Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips
by Democracy in Color
Steve Phillips—author of the New York Times bestselling book, Brown Is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority; New York Times contributing op-ed writer, and founder of Democracy in Color—is the host of the color-conscious political podcast, “Democracy in Color With Steve Phillips.” New episodes are released every two weeks on Thursdays. Join Steve for a conversation that is unafraid and unapologetic about grappling with some of today’s toughest topics in politics.As one of the nation’s top political thought leaders, Steve invites listeners to learn how the key to Democrats and the progressive ecosystem winning and saving our democracy lies in running towards, rather than away from, the societal flashpoints of racial and economic justice.
Episodes
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Beyond the Polls: How the New American Majority Created a Blue Tsunami
In this post-midterms 2026 Election Day episode, Sharline interviews Steve about what happened on Tuesday, why Dems were able to take back control of the House and Senate and much more in such spectacular fashion, and where we go from here. Steve connects the results to decades of work for...
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Beyond the Polls: Vox’s Astead Herndon on What Voters Want from Democrats
Political journalist and host of Vox’s America, Actually, Astead Herndon, returns for a conversation about the midterms, Trump’s waning credibility, and the tensions shaping the Democratic Party’s future. He explains how Democrats can address the cost of living while confronting corruption and...
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Beyond the Polls: The Voters Dems Are Missing
Yasmin Radjy, executive director of Swing Left, joins us to discuss why Democratic campaigns need to build trust earlier, reach voters often overlooked, and invest in long-term organizing, not just focus on the next election. She explains how voter files are leaving a quarter of the electorate...
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Beyond the Polls: What It Takes to Flip a House Seat
Election Day is 40 days away. Political Director of the California Donor Table Michael Gomez Daly discusses the upcoming midterms and the 862 votes that defied political consultants polling data and flipped a long-held Republican seat in California’s Central Valley during the 2018 election. He...
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Beyond the Polls: Reading the 2026 Electorate—with Tom Bonier
With the 2026 midterms less than eight weeks away, we sit down with veteran Democratic strategist and political data expert Tom Bonier to take a closer look at what the numbers are telling us about the electorate. Tom is CEO of the TARA Group and a senior adviser and former CEO of TargetSmart…
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The Occupy Movement at 15 with Mila Atmos
Mila Atmos, host and executive producer of the new podcast series Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising, joins us to discuss the lasting legacy of Occupy Wall Street and how many of the ideas once considered radical have moved into the political mainstream. She points out the through-line from Occupy’s...
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The Reckoning: Cheyenne Hunt on Holding Powerful Men Accountable
Political creator, influencer, attorney, and Reckoning Action founder Cheyenne Hunt discusses her work supporting survivors and how she helps bring allegations of sexual misconduct and assault by powerful political figures into public view. She takes us behind the scenes of how she builds trust...
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A New Model for Black Politics with Jake Grumbach
After the Supreme Court's Callais decision further dismantled the Voting Rights Act, where does Black political power go from here? We talk with UC Berkeley political scientist Jake Grumbach about why the old model of Black politics is no longer enough—and what a new strategy for building lasting...
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The Myth of Electability with Maya Rupert
Why do some politicians get to be "authentic," while others are told they're too polished, too outspoken, or simply not electable? Our latest guest Maya Rupert—author, political strategist, and one of the nation's leading voices on race and democracy (she’s also the former campaign manager for...
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America at 250: Imagining a New Democracy with LaTosha Brown of Black Voters Matters
As the our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, LaTosha Brown, organizer and Black Voters Matter co-founder, joins us to reflect on the unfinished struggle for democracy in the wake of the Supreme Court's assault on the Voting Rights Act. She shares her thoughts on the enduring importance of...
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LIVE! Ibram X. Kendi on Democracy and the Politics of Fear
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joins Steve for a live conversation at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle about the growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world. Drawing from his new book, Chain of Ideas, Kendi explains how fear, division, and "Great Replacement"...
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Part 3 - Draining the Money Management SWAMP
In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question. In the final installment of the Are White…
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The Billion-Dollar Funding War on Democracy with NCRP’s Aaron Dorfman
President and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Aaron Dorfman breaks down how right-wing donors and foundations spent money to curtail voting rights and reshape the broader political landscape. He explains the often unseen role philanthropy plays in politics and the…
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CNN’s Abby Phillip on How Jesse Jackson Transformed American Politics
CNN NewsNight anchor Abby Phillip delves into the legacy of Revered Jesse Jackson and her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. She discusses Jackson’s groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns and what they mean for the fight we're in today....
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Part 2 - The History and Science of Inequality
In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question. White men are 29% of the U.S. population…
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Part 1 - The Myth of Meritocracy
In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question. In Part 1 of this special podcast series,...
