Pod Save the People

DeRay speaks with Andy Slavitt, the former head of Obamacare for 3 years, who provides a brief update on the status of the healthcare legislation. Clint Smith joins DeRay and Sam to discuss the news, including updates from the Dept. of Education and Hawaii's recent legislation. FCC Commissioner Mignon joins to discuss the work of the FCC and Lee Petro, a lead lawyer working on prisoner rights, joins to illuminate the work of ensuring that the incarcerated can connect with loved ones.

DeRay sits down for a candid conversation with Katy Perry in person about race, cultural appropriation, allyship, political tension in her family and what Katy’s doing to grown and learn. DeRay chats with Clarence Wardell of Results for America about using data on policing, schools and the environment to foster American cities that work. Brittany, Sam and DeRay dive into this past week’s news including environmental conditions at prisons and the DOJ’s latest emoluments defense. This episode is dedicated to people taken from us in the Pulse nightclub shooting one year ago.

DeRay talks candidly with Congressman and DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison (MN-5th) about Resistance Summer, who’s on the 2020 Presidential bench, Comey’s upcoming testimony, Kushner’s security clearance, engaging black women in the DNC, and why we have to keep fighting for justice. DeRay, Sam and Brittany talk through this past week’s news, and DeRay shares new data on which federal elected officials are holding town halls alongside a conversation with Jimmy Dahman at The Town Hall Project.

DeRay, Brittany and Sam go deep on the past week’s news, including the economics of mass incarceration, emoluments, education budgets, and the troubling work to preserve Confederate monuments. DeRay speaks with Vanita Gupta, former head of the Civil Rights Division at DOJ, about civil rights retractions under Sessions, burning criminal justice questions and civil asset forfeiture. This episode is dedicated to victims of violence worldwide, past and present.

DeRay sits down to talk about voting rights with Carolyn DeWitt, Executive Director of Rock the Vote, Kristen Clarke, head of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, and Tomas Lopez of the Brennan Center for Justice. DeRay, Brittany and Sam spend extra time digging into the past week’s explosive news cycle, plus BET Award nominations.

DeRay speaks with Edward Snowden about his perspective on Trump's decision to fire FBI Director Comey, the intersection of race and surveillance, the relationship between the police and the government, and his thoughts about his own status returning to America.

DeRay, Brittany Packnett and Sam Sinyangwe are together again to talk about the most important news of the past week. Then, Grammy-award winning artist and activist John Legend joins DeRay to talk about parenting, women’s reproductive rights, mass incarceration and using his celebrity for good. And NYU professor and federal "numbers geek" David Kamin looks at Trump's proposed tax code changes through a historical lens.

In the inaugural episode, DeRay is joined by Senator Cory Booker to reflect on Trump's First 100 Days and the work that lies ahead in Congress. Andy Slavitt, the former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare join to discuss Obamacare as compared to TrumpCare. DeRay, Brittany Packnett and Samuel Sinyangwe talk about the most important items in the news for the past week.

Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson takes you inside conversations about culture, social justice, and politics by exploring the history, language, and people who are shaping the struggle for progress — and talking about the steps that each of us can take to make a difference.