The Rev. Mark A. Thompson has spent most of his life as a political, civil rights & human rights activist and organizer. He not only has been a part of every major social justice movement & event over the past 40 years, he has also been a radio broadcaster for three decades, and he has spent over 10 years as a television commentator, as well.
Rev. Mark hosts Make It Plain (MIP), a political, human rights and breaking news podcast. Rev. Mark’s lifelong social justice activism intersects with his years of experience broadcasting the news and issues of the day. Newsmakers, politicos, policy-makers, entertainers and athletes alike make MIP a frequent sojourn.In 2021, MIP was named among Best Civil Rights Podcasts, Best Human Rights Podcasts, Best Podcasts About Social Justice and Best Broadcast Television Podcasts.
Rev. Mark was honored at the 104th Annual NAACP Convention in Orlando in July 2013 “for 25 years of crusading journalism and outstanding leadership in furthering the work of civil and human rights.
Rev. Mark, is a Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers 2023 Inductee.
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Markos Moulitsas discusses the California recall, anti-vaxxers and Texas’s assault on Roe on this week’s Thursday Kos. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Did you know that the handful of guests invited on the top three news networks to comment on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan are also responsible for pushing for the invasion 20 years ago? Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters for America (MMFA) shows how that small group of guests appeared on those networks to discuss Afghanistan a total of 51 times in 10 days, ultimately shaping the coverage and giving little to no time for those who have been advocating for peace. And it shoul...
Voting and reproductive rights are under attack, reparations have not been paid, gun violence is a public health crisis, and our climate is worsening by the day. So it only makes sense that our country’s biggest civil rights leaders would gather in Washington D.C. for a historic Make Good Trouble Rally, in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, to fire up the masses and speak to the realities that we are collectively facing at this time. Today you will hear from: Congresswoman Cori Bush; LaTo...
Chad Stone, Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is back for his monthly diagnosis of our economy and our recovery since we fell into a COVID-19 recession. Where did we gain and lose, and what is the story behind the numbers? Chad breaks it all down from the August jobs report in today’s episode. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/...
Voting rights and reproductive rights are under attack, reparations have not been paid, gun violence is a public health crisis, and our climate is worsening by the day. So it only makes sense that our country’s biggest civil rights leaders would gather in Washington D.C. for a historic Make Good Trouble Rally, in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, to fire up the masses and speak to the realities that we are collectively facing at this time. Today you will hear from: Congressman Jamaal Bow...
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court refused to intervene when they were brought an emergency appeal for an egregious Texas law that effectively brings Roe v. Wade to an end. Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief,” explains that he believes the way we fight this is through expanding the court itself. But he’s already sweating the 2022 midterm elections, explaining why we have a difficult uphill battle and need to craft the proper messaging to ensure we g...
Daniel Markey is the author of “China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia,” and academic director of the Global Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. From 2007-2015, he was senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. He lends us his expertise on Afghanistan as he and Mark discuss the war that has spanned Professor Markey’s entire professional career. Professor Markey ex...
Dr. Amara Enyia is the Policy and Research Coordinator for Movement for Black Lives, and in today’s episode, she details a report the organization recently released, which demonstrates how the United States government persecutes activists with the hope of dissuading them from taking any kind of political action. Though it’s easy to blame red states like Florida for putting laws in place that would criminalize peaceful protest, the Biden administration is not off the hook, as they have yet to tak...
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh returns to MIP to discuss the $3.5 trillion dollar budget resolution recently passed by the House, which advances a bipartisan infrastructure bill and brings us a step closer to sweeping protections to our voting rights. Secretary Walsh explains how the infrastructure plan will leave no community behind, in an attempt to right the wrongs of history that previously left marginalized people out. He details the tangible ways we’ll see improvements in our communities a...
Back in July, Texas House Democrats left the state and headed to Washington D.C. in order to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass voting restrictions in order to suppress the vote. Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett (representing the 100th District) was one of those legislators, and she joins the show today, still holding strong in D.C., while some of her colleagues have decided to return to Texas therefore reinstating quorum. She explains that while she hopes they’re onto something she...
Markos Moulitsas is in for #ThursdayKos and he digs right into the latest numbers that show a dip in President Biden’s approval rating. He and Mark also take a look at the many opportunities Democrats could be seizing, if Republicans weren’t working overtime to stop them--and let us not forget how Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin make it that much more difficult. Markos also speaks to the realities of pulling out of Afghanistan. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple ...
The House has passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act, which is a significant step forward in protecting our democracy. Mark talks to us today about the history of voter suppression and how securing these legal protections are crucial in fighting racism and ultimately, tyranny. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: htt...
Fox News would like to you believe that the Afghanistan war is President Biden’s fault, but the irony is that some of the talking heads on the network were literally part of the administration that started it all with George Bush. Mark plays some network clips for us and discusses the origin of the war, and how the GOP would like to ignore the reality of history. Mark also gives us some more information on this weekend’s Make Good Trouble Rally happening in Washington D.C.. More information: www...
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) has justified the murder of Dana Mitchell Young Jr. (also known as Malik) by saying they mistook a black COVID-19 face mask he was wearing, for a handgun. He wound up dead in an alley and now his family wants answers--especially because the cop who murdered him has a violent history. Ms. Khadijah Shabazz is not just an activist and mother-in-law to Malik, but is also serving as spokesperson for her daughter who has filed a lawsuit against the LA Sherif...
The Biden administration has announced that vaccinated individuals will need a booster shot. Dr. Bechara Choucair is the White House Vaccinations Coordinator so he has the inside information on the two reasons we’ll need that booster, when we’ll need it, and when, exactly, the program will begin to roll out. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy...
