1 0.00 --> 5.00 This Civic Media Podcast is sponsored by UW Organ and Tissue Donation. 2 5.00 --> 10.00 Organ donations are desperately needed and now is the right time to become an organ donor. 3 10.00 --> 16.00 Talk to your family, get the dot, save lives, go to heroicd.com. 4 30.00 --> 35.00 Welcome on my tone, the regular paint and white black food. 5 35.00 --> 40.00 Love for give me up in one air, one in blind and truth. 6 40.00 --> 44.00 I'm a rain, I'm a rain, all just bit of loss. 7 44.00 --> 47.00 Tell it sweet I'm new. 8 47.00 --> 53.00 I'm telling these tears gone far away, far away, oh. 9 53.00 --> 57.00 Made a last one burn in two flames. 10 57.00 --> 63.00 Oh, what is up Wisconsin and beyond I'm Maggie Dawn. 11 63.00 --> 67.00 You're listening to the Maggie Dawn show here on the Civic Media Radio Network. 12 67.00 --> 74.00 We've got breaking news this half hour which I am going to go into detail with you about 13 74.00 --> 84.00 FBI Christopher Ray held a town hall today with all of the employees of the federal Bureau of investigation 14 84.00 --> 86.00 and announced his retirement. 15 86.00 --> 93.00 He is to step down as FBI director despite the fact that just under three years remain in his term. 16 93.00 --> 98.00 We're going to talk about Ray's retirement and what that means. 17 98.00 --> 101.00 And candidly, do you think he made the right decision? 18 101.00 --> 108.00 855-757-855-752-4842 call and text lines are open. 19 108.00 --> 109.00 We're going to take your thoughts. 20 109.00 --> 112.00 I'm going to give you all the detail on that. 21 112.00 --> 116.00 Because here at Civic Media, we are all about real news and great conversation. 22 116.00 --> 122.00 Certainly, this is some real news just breaking over the last hour, hour and a half. 23 122.00 --> 124.00 I have some of his statement. 24 124.00 --> 132.00 We have the sound from Donald Trump's interview this past weekend with NBC's Kristen Welker, 25 132.00 --> 140.00 where he addresses his displeasure with director Ray despite the fact, despite the fact that Donald Trump was the one who appointed Chris Ray. 26 140.00 --> 148.00 After he fired James Comey, the only firing, previous firing of an FBI director that was not, not for cause. 27 148.00 --> 150.00 Again, we're going to get to all of that. 28 150.00 --> 158.00 Again, big news breaking just within the last hour at the outside about FBI director. 29 158.00 --> 164.00 Chris Ray will be stepping down and resigning before Donald Trump takes office. 30 164.00 --> 169.00 But let me give you a little bit more about what we're going to be doing today on the show. 31 169.00 --> 174.00 Busy time again, topic to start off the show will be Chris Ray's retirement. 32 174.00 --> 178.00 At 2.30, we're going to bring on Christina Reynolds. 33 178.00 --> 182.00 She is the senior vice president of communications and content at Emily's list. 34 182.00 --> 185.00 We're going to talk about that race for DNC chair. 35 185.00 --> 190.00 Because Ben Wickler is in the mix Wisconsin Democratic Party chair. 36 190.00 --> 197.00 Ben Wickler considered by most many to be the front runner to be the next DNC chair. 37 197.00 --> 200.00 This is at a pivotal moment for the Democratic Party. 38 200.00 --> 209.00 Wickler in large part credited with bringing back the Wisconsin Democratic Party from the brink he's made appearances on MSNBC lately. 39 209.00 --> 217.00 Also, the daily show with John Stewart, we got some of that sound from Ben's interview on the daily show. 40 217.00 --> 219.00 We're going to get to that with Christina Reynolds. 41 219.00 --> 220.00 That is at 2.30. 42 220.00 --> 227.00 At 3 o'clock, I'm going to give you if I can't get it to get all this info to you in the first half hour. 43 227.00 --> 232.00 I'm going to give you some updates on the Luigi Mangione criminal prosecution. 44 232.00 --> 236.00 His lawyer was interviewed by Andrew Cuomo. 45 236.00 --> 237.00 Remember him. 46 237.00 --> 239.00 He used to be on CNN. 47 239.00 --> 241.00 Andrew's had some rough times. 48 241.00 --> 244.00 Anyways, he's now on an outlet called news nation. 49 244.00 --> 248.00 Cuomo interviewed Luigi Mangione's attorney. 50 248.00 --> 252.00 Let's just suffice it to say I found it interesting. 51 252.00 --> 262.00 I'll give you my insider take as a lawyer on that interview and just his lawyer's approach. 52 262.00 --> 271.00 Especially in light of new evidence, new evidence coming into the fore today about the evidence against Mr. Mangione. 53 271.00 --> 273.00 I'm going to update you on all of that. 54 273.00 --> 278.00 There's even a little hubbub about whether or not the tipster from McDonald's is going to get a reward. 55 278.00 --> 279.00 We'll get to all of that. 56 279.00 --> 283.00 And last but not least today, I want to hear from each and every one of you. 57 283.00 --> 287.00 This is going to be in the 3 o'clock hour, probably around 3.30. 58 287.00 --> 293.00 You want to hear from you about whether or not you've had to end a relationship in your life because of politics. 59 293.00 --> 302.00 Whether that's a romantic relationship, a familial one, you had to X, X, X, Ne, a frenzay because of their politics. 60 302.00 --> 303.00 We'll get to that. 61 303.00 --> 314.00 Some interesting statistics about where Wisconsin rakes rates in terms of relationship problems following the election and being in the election cycle. 62 314.00 --> 316.00 So I'm just fascinated about that. 63 316.00 --> 319.00 We will have that discussion within these two hours. 64 319.00 --> 322.00 Of course, you got Dom Salvia coming up after my show. 65 322.00 --> 329.00 And during Dom's show in that first hour at 4 o'clock, you're going to get the word of the 4 p.m. hour. 66 329.00 --> 335.00 That is for civic media's grown-up gift list text to win sweepstakes contest. 67 335.00 --> 337.00 You're going to need the civic media app. 68 337.00 --> 340.00 Dom's going to give you the word at 4 o'clock. 69 340.00 --> 343.00 You're going to text Dom, that magic word. 70 343.00 --> 346.00 That's going to enter you to win either a hundred bucks in cold hard cash. 71 346.00 --> 353.00 It's the holiday season we can all use a Benjamin to help with some of the gift purchasing if that's your deal. 72 353.00 --> 360.00 Or if you just want to go have a good time, it's going to enter you to win an overnight stay at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin. 73 361.00 --> 368.00 Of course, then we've got eight grand prizes at the end of the contest, including some robot vacuums, 74 368.00 --> 374.00 humidifiers, luggage, and espresso machine, you know, the boring stuff that grown-ups want. 75 374.00 --> 376.00 Yep, that is all coming to you. 76 376.00 --> 382.00 If you download the civic media app, text in via the app, the word of the hour at 4 o'clock. 