Midwest Misfits: Recent Episodes
Midwest Misfit
We have become a collective of voices of lived experience, progressive ideas, creatives, artists, activism, and amplification of women, LGBTQIA+, black, brown, and everything in between. Shining spotlights onto the issues surrounding us right here in the Midwest, but honestly they are relatable to the stories and issues everywhere in the world. We have SUCH inspiring, creative, brilliant minds within our own communities. And we are sharing them here: Sometimes snarky, sometimes dead serious, sometimes both. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
Thanks for joining us for this weeks bonus episode as Colleen and I chat about the election and what has transpired since. Also, we want to thank you for sticking with us this past year and wanted to let you know that we are going to take a break until after the holidays. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving and we hope to see you in 2023.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
Today we are chatting with Mom, entrepreneur and Nebraska State Senator Megan Hunt. We were lucky to briefly catch her during her busy re-election campaign for Nebraska Legislature District 8. We are now under a week until the midterms so make sure and drop off your ballots or set your reminders for next Tuesday, November 8th and get out there and vote!
Thanks for listening to this episode of Midwest misfits. Make sure and subscribe to our show so you don’t miss a thing. You can also find us on social media @Mistfitpod. For more on Senator Hunt check her out and follow her on social media at:
Twitter: @NebraskaMegan
Facebook: @MeganHuntNE
IG: @NebraskaMegan
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are back with the 2nd half of Colleen's discussion with Dr. Erin Feichtinger, Policy Director of the Women's Fund. If you missed the first episode you can check it out here:
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/aRHHyOTUrub
For more on Dr. Feichtinger and to learn where you an get in touch, check out here bio here:
https://www.omahawomensfund.org/staff/erin-feichtinger/
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we have a special guest, State Senator Tony Vargas who is currently running for the House of Representatives. Senator Vargas began his career as a public-school teacher and member of the Omaha Public School Board. He then went on to the Nebraska Senate is hoping to win your vote for Congress.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Midwest Misfits. For more about Senator Vargas’s campaign, visit https://www.vargasfornebraska.com/. There are only a couple weeks until the mid-terms so mark your calendars and get out to vote on November 8th!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Dr. Erin Feichtinger Represents District 2 on the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors.She joined the Women’s Fund as Policy Director in May 2022. She brings her extensive experience working on policy to increase housing security, food security and economic security at both the local and state level. Dr. Feichtinger has worked on several successful policy initiatives including Omaha’s Rental Registration and Proactive Inspection Ordinance as well as legislation increasing tenant protections and access to justice, increasing access to SNAP and affordable childcare. Her most recent efforts to secure federal funding for rental assistance and legal representation for tenants in eviction court has resulted in increased housing stability for all Nebraskans.
Dr. Feichtinger has a degree in special education and a Ph.D. in history from Loyola University Chicago. She loves reading, research, music, learning the drums and spending time watching her daughter interact with the world.
https://www.todaysomahawoman.com/news/erin-feichtinger/
“While Erin Feichtinger, Ph.D., is not a journalist, she “plays one on Twitter”—thanks to her undying passion for housing justice.
Her tweet threads detailing Douglas County Eviction Court give a bird’s eye view into the housing crisis, and she is often asked if she is a reporter.
She works with case managers and attorneys and partners with organizations like Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (MACCH) and Legal Aid of Nebraska to problem-solve and streamline the process so people can apply for rental assistance. “I genuinely believe that most of my job is trying to make their lives easier, from writing policies to showing up to the Legislature and going to City Council meetings.”
Feichtinger says during 2020, she spent a lot of time with elected officials, securing rental, food and utility assistance funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “I couldn’t be prouder to work every day with the absolute heroes who took on our neighbor’s collective pain and panic and helped them navigate through it all.”
She has championed human rights from the start. In high school, she was a counselor at Camp Munroe, a recreational therapy program from UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute for kids and adults with physical and/or mental disabilities.
“Camp Munroe changed my life and probably set me on this path. I find that I always want to know why things are the way they are, and working with people with disabilities made me see the bigger systems at work that can often make life difficult for people,” she says.”
https://www.civicnebraska.org/20220531-sda-erin-feichtinger/
Each year, Civic Nebraska’s Strengthening Democracy Awards recognize Nebraskans whose work embodies the spirit of a modern, robust democracy.
Civic Nebraska honors Erin Feichtinger of Omaha with the 2022 Civic Catalyst Award for relentlessly fighting for housing justice in Nebraska.
Erin leads calls to action, helps Nebraskans tackle the state’s housing affordability issues, and has been a force in the lobby at the statehouse on behalf of emergency rental assistance for the state’s residents. In the most recent session of the Nebraska Legislature, Erin was instrumental in organizing, educating, and activating hundreds of Nebraskans to fight for aid, as well as other matters of fundamental housing fairness at the state and local levels.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
This week we are chatting with Senator Carol Blood and catching up on her campaign and what the state of Nebraska is talking about. For more on Senator Blood and how you can help her campaign, visit Elect Carol Blood.
To check out our past interview with Senator Blood, click here: Senator Carol Blood for Governor
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today on Midwest Misfits we are talking with Scout Richters with the ACLU of NE
For over 50 years, the ACLU of Nebraska has worked in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect the constitutional and individual rights of all people. With a nationwide network of offices and millions of members and supporters, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties fights.
Also joining the conversation is Andi Curry Grubb State Executive Director - of Planned Parenthood North Central States Advocates of Nebraska
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska (PPAN) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to educate and empower the electorate regarding issues of sexual and reproductive health and related rights of Nebraskans.
Finally, it always helps to know how your senator voted last time. So we wanted to quickly let NE listeners know how their senators voted on a total trigger ban last session.
OPPOSED EXTREME TOTAL BAN:
Blood, Bostar, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, Day, DeBoer, M. Hansen, Hunt, McCollister, McKinney, Morfeld, Pansing Brooks, Vargas, Walz, Wishart PLEASE SEND THEM A THANK YOU NOTE!
SUPPORTED EXTREME TOTAL BAN:
Aguilar, Albrecht, Arch, Bostelman, Brandt, Brewer, Briese, Clements, Dorn, Erdman, Flood, Friesen, Geist, Gragert, Halloran, B. Hansen, Hilgers, Hilkemann, Hughes, Jacobson, Kolterman, Lindstrom, Linehan, Lowe, McDonnell, Moser, Murman, Sanders, Slama, Stinner, Williams (Gov. Ricketts has since appointed Sen. Dover to replace Sen. Flood, serving out a term that ends January 2025.)
>>>> EXCUSED NOT VOTING:
Lathrop, Pahls, Wayne (Gov. Ricketts has since appointed Sen. Kauthto replace the late Sen. Pahls until the November midterm elections.)
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Colleen and Leah here, ramping up some content to get you fired up for the 2024 mid-term elections. Today we have a bonus episode filled with a discussion about the overturning of Roe v wade, the recent raid at Mar-a-Lago and other hot topics. But stay tuned and subscribe as we have a great chat with Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska and Scout Richters, Senior Legal & Policy Counsel, ACLU of Nebraska. We also have a conversation with Nebraska Democrat for Governor, Senator Carol Blood. I promise you won’t want to miss so stick around.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are talking about what is on all of our minds. The fate of abortion in the United States. Thanks for listening!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
Today we have a lovely chat with Kara Teri, candidate for Elkhorn School Board. Kara is an Elkhorn High alumn she is a human resource professional with more than 15 years of experience and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management of HR. we are talking about her platform, her goals and breaking down the long list of candidates. Thanks for listening!
Thanks for listening today and remember to fill out those ballots and get them sent in asap. The deadline is May 10th. Follow us on social at @misfitpod and please, if you are enjoying the show and want to support us, leave us a review or donate at MidwestMisfits.com
Kara Teri on Facebook
Vote Kara For Elkhorn
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are back with Coaching with Candi. The beautiful, magical Candi Jones digging into Survivor's Rising: Demanding change and accountability of the systems and individuals perpetuating the unequal power that results insubordination, exploitation, oppression, and abuse.
It is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and we are digging into sexual assault, domestic abuse, and of course there is a Content Warning for anyone that needs to protect their peace and trauma. Coaching with Candi 'Where Healing Happens'
Candi Jones is an experienced Transformation coach and a speaker that heals and you just might be in your shedding season.
You are Bent, but NEVER Broken.
This is your SEASON to be:
- Emotionally Healthy
- Professionally Thriving
- Authentically Living
Whatever is important to you, is important to me. Together we will develop the habits and skills to effectively deal with the challenges and emotional moments you will encounter in life and in business.
The Truth is Right Beneath the Surface
In addition to 1-on-1 consultations and group sessions, I regularly host workshops and seminars for businesses that want to understand the value in developing their best talent and meeting them where they are.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
It’s Midwest Misfits back from Spring Break hiatus. This is what happens when you move a lot and have 4 kids all in different schools and different schedules. Today. Today is going to be a powerful episode with our dear friend and returning guest Candi Jones. Let me give you a little refresher on Candi. Candi was a recent recipient of the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals 2020 Change Maker award. She is a vice president of HR and DEI, while also being a powerhouse life and career coach.
My sincere hope is you can feel and sense the alchemy and power through Candi’s energy, voice, and storytelling. My life shifted by this conversation you are about to listen to. I hope yours does as well.
We start this episode with a little banter on HR, the education system, and making space for everyone. But then we get into the meat which is Candi’s work on the Board of Survivors Rising. Candi was embarking on a personal journey of reflection, beginning to open up about the sexual trauma and rape she experienced at age 12 to heal herself and found power in helping others in their journey.
Being trauma-informed is a buzzword, but we are going to unpack what that means and what that looks like in the real world. Why don’t people see the human trafficking going on in their own homes and communities. We spent several hours talking and have gotten it down to 2 impact episodes. One today and the second part next week. Please listen, learn something, and for damn sure call Candi for your own healing and life, career coaching.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Meet Dave Pantos As an attorney who has worked tirelessly for a fair and equitable justice system, I have a passion for service and good government. I have had the honor to serve the Omaha community in many ways over the last two decades. Now, I want to build on the progress that so many others have made in this city and county and bring meaningful change to our system. This mission has been at the core of my career as an attorney, nonprofit leader, and advocate for people who haven’t gotten a fair shake. And it is why I am running for County Attorney in Douglas County.
As almost everyone would agree, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” But Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous words resonate so loudly today because we still have so much work to do. As County Attorney, I will draw on the wide range of experiences that I have in both judicial and administrative courtrooms. For example, as a Legal Aid attorney, I secured key victories on behalf of people with disabilities in federal court. I later served as Executive Director of the Legal Aid program in Nebraska, and I currently teach law and policy at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to the next generation of environmental science professionals. I am in court downtown every week representing tenants facing homelessness in eviction court. Every case I can get dismissed is a victory for a family that won’t end up on the streets.
During my tenure as Legal Aid’s Executive Director, I helped to initiate the statewide health law project, the Access to Justice Centers in Omaha and Lincoln, and, in partnership with other local organizations, the Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline. My nonprofit service also included a term as Executive Director of Autism Action Partnership. Under my leadership, we debuted the Partnership for Autism Career Employment. As a nonprofit leader, I was Board Chairperson of both the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands and the Domestic Violence Council. Recently, I served a term as one of the two District 3 Board Members on the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors. Currently, I serve on the Board of Omaha Permaculture and the Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation and also serve on the Event Committee of Kids Can Community Center.
Of course, family is the center of my life in Omaha. I am married to the incredible Jill Pantos, who has served our country through her work in the Navy--including several years overseas--and is now a nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Omaha. My twin sons Miles and Lyndon are first-year students at Millard North High School. We have a blended family which also includes my step-daughter Rowan and step-son Cooper.
As County Attorney, I will focus on crime reduction strategies through three principles: justice, fairness, and transparency. It’s time for criminal justice reform in Nebraska, and it’s an outside, independent voice who can make that happen. Please vote Pantos for County Attorney in 2022!
Justice for James Scurlock. https://saytheirnamesmemorials.com/james-scurlock
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek is a mother, small-business owner, and volunteer running as an Independent for Nebraska Legislature for District 4 in west Omaha. She has a business background in human resources, recruiting and sales, and currently works from home alongside her husband. Cindy is a strong supporter of public schools, and their children attend Millard Public Schools.
President of Rank the Vote Nebraska, Cindy is a voting rights and civic responsibility advocate. Cindy is a co-founder of the Nebraska Legislative Study Group, on the Nonpartisan Nebraska Advisory Board, and volunteers with several community, neighborhood, and political organizations.
As a longtime Independent, my platform focuses on serving all of my neighbors.. .people and policies vs. parties and politics!
- Growing Small Businesses
- Our Schools
- Our Property Taxes
- Clean Air, Clean Water, Clean Energy
Learn more about Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek at her website Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek www.CindyForNebraska.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Midwest Misfits Podcast welcomes Nebraska Senator Carol Blood to the show. We learned so much from her and hope you will too. Carol Blood has been a tireless advocate for her constituents, particularly her district of Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, NE. Take a peek at her legislation and you will quickly realize she gets pragmatic, common sense legislation passed that literally helps the every day person in her district.
Electing Carol Blood to the Nebraska Governorship would make her the first Democratic female Governor for Nebraska and only the 2nd female in its entire history of 40 Governors thus far who have otherwise been all white males, which is not representative of our state's demographics in any way.
Sexism is at play and we all need to work as hard as Carol to get her elected. She is up against multi-millionaire Trump allies. Millionaires are profoundly out of touch with the struggles the average person experiences in their daily lives.
Have a listen. Spread the word. Donate. Volunteer. Let's get Carol Blood elected to Governor of Nebraska!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
Today we have an interview with Lisa Schoenberger candidate for Millard School Board. She believes, as we do, that education is the most important investment we make as a community. We talk with Lisa about her platform and vision for Millard Public Schools.
Thanks for listening to this episode! For more information about Lisa Schoenberger, visit LisaForMillard.com and learn how you can help her campaign and support her vision.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We take a quick moment to address the controversial comments recently made on The View by Whoopi Goldberg. Did she deserve suspension?
