Mike: This was enlightening! It becomes clearer to me that the Democrats need to talk about what the party stands for in more "simple talk" than talking about who they represent. If that makes sense. No easy answer, but a work in progress. Hopefully, the answer won't come too late!
You have presented a very interesting POV, Mike. It could be good in the long run in the move towards a more plural society, even if ending it now might not be good in the short term.
My social media circles/forums, who are more upbeat and less doom and gloom than the regular internet discussions, seem to think that this won't result in a worst case scenario. Some thought the arguments went better than what they expected. It's possible that the VRA will remain in place, but harder to prove Section 2. Or if they do away with it, they won't it immediately, because of the chaos that would unleash. Who knows what this SCOTUS will do. There wasn't a uniform conservative opinion of how to procceed and some of them had some questions about how would doing away with the VRA would work.
Thanks Mike. The reality of what you were talking about was very hard to hear, but makes a lot of sense, and also explains a lot….especially part of what happened in 2024, and will keep happening if the Democratic Party doesn’t wake up. Wish you would enlighten Democratic leadership, or anyone that has influence over the party. How about Mike Nellis? You’ve been on his show a few times. Great info, appreciate your passion and knowledge.
I'm glad you pushed past the internet issues and did this session today. I've come to appreciate listening to viewpoints that make me uncomfortable, and this was one of those discussions--not because of what you were saying (I agree), but because it shed light on yet another blind spot for the Democratic party. But being uncomfortable means my viewpoints are being challenged. When this happens, I know it is time to stop talking, listen, and remind myself that if I'm comfortable with everything I hear, it usually means I'm learning nothing.
My encouragement for the Democratic Party would be to listen to independents more. There isn't a more pathetic listener in the party, right now, than Chuck Schumer. I don't think the party has learned a single thing over the past decade. Politics as usual.
I've been experiancing this mindset on the ground locally. I'm fact, I'm done talking about the Latino vote to my town chair because I basically feel like this important data and information is getting ignored. Very frustrating. I spent time with one of the local candidates this past summer and she even took notes! I came prepared with data. I told her that I would canvas with her in the Latino community - that hasn't happened. Meanwhile, the Latino community is regularly getting harassed and kidnapped by ICE! This is not to say that Latinos don't live outside a Latino conclave because they do. At the same time, the community has new, young voters who want to know how they should vote, who they should support. They are very concerned.
Please tell me that this video will be available later. I'm at work and listening but would like to re-listen to this. Incredibly important POV, Mike!!!!
I HEAR you, but you ought to be aware that what you're descrbing is not true CULTURALLY, & while this doesn't speak to our immediate dilemma, it's going to RADICALLY reshape America, both politically & culturally, in the very near future.
Nothing erroneous about fighting fascists back in kind with California’s match to Texas, equal measure in kind defense played imho— but I agree, this is basically saying, “So sorry, unless you win the infinitely Redder state you will be out of your safe Blue seat in the House before long Dems” by Reps to lock Dems in a permanent minority between this and gutting the VRA.
In Texas, in particular, the GOP are aware Latinos there are swing voters now more than even Latinos nationally and they are aware the top of the ticket has been getting other Dems in the House over the line by protecting them from the Rep on top of ballot— Abbott is outright pure evil imo, but he’s as intelligent and of a very high IQ so he knows exactly what he’s doing sadly here.
For what it’s worth, I belong to a racial group whose voting patterns are changing, like you said. College admissions based on affirmative action is a huge topic. My answer to that? I don’t trust the Republicans at all no matter what they say. I don’t trust the people whose prejudices made affirmative action necessary in the first place. If they were truly about merit-based admissions, they’d do away with legacy admissions. They would never touch that because it advantages whites at everyone else’s expense. Besides, you can often get a better education from a good, but non-Ivy school because they try harder for their students. You’re given more resources and mentoring than you’d otherwise get at an Ivy. And should someone choose to go to grad school? They’re better prepared for that too.