77 382.00 --> 384.00 Again, you'll get entered to win all those great prizes. 78 384.00 --> 386.00 So keep it locked here. 79 387.00 --> 391.00 But let us get into the Chris Ray resignation. 80 391.00 --> 401.00 Again, let's remember Chris Ray was appointed to be FBI director by Donald Trump after Donald Trump for the first time in our nation's history, 81 401.00 --> 405.00 fired an FBI director for something other than cause. 82 405.00 --> 406.00 Okay. 83 406.00 --> 407.00 That was Donald Trump. 84 407.00 --> 413.00 Also a weird firing because like Jim Comey may be gifted Donald Trump the 2016 election. 85 413.00 --> 421.00 Remember, it was Jim Comey that despite the FBI's policies about not commenting within the 60 days before an election in 2016, 86 421.00 --> 428.00 came out and told the whole world that they had reopened the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, et cetera, et cetera, 87 428.00 --> 430.00 and set off a whole firestorm. 88 430.00 --> 435.00 I mean, Donald Trump should have written James Comey a thank you letter, and open study, fired him. 89 435.00 --> 436.00 But he brought on Chris Ray. 90 436.00 --> 440.00 Now keep in mind also as a point of context here. 91 441.00 --> 453.00 That there is a congressional rule standard, if you will, that says that FBI directors shall hold the seat for up to but not exceeding 10 years. 92 453.00 --> 454.00 You know, I think 10 years. 93 454.00 --> 456.00 That's a long time. 94 456.00 --> 458.00 Now, presidents can fire an FBI director. 95 458.00 --> 459.00 They have that power. 96 459.00 --> 461.00 That's not in question. 97 461.00 --> 463.00 But Congress was setting out its intent. 98 464.00 --> 471.00 It's desire that FBI directors would sit for these, they would hold those jobs for a 10-year term, which if you think about this, 99 471.00 --> 480.00 if a president wins two terms consecutively, like the FBI director would even stay in the job past that. 100 480.00 --> 491.00 The reason that Congress did this, the congressional intent behind that guideline is that the FBI director is supposed to be apolitical. 101 492.00 --> 493.00 Let's think about this. 102 493.00 --> 502.00 Anybody who's a fair-minded person, and we can argue about the successes and failures of this FBI or J Edgar Hoover's FBI, 103 502.00 --> 508.00 which by any account was completely out of control and spying on Americans and had a political enemies list. 104 508.00 --> 517.00 One of the distinguishing characteristics between a regime like Bashar al-Assad's in Syria. 105 518.00 --> 542.00 And the United States between Putin's authoritarian Russia and the United States is supposed to be that elected leaders cannot commandeer the military apparatus or the intelligence or law enforcement apparatus to persecute political enemies. 106 542.00 --> 547.00 That's supposed to be the thing that distinguishes us. 107 547.00 --> 555.00 That's what helps make us a shining city on a hill. 108 555.00 --> 567.00 So for any fair-minded person, what you want in intelligence gathering, what you want in law enforcement, what you want in your DOJ, 109 567.00 --> 581.00 are people that will follow the facts and the law without fear or favor, putting service to the Constitution and the people of these United States of America above self-interest. 110 581.00 --> 583.00 That's the standard. 111 583.00 --> 598.00 Any fair-minded person, I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican and independent, a purple-peaper-poked-outed person, that's what we all should want. 112 598.00 --> 608.00 And so Chris Ray's resignation, I mean, is this anticipatory obedience? 113 608.00 --> 620.00 Do you think it would have been better for him to force Donald Trump to make history again, fire his second FBI director for something other than cause? 114 620.00 --> 622.00 I mean, yikes. 115 622.00 --> 623.00 What do you think? 116 623.00 --> 629.00 Should Chris Ray ever resign? 855-757-855-75248-42. 117 629.00 --> 636.00 Let's hear what Donald Trump said about Christopher Ray. This happened just this weekend. 118 636.00 --> 642.00 So this interview, I think was recorded last Friday, it aired on Sunday on NBC. 119 642.00 --> 649.00 This is the interview between Donald Trump and Kristen Welker of NBC was aired on Meet the Press this Sunday. 120 649.00 --> 662.00 She asked him, asked President-elect Trump about Chris Ray, because he said he wants to appoint Cash Patel, well there's no vacancy in the FBI director. 121 662.00 --> 667.00 And Chris Ray supposed to spend another nearly three years there. 122 667.00 --> 669.00 So let's take a listen. 123 669.00 --> 673.00 To fire the current FBI director Christopher Ray, who you appointed? 124 673.00 --> 679.00 Well, I can't say I'm thrilled with him. He invaded my home. I'm suing the country over it. 125 679.00 --> 682.00 He invaded Mar-a-Lago. 126 682.00 --> 686.00 I'm very unhappy with the things he's done. 127 686.00 --> 695.00 And crime is at an all-time high. Migrants are pouring into the country that are from prisons and from mental institutions as we've discussed. 128 695.00 --> 697.00 I can't say I'm thrilled. I don't want to... 129 697.00 --> 700.00 What I'm going to say is I certainly cannot be happy with him. 130 700.00 --> 707.00 You take a look at what's happened. And then when I was shot in the year, he said, oh maybe it was Shrapnel. 131 707.00 --> 709.00 Where's the Shrapnel coming from? 132 710.00 --> 714.00 By the way, that testimony... There's so much that's messed up here. 133 714.00 --> 716.00 Let me see if I can take him in order. 134 716.00 --> 721.00 First of all, crime is not at an all-time high. I don't care which statistic you look at. That's false. 135 721.00 --> 728.00 Second of all, it is not true that there's like thousand more immigrants crossing the border. It's actually gone way down. 136 731.00 --> 736.00 Thirdly, Christopher Ray didn't say conclusively it was Shrapnel, 137 736.00 --> 743.00 but when he was testifying, when testimony was being provided in the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, 138 743.00 --> 747.00 they weren't sure if it was the bullet that hit Donald Trump or the Shrapnel. 