TANISHA: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'M TANISHA SULLIVAN, YOUR HOST.

TONIGHT, SUPER TUESDAY AND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

EVERY FOUR YEARS, U.S. CITIZENS, IN MODERN TIMES, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL LEADER THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF VOTING.

AND WHILE PRESIDENTIAL RACES OVER THE YEARS HAVE HAD THEIR MOMENTS, THE 2024 ELECTION CYCLE APPEARS MORE CAUTIOUS AND PERHAPS CAUTIONARY.

THERE'S AN ENTHUSIASM GAP, DOUBTS ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ABILITY TO RETAIN BLACK AND YOUNGER VOTERS, AS WELL AS QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS AGE.

REPUBLICAN PRISON RUNNER, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS VIEWED BY SOME AS EXTREME IN HIS POLICIES AND USE OF RHETORIC THAT WILL TAKE THE COUNTRY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

BUT DESPITE VOTER FATIGUE, THIS YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS SEEN AS SIGNIFICANT-A FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY'S DEMOCRACY IS HOW WILL BLACK AND BROWN VOTERS DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR VOTE, OR WILL THEY STAY HOME?

JOINING US TO DISCUSS -- MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATOR LIZ MIRANDA.

SHE REPRESENTS THE SECOND SUFFOLK DISTRICT IN BOSTON, WHICH INCLUDES ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN, HYDE PARK, MISSION HILL, JAMAICA PLAIN, SOUTH END, ROSLINDALE, AND FENWAY.

RENÉE GRAHAM, IS AN ASSOCIATE EDITOR, AN OPINION COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR OF THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, "OUTTAKES AT THE BOSTON GLOBE."

DIANA HWANG IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S POLITICAL INITIATIVE, THE COUNTRY'S ONLY POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR AAPI WOMEN.

AND PHILLIP MARTIN.

SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, GBH NEWS CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

TANISHA: BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

LOOK AT THIS POLITICAL AD FROM THE BIDEN HARRIS CAMPAIGN, OUTLINING WHAT HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE.

>> ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFERS WITH THE COUNTRY IN CRISIS, PRESIDENT BIDEN GOT TO WORK, FOR US.

CUTTING BLACK CHILD POVERTY IN HALF.

MORE MONEY FOR BLACK ENTREPRENEURS.

MORE MONEY FOR NEW, GOOD-PAYING JOCKS.

HE'S LOWERED THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

HE GETS IT BECAUSE WE ALL DESERVE SAFETY AND RESPECT AND A CHANCE TO DO MORE THAN JUST GET BY BUT TO GET AHEAD.

>> I'M JOE BIDEN AND I APPROVE IN MESSAGE.

TANISHA: RENÉE, WHAT IS THE BIDEN-HARRIS ATTEMPTING TO DO WITH THIS AD AND IS IT ENOUGH?

>> THEY'RE TRYING TO REMIND BLACK VOTERS OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE THE LAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE LOSING BLACK SUPPORT.

THIS IS THEIR WAY OF TRYING TO SHORE THIS UP AND SAYING, LOOK, WE'VE DONE THIS FOR BLACK BUSINESSES AND POVERTY.

IT'S MUCH LIKE HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?

AND THEY NEED TO KEEP THAT REMINDER OUT THERE SO THERE ISN'T THE SENSE THAT BIDEN MADE ALL THESE PLEDGES IN 2020 AND THEN FORGOT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S AN OBVIOUS STRATEGY AND WE'LL SEE FIT WORKS.

BUT IT DOES SAY SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL THE NEED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF VERY TARGETED AD.

TANISHA: PHILLIP, IS IT ENOUGH?

PHILLIP: PROBABLY NOT.

THE REASON IT'S NOT ENOUGH IS BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, EVEN TO ADS.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION BUT I THINK THE CLOSER THEY GET TO NOVEMBER AND SADLY, THE MORE MONEY THEY SPENDS BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT MONEY.

THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WILL LIKELY HAVE TO SPEND OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN ORDER TO REACH BLACK POPULATIONS, LATINO POPULATIONS, THE GENERAL POPULATION.

