Democrats Abroad: The Blue Vote Café: Recent Episodes
Democrats Abroad
Every American living abroad can vote in the U.S., and can engage politically back home through Democrats Abroad, an official arm of the Democratic Party.
Brought to you by David Schellenberg and Rachel Eugster (co-chairs of the Canada's Capital Region chapter of Democrats Abroad) this podcast is about Americans living outside the U.S.--who we are, what we stand for, how to get engaged back home, and how to make sure your vote is counted, Because when Democrats vote abroad, Democrats at home win.
For more info: democratsabroad.org To get your ballot: votefromabroad.org
Former Anchor/Correspondent at ABC News and former Co-Host and News Anchor at "Good Morning America" Kevin Newman joins David and Rachel to reflect on the 2024 presidential campaign, the changing media landscape, and the challenge of reaching independent voters.
He talks about living and working in the U.S. as a Canadian journalist, and how complex the U.S. electoral system is compared to Canada's.
The conversation also gets into how to vote one's home country from abroad, and about how important it is that we all exercise that right.
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.
Yvette Lewis, former chair of the Maryland State Party and Chair Emerita of Voter Engagement and Education for the Association of State Democratic Chairs, was the keynote speaker for the Democrats Abroad annual global meeting in Costa Rica.
After the meeting, Rachel sat down with her to talk about what drew her into her work, an expansive view of voter protection, Angela Alsobrooks's victory as the Democratic nominee to represent Maryland in the Senate.
Chair Lewis shares a few personal reflections on Presidents Obama and Biden and Vice President Harris, and strongly urges listeners to PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE POLLS.
Watch Chair Lewis talking about Rapid Response in 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQt8dm5PNMs
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org .
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.
Founded on July 23 with a goal of raising $1000, #MastodonforHarris blew past a quarter of a million dollars within two days. Its founder--legal scholar, philosopher, and grassroots acitivist Heidi Li Feldman--shares her reasons for starting the campaign with Rachel and David.
She talks about the small-d democratic nature of Mastodon, and makes an inside joke for Minnesotans. Heidi also discusses the importance of local politics, common attributes of lawyers and law students, and Leaders from Law, which she founded to empower progressive lawyers and law students interested in poltical careers.
The conversation also turns to supreme court justices who substitute politics for legal reasoning, and an article she and Dahlia Lithwick wrote for Slate entitled "Let’s Stop Pretending Clarence Thomas Can Read the Framers’ Minds."
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.
Leaving David behind in Ottawa, Rachel travelled to Costa Rica for DA's annual global meeting.
When Day Two wrapped early, she caught the voices of 10 different DA leaders enjoying themselves in and around the pool--with an audiobomb from Friend of the Pod Miguel Madrigal.
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.
Angela Fobbs and Adrianne George, the co-hosts of Power to the People (the Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus podcast) join Rachel and David in the cafe.
In this "podcast potluck," a special crossover episode, the four co-hosts each bring a question for everyone to answer.
The conversation ventures into new and fascinating territory, as each participant brings reflection and personal history to their responses.
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.
In one of our most wonk-ish episodes ever (complete with a cat!), mathematician Max Dunitz of DA France explains an intriguing situation that arose for the four or five states that used ranked choice voting in their 2020 presidential primaries.
Because the Democratic National Committee restricts the awarding of delegates to candidates that garner 15% of the votes, a hybrid version of ranked choice had to be devised, creating an interesting (and difficult) mathematical problem.
You can hear Max explaining it to Rachel and David, and you can read his paper on the subject on the SSRN (Social Science Research Network): https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4839562
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com
David and Rachel sit down with DA's International Chair and Vice Chair to talk about their first year on the job.
Martha McDevitt-Pugh and Steve Nardi share some of the triumphs from the year, touch upon some of the challenges, and outline the work ahead of us in 2024.
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org
Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com
Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels joins David and Rachel to talk about her research into what motivates American citizens living outside the country to become politically engaged.
As the title of her most recent academic paper puts if, "Democrats abroad: What motivates core activists to engage in political transnationalism?"
Amanda confirms some of the speculation that has been bruited about the cafe since its founding, including the primary reason people move to a different country.
But you'll have to listen to learn what that is.
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.
Find the full library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.
David and Rachel are joined by leaders from Democrats Abroad's newest country committee, DA Kenya. Robyn T. Emerson (Chair) and Mohamed Ahmed (Treasurer) share the stories of how each connected with DA, and the founding of DA Kenya.
The discussion turns to a population unique to the "A" of DA's Europe-Middle East-Africa region: Americans of African descent; and touches on Mohamed's first votes as a person who has not yet turned 20; the importance of youth activism, particularly in addressing gun violence; and what it feels like to volunteer to help hold up the Democratic tent.
Mentioned in the episode: the Gun Violence Prevention Action Team Lauch with Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost.
Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Pary, President of the Association of State Democratic Committees, and a Vice Chair of the Demcratic National Committee, joins David and Rachel in the café, substantiating his claim that he will accept any invitation to talk where there are at least two Democrats.