139 747.00 --> 751.00 And who freaking cares? Somebody tried to kill the man. 140 751.00 --> 755.00 So, we're going to talk about this more when we come back. 141 755.00 --> 758.00 Lots of details here. I've got some Chris Ray's statement. 142 758.00 --> 763.00 But I want to hear from you. Should Chris Ray have toughed it out and made Trump fire him? 143 763.00 --> 769.00 That is the question that I want to hear your thoughts on 855-757-855-752. 144 769.00 --> 774.00 I'm your friendly lawyer and economist. My name's Maggie Don. You're listening to me. 145 774.00 --> 781.00 Here on the Civic Media radio network, this great conversation continues right after these brief messages. 146 794.00 --> 798.00 You're listening to Civic Media. 147 798.00 --> 803.00 Stay up to date on the latest news and information for your local community and Wisconsin 148 803.00 --> 809.00 by signing up for our free email newsletter. Visit civicmedia.us slash email to get started. 149 823.00 --> 828.00 Take a sad song and make it better. 150 828.00 --> 836.00 So, do you think Chris Ray is made a bad or worse by resigning or at least signalling that he's going to resign before Donald Trump takes office? 151 836.00 --> 844.00 Just so that we're all clear what Chris Ray said today in a town hall Zoom call with the tens of thousands of employees of the FBI 152 844.00 --> 849.00 is I'm going to serve basically until the end of the Biden administration. 153 849.00 --> 854.00 I want to hear from you 855-757-855-752-4842. 154 854.00 --> 860.00 A couple of other contacts points and then we're going to go to the phones and the text lines. 155 860.00 --> 865.00 Here's part of Chris Ray's what he said to FBI, the FBI employees today. 156 865.00 --> 872.00 I've decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down. 157 872.00 --> 877.00 This is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray 158 877.00 --> 882.00 while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work. 159 882.00 --> 890.00 I love this place. This is not easy for me. I love our mission and I love our people. 160 890.00 --> 897.00 We also have reporting that at least two assistant FBI directors are also retiring. 161 897.00 --> 904.00 Those retirements had been announced prior to today. 162 905.00 --> 912.00 And here's just a couple of fact checks related to Donald Trump's statements during that well, 163 912.00 --> 916.00 Kristen Walker interview. Chris Ray did not invade Mar-a-Lago. 164 916.00 --> 920.00 He ultimately had to sign off on the search warrant. 165 920.00 --> 925.00 But a federal magistrate judge signed off on the search ward and supported by probable cause 166 925.00 --> 931.00 which was deemed necessary by others within the FBI of which there was much debate about 167 931.00 --> 934.00 and that debate did not include Chris Ray. 168 934.00 --> 939.00 And they decided it was necessary because Donald Trump had been lying and hiding 169 939.00 --> 944.00 the super secret spy documents in his golden-gilded bathrooms and on stages at Mar-a-Lago, 170 944.00 --> 950.00 even though the FBI and the DOJ and the National Archives for months and months and months and months and months 171 950.00 --> 956.00 had been asking again, asking nicely, asking maybe a little bit less nicely now, maybe a little bit more sternly 172 956.00 --> 961.00 in correspondence after correspondence for Donald Trump to please turn over property that isn't his, 173 961.00 --> 965.00 to wit super secret spy documents. 174 965.00 --> 968.00 So the search warrant execution isn't an invasion. 175 968.00 --> 975.00 And if it isn't invasion, all sorts of regular people across this country get their homes invaded every day. 176 975.00 --> 980.00 Chuck Grassley also issued a statement today trying to take credit for this, 177 980.00 --> 984.00 credit for Chris Ray resigning kind of disgusting. 178 984.00 --> 989.00 The other thing that absolutely is stuck in Donald Trump's craw 179 989.00 --> 993.00 is the fact that Chris Ray repeatedly in testimony before Congress called 180 993.00 --> 999.00 what happened on January 6th and those that perpetuated that domestic terrorists. 181 999.00 --> 1002.00 Donald Trump is set to pardon them. 182 1002.00 --> 1006.00 Might be a little, a little bit of tension there. 183 1006.00 --> 1010.00 According to Chris Ray, long time conservative, I mean this guy is not a liberal, 184 1010.00 --> 1015.00 he was Donald Trump's first choice, quote, domestic terrorists. 185 1015.00 --> 1018.00 That's who did participated in January 6th. 186 1018.00 --> 1022.00 And I say this about, you know, any fair-minded person wants law enforcement, 187 1022.00 --> 1026.00 national intelligence or DOJ to operate without fear or favor, 188 1026.00 --> 1031.00 without partisan overhang, to not persecute political enemies, 189 1031.00 --> 1035.00 to follow the law and the facts in the Constitution wherever it may lead. 190 1035.00 --> 1039.00 That's the difference between democracy and autocracy, one of them, 191 1040.00 --> 1044.00 and that's what Chris Ray, during his confirmation hearings, 192 1044.00 --> 1046.00 said he would do. 193 1046.00 --> 1052.00 In contrast, Donald Trump's nominee has a list of 60 federal officials 194 1052.00 --> 1057.00 that he has stated in his book in black and white that he wants to take out and take down. 195 1057.00 --> 1061.00 Without any evidence, just based on innuendo, what do you think? 196 1061.00 --> 1064.00 I'll tell you what I think before the end of the segment, 197 1064.00 --> 1065.00 but what do you think? 198 1065.00 --> 1072.00 Should Chris Ray have stuck in their 855-75 civic, 855-752-4842? 199 1072.00 --> 1076.00 Jack from Merrimack, you get a first crack at it today, sir. 200 1076.00 --> 1081.00 Oh, man, the political cowardice of our law enforcement officials 201 1081.00 --> 1086.00 continues to absolutely amazing, race-stepping down. 202 1086.00 --> 1092.00 And he loves the FBI and they're going to put some guy to tell him 203 1093.00 --> 1101.00 who has advocated essentially disbanding many of the crime fighting abilities of the FBI. 204 1101.00 --> 1104.00 By the way, why would you get somebody in there like that? 205 1104.00 --> 1110.00 Unless, of course, you just wanted to make it a little safer for criminals in our government. 206 1110.00 --> 1112.00 But let's not go there. 