ALSO NOT ENOUGH, OF COURSE, IS THE REMINDER THAT BIDEN IS AN OLDER MAN WHO SEEMS TO BE, IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE, NOT PARTICULARLY EFFICIENT.

BUT WHAT HAS TO BE ENOUGH IS JUXTAPOSING HIM WITH DONALD TRUMP, WHO ASK A DANGEROUS DEMAGOGUE.

BUT THAT MESSAGE HASN'T REACHED ALL BLACK AND BROWN AND ASIAN PEOPLE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE DOOR TO DOOR TYPE OF OLD-FASHIONED SHOESTRING EXCHANGING ON THE PART OF THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE ENOUGH.

>> I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE'RE SOUNDING THE ALARM RIGHT NOW BUT WE'RE ALL TIRED.

THAT'S THE CLEAR MESSAGE WE'RE GETTING FROM PEOPLE OF COLOR VOTERS.

BUT WE CAN'T JUST BE REMINDED OF THE PAST, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

RIGHT?

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF BEING IN CONSTANT CRISIS AND WE NEED SOMETHING POSITIVE.

WE NEED SOMETHING TO ASPIRE, TO SOMETHING TO VOTE FOR VERSUS VOTING AGAINST BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS LIKE 2020 ALL OVER AGAIN AND WE ALL HAVE TRAUMA FROM THAT TANISHA: THIS IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY'RE SEEING SEEMINGLY A BUILD AFTER ENTHUSIASM AND ALSO THE POLLS SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT THE MESSAGING COMING OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, PARTICULARLY FROM THE FRONTRUNNER, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SEEMS TO BE RESONATING SO WHY IS THAT?

WHY IS THERE A -- SEEMINGLY A DISCONNECT AMONG BLACK VOTERS AND OTHER VOTERS OF COLOR WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY VIS VIE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

DIANA: I DON'T THINK THAT REPORTER OF COLOR ARE STUPID.

TRUMP IS NOT FOR THEM.

HE'S RACIST.

HE IS A DEMAGOGUE, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK THE ENTHUSIASM GAP IS REAL AND SOME OF THAT IS THE NATURE OF WHEN YOUR PARTY IS NOT IN POWER AND NOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, IT IS THE OTHER SIDE IS MORE EXCITED, RIGHT?

TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

TO BE BACK IN POWER.

SO BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE JOE BIDEN, NATURALLY TRUMP'S BAILS IS EXCITED ABOUT TAKING OVER.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S JUST THAT THAT -- IT'S A MESSAGING PROBLEM.

LIKE, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT I'M VOTING FOR?

>> CAN I PLAY ON THAT?

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST VOTER FATIGUE.

AS SOMEONE WHO -- I HAVEN'T RUN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BUT I'VE RUN THREE LOCAL ELECTIONS AND I HAVE ONE ON THE HORIZON.

WHAT WE FIND IS THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER, DEVIVENESS.

SOME PEOPLE TAP OUT OF RACES JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE TIRED.

I HEAR FROM A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN WHO SAY WHY DO WE KEEP SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHEN WE'RE LARGELY IGNORED?

AND HAVING TO SAVE A DEMOCRACY AND A SYSTEM NOT DESIGNED FOR US IS ALSO VERY TRAUMATIC.

IF FOLKS ARE NOT EXCITED, IT HAS A DOWN-BALLOT EFFECT.

IF FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, WHERE MANY VOTERS CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE BECAUSE IT STAKES SO MUCH STEWARDSHIP, PARTICULARLY OLDER FOLKS, BLACK VOTERS, TO COME OUT.

IT'S GOING TO NEED EXCITEMENT IN THE REGENERATION OF WHY WE'RE VOTING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT IS VERY REAL.

I THINK BIDEN IS LOSING BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LOSING TO TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AN A.P.

POLL HAD 20% OF BLACK AND LATINO VOTERS AND 20% APPROXIMATELY OF YOUNG VOTERS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE.

THEY'RE TIRED OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THAT IS BIDEN'S BIGGEST PROBLEM.

AND IN THE AD HE WAS DIRECTLY APPEALING ALSO TO BLACK WOMEN.