Quoting LBJ, Ann Richards, Margaret Mead, Ayanna Pressley, and Confucius, Ken discusses the importance of the vote from abroad, and its majority Democratic comosition.
Outlining the incredible story we have to tell about Biden and Harris's achievements to date, he urges Democrats to stop agonizing and start evangelizing.
While acknowledging that you don't have to love someone to vote for them, Ken shares compelling personal reflections on both Biden and Harris, as well as on his home state of Minnesota.
Rachel and David's guest in the café is longtime Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg, who gained notoriety in 2022 for calling the election right when everyone else had it wrong.
Simon talks about the weakness of the GOP's position, with a candidate diminished in multiple ways and a crazy, ideologically unhinged politic, the 6 factors that will impede Trump in 2024, and about the Hopium Chronicles community that he founded with the watch words, "Do more, worry less."
With a reference to diapers and pictures you might not want to look up, and a resounding endorsement of FDR's four freedoms.
For more information, visit https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/.
Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.
Find the full library of Blue Vote Café episodes as bluevotecafe.com.
The Reverend Harcourt ("Harky") Klinefelter joins Rachel and David to share memories from the time he spent working with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Harky, a DA member, talks about serving as Dr. King's press officer, and the Selma and Montgomery marches. He brings the voices of long-ago freedom fighters to life, and about working on Dr. King's funeral.
Clips that are mentioned in the interview and a transcription:
The part of the speech that appeared during Dr. King’s funeral was from “The Drum Major Instinct” King concluded the sermon by imagining his own funeral.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mefbog-b4-4 The three hour documentary that only aired once is “King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis”. The documentary was recently restored and can once again be seen in its original form.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065944/
The first part of the interview with the 10 year old Selma marcher is a bit hard to hear because of the quality of the recording. Here is a transcription of the first half:
`I didn't go prepared to march. I had planned to go all the way but I wasn't sure they were going to be able to take me because they taken all the names and I didn't take anything but my coat. So I had to sleep (in the) cold, and the heaters (in the tent) went out and the wind and everything was real terrible, and so I stayed woke (awake) that night by the little gas burner they had outside. The next day-- the next day we marched and marched and it rained, and that's the day we really had to walk hard all that rain.
I didn't get a cold, the next day it rained which was Tuesday, that was through Lownes country, Yeah, that's the day you had to pick them up and put them (your feet) down'. Blisters and everything, oh boy I'm telling you, I said I know they (the racists) they're going to try something even if they have to wait until we come back. I saidLord,I say, I know these people, in Lownes country. All I want you to do is take care of me and give me the strength to walk faster through this stretch. I mean, I prayed that prayer all the way through there.
I didn't have any water all day because if we stopped we had to run to catch up, you know, and I wanted to be credited for walking all the way So I just did without water, and my tongue was swole (swelled) up. The next day, ah, the nurses out there they waited on me and she came and she say (said) Little girl are you going to march today?' I say (said)Sure I am.? All those blisters?' I say (said) There not hurting, only when I stop'. And you stayed out all the time?All the time, every camp we stayed in. I slept in it.'
How did you feel when you marched up the street to the Capital?
`My feet were so bad! and when I had the flag carrying, one of the biggest ones out there, I felt so happy, I didn't knew what to do Dr King, I think he's the greatest that's happened. Really, it's just like heaven. And I'll go anywhere he tells me to go, really, with blisters, sores, sore head, anything.
You know, I couldn't hardly breathe when I was out there, I fainted, I passed out, and everything, but I ended up going on ahead. What do you feel the march was accomplished? `We're 50 years ahead from where we started when this voter registration started. Really in Selma, 50 years, because people can walk around and not be afraid. If someone get killed that doesn't stop them, I didn't walk 50 miles in vain.'
You feel that people will be afraid to register vote?
`Well, I don't think they should be afraid because after all they have been killing Negroes all the time and noting has be done about it. They do find out who killed'em (them) now.
This has been a big improvement?
`If you will excuse me for the slang, "It's just a nigger dead."'
Carl Weinschenk joins David and Rachel to talk about his blogging and video efforts to communicate President Biden's substantial accomplishments to undecided voters in the swing states. With some discussion of the race to fill George Santos's vacant seat, a long-ago glimpse of the young Donald Trump in Jamaica Estates NY, a little of Carl's family history, and the Cafe's first mention of "double-haters."
Also a shout-out to @DanPfeiffer and @PodSaveAmerica.
Carl's site: https://bidenandtheswingstates.com/ and
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bidenandtheswingstates
Kathy Tullos (Chair, DA Spain) and Andrew Anderson (Vice Chair, Veterans and Military Families Global Caucus) join Rachel and David from DA Spain to talk about DA Spain's recent growth, and its new community-building initiatives.
Kathy's leadership style evokes a quote frequently misattributed to Ghandi; Andrew gives an update on the progress with addressing complications with educational benefits for veterans and active servicepeople overseas, and both share observations of how how US politics are perceived in Spain.
