Episode description

This week, Farai Chideya and her guests talk about whistleblowing in the tech industry, how ecofascism happens, and the second Trump impeachment trial. Ifeoma Ozoma, founder of Earthseed, talks about the discrimination she says she experienced as a Black woman working at Pinterest, and what she’s doing to protect more whistleblowers through a new California amendment. Technology contributor Mutale Nkonde breaks down why the way tech companies treat their employees impacts our everyday lives. And climate writer Mary Annaïse Heglar explains why how white supremacists engage with the climate crisis matters. Plus, Errin Haines of the 19th and Jess Morales Rocketto of the National Domestic Workers Alliance discuss the repercussions of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, pandemic relief from the Biden-Harris administration, and Stacey Abrams’ plan to strengthen our democracy.

EPISODE RUNDOWN

3:04 Ifeoma Ozoma talks about how Pinterest benefited from having her be the face of the company, and why she feels she was treated unfairly by those in more powerful positions.

5:37 Ozoma says the way tech companies treat employees like her is similar to the way they treat their PoC consumer base.

6:34 Ozoma talks about why she is working to get resources to whistleblowers in the tech industry, including protections through a proposed California legislation, the Silenced No More Act.

12:26 Contributor and tech expert Mutale Nkonde continues the conversation about discrimination in the tech industry.

13:45 Nkonde talks about Timnit Gebru, her significant research into artificial intelligence, and why her treatment at Google strikes so close to home.

17:41 Some of Nkonde’s recent research looks into a significant disinformation campaign during the 2020 Presidential election, that many newsrooms missed.

20:04 Climate writer Mary Annaïse Heglar talks about her work identifying ecofascism.

22:38 Heglar talks about how the climate crisis is a “threat multiplier.”

24:11 Heglar explains why she uses Twitter to call out fossil fuel companies for their wrongdoings.

28:10 Our weekly political roundtable “Sippin’ the Political Tea’ breaks down the ramifications of the second impeachment trial for the public, and the political parties.

29:42 Farai Chideya and Errin Haines of The 19th talk about the video of the January 6th insurrection that was played during the impeachment trial.

31:19 Jess Morales Rocketto talks about House delegate Stacey Plaskett and how female elected officials are using fashion to make a statement.

33:18 Chideya discusses the potential consequences of the impeachment trial for the Republican Party.

36:58 Haines discusses Vice President Kamala Harris’ role as an equal partner in the administration. 

39:30 Morales Rocketto says she wants to see the policies focused on helping immigrants, included in Covid relief negotiations.

40:43 Chideya says the pandemic relief plan gives Americans the opportunity to see what their government can do for them, and compares it to government aid in Europe.