Stay tuned for our next episode coming out on Tuesday, February 8th on the Misfit Pod feed featuring Lisa Schoenberger candidate for Millard School Board.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hi Misfits. We are back! This is the official launch of Midwest Misfits season 2. We are gearing up for the midterms as well as the Omaha City elections coming up fast, in May. We have some great interviews already on the books so make sure and subscribe and follow us so you don’t miss a thing.
Thank you for your patience as we recharged and reorganized. We have some great things planned, so stay tuned.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey pod friends! We are dropping in on the feed to let you know we are still here, just on a little break. Take a listen to Colleen's first-hand experience of navigating family health issues during this pandemic.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are catching up with some HOT topics. First of all, what are conservatorships and why Brittany's is sooo bad. A little about Gabby Petito and other stories we just can't stop reading about.
Follow us:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are chatting about the everchanging news and the hellscape that has become our society. Afghanistan, Ivermectin, Covid...school board meetings. You know, the usual! Join us won't you?
Follow The Misfits:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, welcome back to our show. Today we are talking with a regular contributor Shawntal Mallory and a new Friend Yvonnda Summers. This episode was inspired by a MotherJones.com article titled Do We Need to Abolish Child Protective Services and who better to comment than a guardian ad litem and public defender.
Shawntal Mallory is an executive at a local non-profit organization that serves youth and young adults and their families. She is an adjunct professor at Creighton Law School and an attorney with 15 years of experience in Juvenile Court. Shawntal has represented thousands of children and families in abuse/ neglect, delinquency, divorce, custody, and adoption matters. Shawntal also works in diversity, equity and inclusion spaces and is an avid community volunteer and Board member. Her most rewarding title is "Mom" to her two sons.
Yvonnda Summers is an Omaha native of Nebraska. She has been an attorney for 7 years and has been doing criminal defense for 6 years as a Public Defender. She chose to stay close to home and attend Creighton University. During her time there, she joined the historically Black sorority of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., became the President of the African-American Student Association (CUASA). She continued to Creighton School of Law where she won top awards in Juvenile Offender Law, traveled nationally with the Mock Trial Team, represented her class as the commencement speaker for graduation and was awarded for her outstanding service to the community. As she grew into a young attorney, she became even more impassioned to serve the indigent community and to better the criminal justice system as a whole. She moved to Virginia where she became a Public Defender in the city of Portsmouth. There, she was entrusted with high-profile cases after only 2 years of practice. Yvonnda was integral in establishing the Mental Health Court and served the juveniles of the city when the Commonwealth was seeking to enhance punishment to adult terms. Always wanting to serve her hometown, she moved back to Omaha where she joined the Public Defender’s Office. She continues to use her skills from her life experiences to serve the low-income, under-represented juveniles, parents in cases of custodial removal and adult felony cases. Every day she is an activist in the courtroom arguing for fair treatment, upholding the Constitution and giving a voice to those who need to be heard in the criminal justice process.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Welcome back to Midwest Misfits. Today Colleen is having a conversation with Shee Covarrubias a local advocate for public school education. Shee is a mother of two in the Papillion- LaVista School District who has been busy online and around town educating the public on the pushback on what we are sure everyone has heard of as the dog whistle: CRT or Critical Race Theory. You will hear Shee educate us that we need to be calling it Anti-Racist Teaching along with seeing it for what it is. Over 21 states have been debating and tackling this issue.
On this episode, we are going to break down what this ban would mean for all children. Local politics is where we can all have a huge impact by simply showing up. Show up to write your representatives. Show up to run for office. Show up to support others who are speaking up. Show up to speak up yourself. One person can't do it all. We need MORE people to show up in support of anti-racist teaching.
We begin the discussion with the Health Standards. We had our first dive into Nebraska Health Standards with The Women's Fund leadership and since then there has been another draft. This NEW draft removes ALL language on gender identity, inclusive teaching and understanding. Ignorance and silence will perpetuate harm to come to these already marginalized communities. It is a natural progression into the wider issue of anti-racism education. Thanks for joining. We appreciate you.
Links:
NOISE Omaha did an excellent article on Critical Race Theory:
https://www.noiseomaha.com/news-now/2021/6/20/why-nearly-100-people-gathered-to-talk-about-critical-race-theory-in-omaha
The Teachers Union Calls the Ban for CRT Censorship.... Which it is:
https://omaha.com/news/local/education/nebraska-teachers-union-defends-critical-race-theory-accuses-critics-of-censorship/article_05301c1a-ea44-11eb-8a1b-cf1567b633ab.html
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
We are back!! We hope summer is treating you well. Listen to the first half of this fun chat and then head over to Patreon.com/MidwestMisfits to hear the second half. We promise it will be worth it. Thank you so much for your support!
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are talking with Maggie Wood Executive Director and Cammy Watkins, Deputy Director of Inclusive Communities. Inclusive Communities is a non-profit organization providing education and advocacy related to the topics of diversity and inclusion through Human Relations. By partnering with schools and local businesses they work to confront prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination with a mission to society that is strengthened by diversity, inclusion, respect, and justice for all people.
Thanks for listening to this episode of Midwest Misfits. We really hope you are enjoying your summer and having a lovely time with friends and family I think it is safe to say we all need it. Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes and don’t forget to check out our exclusive content on Patreon. Thanks and we will see you next time.
Inclusive Communities Website
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today on Midwest Misfits we are talking with Morgann Freeman. Not the actor, but the badass midwestern activist. When Morgann Freeman announced her candidacy at 28 years old, she was one of the youngest candidates and the first Black woman candidate for Congress in the state’s 153-year history. And the first openly queer candidate to run for any federal office in Nebraska's history. She is an entrepreneur who has done inclusive communications consulting, a community organizer who is passionate about connecting impacted people to the platforms and movements that make sure their voice is heard.
We agree with Morgann that we need more activists and teachers and bartenders and mechanics in office. We need everyday people to guide legislation. The time is now. Morgan is working to build a movement, collective, and collaborative to build a deep, diverse bench that’s savvy, revolutionary and empowered to get progressive of candidates in office. Polling of the general public, we are actually pretty progressive in thought. You would never know based on the rhetoric and conservative media that manipulate the news.
From doxxed and targeted local young activist to running for Congress to campaign manager for Jasmine Harris for mayor to now creating Campaign Lab which will be changing the landscape for people to run for office with paid fellowships and campaign toolkits for intersectionally marginalized candidates to run and win. Get inspired and join the movement today on Midwest Misfits. Let's get to the show.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are discussing what has, unfortunately, become controversial over the new health standards that have been put forth by the Nebraska department of education. The controversial parts mainly surrounding gender identity and sexuality. Ferial Pearson is joining me as my co-host today with Christon and Lisa Shultz from Women's Fund of Omaha. Ferial was the GAS leader which is the gay-straight alliance that supports LGBTQIA students and their heterosexual allies within the schools they attend.
Truth is the kindest thing we can give folks. Kids are dying. Kids are taking their own lives or are subject to violence when we do not educate everyone on the harms caused by withholding information, education, and acceptance. We want what is best for our kids in our communities to thrive. Adults are barriers. Adults are bringing their own misinformation and ignorance to fight against these conversations because adults are uncomfortable. Our young people deserve honesty, truth, and information to lead their best lives. Silence, secrecy, and fear allow violence and abuse to flourish. Research-based education empowers young people. When we know better, we can do better.
We ask that each of you share this with one person. There are powers that are trying to shut down this conversation and are opposing these health standards, so our best action is to spread the evidence. Empower others to understand the issue and speak up for it in their own lives in their own way. Influence and educate the people around you to combat the misinformation spreading.
Dr. Ferial Pearson
Women's Fund of Omaha
Lisa Shulze- EDUCATION AND TRAINING MANAGER
Christon MagTaggart- FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE PROJECT DIRECTOR
Women’s Fund NDE landing page (sign the petition, write your board member, learn more!): https://www.omahawomensfund.org/nde-health-standards/
Access Granted:
Recommendation reading list: https://getaccessgranted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Access-Granted-Recommended-Reading-List.pdf
Door Openers vs. Door Closers: https://getaccessgranted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Door-Openers-vs-Door-Closers.pdf
Insta: @access.granted (best way for young people to reach us)
Women’s Fund Freedom from Violence:https://www.omahawomensfund.org/our-work/ending-violence/
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are talking to a passionate Omaha Educator Brooke Studt and discussing her approach to education and how she goes above and beyond for her students. As you know, here on the pod we are big supporters of our public schools and find a lot of value in talking with our educators who do so much for Omaha kids. Today Brooke is sharing her approach to teaching, why she doesn’t give homework and how she gives her students all the personal attention they deserve at school. Happy Summer everyone!
Visit us on Patreon!
Follow us on Social:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
WHAT: The NebraskaPoor People’s Campaign holds news conference(s) at the offices of Representative Don Bacon and Representative Adrian Smith to demand that they embrace the Third Reconstruction resolution to end poverty and low wages in this country. Emerging from the pain and organizing power of the 140 million people living in poverty or with low wages in this nation, the congressional resolution for a Third Reconstruction reflects an omnibus vision for a fundamental restructuring of society that lifts from the bottom. The nonpartisan resolution is a response to years of movement building to create the collective resolve necessary to implement real and transformational legislative action.
WHO:
- The Rev. Victoria Parker-Mothershed, Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign coordinating committee Theomusicologist, and impacted testifier speaking about the injustice of our medical system.
- Angela Montalvo, Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign coordinating committee tri-chair and impacted testifier speaking about military injustice.
- The Rev. Lisa Hadler, Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign coordinating committee tri-chair offering prayer.
- More directly impacted people sharing their stories.
WHEN: June 7, 2021, 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. MT,and 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT for the national online program
WHERE:
- Office of Don Bacon, 13906 Gold Circle, Suite 101, Omaha.
- Office of Adrian Smith, 1811 West Second Street, Suite 275, Grand Island
- Additional speakers online at www.facebook.com/NebraskaPPC.
National program online at www.3rdReconstruction.org at 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT.
WHY: Drawing on the transformational history of the First Reconstruction following the Civil War and the Second Reconstruction of the civil rights struggles of the 20th century, the Third Reconstruction is a revival of our constitutional commitment to establish justice, provide for the general welfare, end decades of austerity, and recognize that policies that center the 140 million are also good economic policies that can heal and transform the nation. This resolution recognizes that in order to build a true Third Reconstruction we must simultaneously deal with the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation and the denial of health care, militarism and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism that blames the poor instead of the systems that cause poverty. We are building to June 21, when we will hold a National Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers Assembly, which will be held online and at a socially distanced rally in Raleigh. The Poor People’s Campaign then launches a one-year campaign toward a Moral March on Washington and Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers Assembly on June 18, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we have another round table discussion with Shawntal Mallory, Candi Jones and Jay Warren-Teamer. You might remember these lovely ladies from a few months back when we discussed ways to improve relations between black and white women. If you missed that episode you will find a link here. Shawntal, Candi and Jay are back to discuss Imposter Syndrome and Intersectional Micro-Aggressions experienced by Black women.
First a little business…we want to give a shout out and huge thank you to one of our VIP Patrons Brandi Crockett. Brandi, we really appreciate all your support, thank you for being a patron. If you would like to learn more about becoming a patron, visit our website, Midwestmisfits.com or find us on Patreon. Now on to the show.
Thanks for listening to this episode of Midwest misfits. Reminder to check out our past episode on improving relationships between black and white women featuring Shawntal, Candi and jay. You will find us on Patreon at Midwest Misfits and on social at Misfitpod. Thanks and we will see you next week.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are having a captivating conversation with Dr. Ferial Pearson. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Pearson identifies as a queer, Muslim, Indian-African immigrant woman, first-generation college graduate, educator, community activist, speaker, writer, and creator of the internationally recognized Secret Kindness Agents Project. Pearson earned a BA in Language Arts Teaching from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2001, an MS in Urban Instruction from UNO in 2009, and an Ed.D from UNO in 2017. You might recognize her from her famous TikTok videos from her quarantine bread-making OR her UNO Tedx talk OR her global Secret Kindness Agents Project. Dr. Ferial Pearson is quite simply a badass. She has had to endure threats, hate speech, entire school districts throwing her under the bus when she had been hired by the districts to speak on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Privilege.
https://queeromahaarchives.omeka.net/items/show/3283
https://ferialp.medium.com/deceit-wrapped-in-kindness-3498de1dec55
http://tedxomaha.com/ferial-pearson/
https://www.amazon.com/Ferial-Pearson/e/B00QDRZZMM%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/muslim-professor-felt-her-life-was-in-danger-after-visiting-school-in-the-sand-hills
https://seeingrednebraska.com/published/transcript-of-ferial-pearsons-talk-on-power-and-identity-to-platteview-senior-high-school/
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Happy election day to all our Omaha listeners. Today colleen and I have a hot topic episode for you.. it's a little Qanon, UAP meets School Choice, worker shortage, and vaccine skeptics…we are chatting about it all. A friendly reminder to check us out on Patreon for bonus content. There is one episode up there now and another dropping today. Visit Patreon.com/midwestmisfits or you will find links in the show notes.
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
Today we are talking with Sarah Johnson. Sarah is an independent running for Omaha City Council for District 1. She is an advocate for mobility equity and co-hosts a podcast called Car Free Midwest. She loves Omaha and has been working to it make a better more equitable place for everyone. We encourage you to visit sj4oma.com.
Also, Colleen and I have put out our first Patreon Post, so if you want to hear us dish in a bonus episode, visit our Patreon page.
Last announcement. There has been a change to the May 1st Red For Ed Nebraska march to Lincoln. Please visit their Facebook page for all the details regarding their upcoming event.
Reminder, Omaha’s general election is May 11th.
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits we have some big announcements before we start our pod today.
