State of Grace

in our favor Kansas. I can't believe I'm about to say this is the saving grace the state of Kansas, Folks, ladies and gentlemen, where you know it is a majority white state, and you know that I have been very vocal about my frustration with the lack of accountability and responsibility that white women take for upholding our democracy that when things are not affecting them personally, right, that you know, they're good to vote alongside their husbands and their boyfriends.

And you know, I was Lee of ye of little faith, because I'm going on twenty sixteen election results, I'm going on twenty twenty election results, and I'm going on the fact that Republicans have been really fucking suspect in their you know, under the cloak of darkness, maneuvering that they have been doing in order to get these abhorrent ballot measures on the box. You know, we all know that I think that the twenty twenty election was I believe the highest turnout that we have ever had, and I

still don't think that it reached seventy percent. Right, we are still at a pace where supposedly everybody who is a citizen of these United States and above the age of eighteen and older are eligible to vote. And what we all have always found and have always seen is that there is a pretty much about forty percent of the population that doesn't vote, let alone, and that's in presidentials, let alone in mid term elections. Well guess what Republicans

did not count on. Or maybe they thought that we would just lay back and take their push towards authoritarianism and stripping away one right after the other. Maybe we would take that just lying on our backs. Maybe we, you know, wouldn't notice that now women and people with uterus is in a majority of states in this country

have no recourse to an abortion. That not only do they have no recourse in the state and have to pay the penalty of being able to travel take off time from work, but in some instances like we've seen in Texas. They have criminalized, right, criminalized abortion. We saw what happened with the state of Indiana, who was the state that in Ohio ten year old rape victim needed to travel to in order to seek an abortion from

a rape victim at six weeks and three days. And let me pause for a minute on that note, because I heard something the other day that, again, if I was running messaging for the Democratic Party, this ship would

be light work. Right. So I heard the other day that Republicans are tripping over themselves to talk about the ten year old rape victim as if she was in a relationship with a grown ass man, right, referring to it as a relationship, talking about teen and tween girls as if they have the capability to be able to become parents and deal with the physical not even speaking of the emotional, but the physical trauma to their bodies of pregnancy, right, that they are literally doing mental gymnastics.

This group that is all about following the qan on bullshit theories around pedophilia and the lies that they fucking spread, and they see no hypocrisy whatsoever in the bullshit that they would spew at Democrats. That are supporting trans kids, right, because this is where this all came from. Is LGBTQ people right being inserted into oh, I don't know, American history, American education and curriculum, going so far as to pass bills that don't say gay because we don't want to

have groomers. But then these same people, these very same fucking people, turn around and want to tell you that, oh, it's gay people and drag queens reading stories that are grooming your kids. But they're talking about a ten year old in a fucking relationship with a grown ass fucking man, and they're talking about a thirteen year old girl being totally able to become a parent, Like, are we in

the nineteenth fucking century? Because again, if I'm doing messaging for the Democratic Party, all I'm taking are these motherfucker's own soundbites, right, and putting that over an ad that says they don't see you as people, You are incubators, you are ovens, right for the purpose of authoritarianism and patriarchy,

that's it, right, they don't care. It's amazing to me that they have the audacity at times to once again go after places in the Middle East, right, places on the continent of Africa and talk about the treatment of women and girls, right, and stand on some fucking high horse. And yet you have Republicans now trying to convince the populace that ten year olds should be parents. How does that even make sense? Right? But again, this is the party that produced a man that talked about rape and

legitimate rape the fuck. So nonetheless, in a turn of events that makes me you have to consider what this feeling is that I'm having, what this glimmer is that I'm having? And friends, dare I say, I believe it's hope? Because Kansas people turned out at presidential voting levels to smack down that ballot measure that would have extinguished access

to a board in the state of Kansas. Now, if you listen to my conversation yesterday with our friend doctor Jonathan Mezo, Jonathan had pointed out to me, He's like, look, Kansas isn't like Texas. Kansas isn't like Alabama or Mississippi. It's actually a fairly moderate state. And because you know of my prejudices, which I'm fine to say, you know, living on the East Coast and being a product of New York, and then you know, of Washington, DC being the furthest fucking South that I went in my life

to live. I have a distorted view, you know. I don't have the same view or understanding of what is moderate and what is just you know, Trump country. So Jonathan was in fact right when he said, you know, this is going to be something to watch. It isn't just a given that the people of Kansas are going to sit back and allow their access to abortion and

their rights to be taken away. And they didn't. So let me read you a little bit of this article from CNN which reads this thunderclap ballot box victory on abortion rights in Kansas gives Democrats a potent midterm issue. And I'll get into the reason why they are saying that now. It is a potent issue for Democrats because, remember, friends, abortion is something that has been the third rail in politics.

