Make It Plain with Mark Thompson

We see the term “contact tracing” pop up in the coronavirus conversation quite a bit, but what the heck is it anyway? How does it work, and how can it help? Dr. Keren Landman is a physician, epidemiologist, and journalist, who recently wrote the piece published on Medium titled, “Hey America, What Happened to Contact Tracing?” (link below). In today’s episode, she gives us an understanding of not just what it is, but how it has been used in the past why it’s such a bigger challenge with coronavirus. Mark and Dr. Landman also get into the other side of the coin: are we comfortable giving detailed personal information to the government? And where does tech fit into this conversation--are phone apps up for the task? Dr. Landman answers all these important questions and more. CLICK HERE to read Dr. Landman's piece on contact tracing: https://elemental.medium.com/hey-america-what-happened-to-contact-tracing-47a2dbccc020 Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment

David Shimer, author of "Rigged: America, Russia and 100 Years of Covert Electoral Interference," knows what Russia wants for the United States -- to undermine and discredit our democracy and turn our country into a weakened, corrupt version of itself. After interviewing 26 former advisors to Obama, a handful of Trump officials, and many other national security figures, David is helping us answer the question of "how can we prepare for 2020?" David's research goes well beyond the 2016 election and extends far into the past and across the world, assessing patterns that help us understand exactly what Russia is up to and why it's so difficult for the U.S. to respond. He details all of this in today's eye-opening episode. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: htt

Jobs were added in June, but as Chad Stone, Chief Economist for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, points out, we're still in a massive deficit from what was lost back in February. And now that social distancing has relaxed in many states, and coronavirus begins to surge again, "jobs are going to be disappearing already" from the 4.8 million that were gained last month. Mark and Chad break down individual demographics to better understand who is getting back to work and he lets us know why he thinks July's numbers are "almost surely" going to be worse than this report. But before we get to July, we're also taking a look at how state and government jobs have gotten clobbered, and it could get worse. There is so much more to the jobs report than the number of jobs added, and Chad is here to help us understand it all! Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for pr

Senator Doug Jones of Alabama joins Mark today for an in-depth discussion on everything happening in the U.S. right now, which, as you know, is a lot. Starting with coronavirus, the senator shares his thoughts on Republicans finally getting vocal about battling it with the most basic of recommendations, like masks and social distancing. Though it's better late than never, Senator Jones is concerned that they're too late to play catch-up and states are already suffering the consequences. And while cases are climbing, his focus has now shifted to the monetary burden school districts are experiencing because of coronavirus and his concerns for safely reopening schools in the fall. The conversation also covers the recent Black Lives Matter protests across the country in what the senator calls "a historic time," noting that "we should be a better America than we are, and we've got to do everything that we can to not let the moment pass." They also get into Trump's "white power&#

Markos Moulitsas, our personal polling whiz and founder of DailyKos and Civiqs, gives a hopeful outlook based on the latest numbers. Aside from noting that Biden is "within striking distance of getting 400 electoral votes," he feels confident that we'll flip the Senate in November. And that's not just because Senator Susan Collins is likely doomed, no thanks to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who she held the door for on his way in to his lifetime appointment. We knew that when he allegedly promised her he wouldn't vote against abortion rights, it didn't mean a damn thing, but now we have the proof. All this and much more in today's chat with Markos. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Gun rights" supporters are invested in protecting the 2nd Amendment, but often conveniently forget the 1st. Igor Volsky, Executive Director of Guns Down America, is back for today's episode of MIP and the first order of business is the intersection of gun violence and the recent protests for #BlackLivesMatter. Igor and his team looked at instances of firearms at protests from late May into early June, and found that out of 130 instances, 60 appear to be connected to white nationalists and white supremacists. And while we're raising our standards for gun ownership in this country, we should also be raising our standards of the companies we invest in. Guns Down America is now keeping tabs on how major brands (like your beloved Target) are handling the national call to end racism and if they're actually making changes beyond those posted to their timelines and feeds. CLICK HERE for more information on the topics discussed in today's episode: https://gunsdownamerica.org/ Executive Produce

