Native Land Pod

On episode 91, our hosts Angela Rye and Andrew Gillum bring on super-guest and renowned progressive journalist: Mehdi Hasan. Tiffany Cross is away this week but she sent us a report from the ground in the DRC.    Mehdi Hasan was featured on a Jubilee debate where he (a proclaimed progressive) debated 20 “far-right” young people. The debate was shocking, participants called themselves fascists, and told Mehdi, a naturalized citizen, to “get out” of the country. Mehdi reflects on the debate, the surprise and trauma of it, and what it says (and doesn’t say) about modern conservatives. In addition, the hosts chat with him about redistricting (see below).     Follow Mehdi Hassan’s work at https://zeteo.com/   Gerrymandering, the unfair drawing of electoral maps to benefit one’s own party, has been an issue for decades. Egged on by the Trump administration, we are now on the verge of an all-out gerrymandering war. Redistricting (redrawing maps) normally happens at the end of each decade. Trump demanded that Texas redraw their map now to add more Republican seats and the Texas GOP obliged. In response, Democratic state reps have fled Texas to prevent the new maps from being voted on, and governors of blue states like California and New York have threatened to change their state laws to allow more partisan gerrymandering in favor of Democrats.   Tiffany Cross is meeting with the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She’ll talk with him ab0ut the civil conflict in the DRC and foreign exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.   TAKE OUR SURVEY, WIN A PRIZE!      SURVEY: https://ul.ink/2QMCXY?utm_source=YouTube   And of course we’ll hear from you! 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 467 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.

The Redistricting Showdown You Need to Understand ft. State Rep Jolanda Jones   Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones is one of dozens of Democratic state lawmakers who have had warrants issued for their arrest by Texas Governor Greg Abbot. Angela Rye talks with Rep Jones while she is literally on the run.   Democratic lawmakers have fled the state in a hail-mary bid to prevent their Republican colleagues from redrawing the Texas election maps to give themselves as many as five additional seats in Congress. The Texas GOP’s plan fits nicely into their larger efforts to disenfranchise Black and Brown voters.   Rep Jones: “This map was designed with surgical precision to deny Black and Brown voters the right to elect the representative of their choice. I refuse to legitimize this injustice.”     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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Native Land Pod, community is everything. Y'all listening are like family. Now, we want to hear what you think!    Fill out our short survey and tell us what you think about the show. Give it to us  straight — no chaser.    Podcast:  https://ul.ink/2QMCXY?utm_source=podcast   Your answers will have a direct effect on the show, shaping the future of what you hear on Native Land Pod. Once you fill out the survey you’ll be eligible for raffle prizes, including a $50 gift card, and a poster or photograph of our show art signed by all the hosts.  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   Subscribe and listen to new episodes of Native Land Pod every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts:   iHeartPodcasts  Apple Podcasts Spotify   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. Thank you to Mark Cantin, Dylan Ungar, and the iHeart Video team. 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.

Hosts Angela Rye, Andrew Gillum, and Tiffany ask: Why Do Some Black People Feel Like “White is Right”?   In too many folks' eyes, a thing ain’t good until it’s been adopted by mainstream (white) culture. The same news story that makes waves on CNN falls flat on BET. The same person buying a fancy sweater from Ralph Lauren will scoff at House of Gray. Black folks are not immune to this, those who automatically trust a white doctor (or other specialist) over a Black one, for example.     We have some serious deprogramming to do y’all, start here with us.    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 talk about Black elitism and Black owned brands with the owner of Actively Black, Lanny Smith.    You might’ve seen Lanny Smith’s viral posts recently where he addresses the controversy around Ralph Lauren’s new “Oak Bluffs” line of apparel. Oak Bluffs, a town on Martha’s Vineyard, has been a gathering place for the Black community for more than 100 years. Folks have called the clothing line “elitist;” the jackets and blazers cost well over $500. Should we denounce this celebration of Black culture just for being elitist?    Maybe, maybe not. More importantly, we do not need white businesses to validate Black culture. The Black community spends 10’s of billions of dollars on apparel every year, and just a fraction of that goes back to the Black community, even though WE are the source of so much American style. Let’s talk about how we change THAT.    Plus, what is happening in Gaza right now is beyond horrific. We have to spend a little time updating y’all on the situation, Gazans are starving to death.    And of course we’ll hear from you! 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 467 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.