While Democrats have always pronounced themselves to be pro choice, they also are the ones that came up with the terminology around abortion needing to be you know, safe and rare right, And the pushback from progressives over the last decades plus has been abortions need to be safe and whenever the fuck you need one right, But it was this distinction again falling into this stereotype in trope that abortion is something that people with uterus is use as

birth control, which if you actually cared right about numbers and statistics and truth and facts, you would know that we had been experiencing a significant decrease, like decades of decades decrease in the amount of abortions that are even done in this country. Why because we have robust access to contraception, right, and those things go hand in hand. But when you have Republicans wanted to strip away abortion, wanted to strip away access to birth control, well, what

are they saying? Women are nothing women and people with uteruses are nothing more than incubators. We don't give a fuck if you are able to be in the workforce. We certainly are not going to support you with paid maternity leave or paid parental leave. We certainly are not going to support you with having to pay for childcare services or making it even so that the companies that you do work for are required to have daycare right,

are required to offer you these things. They don't want to put the burden on anyone but the people, the citizens of this damn country, right, because as sure as fuck don't want to put the burdens on employers. They say, oh no, no, no, you know won't That won't allow them to make the robust profits that the shareholders and CEO's need. Right. But at the same time, you turn around and you realize everything, all of it is about

punishing women and people with uteruses. It is also about taking away power, right, taking away bodily autonomy, taking away the ability to map out your own economic future. Because you see, if I can't decide when, where, and if I want to become a parent and I'm not in the financial situation to be able to become a parent that can support another mouth to feed, then you are robbing me of my ability to set up my economic

future in a way that is stable. There's a reason why people wait later in life to have kids now. It's one because women in particular are still penalized from leaving the workforce for pregnancy. Even if you are given a sizable maternity leave. That then you got a cobble together with disability leave, and got a cobble together with something else to be able to have the first six months of your fucking child's life with them at home.

Getting back into the workforce, you're still looked down upon. I don't care what people say. You have missed time and now when you were taking time, whether it's to take your child to the doctor's appointment, to take them to the dentist as they get older, to be able to go to parent teacher conferences. It's men that are celebrated from being able to take that time. But women in the workforce, you are completely looked down upon and

become a burden to set employer. And again, we have recourse now that allows you not to be fired if in fact you are pregnant, but that doesn't mean that the culture and the climate is set up for your success. Right, So, when we look at the pushback that happened in Kansas, this is what was said as Republican controlled state legislatures around the country race to outlaw the procedure in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Traditionally conservative Kansas, given the chance to directly respond at the ballot box, denied their own elected leaders the chance to revoke a right that has broad support across swaths of independent polling. They go on to say the rejection of the measure highlighted the increasingly stark divide between the activities of Republican state lawmakers, often in legislature's gerrymandered to effectively guarantee GOP control, and the political and policy desires

of American voters in more immediate terms. The ballot measures defeat on a day of extraordinary turnout also provides a clear indication that the desire to defend abortion rights could be a potent issue for Democrats in the coming midterm elections. And folks, I'll tell you, let me read this little point and then give you my thoughts. The polling from a variety of sources is unambiguous and consistent across party lines. Abortion rights are popular, and the Supreme Court's ruling is not.

The most recent CNN poll found that sixty three percent of Americans disapproved fifty one percent strongly of the Court's decision. The Kaiser Family Foundation came to a similar conclusion, with sixty one percent of respondents to their surveys saying they wanted their state to guarantee access to abortion, only twenty

five percent them to restrict it. So I want you to think about that for a minute, right because that twenty five percent is what is important, because when we think right again, let's think about this all, folks, as like a fucking ven diagram right now, when you think about the one circle of people who voted for Donald Trump in twenty sixteen and twenty twenty, put that on top of the people who also believe the big lie.