One. Colleen and Laura Fisher started a group called Red for Ed Nebraska which you can find on Facebook & join if this an issue you care about.... To draw attention to the anti-public school movement Colleen & Laura are gathering people to do a Mayday March from Omaha to a Lincoln on Mayday May 1, 2021... They need people to join the walk or cheer along in support at the beginning, end, or in between. You can find the Mayday March on Facebook- they created a page for you to find details.
Click here to Check out the Misfits on Patreon
‘Trumpiest Trumpster of the bunch’: GOP gets a gut check
Blue Hill becomes second Nebraska town to outlaw abortion
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Sonita Buddhi is changing the childcare game with a BIG idea! A non-profit child care center with a sliding scale so that when a person makes enough money to not need government subsidy they don't immediately jump to the full price negating any improvement in income and sending them right back to having no extra money. How can anyone get ahead with that model???
Along with tiered cost structures, a food pantry, quarterly family meals, classes for education and self-improvement, child care scholarships will eventually be available for single parents, and then she and Beaufield Berry Fisher run a Food Insecurity page connecting those who can give with those who need. Even if they can collect $10 they pool the money to serve who they can. It's a loving beautiful harmony of the community taking place. It also breaks down the barrier that middle-income families making $40k-50k/ yr are often those who are experiencing food insecurity.
Food Insecurity Connection:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/497249491675731
Brighten Our Futures:
https://www.brightenourfutures.com/
NOISE Article with Susie Buffett:
https://www.noiseomaha.com/profiles/2020/12/11/susie-buffett-addresses-the-role-her-sherwood-foundation-and-rh-land-management-play-in-north-omaha-property-acquisitions
Other Countries Child Care/ Family Leave Status:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/25/health/child-care-parenting-explainer-intl
https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a27496656/3-women-on-what-its-actually-like-to-have-universal-childcare/
https://www.moms.com/us-daycare-costs-compared-other-countries/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/04/these-countries-have-the-most-expensive-childcare/
https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/sweden-norway-iceland-and-estonia-rank-highest-family-friendly-policies-oecd-and-eu
https://hechingerreport.org/how-7-countries-are-supporting-child-care-and-families-during-the-pandemic/
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Colleen and Leah hop on for a quick chat about some current events. It's been a while since we have freestyled and a lot has happened in the past couple of months. Colleen opens up about what has been happening inside her bubble and shares the difficult journey she and her family have been navigating this past year.
Oh and we also rip on Matt Gaetz because, well, he deserves it. Join us, won't you?
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Back at it with part two of our conversation on the FIVE giant factors in everyone's health and welfare (Social Determinants) chat. Amanda discusses the marriage equality heart to heart she had with one of her dear friends, which is literally why we do this podcast. Hopefully, if you don't have someone in your life who will give you these first-hand perspectives, we bring them to your ears.
We talk about living with disability, reaching marginalized communities, and the paradox of philanthropy. Philanthropy that is religious-based is shunning to entire communities. Those who shun LGBTQIA+ are missing out on brilliant minds and opportunities because no one is going to apply for jobs where they are openly and actively discriminated against unless they are desperate.
Environmental racism is rampant in Omaha particularly in the realm of lead poisoning that continues to plague our neighborhoods and a disproportionate amount of marginalized folks.
Here are links to articles on lead pollution and environmental racism:
https://northomahahistory.com/2016/04/18/a-history-of-lead-poisoning-in-north-omaha/
https://www.douglascountyhealth.com/27-children/lead/131-your-guide-to-the-omaha-lead-superfund-site
https://www.ketv.com/article/lead-plant-poisoned-omahas-soil-epa-concerned-cleanup-efforts-will-hold/29779146
Omaha is Super Charitable BUT It Comes with Purse Strings Attached to People and What THEY Want:
https://www.omahachamber.org/wedontcoast/we-live/philanthropic/
https://omahafoundation.org/news/omaha-donors-among-most-generous-in-the-nation/
Philadelphia's Lead and Water Problems:
https://www.phillymag.com/citified/2016/02/21/philadelphia-lead-poisoning/
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Midwest Misfit Listeners! Today Naomi Hattaway who is currently running for Omaha City Council is Co-Hosting with Colleen! Naomi is an all-around awesome human and today we are talking with two other special people: Amanda and Kiley Petersmith. Amanda is a seasoned Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Boystown Pediatrics and Kiley is a nurse currently working on her doctorate and is the Director of Community Engagement at Methodist College, currently leading the way to get invisible homeless populations vaccinated against Covid. She also leads the mobile lead screening and diabetic clinic that serves marginalized communities.
Today we are talking about Social Determinants of Health which is an obnoxious name that nobody readily understands its meaning. It is looking at the societal environments and communities that determine the health, wellness, risk of disease and injury based on the environments humans are exposed to and are not based on individual determinants like genetics and behavior of a person. It is looking at the environment at which one works, lives, and plays in and how that factors into the health of people within those environments.
Where one is born, raised, works, lives, and plays exposes them to toxins like lead or unsanitary and unsafe conditions outside of themselves. The cost of ignoring these crucial factors is both fiscally enormous and morally corrupt. We need the general public and legislators to understand all the ways in which we can improve the health and well-being of our individuals, communities, and society.
You can read about Kiley's awesome work vaccinating marginalized communities here:
https://www.wowt.com/2021/02/24/methodist-oha-dchd-team-up-to-vaccinate-invisible-populations/
You can support and learn more about Naomi Hattaway here:
https://www.naomiforcitycouncil.com/
https://twitter.com/NaomiHattaway?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomihattaway
Learn about Amanda Petersmith here:
https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/physicians/amanda-petersmith
https://www.happylittletreephotography.com/petersmithfamily
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we bring you another episode of the Good Life if you can keep it with hosts Erica Schauer and Wes Dodge.
In this episode, Wes and Erica have a conversation with Nathan Leach regarding Non-partisan Nebraska, an organization that attempts to take the party toxicity out of the state legislature. Nathan Erica and Wes also discuss the general dysfunction of the legislature and how we can attempt to change it.
You can find Nonpartisan Nebraska at https://www.facebook.com/NonPartisanNebraska/
This is the last episode you will hear on the Misfits feed so we really encourage you to subscribe to The Good Life, If You Can Keep It on Apple, Spotify and wherever you like to listen. Check out our show notes for links.
Subscribe to The Good Life: Apple | Spotify | Google | Breaker | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Anchor
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits! Today we are talking with Sylvia Stone. Sylvia is a 24-year-old car lover, videographer, and breast cancer survivor. When she is not trying to change the world teaching one self-exam at a time, you can find her snuggling her cats, Pickle and Pumpkin, or playing animal crossing with her husband. Today she is telling us all about her cancer journey and if it is one thing she has learned it is that no one is too young for breast cancer. She is working toward changing the world through genetic screenings and monthly self-exams. Here is Sylvia’s story.
Thanks for listening to this episode of Midwest misfits. For more on some of the organizations mentioned today check out these links below:
For The Breast of Us
Livestrong.org
American Cancer Society
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, Today we are talking with Graham Christensen founder and president of GC Resolve, a communication and consulting company designed to increase education and mobilization of the general public in order to build regenerative and resilient communities. Currently, GC Resolve is raising awareness about Nebraska’s rising water quality issues, and educating and advocating for a change in the food production system to “regenerative” farming and ranching principles.
Along with these efforts, Graham is also a Co-founder of RegeNErate Nebraska a network of farmers and ranchers, tribes, urban farmers, supporting businesses, organizations, food consumers, and communities who are committed to a shift away from extractive industrial food production in favor of an ethical and regenerative food system.
Whether you live in the city or the country, we are all impacted by current and past agricultural practices and with climate change at the forefront of many of our minds, RegeNErate is working hard to promote and educate people on sustainable farming practices.
Check out RegeNErate Nebraska at regeneratenebraska.com and follow them on social media @regenerate_nebraska and on Facebook at RegeNErateNebraska
OPPD Solar Project
Sign up for the Midwest Misfit Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gXFo1b
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits! Today we are talking to two amazing and activated women. Denise Blaya Powell and Leanne Prewitt are the co-founders of Women Who Run Nebraska. If You don’t already know, Women Who Run is a state membership Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports and promotes progressive women running for office in Nebraska. They are the only PAC in the Midwest with this mission. It should be mentioned that they didn’t start out as a PAC and that wasn’t really in their plan, but as their efforts to get more women in office grew they realized that it was inevitable.
Women Who Run NE
Follow Women Who Run on social:
Facebook | Instagram
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
"The Good Life... If You Can Keep It" Series: Interview with Hillari Lombard.
This is Episode 2 with Wes Dodge & Erica Shauer having a conversation with Hillari Lombard who started a moderate party podcast from her Sacramento, CA home. The trio dive into pro-democracy movements like Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), gerrymandering, and how to make our political system less polarizing because most people fall in the middle, so politics and our representatives should look like us!
Hillari saw a need to fill a space talking from the middle because she found herself getting pulled into the polarization because the most vocal and loud are the fringe sides of politics. Where is the person just standing up for the middle people? Might it be that it doesn't get clicks OR sell as a story? Well maybe we shouldn't be legislating for the good of others for clickbait and headlines? Most of us are far more moderate and alike than different. We have all fallen for the propaganda in some form.
Those topics and more on this weeks episode. You won't want to miss Wes & Erica's 'Petals & Pricks'.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, this is our book club episode and so we are bringing you the audio version of our recent digital event featuring Omaha native, Lacey Lamar. Lacey is the co-author of the book “You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey”. Her book written alongside her sister Amber Ruffin catalogs the many disturbing and ridiculously heinous racists experiences that Lacey has endured while growing up in OMAHA.
So if you haven’t picked up the book already, we suggest you do and listen through this episode moderated and hosted by Beaufield Berry Fisher of Culture Werks Media and True Blue Progressive Women in Omaha and Portia Burch also of True Blue Omaha…and also a special thank you to Lacey Lamar for kindly giving us her time on a precious Saturday evening.
Buy on Amazon: You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
We are back with part two of our chat with Nebraska State Senator Brett Lindstrom. Today we are diving right in with a discussion on Abortion Rights and Healthcare. Thanks for listening.
Once again…thanks for hanging out with us today! We really hope you enjoyed this episode of Midwest Misfits. Visit VoteLindstrom.com for more information about Senator Lindstrom and to connect with him via email or social media. You can connect with us anytime by visiting MidwestMisfits.com or following us on social @MisfitPod. Thanks and we will see you next week.
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we have a conversation with State Senator Brett Lindstrom who represents Omaha’s 18th District. Full disclosure Colleen has known Brett since High School and I have known him since college. We were glad he was willing to step into the wolf's den and chat with us on some issues. It is always good to see where the opposition is. We should also note that Brett is currently considering a run for Nebraska Governor in 2022.
Throughout this episode, you will hear Colleen interject some thoughts that in hindsight we wish we would have mentioned, but failed to at the moment. Also, we had some audio issues so please forgive us for the low volume. Ok now on to the episode.
Thanks for checking out this episode. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out on Friday. In that episode we talk about Abortion and healthcare…you won’t want to miss it. For more on Brett, you can check out his website at VoteLindstrom.com.
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
An ALL womens city council. That is the DREAM! If that makes you uncomfortable, maybe check that because we have had a bajillion and one all men councils since the beginning of time SO yes, let's make this historic. Let's be able to have comparison and study the difference we would experience with an all female city council.
District 5 Kate Gotsdiner would be a fresh, but wildly experienced and knowledgeable addition. She brings years of legislative experience and working within the systems. She is a self identified Policy Nerd. She loves to dive into budgets and the nitty gritty of legislation and policy. She is also studying it for her Graduate Studies.
Check out all the female candidates on Women Who Run!
https://www.womenwhorunne.org/candidates
https://kategotsdinerforomaha.com/
Here is the information on Kate's current seat occupant who has been enmeshed in controversy:
https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/council-member-elect-colleen-brennan-says-her-writing-is-intended-to-start-a-conversation
Lucia Pedroza Estrada: https://www.civicnebraska.org/build-up-omaha-award-spotlightlucia-pedroza/
Ja Keen Fox: https://www.culxr.house/organize --
Jerk Move Mayor Mean Jean:
https://www.ketv.com/article/stothert-asks-for-activist-to-resign-from-lgbtq-advisory-board-after-comments-about-officers-killed/33340108
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Welcome to the show! Today’s guest is Dawuane Lamont Hayes, founder of NOISE which stands for North Omaha Information Support Everyone. Noise is a community-led news organization developed to address the information gap within North Omaha. As a multimedia platform, NOISE prioritizes web and social media while supporting coverage with radio, print, SMS alerts, and events to make news more accessible.
Not Only is Dawaune the founder and president of NOISE, but he is also a Mayoral Candidate for the City of Omaha who is looking to bring transparency and creativity to the office. Here is our chat with Dawuane.
Thanks for listening to this episode of Midwest Misfits. Make sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. We have a lot of really good stuff in the hopper.
Also, sign up for our Free live event featuring Lacey Lamar…if you haven’t picked up the book there is still time to get your read on and join us on February 27thfor our live ZOOM. Registration link is available on our website, MidwestMisfits.com or check out our show notes.
If you are enjoying our podcast and want to show your support you can leave us a 5-star review or donate via our website.
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits,
Today we have another special treat for you. We are going to share the first episode of another Nebraska podcast called “The Good Life, If You Can Keep it” a podcast created by Erica Schauer of Lincoln, NE and Wes Dodge of Omaha. They plan to discuss different democracy reform measures, interview guests from across the political spectrum and try to educate their listeners about civic engagement. This first episode is about Ranked Choice Voting and Senator McCollisters bill currently in the legislature.
Now for The Good Life, If You Can keep it.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, today we have a special treat. A discussion with Beaufield Berry-Fisher and Katherine MacHolmes on their new podcast called Say Her Name. This podcast’s aim is to break down some of the vilest and controversial state-sanctioned killings of Black women in recent history. Each episode will take us behind the scenes of each murder, discuss the case, the players, social blowback, final outcomes and what you can do next. The episodes are also paired with a second show where host, Beaufield Berry, sits down with a Black woman working in liberation today in a segment called Say HER name, too.