The conversation also touches on dating tips, the importance of wine, and the "unhelpful desk."
David and Rachel talk to Steve about the resolutions he posted on The Journal of the Plague Years on January 1, 2024. Click to read the post.
The conversation touches on the dangers of confusing imperfect choices for clear ones; the shift from James Carville's "it's the economy, stupid" to what Steve sees as our current reality ("it's the culture, stupid"); and how his work American Stutter would appear to a novelist in a parallel universe where Hillary won the presidency in 2016.
The talk also turns to living near the stars on Hollywood Boulevard, and plants seeds of optimism that Steve, Rachel, and David agree need urgent, active, and immediate tending.
Bonus: an answer to the question David posed to Wayne Liebman of the Blue Voter Guide (Season 8, Ep8) about how many different ballots there are in a given US election. Register and request your ballot at Vote From Abroad!
Wayne Liebman joins David and Rachel to explain Blue Voter Guide, an organization founded to make voting easy.
When you enter your voting address at https://bluevoterguide.org/, up pops your ballot, linked to endorsements from progressive organizations.
With shoutouts to Her Bold Move, Vote Mama, and the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada.
Dr. Dan Barkhuff joins David and Rachel to talk about the organization he founded, Veterans for Responsible Leadership (vfrl.org). The conversation delves into the concepts of duty and honor, the downstream effects of the shift 50 years ago to all-volunteer military, and Trump's inability to understand the military and unfitness to serve as the country's leader. We also touch on the political composition of the military, how many veterans live overseas, and the Lincoln ads featuring Barkhuff that went viral in 2020.
Jason Berlin joins Rachel and David to talk about Field Team 6, the partisan voter registration organization he founded to register Democrats.
Jason talks about Field Team 6's focus on unregistered voters, about the gaps in the traditional approach to voter registration, and the cost per voter.
Annika Krovi and Henry Pahlow, National Chair and Vice Chair of High School Democrats of America, join David and Rachel to talk about engaging voters and potential voters when they are still enrolled in high school.
Neither Annika nor Henry is eligible yet to cast their own votes, but they speak like veteran political operatives about canvassing, phone-banking, and participating on campaigns--and about their success in bringing a resolution to the Democratic National Committee meeting and have it approved.
We talk about expanding the membership of USDA, about the opportunity Annika and her grandparents will have in 2024 to cast their votes for the first time, about Henry's research and initiatives to involve rural voters, and--it must be said--about dad jokes.
For more information: https://hsdems.org/
Rachel and David make social media darling Brittlestar laugh at his own jokes, and discourse seriously (and at least semi-intelligently) with his alter ego Stewart Reynolds on his recent book (Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon); on the objective perspective on the U.S. afforded to Canadians and to American citizens living outside the country; and on the challenge of learning to interact maturely with the big dumb, nonstop, in-your-face electronic bulletin board that is social media.
Ashley Houghton, FairVote's Senior Director of Programs and Policy, sat down with David and Rachel to talk about election reform in general, and ranked choice voting in particular. FairVote is a nonpartisan organization that researches and advances voting reforms in the hope of making democracy more functional and representative.
A former chair of Ohio Democratic Party, David Pepper is the author of several books, including Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy. You may have caught him in a short segment with Rachel Maddow or Morning Joe. The day after Issue One was defeated in Ohio in August, 2023, he joined Rachel and David on the pod to talk about how the Democrats' strategy differs from the Republicans', how that must change, and how you can help.
For more information: savedemocracy.us
And don't forget to register and request your ballot EVERY YEAR at votefromabroad.org
Democrats Abroad member Amerika Garcia Grewal joins Rachel and David to talk about a return visit to her home town: Eagle Pass, Texas.
She has now witnessed the horrible situations that migrants trying to get into the United States face as they try to cross the Rio Grande river.
Amerika recently was a part of a group that went onto the river to see the newly installed barriers made out of floating buoys and razor wire.
She also saw the people that are pushing through these barriers to find a better life in the United States.
Amerika gives a first-hand account of the way that her home town has changed, and the need for border security without cruelty.
Check back soon for a link to Amerika's photographs.
https://www.votefromabroad.org/
Leedonal "Jazz" Moore and Martha McDevitt-Pugh, candidates for the office of Democrats Abroad's International Chair, answer questions compiled by the Nominations and Elections Committee.
Presented by the Democrats Abroad Nominations and Elections Committee.
Hosted by The Blue Vote Café, with Rachel Eugster and David Schellenberg, in one of the BVC's first video episodes.
More information on Democrats Abroad's upcoming elections can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/dpca_elections_2023
DPCA voting reps: Be sure to vote on June 11, 2023.
Art Schankler, Jennifer von Estorff, and Steve Nardi, candidates for the office of Democrats Abroad's International Vice Chair, answer questions compiled by the Nominations and Elections Committee.
Presented by the Democrats Abroad Nominations and Elections Committee.
