What does independence mean for the rest of us? Women have long asked this question—as have groups that have felt or experienced being shut out, excluded, colonized or enslaved. On July 5, 1852—a time in which the U.S. reaped benefit from the enslavement of kidnapped and trafficked Black people from the shores of Africa—Frederick Douglass put it this way: “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” That was long ago, before the Emancipation Proclamation, Civil War and ratification of the 13th Amendment. However, the question—what does it mean to be free, equal and a citizen?—remains a vital point of discussion not only in the United States, but around the world. We dive into freedom, the 4th of July, and what it means to be represented in this episode.  What does liberty mean to and for you, your family, your communities?  To answer that, we are talking to folks making a difference at the local level:  Colorado state Rep. Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the General Assembly, after receiving the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She serves as the chair of the House Finance Committee, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and chair of the Committee on Legal Services. Herod also chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and the Arts Caucus. Since her election in 2016, Herod has sent 68 bills to the governor’s desk, marshaling through numerous pieces of legislation addressing criminal justice reform, mental health and substance abuse, renewable energy, youth homelessness, and civil rights protections. Kentucky state Rep. Attica Scott serves in the Kentucky legislature, representing House District 41. In 2016, Scott defeated a 34-year incumbent to become the first Black woman in nearly 20 years to serve in the state legislature. She serves on critical committees, including Education; Local Government; Elections; Constitutional Amendments; and others. Before becoming a state rep, she served as an English immersion teacher in China, as well as an adjunct faculty member at both Bellarmine University and Jefferson Community and Technical College.Heather Lende, a former elected local official and member of the Haines, Alaska Borough Assembly, was one of the thousands of women inspired to take a more active role in politics during the Trump presidency. Lende is also New York Times bestselling author; a contributor to NPR, the New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler, among other newspapers and magazines; and a former contributing editor at Woman’s Day. A columnist for the Alaska Dispatch News, she is the obituary writer for the Chilkat Valley News in Haines and the recipient of the Suzan Nightingale McKay Best Columnist Award from the Alaska Press Club. Recently, Lende was named the Alaska State Writer Laureate for 2021-2023. Her most recent book, Of Bears and Ballots, was released in paperback in May 2021.  Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.Support the show

In this joyous episode, host Michele Goodwin is joined by music icon Anita Pointer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning R&B group the Pointer Sisters and her brother Fritz Pointer, acclaimed professor and historian and former music manager. They celebrate Juneteenth and unpack their award-winning memoir, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story. Fritz and Anita Pointer discuss coming of age in the civil rights movement; emphasize the importance of tenacity and learning the hard way; and break down what it was like for their family to finally break through and land award after award—all by doing it their own way. As an added bonus, expect to be serenaded by Anita Pointer!Anita Pointer, founding member of the legendary music group the Pointer Sisters. Anita and her sisters found fame in 1973, when the Anita-led "Yes We Can Can" became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #11. Their breakthrough resulted in multiple hits and Grammy Awards, including for Best Performance by a Duo or Group and even Best Country Duo or Group. In 1974, Anita's writing talents helped the group make music history with "Fairytale," which became a hit on the country music charts—leading the Pointer Sisters to become the first Black female group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Their hit-making magic kept audiences singing and dancing through the 1980s and '90s and became part of the 2008 Obama campaign playlist.  In 1994, Anita and her sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Anita continues to write, record and perform, maintaining an international touring schedule as a member of the Pointer Sisters. Professor Fritz Pointer is one of the older brothers of June, Bonnie, Anita and Ruth—also known as the Pointer Sisters. His latest book, Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story, is a memoir of their life co-authored with his sister, Anita Pointer. No one else knows the family, community, political or social history out of which the Pointer Sisters came as thoroughly and deeply as he does. He managed the group prior to becoming a professor specializing in African and African American history. Pointer has 30 years of experience teaching composition, African and African American humanities, and history in higher education. He has authored two books and several scholarly articles in his area of African literature. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.Support the show