So now, a discussion with Beau Field Berry Fisher and Katherin MacHolmes, stay tuned for an excerpt from their new podcast, available NOW on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Google and wherever you like to listen.
Listen now on Anchor
Follow @CultureWerks_Media on Instagram and get to know the show's creators.
Register for our LIVE event featuring Lacey Lamar here.
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, welcome to the show. In today’s episode, we are talking with Shelley the creator of the amazing TikTok account TheDeathscorts. What is a Deathscort you might ask? Well, they are a group of women who volunteer their time to walk or escort other women from their car to the entrance of their care clinic. These women are visiting the clinic in need of an abortion and as you can imagine there are all kinds of people trying to stop them. It's not a long walk from the car to the door, but TheDeathscorts are there to make sure the women are comforted and safely escorted to the clinic to receive the healthcare they need.
Shelley is the captain of the escort group who volunteers at CARE Reproductive Health in Bellevue Nebraska and this is her story.
Don't forget to register for our LIVE BookClub event featuring Lacey Lamar. Register here!
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, welcome back to the show and for some of us Snowmageddon. School is out and we are all trapped under a solid blanket of snow. So hunker down and listen to this candid conversation with Nebraska State Legislator Adam Morfeld who represents Nebraska legislative District 46 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is also the founder and executive director of Civic Nebraska, an organization working to create a more modern and robust democracy through youth civic leadership development, civic health programs, and nonpartisan voting rights initiatives.
Adam is also running for Lancaster County Attorney in 2022
For more on Adam visit his website AdamMorfeld.com. Also, check out our NEW and Improved website. The address is still the same, MidwestMisfits.com, but we have a new look and new opportunities for you to support and donate to the show. Thanks for listening. Stay safe and stay warm.
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hi Misfits…ok so it would be ridiculous for us not to mention the events of the past week. The insurrection at the White house was terrifying and disturbing, to say the least…I turned on CNN to watch the vote count and because I was curious to hear from the republicans who were planning to object and was shocked to watch the Capital under siege in real-time.
If you are like us, we assume that you have all been glued to all the political content dissecting every moment of January 6th. How could you not? And because it is all-consuming we have decided to provide you with a short reprieve. Today we have an episode that was recorded weeks before the attack at the capital and yet you will hear us talk about similar themes and concerns that would eventually reach a fever pitch on the day of what was supposed to be a simple, ceremonious vote count.
So, in honor of mental well-being, here is an interesting and fun interview with Brian Hastert. Brian is a Nebraska native, living in L.A. who is on a mission to Make Local Representation Sexy.
Brian believes that justice and equity are executed at the local level or they are not executed at all and features interviews with the elected officials working to improve life in their communities in red and blue states alike. It's a quest to make activism accessible and local representation sexy. In May of 2020 he hosted a record-breaking online community filibuster, #HoldTheFloor, to expose systemic barriers to true representation and raise money for voter registration. He is also an actor, writer, and educator, co-founder of internationally acclaimed theater company The TEAM and founding director of Pace University's BFA in acting for Film and Television. He got his MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
Local Selection Podcast
Brian on Twitter
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits…welcome to a new year. As you listen to this episode the citizens of Georgia are casting their vote to determine who will control the senate so I am sure most of you will be glued to the news today, but let's not let that overshadow the new legislative session is about to begin in Nebraska on January 6th. so it is only fitting that we open 2021 with an interview with Nebraska State Senator Megan Hunt. Ms. Hunt is a champion for civil rights, families and justice reform as well as many other issues that Democrats are fighting for across the country.
For more on Megan Hunt check out her website MeganforNebraska.com and be sure to follow her on social media. She has an excellent Twitter feed and I recommend you follow it @NebraskaMegan.
Also, us Misfits are looking for sponsors! If you have a business or know someone who would like to advertise on our show or website hit us up at MidwestMisfits.com You can also reach out to us on Social media @MisfitPod
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are taking a short break to relax and spend time with family. Don't worry, we will back with new interviews and episodes on January 5th. Make sure and subscribe so you don't miss the great things we have planned for 2021.
A special THANK YOU to all our listeners!
Music from this episode: We Wish you a Merry Christmas by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4612-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmasLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Welcome back to Midwest Misfits. We have an episode today discussing black and white women and how to improve our relationships in work, in friendship, and in everyday life. Most people do not readily have these vulnerable talks or know how to navigate them. We don't either, but we just keep working at it. And we are diving into them headfirst and have them on here, so that you get the conversation too. We want our fellow white women to hear these messages if they do not have someone to have them with in their own life... And if you look at your pictures from work, friendships, and outings of the past and they are mostly- if not all white women in your circle.
Step one is to listen to our past episodes on white privilege, unraveling racism, colorism, microaggressions, and workplace racism so that you do not jump into befriending women of color without an understanding of the history to be the best kind of human in that relationship... BUT then the next crucial step is to seek out women of color in friendship, community, work, and life. We all need each other. And this next conversation dives into how we can uplift each other and rise together.
We are joined by one of our bright spots of 2020 which is new friendship with Shawntal-(tell) Mallory who has been a contributor and guest on several episodes. She is a Juris Doctorate and serves as the Chief Professional Development Officer & General Council for Omaha Home for Boys. She has been practicing law for the last 14 years, advocating for youth and families of color in adoption, juvenile, and family law. She serves on the board for inclusive communities and is a LeadDIVERSITY Advocate. Shawn-tell is currently earning her certification in Leading Equity & Inclusion in Organizations from Northwestern University. But her favorite role is mom to two creative black sons, Darrick and Damari.
Also today we have two new beautiful humans joining us: Candi Jones and Jay Warren- Teamer who will be sharing their backgrounds and passions with us through their own words. Candi Jones is a Certified Career Coach, Life Coach, HR Consultant and motivational speaker inspiring people to think beyond their perceived limitations, move past their limited beliefs and move towards their dreams and passions!
Jay Warren-Teamer Director, Diversity and Inclusion at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and has more than 10 years of experience in community outreach.
Resources and Links:
I Be Black Girl
Jay Warren-Teamer Appointed Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield
Candias Jones on LinkedIn
Follow The Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
On this bonus episode, Colleen and I catch up and rant about all the COO COO Banana Pants antics happening right now. From the slow-moving GOP coup to Olivia Jade and The Red Table.
Reply All Episode #86: Man of the People (Goat Balls)
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
One election down and many more to go. On to the upcoming city elections happening this spring. Today, we have a chat with Jasmine Harris who is running for Mayor of the City of Omaha. Mrs. Harris is a program manager with RISE and has spent her career advancing black and brown voices across the city. Meet Jasmine and learn about the issues near and dear to her heart. Learn more about Jasmine by visiting her website. Follow her on social to find her events and support her candidacy.
Jasmine for Mayor
Links you might be interested in:
Herman's House Documentary
Follow the Misfits:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
You've heard us talking these past months about rank choice voting and we aren't alone in our new fondness for ranking the vote. Joining us today is Erica Schauer and Ben Mazur of Rank the Vote Nebraska, an online movement to educate the public about the benefits of ranking the vote in hopes that someday we can push the needle of election reform and make some changes, specifically at the local level.
For more on Rank the Vote Nebraska check them out online at:
Rank the Vote Nebraska Facebook
Rank the Vote Nebraska Twitter
Follow the Misfits on social:
Facebook | Twitter |Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Earnest Jackson has been in prison for 21 years for a crime that someone else confessed to during his own trial. Earnest Jackson is the only one of three defendants that was charged with the murder of Larry Perry. The other two defendants were acquitted with a successful plea of 'self defense' after one confessed to the shooting saying that the other party shot at him first. However, this confession cameafter Earnest Jackson's trial and he was unable to get a new trial because they claimed this was not "new" evidence in a very narrow interpretation by one judge.
"Jackson's counsel read into evidence (the ONE "eye witness") Fulton's testimony from the preliminary hearing that Fulton had learned Jackson's, Cooperrider's, and Chillous' names from the police. Fulton testified that he had identified Jackson, Cooperrider, and Chillous at the preliminary hearing as the men who shot Perry. Fulton had not previously identified Jackson in a photographic or police lineup.
Physical Evidence Contradicted the Eyewitness Testimony...
"Dr. Jerry Jones, who performed the autopsy on Perry's body, determined that Perry died of the multiple gunshot wounds that perforated his heart, both lungs, liver, spleen, colon, and kidney. Jones testified that he had examined Perry's body thoroughly and that he did not see abrasions on Perry's head or scalp."
Cooperrider testified TWICE that Earnest Jackson was not with him...
"Cooperrider testified at his own trial that he did not see Jackson at the scene of Perry's shooting and that Jackson was not one of the people who shot Perry. Instead, Cooperrider testified that Sommerville and one of Sommerville's friends were present at Perry's shooting. Cooperrider testified that Sommerville wore his hair in braids at the time of Perry's death, in a hairstyle similar to Jackson's. At Chillous' trial, Cooperrider again testified that Sommerville and a friend of Sommerville's were present at the scene of Perry's shooting, but he did not see Jackson or anyone else at the scene. Juries acquitted both Cooperrider and Chillous."
BAD LUCK: Earnest's trial was first for reasons no one can explain since he was last to be arrested...
"Kraft (Cooperrider's attorney) informed Jackson's counsel that because Cooperrider was awaiting trial on identical charges in the same matter, he would not be willing to testify and would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refuse to testify if called."
Earnest Jackson Filed for a New Trial for this New Evidence...
"The district court overruled Jackson's motion for new trial, finding that Cooperrider's testimony was not newly discovered, but only newly available- Cooperrider merely controlled the dissemination of his testimony for tactical reasons....
In support of his argument, Jackson notes that forensic evidence of bullet casing locations was presented to demonstrate that Perry was shot many times from a variety of angles, which conflicts with Fulton's testimony that Perry was shot by three people standing over Perry, 3 feet away. Further, Jackson asserts that the autopsy did not reveal bruising or abrasion to Perry's head, in contradiction of Fulton's testimony that Jackson struck Perry on the head with a gun three times with enough strength to ca...
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
The eyes of the nation have been marveling over Nebraska District 2’s Omaha’s return of the blue dot after Democrat Joe Biden claimed the area’s single electoral vote.
Nebraska is one of only 2 states (the other is Maine) that allows their electoral votes to represent the district they represent rather than being thrown into a bucket of winner takes all. NE has a total of five electoral votes. Two are awarded to the statewide winner of the popular vote. The three others are awarded to the winner of each of the state’s three congressional districts.
Omaha native Gabrielle Union joined in with a tweet honoring the reason we can all celebrate the Blue Dot legacy and that is NE Unicameral legend: Ernie Chambers. The GOP majority legislature has tried often and relentlessly to remove our way of splitting votes- and Ernie Chambers has time and time again stalled it out with filibusters. He has spent hours and hours filibustering for our interests. Gabrielle Unions Tweet: “When people ask where my fight comes from, it comes from freedom fighters like Ernie Chambers from the Northside of Omaha. Respect!”
And now we have a new hero to celebrate for bringing back the Blue Dot. And it is the beautiful, charismatic Precious McKesson.
On Dec. 14, McKesson will travel from Omaha to Lincoln to cast a presidential electoral vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
McKesson played a leading role in making it happen as political director for the Biden campaign in metropolitan Omaha's 2nd District, where Blacks and Latinos were mobilized to help Biden win an electoral vote in a dependably Republican state.
Today we sit down with Precious to discuss her role in this historic moment. She was also in the room when Gov. Pete Ricketts met with black community leaders and subsequently offended their communities in a viral video moment documented by one of the black pastors who abruptly left the meeting. Precious is a passionate community organizer and we are so happy to bring her voice and lived experience to you. Thanks for listening.
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today Colleen and I sit down again with UNMC Dean of Public Health Dr. Ali Khan, Professor of Epidemiology, Former Director at the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response for the CDC. He literally wrote the book in 2016 Titled: The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines Against Humankind’s Gravest Dangers. It's been a few months since we did our last episode with him and since then Coronavirus has exploded in the US, so we thought it was time to check back in.
Especially amidst the anti- maskers and Misinformation Master in the White House (not for much longer thank our lucky stars), it has been hard to decipher what the actual experts think and want us to do. So we want to go direct to the source. We asked people to send us their questions and concerns - Dr. Khan does not mince words and there will be no misinformation on this episode. He delivers his expertise straight and succinct. So thank you for joining and PLEASE for the love of all that is good and holy- share the episode in an effort to bolster public health measures and understanding of what is possible in tackling Covid-19.
Our First Conversation in July with Dr. Khan:
http://midwestmisfits.com/dr-ali-khan/
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
What. A. Week. The election is over for the rest of the world but Trump apparently hasn’t gotten the memo. So I think the world has quietly nodded and agreed we are all moving forward nonetheless...
Today we sit down to hash out all of the feels from the nail biter of an election week with our pod friends & contributors Beaufield Berry Fisher & Portia Burch. We dip into the highs, lows, hopes, and fears for the future. We are so happy to have you join us in our collective debrief and exhale post-election.
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Tomorrow is the big day! Now is not the time to let up. We know you feel like vomiting, but swallow that chum and let's win this thing.
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
2 days people...that is it. Get in your ballots. Every vote counts!
Trumps Cash Crunch
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
The countdown continues! Today we reflect on Trump's "rally" at Eppley Airfield, the miraculous early voting numbers coming out of Texas, as well as our hopes and dreams for America during the next week.
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are finally counting down! This week Colleen and Leah will be checking in often to keep us on track and pumped for Nov. 3rd. Keep calm and keep working hard. Let's win this thing!
Some links for you to ponder:
Ali Kahn Interview
Pod Save America Episode 10.26
Kavanaugh's Opinion in Wisconsin Voting Case Raises Alarms Among Democrats
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are all nervous as the election quickly approaches so we decided to just catch up on what has been going on. Join us as we chat about pandemic anxiety, the election and other current events. In this crazy time, sometimes we just need to dish with our friends...enjoy!
