Let's face it, sometimes the world feels broken. We can see what needs fixing, yet more and more, it feels like the problems are too big and the bad guys are wi...
How to Stand Up to Project 2025 and Save Public Education
Stacey talks to Kate Nazemi, a local education activist and parent, and Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, about the future of public education during a second Trump Administration. They break down Project 2025’s education policy prescriptions, the threats to the Department of Education, and what changes a President can and cannot make. Then, they discuss how to best get involved at the local level to make change in your community – from attending local school board meetings, to writing to your local representatives. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.Learn & Do More: Check out the work of Advocates For Inclusive Education @afiebucks on Instagram, or at their websiteMake a list of people in your network and community that are working to do good, or could be potential partners for good.Follow the work of Jon Valant and The Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, or check out Chalkbeat, a nonprofit newsroom devoted to covering education across the United States.
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How We Can Take Democracy Back with Ballot Initiatives
Stacey talks to Rachel Sweet, who has successfully used ballot initiatives in tough states to change the rules. Most recently, she served as campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the coalition that passed abortion rights via a ballot measure in Missouri during the November elections. They discuss how ballot initiatives can be a tool for positive change, even in conservative states, and how to build coalitions at the state and local level to protect and expand our rights during a second Trump administration. Then, Stacey answers a listener question about the power of leading with compassion in difficult political moments – instead of reacting with only anger.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.Learn & Do More: Visit the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center at Ballot.OrgVisit Indivisible.org to learn more about getting involved in the legislative process in your state
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How We Can Fix Hunger, Food Deserts, and a Broken System (with Chef Tom Colicchio)
Stacey talks to renowned chef, activist, and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio about why the United States has a food insecurity crisis despite being the richest country in the world — and why this issue is especially pressing with an incoming Trump administration. They discuss what can be done to address the problem head on, including what Colicchio has learned from years of advocating for school lunches and solving for food deserts on Capitol Hill. Then, Stacey answers a listener question about what the potential appointment of Robert F. Kennedy will mean for the FDA, CDC, and America’s health in general. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast. We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.Learn & Do More: Watch the documentary “A Place At The Table”Visit Double Up Food Bucks to see if your state has this program, or how to get it thereCheck out Food Research and Action Center for information on your state’s school meal programsSupport the Eco-Friendly Mobile Farm Stand ProjectDonate to children and families in need at your local food bank, Feeding America or No Kid Hungry.
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Plotting Our Way Forward by Looking Back at History (with Heather Cox Richardson)
Stacey speaks with historian Heather Cox Richardson to see what history can teach us about moving forward after Trump’s reelection. They discuss strategies for countering disinformation, how Democratic leaders are preparing to use states’ rights to their advantage to challenge Trump’s federal overreach, and how the era following William McKinley’s presidency can be a guide for progressives. Then, Stacey answers questions from the audience on how to get involved in politics, and how to respond to community in this post-election environment. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.Learn & Do More: Read Heather Cox Richardson’s nightly newsletter, “Letters from an American”, or her book, “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America”.Build community and find ways to help locally at Unitedway.org
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Stacey’s Post-Election Message and The Power of Music
Stacey offers a reflection and a call to action to move beyond resistance and into insistence after the re-election of Donald Trump. Then she speaks with Grammy, Pulitzer, and MacArthur Genius Grant winning musician Rhiannon Giddens about the connection between politics and art. Giddens dives into the way categorization divides the music industry, the deep and multicultural history of the banjo, and how she has put her unique stamp on every genre from opera to folk music.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.Learn & Do More: Watch the documentary Stacey Abrams and Selena Gomez produced called “Louder: The Soundtrack of Change”.Support independent musicians like Rhiannon Giddens and her group The Silk Road Ensemble.Plan ahead for Biscuits And Banjos, a festival Giddens is organizing dedicated to the reclamation and exploration of black music, art, and culture.
Let's face it, sometimes the world feels broken. We can see what needs fixing, yet more and more, it feels like the problems are too big and the bad guys are winning. But the truth is, they’re not. They’re just hoping we stop fighting.
Welcome to Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams, a new podcast from Crooked Media and Democratic changemaker Stacey Abrams. Stacey knows better than anyone that societal shifts happen when a group of ordinary people decide that a problem is solvable, and are willing to pitch in and work towards the solution.
Each week, Stacey will break down the biggest issues we face into digestible, actionable items, introduce us to the warriors for good already working towards solutions, strategize, and share tangible ways to get involved. Because we can't fix everything, everywhere, all at once; but we can each do something, somewhere, soon.
USA