Hosted by The Blue Vote Café, with Rachel Eugster and David Schellenberg, in one of the BVC's first video episodes.
More information on Democrats Abroad's upcoming elections can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/dpca_elections_2023
DPCA voting reps: Be sure to vote on June 11, 2023.
Joshua Van der Ploeg, candidate for the office of Democrats Abroad's International Treasurer, answer questions compiled by the Nominations and Elections Committee.
Presented by the Democrats Abroad Nominations and Elections Committee.
Hosted by The Blue Vote Café, with Rachel Eugster and David Schellenberg.
More information on Democrats Abroad's upcoming elections can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/dpca_elections_2023
DPCA voting reps: Be sure to vote on June 11, 2023.
Anne Brady and Heather Stone, candidates for the office of Democrats Abroad's International Legal Counsel, answer questions compiled by the Nominations and Elections Committee. NOTE: this episode will be updated when answers have been received from Summer Tillman, who was given an extended deadline to respond due to circumstances beyond her control
Presented by the Democrats Abroad Nominations and Elections Committee.
Hosted by The Blue Vote Café, with Rachel Eugster and David Schellenberg.
More information on Democrats Abroad's upcoming elections can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/dpca_elections_2023
DPCA voting reps: Be sure to vote on June 11, 2023.
Karen Frankenstein, Renee Clarke, and Susan Mackenzie, candidates for the office of Democrats Abroad's International Secretary, answer questions compiled by the Nominations and Elections Committee.
Presented by the Democrats Abroad Nominations and Elections Committee.
Hosted by The Blue Vote Café, with Rachel Eugster and David Schellenberg.
More information on Democrats Abroad's upcoming elections can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/dpca_elections_2023
DPCA voting reps: Be sure to vote on June 11, 2023.
What you need to know when you find out that the President of the United States is coming to your town!
Wisconsin voters Liz Blackbourn and Annie Graul explain the importance of this current election.
They outline why they are supporting liberal Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz.
March 22, 2023 will mark 100 years since the Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced.
And it still has not been passed.
Tricia Augustine-Hamilton picks up the story where John Baumlin left off (listen to "The quest to reenfranchise New Jersey's overseas voters, with John Baumlin" to hear Part One). Tricia shares with David and Rachel the inside story on how a team from around the world worked for three years to see legislation through to passage. She pulls back the curtain on Candice Kerestan's first action as DA's International Chair. And she touches upon the topic of trailing spouses, lauds the people and grassroots power of DA, and discusses the fact that lobbying and voter protection ≠ gravy.
After nearly a year of negotiations, Democrats Abroad has been formally admitted into the Young Democrats of America (YDA) structure.
Brent Jamsa, chair of DA's Youth Caucus, and Quentin Wathum-Ocama, President of YDA, join David and Rachel to talk about this new alliance, a first in both organizations' histories. Brent and Quentin talk about how DA and YDA can work together to support, involve, and advocate for young Democrats. They discuss how the 91-year-old YDA deals with the challenge of members aging out (at age 36), how "Emily in Paris" relates to young Americans who find themselves living outside the U.S., and how the international perspective of DA's Youth Caucus members can be applied to help fellow citizens in the U.S. Quentin (the longest-serving officer in YDA's history) invites Democrats to attend YDA's National Convention in June , and Brent invites all DA members under 36 to join DA's Global Youth Caucus. Both give a shout-out to DA's International Chair Candice Kerestan for helping to make this new alliance happen.
Democrats Abroad State Teams are working to make sure that everyone gets their ballots.
If you're a Georgia voter living outside the U.S., here is all the information you need about the upcoming runoff election. Georgia voter Deirdre O’Brien and Democrats Abroad Vote from Abroad Coordinator Heidi Burch sit down with David and Rachel to talk about how to vote from abroad, where to get help if you need it, and the need for speed. Hear about complications stemming from the new legislation, the three categories of Georgia voters living outside the U.S., and why this election is so important.
The Voter Protection Team will focus on assisting voters who are being denied their right to vote from abroad.
Heather Stone is the chair of the Medicare Portability Task Force which is working to ensure that all U.S. citizens have access abroad to their earned benefits.
Citizens who worked in the US, or for US companies, paid into the Medicare system throughout their careers. Once they begin receiving the Social Security they earned throughout their work lives, their benefit is automatically reduced for the cost of their Medicare. But US Citizens residing outside the country are unable to use the Medicare they paid for, and continue to pay for, without often-costly travel back to the United States. Many choose that option. Others never receive the benefits for which they paid. This has implications for fairness and cost to the Medicare system.
For more information contact medicare@democratsabroad.org or follow this group on Substack https://themedicarereporter.substack.com/
The Reparations Task Force is looking for Democrats Abroad members who are motivated to jump into the fight for full reparative justice for Black Americans.
We are looking for volunteers who wish to support H.R. 40 and all other American reparative legislation at the local, state, and national levels.
If you are interested in getting involved in this fight for justice, please send an email to reparations@democratsabroad.org.