Over the weekend the news broke that Russian bounties to Taliban-linked militants resulted in deaths of U.S. troops, according to intelligence assessments. Now Trump and his aides are dancing around whether or not he was briefed on this months ago. In today's episode, Mark talks with Retired Army Colonel Jasey Briley & Retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Malcolm Nance, who provide detailed background and historical context for understanding the significance of the story, consider if the military would escort Trump out of office if necessary, and address racism in the military. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It was the summer of 1999 and Julius Jones was a 19-year-old college student home for the summer. Before he could return to school that fall, he found himself locked up for a murder he didn't commit. This is the story of Julius Jones, an innocent man sitting on death row in Oklahoma, potentially receiving an execution date before the end of 2020. That's where Cece Jones-Davis comes in. She is a speaker, writer, and social advocate, now working on behalf of Julius as she leads the Justice for Julius Campaign. In today's episode, we hear the story of the crime that started it all, where his original defense team went wrong, the prosecutor they were up against (once named "2nd deadliest prosecutor in the U.S."), and all the ways in which the system failed the young, innocent man. Despite 20 trying years in prison, he hasn't given up hope for clemency, and Cece tells us about the growing momentum behind the campaign, which now includes the support of celebrities like Viola Davis, Trae Youn

Today's episode is a lesson in how the government seeks to weaken certain demographics by separating children from their families (especially when we're in the midst of a cultural uprising)--a tactic that is certainly not new, but more relevant than ever as COVID-19 rages on. "The Trump administration was able to accomplish what it set out to do in 2018 and 2019" to immigrants, says Dr. Laura Briggs, author of five books including her latest, "Taking Children: A History of American Terror." The administration has now effectively ended the legal asylum program, with only 2 people granted asylum in the U.S. since March. Meanwhile, in ICE Detention Centers, children are living in danger as the facilities put them at high risk for contracting coronavirus and officials aren't even reporting cases. Mark and Professor Briggs get into this and so much more, from CONTRA and the crack epidemic to the major flaws within the child welfare system. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Bri

Susie Madrak of CrooksandLiars.com had a 10-week illness that she suspects was a bout of coronavirus (you're going to have to listen to the episode to hear about her testing situation)--something that was "like a burglar hitting every room of the house" as she experienced everything from loss of taste and smell to difficulty breathing. And as a cancer survivor, she figured it best to employ a few methods that she now credits with saving her life. So what are her thoughts on Trump now actively working to reduce COVID testing? Well, it's part of his plan to make sure there isn't a large voter turnout in November, says Susie. After coronavirus talk, they get into possible Biden VP picks, Aaron Zelinsky's scathing testimony about Roger Stone and the Department of Justice, Michael Flynn's case inching toward dismissal, John Bolton's interview with Stephen Colbert, and the return of baseball as 40 MLB players and staff test positive for coronavirus over the last week. It's a mixe

If you're looking to support an organization that is doing the literal work to dismantle systemic racism, then look no further than Color of Change. Their team goes straight to the sources that are contributing to and supporting white supremacy--like the time they successfully pressured Mastercard to stop processing funds for hate groups and white supremacist organizations. Arisha Hatch is the Vice President and Chief of Campaigns and she joins today's episode to tell us about what they've got their sights set on next: cop reality shows that glorify and romanticize police brutality and racism. They're looking to get the show "Cops" off the air for good, and in the process, they're shining a light on sketchy relationships between production companies and police departments that let the departments be choosy about what content is shared and sometimes, evidence just happens to go missing. Lastly, this conversation would not be complete without discussing the org's hard work to fix

On the heels of the disturbing revelation that a noose was left in NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace's garage, Mark talks with Andrew Lawrence of MediaMatters.org, who says there's no difference between those who support the confederacy and those who support Trump--it's his ironclad base. The two also do some unpacking of recent Tucker Carlson broadcasts, which come complete with politicians suggesting that those considered "high risk" for coronavirus should sacrifice their lives for the economy and Carlson himself pushing the conspiracy that Black Lives Matter protests have the goal of white genocide. This episode has some heavy stuff but Andrew does not fail to bring some comedic relief--especially when he calls Trump a "tub of goo." Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & O

It's summertime, but school is in session with today's panel, folks! Last week, the Supreme Court handed down a historic ruling on Title VII, which now provides employment protections to LGBTQ+ people. But what does that actually mean? That's the focus of today's panel featuring Joshua Matz, Partner at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLC, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law School, Rev. Irene Monroe, Educator, Host of All Rev'd Up on WGBH in Boston, and Rick Rosendall, Columnist at the Washington Blade. Joshua Matz wrote a legal brief, along with Professor Larry Tribe of Harvard Law School, where they argued that this case is actually simple if you apply the plain text of the Civil Rights Act directly to the facts of the case, as you'll inevitably reach the conclusion--and that they did. Though the ruling is a huge step forward, the panelists agree this is one small piece of a larger push for equality. And as Rev. Irene Monroe points out, the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation must work harder to ce