BLACK WOMEN CARE ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY CARE ABOUT NOT JUST GETTING BY AND HE KNOWS HE NEED THE BLACK WOMEN'S VOTE TO MAKE SURE HE'S PRESIDENT FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

>> BUT HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONVEY THAT OTHER THAN EVERY FOUR YEARS AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH POLITICIANS.

THE IDEA THAT YOU ONLY SHOW UP WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING FROM ME.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

IF HE CAN'T GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS, HE'S GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS.

TANISHA: HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

BLACK WOMEN REALLY HOLDING DEMOCRACY IN OUR HANDS.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND?

RENÉE, YOU STARTED TO TOUCH ON IT.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND TO HELP ENSURE THAT, AS BLACK WOMEN, DECIDE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO CAST THEIR BALLOT, THAT IT'S NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE BUT ACTUALLY WE'RE ABLE TO SEE MORE CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT WITH BLACK WOMEN AND OUR VOICES?

>> I THINK THERE ARE THREE QUICK POINTS.

WE'VE SEEN A RISE OF BLACK WOMEN IN ELECTORAL POLITICS AND IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT WE'RE NOT AT THE FRONT AND CENTER MOST OF THE TIME AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLANG OF THE GUARD.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT IS AT A CROSSROADS.

HOW QUICKLY THEY REALIZE THAT AND MAKE THE CHANGE -- WE CAN LOOK 59 MASSACHUSETTS.

VOTERS OF COLOR, YOUNGER VOTERS, BLACK VOTERS ARE SAVING THE PARTY.

EVEN IF HE WASN'T OUR FIRST CHOICE WE VOTED FOR HIM IN HIGHER NUMBERS THAN ANYONE ELSE.

BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE COMMONWEALTH, WE'RE NOT LARGELY REPRESENTED THERE.

IF YOU GO TO ANY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, ALTHOUGH WE'RE A VERY LIBERAL STATE, YOU CAN COUNT THE BLACK PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, STILL.

2023, OF 2024 AND THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE BELIEVE IN BLACK WOMEN.

WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THIS BEING A POWERFUL VOTING BLOC.

WE SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT FOR YOU AND ALLOW YOU TO LEAD AND I THINK THAT'S THE PLACE IT'S MISSING.

THAT THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES ARE OUTDATED AND ANTIQUATED.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUNG VOTERS OUT, YOU HAVE TO BE TEXTING, USING NEW MEDIA PLATFORMS AND WE'RE STILL SENDING OUT EMAILS.

THAT TANISHA: I WANT TO PICK UP ON THIS ENTHUSIASM GAP.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BLACK WOMEN, ALSO WOMEN OF COLOR GENERALLY SPEAKING.

KAMILLA HARRIS, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT WHO IS BY RACIAL.

SHE'S BLACK AND AAPI.

WHERE IS HER VOICE?

THERE?

PHILLIP: SHE'S THERE.

WE'VE SEEN HER ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY YOU, SHE'S VISITED A NUMBER -- TANISHA: VISITING COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WE HAVE TWO WARS GOING ON THAT ARE TOP OF MIND IN THE U.S.

MANY MORE AROUND THE WORLD.

PHILLIP: I HATE TO SAY IT BUT I THINK THAT FOR WHATEVER REASONS, KAMALA HARRIS IS NOT RESONATING FOR A LOT OF BLACK VOTERS.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFENDING HERB POSITION ON THE ELECTION STUMP YESTERDAY IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" OP-ED PIECE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW POWERFUL SHE COULD ACTUALLY BE IF SHE WAS ALLOWED TO DO WHAT SHE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S NECESSARILY THE PLACE.

THE GAZA-ISRAEL WAR IS A MAJOR FACTOR WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOUGHT WHOLE NOTION OF PROGRESSIVE POLITICS IN AN AGE OF REGRESSION AND REACTION IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE.

YOU HAVE A MAJOR BACKLASH AGAINST D.E.I., AGAINST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, AGAINST WIPE WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT.

THESE THINGS WILL LIKELY GET A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE BALLOTS BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL OF THEM BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE ONE SINGLE ISSUE THAT COULD SUPPRESS VOTERS OR VOTES IS GAZA-ISRAEL ISSUE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND THAT WHEN YOU HAVE ALMOST 30,000 PEOPLE KILLED IN GAZA AND COUNTING, AND AMONG THEM, A THIRD OF THEM CHILDREN AND THEY FEEL THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO STOP THIS HUMANITARIAN DISASTER DISASTER, A LOT OF THEM IN APPEALING TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FIND THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING LISTENED TO.