Put that on top of the people who refuse to get vaccinated, right, Put that now on top of the people who believe that America should turn into a Christio fascist state. It's that twenty five percent, right, It is twenty five damn near thirty percent of the population that

is on board with this bullshit. Where our problem comes in, as the fucking majority, is that we are not at the decision level, right, And what is the decision level I'm talking about, oh, the Supreme Court, the nine lords of this country who are not elected by anybody but

instead appointed by the President of the United States. Well, in the last two Democrats that we've had, right, each of them has gotten one appointment, with Donald Trump getting three because Mitch McConnell stole one of them and jam through another one with absolutely no pushback whatsoever other than

finger waves. So The reality here is that when you care about polling because you are trying to vie right for the people's favor, then you don't make decisions like how Republicans have moved and made decisions to turn America

into their moral Disneyland. But you see, folks, there's something else, And this is why we need to consistently talk about voting rights and access to voting and jerrymantoring right because what this article said at the top is that you're talking about Republican controlled state legislatures that have been jerrymandering the fuck right out of their states and precincts to make sure that they are able to choose their voter as opposed to the voter being able to choose their leader.

So when we are doing right conducting all of these polls about where the American people are, well, if you no longer need to actually rely on convincing the voter, but rather just making sure that the right voter votes for you, and that you're closing down precincts or you know, erasing voter roles, or you know, doing everything that you can to make it impossible for people of color and young people and people that are disabled to actually be

able to vote. Well, then you don't need to be concerned. You won't trouble yourself with fucking poll numbers because that doesn't matter because you don't care. And again, if I were leading messaging for the Democratic Party, this is what I would be making the case explicit. Right, I would make this case explicit. Republicans don't care about polls. They don't care about your desires. They don't care about your future. They don't care about making the world and this country

a better place for you. They care about their own comfort, their own wealth, and their own power and access. How do I know that to be true? Because a majority of people do not want the bullshit that Republicans are trying to jam down their throats, but because they have been allowed in broad fucking daylight to jerrymander the fuck out of their states. This is where we are indisputable with Doctor Rashid Ricci is one of the latest shows on the TYT Network and also the fastest growing news

show in America. On his show, to Ricci plays no games regarding policy, delivering a heavy dose of fact based truth and penetrating analysis on all the top news stories, focusing on racism, criminal and social justice, politics, police brutality, Karens, and much more. Listeners can also expect interviews with fascinating guests, political leaders, commentators, and even fiery debates with conservatives on

a wide range of policy topics. In the Bullpen, it is an indisputable fact that you will love this show. Listen to Indisputable with Doctor rashad Ricci on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode. Hey, I'm David Plots of Slaves Political Gabfest. As another election season accelerates, it can be tricky to

sort through all the noise and the news. Each week, on the Gapfest, John Dickerson, Emily Bathlon and I decipher the headlines, break down the races, and tell you what issues really matter. We do not always agree, We definitely do not always agree, but we always deliver thoughtful debate and we always have a good time. So subscribe to

Slate's Political Gapfest, new episodes every Thursday. So I think that it is, you know, folks, really important for us right to pay attention and to tell the truthful story right about where this country is and where it is right now and rightfully so is in a place of

pure rage. The question that has been being asked since the overturning of the Dabs case, which was effectually overturning Roe v. Wade that the Supreme Court and Justice Solito did, and then in the concurrent opinion and the concurrent decision, Clarence Thomas put a big spotlight on what else they are coming after When they readjourn right when they come back together, the American people are saying, not on my fucking watch. And that is what is giving me hope.

Nine hundred thousand people in Kansas turned out to vote. That is on par with who came out to vote in the presidential election. These people not only did they sneak this ballot and mission measure on right, not only did they sneak this measure on in the mid terms when they know that turnout is low and attention is low, but then they sent out right all of these like wrongly worded questions and robo calls that were just spreading lies to confuse people so that they would not show up.