Follow Us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, we know there is a major election just around the corner. Get your ballots in! But today we are looking ahead to the local elections coming up this Spring with a candid interview with Naomi Hattaway who is running for Omaha City Council. Naomi’s main priorities for the city of Omaha are stability, equity and sustainability just to name a few. Here’s Naomi.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Midwest Misfits! For more about Naomi, please visit her website at Naomiforcitycouncil.com, also follow her on social media. Check out show notes for links. You can follow the Midwest misfits podcast on social @misfitpod and check us out on our website MidwestMisfits.com.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits! Welcome back to our show. First I want to let everyone know that early voting has begun in Nebraska as well as other states across the U.S. Make sure and check online to find out if you can vote now and let’s get it done. With that said, this episode features a chat with Jo Giles who is on the ballot running for Douglas County Commissioner, District 7, which encompasses much of Omaha, north of Dodge street. Meet Jo Giles.
Learn More about Jo:
Vote Jo Giles
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we have a lovely conversation with Cammy Watkins. Cammy is running for Omaha City Council District 3. For those who might not know Omaha will be voting for City Council in April and May of 2021, but now is the time to get to know your candidates.
Check out Cammy Watkins online at:
Cammy4Council.com
Cammy on Facebook
You might also be interested in:
Not More Empty Pots
City Sprouts
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are back with our friends the True Blue Progressives. We start off this episode with Katherine Mac Holmes who will give us a little snapshot of her new venture into diversity, equity, and inclusion with K & M strategies. Next, we talk with Portia Burch & Beaufield Berry Fisher on the frustration of the Jake Gardner indictment. We recorded this a day before the news of Mr. Gardner's death by suicide.
Our conversation looped into the un-learning we are all experiencing. Unraveling all the ways that we had white supremacy education baked into our foundations from anthropology to our elementary school textbooks to the art we revere. So glad you came to join us. And now to Colleen, Beaufield, and Portia
Follow the True Blue Progressives of Omaha
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, today we have an enlightening discussion with Jenny Heineman. Ms. Heineman is an author, a professor with a PhD in Sociology, a CNN contributor, and an outspoken activist for sex worker's rights and the list goes on. We were so lucky to get to pick her brain on a subject that we know very little about. A short disclaimer this episode focuses solely on sex worker's rights and the myths that surround sex trafficking and the legislation that is doing harm to this marginalized community.
Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hi Misfits, on today's episode we are talking about the difference between secular and non-secular voting and why it is super important, maybe more now than ever. We need to go back to our principle of religious freedom and separation of church and state.
Joining us on this episode is Rachele Walter. Rachele can't ever recall a time when she truly believed in a higher power, and was given the freedom to search and to question. She is currently the Chair of the Secular Democrats of Nebraska and they are working to remove religious language from Nebraska statutes, the constitution, and to combat the theocracy that certain factions are trying to codify. She is also the Assistant Director of American Atheists Nebraska, and the President of Lincoln Atheists. She is deeply involved in local politics and her goal is to implement an absolute separation of religion and government -- and to mobilize secular voters for the betterment of all.
You will also hear from Angie Philips whom you should remember from the Nebraska Primary where she ran for U.S. Senate. Angie believes in the power of the people and freedom of speech. She has assisted with the organization of several acts of protest including the Women’s March on Omaha 2017, Omaha Women’s March 2018, Omaha Women’s Day March 2019, Stop the Ban Rally, and Lights for Liberty Omaha. She has assisted in the development of several grassroots organizations that help raise awareness and organize action as well as organized humanitarian aid such as relief for migrant families impacted by the O’Neill ICE Raids. As a Humanist, Angie is devoted to human welfare and believes that we all hold a personal responsibility to lead ethical lives that contribute to the greater good.
For more on some of the organizations mentioned today, check out these links:
Secular Democrats of America Facebook Group
Nebraska Secular Democrats Facebook Group
NebraskaSecularDemocrats.org
SecularDems.org
Make America Constitutional Again: Religious Freedom on the Ballot
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | ...
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
In this bonus episode of Midwest Misfits we are chatting about those scammers behind We Build The Wall, Kelly Anne Conway stepping down and that crazy, I mean wild cult QAnon.
Colleen took a rabbit hole fall into the Netflix series 'Unwell' on ayahuasca, tantra, breastmilk for body builders, and essential oil multi-level marketing scheme. Don't worry, we won't be talking about the RNC. Who has time for that phony boloney.
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits! Welcome back to our show. Today we have a fantastic interview with Avalisa Gallo. She is a model, public speaker, Air Force veteran and Transgender Advocate, Human rights advocate…and the list just goes on. One Google search and you will find article and post after post about her work and her mission. Black Transgender Women face the most harm and violence statistically. Normalizing transgender to make this world a safer place where they belong, accepted, loved, and cherished is the goal. No more shit#y portrayals of them being predatory or others by the mass media. Highly recommend Laverne Cox's documentary 'Disclosure' that breaks down the historical representation of transgender lives that has hurt our growth and understanding.
Please follow Avalisa on Instagram @missavalisa and check out her current fundraising campaign to support black transgender lives by clicking on her bio link or you can click right here. If you can do so, we encourage you to donate today.
For more on Avalisa check out these articles:
Transgender beauty queen competes to win national title, breaks barriers
How do We Protect Transgender Women's Rights?
Avalisa's Journey
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are talking with Stephany Pleasant, candidate for Nebraska Legislature, District 25 which encompasses East Lincoln, Waverly and Walton. She is an education advocate and public interest lawyer.... For those who don’t know, a public interest lawyer is someone who serves clients with limited means and are paid by nonprofits and governments rather than collecting legal fees from clients. Stephany chose this profession because she believes that every American deserves access to justice, despite their income. Stephany began her law career serving Nebraskans with disabilities at Disability Rights of Nebraska, and has recently begun serving students at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Did you know UNL students get free representation in litigation?! News to us.
Suzanne Geist is the current representative and whew is she a DOOZY! Her most recent notable legislation during a pandemic where millions of people are without health insurance, money to pay the bills, and suffering of living breathing citizens in her own state was to.... (drumroll) --> Restrict women's body autonomy giving more rights to a fetus than a live, human person. She also infamously claimed to not know racism was still around and has shaken her to the core. Just now. In 2020. Welcome to America Suzanne, where have you been?!
Contact Stephany:
- Email: PleasantFriendsNE@gmail Website: pleasantforne.com Phone: 402-500-0959* Facebook & Twitter
Follow the Misfits:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, welcome back to the show.
Today we are talking to Keegan Korf, educator and community leader currently running for Omaha Public Schools Board of Education. Keegan also did a TedXOmaha talk. She is a good soul and you would love her the moment you meet her.
In this episode we are talking about, of course, the education issues amidst the coronavirus and how it is affecting everyone from teachers to students and how, if possible, can we go back to school safely. We also dive into many issues plaguing our public schools here in Nebraska as well as across the country.
For more about Keegan:
KeeganforOPS.com
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today the Girls from True Blue Progressives are back for another discussion on white microaggressions and lessons on how to be an ally. We also dive into colorism and privilege and what that means in context of skin color. So a special thank you to Portia Burch, Katherine Mac-Holmes and Beaufield Berry-Fischer for their time and efforts in showing us the way. Make sure and visit their Facebook group, True Blue: Progressive Women in Omaha
Venmo and support the work being done by True Blue:
@Beaufield-Berry
@KCMacholmes
@Portia-Burch
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Shawntal and Marti are back for another discussion on how to be intentional with inclusion in the workplace. Naturally, we went off the rails a few times, but that is what a good discussion will do. Bring you into topics that have yet to be discussed and that are oh so necessary. If you found this episode interesting, make sure and check out our other awesome conversation with these two amazing ladies.
Ep 21 Dismantling Racism in the Workplace
Follow us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we have a candid conversation with Chelsey Gentry-Tipton, the former chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Black Caucus. We are in the midst of a shift in our collective world view with the BLM movement, acknowledging the abuses of power, and some stories should be revisited and viewed with new context & lens.
This is more than just her story... It is a wider discussion on raising biracial humans, being in biracial relationships, being wary of the “black leaders” who may be oppressive to their own communities, and gentrification of North Omaha by the Buffetts'. Who are our white leaders? We don’t go around to areas of town asking ‘take me to your white leaders? Who speaks for you?’ If it would be seen as Pete Ricketts- lord help us all. Same with the black community. It. Is. Not. A. Monolith. African Americans & Black folks have different cultures that sometimes clash. I mean duh, but at the same time, this is actively a misconception.
Each person has to be viewed from their unique experiences, diverse backgrounds, and taken as that individual’s unique viewpoint. This human has experienced trauma from childhood to now. Everyone has a story. No one is perfect. Reflect on how you would have managed what she has experienced?
Our hope is that it will spark a reflection on how you consider your own personal bias, experiences of the past, and help shape the future with a better understanding of all kinds of struggles going on in the world. There are a lot of moving pieces, fabrics, and threads that interweave through every single issue and person we talk to on each episode we have done. They all connect. We all connect. We all have a role in making the world better with whatever strengths we have - to offer up in the ways that we can.
Bring an open mind & have a listen
Check out these episodes that pertain to Chelsey's story:
Meet Crystal Rhoades
Meet Kara Eastman
Jane Kleeb -- Keystone Pipeline -- Kleeb Controversy
Leo LouisTransphobic Facebook
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
In this bonus episode we are talking about all kinds of issues taking place across the nation. Someone is building the wall and its not Donald Trump! We also chat about legal weed, crazy neighbors, Jeff Sessions and how men can be "Karens" too.
Further your knowledge on the "We Build The Wall" SCAM:
We Build the Wall, Inc. - Home
Brian Kolfage Selected To Have Smart Home Built By Gary SiniseFamily of serviceman wounded in action receives new home
https://www.gofundme.com/f/thetrumpwallhttps://briankolfage.com/Miramar Beach veteran raising millions for border wall through GoFundMe campaignFirst section of private border wall completed
Nikki Fried Investigating Florida Vet's Hot-Button Charity, 'We Build the Wall'
Veteran behind GoFundMe for Trump's wall allegedly pocketed money meant for wounded veterans"I Felt Dirty": Former Employees Of The Veteran Crowdfunding Trump's Wall Say He Pushed Fake News To Get RichBehind the viral #GoFundTheWall fundraiser, a rising conservative star and a shadowy email harvesting operation
Veteran's border wall fundraiser falls apart as GoFundMe says $20M will be refunded
Trump rips border wall built by his ‘We Build the Wall’ supporters
Ashley K (@ashleyk_hawaii) • Instagram photos and videos
Brian Kolfage (@brian_kolfage) • Instagram photos and video
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week on the Midwest Misfits we are talking to Crystal Rhoades. She is serving as the commissioner of the Nebraska Public Service Commission for District 2 and currently seeking reelection. She also previously served as the Douglas County Democratic Party Chairwoman. In this episode, you are going to learn about exactly what does the public service commission does and why it is important to know your locally elected officials and who you are voting for this fall. We also talk about why Douglas county Dems don’t always see eye-to-eye with the state party and what, if anything, we can do about.
Further reading you might enjoy:
'I won't be silent': Facebook post shows tensions between Nebraska Democratic Party leaders
Meet Mike Tabbert, Rural Broadband Activist
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are talking with the founders of the group True Blue Progressives.
It was created out of the necessity of having space where the voices of BIPOC women are amplified and emotional labor is honored and respected. The white women included are committed to the dismantling of white supremacy and learning to walk in anti-racism through listening and learning from women of color. It is a “brave space” that leads with truth - while also protecting our BIPOC members.
The conversation is enlightening for every progressive person out there who thinks that they do not have racism in them. We ALL have work to do because it has been baked into every system in our country. So buckle in as we tackle hard things.
Meet Portia Burch:
She/her/hers for pronouns Omaha native, Black lesbian, activist who is, like Issa Rae, rooting for everyone Black.
Meet Beaufield Berry-Fisher:
She/her pronouns Omaha re-native Biracial Black wife and mom Playwright who works in the world of Black history and the Black American family
Meet Katherine Mac-Holmes:
She, HerNative Omahan, community activist and theatre artist. Black queer radical woman magic with a Scandiwhovian momma. Not white-passing, just stealth Black
Check out the True Blue: Progressive Women in Omaha group
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week on the pod we have a very special conversation with Dr. Ali Khan. Dr. Khan is the former Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and since July 2014 he has served as Dean of the College of Public Health and Retired Assistant Surgeon General at the UNMC.
He literally wrote the book on managing pandemics:
Khan AS.(2016) The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines Against Humankind’s Gravest Dangers. New York, New York: Public Affairs.
We are breaking down the state of the pandemic, when it is so widespread?We discuss: Anti- maskers, what he thinks of school plans released, the continued comparison to the Flu (insert eyeroll here), why are POC effected more negatively, the economic impact, political misinformation, analyzing the treatments thus far, and his thoughts on the vaccine prospects. He is succinct and clear in his message.
Listen to this pediatrician, infectious disease, epidemiologist, public health expert discuss all the questions you have been having lately about Covid- 19, SARS -2 Coronavirus.
For more on Dr. Ali Khan and his impressive and lengthy medical career in epidemiology and emergency preparedness visit here.
If you are looking for more covid-19 conversation check out this Midwest Misfits episode all about the coronavirus.
Follow us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are back talking about systemic racism and how to be deliberate in breaking down racism in the workplace. To remove disparities and racism, we must look at every system and dismantle all the ways it has contributed to the ongoing racism and disparities. Hiring, firing, work culture, punitive action, and all the ways we judge candidates based on their name, address, attire, hair wearing, ethnic markings, their accent, style of talking, the entire rundown of impressions that ANYONE who interviews and hire MUST constantly work to not judge based on implicit bias. Awareness is required. Employment has been a major way oppression and under-representation has flourished. Bring self awareness and figure out how you may have contributed and how you can be better. Growth. We all have work to do.
We have a conversation with Shawntal Mallory, Chief Professional Development Officer & General Counsel at Omaha Home for Boys and Marti Carrington, Operations Coordinator at Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. In this episode we talk about all the ways hiring practices deter applicants and make it harder for minorities and people of color to apply.