Hey Mike, it is indeed tough to be the messenger of demographic change! I appreciate the education you’re trying to impart but I remain deeply skeptical that the likely SCOTUS ruling is anything but a partisan power play. I think what’s missing in the discussion is its likely impact. In 2026, 2028 and beyond?Do you really believe that Brett Kavanaugh and others are ruling this way to “advance a pluralistic democracy”? Or to asymmetrically advantage the Republicans and lock Democrats out of power in a lot of districts? Also, what democracy are we likely to have if Democratic votes are systematically disenfranchised? Will there even be a democracy? And wouldn’t this upcoming ruling force Black Americans to live under taxation without representation? As they are gerrymandered into districts meant to silence them politically? Isn’t that profoundly unconstitutional?
I don’t doubt that Latino and Asian American voting patterns are changing. You’re absolutely right about that. At some point racial districts will stop making sense. But why is the Supreme Court doing this now? If not to vastly advantage the Republican party in the upcoming elections? When it’s clear the country is still deeply racist (Young GOP loves Hitler) and violence is bringing doled out based on someone’s skin color and the language they speak? What about the representation of Latino communities who are frequently the target of ICE violence?
I don’t think today is the time to go race-blind, and the SCOTUS knows that. That’s exactly why they’re doing it.
I don't believe racism ever ends. Maybe we can move beyond "it" after MAGA. Right now, I don't even see the conversation happening. Maybe with the growth of the Latino vote we can move beyond "it." A few years ago, I heard someone say that anyone who isn't white is considered "a person of color." I debated that at the time - we were talking about an Asian woman.
Question: since it looks like Section 2 of the VRA might go away, when it does, how will it affect democracy in this timeline we are living in? The 2026 midterms - will Democrats still be set to gain the House? If Democrats aren't paying attention to this shift, never mind Section 2 and will it end or should it, how does the MAGA movement end?
Mike: This was enlightening! It becomes clearer to me that the Democrats need to talk about what the party stands for in more "simple talk" than talking about who they represent. If that makes sense. No easy answer, but a work in progress. Hopefully, the answer won't come too late!
You have presented a very interesting POV, Mike. It could be good in the long run in the move towards a more plural society, even if ending it now might not be good in the short term.
My social media circles/forums, who are more upbeat and less doom and gloom than the regular internet discussions, seem to think that this won't result in a worst case scenario. Some thought the arguments went better than what they expected. It's possible that the VRA will remain in place, but harder to prove Section 2. Or if they do away with it, they won't it immediately, because of the chaos that would unleash. Who knows what this SCOTUS will do. There wasn't a uniform conservative opinion of how to procceed and some of them had some questions about how would doing away with the VRA would work.
It was a very good listen, Mike. Thanks.
Thanks Mike. The reality of what you were talking about was very hard to hear, but makes a lot of sense, and also explains a lot….especially part of what happened in 2024, and will keep happening if the Democratic Party doesn’t wake up. Wish you would enlighten Democratic leadership, or anyone that has influence over the party. How about Mike Nellis? You’ve been on his show a few times. Great info, appreciate your passion and knowledge.
https://substack.com/@smallbite/note/c-166674276
I agree with him the VRA gutting is important and needs to be addressed, but Mike, this is quite vital and not erroneous at all.
More than Newsom and Moore are going to have to step it up, sorry Dems.
I'm glad you pushed past the internet issues and did this session today. I've come to appreciate listening to viewpoints that make me uncomfortable, and this was one of those discussions--not because of what you were saying (I agree), but because it shed light on yet another blind spot for the Democratic party. But being uncomfortable means my viewpoints are being challenged. When this happens, I know it is time to stop talking, listen, and remind myself that if I'm comfortable with everything I hear, it usually means I'm learning nothing.
My encouragement for the Democratic Party would be to listen to independents more. There isn't a more pathetic listener in the party, right now, than Chuck Schumer. I don't think the party has learned a single thing over the past decade. Politics as usual.