IN MICHIGAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE BIDEN WON BY 200,000 VOTES IN 2020.

YOU'VE ABOUT 100,000 ARAB VOTES THAT ARE NOT UNCOMMITTED.

UNCOME MILTED BECAUSE OF A CAMPAIGN BEING LED BY RASHEED TALIB IN WHICH SHE ASKS, ALONG WITH PEOPLE LIKE ANDY LEVIN, A FORMER CONGRESSMAN WHO IS JEWISH WHO HAVE ASKED PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ONLY THE 27TH AS UNCOMMITTED AS OPPOSED TO VOTING FOR BIDEN IN THE PRIMARY.

NOW WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT HAVE THAT WILL TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TANISHA: SO WE HAVE, AS YOU NOTED, THE WAR BETWEEN THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND HAMAS.

WE HAVE THE WASH IN UKRAINE.

WE HAVE THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK FOLLOWING UP ON THE DOBBS DECISION.

FINDING THAT EMBYOS USE 9 IN I.V.F.

ARE CONSIDERED CHILDREN IN ALABAMA SO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS ALSO ON THE BALLOT AND WE HAVE KAMALA HARRIS AND WE HAVE NIKKI HALEY ALSO RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT OF WOMEN VOTERS, OF VOTERS WHO VOTE ON FAMILY VALUES VALUES, RENATION WHAT DO THESE ISSUES AROUND REPRODUCTIVE SAY?

RENÉE: I WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS.

IN 2022 THE SUPREME COURT MAKES A DECISION TO ESSENTIALLY GET RID OF ROE-V. WADE.

PEOPLE QUICKLY MOVED ON, THEY SAID.

WHAT KAMALA HARRIS ALSO UNDERSTOOD WAS THAT PEOPLE HAD NOT MOVED ON.

PEOPLE DID NOT WANT THEIR RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SETTLED.

I THINK THAT'S WHY DEMOCRATS DID BETTER IN THE MID TERMS IN 20 2020 -- 2022 THAN ANYONE THOUGHT.

THEY DID LOSE THE HOUSE BUT NOT BY MUCH AND THEY GOT THE SENATE.

THE ALABAMA DECISION AROUND I. I.V.F.

HAS PUT IT RIGHT BACK ON THE FRONT BURNER.

IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHTS, FAMILY PLANNING, FINANCIAL ISSUES.

IT'S A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE TOPICS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE DOUBLING DOWN ON AND THE BEST PERSON TO DO THAT, BECAUSE SHE'S ALREADY PROVEN IT IS KAMALA HARRIS.

TANISHA: DIANA, YOU ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH MANY GRASSROOTS VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHAT ARE FOLKS SAYING ON THE GROUND?

THESE ARE THE BOOTS THAT WILL HELP MOBILIZE VOTERS.

>> YOU MENTIONED NIKKI HALEY AND I SAW RENÉE JUST SIGH.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I KNOW WE'LL GO BACK TO THAT.

IT'S A WHOLE TOPIC.

I WILL SAY, TO RENEE'S POINT, ABORTION AND DOWN BLUEST PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN OF COLOR CANDIDATES WILL SAVE US THIS YEAR.

RUBIN DIEGO IN ARIZONA AND THESE CRITICAL SWING STATES.

KERR IN PENNSYLVANIA WHO'S RUNNING FOR A.G. AND THE SQUAD IS ALL UP FOR RE-ELECTION.

SO IN MANY OF THESE SWING STATES, THESE CANDIDATES ARE PULLING BETTER THAN BIDEN SO I THINK THE ABORTION ISSUE IS GOING TO STAY EVER PRESENT, ESPECIALLY WITH ALABAMA AND 245 IS THE THING.