207 1112.00 --> 1115.00 Anyway, Ray should never have stepped down. 208 1115.00 --> 1117.00 Thanks, that's Jack from Merrimack. 209 1117.00 --> 1118.00 What do you think? 210 1118.00 --> 1124.00 Ray have announced his retirement and that he'll be gone before Donald Trump takes office. 211 1124.00 --> 1128.00 I'll give you my take before the end of the half hour mark from Prairie to Sac. 212 1128.00 --> 1129.00 You get the next shot. 213 1129.00 --> 1131.00 What do you think Mark should have stepped down? 214 1131.00 --> 1133.00 No, he should not have stepped down. 215 1133.00 --> 1136.00 Let's remember, he took the place that James called me, 216 1136.00 --> 1141.00 who got fired when Donald Trump wanted him to drop the Russia, Russia, 217 1141.00 --> 1145.00 Russia investigation and investigation into Mike Flynn, 218 1145.00 --> 1150.00 who more than likely committed treason as an unregistered foreign agent during his, 219 1150.00 --> 1155.00 and that was Trump's pick for national security adviser if I remember right. 220 1155.00 --> 1157.00 He should not have stepped down. 221 1157.00 --> 1161.00 And who knows what crimes Kash Patel wants to quit, has committed. 222 1161.00 --> 1163.00 I'm just speculating here. 223 1163.00 --> 1168.00 So he wants to run the FBI to kill and investigation into himself or his bodies. 224 1168.00 --> 1171.00 I mean, it's just pretty corrupt. 225 1171.00 --> 1173.00 Yeah, we're at an interesting moment. 226 1173.00 --> 1176.00 Let me just say a few things for the record as you will. 227 1176.00 --> 1179.00 I do not believe that Chris Ray did this in bad faith. 228 1179.00 --> 1181.00 I do not believe Chris Ray was paid off. 229 1181.00 --> 1189.00 I believe Chris Ray has been witnessing the daily mud slinging by far right, 230 1189.00 --> 1195.00 mega Republicans denigrating the work of an agency he served faithfully for decades. 231 1195.00 --> 1202.00 I think he truly believes that this was in furtherance of the FBI's mission. 232 1202.00 --> 1205.00 In other words, by his announcing that he would step down, 233 1205.00 --> 1209.00 that he is doing what is best for the FBI in the country. 234 1209.00 --> 1211.00 Here's my reality. 235 1211.00 --> 1214.00 I just disagree. 236 1214.00 --> 1216.00 He should have stuck it out. 237 1216.00 --> 1221.00 He should have forced the president to go on the record and fire him. 238 1221.00 --> 1224.00 Cindy, you've got the next crack at it. 239 1224.00 --> 1225.00 What do you think? 240 1225.00 --> 1227.00 Should he have stepped down or not? 241 1227.00 --> 1228.00 Is that me? 242 1228.00 --> 1230.00 Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. 243 1230.00 --> 1236.00 Well, I'm going to beg to differ with all of you because I think he can actually work better against Donald Trump, 244 1236.00 --> 1241.00 not in his, you know, under his thumb as he could if he was under his thumb. 245 1241.00 --> 1243.00 Cindy's got a great point there. 246 1243.00 --> 1245.00 Can you do more outside of the machine? 247 1245.00 --> 1248.00 Outside of the organization than within it? 248 1248.00 --> 1252.00 Let's see, Tony from Madison saying, no, you should not have stepped down. 249 1252.00 --> 1255.00 Tom from Jackson, no way. 250 1255.00 --> 1258.00 Let's see who else here. 251 1258.00 --> 1262.00 And from Chippewa Falls, no, he shouldn't have stepped down. 252 1262.00 --> 1265.00 414 textur, he should have held out. 253 1265.00 --> 1270.00 Can't take away Trump's satisfaction in carrying him. 254 1270.00 --> 1275.00 Steve from Milwaukee Ray and Garland should have done much better. 255 1275.00 --> 1279.00 And he's going to get fired anyways, might as well keep his integrity or dignity. 256 1279.00 --> 1280.00 I'm Maggie Dawn. 257 1280.00 --> 1282.00 You're listening to the Maggie Dawn show. 258 1282.00 --> 1289.00 Here on the Civic Media radio network, we've got Christina Reynolds talking about this contentious race for D&Chair. 259 1289.00 --> 1291.00 Next, keep it locked. 260 1291.00 --> 1302.00 You're an organ donor, right? 261 1302.00 --> 1304.00 Well, here's a tragic fact. 262 1304.00 --> 1308.00 Approximately 20 people die each day waiting for precious donated organs. 263 1308.00 --> 1313.00 You could make a life-saving decision simply by getting that important dot on your driver's license. 264 1313.00 --> 1319.00 That little dot shows those who need to know that you've made a decision to donate organs at a critical time. 265 1319.00 --> 1326.00 Go to heroicd.com to learn more about the importance of organ donation and how you can make your wishes known. 266 1326.00 --> 1328.00 Talk to your family. 267 1328.00 --> 1329.00 Get the dot. 268 1329.00 --> 1330.00 Save lives. 269 1330.00 --> 1332.00 heroicd.com 270 1360.00 --> 1367.00 Conversation from local news to what's going around around Wisconsin and the national spotlight. 271 1367.00 --> 1368.00 We've got you covered. 272 1368.00 --> 1374.00 You can subscribe to our newsletter today at civic media dot us slash email. 273 1374.00 --> 1375.00 Go check that out. 274 1375.00 --> 1383.00 And every day you'll get our newsletter and your email inbox keeping you up to date on what is most important to you and yours. 275 1383.00 --> 1384.00 It's Wednesday. 276 1384.00 --> 1388.00 It's 230 and that means it sounds like change with Emily's list. 277 1388.00 --> 1390.00 Today I've got special guest Christina Reynolds. 278 1390.00 --> 1394.00 She's the senior vice president of communications and content for Emily's list. 279 1394.00 --> 1400.00 We're going to talk a little bit about this DNC chair race that is going on. 280 1400.00 --> 1406.00 Which is one of these things Christina that is kind of like the inside baseball of political parties. 281 1406.00 --> 1408.00 And a little wonky. 282 1408.00 --> 1410.00 I can't hear Christina by the way. 283 1410.00 --> 1411.00 Cardi. 284 1411.00 --> 1414.00 A little wonky and there's three or four different candidates. 285 1414.00 --> 1418.00 And so you've worked within the DNC apparatus Christina. 286 1418.00 --> 1422.00 And I just thought help us set the stage like what does the DNC do? 287 1422.00 --> 1424.00 Sure. 288 1424.00 --> 1426.00 What are the chair's responsibilities? 289 1426.00 --> 1428.00 They elect these people? 290 1428.00 --> 1430.00 Who's voting on them? 291 1430.00 --> 1431.00 All that good stuff. 292 1431.00 --> 1434.00 So people understand the context of what we're talking about here. 293 1434.00 --> 1435.00 Yeah. 294 1435.00 --> 1438.00 So the DNC is the Democratic National Committee. 