Native Land Pod

This week hosts Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Andrew Gillum address a topic that’s been in the news a lot late: Trump’s “Big Beautiful” budget.    Despite Elon Musk calling the budget a “disgusting abomination,” and Trump himself asking Republican legislators not to cut Medicaid, the GOP budget plan will extend tax cuts for the richest Americans while slashing the social safety net; if the bill passes in its current form, millions of Americans will lose health care, food stamps, and more. Many are calling it the largest upward transfer of wealth in American history.  If you’d like to submit a question, check out our tutorial video: www.instagram.com/reel/C5j_oBXLIg0/   Welcome home y’all!    —--------- We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast.    Instagram  X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com   Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Native Land Pod is brought to you by Reasoned Choice Media.   Thank you to the Native Land Pod team:    Angela Rye as host, executive producer and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Tiffany Cross as host and producer, Andrew Gillum as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; Loren Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks  to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media.  Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week hosts Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Andrew Gillum address the most important topic to us here at NLP: you.     We called for you to imagine a new system and we have watched and read your responses. There are words of encouragement there–and words of rebuke. We want all the smoke, and the love, let’s get into it!    From non-voters to Karens, the conversation (spurred by you) comes back to this: even when they try to support us, white people are constantly centering themselves. Their values and their comfort are always at the forefront for THEM, and we see that reflected in government, in school, on TV, in PODCASTS; the list goes on. That’s great for Karen and the rest–but how do we advocate for the Black community without falling into the trap of centering them ourselves??   There’s news out of Tulsa this week on reparations for the descendents of the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre. We welcome Attorney Demario Soloman-Simmons to break the exciting news to all of you! Mr. Solomon-Simmons is founder and executive director of the Justice for Greenwood initiative, find out more at https://www.justiceforgreenwood.org/   Find out more about the State of the People Tour and attend our show in LA this Friday for FREE at https://stateoftheppl.com/   If you’d like to submit a question, check out our tutorial video: http://www.instagram.com/reel/C5j_oBXLIg0/ and send to @nativelandpod.    We are 516 days away from the midterm elections. Welcome home y’all!    —--------- We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast.    Instagram  X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com   Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Native Land Pod is brought to you by Reasoned Choice Media.   Thank you to the Native Land Pod team:    Angela Rye as host, executive producer and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Tiffany Cross as host and producer, Andrew Gillum as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; Loren Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks  to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media.  Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week hosts Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Andrew Gillum define our democracy (what’s left of it).    Nowadays it’s popular to say that the USA is a “democracy in decline.” But what does that actually mean when for many of us the system has been failing! Our hosts identify specific areas where our democracy has crumbled and begin to answer the question: exactly HOW and WHY has our democracy failed? This will be an ongoing conversation, and we’d love your input, send us a video!     Speaking of ongoing conversations, we hear your pushback to this idea that we ought to stand in solidarity with migrants. In a video we received, one of y’all was also questioning the idea that there could ever be self-sufficient communities for Black and Brown folks. We’ll play that video so the hosts can respond to your criticism. We love being in conversation with y’all, even when we disagree!    We invite you to think radically, consult your local communities, and imagine how our democracy can be salvaged–or completely reconstructed??    If you’d like to submit a question or statement, check out our tutorial video: http://www.instagram.com/reel/C5j_oBXLIg0/ and send to @nativelandpod.    Check out the research paper Angela mentioned on the Trump admin’s immigration policies and their impact on Black migrants: https://baji.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BAJI-First-100-Days-2025.pdf   Find out more about the State of the People tour: https://stateoftheppl.com/   We are 523 days away from the midterm elections. Welcome home y’all!    —--------- We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast.    Instagram  X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com   Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Native Land Pod is brought to you by Reasoned Choice Media.   Thank you to the Native Land Pod team:    Angela Rye as host, executive producer and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Tiffany Cross as host and producer, Andrew Gillum as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; Loren Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks  to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media.  Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join hosts Angela Rye and Andrew Gillum on the State of the People Tour. This collaboration between a leading Black media platform and a national organizing campaign bridges local voices and national strategies, offering space for deep, honest, and community-rooted dialogue.    