Join us for this important conversation.
Marti Carrington Facebook Posts
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
On today's bonus Friday pod we are talking about Bubba Wallace, Neuro Diversity, marijuana micro-dosing and Ron Jeremy is finally where he belongs...in prison. We discuss the Trump failure of a rally- thank you TikTok and K-Pop.
New language for mental health... Let us all accept that we are on the depression and anxiety spectrum shall we? Then we are all in it together. You may be a 0 or 1 and other times and maybe an 8 or 25 depending on the day. If we started looking at it as normal for everyone to have bouts of anxiety and depression et al, we believe that it would be less stigmatized.
We also touch on universal healthcare. Healthcare gives life. We discuss this article from Ezekial Emanuel on Vox where he breaks down his viewpoints on which countries have the best aspects of universal healthcare and why. If only we could get over this hurdle of discussing if healthcare is a right for all (the answer is a resounding yes!) we could begin the task of figuring out what way of doing a universal healthcare system is best.
We also break down what it means to be a "Karen", a "Becky" and let's not forget about "Deb". And we are on a search the male versions of these names...
Take a deeper dive into some of the topics discussed today:
Why Now White People
Bubba Wallace, a noose and how a racist symbol hung at Talladega for months
How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood
Follow us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are spotlighting the timely topic of rural broadband. As we have discussed before, the internet is a vital component of our connectivity, our business, and our education. Everyone deserves access to high-speed internet, but rural America is in the dark when it comes to a decent broadband connection. Just like turning on the lights, you should be able to connect to your internet. Meet Mike Tabbert who knows first hand what it takes to get an internet hook up. Spoiler, it's not easy or cheap. In fact, according to BroadBandNow.com, Nebraska is ranked 48th for state-wide broadband access. Disgraceful!
HIGH SPEED, RELIABLE internet is a need and should be deemed a utility just like electricity. Coronavirus has only made this more dire. Healthcare, work, education access are all intertwined to the disparities and discrimination across our country when we are keeping large portions of our citizens without vital, basic access and needs unmet in 2020.
Internet is an EQUALITY issue.
Mike also worked the polls in rural Nebraska during the primary. He has a first hand account of the various fail points of regular voting and how mail- in voting has less. As the GOP tries to keep the vote suppressed, mail in voting has proven how effective, safe, and more engaging it is for voters. The GOP has an active assault on voting rights. We have an entire podcast episode on voter suppression if you want to get up to speed on the new tactics being deployed.
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are covering a plethora of topics from the pandemic to poverty porn. What in the hell is up with these crazy Boogaloo people? Oh...and Chris Janicek is a misogynist. Hard conversations about white privilege and white saviorism... And yes, we all might lose friends because we cannot be complicit and must be anti- racist. There really is no choice here.
All of this goodness and MORE in this week's Bonus Fry. Cuz we all love a good bonus fry in our onion rings. Happy Fry- Day ya'll.
Check out the links below for a deeper dive into some of the articles and videos referenced in this episode.
Boogaloo Breakdown
Meet the Koch Son Who Literally Prints Money Bags on Shirts
One of the Koch brothers' sons makes truly hideous shirts online, would like to sell them to you
Melania Trump Says Her Husband Has a Human Penis
Nebraska Dems Urge Chris Janicek to Drop Out
Reply All Podcast: The Least You Could Do
Follow us:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today on Midwest Misfits we are talking with Kimara Snipe, one of the leaders in the community who is taking action and encouraging policy change amidst the current movement happening across the nation.
Kimara has been an advocate and community leader since she was a teen. Currently, she works at Nebraska Civic Engagement Table to empower the electorate and engage the community. She is also a youth specialist for the Omaha Public Library where she created Teen Talk About focusing on trauma through literacy. She also serves as president of the Highland South- Indian hill neighborhood association that has been working to bridge the gap between the police and community as well as sitting on the Omaha Public School Board on the Policy Committee and Student Assignment Plan. Her focus is on equity and mental health, prioritizing the relationship between the schools and community.
For more on the "Scholarship Program" mentioned in this episode check out our show all about the topic here:
School Privatization: The Not Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Connect with Kimara:
Kimara Snipe Facebook
Links from this episode:
Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
Black Votes Matter
William Barney, Community Leader
Preston Love, Independent Political Organization Professional
Black Agenda Alliance
Follow the Misfits:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
To say it has been a rough couple of weeks would be an understatement. There is nothing else that should and can be talked about other than the senseless death of James Scurlock and of course George Floyd.
What is ACAB? All Cops Are Bastards is being spray painted at protests. It is not about each individual person. It is a system in place that is rotting from within the inside and not just a 'few bad apples.' Our belief is the police should not do harm. First, Do No Harm. If you abide by rule number one, then you can move on the the ethics of beneficence, which is then promote good. This is a page out of the healthcare ethic playbook, but it surely applies here too.
De-funding the Police. Yes that sounds radical and might originally suck the air out of the room. But then let that air flood back in with ideas. It is about re-purposing those funds back to the community with mental health professionals and social workers to answer the calls that police are not equipped or appropriate to respond to...
When someone is having a mental health crisis that is a symptom of a bigger problem. If someone is homeless and causing some harm in the community, maybe they just need food, water, medication, shelter, safety. Why have we been sending in police to deal with social issues without education and training? How would we expect them to do anything other than what they have been trained to do, which is to protect and serve with aggression. We still need some muscle to restrain someone being violent, but couple it with the right person to de-escalate and figure out the underlying issue.
MEMO TO WHITE PEOPLE: Thank you for showing up for the Black Lives Matter Movement. Thank you for wanting to be an ally First, do your homework. Deal with all of the emotions and self reflection this requires. DO NOT bring that struggle to POC. They do not have to educate you. They do not have to show you your privilege. They do not have to tell you the solutions. This is all internal work. THEN show up as an ally. And then be a righteous accomplice side by side. There are no saviors here. Its a collective fight in lock step.
I believe a great place to start is by accepting that you are the racist spectrum by default. We have all been subject to racist jokes, systems, and history. We have all consumed it. It is in all of us. If you can sit with that and not get defensive, it will set you free to then lean into the areas that it is in your life and actively work to detox. Racial sobriety is going to be uncomfortable --> Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Follow Us:
Facebook | Twitter | https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This episode features a candid conversation with Darcell Trotter, one of the stars of the award-winning documentary "Out of Omaha" from producer J. Cole
*This episode was recorded before the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed, however, it is extremely timely and reflects the racial and economic divide that has been growing in Omaha for decades.
Find out where Darcell and his brothers are now and how the movie has changed his life. He discusses how it felt doing the documentary. The struggle of going through hard times on camera. How it has effected him since its release.
Also, check out and support Darcell in his new business ventures with the links below.
Darcell Trotter on Instagram @cellytrotter
Hustle 365
Follow the Misfits:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This bonus fry does not bring great news.
With the recent murder of George Floyd and the crazy incident in New York's Central Park, we feel a little defeated and even MORE scared for the state of the country and our society.
We never intended our three part series on the prison system and mass incarceration to BE a three part series. Once we started digging, there was simply too much there. And then here we are, it has led directly into the kindling of all this catching fire with mass protests over police brutality and the racist system of the police and our justice system. It boiled over and people are in the streets.
Twitter finally took a stand! Adding in disclaimers to Donald J. Trump's tweets. Now, if only they would block him from Twitter for all of his inciting of hate speech and violence against his own people?!
Central Park 'Karen' Amy Cooper lost her job for being a racist.
An executive order is a signed, written, and published directive from the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. They are numbered consecutively, so executive orders may be referenced by their assigned number, or their topic. Presidential executive orders, once issued, remain in force until they are canceled, revoked, adjudicated unlawful, or expire on their terms.
On Twitter, trolls are taking on Trump with their own version of a conspiracy theory of Carolyn Gombell being his assistant that he had her killed after getting pregnant. Karma? A taste of his own toxic medicine? We support this trolling.
JusticeForCarolynGombell
Follow Us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week are talking about what it means to work in a 'Right-to-Work' state. They make it sound good, but is it really? We also chat with a member of the Railroad to find out what its really like on the union side of life.
We all benefit from unions even if we do not have one in our state. They set a standard that others have to compete against. This is VITAL! Support your union members. The GOP is pushing to have a national 'right to work' where union dues cannot be enforced. This is an absolute anti- union and anti- workers rights ploy. If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything with its record unemployment. We NEED worker's rights.
Stop feeling bad for the employers and companies. They have a plethora of protections. Stop voting in favor of employers. Prioritize yourself. Your family. Your friends. Everyone you love is worth fighting for wages, benefits, and standard of living in the richest country in the world.
Interesting fact, the current administration is not pro union. Wonder why?
Here is a link to someting we think you will like
Wyatt Koch Makes T-Shirts
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
A lot went on this week. We found that Donald is taking drugs and not the kind we thought. Ben Sasse royally blows it with his commencement speech at Fremont High School and it is time to embrace our dem candidates. These topics and more in this Bonus Fry episode. Here are some links you might want to check out:
Ben Sasse Fremont High School Commencement Speech
Stacy Abrams Fox News Article
New York Times Rabbit Hole
Nancy Pelosi Calls Donald Trump Obese
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This week we are stepping back into a discussion on prison reform with a review of the award-winning film Out Of Omaha and the Amazon original documentary Free Meek. Both films deal with the birth to prison pipeline and how young black men fight everyday to break the cycle. We encourage you to watch both films with a heavy lean on Out Of Omaha as it shows what life is like in poverty stricken North Omaha.
Here are some articles mentioned in this episode:
Vulnerable Senators List
How Trump turned ventilators into a form of patronage
Why Journalists Need to Think Twice About Reporting on Arrests
These lawyers say Trump’s name on stimulus checks might be a crime
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are starting a new tradition here on Midwest Misfits and it is the weekly bonus fry. The news changes so fast and there are many things that need to be discussed. Sometimes in our efforts to talk about politics, we aren't able to talk about current events. There are so many things happening on the daily and we need to gab. Check back every Friday for the bonus fry as we dish on the week's haps.
This Bonus Fry is all about Tara Reade, Tiger King, Andrew Yang and Universal Basic Income, Paul Manafort is jailed no more and other hot topics. Let's catch up!
Follow us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
There has been a lot of talk about this new testing site TestNebraska and it turns out that this thing, we paid $27 MILLION dollars for, is a little sketchy. Money aside, why do they ask about any allergies to hydroxychloroquine?
Our friends over at SeeingRedNebraska have done some great investigating into the companies behind TestNebraska, Governor Ricketts stake, and what that means for you and your data. This is an episode you don't want to miss.
For further reading on this topic here is a list of articles referenced in this episode as well as Senator Megan Hunts tweets that ask some really important questions.
What can population data tell us about Covid-19 hotspots
Senator Megan Hunt on Twitter
Five Republican Governors
Check out this episode of Midwest Misfits for more on Coronavirus
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We continue our discussion on prison reform with on of the founders of Nebraskans for Prison Reform, Ashleigh Jackson. Even though she is sheltering in place in her home country of Scotland, she is very much an activist for Nebraska. Ashleigh knows first hand the problems with Nebraska's prison system with a loved one locked up inside. Hear Ashleigh's story as we talk about this nationwide problem.
For more on prison reform, check out our last two episodes as we dish the low down on lock up and interview prison reform activist Paul Feilmann
Follow Us:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
In our quest to better understand the prison system and what it is like to be trapped in the cycle, we chat with activist Paul Feilmann. Recently Paul sat vigil outside Governor Pete Ricketts's house as a way to draw attention to the overcrowding in Nebraska's prisons and juvenile detention centers. He also frequently speaks out against the horrid use of solitary confinement as a way to manage the overcrowding and punish inmates.
Paul is not only an activist but also a volunteer with the 7th Step Club and RISE program. Now retired, he spent most of his career working in human services and the mental health field in Nebraska.
If you missed last week's episode on prison reform, you might want to check it out. Colleen and I dish on some stats regarding Nebraska's prison system and our birth to prison pipeline that seems neverending.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Hey Misfits, this week we are tackling the topic of prison reform. This issue has so many layers that it warrants multiple episodes, so make sure and subscribe to you don't miss a beat.
The United States locks up more of its citizens than any other nation. According to PrisonPolicy.org, The American criminal justice system holds almost 2.3 million people in 1,833 state prisons, 110 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,134 local jails, 218 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the U.S. territories.
From police brutality and wrongful convictions to harsh sentences and overcrowding, the United States prison system is broken on so many levels. With the enactment of the First Step Act, signed into law in 2019, there have been steps in the right direction. But this new law will have a very small impact on mass incarceration as a whole as it only affects the federal system which holds about 181,000 imprisoned people. This is a small fraction of the US jail and prison population.
Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes featuring prison reform activist Paul Feilmann and one of the founders of Nebraskans for Prison Reform Ashleigh Jackson. Make sure and subscribe to the podcast or sign up for our newsletter to be notified when those episodes drop.
Shout out to our new pod friends Seeing Red Nebraska. Check out their website for great content regarding Nebraska politics.
Lastly, if you are interested in checking out the podcast mentioned in today's episode, check out NPR's Invisibilia, about Shon Hopwood, criminal turned lawyer. You won't be disappointed!
Follow us:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Sometimes you just need a break from the crazy and have a good rant and laugh session. This week we are sharing headlines we have been saving from our news feed. From the nightmare that is Jared Kushner to the ridiculousness of Aunt Becky, we are going to dish on the topics that make us say "Hmmmm".
Looking for a good read while in quarantine, we recommend Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman. Check out our latest episode were discuss this interesting book. Also, make sure and subscriber to our pod so you stay up to date on our next book club pick.
Follow us on social:
Facebook - Instagram - Twitter
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Utopia for Realists is a thought-provoking book that is not only entertaining but also filled with facts and case studies that could otherwise make for a dull read. Rutger Bregman brings to our attention the evidence behind the need for Universal Basic Income, a 15-hour workweek (this one seems like a dream) and open borders. This week we are sharing our thoughts on this great read. Did you know that Richard Nixon almost instituted a Universal Basic Income for all Americans? Me neither.
