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 ...
Jun 02, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 71
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...
Jun 01, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 70
Today we're giving you ANOTHER special double episode starting off with Rep. Eric Swalwell on his Twitter takedown of former acting DNI Richard Grenell and whether Russia will exploit the tension over #GeorgeFloyd. Then comes more Russia talk with Max Bergmann, Director of The Moscow Project, on Trump's desperate grab for a scandal with "Obamagate," the detail you might have missed in the first phase of the FBI's investigation of Russian collusion in 2016, and why Max thinks Democrats need to re...
May 29, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 69
As our country is faced with yet another senseless murder of an innocent black man, we feel it deeper than ever that we must elect officials who understand what it means to protect and serve constituents; that kind of support is what you get with Sybrina Fulton. You may know her as the mother of Trayvon Martin, but you might also know her for her more than 20 years of service to Miami-Dade County, where she is a lifelong resident. Now she's running for Miami-Dade County District 1 Commissioner, ...
May 28, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Globally, the number of coronavirus cases has started to rise again. And with 31-percent of all cases occurring in the United States, that's concerning to Sam Smith, Publisher of Prorev.com. He gets into the problematic ways some states are reopening, as well as some talk on Biden--why he thinks Elizabeth Warren is not a strategic pick for VP, and how his "you ain't black" comment serves as a reminder that we're voting for so much more than a president. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer...
May 27, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Defying science and not wearing a mask are actions not just synonymous with support for Trump, but also express a specific worldview even bigger than the Donald, says Michael Tomasky, Special Correspondent for The Daily Beast in today's episode. Aside from that, Michael tells us how he thinks the country has transitioned into a "competitive authoritarianism," defined as a country that has the trappings of a democracy, but one party continues to control both elections and the country. You NEED to...
May 26, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Trump is attacking vote-by-mail and early voting, and Senator Amy Klobuchar wants you to stay ahead of the curve, and she lets us know what you can do to ensure your vote is cast in November. She's also been working on quite a bit of legislation, including a bill she authored that will get new types of job training for people who are out of work due to coronavirus, as well as a bill to help struggling non-profits. She also has some questions about why Trump's henchmen are getting released from p...
May 25, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 65
60-percent of black women over the age of 65 live 200% below the poverty line. More than half of black women over 65 live with food insecurity. That's what's on Rep. Stacey Plaskett's mind right now, as she fears those vulnerable populations are falling through the cracks during this pandemic. In today's episode, she discusses this concern as well as overall food insecurity for Americans, and why Dems aren't waiting on Mitch McConnell to supply the kind of aid this country actually needs in the ...
May 22, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Stacey Abrams or Elizabeth Warren -- which one should be Joe Biden's VP pick? Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs, thinks he knows which way Biden is leaning, and he shares that insight on each with us in today's episode. Markos also brings to our attention something else Dems should be aware of--polling shows our party is less unified behind Biden than we were during Hilary's 2016 run. Listen to the episode then head to YouTube for Markos' new show "The Brief." Executive Producer: ...
May 21, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In North Carolina, an armed militia of stay-at-home protestors, complete with what appeared to be a bazooka, first harassed a black family walking outside, then entered a Subway for some sandwiches. Igor Volsky, Executive Director of Guns Down America, wants to know why Subway has remained silent in condemning the group who have direct ties to white nationalism and a specific group that is working to start a race war. Get into the details in today's episode then head to SubwayMustAct.org to get ...
May 20, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Catherine Herridge was the "face of Benghazi" for Fox News, says Eric Boehlert, Publisher of pressrun.media, and now she's leading the "Obamagate" charge from her position as National Security Reporter at CBS. But that's not all she's been up to, and Mark gets into it with Eric in today's episode, as well as some other news network behavior that is blatantly wasting opportunities to hold Trump directly accountable for his failed coronavirus response. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: B...
May 19, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 61
The conversation around gun ownership is changing after our nation experienced the horrific murder of Ahmaud Arbery--black families are now considering what their options are to protect themselves, but also recognizing the double standard. Josh Horwitz is the Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and Kayla Hicks is the Director of African-American and Community Outreach, and they join Mark today to discuss the potentially deadly challenges of black gun ownership and tackling t...