All eyes are on Washington D.C., with commissions to study the January 6 insurrection, expansion of the Supreme Court, and coronavirus origins. But that means much can be overlooked at home. Do you know the names of your local school board members? What about the folks on your city council?  It’s time to dive into local leadership and why it matters.Helping us to address these questions and more are our very special guests: the badass women running the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors—the largest local government in the nation—making history with the first all-women board in its more than 150-year history. Supervisor Kathryn Barger proudly serves the residents of the 5th District. Barger was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016, where she served as chair of the board and was reelected for her second term in 2020. She continues to advocate for services and programs to improve the quality of life for foster children, seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, and those with mental illness. Supervisor Janice Hahn proudly represents the interests of the 4th District. Hahn began her career as a teacher, and went on to serve on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission and the City Council representing the 15th District. After serving in local government, Hahn was elected to Congress, first representing California’s old 36th District and then the 44th District after redistricting.  Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was first elected to represent Los Angeles County’s 3rd District on November 4, 2014 and was reelected to her second term on November 6, 2018. She has led the way and worked on a great many initiatives and motions to improve people’s lives and reform systems in the county. Before her service on the board, Kuehl served eight years in the California State Senate and six years in the California State Assembly. She was the first woman in California history to be named speaker pro tempore of the Assembly, and the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California legislature. Supervisor Holly Mitchell was elected to serve the 2nd District of Los Angeles County on November 3, 2020. Previously, Supervisor Mitchell represented the 54th District as an assemblymember in California state legislature and later served as state senator for the 30th District. She held the distinction of being the first African American to serve as chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.    Supervisor Hilda Solis was sworn in as Los Angeles County supervisor for the 1st District of Los Angeles County on December 1, 2014 and re-elected to a new four-year term in 2018. Solis’s priorities include combatting homelessness and building affordable housing, expanding County services to all residents, environmental justice, good-paying jobs, health care access, criminal justice reform, improving parks and open space, and ensuring arts equity for all.  Solis served as secretary of labor under President Barack Obama, becoming the first Latina to serve in the U.S. Cabinet. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.Support the show

This week, we’re giving listeners a new way to listen to Dr. Michele Goodwin’s reporting, rebelling and truth-telling: 15 Minutes of Feminism, where we give a serious take on an important issue featuring a single guest (okay, fine—maybe two from time to time.) In these jam-packed, bite-sized episodes, you can expect voices from the center of the story—people you should know, those who roll up their sleeves and change the world. These are guests who have things to do, places to be, and something important to say. (Next week, we’ll be back with our regular programming!) In this inaugural episode, we center Breonna Taylor: We say her name, revisit her story and reflect on what comes next. This week, we get right to business with our guest—an extraordinary activist, social commentator and professor of criminal justice: Dr. Cherie Dawson-Edwards, an expert on criminal justice; associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion; and professor of criminal justice at the University of Louisville. She is a national board member for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and serves on the executive committee of the ACLU of Kentucky. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.Support the show

"Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women.” —Professor Jessica CalarcoIn this episode, we're focusing on moms, child care, single parenting and teen parenting. We know that women have been hit hard by COVID—causing many to dub the economic downturn a “she-cession.” And as it stands, current U.S. laws and policies are woefully inadequate—leaving mothers, particularly mothers living with low incomes, behind. Luckily, women-led organizations are helping moms by filling in the gaps.  How are moms making it through the pandemic? And, how do single moms fit in, especially teenage moms? What should parents generally, and mothers in particular, be demanding of lawmakers and the Biden administration? What are the best ways for the U.S. to 'build back better' after pandemic? We also hear from some of our listeners who are giving shoutouts to the mothers–and stand-in moms—in their lives! Joining us for this very special Mother’s Day episode are special guests: Representative Katie Porter represents the 45th congressional district in Orange County, Calif. She is a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee, and chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. As a single working mom, Rep. Porter knows firsthand about the challenges that families face. She’s introduced bipartisan legislation that would more than double the amount families can set aside pre-tax to help pay for pre-school, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult day care.Nicole Lynn Lewis, founder of Generation Hope, which works with teen parents to apply to, enter and stay in college. She is a former teen mother herself, who put herself through the College of William & Mary with her three-month old daughter in tow. Lewis has been featured on major news outlets including Good Morning America, CNN, NBC Nightly News and The Washington Post. Nicole also serves as an Ascend national advisor with the Aspen Institute and a nationally known author and speaker. Her newest book, Pregnant Girl, was released on May 4, 2021 by Beacon Press. Dr. Aisha Nyandoro, CEO of Springboard To Opportunities and director of Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. Nyandoro has more than a decade of experience developing, implementing and evaluating programs aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with limited resources. She has worked in various capacities—as an academic, evaluator, philanthropist and nonprofit executive. Prior to serving with Springboard, Aisha served as a program officer with the Foundation for the Mid-South. Tamara Ware, a caregiver and the mother of three beautiful girls. Ware was in Springboard To Opportunities’ second cohort of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com.Support the show

