This first appeared in an op-ed I wrote for the Richmond Times-DispatchSHOW NOTESSummary. For rural Virginia counties like Middlesex and Lunenburg, the pandemic has focused attention on dead zones and the pressing need to address remote intern

Ep. 008: Hedrick Smith talks grassroots democratic reform & reclaiming the American Dream

Jul 27th, 2020 44m 52s

Hedrick SmithDemocracy in America is in danger. Public trust in government is at an all-time low. Ordinary citizens have a negligible effect on government policy while wealthy individuals, large corporations, and special interest groups exerc

Ep. 007: Vicki Barnes — Volunteer Activist for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to Ensure Free & Fair Elections

Jun 23rd, 2020 50m 56s

Vicki BarnesVicki Barnes is the Minnesota State Coordinator for American Promise, a cross-partisan, non-profit grassroots organization that advocates for the 28th amendment to the U.S. constitution. By overturning the Citizens United Supreme

Ep. 006: Wolf-PAC National Director Michael Monetta

Jun 17th, 2020 1h 2m

Michael MonettaPodcast Notes:Join us for a conversation with Michael Monetta, National Director of Wolf-PAC, a non-partisan, non-profit reform organization working for free and fair elections. Concerned about the corrosive influence of Big

Ep. 005: Covid-19 Pandemic Response Hurt by Health-care Industry Political Spending: Health-care Professionals Sound Alarm

May 1st, 2020 49m 33s

Ellen Greene BushMarie HenselderKimmelRobbi DudaDisheartened treating patients struggling to pay for their medicine and insurance premiums, hit by surprise payments they can’t afford, or encouraged to undergo unneed

Ep. 004: David Denham – Troublemaking Minister & Anti-Corruption Activist

Mar 24th, 2020 40m 46s

David Denham is the head of the Represent Roanoke Valley/the Clean Money SquadInspired by its activist role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, David Denham joined the United Church of Christ because he wanted to become a “troublemaking

Ep. 003: Virginia among the worst states in the union in terms of ethics and transparency

Mar 10th, 2020 45m 25s

Shruti Shah - President and CEO of the Coalition for IntegrityThe Coalition for Integrity’s S.W.A.M.P. Index casts spotlight on state’s poor record fighting corruption.For decades, Transparency International has rated governments wo

Ep. 002: Kyle Bailey: Advocate for Ranked Choice Voting

Feb 10th, 2020 56m 47s

Campaign Manager for Maine's Committee for Ranked Choice VotingKyle Bailey organized a grassroots movement to undertake ballot initiatives and twice win statewide approval for Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), overcoming legislative and court challe

Ep. 001: Grassroots campaign to end gerrymandering in Michigan

Jan 20th, 2020 51m 15s

Katie Fahey established Voters Not Politicians to advocate for a ballot initiative that would amend Michigan’s ConstitutionFollowing the 2016 election, Katie Fahey’s Facebook post started a 5,000+ volunteer grassroots movement, collecting ov

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