I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND SOUNDING ALARM RIGHT NOW BUT THERE IS A LONG TIME BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER AND THINGS CAN CHANGE ON A DIME AND AS LONG -- THE ORGANIZERS -- THE BRILLIANT THING THAT ORGANIZERS HAVE DONE IS PUT ABORTION ON THE BALLOT AS BALLOT INITIATIVES IN THESE CRITICAL STATES AND THESE EXCITE ROGUE -- EXCITING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OUR PARTY, THEY'RE ON THE BALLOT AS WELL.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO SAVE THEM.

TANISHA: MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NONPARTISAN SO HOW ARE YOU SEEING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, FAIR VOTE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE GROUND HELPING TO EDUCATE VOTERS ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE, AS YOU VOTED, NOTED, ON THE BALLOT?

DIANA: WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANDIDATES AND THESE KARASS GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY'RE YEAR ROUND.

THEY DON'T STOP THEIR WORK.

THEY KEEP WORKING, THEY BUILD TRUST.

WHAT I'M SEEING, PARTICULARLY WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS THEY HAVE TO BOTH PUT OUT FIRES AND ASK PEOPLE TO TURN OUT FOR CANDIDATES THAT ARE NOT INSPIRING.

AND WHAT I'M REALLY ALARMED BY, WHICH IS AGAIN WHY, FOR THE FIFTH TIME, I'M GLAD WE'RE SOUNDING THE ALARM.

IS, AS THE APATHY IS JUST CLEAR AND GROWING, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE, ARE HURTING IN TERMS OF MONEY.

MONEY IS BEING WITHHEAD.

THERE'S A RETRACTION OF FUNDING TO THE POINT WHERE THESE STALWART GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, SOME PUSH AND SOME NOT, BUT ALL ABOUT ENSURING THAT PEOPLE OWN THE GROUND HAVE A VOICE.

FAIR FIGHT, SIERRA CLUB.

SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CRITICAL WHO I WOULD ARGUE ARE THE REASONS, ARE THE ONES THAT DELIVER THE VOTE, ARE HAVING TO SCRAMBLE AND RETRACT AND LAY OFF PEOPLE.

FAIR FIGHT HAD TO LAY OFF 3/4 OF ITS STAFF.

3/4, WHILE ALSO ENTERING A YEAR WHERE HONESTLY THE STAKES ARE -- PHILLIP: IF I COULD ADD, JUST BRIEFLY.

I THINK ANOTHER POINT, DIANA IS ALSO THE MECHANISMS FOR GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE ARE BEING ATTACKED AROUND THE COUNTRY, LARGELY BY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS.

IN GEORGIA, FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSFER ACTIVE VOTER COALITION, THEIR WAYS OF BASICALLY GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND DRIVING PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

ALL THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED SLATE LIVE.

YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN -- LEGISLATIVELY.

YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN FLORIDA AND GEORGIA.

HOW TO SUPPRESS THE BLACK VOTERS OF COLOR.

WE'RE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 2025 AND WE'RE SEEING REGRESSION ALL THE AROUND AND SOME OF IT, INTERESTINGLY, IN JOHN LEWIS'S STATE, IN HIS DISTRICT.

WE SEE MAJOR ATTACKS ON VOTER RIGHTS.

SO THAT'S ALSO A FACTOR, THE ASSAULTS ON THE MECHANISMS FOR VOTING.

TANISHA: SO I THINK THAT ALSO CALLS, I THINK, US TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE TRULY OF THESE DOWN-BALLOT RACES.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND I'M COMING TO YOU, SENATOR MIRANDA.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STATE LEGISLATORS, MANY OF THESE ATTACKS, STRUCTURAL ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING NOW AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING MANY OF THESE ATTACKS HAPPEN IN MUNICIPALITIES WITH SCHOOL BOARDS SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HELPING TO EDUCATE VOTERS, HELPING VOTERS REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR VOTES, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES CAN HELP IN THIS FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY?

LIZ: WE HAD IN 2018 A VERY INSPIRING RACE.

I WAS RUNNING FOR D.A.

RUNNING FOR CONGRESSWOMAN WAS DIANA PRESSLY.

WE WON AS FOUR BLACK WOMEN AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME AND IT TOOK UNTIL 2018 FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, EVEN IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WE LOOK AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HERE.

I'M ONE OF FOUR BLACK WOMEN.

WE MAKE UP ONLY 2%.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE MAKE IT 6%.