On March 31, the Biden administration released the American Jobs Plan, which establishes broad goals for achieving a cleaner and more equitable future, including significant investments in green jobs like caregiving and clean energy infrastructure. On April 22—Earth Day—Biden further raised the stakes, committing the U.S. to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Even still, there are legislators at local, state and federal levels that continue to deny climate change as real.Meanwhile, in Flint, Michigan, after a five-year water crisis, reports say the water is now clean—but many locals still refuse to drink it to this day, due to a loss of trust.How do global warming and other environmental concerns affect the lives of listeners in coastal areas, or those who live near waste sites, or in areas where environmental concerns are hidden? What does environmental and climate justice look like? Now that the U.S. has reentered the Paris Climate Agreement, what next steps must be taken to address climate change and environmental injustice here at home? What can we expect from the Biden-Harris administration?  Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:Nourbese Flint, a program manager with Black Women for Wellness, where she directs environmental and reproductive health work, organizes community advocacy and works on policy. In addition, Nourbese serves as the head of civic engagement with Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy, is founding member of Trust Black Women, and an active member of the Women’s Intercultural Network. Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International. She is co-director of the Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegations, was the visionary behind the International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit, and co-founded the International Women’s Earth and Climate Initiative, the precursor initiative of WECAN International. She is the author of the award-winning book, Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. Support the show

In this episode, we confront the question at the center of Derek Chauvin’s trial: Who killed George Floyd? Our guests unpack that question as an issue central to police and societal violence. Examining who killed George Floyd means taking stock of legacies of racism in the Twin Cities, including redlining, school segregation, policies that undermine equality, and disparate rates of policing and mass incarceration.    As attention has turned to the horrors of the old South, has racism of the new North been overlooked? And at what cost to Black lives? Have liberal allies made a difference or exacerbated harms in the Twin Cities?   We also explore the trauma associated with George Floyd’s death and other officer-involved killings.  Experts on our show explain how racism produce physical and psychological health harms.  Helping us to sort out these questions and how we should think about these issues and more are very special guests:Judge Pamela Alexander, a Fourth Judicial District judge for Hennepin County, Minnesota. She began her legal career as a criminal defense attorney with the Legal Rights Center and then moved to the Hennepin County attorney’s office as a prosecutor in the criminal division. Since 1983, she has been a Hennepin County district court judge where she presided over the juvenile division and served as assistant chief judge for the court as a whole. Dr. Patricia Jones Blessman, a licensed clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience as a clinician and administrator of mental health programs. Jones Blessman is the founder and former president of the Institute for Psychodiagnostic Interventions and Services—one of only a few minority-owned, private sector psychological service corporations nationwide. Tasha R. Green Cruzat, executive director of Voices for Illinois Children, an independent child advocacy group that champions strong public policies and investments for all Illinois children and their families. A U.S. Navy veteran, she brings more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors of education, business and government. Prior to joining Voices, Cruzat first served as deputy chief of staff then chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Dr. Roderick A. Ferguson, professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Yale University. An interdisciplinary scholar, his work traverses such fields as American studies, gender studies, queer studies, cultural studies, African American Studies, sociology, literature and education. Most recently, he is the author of One-Dimensional Queer (Polity, 2019). He is currently working on two monographs—In View of the Tradition: Art and Black Radicalism and The Bookshop of Black Queer Diaspora. Ferguson is the 2020 recipient of the Kessler Award from the Center for LGBTQ Studies. T. Mychael Rambo, a regional Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer.  He also an accomplished residency artist and professor in the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota. Dr. George Woods, a practicing physician, specializing in neuropsychiatry. His private practice focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, acquired neurocognitive disorders, cognitive impairments secondary to neuropsychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injury, ethnopsychopharmacology and workplace safety. In addition to his clinical practice, Woods consults with legal teams dealing with complex criminal and civil litigation. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out Support the show