May 18, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Are you or someone you know struggling to afford food during this pandemic? There's a map for that, says Lorrie Clevenger, Director of US Programs for the Grassroots Action Network. She and Alison Cohen, Senior Director of Programs at WhyHunger, join today's episode to tell us about the Find Food COVID Map (link and phone number below), the change in eligibility requirements, and how their organizations are adapting and expanding to meet the rise in demand during coronavirus. Looking for a way t...
May 15, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Brandon Gassaway, National Press Secretary of the DNC, joins the show to discuss tonight's FREE virtual forum, "Making The American Dream Accessible and Affordable to Black Men" (registration link below). They also talk New Orleans experiencing Hurricane Katrina déjà vu, DNC convention plans, and some thoughts on the Michael Jordan miniseries "The Last Dance." We then hear from Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos, Civiqs, and Host of the daily YouTube show "The Brief," for the latest on what's...
May 14, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 58
You might be eligible for SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, because of how the coronavirus has impacted your life (and in some states, they've changed their rules to accommodate the increase in struggling citizens). According to Rose Afriyie of mRelief, a quick 3-minute self-assessment on their site will determine if you are, and if you or someone you know doesn't have internet access, they've got you covered! Listen to today's episode to hear about the super easy process to access t...
May 13, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 57
The United States government could implement a permanent universal basic income, says David A. Love, Executive Editor of BlackCommentator.com, but they won't, because it would expose the system of capitalism in America. There's also a connection to the administration's blatant racism. Mark and David explore this tangled web and more on today's episode of Make It Plain. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.c...
May 12, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 56
The April jobs report shows the worst unemployment numbers since the Great Depression. Despite the fact that it wasn't a surprise, it's still a painful realization that presents a lot of open-ended questions and challenges. Mark and Chad Stone, the Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, get into the specifics on economy recovery, stimulus checks, an explainer on the wage growth that came along with last month's jobs numbers, and more. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Pro...
May 11, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Why is paid leave not guaranteed in America? We are one of the only countries in the world that does not have a cohesive national paid leave policy, says Dawn Huckelbridge of the Paid Leave for All Act, even though it ends up saving the federal government money in the long run. In today's episode Dawn talks about the demand from both sides of the aisle for access to emergency paid sick family and medical leave in the midst of coronavirus, and what they're doing with Paid Leave for All to make th...
May 08, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Did you know white women are the only demographic who sway back and forth on their approval for Trump? Markos Moulitsas, founder of DailyKos and Civiqs, is on for #ThursdayKos and he breaks down three major Republican voting blocs and where they stand right now on Trump. They also get into Tara Reade's allegations against Joe Biden and how these situations are handled on each side of the aisle. Plus a little debate on who Biden's VP pick should be. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Bri...
May 07, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 53
The truth of the matter is this: we don't know what state our country will be in when November rolls around--if we'll be in quarantine, if coronavirus will be back with a vengeance--we just don't know. That's why Tiana Epps-Johnson, Executive Director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, says we need a plan that involves technology to lessen the need for people to show up in person on Election Day. Smoother processes and more options are a start, but listen to today's episode with this tech ex...
May 06, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 52
What if internet access were a utility we were guaranteed with housing, just like cable and electric? That's what Elandria Williams, Executive Director of PeoplesHub is thinking about lately, and strategizing the ways that could become a reality. And in a time where we are so disconnected, we need that access more than ever, especially in communities dominated by people of color who rely on personal connection to lift them up in trying times. Listen to today's episode and head to peopleshub.org ...
May 05, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Last week, armed civilians conducted their version of a protest at the Michigan capitol to demand the lock-down be lifted, a display to threaten both civilians and lawmakers, says Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Meanwhile, gun sales continue to surge--and all of this fuels the work that Moms Demand Action does every day. Shannon tell us that long after the coronavirus ends, Americans will still be suffering the consequences of the spike in gun ownership, re...
May 04, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 51
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 ...
May 01, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 50
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...
Apr 30, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 49
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 Hildr...
Apr 29, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 48
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 misinfo...
Apr 28, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 47
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 I...
Apr 27, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 46
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...
Apr 24, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 45
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 da...
Apr 23, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 44
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...
Apr 22, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 43