THAT IDENTIFY AS BLACK IN STATE LEGISLATURES IN POSITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE ASKED TO DO SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE AND OFTENTIMES -- I CAN GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

IN 2018 WHEN I WAS SUPER EXCITED WITH THE COORDINATED CAMPAIGN, THEY CAME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WANTED TO INVEST AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THE U.S.

SENATOR RACE AND ALSO THE SENATE RACE, AND THE CONGRESS RACE AND WE WEREN'T EVEN ON THE FLYER AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO ONE OF MY SISTERS IN SERVICE AND WE DID A "BASIC BLACK" SHOW RIGHT AFTER WINNING.

YOU'RE COMING TO THE COMMUNITIES WE KNOW BEST AND STILL NOT PROMOTING US OR ELEVATING US TO THE POSITION OF SENATOR.

PEOPLE WHO KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR IN DORCHESTER ARE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT THE WOMAN THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BUT THEY'RE GOING TO CARE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO'S KNOCKED ON THEIR DOOR FIVE TIMES.

SUPER TUESDAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

FOR THOSE PAYING ATTENTION, THEY'RE NOT EXCITED AND FOR THOSE NOT EXCITED THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT UPSET AT THE WAYS WE COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES EACH YEAR THERE'S AN ELECTION AND WE DON'T DO THE STEWARDSHIP WE NEED TO DO IN EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

TANISHA: RENÉE, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE AND SO WHAT ON THE POLICY.

YES, WE HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON THE HORIZON.

IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS GET OUT TO VOTE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES DAY-TO-DAY IT'S MOSTLY ON THE GROUND POLICY.

AT THE MUNICIPAL AND STATE LEVEL.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS IN ALABAMA AND ALSO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

HOW CAN WE HELP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT AN ELECTION MEANS EVEN DOWN BALLOT WITH THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF AN ELECTION?

RENÉE: WELL, I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND LOCAL MEDIA AND WHAT THEY'RE COVERING AND IF THEY EVEN EXIST.

IT'S BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN PLACES THAT ARE NEWS DECEMBER ERTZ THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL INFLUENCES, FEWER PEOPLE VOTE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S REALLY HARD SOMETIMES TO GET ACROSS TO PEOPLE IT'S NOT JUST A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WE KNOW HOW TERRIBLE AND DISMAL THE NUMBERS ARE MORE FOR LOCAL ELECTION, AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO IMMEDIATELY IMPACT YOU.

THOSE ARE ABOUT YOUR STREETS AND YOUR SCHOOLS AND THIS SUPERMARKET GOING ON OR WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO BE.

A LOT OF THAT FALLS ON THE MEDIA TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.

TO NOT JUST COVER WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR LOCAL COURTS, WHAT ARE THE DECISIONS THEY'RE MAKING?

IN A LOT OF WAYS THE MACRO IS REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO I-APPRECIATE THE SENATOR TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES.

I DON'T EVEN LIKE THE TERM DOWN BALLOT.

IT MAKES THEM SOUND LESSER.

I KNOW THAT'S THE TERM.

YOU CAN WAIT FOR HOURS TRYING TO GET IN TO VOTE ON A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ESPECIALLY BEFORE WE HAD MAIL-IN VOTING.

YOU CAN GET IN, THERE'S NOBODY THERE BUT THOSE ARE THE RACES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, THIS DOES FALL ON THE MEDIA TO REALLY IMPRESS UPON PEOPLE, TO GET THOSE ISSUES OUT, TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT ARE COMING UP.

TO TALK ABOUT THE REFERENDUMS AND ALL OF THOSE BALLOT QUESTIONS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, THAT WILL HAVE THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LEVERS.

TANISHA: AND THAT IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR US TO REMIND FOLKS THAT YES, SUPER TUESDAY IS AROUND THE CORNER.

THIS COMING TUESDAY, MARCH 5.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE ABOUT 17 COMMUNITIES, 17 JURISDICTIONS THAT WILL HAVE PRIMARIES, CAUCUS RESULTS, ALL THE THINGS.

THIS IS THE SEASON FOR FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHO'S ON BALLOT.

AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD.

THAT IS THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND IS THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

NOW STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.

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