Markos Moulitsas, Founder of DailyKos and Civiqs and host of podcast “The Brief” returns from his summer hiatus and we need to process all that’s happening. Markos provides insight on the situation in Afghanistan from his perspective as a veteran, and also explores the history of the war, spanning four presidents who all shoulder some level of responsibility, and how the U.S. literally built the Taliban army. Back on U.S. soil, what’s happening with Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin? And w...
July produced an impressively healthy jobs report, after a long COVID-19 recession, which gives Labor Secretary Marty Walsh a lot of hope for our recovery. He shares lingering concerns on the Delta variant, but believes in the $1.3 trillion dollar infrastructure bill that will assist in boosting the economy with better job training, more opportunities, and increased wages. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitpla...
Eric Boehlert, Writer and Publisher of Pressrun.media, is our fearless leader in covering the press, and how they cover news on Capitol Hill and across the country. In today’s episode, he digs into Chuck Todd’s overcompensation for the bias liberal media accusation, and wonders why White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has to continually defend President Biden’s trips to Delaware as the media tries to create a “gotcha” moment. And while they’re busy covering Biden’s weekend visits to his home, t...
New questions have emerged surrounding vaccinations: what’s the deal with boosters, especially for the immunocompromised? When will the vaccine start wearing off? Dr. Uche Blackstock, Founder of Advancing Health Equity, answers all that and more. She breaks down the difference between Emergency Use Authorization and the typical approval process, and fills us in on the Lambda variant and if it’s something to be concerned about just yet. Read more about Dr. Blackstock and Advancing Health Equity H...
We’re inching closer to the start of the school year, and parents, students, and school staff are wondering what that will actually look like, as the Delta variant of COVID-19 remains a big concern. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is with us today to discuss the Biden Administration’s large-scale plans for reopening safely and ensuring students have the support systems they need to get acclimated again--mentally, physically, and emotionally. And if you stick around to the end of the episode, ...
Michael Tomasky is Editor at The New Republic and in his latest, “Andrew Cuomo and the Line No Democrat Can Cross,” Michael explains why as recently as five years ago, Cuomo might have gotten away with the allegations against him. But these days, the Democratic party is holding their own to the appropriate standards when it comes to sexual harassment and assault. As for Republicans? Not so much. Michael details the stark contrast between the two parties, considering the likes of Rep. Matt Gaetz ...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has finally resigned--but the National Organization for Women has been calling for that since the reports of his alleged sexual harassment first emerged. NOW President Christian Nunes joins today to discuss the governor’s response to the allegations and his general handling of the situation, and how his failure to appropriately take responsibility reverberates out into our culture. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Enterta...
From voter registration all the way through to how ballots are counted--that’s how thorough Texas Republicans’ latest voter suppression tactics are. Gary Bledsoe is President of the Texas NAACP and he explains their new national push to warn Americans that Texas could become a blueprint for other parts of the country if we let these restrictions get signed into law. Some Texas Democrats are doing their part by leaving the state to prevent the passing of these laws, and a judge just blocked the a...
It’s time for our monthly check-in with Chad Stone, Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, who’s got the information we need to know from the July jobs report. We are still on the rebound and showing signs of a stimulated economy, but Chad lets us know what industries are still struggling, where we can expect seasonal adjustments, and where we stand in getting back to the jobs numbers we had pre-pandemic. Chad also explains where we stand with unemployment insurance, wher...
Earlier this week, President Biden signed an executive order that outlines a new goal to electrify America’s vehicles, with a goal of increasing the number of electric vehicles to half of all vehicles by 2030. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves joins the show to explain how the Biden administration plans to tackle that goal. Deputy Secretary Graves also digs into the infrastructure bill and highlights why it is crucial to pass it, because of what and who it invests in. Executive ...
Throwback episode! As we battle COVID-19 variants, we’re looking back on this conversation with Dr. Michael LeNoir, one of the nation’s top Black physicians, AAWP Founder and past president of the National Medical Association. Last winter, he released a PSA campaign that addressed the disproportionate effects COVID-19 has had, and will continue to have, on the Black community. Dr. LeNoir also speaks to concerns that are circulating within the Black community regarding the safety of the coronavir...
Texas Republicans are attempting to pass some of the most egregious voter suppression laws in the country, so Democrats left the state in order to prevent the laws from passing. The Poor People’s Campaign stands in solidarity with those legislators fighting for voting rights, and their leadership, including the Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, gathered with thousands of constituents and supporters alike over the weekend to stand up against Republicans and voter suppression. In...
It began as a lucky break that landed Noah Hurowitz on El Chapo’s beat, writing about his trial for drug trafficking and money laundering. Now, he put all his investigative work into his book “El Chapo: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Infamous Drug Lord,” which explores the Mexican kingpin’s rise to power. Noah also digs into the role of the U.S. government and how they use the war on drugs as a coercive element of foreign policy in Mexico--which is also the reason why they have no real des...
Fox News has mentioned Critical Race Theory more than 1,900 times in the past 3 ½ months, with 901 mentions in June alone. That’s according to Media Matters for America, as we hear from Sergio Muñoz, Policy Director, who explains Fox News’ devotion to demonizing anything that can and should be used to promote true racial equity. And Fox is not only using the academic theory to sow division, but also to destabilize the midterm elections. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple...
Mark reconnects with Tim Black, Host of Tim Black TV (link below), to continue their discussion on H.R. 40, where they have different points of view on how reparations should be carried out in America. We also get Tim’s take on voting rights, the situation with the filibuster, and the frustration that sits at the core of his criticism of how Democrats are handling business on Capitol Hill. Tim also discusses Nina Turner’s run for a seat in the U.S. House in Ohio’s 11th District, and if she’s get...