A tale of intrigue from John Baumlin, former DA Japan chair and newly elected rep to the DNC for DA Asia Pacific. John tells David and Rachel about his knotty five-year quest to re-enfranchise New Jersey voters living outside the country. With gratitude for a silver mine of DA knowledge, and side trips into internet philosophy, and the ins and outs of game translation.
A solid Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign is an important part of every election.
Request your ballot at www.votefromabroad.org
Get general help at info@democratsabroad.org
Get specific voting help at gotv@democratsabroad.org
Send your questions directly to Stephanie at gotv@democratsabroad.ca
What are Robert’s Rules of Order?
Why does Democrats Abroad use them in the AGM?
Rob Carolina gives us the history plus the pros and cons.
As Democrats Abroad prepares for an upcoming global meeting, Will Bakker explains the role of the Resolutions Committee (Carol Adamson in Sweden, Farid E. Ben Amor in Japan, Kent Getsinger in Australia, Beverle Lax in Kenya, past chair of the committee Susan Vaillant of France, and Rick Wicks of Sweden). How do resolutions get brought to the governing body? What sorts of resolutions are considered? What difference do they make? Who gets to propose and vote on them?
Chatting with Dana Freling and Dash Nesbitt from the Environment and Climate Crisis Council.
Jen explains the challenges of coordinating Democrats Abroad across more than 20 countries.
United States citizens around the world are supposed to file their taxes every year but don't do it.
A lively and fun discussion about this new caucus that focuses on the rights and protections of Americans with disabilities around the world.
"Ballots in boxes!" is the central preoccupation of Democrats Abroad's Vote from Abroad coordinator. Heidi Burch joins David and Rachel to talk about votegfromabroad.org, the non-partisan voter registration portal operated by Democrats Abroad. Heidi outlines multiple reasons for registering via votefromabroad.org instead of directly with your state, what it takes to keep the site up-to-the-minute in the face of changing regulations, and how easy it is for overseas voters to get help in registering. Plus, you'll learn who does the snow shovelling in Rachel's house, what David has against librarians, and what it means to unremember personal information "the European Way."
The history of the Global Veterans & Military Families Caucus and the new problem that vets have when trying to use their education benefits around the world.
Understanding the challenges of the Democrats Abroad Global Hispanic Caucus with Carlos Colao, Edgar Lopez and Amerika Garcia Grewal.
Learning the history and the future of the Democrats Abroad Progressive Caucus.
More information can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/pc
Follow the Progressive Caucus Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/prodacaucus/
The newly appointed chair of DA's Global Black Caucus joins David and Rachel to talk about issues, changes, and plans. Overseeing a team of 22 people, Jazz is working to ensure that the GBC is tackling a host of issues with a new deputy structure designed to avoid damage to the team and burnout. Jazz discusses growing issues of advocacy such as reparations and artificial intelligence, as well as the importance of justice and peace, taking down barriers and borders, and letting people be heard. Jazz briefly details upcoming events such as Spill the Beans: the GBC Cafe, and highlights the Power to the People podcast and the GBC's poet laureate's circle.
Nicholas Gordon, one of the three new Regional Vice Chairs elected to DA's Executive Committee, is David and Rachel's guest. Nicholas represents the Asia-Pacific region, which includes the Pacific Islands; East, Southeast, South, and Central Asia; and Australia and New Zealand. The conversation touches on the diversity of cultures and communities in the area, its growing presence and power in American politics, the role of the regional vice chair in supporting members who don't belong to a country committee, and how to engage "Secret Americans." Nicholas describes how casting his first in-person vote in DA's 2016 Global Primary led to becoming RVC---with a brief diversion into whether or not there is still a bottle of vodka in the freezer at his U.S. voting address.
With side forays into game design and encroaching thunderstorms, David and Rachel chat with Beth about the role of DA Secretary. Beth shares the perspective of someone who hasn't lived abroad very long, yet has contributed at all four levels of DA (local, country, regional, and now inernational). Beth reveals a passion for dotting i's and crossing t's, and talks about bringing on deputies for Secretary and other ExCom officers, creating a DA handbook, and staying hydrated and cool as a delegate to the DNC. One of these undertakings revealed an answer to a question posed in our conversation with Chair Candice Kerestan!
Quyen votes in Iowa, lives in Columbia, and got swept into leadership in the Columbia chapter after her second DA meetings. Our new International Treasurer shares thoughts about contrasting aspects of her job, from the behind-the-scenes procedural matters to her goals to make DA's financial picture easy to understand and to ensure that members are excited about the numbers. David shares how to acquire a tan in Winnepeg, Rachel's Zoom profile pic inspires a metaphor, and Quyen presents a persuasive case for destination weddings in Iowa. Members interested in becoming sustaining donors (even to the tune of $1.00/month) should visit democratsabroad.org/donate .
Art tells David and Rachel about the transformation of infrastructure from boring to popular, DA's growth over time, and his own political beginnings at the age of 5. Namedropping both stadiums and people, he talks about the big impact various celebrities have had in helping DA raise its profile worldwide. Complete with a digression into rakia and quinces.