If the coronavirus hasn't been evidence enough for Universal Basic Income, then automation and the future idea of "work" should be. Imagine a world where we only work 15 hours a week. Think about all the time you would have for family, hobbies, and creativity. Imagine the music we would make and the art we would create. It could all be possible with automation and Universal Basic Income.
Politicians have to work within the realm of what the voters deem not too extreme. These ideas have to be mainstream. Popular. And part of that is understanding how giving people a Universal Basic Income saves money in the long run, a healthier, happier population. Cost saving in healthcare, policing, administration of inefficient/ bullshit programs, and the criminal justice system. It. Is. Possible.
Cognitive Dissonance. When reality clashes with our deepest held beliefs, we would rather alter the reality rather than our deeply held belief. And how Trump supports can be both evangelical religious and train their own eyes and ears to see and hear only what they want; rather than the glaring red flashing lights of all of lying, cheating, and inhumane stances.
Utopia for Realists Nuggets:
"If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world's poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists at the World Bank. That's the combined total of all development aid- TIMES THREE."
"The average American thinks their federal government spends more than a quarter of the national budget on foreign aid, but the real figure is less than 1%."
"In reality, if you correct for income and job status, immigrants take less advantage of public assistance. Overall, the net value of immigrants is wholly positive... Open borders promote immigrants' return (to their home country)"
"Handing out cash works... As is happens, cash handouts may be the most extensively studied anti-poverty method around... over the long and short-term on both a large and small scale, cash transfers are an extremely successful and efficient tool."
"In the US, the gap between rich and poor is already wider than it was in ancient Rome- an economy founded on slave labor... Even the World Economic Forum (the wealthy) has described this escalating inequality as the biggest threat facing our global economy."
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Meet Allison Heimes, candidate for Nebraska Legislature.
Born and raised in Nebraska, she is an Immigration and Criminal Law Attorney who is passionate about protecting individual rights and keeping families together.
Schools are the MOST important item on the docket this year in Nebraska as Sen. Lou Ann Linehan (R)- Allison's opponent in the seat currently has sponsored bills to attempt to allow the privatization of schools with public funds/ tax dollars.
As a strong champion for families, Allison plans to put families first and wants to focus her efforts on creating a childcare tax credit for working parents and establishing a parental leave policy for parents of new babies and adopted children.
Allison + Colleen discuss her personal experience with being gently told that she should only take two weeks maternity leave (link to find out why maternity leave should be paid. It matters!).
For more about Alison and her platform, visit her website AllisonHeimesfor Legislature.
Follow us on social!
Instagram - Facebook - Twitter
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
The topic of rural broadband and net neutrality couldn't be more timely. When we are all using our video chats for school, work and communicating with vulnerable family members; can you even imagine not having a reliable internet connection? Hard to believe, but that is the unfortunate reality for many rural and namely (POC) People of Color: among the underserved communities across the U.S.
The FEC does not even look at demographics in their broadband reports to assess for discrimination and inequality. The maps of coverage are also misinformed and hurt the case for those who do not have access when the FEC maps claim that they do. The USDA is the one pumping money into this, but that will give them control. When there are many public good such as healthcare and education that needs an even playing field with access to high speed internet.
How does limited internet access affect everyday lives? How is limited internet access going to affect the upcoming election? Our lives exist online and everyone deserves access.
Hey if you have a question, comment or just want to share feedback, give us a call or shoot us a text message at 1-855-931-DEMS (3367). Leave us a voicemail and we might just play it on the pod. For more about Midwest Misfits, visit our website and make sure and follow us online. We might push buttons, but it's only because we love ya!
Facebook - Instagram - Twitter
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today on this bonus episode of Midwest Misfits, we are talking to Alisha Shelton. Alisha is running for the Dem nomination for Senate, hoping to run against Ben Sasse... Yes --> THE Ben Sasse who voted against the Coronavirus Relief Package, who spent our money and time on fighting for a bullshi$ bill trying to criminalize healthcare providers who provide abortion care if they do not offer life saving measures to failed abortions, which we covered in Episode One: Ben Sasse is an Ass... This would be inappropriate care for this child. This is for a healthcare provider to decide. Hospice care is loving care.
Alisha moved from New York to the Omaha Housing Projects in her childhood, which proved to be far more dangerous than her urban New York life. She is a gun owner. She is a Democrat who respects the Second Amendment, but has been devastated by the gun violence and school shootings that are a very American epidemic. We need to take action.
Alisha is a licensed independent mental health practitioner and licensed professional counselor, specializing in trauma-informed care. She is the Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. We talk about mental health, which is very timely considering the recent change to life as we knew it because of Covid- 19.
For more about Alisha and her campaign, visit her website Alisha Shelton for Senate. Follow her on social media @sheltonforsenate
Also, check out our website for more about the Misfits and sign up for our newsletter!! MidwestMisfits.com
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
I am sure you have all had one of those days. The effects of the Coronavirus are felt from coast to coast. No one is immune...literally.
Today on the pod we are chatting about Covid-19, it has crashed economies and broken health-care systems, filled hospitals and emptied public spaces, schools, workplaces, and restaurants. It has separated people from their family and their friends. It has disrupted modern society on a scale that no one has ever witnessed. It. Was. Inevitable. So how did we get caught with our pants down? The Washington Post and many others wrote in 2016 about our inadequate preparedness for a pandemic. Bill Gates has been telling anyone who would listen, including the 18 million viewers of his TED Talk. And yet, in 2018, Trump dismantled the Pandemic Response team.
"On the Global Health Security Index, a report card that grades every country on its pandemic preparedness, the United States has a score of 83.5—the world’s highest. Rich, strong, developed, America is supposed to be the readiest of nations. That illusion has been shattered. Despite months of advance warning as the virus spread in other countries, when America was finally tested by COVID-19, it failed." - The Atlantic.
We discuss the THREE options for what could go down:
ONE: As with SARS, all countries could bring the virus under control simultaneously. This one is not possible at this point.
TWO: The virus burns through the world and leaves behind enough immune survivors that it eventually struggles to find viable hosts. This “herd immunity” scenario would be quick and tempting. But it would also come at a terrible cost in lives. This does not seem to be the chosen plan, but due to the American bungled response, seems to be a little like what we are doing.
THREE: This is the plan we hope for, pretend to be doing, but is also the longest time-frame. Which is to play a game of 'Whack-A-Mole' where the virus pops up after our months of distancing... periodically social distance in locations that spike... Until a vaccine can be produced, which is 12-18 months in a BEST case scenario.
We also go off on a couple of tangents, as friends do. Leah has a 'chesty' cough and Colleen's daughter has been diagnosed 'Presumed Covid'. The local response is that we simply do not have testing in the state, even for those who are "supposed to" qualify for it.
Join us for a casual chat about what is on everyone's mind...M.m.m.m.mmmmy Corona. You may want to pour a glass of wine!
We would love to stay in touch! Sign up for our New Pod alerts and info by clicking here.
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today's bonus pod features Ann Ashford, Dem candidate for Congress NE CD-2. Ann is an attorney and has many years of experience in the healthcare industry.
Ann's husband Brad Ashford is a former NE- District 2 representative. Ann believes her work with people in the private sector helping them work through their benefits in HR have led her to be more compassionate, empathetic, and understanding of the human struggles.
We talk about the HOT topic of healthcare. Ann wants to expand on Obamacare- add a public buy in option, limit pharmaceutical advertising direct to consumer, and pass legislation to allow the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies. Find details to her plan here.
Ann also wants universal pre-K, which we strongly support based on the research. She also wants student loan debt to be forgive-able with volunteerism and non-profit work... Along with sponsoring a bill to make teachers' salaries tax free, essentially giving them higher paychecks to take home in their pockets.
For more about Ann and her campaign, check out her websites AnnAshford2020.com. Also, follow her on social media @annforcongress
Also, we have a newsletter and would love for you to sign up! http://eepurl.com/gXFo1b
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
In today's episode, we are talking about school privatization. It's not good. However they try to serve it up by changing its name, the proposals the divert school funds to privatized schools is a big turd being served on a platter with some flowers to distract everyone from what it truly is.
Why are public schools so important to communities? Let us count the ways...
- Cost: The public school cost CANNOT be beat. Equality: Public schools provide access to an education for EVERY child in a community. The Huffington Post notes that by law, public schools cannot turn students away based on academic performance, income level or disability. Give those funds to private schools- that does not go with them. Diversity. Since public schools cannot discriminate, children end up in school with peers that are not like them. Learning about the different cultures, struggles of income diversity, and special needs is AS essential to the growth of a person as the school curriculum. * Smaller Class Size: According to the website for New York Schools, funding for schools is often dependent on the number of students in a school, with consideration for smaller, more manageable classroom sizes. * Public schools offer more academic opportunities like advanced classes and courses in specialized subjects like technology and the arts, according to Education Bug. Options might include gifted and talented programs, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement classes. * Extracurricular Activities: free or minimal cost after school programs are a key integration to public schools. * Services: By law, public schools are also required to provide certain services to students: transportation to and from school, reduced-price lunches and academic assistance- to students who qualify... Because the services are required, public schools have a staff of special education teachers and learning specialists at the parents’ and students’ disposal. * Teachers are TOPS! According to PublicSchools.org, teachers in public schools are required to be certified by the state; also requiring ongoing education and periodic renewal of credentials. Charter schools and private schools do not have this requirement, which means parents don’t always know the level of training attained by the teacher in their child’s classroom. * Accountability: Public school answer to the public. Period. This prevents abuse and mis- management of failing schools much more quickly than if the school did not have such accountability.* Results: Private schools can skim off the already motivated families that have few barriers to education. It is infinitely harder to serve an education to a child who is in poverty and cannot think past th...
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We are in strange times, but as you can see by the current chaos, the 2020 election is more important than ever. When you go to the polls or mail in your ballot on May 12th, make sure you are voting for someone who truly reflects your values. That is why we want you to KNOW WHO YOU ARE VOTING FOR!
This bonus episode features Kara Eastman, Democratic candidate for Nebraska Congressional District 2. She was just shy of 5,000 votes to beat Don Bacon in 2018 and she wants to represent Nebraska Democrats and go for it again.
Kara Eastman is a true progressive running on Healthcare for All, income inequality, social issues, environmental injustice, gun reform, and compassionate immigration policy. She has excited the base since Trump's disaster policies have hurt so many Nebraskans.
For more on Kara Eastman and how you can support her campaign, check out her website EastmanforCongress.com and follow her on social media @KaraforCongress.
If you are worried about not being able to make it to the polls, print your application for your mail-in ballot here.
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Remember the game F*ck, Marry, Kill? This is a cheeky take on that game. Partisans need to Eff the way off. We want you to take the Census in your hands and marry it. Make some sweet, sweet census filling out love. Most importantly, we want to KILL GERRY (mandering).
Who would have thought the census was such a big deal? Fill it out people! Leah has had some tangle ups with the census over the years, but we talk through it and bring her to the side of knowing how gosh darn important the CENSUS is! It's bananas!
This is how they disperse money for local programs based on the size of the population...
This is how they re-draw district lines and determines how many state representatives you get in the House of Representatives...
Believe me. Trump does NOT want immigrants, refugees, illegals accounted for, which should be the sign that WE NEED every one of those people TO count. Living situations are tricky. The fear of being illegal is scary... BUT also vital to have the number of people truly within an area to be represented! It includes citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors and undocumented immigrants. Please also be sure to count roommates, young children, newborns, anyone who is renting a space in your home, including foster children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and the children of friends (even if they are living with you temporarily).
The census is not sexy to talk about, but please baby Jesus reach out to vulnerable populations to support them to fill out the census! The census goes hand in hand with gerrymandering. Boo.
On this episode of Midwest Misfits, we are going to chat about...You guessed it, the 2020 Census with a "Gerry" cherry on top. Gerrymandering that is. You have all heard of it, but did you know just how evil it really is? As crazy as it sounds, this election will come down to a few million votes and that crazy electoral college is likely to screw us again...all do to Gerrymandering...and maybe a few other things, but Gerry really puts a wrench into our voting right.
Gerrymandering allows the partisan candidate pick their voter, rather than the voter choosing their candidate. This has led to forming districts that ensure high levels of partisanship often leads to higher levels of partisanship in legislative bodies. If a substantial number of districts are designed to be polarized, then those districts' representation will also likely act in a heavily partisan manner, which can create and perpetuate partisan gridlock. Kill GERRY!
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Another "Know Your Candidate" pod coming at ya! This week we are talking to Angie Phillips. She is running for U.S. Senate and hopes to win the Democratic nomination to unseat Ben Sasse the Ass. She is a champion for Women's Rights, Climate Change and of course Healthcare. You can learn more about Angie by following her on social media @AngieforNebraska and by visiting her website AngieForNebraska.com
Also, stick around for the second half of this episode where we dive a little deeper into a topic that is near and dear to Angie's heart, Environment Injustice. For more on this topic check out the following links regarding Omaha's Superfund Site and other Superfunds across the United States:
Your Guide to Omaha's Superfund Site
Superfund Sites in the United States
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
We don't know about you, but we feel totally SCREWED by the electoral college. Every election cycle brings new calls to abolish the Electoral College. However, modeling by brilliant researchers have shown that we should EXPECT that we will end up with the person who did NOT get the most votes to win the presidency. This is not an accident. This leads many people to become disenfranchised, which literally means to deprive a person of their right to vote or have a vote that counts.
The Electoral College is racist in origin. Shocking? I know. I wasn't shocked either. Our entire history was written by white men who had slave owner friends or were slave owners themselves. All the more reason it does NOT fit our modern society today.
The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors from the all of the states. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state wins the electors. It was NOT always this way. When the Electoral College was created there were not even political parties! It was based on the premise that electors would vote their conscience.
...In Maine and Nebraska, however, electoral college votes are distributed based on who won the popular vote in each of the states' congressional districts.
The Electoral College was never intended to be the “perfect” system for picking the president, says George Edwards III, emeritus political science professor at Texas A&M University.