Today is the final episode we will be sharing a personal poverty story ahead of the Poor People's Campaign holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington TOMORROW, June 20th. Today's speaker is India from Arkansas, who shares her experience with predatory landlords who exploit those living in poverty. Up next is a conversation with Majority Whip James Clyburn. The former history teacher holds class for us on Juneteenth and tells the story of the most significant person in South Carolina's history: Robert Smalls, a former enslaved person who recruited 40,000 African Americans into the Union Army and later became a Congressman. MORE INFO on the Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington: june2020.org Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-O

First up: The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Francine from Chula, MS, who has some words to share on the systems and politicians in this country that keep people poor. Next up is Sen. Kamala Harris, who, along with Sen. Cory Cooker and the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, authored the Justice in Policing Act, which seeks to hold police officers accountable when they break the law. It's not all-encompassing, as they know there are changes that need to be made at the community level, but it's a start--a start that holds consequences for murdering unarmed, innocent Black people. In this episode they discuss what's in the bill, including bans on choke-holds, subpoe

First up: The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Hope, a woman who experienced the military poverty draft and is now working to change the system that keeps people poor for generations. Next on today's agenda: is anyone surprised to learn the Trump administration is breaking the rules again? Charisma Troiano, Communications Director of Democracy Forward, says federal law (under the Affordable Care Act) requires a new special enrollment period to open when consumers are faced with "exceptional circumstances," like, say, a pandemic. But Trump hasn't done so, despite the fact that millions have lost their jobs and insurance because of coronavirus. In response to that, and on beha

The Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Karla, a deaf student who lost her much-needed financial aid when her dad got a raise. The rest of today's episode is devoted to the paradox of Blackness right now: am I willing to risk sacrificing my own life to save my own life? Mark explores that question with Akilah Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist currently covering the healthcare beat for ProPublica.org, who recently spent time talking with Black protestors who have to consider that very question as they head into the streets every day to stand up to police brutality. Hear what she learned from the people who are putting their immediate well-being on the line for what they hope will b

The Black community is experiencing a disproportionate amount of deaths from both the pandemic AND a police-demic, and the Action Center on Race and the Economy (ACRE) is at its intersection fighting for justice and searching for solutions. Maurice BP-Weeks, Co-Executive Director, and his colleagues at the organization were already working on the eviction crisis that was sparked by coronavirus outbreak; now, in the midst of a national uprising against policing, they're splitting their efforts to simultaneously research the ins and outs of police budgets, uncovering the hard truth that they're bloated with cash and get a hefty handout every time they ask. They're also looking at how we can move forward with specific demands, and deciding on what those demands should be, in order to make permanent change for police budgets in this country. Get into that and more in today's episode. Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content:

Choo choo! All aboard the hot mess express, destination: Georgia. This episode is essential listening for understanding how voter suppression works, with Georgia's primary election as our case study. The state's primary election, which was held on June 9th, was an absolute disaster, with voters mysteriously purged from voter rolls, polling location changes that weren't communicated to voters in time, and a whole lot of "weird" circumstances that prevented people from voting; but take it from Anoa Changa, Staff Reporter at ourprism,org, this situation is by design! And the real kicker is that politicians are using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to shut down polling centers completely, instead of relocating them to ensure citizens have access to exercise their right. Get a grip on this knowledge now to adequately prepare yourself for what you might be up against when you go to cast your vote in your state's primary, or worse, in the 2020 general election. Producer's Note: The

ICYMI yesterday's announcement, the Poor People's Campaign is holding a Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20th; every day leading up to that day of action, we'll be featuring real stories of struggle and poverty to raise awareness and make the subject a priority. That's what you'll find at the top of the episode, and today's speaker is Antoine, a 23-year-old fast food worker who only makes $7.25 an hour. The rest of today's episode is also about numbers, but of a different kind. Mark talks about Civiqs and polling quite a bit with founder Markos Moulitsas, but today we've brought in the organization's Director, Drew Linzer, to dive deeper. Civiqs has polled opinions towards the Black Lives Matter movement on a daily basis since 2017, and right now in the United States, it is the most favorably viewed political organization or politician among any national organization--including Trump and the former favorite, Barack Obama. Hear the breakd