This Week with Common Power

Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, yesterday SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act. The Executive Director of Common Power, Charles Douglas, the Director of The Institute for Common Power, and an independent journalist, Ahmed Baba, talked through the implications of this and what comes next.

Executive Director of Common Power, Charles Douglas, and independent journalist Ahmed Baba discuss MAGA's slow turn on Donald Trump amid the war in the Middle East and the rising cost of living. Join our work at commonpower.org

The Common Power team is in Illinois, working on one of the biggest primary elections of the year. Executive Director of Common Power, Charles Douglas, and independent journalist, Ahmed Baba, discuss the pivotal race in GA's 14th district. Charles and the Common Power team are live on the ground, knocking on doors for Shawn Harris! Join our work: commonpower.org

The Common Power team is in Illinois, working on one of the biggest primary elections of the year. We joined independent journalist, Ahmed Baba, to discuss Kat Abughazaleh, her platform, and what the CoPo team is experiencing as they talk to voters.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss dem leadership and the primariy races that are shifting power within the party.We're live every friday morning on susbstack.Join us - https://substack.com/@commonpower

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the aftermath of the Texas Primary race. What went well, what didn't go well and what dfoes this mean for the general election in November. We're live every friday morning on susbstack. Join us - https://substack.com/@commonpower

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the surge in voting for the Texas primaries.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss ICE's "retreat" in Minneapolis, the SAVE Act, and just how weak Trump and his administration really are. CommonPower.org

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the communities response to ICE raids in Minneapolis. Charles speaks on his trip live from Minneapolis and shares about learning from community leaders/organizers.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss tensions in Minneapolis and our trip there with organizers, journalists, and volunteers this week.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss Minneapolis's fight against ICE and the community-led resistance that's spreading across the country.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the current state of democratic leadership and what's needed to win across the nation, including in key swing states like Texas. Who are the leaders who are meeting the moment and standing out amongst the noise?

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the recent murder of Renee Good by an ICE agent. They also dive into the aftermath of Maduro's kidnapping and the recent ACA vote in the House.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the Seahawks ' beautiful win against the Rams and how it parallels the Democrats' string of victories this past year. They go on to recap the year's top events and make predictions for 2026.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the unexpected political shifts in Miami and other key regions and the impending downfall of the AI economy.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the surprising progressive shift from Aftyn Behn's campaign in Tennessee. They also addressed the challenges faced by the Democratic Party, the influence of national figures like Kamala Harris, and the evolving perceptions of electability.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the Dem's strategy to fight for affordable healthcare and the gravity of the most recent release of Epstein emails.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba dive into the latest political shifts and victories, exploring the dynamics of recent elections and their implications for the future.

In this conversation, Common Power ED Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the upcoming elections and the losing strategy that Republicans have adopted.

In this conversation, Common Power ED, Charles Douglas, and Journalist Ahmed Baba discuss the government shutdown and the strategic moves of key political figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene. They also analyze the effectiveness of Democratic messaging, the implications of healthcare policies, and the dynamics within the Republican Party.

Common Power Executive Director Charles Douglas III and Journalist Ahmed Baba talk about the government shutdown and the need for new leadership within the democratic party! This episode was filmed right before the government shutdown.

Common Power Executive Director Charles Douglas III and Journalist Ahmed Baba talk about the ever-changing media landscape and who is truly in control.

Common Power Executive Director Charles Douglas III and Journalist Ahmed Baba talk about the news of Charlie Kirk’s killer being caught, the escalating rhetoric coming from President Trump, and how every leader should be pushing unifying messages that appeal to our better angels.

Ahmed Baba and Charles Douglas go through a list of top events from the past two weeks: +Hyundai Raid +Job Reports+Epstein Survivors +Schumer & Jeffries + More But it's not all doom and gloom; we're excited to announce our new app to take action in the next elections across the nation! Download it here:https://commonpower.org/app

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba break down Gavin Newsom’s bold move to combat national gerrymandering by redrawing California’s own maps. Is he the next guy?

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba spotlight Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson who's breaking down conventional wisdom on what a politician is. Charles outlines why her grounded leadership style is exactly what the city needs right now.They then turn to the GOP’s refusal to release the Epstein files and examine Trump’s deep, long-running ties to Epstein himself. Finally, Ahmed shares the some details of his recent TV appearance with Kevin O’Leary, where he dismantled Mr. Wonderful ultimately dunking on him weeks later!

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba kick off this episode with stories from Ahmed’s recent trip abroad and what he heard from people outside the U.S. about America’s political chaos and economic choices.They then dive into the latest developments around the Epstein files and Trump’s growing paranoia. Why is he resisting their release? And what’s behind his absurd calls to arrest Obama? Stay connected with Common Power:🔗 Website: commonpower.orgInstagram: @ourcommonpowerTikTok: @ourcommonpowerFacebook: OurCommonPowerBluesky: ourcommonpower.bsky.social

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba dive into a week of political curveballs and underdog stories. They unpack Zohran Mamdani’s stunning campaign strategy against establishment figure Andrew Cuomo, what it means for progressive momentum, and how grassroots organizing is winning elections.They also turn to the right-wing media landscape, where Tucker Carlson just torched Ted Cruz and signaled a surprising pivot. Is the far-right inching toward the center? Or is this just a strategic rebrand?