295 1438.00 --> 1441.00 It is an organization that is responsible. 296 1441.00 --> 1449.00 I think they're biggest and sort of most flashy responsibility is the primary calendar. 297 1449.00 --> 1451.00 And for the presidential. 298 1451.00 --> 1454.00 So that's obviously an important thing. 299 1454.00 --> 1462.00 But they're also they serve as the political arm of the White House when Democrats hold the White House. 300 1462.00 --> 1473.00 And when Democrats don't, they serve as a certainly voice and political arm of the opposition, right? 301 1473.00 --> 1480.00 Of the fighting back of the resistance or whatever, you know, 2.0, whatever we're going to call it. 302 1480.00 --> 1483.00 It's interesting, you know, I worked there. 303 1483.00 --> 1486.00 I'm maybe running many years ago. 304 1486.00 --> 1487.00 That's fine. 305 1487.00 --> 1488.00 That's how I do it. 306 1488.00 --> 1490.00 I worked someplace before. 307 1490.00 --> 1492.00 I don't need to say how long or when. 308 1492.00 --> 1493.00 That's right. 309 1493.00 --> 1499.00 I worked there at a time when Democrats had had the White House for a while and then we didn't. 310 1499.00 --> 1503.00 And so saw the difference in those two things. 311 1503.00 --> 1513.00 And I also worked there at a time that was long enough ago that really the DNC was one of the only voices against, you know, 312 1513.00 --> 1526.00 and that sort of the largest voice outside of elected officials, not the only, but one of the largest certainly voices against the Republican White House. 313 1526.00 --> 1532.00 And what I can say now is there are certainly seen a lot more groups come up. 314 1532.00 --> 1535.00 We've seen a lot of different voices. 315 1535.00 --> 1542.00 And so that is still an important role, but they are not the only people doing that. 316 1542.00 --> 1546.00 And that's, I think that's important because Democrats are not a monolith. 317 1546.00 --> 1547.00 Right. 318 1547.00 --> 1550.00 The opposition to Trump is not a monolith, right? 319 1550.00 --> 1551.00 Yes. 320 1551.00 --> 1552.00 There are a lot of different voices. 321 1552.00 --> 1553.00 There are a lot of different issues. 322 1553.00 --> 1555.00 It's nice to have people talking about the different issues. 323 1555.00 --> 1556.00 But it is important. 324 1556.00 --> 1561.00 It is also important because they can help fund state parties. 325 1561.00 --> 1563.00 And, you know, as... 326 1563.00 --> 1565.00 Can I just ask a question about that? 327 1566.00 --> 1576.00 Are the state parties run separate and apart from the DNC, though they are affiliates, like, how does that work? 328 1576.00 --> 1578.00 Do they each have their own governance structures? 329 1578.00 --> 1580.00 How does it all work together? 330 1580.00 --> 1581.00 That's a good question. 331 1581.00 --> 1584.00 And I don't want to get myself in trouble with any lawyers out there. 332 1584.00 --> 1586.00 Of exactly how it works. 333 1586.00 --> 1590.00 Well, I'll give you a papal dispensation to get it mostly right, Kristina. 334 1590.00 --> 1595.00 Each state party operates on its own, but they also operate within the DNC system. 335 1595.00 --> 1601.00 So there is an associate, there's what's called the ASDC, which is the Association of State Democratic Chairs. 336 1601.00 --> 1605.00 That's one group that is a sort of a part of the bigger party apparatus. 337 1605.00 --> 1610.00 We get, you know, the parties often, they get funding from campaigns. 338 1610.00 --> 1612.00 They get funding from presidential campaigns. 339 1612.00 --> 1614.00 They get funding from the DNC. 340 1614.00 --> 1616.00 And they raise their own money. 341 1616.00 --> 1618.00 And they do their own things. 342 1618.00 --> 1624.00 And so it's a little mix of both you and I both live in states with very active state parties. 343 1624.00 --> 1625.00 Yes. 344 1625.00 --> 1627.00 You know, we've seen this in Wisconsin. 345 1627.00 --> 1632.00 We've seen in certainly I live in North Carolina with the youngest state party chair. 346 1632.00 --> 1633.00 Yes. 347 1633.00 --> 1636.00 I've seen her interviewed a number of times. 348 1636.00 --> 1639.00 She is an exhaust me in the best possible way. 349 1639.00 --> 1645.00 She is a phenomenal organizer and has done phenomenal work. 350 1645.00 --> 1650.00 What's interesting in one of the things that Anderson has brought up is for many state parties, 351 1650.00 --> 1655.00 they aren't, they're either not paid positions or they're not paid full time, 352 1655.00 --> 1658.00 which when you think about the work that they have to do, that's crazy. 353 1658.00 --> 1659.00 Insane. 354 1659.00 --> 1660.00 Yes. 355 1660.00 --> 1662.00 So let me just, let me just say this. 356 1662.00 --> 1663.00 Yes. 357 1663.00 --> 1670.00 How important is the Democratic National Committee chairpersonship? 358 1670.00 --> 1676.00 And why is it so critical at this juncture? 359 1676.00 --> 1681.00 Well, I think one of the reasons that it's, I think it's important. 360 1681.00 --> 1685.00 I think, you know, is it as important as the presidential election? 361 1685.00 --> 1686.00 No. 362 1686.00 --> 1687.00 Right. 363 1687.00 --> 1689.00 But is it an important role? 364 1689.00 --> 1690.00 Yes. 365 1690.00 --> 1699.00 And one of the reasons for that is that right now we, there's not one voice that really speaks the loudest for the party. 366 1699.00 --> 1702.00 We lost our biggest bully pulpit when we lose the White House. 367 1702.00 --> 1703.00 Yes. 368 1703.00 --> 1707.00 And so then you have, you have legislative leaders, you have Hickie and Jeffries and you have Chuck Schumer. 369 1707.00 --> 1708.00 Right. 370 1708.00 --> 1709.00 You have governors. 371 1709.00 --> 1717.00 But they have, you know, they have their work to do on trying to get things through. 372 1717.00 --> 1721.00 They sometimes will try and pass by partisan bills or try to work with Republicans. 373 1721.00 --> 1722.00 They're actual jobs. 374 1722.00 --> 1724.00 They're actual jobs. 375 1724.00 --> 1725.00 Right. 376 1725.00 --> 1732.00 And those can get into nitty gritty of policy incredibly important jobs, but not just the politics. 377 1732.00 --> 1733.00 Right. 378 1733.00 --> 1742.00 And so that's why you want to make sure that you get someone in there who can be a good voice with a party who can raise a lot of money. 