I've been experiancing this mindset on the ground locally. I'm fact, I'm done talking about the Latino vote to my town chair because I basically feel like this important data and information is getting ignored. Very frustrating. I spent time with one of the local candidates this past summer and she even took notes! I came prepared with data. I told her that I would canvas with her in the Latino community - that hasn't happened. Meanwhile, the Latino community is regularly getting harassed and kidnapped by ICE! This is not to say that Latinos don't live outside a Latino conclave because they do. At the same time, the community has new, young voters who want to know how they should vote, who they should support. They are very concerned.
Please tell me that this video will be available later. I'm at work and listening but would like to re-listen to this. Incredibly important POV, Mike!!!!
Yes it will be
I HEAR you, but you ought to be aware that what you're descrbing is not true CULTURALLY, & while this doesn't speak to our immediate dilemma, it's going to RADICALLY reshape America, both politically & culturally, in the very near future.
Nothing erroneous about fighting fascists back in kind with California’s match to Texas, equal measure in kind defense played imho— but I agree, this is basically saying, “So sorry, unless you win the infinitely Redder state you will be out of your safe Blue seat in the House before long Dems” by Reps to lock Dems in a permanent minority between this and gutting the VRA.
In Texas, in particular, the GOP are aware Latinos there are swing voters now more than even Latinos nationally and they are aware the top of the ticket has been getting other Dems in the House over the line by protecting them from the Rep on top of ballot— Abbott is outright pure evil imo, but he’s as intelligent and of a very high IQ so he knows exactly what he’s doing sadly here.
I'm here and you sound good!
Looks good Mike
For what it’s worth, I belong to a racial group whose voting patterns are changing, like you said. College admissions based on affirmative action is a huge topic. My answer to that? I don’t trust the Republicans at all no matter what they say. I don’t trust the people whose prejudices made affirmative action necessary in the first place. If they were truly about merit-based admissions, they’d do away with legacy admissions. They would never touch that because it advantages whites at everyone else’s expense. Besides, you can often get a better education from a good, but non-Ivy school because they try harder for their students. You’re given more resources and mentoring than you’d otherwise get at an Ivy. And should someone choose to go to grad school? They’re better prepared for that too.
Hey Mike, it is indeed tough to be the messenger of demographic change! I appreciate the education you’re trying to impart but I remain deeply skeptical that the likely SCOTUS ruling is anything but a partisan power play. I think what’s missing in the discussion is its likely impact. In 2026, 2028 and beyond?Do you really believe that Brett Kavanaugh and others are ruling this way to “advance a pluralistic democracy”? Or to asymmetrically advantage the Republicans and lock Democrats out of power in a lot of districts? Also, what democracy are we likely to have if Democratic votes are systematically disenfranchised? Will there even be a democracy? And wouldn’t this upcoming ruling force Black Americans to live under taxation without representation? As they are gerrymandered into districts meant to silence them politically? Isn’t that profoundly unconstitutional?
I don’t doubt that Latino and Asian American voting patterns are changing. You’re absolutely right about that. At some point racial districts will stop making sense. But why is the Supreme Court doing this now? If not to vastly advantage the Republican party in the upcoming elections? When it’s clear the country is still deeply racist (Young GOP loves Hitler) and violence is bringing doled out based on someone’s skin color and the language they speak? What about the representation of Latino communities who are frequently the target of ICE violence?
I don’t think today is the time to go race-blind, and the SCOTUS knows that. That’s exactly why they’re doing it.
we don't need independent redistricting, we need the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC)!
https://www.lwv.org/blog/what-national-popular-vote-interstate-compact
Why are you regurgitating Republican judge talking points? You sound like an asshole, just like the guy you’re quoting sounded.
I don't believe racism ever ends. Maybe we can move beyond "it" after MAGA. Right now, I don't even see the conversation happening. Maybe with the growth of the Latino vote we can move beyond "it." A few years ago, I heard someone say that anyone who isn't white is considered "a person of color." I debated that at the time - we were talking about an Asian woman.
Question: since it looks like Section 2 of the VRA might go away, when it does, how will it affect democracy in this timeline we are living in? The 2026 midterms - will Democrats still be set to gain the House? If Democrats aren't paying attention to this shift, never mind Section 2 and will it end or should it, how does the MAGA movement end?