Charles Douglas, the Executive Director of Common Power, and Girmay Zahilay discuss the national sentiments surrounding Trump's overreach of power and the national No Kings protest.Girmay's current position and the new office he is campaigning for as King County Executive are significant in the fight against this new administration. To learn more about Common Power and our work, visit us at: commonpower.org

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba break down the latest wave of resistance and repression. In this episode, they discuss the triumphant No Kings protests, Trump’s continued authoritarian escalation, and what it all means for our democracy.Charles also checks in from the ground in Virginia, where he’s knocking on doors and mobilizing voters ahead of a critical election in the DMV.

Recorded & Released on Youtube 6/6/2025Common Power Executive Director Charles Douglas and Journalist Ahmed Baba give a play by play of the Trump-Musk beef, walking through a timeline of every attack and the potential impact this feud will have long-term. From Trump’s threatening of Musk’s government contracts to Musk accusing Trump of being in the Epstein files, we covered it all.CNN timeline of the Trump-Musk beef featured in the pod: https://www.cnn.com/business/timeline-elon-musk-trump-x-dgAhmed’s article that provides background on the fragile coalitions being fractured: https://www.ahmedbaba.news/p/gop-divisions-could-complicate-trumps

Recorded & Released on Youtube 6/1/2025Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba unpack the unraveling of Elon Musk’s influence in the Trump era. From his failed DOGE initiative and the ripple effects across his businesses, to growing tensions with the Trump administration and new revelations about his alleged drug use, the cracks are starting to show.This episode explores what Musk’s decline says about power, accountability, and the risks of aligning with authoritarianism.📍 Stay connected with Common Power:🔗 Website: commonpower.org📸 Instagram: @ourcommonpower🎵 TikTok: @ourcommonpower📘 Facebook: OurCommonPower🌐 Bluesky: ourcommonpower.bsky.social

Recorded & Released on Youtube 5/28/2025This week, Charles Douglas III is joined by Asha and Pouya from the Common Power team—two Gen Zers who bring fresh perspective to the conversation. While plenty of people have theories about what Gen Z thinks, we went straight to the source to find out. Tune in for a candid, intergenerational conversation about politics, purpose, and what the future looks like through their eyes.

Charles Douglas III interviews the Mayor Ras Baraka, current Mayor of Newark and Gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey. Ras Baraka, a proud Newark native and the son of legendary poet and activist Amiri Baraka, has spent his career at the intersection of politics, education, and social justice. In this interview, he reflects on how he continues to navigate that intersection, especially in these uniquely challenging times.

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba talk through the bombshell news about Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis and what it could mean for the future of the Democratic Party. Did he know? What happens next? It’s all up in the air.They also get into Trump’s new tax cut push, attacks on Medicaid, and how the right is laying the groundwork for even bigger rollbacks. Big moves are happening behind the chaos—and the left needs to get ready.

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba dive into how Trump’s chaos is trickling down—from global supply chains to your local ballot. Local elections are shifting in response to national dysfunction, with new coalitions forming and old ones breaking down. Meanwhile, Trump’s erratic policies are fueling inflation, causing supply chain whiplash, and now… he’s created a meme coin?We break down what all this means for democracy, the economy, and your daily life—and why these “sideshow” stories are actually core to understanding the bigger authoritarian playbook.

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba zoom out to assess the state of leadership in America—and what real courage looks like. From Gavin Newsom’s shaky Fox News tour to Pete Buttigieg’s sharp performances, the contrasts are stark.Some Democrats are fumbling the moment with fear and calculation. Others are meeting it with clarity and conviction. The public can tell the difference—and they’re responding.This episode dives into who’s rising, who’s shrinking, and why authenticity might be the defining currency of 2025.

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba break down the first 100 days of Trump's second term—and it's already a disaster. From crazy tariffs to chaotic policy rollouts, everything is unraveling. The administration is stacked with loyalist who are incompetent and it's triggering institutional resistance across the board.His economy is tanking, he's alienating Gen Z, and even Elon Musk is bailing. This is a case study in authoritarian overreach… and it’s failing in real time.This episode dives into why that’s happening, how the media’s finally responding, and why it all points to one conclusion: he’s beatable.

Charles Douglas III and Ahmed Baba discuss the importance of the Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia case. He was mistakenly deported. The Trump Administration admitted it. Then they defied the Supreme Court. This is a beta test of what could be done to other immigrants, or even U.S. Citizens.

Charles and Ahmed discuss Trump's terrible trade war, and its broad implications. Welcome to the Pod! To see our faces and catch up on the last 20+ episodes subscribe to our Youtube - @commonpower