Candice shares her thoughts with Rachel and David about ensuring that DA is understandable and accessible to both its members and its leaders. We talk about what DA's Executive Committee plans to focus on in the lead-up to 2022 and 2024, and about going climate neutral in both policy and operations (including an invitation to DA members to share tips!). And we dip into some of the things Candice learned about DA that excited her as she campaigned.
Candidates Joshua Van der Ploeg and Orlando Vidal answer seven questions from David and Rachel.
Visit https://www.democratsabroad.org/ for information about all of the candidates running for global office in the May 2021 elections.
Candidates Parikshit (Pari) Bhaduri and Beth (Elizabeth) Landry share their answers to seven questions from David and Rachel.
Visit https://www.democratsabroad.org/ for information about all of the candidates running for global office in the May 2021 elections.
Candidate Quyen Nguyen shares her answers to seven questions put to her by David and Rachel.
Visit https://www.democratsabroad.org/ for information about all of the candidates running for global office in the May 2021 elections.
A coversation with Martha McDevitt Pugh and Tre’Shawn Griffin-Noordermeer who are the co-chairs of DA’s Global LGBTQ+ Caucus.
Our guests is this episode are Emily Lines and Cory Lemke. They are the Co-Chairs of the Democrats Abroad Global Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus.
Alex Rehbinder speaks to Rachel and David about the experience of stepping up from the country-committee level to revive DA's Global Youth Caucus, which he now co-chairs. The conversation touches on DA as a guilty pleasure, getting past the shyness of campaigning, and the YC's goal to field at least one young'un as a candidate for each global office in DA's internal elections. They talk about the YC's plan to formalize the mentoring of younger DA members by veteran DA members, the progression from holding the hat to putting your name in it, and how all issues--especially climate change--are youth issues.
Meet Ann Hesse and Christina Skovsgaard from the Global Women’s Caucus. We discuss what a caucus is, the Women’s Caucus’s seven Action Teams, and Event Pizzas. We trace the line from John Adams to the ERA; touch on Ann’s view of DA members as part of a vast global laboratory of policy experiments; and note how much fun it can be to work to create a better world—all under the eyes of goddesses.
What was it like to serve in the White House through the 2016 transition?
What has it been like to go from that inside view to working from outside the country with Democrats Abroad?
Dianna English, Communications Director for Democrats Abroad Canada, sits down with David and Rachel to talk about home as a mobile concept, working in the Peace Corps, and about finding your people.
We also touch upon how much happens in Canada during an American election, exactly what it is about Canadians, and how washing your hands in Ethiopia relates to taking off your shoes in Canada.
On Oct 23, 2020, The Toronto Star posted a piece by Tyra J. Garrett that began: "Dear Canadians, Let’s talk in plain terms: The United States of America is where brown dreams go to die." https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/10/23/if-donald-trump-wins-im-asking-you-canada-save-my-life-an-african-american-on-unbelonging-in-her-home.html
Rachel and David immediately reached out to talk to its author. In our conversation, Tyra shares with us her perspective as a young Black woman in Trump’s America who grew up with Obama as President. She talks about what things were like for her grandparents as share-croppers, and about her secret identity as a teacher and her superpower as a writer. We dip into whether America was too ambitious to think we could elect a woman right after electing our first African-American president, and touch on the reactions of Canadians to her Toronto Star piece. We talk about how the divisive nature of the current climate can be addressed in the wake of a Blue victory, and about whether David or Rachel has the better guest accommodations. Go Leafs Go!
Democrats Abroad chair Julia Bryan sits down with Rachel & David to give a snapshot of Democrats Abroad’s activities leading up to the 2020 election, and a taste of what comes next. From 560K+ phone calls, to helping to “cure” ballots, to the number of DA members vote in battleground states, DA—the state party for Democrats living outside the U.S.--is posed to be the margin of victory in many races up and down the ballot. The conversation also touches on archaic voting vocabulary, how to vote for dog-catcher, driving off the map, why an election office might give out false information, and what makes votefromabroad.org far and away the best registration portal for voters abroad.
Rachel and David sit down to discuss the 2020 election in turn with Grace Moyer, Pauline Kaszyca, Evelyn Lloyd, and Grace Pope—a group of voters with, between them, the perspective of 386 years.
From memories of Truman (a “feisty little man”) and Roosevelt (who spoke in a “sociable way that was new”) to thoughts about the current occupant of the White House (none flattering; some explicit), all four currently live in Canada and are passionate about exercising their right to vote from abroad.
Are you doing everything that you can do to make sure everyone votes in this election? David and Rachel outline some of the ways in which Democrats abroad are working to ensure that everyone with the right to vote from outside the country does so.
Rachel and David chat with DA delegates Adrianne George, Marisa Grimes, and Anya Leonhard about what expectations they brought to the convention and what the experience was like. Between them, the three represented DA members from Europe and Asia; included old hands and newcomers; and spent time with the Black Caucus, at policy round-tables, and working on platform language on healthcare. Plus a bonus: You can view the TV interview Anya refers to--if you don't have enough German to follow the discussion, you may still enjoy the body language!