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A Battle for the Future of Higher Education at New College of Florida
Three key voices behind the new documentary First They Came for My College join Steve to share how community, art, and activism became tools to fight back against censorship and ideological warfare at the New College of Florida. Harry Hanbury, a seasoned filmmaker and alumnus of New College…
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Stacey Abrams on Defeating Authoritarianism
Our guest needs no introduction. Stacey Abrams returns to the show to unveil her latest initiatives and share insights on building systems of justice and advancing equity. She reflects on what this moment demands and shares her “10 Steps to Freedom and Power” framework. She explains how...
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40 Years of the Rainbow Coalition (Rerelease)
This is a rerelease of an episode from 2023 with a new intro from our founder, Steve Phillips. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Eddie Wong, former national field director for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, joins Steve and Sharline to reminisce on the...
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New York Times’ Erica Green on Covering the Trump White House
New York Times White House Correspondent Erica Green shares candid and necessary insights into the increasingly explicit racial dynamics shaping American politics. She discusses the Times interview that forced Trump to publicly articulate his views on who faces discrimination in America and the...
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Indivisible’s Leah Greenberg on Turning Outrage Into Organized Power
Indivisible’s Leah Greenberg joins Steve and Sharline to discuss what we can learn from history about confronting rising authoritarianism and defending democracy today. The organization’s co-founder and co-executive director, Leah shares how Indivisible (and the country) have evolved since 2016…
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From 2024 to 2026: What Comes Next, with CNN’s Ron Brownstein
In our first episode of the year, veteran journalist Ron Brownstein returns to offer a cogent analysis about the larger ongoing, existential battle over the identity of this nation and the fears and anxieties animating the Trump coalition. Ron, Steve and Sharline discuss voter behavior in the…
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Rep. Jasmine Crockett: Why I’m Running for Senate in Texas
In our final episode of 2025, Representative Crockett joins us to talk about what kind of leadership this moment requires. Recorded just days before she officially entered the race, she shares her journey as a civil rights lawyer turned legislator and the experiences that led her to run for...
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Self Care Is Radical Work with Somatics Coach Viveka Chen (Rerelease)
Happy Thanksgiving! Our team is taking a break this week, so we’re re-sharing one of our most popular episodes from last year featuring somatics coach Viveka Chen, now with a brand-new intro from our co-host Sharline Chang. In This Episode: Let’s pause for a moment and remember that we need to…
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Gender Is the Story with The 19th News’ Chabeli Carrazana
The 19th News’ childcare and economy reporter Chabeli Carrazana discusses the unique beat she’s formed and why reporting on the economy from a gender lens matters. Chabeli explains how the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted women of color, and she discusses the challenges faced by...
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LIVE! Reframing the Narrative with Rebecca Solnit and Steve Phillips
For the Bay Area Book Festival’s inaugural Merritt Dialogue Speaker Series, Steve and writer Rebecca Solnit join Working Families Party California State Director Jane Kim for a hopeful conversation on changing the narrative and imagining a better future. They cover several issues relevant to this...
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The Power of Latino Voters
Somos Votantes founder and president Melissa Morales returns to discuss the critical role of the Latino electorate and what her organization is hearing from voters about our current political climate. She unpacks how voter behavior among Latino communities shifted from 2020 to 2024 and the impact...
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NYC’s Future and Zohran’s Race for Mayor
Executive Director of Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) Fahd Ahmed discusses Zohran Mamdani’s historic race for New York City mayor and the lessons for Democrats and progressives in future elections. Ahmed explains how DRUM Beats NYC (DRUM’s sibling organization) has mobilized South Asians and...
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California’s Stand Against Trump
San Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer, and longtime observer of California politics, Joe Garofoli offers historical and political context to California’s growing role as a bastion against the Trump administration’s march towards fascism. He breaks down the upcoming November ballot...
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2025 Bellwether Elections
Steve and Sharline reflect on Steve’s latest manuscript before diving into how they’ve been coping and surviving these last eight months of the second Trump administration. They cover the key bellwether elections of 2025 that will be dominating headlines this fall from New York City’s mayoral…
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Texas Redistricting Showdown with Emmy Ruiz
Emmy Ruiz, former advisor to the President during the Biden-Harris administration, and White House director of political strategy and outreach, returns to discuss the redistricting showdown in Texas. She dives into the impact of gerrymandering on democracy, and offers her thoughts on the response...
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Courage Over Fear with Immigration Activist Cristina Jiménez
United We Dream Co-founder Cristina Jiménez joins Steve to discuss her new book, Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power & Real Change. She shares the impact of American foreign policy around the world, but particularly in her home country of Ecuador, that led to mass migration...
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White People and the Fight for Racial Justice with SURJ’s Erin Heaney (Rerelease)
In this re-release of our 100th episode, Erin Heaney, executive director of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), discusses the role of white allyship in the fight for justice and a multiracial democracy. REFERENCES: If you’d like to volunteer with SURJ, you can join their remote SURJ Action…
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Summer Reading Reset
Steve and Sharline share how they’re processing the last several months before diving into the books and television shows that are helping them regroup, from Sharline’s first watch of Gilmore Girls with her daughter to Steve’s love of British murder mystery books. They also share how they’re...
