous lawmaker, and I really foresee big things in her future, too. 552 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.119 By the way. 553 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.739 Oh, I do as well. 554 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.079 Yeah. 555 00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:56.260 Rod, I appreciate the call. 556 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:56.699 Thank you much. 557 00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.880 Yeah, thank you. 558 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.440 Okay. 559 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:04.340 God bless. Godspeed. Rod, call me at 800-920-1580. It is 560 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:07.019 not too late for you to do the same. KBLA, 561 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:10.579 talk 1580. Morris is in the

chat saying, what about 562 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:18.429 Pio Pico? Pio Pico was a black governor of California, 563 00:35:18.610 --> 00:35:25.360 but he doesn't count because California was Mexico then. So 564 00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:27.719 you could say last time we had a black governor 565 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:31.079 in California, we were Mexico. I mean, I'm not saying 566 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:33.440 he doesn't count as a governor, but he doesn't count 567 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:39.010 as a U.S. California governor because he was governor of 568 00:35:39.030 --> 00:35:47.880 Alta California under Mexican rule. From 1945 to 1946 and 569 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:51.019 in 1932, I guess, for a period of time as well. 570 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:53.929 He was part of the Pico family. That's why we 571 00:35:53.949 --> 00:35:56.769 have a Pico Boulevard. He was one of the wealthiest 572 00:35:56.809 --> 00:36:03.570 men in California. He was a huge, huge, powerful citizen. 573 00:36:04.469 --> 00:36:08.489 But it was not the United States of America. It 574 00:36:08.550 --> 00:36:12.010 was Mexico. So there you have it. Anyway. 575 00:36:12.690 --> 00:36:13.750 Um, yeah, yeah, yeah. 576 00:36:13.769 --> 00:36:16.829 Let's go to DD calling us from Berkeley, California. Good morning. 577 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:24.000 Good morning, Dominique. First time caller. Um, I just want, yes, 578 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:27.039 I just wanted to talk about some of the progressive agenda. 579 00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:31.889 I think people don't talk about these corporate landlords and, uh, 580 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:34.440 I'd like that to be addressed through policy and all 581 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:38.219 the fees and things they're charged people on fixed income. 582 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:38.860 Yeah. 583 00:36:39.719 --> 00:36:43.489 And, uh, I just don't have faith until 2030, you know, 584 00:36:43.510 --> 00:36:46.920 because I just, for me, it's like the first time 585 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:52.239 I voted was when I voted for Tom Bradley as mayor. 586 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.480 Oh, wow. 587 00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:54.059 As governor. 588 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:54.519 Yeah. 589 00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:55.920 Yes. 590 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:58.019 Yes. That was the first time I ever voted. I 591 00:36:58.179 --> 00:36:58.940 was 18 then. 592 00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:03.579 Wow. Wow. I mean, you're right, and this is the 593 00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:06.099 kind of thing that can be addressed through policy, and 594 00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:09.679 it can impact affordability. So when people say, you can't 595 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:12.119 put the genie back in the bottle on inflation, there 596 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:16.539 are things you can do. If we de-incentivize the corporatization 597 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:21.610 of housing and incentivize smaller owners or the state buying 598 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:26.769 social housing, we could actually impact housing, which is one 599 00:37:26.789 --> 00:37:31.079 of the driving factors For the not affordability of L.A., 600 00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:34.719 San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, you know. 601 00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:36.070 Yes, thank you. 602 00:37:36.429 --> 00:37:37.570 Yeah. 603 00:37:37.969 --> 00:37:39.869 And one of the other, I just love how you 604 00:37:39.909 --> 00:37:44.309 break things down. Increasing the number to the Supreme Court. 605 00:37:44.389 --> 00:37:47.210 I haven't heard anybody addressing that, the 12. 606 00:37:47.210 --> 00:37:49.909 Well, the Congress could do that. The Congress could do 607 00:37:49.969 --> 00:37:53.829 that with just a majority. What would take a constitutional 608 00:37:53.889 --> 00:37:57.539 amendment is term limits, which would actually be better because... 609 00:37:57.869 --> 00:37:59.730 We could end up with an arms race where each 610 00:37:59.949 --> 00:38:03.329 time one party controls Congress, they add more and more 611 00:38:03.369 --> 00:38:07.010 and more and more Supreme Court justices. We'd be at 500. 612 00:38:07.010 --> 00:38:08.739 But they could do it. They could do it tomorrow. 613 00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:11.639 If that, you know, not tomorrow, in January when they 614 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:12.260 get a majority. 615 00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:19.019 Yeah, so I just wanted to say that regarding this election, 616 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:21.440 I'm not really happy about the governor either. 617 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:24.070 Well, I'm not, you know, we got to see what 618 00:38:24.090 --> 00:38:26.210 he's going to do. I'll give Becerra a chance. I mean, 619 00:38:26.250 --> 00:38:29.920 he's a longtime Democrat. Let's see what he'll do. DeeDee, 620 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:31.739 I wish you would have called with more time left 621 00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:34.570 because you are a first-time caller, but hopefully it's not 622 00:38:34.610 --> 00:38:36.889 a last time we'll hear from you. I would love 623 00:38:36.929 --> 00:38:40.429 to talk with you again. Got to go. It's time 624 00:38:40.510 --> 00:38:45.530 for Tavis Smiley's show, always an engaging and excellent show 625 00:38:45.630 --> 00:38:47.889 to check out. Tap in with me on social media. 626 00:38:47.909 --> 00:38:51.559 We can talk there. I'm at Duprema Radio, D-I-P-R-I-M-A, and 627 00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:54.840 then radio. Also, the station is at KBLA 1580. Everywhere. 628 00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:59.800 We've got Friedman Friday tomorrow. You don't want to miss it. 629 00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:05.980 A great guest on tap for that. A first-timer, Mawuli Davis. 630 00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:09.260 Looking forward to that conversation. Gotta go. Like my dad, 631 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:12.400 the late, great Amiri Baraka once said, a person is 632 00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:14.489 either free or they are not free. There can be 633 00:39:14.530 --> 00:39:21.010 no apprenticeship for freedom. Until tomorrow, I'm Dominique DiPrima. One love.