Maxine Waters on How the Democratic Party Moves Forward, Black and Indigenous Strategists Demand More from the Government, and the New Administration's Biggest Challenges

This week, Farai Chideya and her guests discuss the new administration and the historic role of Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters discusses what her party wants to accomplish now that it controls the legislative and executive branches. Political strategist Glynda Carr of Higher Heights wants to elevate more Black women to political leadership roles. Activist and producer Sarah Eagle Heart examines what the Biden-Harris administration could do to address the needs of Indigenous communities. Plus, political journalist Errin Haines of The 19th and Jess Morales-Rocketto of the National Domestic Workers Alliance dive into the priorities, hurdles, and first 100 days of the 46th President and Vice President.

EPISODE RUNDOWN
1:26 Farai Chideya talks to people in D.C. for the Presidential Inauguration.
2:52 Representative Maxine Waters describes the scene during the Capitol siege. 
5:14 Representative Waters describes the inequalities that Black women like her experience in the many facets of society. 
8:39 Representative Waters says she is elated about the organizing efforts in Georgia.
11:16 Having Kamala Harris as Vice President speaks to what is possible for Black Americans, says Waters. 
13:16 Political strategist Glynda Carr talks about her efforts to get more Black women elected into leadership roles.
14:05 Carr breaks down the four pillars of Higher Heights, her organization that endorses and advocates to elect Black women into office.
17:10 Electing New York’s Attorney General Letitia James was a recent success story for Higher Heights.
21:40 The Covid update looks into the strategy to get Covid vaccinations to those who need it most. 
23:13 Activist and producer Sarah Eagle Heart dives into her social justice work as a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe. 
26:03 Eagle Heart recounts her first time protesting a racist depiction of Indigenous people at a homecoming ceremony in her hometown, when she was a teenager.
28:13 When Eagle Heart approached top organizers of the Women’s March to point out the lack of Indigenous representation, she became part of the solution to amplify these voices in the movement.
29:21 If she was able to ask anything of Vice President Kamala Harris, Eagle Heart would want to be sure that the rights of Indigenous people are included in the new administration.
32:34 Our segment Sippin’ the Political Tea, looks back at a historic week with political experts Errin Haines and Jess Morales Rocketto.
33:58 Youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman was Chideya’s favorite moment of last week’s inaugural celebration. 
36:39 Chideya takes her listeners to the streets of D.C. the morning of the Inauguration.
39:42 Morales Rocketto looks at some of the historic appointments to the Biden-Harris administration’s Cabinet.
43:14 Haines looks at how the media will shift its focus from President Trump to the Biden-Harris administration.
44:50 Although there is a new president, “Trump is gone, but Trumpism isn’t,” Chideya explains.
45:33 The Biden-Harris administration has promised to make sweeping reforms to immigration policy, Morales Rocketto says.
47:53 Haines questions how the Biden-Harris administration will tackle issues like systemic racism.