379 1742.00 --> 1748.00 The unfortunate thing is that politics is driven, you know, a lot, it costs money to do this stuff. 380 1748.00 --> 1749.00 Right. 381 1749.00 --> 1750.00 It costs money. 382 1750.00 --> 1752.00 You think politics should be done. 383 1752.00 --> 1759.00 If you think it's TV ads, if you think it's digital, if you think it's field organizers, and I personally think it's all of the above. 384 1759.00 --> 1760.00 Right. 385 1760.00 --> 1762.00 All of that costs money. 386 1762.00 --> 1774.00 And so being able, for example, to pay organizers to have a constant field program, being able to continue to pay communicators, to talk to people. 387 1774.00 --> 1775.00 Right. 388 1775.00 --> 1779.00 And to go on all those podcasts or get people ready to pitch those, you know, all of those things. 389 1779.00 --> 1780.00 So for, yeah. 390 1780.00 --> 1794.00 So for a layperson, would it be fair to say the DNC chair helps consolidate the message for the Democratic Party, especially if the Democratic Party is not in power in the White House. 391 1794.00 --> 1797.00 And then it helps with fundraising. 392 1797.00 --> 1806.00 And then all of the different levels of political campaign operations as the next election cycles come up. 393 1806.00 --> 1817.00 And frankly, when it comes to fundraising, helps make some prioritization decisions about how much and which races get the biggest priority funding. 394 1817.00 --> 1819.00 Is that part of their job as well? 395 1819.00 --> 1822.00 Well, I would say in your list of four things. 396 1822.00 --> 1823.00 Yes. 397 1823.00 --> 1825.00 Yes, definitely to the middle two. 398 1825.00 --> 1826.00 Yes, to fundraising. 399 1826.00 --> 1827.00 Very important. 400 1827.00 --> 1831.00 Yes, to campaigning and how you can see the mechanics. 401 1831.00 --> 1832.00 Yep. 402 1832.00 --> 1834.00 The mechanics, 100%. 403 1834.00 --> 1837.00 In terms of the messaging, they play a role. 404 1837.00 --> 1839.00 As I mentioned, we're not a monolith. 405 1839.00 --> 1842.00 You know, it's the last, I think, at the Will Rogers adage, right? 406 1842.00 --> 1845.00 I don't belong to an organized party. 407 1845.00 --> 1846.00 I'm a Democrat. 408 1846.00 --> 1847.00 Right. 409 1847.00 --> 1849.00 We have a lot of views and a lot of opinions. 410 1849.00 --> 1850.00 It is truly a big tent. 411 1850.00 --> 1856.00 And so that's not to say that whoever wins this race is going to decide what everyone is saying. 412 1856.00 --> 1864.00 They will, however, be able, they have a big, you know, their own bully pulpit to offer messaging, to offer their views, right? 413 1864.00 --> 1867.00 And to offer some guidance to people. 414 1867.00 --> 1868.00 So it's important. 415 1868.00 --> 1872.00 But I don't, it's not the only place that will do that. 416 1872.00 --> 1877.00 And this, to me, is what is so unique about this particular chairperson's race. 417 1877.00 --> 1885.00 Because the main self-analysis point post-election, right? 418 1885.00 --> 1887.00 Is clarity of message. 419 1887.00 --> 1893.00 And we have always been the party that advances the interests of working people in the middle class. 420 1893.00 --> 1897.00 And yet, many working people in the middle class don't know that. 421 1897.00 --> 1899.00 So how do we make that clear? 422 1899.00 --> 1906.00 That these are the things that we very, very plainly and historically have stood for. 423 1906.00 --> 1908.00 And then moving that agenda forward. 424 1908.00 --> 1919.00 And I think, you know, the skill level, simply from a raw communications perspective of whomever that next chair is going to be. 425 1919.00 --> 1927.00 In my view, Christina, is going to be really important because the main critique, however we frame it, right, is Dem's got the message wrong. 426 1927.00 --> 1930.00 I said the day after the election, it's not our values. 427 1930.00 --> 1932.00 It's not what we're trying to get done. 428 1932.00 --> 1936.00 It's the way the message was packaged and delivered. 429 1936.00 --> 1946.00 And frankly, how strongly we stayed true to the core principles and got less pulled into this sort of periphery, if you will. 430 1946.00 --> 1956.00 Do you agree that this is really important from a DNC chair perspective because of the moment and the results of this past election? 431 1956.00 --> 1959.00 And well, mostly has been diagnosed as the issue. 432 1959.00 --> 1963.00 I'll tell you, well, I'm not sure I agree that's necessarily. 433 1963.00 --> 1968.00 I think a part of the issue is mechanics. 434 1968.00 --> 1978.00 I think a part of the issue because I think there's the, if we believe in our values, then part of our challenge was that, and I think we do. 435 1978.00 --> 1981.00 And I think what polling shows is that voters do as well. 436 1981.00 --> 1982.00 Correct. 437 1982.00 --> 1988.00 And so part of the challenge was, did we reach the right people in the right way with that? 438 1988.00 --> 1989.00 Yes. 439 1989.00 --> 1990.00 Yes. 440 1990.00 --> 1995.00 And that, to me, is a lot of that, not all of that. 441 1995.00 --> 1997.00 Some of that is messaging and some of that is mechanics. 442 1997.00 --> 1998.00 Mechanics. 443 1998.00 --> 2003.00 So I do think that that's part of why. 444 2003.00 --> 2011.00 And I think it's why a lot of what the race has hinged on so far, a lot of the conversation around it has been mechanics. 445 2011.00 --> 2012.00 Yes. 446 2012.00 --> 2013.00 What do you value? 447 2013.00 --> 2014.00 Where are you going to put your money? 448 2014.00 --> 2015.00 How are you going to raise that money? 449 2015.00 --> 2017.00 Do you think state parties are important? 450 2017.00 --> 2020.00 Do you want a 50 state strategy, which our dean was. 451 2020.00 --> 2021.00 Yes. 452 2021.00 --> 2023.00 Every race and every state and every cycle. 453 2023.00 --> 2024.00 Is it that? 454 2024.00 --> 2029.00 Or is it something more prioritized and surgical? 455 2029.00 --> 2037.00 It's interesting that you make this distinction right between what the message actually is, clarity, saliency, and the mechanics. 456 2037.00 --> 2044.00 Because in my brain, Christina, I sort of conflate it, which is inaccurate and is sloppy, right? 457 2044.00 --> 2046.00 Because you really have to talk about them separately. 458 2046.00 --> 2053.00 But to me, message only matters if the mechanics get it to the masses that you need to hear it, right? 459 2053.00 --> 2057.00 And it's like, you can be right on point, but if nobody's listening, it's like, you can't. 460 2057.00 --> 2058.00 Right. 