DA member Roxanne Rabalais won an appearance on the Blue Vote Cafe by donating to Democrats Abroad in our recent 20.20 Prize Draw Fundraiser. David and Rachel chat with Roxanne about what drew her into registering to vote, being on the receiving end of a get-out-the-vote phone call, how taxes led her to find DA--and about her equestrian-flavored apparel business, Spiced (https://www.spiced.ca/).
What was it like to be elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court during a pandemic--and how did Justice Jill J. Karofsky launch her 10-year term with a run? What led her to public service, and why did she change her middle name? What measures can the courts take to help jurors? What is the National Mustard Museum, and what does it have to do with Wisconsin's newest Supreme Court Justice? Rachel and David sit down to chat with Justice Karofsky about all of this and more.
For more info: democratsabroad.org . To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org .
For more info: democratsabroad.org . To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org .
The Heymans share stories about Joe Biden with David and Rachel, and talk about the campaign’s focus on getting out the American vote from around the world. They speak of Biden’s “secret sauce”—the leadership skills that make him particularly suited to this moment—and about how the deal he made with President Obama when accepting the vice presidency uniquely prepares him for the presidency.
Learn about the importance of every vote, of hustling hard to preserve what we love, of what supporters of other candidates can look for from a Biden presidency, and of flipping Me to We.
There is (as so often) a reference to pets—though not in their usual form.
The episode ends with a heartfelt valentine to Canada.
Nse Ufot joined Rachel and David to talk about her work as Executive Director of The New Georgia Project (a non-partisan effort to register and civically engage Georgians), and how it had its roots in a conversation that began in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We talk about voter suppression, Georgia's place in a rapidly transforming population, the critical importance of every vote in every election, the gospel choir theory of organizing, and Nse's time as a member of Democrats Abroad. With a side of ice cream and a lot of laughter.
For more info: democratsabroad.org . To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org .
Aaron Kruse, co-chair of the Platform Committee, joins Rachel and David from Beijing on the best day of his life to talk about the process of forging the Democrats Abroad 2020 Platform. We talk about health care, gun control, the environment, taxation, services for Americans abroad, and how everywhere you go, you will bump into someone from Iowa. We discuss the grueling process of reading 4800 submissions and steering 60 or 70 volunteers, and the multiple shirts needed to get through the final stages of approving a platform with an overwhelming majority. We touch on the question of whether progressives are readier to live overseas, or whether those who choose to live overseas adopt progressive outlooks, and we end the episode with a wedding proposal and pets.
For more info: democratsabroad.org . To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org .
The Healthcare plank of the Democrats Abroad platform begins: "Understanding that healthcare is the highest concern for many Americans – including many of our families and friends living in the U.S. – Democrats Abroad advocates for high-quality, equitable, and freely available healthcare for all Americans – and for everyone living in the U.S. – which we regard as a fundamental human right." Rachel and David are joined by Kent Getsinger from Australia to explore the details of Democrats Abroad's vision for healthcare under a Democratic administration.
For more info: democratsabroad.org . To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org .
A conversation with Heather Stone in Israel and Asha Subas in London, England, who brought the Democracy and Elections plank across the finish line. (Democrats Abroad's 2020 platform was adopted on June 7.) We discuss the vulnerability of the postal service, and its importance for citizens voting from outside the country. We touch on money in politics, corruption, voter suppression, and the necessity to explicitly state our support for civil rights, freedom of speech, and freedom to peaceably assemble, as well as how to address disinformation and misinformation.
For more info: democratsabroad.org . To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org .
In this wide-ranging conversation about racism, its effects, and what we can do to address it. Angela (who live in Germany) shares with David and Rachel the story of her involvement with DA, how she founded the Black Caucus, and what its role is within DA--and we even get into the definition of a kakistocracy.
For more info: democratsabroad.org
To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org
In May 2020, Miguel Madrigal (Costa Rica) was elected by the Americas Region of DA to be a member of the delegation Democrats Abroad is taking to the Democratic National Convention. The youngest member of the DA delegation at 24, Miguel, who is pledged to Joe Biden, beat 115 other candidates to win this coveted position. Rachel and David talk to him about what he did--and how it felt--to win the election. The conversation reveals one fact of potential embarrassment to David, and finishes with a bit of fun.
For more info: democratsabroad.org
To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org
"Climate change is the central challenge of our time." Thus begins the Environment and Energy plank of the Democrats Abroad platform. David and Rachel talk to Jim Christiansen (in Paris), who was involved in drafting this section of both the 2016 and the 2020 platform, about the current draft, feedback from members, challenges presented by the current administration, and what happens next.
For more info: democratsabroad.org (Or connect directly to the platform.)