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How to Defeat Fascism with Deepak Bhargava
Deepak Bhargava, president of the Movement Action Fund, discusses the reality of the moment we’re facing and what it’s going to take to win back our democratic freedoms. He shares what history, both at home and abroad, can teach us about defending ourselves against fascism and authoritarianism…
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Understanding American Patriarchy with Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs
New York Times bestselling author and scholar Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs discusses her new book Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us and why she set out to write a book that makes plain one of the organizing principles and primary barriers to progress in the U.S. Against the backdrop…
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Philanthropy’s New Role with Ashindi Maxton
Director of Mission Telecom Giving Ashindi Maxton shares why she’s viewing this otherwise harrowing political climate as a moment of opportunity. Ashindi discusses the role of philanthropy in social justice movements, including its strengths and limitations and how she’s helping to transform the...
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Not Too Woke, Too Weak: Democrats’ Real Problem With Voters
Way to Win Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jenifer Fernandez Ancona shares the organization’s research findings about where Democrats went wrong in 2024 and what it’s going to take to win in 2026 and beyond. She explains what the data really shows about last year’s election and how her...
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From Grassroots to Governing with Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist
Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor Garlin Gilchrist discusses his race for governor in 2026 and lessons learned as the state’s second-in-command in the middle of the extraordinary crisis that was the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares his wins in office, including advancing criminal justice...
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Trump’s Terrible Tariffs with Economist Thea Lee
Thea Lee, economist and former deputy undersecretary for international labor affairs at the Department of Labor, provides insight to Trump’s economic madness and the global chaos unleashed. Thea offers us a 101 on tariffs and their role in economic policy. She explains why Trump’s trade policy...
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The Future of the Democratic Party with Congressman Greg Casar
House Representative and Chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Greg Casar (TX) breaks down the evolving role of the CPC in this current Trump era and shares what the Democratic Party needs to do to regain trust and power among voters. He discusses the future of the party and...
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Advancing Reparations with Liberation Ventures’ Aria Florant
Aria Florant, co-founder and CEO of Liberation Ventures (LV), joins the podcast to share how her organization is driving the movement for reparations forward, even in the face of the current administration’s full-scale assault against equity and justice. She breaks down the four pillars of a...
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ACLU’s Cecillia Wang on the Legal Battle Against Trump
ACLU Legal Director Cecillia Wang explains the strategy behind Trump’s barrage of executive orders to reverse decades of progress and unleash the power of the federal government against anyone who is not a straight, white man. She describes his overall goal of creating “in-groups” vs.…
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Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson Is Excited for the Power of the People
Former co-executive director of the Highlander Center Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson shares why this moment is ripe for transformative social change towards justice and progress. Ash-Lee discusses the role and impact of Highlander, including its legacy of identifying and supporting movement leaders…
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Virginia is for Lovers of Democracy
Tram Nguyen co-executive director of New Virginia Majority, returns to the show to help break down why Virginia remains at the forefront of what progressive change can look like and what can happen when we transform a state. She discusses how she decided on her vote to help elect the new head of...
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The End of the Trump Era with Maurice Mitchell
The beginning—and the end—of the Trump era is here. National Director Maurice Mitchell returns to the show for a three-peat to discuss how the Working Families Party (WFP) is approaching these next four years under Trump and why they’ve dubbed the next ten years as the “Working Families’ Decade.”...
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Looking Ahead to 2025
Happy New Year! To kick off 2025, Steve and Sharline look ahead to 2025 and dig into key areas of focus as we enter a new Trump administration. They discuss three dominant yet fundamentally incorrect mainstream narratives about the 2024 election. In addition, they survey the current race for the...
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Building Solidarity with USC Professor Manuel Pastor
For our final episode of the year, Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity, joins Steve and Sharline to discuss lessons learned from this year’s presidential election including how to understand Latino political identity and the...
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Self Care Is Radical Work with Somatics Coach Viveka Chen
Let’s pause for a moment and remember that we need to take care of ourselves. Leadership coach, transformative justice practitioner, and somatics coach Viveka Chen (she/they) discusses the intersection of personal healing and collective liberation. Viveka shares insights from their work helping...
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Where We Go From Here: Post-Election 2024
Steve and Sharline reflect on the results of the 2024 election and where we go from here as a nation. They share how they’re processing their feelings and discuss top takeaways of this election cycle including the impact of sexism, how to understand the exit polls, and changing voter dynamics...
About this show
Steve Phillips—author of the New York Times bestselling book, Brown Is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority; New York Times contributing op-ed writer, and founder of Democracy in Color—is the host of the color-conscious political podcast, “Democracy in Color With Steve Phillips.” New episodes are released every two weeks on Thursdays. Join Steve for a conversation that is unafraid and unapologetic about grappling with some of today’s toughest topics in politics.As one of the nation’s top political thought leaders, Steve invites listeners to learn how the key to Democrats and the progressive ecosystem winning and saving our democracy lies in running towards, rather than away from, the societal flashpoints of racial and economic justice.
Hosted by
Democracy in Color