461 2058.00 --> 2060.00 Or they don't believe it. 462 2060.00 --> 2061.00 Yes. 463 2061.00 --> 2062.00 Yes. 464 2062.00 --> 2063.00 Yes. 465 2063.00 --> 2064.00 Both. 466 2064.00 --> 2065.00 Right. 467 2065.00 --> 2075.00 So, who's running for DNC chair, just so people have an idea of who the candidates tend to be? 468 2075.00 --> 2076.00 Sure. 469 2076.00 --> 2081.00 And I think there are a few different candidates still putting their hats in the ring. 470 2081.00 --> 2083.00 The deadline has not passed. 471 2083.00 --> 2088.00 I don't know if there's an official deadline, but there's still the opportunity for people to get in. 472 2088.00 --> 2096.00 And what we know of so far is Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland, former presidential candidate, 473 2096.00 --> 2103.00 Ken Martin, who is the chair of the DFL in Minnesota, Ben Wickler, your chair there in Wisconsin. 474 2103.00 --> 2107.00 And I do not know how to pronounce the other gentleman's name. 475 2107.00 --> 2111.00 There are at least two other people running. 476 2111.00 --> 2115.00 There's a man named Nate Snyder, who just announced that he was running. 477 2115.00 --> 2118.00 He's a former organizer. 478 2118.00 --> 2123.00 And you hit the top three. 479 2123.00 --> 2128.00 Like the main folks are the former governor right from Maryland. 480 2128.00 --> 2129.00 Yeah. 481 2129.00 --> 2130.00 Martin and Wickler. 482 2130.00 --> 2131.00 Yes. 483 2131.00 --> 2138.00 I, you know, Maggie, I'd be remiss because I do work for Emily's list in place, which you have not heard is any women. 484 2138.00 --> 2140.00 And that bums me out. 485 2140.00 --> 2143.00 That was going to be my next question. 486 2144.00 --> 2151.00 Well, and that is, you know, as I look at party leadership and certainly the North Carolina dumb party chair, 487 2151.00 --> 2158.00 I listen to a bunch very inspiring to see someone so young, not just elevated to that leadership position, 488 2158.00 --> 2161.00 but really doing great work in North Carolina. 489 2161.00 --> 2166.00 Certainly one of the things as I look around the state of Wisconsin. 490 2166.00 --> 2172.00 I get concerned about the fact that I haven't seen a lot of executive level top level leaders. 491 2172.00 --> 2175.00 Leadership positions filled by women. 492 2175.00 --> 2177.00 We're going to talk more about that when we come back. 493 2177.00 --> 2181.00 I might even have a little bit of sound from Mr. Wickler on the daily show this week, 494 2181.00 --> 2182.00 because it was a great interview. 495 2182.00 --> 2184.00 I'd love to get your reactions. 496 2184.00 --> 2185.00 I'm with Christina Reynolds. 497 2185.00 --> 2189.00 She's the SVP for communications and content and Emily's list. 498 2189.00 --> 2193.00 You want to hear Wisconsin's very own Ben Wickler on the John Stewart Daily Show. 499 2193.00 --> 2194.00 Keep it locked. 500 2194.00 --> 2200.00 We're going to take that sound and talk about where are all the women in this after these brief messages. 501 2203.00 --> 2206.00 This is where I belong. 502 2209.00 --> 2211.00 This is my home. 503 2212.00 --> 2216.00 This is where I belong. 504 2224.00 --> 2226.00 This is my home. 505 2229.00 --> 2231.00 This is where I belong. 506 2233.00 --> 2235.00 You're listening to Civic Media. 507 2235.00 --> 2240.00 Find the latest news, information and archives of all your favorite shows on the Civic Media website, 508 2240.00 --> 2242.00 civicmedia.us. 509 2263.00 --> 2266.00 Welcome back everybody. 510 2266.00 --> 2267.00 I'm Maggie Dawn. 511 2267.00 --> 2271.00 You're listening to the Civic Media Radio Network talking with Christina Reynolds. 512 2271.00 --> 2276.00 She's the SVP for communications and content at Emily's list. 513 2276.00 --> 2277.00 Christina, totally off topic. 514 2277.00 --> 2281.00 Are you going to go see Timothy Shalome in the Bob Dylan biopic? 515 2281.00 --> 2283.00 I think you got to have to. 516 2283.00 --> 2284.00 Got to have to. 517 2284.00 --> 2285.00 Yes. 518 2285.00 --> 2288.00 It's like Shalome and Bob Dylan. 519 2289.00 --> 2291.00 This only has upside. 520 2291.00 --> 2292.00 Am I right? 521 2292.00 --> 2293.00 That's right. 522 2293.00 --> 2295.00 We've digressed a little bit. 523 2295.00 --> 2299.00 We've been talking about the DNC chairperson race. 524 2299.00 --> 2308.00 You and I have both made note of the fact we don't see any women in the top three running for the DNC chairmanship. 525 2308.00 --> 2310.00 I'll just mention this to you. 526 2311.00 --> 2317.00 While women have run, run and won Supreme Court races, statewide races in the state of Wisconsin. 527 2317.00 --> 2319.00 We've never had a woman governor. 528 2319.00 --> 2321.00 There's never been a female mayor of the city of Milwaukee. 529 2321.00 --> 2324.00 There's never been a female county executive from Milwaukee County. 530 2324.00 --> 2331.00 I mentioned those jurisdictions because they're the largest and most diverse jurisdictions. 531 2331.00 --> 2336.00 I don't think we've ever had a female chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party either. 532 2336.00 --> 2346.00 I would have to go back and look, but since I've been sentient about the chair and the party machine here in Wisconsin, I don't think so. 533 2346.00 --> 2348.00 What do you make of that? 534 2348.00 --> 2355.00 Any cause for alarm when it comes to party machinery or all the more reason that Emily's list is so important? 535 2355.00 --> 2360.00 Well, I think it is, sometimes it does take being intentional. 536 2360.00 --> 2365.00 We are here for a reason and I think there's no clear sign of that. 537 2365.00 --> 2376.00 Then when you look at what happens, for example, in Congress, the Republicans may very well have zero committee chairs that are women when all is said and done. 538 2376.00 --> 2379.00 I think there's one still in the running. 539 2379.00 --> 2381.00 That's not true on the Democratic side. 540 2381.00 --> 2386.00 Part of that is because a lot more of our caucus are women. 541 2386.00 --> 2388.00 They've been there for a while. 542 2388.00 --> 2392.00 So you have Suzanne Delbeni, who will run the D-Triple C. 543 2392.00 --> 2396.00 You have women as the ranking leaders on a variety of committees. 544 2396.00 --> 2400.00 You have Catherine Clark there in the number two position. 