And again, if you are spreading fucking bullshit and lies right. That means that you know your shit ain't popular, because if it was, and you would be singing it from the tops of every hills and mountain, knowing that the people would flock to you, regardless of the nefarious strategies that you're going to put in place to try and make sure that either they don't know the right day to vote, they don't know if a yes is actually the yes that they want, or if it's to know right.

You wouldn't do any of those tactics. So you know, as as the many pundits and polsters, we're covering the returns and we're still waiting on some other big races. And you know, we know that the Trump backed folks in Arizona and in Michigan did really well, right. We know that those that were in other places did not. But the fact is is that Trump still has considerable power over the Republican Party. It doesn't matter that the man is a full on criminal, it doesn't matter that

he has multiple court cases against him. It doesn't matter that the man who is so disgusting fucking buried his

first wife on his goddamn golf course, Like what the fuck. Nonetheless, I think that this is a pivotal moment for Democrats to not mince words, to not play it fucking safe, right, and to recognize that, guess what, it just so happens that taking away bodily autonomy from a majority of this country is not a good idea, and that now more than ever, if you are running for office, I don't care what level of office you are running for, if you are not being fervent in your opinions about what

this country needs and who is trying to destroy it, if you are not speaking feverishly about abortion, bodily autonomy, power, and the ability to chart one's own course, which is the tenant foundation of what it means to be an American,

what it means to actually be free. And if we're not tying the words liberty and justice and freedom to these things, we are missing an opportunity because the people are showing us exactly where they are, and they are not going to go quietly into the cold, dark night as Republicans had hoped. And I tell you, folks, that pressure creates two things. It can create an explosion, it

can create a diamond. And I'm saying right now that I need fucking Democrats to be mining right, to be following taking the lead from the voters, taking the lead from the voters who are telling you stand up for us, fight for us. I said this the other day on Mary Lle Trump. I have joined her round Table of Avengers what she calls the nerd Avengers, and they Mary l. Trump does a show on that is live on YouTube every Tuesday that I'll be joining with an amazing panel

of people. Many of the guests have been on woke Ay app. But one of the things that I was asked this week was, Danielle, what can democrats do? What should democrats do? It's a question, folks that I am asked every single time that I am being interviewed. And what I say and what I continue to say and what I will say again, tell the fucking truth right, do not mince words, do not half step, do not not say things with the full throatedness and the puffing out of your chest. We are in the fight for

our lives. The people of Kansas got that fucking memo right. And I cannot believe once again that I'm using the people of Kansas as an example of what it means to show up and show the fuck out but I am, and I will applaud people where they need to be applauded, and these good people need to be applauded. I have also continued to say to my lovely white listeners, particularly white women right, use this what happened in Kansas as your rallying cry to get your sister and together right.

Do not assume that your book club, your soul cycle class, your plant group, you know, is on board with abortion and willing to fight for it. You got to ask the hard questions, You got to offer the hard probes, and you got to tell people young and old are you registered to vote? Have you checked your registration lately?

If you know that you are in a red state that likes to play fuck around with the roles, we need you to be as activated and engaged not only on issues that affect you, but use your power and your privilege to uplift the issues of others whose voices, sadly are not given as much weight and power as yours. Is what would it look like if, in the way that we are seeing white women galvanize around abortion, if

they did that around voting rights as well. What would it look like if they did that around police reform as well, that instead of something needing to personally affect you, that you say to yourself, what kind of world do I want to live in? Do I want my family to live in? And what power do I have to

actualize that for them? Because I can't imagine that a majority of people in this country want their kids to inherit air that they can't breathe water that they can't drink, right, that are never going to be in the economic position to be able to buy a home, to own a car, to go to college. Right, everybody wants the same goddamn things, friends, and it is the ability to feel safe, to live free, right, and to pursue your own American dream without obstacle or oppression.

So can we give these people all right the benefit of the doubt and say your struggle is my struggle, recognizing that we are all linked, right, that all of us have the same desires. We may go about the tactics differently, but we have the same desire to live free and safe and healthy and to pass on those tenants to our children. So if you are in a place of power and privilege, access it, use it, and not just only for your own benefit. That is it for me today? Dear friends on Woke a f as always,

power to the people and to all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.