It's tax season! It’s time to talk race, taxation and D.C. statehood. The U.S. tax system raises serious questions about equity and inclusion and—according to our guests—taxation is at the root of many social and economic injustices. So, who does the U.S. tax code benefit? Who does it leave behind? How does racism manifest in the U.S. tax system? What role does D.C. statehood play in all of this? What roles can we expect the Biden administration to play in the fight for D.C. statehood and the larger fight for racial and economic justice?  Helping us to sort out these questions and more are special guests: Dorothy A. Brown, an Asa Griggs Candler professor of law at Emory University School of Law and an advocate for economic and social justice. Most recently, she is the author of The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans—and How We Can Fix It (Crown, March 2021). She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Bloomberg, and has written numerous opinion pieces addressing current events in the New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN Opinion, Washington Post, Forbes, National Law Journal and Bloomberg View, to name a few. Maura Quint, co-founder and executive director of Tax March, an organization that fights for an economy that works for everyone. She can be found talking taxes in publications such as the Hill, Ms. and Vox and can be heard on programs such as Pitchfork Economics and Stand Up with Pete Dominick. Quint also writes comedy and contributes to the Onion, The New Yorker, McSweeneys and other humor publications. She lives in Pennsylvania with her children and various part-time dogs.  Demi Stratmon, lead organizer with 51 for 51, a grassroots coalition to make D.C. the 51st state with 51 votes in the Senate. She works to combine the power of young advocates and national organizations to fight for representation for over 700,000 Washingtonians. In 2019, Demi traveled the country to make D.C. statehood a national issue, earning endorsements of 51 for 51's mission from leaders including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Demi Stratmon is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College, majoring in government and minoring in Middle Eastern studies. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. Support the show

Brooke Baldwin is a renowned CNN anchor and author of a new book, HUDDLE: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power, out this month. Huddle examines the phenomenon of "huddling,” or what happens when women lean on one another—in the arts, activism, politics, Hollywood and everyday friendships—to lift up each other and to provide empowerment, support, inspiration and the creativity and courage to enact change and solve problems. Brooke Baldwin is a veteran journalist and Peabody Award finalist who has served as an anchor on CNN and in its newsroom for more than a decade. She played a major role in anchoring coverage of the Obama and Trump administrations and has also reported on stories from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She has covered gun violence, including the tragedies in Sandy Hook and too many others. As the creator and host of CNN’s digital series American Woman, she has dedicated the latest chapter of her career to shining a light on trailblazing women in politics and culture. She is the author of HUDDLE: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power—her first book.Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. Support the show

Gender-based and sexual violence are pervasive symptoms of a larger violence issue in this country. This reality is exemplified by recent reports that some insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on January 6 have histories of violence against women, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Of course, we also remain in mourning for the lives lost to gun violence in America—most recently the horrific killings of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta, and 10 people at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. What do these events convey about the U.S. and our culture of sexual violence? What connections can we make from gender-based violence and sexual violence to a broader culture of violence in the U.S.? How does gender-based violence intersect with race and racism? What can we do to begin to disrupt this culture?  Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:Carmen Vasilio Balentine has spent 25 years working in the public sector to empower youth and to help them tell their stories.  He is the founder of CVB Wellness, which promotes wellness, equity and healing in underserved communities.  Most recently, he served as major gifts officer at American Foundation for AIDS Research.   Dr. Terrion Williamson, associate professor of African American and African studies with appointments in gender, women and sexuality studies and American studies at the University of Minnesota, as well as a Ms. contributor. Her research has tracked the serial killings of Black women. Her current book project, which builds upon work started in the last chapter of her first book, Scandalize My Name: Black Feminist Practice and the Making of Black Social Life, is a victim-centered study of the more than 60 cases throughout the U.S. in which Black women have been the sole or primary targets of serial killers since the 1970s. Rate and review “On the Issues with Michele Goodwin" to let us know what you think of the show! Let’s show the power of independent feminist media.Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Tips, suggestions, pitches? Get in touch with us at ontheissues@msmagazine.com. Support the show