545 2400.00 --> 2407.00 Obviously not the speaker, but we know we have had a woman speaker and she did a great job. 546 2408.00 --> 2412.00 And so it does sometimes take intentionality. 547 2412.00 --> 2422.00 What we know is when we, Emily says when we support women, they are great at winning and they are great at doing a good job when they get in there. 548 2422.00 --> 2431.00 But we still have to push to remind people that you don't just want women on your group project. 549 2431.00 --> 2435.00 You want them to lead that group project. 550 2435.00 --> 2441.00 It's so important, folks, that's Christina Reynolds, senior vice president of communications and content at Emily's List. 551 2441.00 --> 2447.00 I promised everybody a little bit of Ben Wickler, current state party chair on John Stewart just this past Monday. 552 2447.00 --> 2449.00 Let's take a listen because it's pretty good. 553 2449.00 --> 2451.00 Love to get your reactions, Christina. 554 2451.00 --> 2453.00 Let her rip, Curry. 555 2453.00 --> 2460.00 The biggest question that we get is, no follow-up and then the tears. 556 2460.00 --> 2463.00 Sometimes vomiting. 557 2463.00 --> 2467.00 It appears the Democratic Party is slightly broken. 558 2467.00 --> 2472.00 You run the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which was broken before you took it over. 559 2472.00 --> 2482.00 There was a super majority in Wisconsin, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin was diabolically making changes to stand power, Scott Walker was the governor. 560 2482.00 --> 2485.00 How did you turn that situation around? 561 2485.00 --> 2492.00 So Republicans took over Wisconsin in 2010 and immediately smashed unions, suppressed voting rights. 562 2492.00 --> 2499.00 Jerry Mander, the living daylights out of legislative maps to make sure they'd never lose power, even if voters tried to throw them out. 563 2499.00 --> 2507.00 And for years, it looked as though Wisconsin was going to fall off the cliff, be a state where Republicans controlled everything, whether voters liked it or not. 564 2507.00 --> 2517.00 Undemocratically so, because through all those methods, like what the Democrats in New York had tried to do is Jerry Mander it, even if it was closer than it should be, those were the methods they undertook. 565 2517.00 --> 2524.00 So 2012, 2018, Democrats won a majority of the votes. For the legislature, Republicans got almost two-thirds of the seats. 566 2524.00 --> 2535.00 And 2018, I moved home and volunteered, Governor Evers, now Governor Evers ran, and in a landslide year for Democrats nationally, he won by 1.1 percentage point. 567 2535.00 --> 2539.00 Super, super close. It was like we'd grabbed a branch as we fall off the side of a cliff. 568 2539.00 --> 2545.00 And we're pulling ourselves up by finger nails. Republicans then took away a bunch of the powers he'd been elected to wield. 569 2545.00 --> 2549.00 Republicans re-Jerrymandered the state through the State Supreme Court after that. 570 2549.00 --> 2557.00 And I was elected chair in 2019, with the goal of supercharging our kind of grassroots organizing and how we communicate across the state. 571 2557.00 --> 2562.00 And year over year, we flipped two, we won two critical State Supreme Court races. 572 2562.00 --> 2566.00 We were able to re-elect Governor Evers, stop Republican super majority. 573 2566.00 --> 2572.00 Finally, a new kind of pro-democracy majority on the State Supreme Court struck down the gerrymander. 574 2572.00 --> 2576.00 We stopped Republicans from preemptively impeaching a Supreme Court justice. 575 2576.00 --> 2580.00 And this year, finally, for the first time in 15 years, we had fair maps. 576 2580.00 --> 2587.00 And it meant that even in a year where we were basically 50-50 statewide in terms of the votes, we flipped 14 state legislative seats. 577 2587.00 --> 2592.00 It is now Democrats are on track to win a majority in both legislative chambers in 2026. 578 2592.00 --> 2595.00 Wow. We re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the U.S. Senate. 579 2596.00 --> 2598.00 We actually added votes for Harris relative to Biden. 580 2598.00 --> 2604.00 We were the battleground state, the whole state in the country that came closest to defeating Trump, where Trump still won. 581 2604.00 --> 2607.00 There was a lot of Republican turnout. There still works to do. 582 2607.00 --> 2612.00 But we're a democracy again. And that is the goal. That is the fight that we're fighting. Here's the idea. 583 2612.00 --> 2620.00 Christina, I think by many accounts, certainly the fact that he made an appearance on John Stewart, some of the other interviews, 584 2620.00 --> 2625.00 is the prevailing wisdom that Ben is the front runner right now, is what the party needs? 585 2625.00 --> 2628.00 How do you manage the race? 586 2628.00 --> 2632.00 Yeah, let me be clear. Emily Suss has not taken a position here. 587 2632.00 --> 2635.00 And I'm not taking a personal position. 588 2635.00 --> 2642.00 I think that Ben is certainly one of the big candidates that we're talking about. 589 2642.00 --> 2646.00 I think what is unknown is the people who decide this are DNC members. 590 2646.00 --> 2651.00 That's a limited number. And so to call someone a front runner is tough to know. 591 2651.00 --> 2658.00 What I will say is every Democrat should go and listen to what Ben just said because it is a reminder of the hope in the darkness. 592 2658.00 --> 2665.00 Things can look awful. And with the work you can turn it around. That's a lesson for us nationally. 593 2665.00 --> 2671.00 That's a lesson for each individual state. And I'm glad he said it because it's a good reminder of what we do. 594 2672.00 --> 2675.00 Thank you so much, Christina Reynolds of Emily's List. 595 2675.00 --> 2679.00 Folks, keep it locked. When we come back, I'm going to give you the update on Luigi Mangione. 596 2679.00 --> 2685.00 I'm Maggie Dawn. You're listening to the Civic Media Radio. Now, the national news cycle never stops. 597 2685.00 --> 2688.00 But it can be hard to find news about your local community. 598 2688.00 --> 2693.00 Civic Media is dedicated to providing quality local and state news coverage across Wisconsin. 599 2693.00 --> 2699.00 With the Civic Media app, you can get notifications about local stories that matter to you and your community. 600 2699.00 --> 2706.00 Find the free Civic Media app in your phone's app store and choose notifications from the menu to tell us what kind of news you want to hear about.