“It wasn’t like the Founders said, ‘Hey, what a great idea! This is the preferred way to select the chief executive, period,’” says Edwards. “They were tired, impatient, frustrated. They cobbled together this plan because they couldn’t agree on anything else.” - The Atlantic
"Virginian James Madison responded that such a system would prove unacceptable to the South: “The right of suffrage was much more diffusive [i.e., extensive] in the Northern than the Southern States; and the latter could have no influence in the election on the score of Negroes.”
In other words, in a direct election system, the North would outnumber the South, whose many slaves (more than half a million in all) of course could not vote...
The Electoral College—a prototype of which Madison proposed in this same speech—instead let each southern state count its slaves, albeit with a two-fifths discount, in computing its share of the overall count." - The Atlantic.
The Electoral College skews elections by giving a HUGE advantage to small states. Each state receives a number of electoral votes equal to the number of United States House of Representatives members from that state, plus two. These two additional votes effectively triple the voting power of the smallest states, while having only a negligible impact on the voting power of large states.
Modern-day Democrats are disadvantaged because they “have tended to win large states by large margins and lose them by small margins.” In 2016, for example, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won California by nearly 3.5 million votes. Meanwhile, she lost the crucial swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin by fewer than 80,000 votes combined.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
This is the first of many in our "Know Your Candidate" series. In this episode, we chat with Barbara "Babs" Ramsey who is hoping to unseat incumbent Jeff Fortenberry. First, she needs the dem nomination. To learn more about Babs, check out her website BabsRamseyforCongress.com and follow her on social media @votebabs.
If you are a resident of Nebraska make sure you are registered to vote. Check your eligibility and whether or not you are registered here:
Midwest Voter Registration Information
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Voter suppression is a strategy used to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing specific groups of people from voting. It is distinguished from political campaigning in that campaigning attempts to change likely voting behavior by changing the opinions of potential voters through persuasion and organization.
Voter suppression → attempts to reduce the number of voters who might vote against a candidate or proposition.
The Tactics of Voter Suppression range from minor changes to make voting less convenient, to physically intimidating and even physically attacking prospective voters, which is illegal.
- Limiting the amount of places to vote Limiting the time one can vote Not having voting be compulsory but where you must register and keep information accurately updated works against engaging younger voters Shutting down Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices in minority neighborhoods, Making it more difficult for residents to obtain voter IDs* Shutting down polling places in minority neighborhoods; * Systematically depriving precincts in minority neighborhoods of the resources they need to operate efficiently, such as poll workers and voting machines; and purging voters from the rolls shortly before an election
US HISTORY OF VOTER SUPPRESSION:
-
First you had to own property→ white males ONLY
-
Jim Crow years: poll tax, literacy test, and grandfather clause- to prove your grandfather had been born in the US- repressing slaves
-
In Texas 2016: a voter ID law requiring a driver's license, passport, military identification, or gun permit, was repeatedly found to be intentionally discriminatory-- PRECISION OF SUPPRESSION: Student IDs could not be used as IDs
-
In Wisconsin under Scott Walker: imposing strict voter ID requirements, the law cut back on early voting, required people to live in a ward for at least 28 days before voting, and prohibited emailing absentee ballots to voters
-
In Iowa: Lawmakers passed a strict voter ID law with the potential to disenfranchise 260,000 voters. Out of 1.6 million votes cast in Iowa in 2016, there were only 10 allegations of voter fraud;
-
May 2017: President Donald Trump established the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, purportedly for the purpose of preventing voter fraud. Critics have suggested its true purpose is voter suppression.
-
Kansas secretary of state: Kris Kobach, a staunch advocate of strict voter ID laws and a proponent of the Crosscheck system. Crosscheck is a national database designed to check for voters who are registered in more than one state by comparing names and dates of birth. Researchers at Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and Microsoft found that for every legitimate instance of double registration it finds, Crosscheck's algorithm returns approximately 200 false positives..... Kobach has been repeatedly sued by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for trying to restrict voting rights in Kansas
FELONS ARE CITIZENS TOO: Across this country today, an estimated 5.8 million Americans – 5.8 million of our fellow citizens – are prohibited from voti...
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
WASHINGTON POST:
The terms "socialist" and "communist" are often confused, thanks in large part to the Cold War. Layer on top of that the nuance of the term "democratic socialist," which is how Sanders describes himself, and it's easy to see why people might generally be confused.
HOW TO BREAK IT DOWN VERY SIMPLY:
In a COMMUNIST country, the government decides who can own property (generally no one, but them), how much products will cost, how many will be made, and where it is made.
VS.
In a CAPITALIST society, the people make those decisions. The businesses, the market decides how much products will cost, how many there are, where it will be made.
VS.
In the SOCIALIST system, there's a mix. The government operates the system to help all, but there is opportunity for private property and private wealth.
WE LOVE 'COMPASSIONATE CAPITALISM'
Compassionate Capitalism: Notable economic successes. Nordic countries focus on combining a free market system with several social programs.
The government benefits DID NOT create the wealth of these nations—the wealth of the populous created the government benefits.
The wealth and prosperity of these countries allowed compassion for ALL citizens to be a value they could deliver with their wealth: free education, free health care, and a guaranteed pension program for retirees. For this to take place, the citizens must place an enormous amount of trust in their government and their policymakers- which is probably the biggest barrier in the United States.
FOR COMPASSIONATE CAPITALISM TO WORK: The economy, work, and welfare must work hand-in-hand. Policymakers must address ever-changing social challenges and then pass solutions through a democratic process.
Places like Sweden and Norway have cut the gap between the rich and the poor while still preserving the basic benefits of capitalism. These countries DO NOT bail out companies. EVER. Even if they are an icon. That is the free market principle. Capitalism at its finest.
Whether it is the 'Green New Deal' or 'Healthcare for All', most of the left-sided plans for change get silo'ed into a socialism bucket as a naughty word. Is it socialism? And what does it have to do with communism? Spoiler Alert: It Does Not... All these questions and more discussed on this episode of Midwest Misfits.
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
World Education News and Review:
Certainly a lot of superlatives can be attributed to the U.S.:
...the third most populous country in the world with 327.7 million people;
... the largest economy; the most powerful military, among others.
... The U.S. also has the second largest higher education system (China overtook the U.S. in this regard roughly around 2001), and it is the top destination for globally mobile students... the U.S. faces increasing threats to its dominance of the international student market, not least from its own political and cultural climate, as the country is increasingly seen as unwelcoming to immigrants and foreigners.
Domestically, income inequality is among the worst of the major advanced economies.
The dominance of the U.S. among host nations of international students, however, is slowly eroding.
- As mentioned, the U.S. has gradually lost market share, even as absolute growth has continued. * Other nations are catching up, often with the aid of proactive government-led strategies, increasingly offering high-quality education programs in English and very often at a substantially lower cost. * The current political climate in the U.S. has likely had an impact and will continue to, particularly under the administration of President Trump.
Additionally, there are reports of increases in denials and delays in the issuance of U.S. student visas.
Proposed changes to U.S. immigration policies, including allowing international students to stay and work in the U.S. after graduation, may also pose problems for recruitment.
Furthermore, some students are sensitive to issues of safety, real or perceived. Mass shootings and the protracted debate on gun violence in the U.S. often garner international attention, as do hate crimes aimed at certain groups.
- For example, the shooting of two Indian nationals in a bar in Kansas in 2017 gained media attention in India, possibly causing some Indian students and parents to reconsider applying to U.S. institutions.
As stated earlier, international students have limited opportunities to work during and after their studies.
The United States Constitution makes no explicit mention of education...
... but the 10th Amendment to the Constitution states that all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are delegated to state governments. As a result, the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and the territories, are directly in charge of their own education systems, resulting in tremendous diversity of education nationwide.
Students can receive special education in both school and non-school settings, such as medical institutions. The primary federal law guaranteeing special education is the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).”
ENTER BETSY DEVOS AS EDUCATION SECRETARY
During her 2017 confirmation hearing, she was asked whether she thought guns belonged in schools and referred to one Wyoming school and said, “I would imagine that there is probably a gun in the schools to protect from potential grizzlies.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are talking about social security. We admit, not the sexiest of topics, but something we should all pay attention to. Where does the money go and why is it running out?
The Social Security Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, created Social Security, a federal safety net benefits for victims of industrial accidents, unemployment insurance, aid for dependent mothers and children, the blind, and the physically handicapped.
-
FDR asked for a social security bill in Jan→ it had all the private people opposition → but passed in August the same year?! Where did our efficiency in legislation go??
-
Ronald Reagan created the FICA tax to supplement the long term outlook for Social Security in the 80s.
The Trust Fund represents a legal obligation of the federal government to program beneficiaries. Under current law, when the program goes into an annual cash deficit, the government has to seek alternate funding beyond the payroll taxes dedicated to the program to cover the shortfall. This reduces the trust fund balance to the extent this occurs. The program deficits are expected to exhaust the fund by 2034.
QUICK SOCIAL SECURITY FACTS:
-
Social Security supports tens of millions of Americans, providing essential benefits to help them make ends meet in retirement or if they become disabled.
-
Annually, Social Security gives those receiving benefits a cost-of-living increase in the size of their monthly checks. The amount varies from year to year based on inflation figures→ 1.6% starting at the beginning of 2020.
-
Research shows the program’s benefits will start to exceed its tax collections in 2020, and the program will deplete its $2.9 trillion reserve fund in 2035 if no action is taken.
-
As politicians suggest “fixing,” cutting, or even expanding Social Security benefits through a variety of methods (primarily focused on increasing taxes on the wealthy), it is clear the public should expect either smaller benefits, higher taxes or both in the future as the government looks to extend the runway for a program born in 1935 that roughly four in 10 Americans rely on as their sole source of retirement income.
-
The average Social Security benefit was $1,503 per month in January 2020. The maximum possible Social Security benefit for someone who retires at full retirement age is $3,011 in 2020. However, a worker would need to earn the maximum taxable amount, currently $137,700 for 2020, over a 35-year career to get this Social Security payment.
-
Roughly 40% of Americans rely soley on Social Security for retirement at this moment in time.
-
Social security for people who choose not to get married to their partners (as many young people are doing) AND for women who take more time off during their working life to care for family members are hurt the most.... Making sense when Social Security was created in the 30s, when it was a white male dominated framework and why we need diverse representation so that the new systems we put in place are not tailor made to white males.
-
Social Security is an important income source for 7 in 10 recent retirees. According to Secure Retirement Institute research, it makes up 37% of their total income on average.
Bernie Sanders ...
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
Today we are talking about the out of control and ever-growing debt. What happened to the republicans and their grand claims of fiscal responsibility. Should we be surprised when the government is currently being run by a man who operates his businesses solely on acquiring debt and going to bankruptcy court?
ALSO, state spending is incredibly important. Public education is a large portion of state government expenditures; higher education costs us more in tax dollars than K-12... While public assistance is only 0.4% of the budget.
We also explore the race for Nebraska's District 2, which could possibly swing blue and unseat Don Bacon. It has happened before. For more on the candidates running in the primary, check out these links below:
- Ann Ashford https://annashford2020.com/ Kara Eastman https://www.eastmanforcongress.com/ Gladys Harrison https://gladys4congress.com/
Follow Us:
Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support
For our inaugural episode of Midwest Misfits, we discuss healthcare and head off on many tangents surrounding this complicated and divisive topic. From Obamacare problems to pharma drama, Healthcare is the hot button issue for the 2020 election. Let's talk about what we know and learn some lessons about the things we don't.
"The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives.”
According to data from OECD, the US government spent $10,209 on healthcare per capita, or per person, in 2017...
That's more than any other country in OECD's 36-country consortium, and over $2,000 more than Switzerland, the second-highest spending country.
US spends 16.9% of GDP. All other countries spend about 8.8% of their GDP on Healthcare. For example, Switzerland is at 12.2% and the next closest to the US on spending.
THE USA SHOWCASES: Higher spending does not correlate to better outcomes or use of healthcare.
WHAT IS A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM?
Physicians for a Medicare for All Nonprofit Agency states:
Single Payer is a system in which a single public or quasi-public agency organizes health care financing, but the delivery of care remains largely in private hands. Under a single-payer system, all residents of the U.S. would be covered for all medically necessary services, including doctor, hospital, preventive, long-term care, mental health, reproductive health care, dental, vision, prescription drug and medical supply costs.
This is public/ private partnership- we cover everyone- but those providing the care are still managed by private companies.
Over $500 billion in administrative savings would be realized by replacing today’s inefficient, profit-oriented, multiple insurance payers with a single streamlined, nonprofit, public payer. Insurance companies would no longer spend their budgets on marketing and advertising→ instead would actually cover care
Premiums would disappear, and 95 percent of all households would save money. Patients would no longer face financial barriers to care such as co-pays and deductibles, and would regain free choice of doctor and hospital. Doctors would regain autonomy over patient care.
WHY EXPANDING OBAMACARE WON'T WORK
About 30 million people will still be uninsured in 2023, and tens of millions will remain underinsured. Insurers will continue to strip down policies, maintain restrictive networks, limit and deny care, and increase patients’ co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs.
The law preserves our fragmented financing system, making it impossible to control costs.
The law continues the unfair financing of health care, whereby costs are disproportionately borne by middle- and lower-income Americans and those families facing acute or chronic illness.
Cost/ Sustainability: Large-scale cost controls (negotiated fee schedule with physicians, bulk purchasing of drugs, hospital budgeting, capital planning, etc.) ensure that benefits are sustainable over the long term.
In A Nutshell: cost savings of advertising, marketing, administrative costs, and being able to control the price of drugs, medical devices, etc… would lower costs significantly...
In 2012, the pharmaceutical industry spent more than $27 billion on drug promotion — more than $24 billion on marketing to physicians and over $3 billion on advertising to consumers. That is a total of 54 billion that could go to actually providing care
We are also exploring the candidates looking to unseat Nebraska's, Senator Ben Sasse. For more on the Democratic candidates check out their websites listed below.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwest-misfits/support