To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org
The issue of taxation is a critical one for Americans living outside the country. David and Rachel sat down with Carmelan Polce (in Australia), who chairs DA's Taxation Task Force, to talk about why this topic forms a plank in our platform. What do legislators at home need to understand about the effects of taxation laws on income earned outside the U.S.? How can it be that American abroad have to pay taxes on such things as welfare payments from our countries of residence? What impact did 2017 tax reforms and the global intangible low-taxed income (known as the GILTI tax) have on Americans living abroad? And where can you turn with questions?
For more info: democratsabroad.org (Or connect directly to the platform.)
To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org
What goes into the creation of the Democrats Abroad Platform? How can you shape the 2020 draft before it is final? How does our platform affect the election for the entire United States? David and Rachel connect with Farid Ben Amor in Geneva and Salli Swartz in Paris, two of the four co-chairs (with Aaron Kruse and Wen-Wen Lindroth) who led a team of hundreds of DA members to produce the draft.
For more info: democratsabroad.org (Or connect directly to the platform.)
To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org
In the teeth of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. is providing money to its citizens. Do Americans living abroad qualify for this relief?
Still maintaining social distance, Rachel and David tackle your elgibility for money through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and whether you need to do anything to receive it. (For more information, visit the FAQ compiled by DA's Taxation Task force, led by Carmelan Polce: https://www.democratsabroad.org/carmelan/coronavirus_aid_relief_economic_safety_cares_act_faqs. And please send your stories about the difficulty of complying with tax law as an American abroad to taxationtf@democratsabroad.org, subject headed "my tax story.")
With shout-outs to Suzy Q doughnuts and Rachel's accountant in Ottawa.
Americans around the world chose to cast their primary vote with Democrats Abroad. While maintaining social distance, Rachel and David take a look at the numbers: Who won our delegates? How was turnout? What are our voters' ages? How did Canada's share of the votes stack up?
For more info: democratsabroad.org
To get your ballot (do it NOW!!): votefromabroad.org
Also on Super Tuesday, we sat down in the tavern with Samuel Baltz, an American-Canadian and a PhD candidate in political science and computer science at the University of Michigan. In a 20-minute crash course on the science of comparing elections, we touched on voting in the U.S. and Canada, the influence of money, voter suppression, the 8- to 10-year swing toward change, what voters seek in a leader, who picks our candidates, what people in the U.S. can do to get people living outside the country to vote, and whether it matters what words you use when you phone someone to ask them to vote. And . . . we wind up at the end with a surprise reveal.
Recorded on March 3, 2020 (Super Tuesday).
For more info: democratsabroad.org
Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DemsAbroad/,
Follow on Twitter: @DemsAbroad
Check it out on Instagram: demsabroad
Anyone can be a roving reporter! On Super Tuesday, we phoned Brian Hassett from the tavern (https://www.thesenate.ca/) where we were running our Voting Centre. Brian is a DA member based in Toronto (and a Dead Head), who travelled to New Hampshire to experience the primaries in person, despite having decided to vote later on, in Democrats Abroad’s own Global Presidential Primary. But did it help him make up his mind? And which candidate offered the best post-voting spread?
Watch for Brian's book, Blissfully Ravaged in Democracy, which he will be publishing soon.
Recorded on March 3, 2020 (Super Tuesday).
For more info: democratsabroad.org
Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DemsAbroad/,
Follow on Twitter: @DemsAbroad
Check it out on Instagram: demsabroad
Have you found your place within Democrats Abroad? David and Rachel explore some of the volunteer roles, from small things like postcards and phone calls to . . . well, no, you can't take over the podcast. Includes a fleeting cat reference.
Recorded Feb. 9, 2020.
For more info: democratsabroad.org
Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DemsAbroad/,
Follow on Twitter: @DemsAbroad
Check it out on Instagram: demsabroad
Lance Lehman is US citizen but he has lived in Canada almost his entire life. Recently he travelled to Iowa with his brother to find out what the experience is like. Listen for what happens when John Kerry notices your Christmas sweater.
Recorded Feb. 9, 2020.
For more info: democratsabroad.org
Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DemsAbroad/,
Follow on Twitter: @DemsAbroad
Check it out on Instagram: demsabroad
Why do it now? Why do it every year? Why use votefromabroad.org instead of going directly to your voting state?
Rachel and David try to thread their way through the quirks and cautions of voting by absentee ballot so that you don’t have to! For more information: votefromabroad.org
(Recorded on January 19, 2020.)
For more info: democratsabroad.org
Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DemsAbroad/,
Follow on Twitter: @DemsAbroad
Check it out on Instagram: demsabroad
Episode One. What is Democrats Abroad, and how do presidential candidates qualify for its Presidential Primary ballot? What is Democrats Abroad doing running a primary in the first place? Who gets to vote in it, and how can you do so? Why would you want to vote for your favored candidate through Democrats Abroad instead of through the state where you vote?
Rachel and David supply the answers as they kick off the podcast with a burst of laughter.
(Recorded on December 8, 2019. Check for updates as the Democratic candidates qualify for the DA ballot.)