Topics include the South’s leadership in Black political movements, exploring economic justice through labor organizing and cooperation economics, intergenerational strategizing, actionable state and local policy fights, and more.   Taking place in Jackson, Mississippi, this town hall will feature local and national leaders, with an aim to uplift the local community by consolidating Black political power and engaging in transformative conversations.   Find out more about the State of the People Tour: https://stateoftheppl.com/   If you’d like to submit a question, check out our tutorial video: http://www.instagram.com/reel/C5j_oBXLIg0/ and send to @nativelandpod.    Welcome home y’all!    —--------- We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast.    Instagram  X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com   Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Native Land Pod is brought to you by Reasoned Choice Media.   Thank you to the Native Land Pod team:    Angela Rye as host, executive producer and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Tiffany Cross as host and producer, Andrew Gillum as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; Loren Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks  to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media.  Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s justice department has drastically scaled back its support for anti-crime initiatives. They’ve cut $500 million in grants from 200+ organizations focused on violence prevention. Angela Rye went LIVE to talk about the impact of these cuts on violence prevention in the Black community with two folks doing the work:  Rev. Michael McBride (Pastor Mike) is the executive director for LIVE FREE USA, a national organizing and social change network committed to ending the criminalization of people of color, reducing gun violence and transforming the policing and the criminal justice system. He is a national leader in the movement to implement community violence intervention and he serves as the Lead Pastor of The Way Church in Berkeley, CA. Support Pastor Mike’s work at https://livefreeusa.org/ and follow him @impastormike_ Wesley Moore created the mentoring and youth leadership program, Our Brothers Keeper (OBK) in 2016. OBK has provided temporary housing, employment, and skill training workshops for youth and young adults ages 14-25. Before OBK, he started a construction company that focuses on providing temporary housing for youth transitioning out of foster care and families transitioning out of shelters. Support Mr. Moore’s work at https://oursbrotherskeepers.org/.       Want to ask Angela a question? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to participate in the chat.    Welcome home y’all!    —---------   We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast.    Instagram  X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com   Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Native Land Pod is brought to you by Reasoned Choice Media.   Thank you to the Native Land Pod team:    Angela Rye as host, executive producer and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Tiffany Cross as host and producer, Andrew Gillum as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; Loren Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks  to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media.  Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling overwhelmed by today's political climate? The hosts discuss strategies to stay motivated amidst the chaos of Trump 2.0. They spotlight Black communities striving for self-sufficiency and emphasize the importance of community resilience and accountability. Activism is highlighted as a powerful means of empowerment, combating disinformation, and promoting progressive change. The conversation also touches on navigating emotional turmoil post-election and the vital role of education and collaboration in times of uncertainty.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta and Georgia gubernatorial candidate, shares her insights on winning over rural voters and lessons learned from Stacey Abrams. The conversation delves into the unique challenges faced by HBCUs like Florida A&M University, emphasizing the importance of educational equity. She highlights changing demographics in Georgia and the need for better healthcare access. Bottoms also discusses the urgent need for support for teachers and affordable housing, advocating for community-driven solutions while balancing personal well-being with activism.

In this engaging discussion, political science expert Dr. Keneshia Grant from Howard University and attorney Monica Williams Harris dive into the controversial appointment of 'MAGA Marva' Johnson at FAMU. They explore the implications of far-right influences on historically Black colleges and the unified community response needed to combat these challenges. The duo emphasizes the importance of transparency in leadership and how alumni and community involvement can shape the future of FAMU. Don't miss their insights on advocating for educational equity!

Hosts tackle the absurdities of Fox News, especially a recent jab at Newark's Mayor Baraka. They question if it's worth engaging with a media that caters to white audiences. A comedic yet poignant critique of cultural norms leads to a deeper discussion on media misrepresentation and its impact on public perception of race. The team highlights the importance of empowering marginalized communities while navigating hostile narratives. They also reflect on their personal experiences with media and the challenges of fostering truthful dialogue.

In this discussion, Newark's Mayor Ras Baraka shares insights from his recent arrest by ICE while protesting a new detention facility. Known for his advocacy, he highlights the chilling impact of government retaliation on free speech and justice. Baraka addresses systemic corruption and emphasizes the need for community resilience in facing political pressures. He also explores the urgency of engaging marginalized communities in political action, advocating for solutions like economic reform and voter mobilization as pivotal for enacting social change.