Hi, Native Land Pod Fans! We want to share a new podcast with Knowa De Baraso that we think you'll love - Now You Know with Knowa De Baraso About the show: What happens when a 13-year-old asks the questions grown folks can’t—or won’t? Knowa’s Questions is a sharp, funny, and fearless podcast that cuts through the noise of politics, pop culture, and power. Each week, Knowa sits down with the people shaping the world—from movement leaders to cultural icons—to get real about democracy, justice, joy, and what it means to grow up in America right now. With curiosity, wit, and a side-eye when needed, Knowa leads conversations that challenge the status quo and center the voices too often left out. Now You Know with Knowa De Baraso isn’t just about politics—it’s about power, platforms, and the people using both to influence our future. Listen here and subscribe to Now You Know with Knowa De Baraso on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin Jones, Tennessee's 52nd District representative, made headlines after being expelled for protesting gun violence. In this conversation, he passionately tackles the impact of immigration raids in Nashville, sharing his own experiences of being barred from a press conference with the DHS Secretary. Jones and Angela Rye dissect the politics of divide and conquer, emphasizing the need for community solidarity against systemic injustices. They highlight the emotional toll on affected families and stress the importance of courageous political engagement in advocating for marginalized voices.

On this week’s MiniPod our host Angela Rye (supported by hosts Tiffany Cross and Andrew Gillum) turn DOWN an invite from MSNBC. God bless.  In more important news, yet another blatant assault on a Black man by police officers. What was 22 year old William McNeil Jr’s crime? Asking what he was pulled over for and requesting the officer call their supervisor. They smashed his window, busted his face, and arrested him, giving him stitches, a chipped tooth, and a concussion. It’s sad that if we’re being honest, it’s lucky he escaped with his life.    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 comment on a passing of note.   The community lost Malcolm-Jamal Warner this week. Malcolm-Jamal played Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show and was known for his spoken word and musical prowess. We’ll remember him today on NLP.    Hunter Biden has been doing interviews and laying it ALL out there, going into detail about his drug addiction, and certain dynamics within the Democratic party. Our hosts dig into the details while Tiffany questions whether we should give a sh*t about anything Hunter has to say. The conversation dovetails into a debate about how to get the most from a feckless Democratic party, and a look-back on Obama’s legacy.    Breonna Taylor’s killer was finally convicted and sentenced. It’s not the sentence we wanted but it is longer then the one-day sentence that the Trump administration had asked for. We’ll update y’all on the case.    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 467 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.

Angela Rye interviews Rodney Taylor’s fiancée, Mildred Pierre.    Rodney Taylor didn’t know he was undocumented until he was 17. Earlier this year, I.C.E surrounded his car and arrested him in front of his family. They told him that he’ll be deported back to Liberia without seeing a judge or receiving a hearing, even though he hasn’t been back to Liberia since he was two years old. At 46, he lives in Georgia where he works as a barber. Taylor is a father of seven children who he shares with his fiancée, Mildred. They were engaged shortly before his arrest.    This is not the first time that Rodney Taylor has had his life wrongly turned upside down by the justice system. His previous pardoned conviction is how he ended up arrested by ICE this time around...    KEEP FOLLOWING RODNEY’S STORY @gwinnett_one on Instagram and Threads, @gwinnetone on TikTok, or visit his website at https://pacthebarber.com/ Contact Rep. David Scott, Senator Warnock, and Senator Ossoff to ask for Rodney’s release.    Scott: https://davidscott.house.gov/contact/   Warnock: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/contact/   Ossoff: https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/contact-us/   Rodney’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-rodney-home-support-his-legal-defense?attribution_id=sl:2e3213d1-ed19-43c5-819a-f369024e84f1&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link   Are you in Georgia? Come to Rodney’s hearing on August 12th! Follow Rodney on Instagram and Threads for more information @gwinnett_one BACKGROUND INFO   The History of Black Folks Migration Back to Liberia: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/essays/african-americans-and-making-liberia  Rodney in the News:   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/25/ice-immigration-detention https://www.11alive.com/article/news/special-reports/11alive-exclusives/georgia-barber-ice-arrest/85-127a6368-92d0-4950-98a1-238cd0a3eaff https://dallasexaminer.com/rodney-taylor-immigration-status/    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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.