#1550 Red States, Where Democracy Goes to Die and Terrible Legislation is Born

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

22-03-2023 • 1 hr

Air Date 3/21/2023

Today, we take a look at how GOP-controlled states are subverting democracy with a form of "competitive autocracy" and some of the horrifying legislation these states then pass after they are no longer subject to the opinions of the general public.

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Transcript

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Watch/Listen: The Laura Flanders Show

SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: The Autocratic Nightmare of State Republicans (David Pepper Interview) - The David Pakman Show - Air Date 2-5-22

David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, author of the book "Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines."

Ch. 2: Republicans Are Staging A Legislative Coup - More Perfect Union - Air Date 1-5-22

Republicans are now carrying out a legislative coup by rigging a decade of elections.

Ch. 3: Laboratories of Autocracy – David Pepper – It’s the States, Stupid! - The Al Franken Podcast - Air Date 10-29-22

The former Ohio Democratic State Chair on how state legislatures are dismantling democracy.

Ch. 4: The Fight for Fair Maps - The Takeaway - Air Date 7-18-22

After each census every 10 years, a fight for redistricting ensues.

Ch. 5: Failing (Red)States - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 3-4-23

Ralph welcomes William Kleinknecht, author of “States of Neglect: How Red-State Leaders Have Failed Their Citizens and Undermined America”

Ch. 6: Ending my sm sabbatical since Houston is once again under attack by the party of "small government" - princewilliamhtx - Air Date 3-15-23

Ch. 7: Wherever you live in America, here’s why you should care about Governor Abbott’s removal of school board members in Houston. - isiahrmartin - Air Date 3-16-23

Ch. 8: “Plantation Politics”: How White Mississippi Lawmakers Want to Seize Power in Majority-Black Jackson - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-9-23

Mississippi's Republican majority in the state Legislature has put forth a slew of bills in recent months to put the majority-Black capital of Jackson under a white-led superstructure.

Ch. 9: These Republicans are Trying to LITERALLY Send Your Kids Back To The Mines - The Young Turks - Air Date 2-11-23

Iowa Republicans are proposing a new bill that would change Iowa's child labor law to allow teens to work more dangerous jobs.

Ch. 10: How Moore v. Harper Could Reshape Democracy - The Takeaway - Air Date 12-8-22

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Moore v. Harper this week, a case that involves North Carolina’s Republican-led-state legislatures' efforts to pass gerrymandered maps.

BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 11: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Rolls Back Child Labor Protections in Arkansas - The Young Turks - Air Date 3-10-23

Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law that would make it significantly easier for children to work extremely hard jobs.

Ch. 12: Missouri law barring police from enforcing federal gun laws creates confusion - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-26-23

Missouri has some of the most permissive gun laws in the nation. A state law passed in 2021 is making it harder for police to enforce federal gun laws.

Ch. 13: Tennessee legislator shocks with lynching suggestion - Alex Wagner Tonight - Air Date 3-3-23

Jelani Cobb talks with Alex Wagner about a Tennessee legislator suggesting that lynching be added as an option in new state death penalty legislation.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 14: Re-indigenization - VoicedMailer Daniel

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 15: Final comments on how to fix the states

SHOW IMAGE:

Description: Partial illustrated map of the U.S. "Red states" are black. A hollow-eyed elephant is overlaid on top of them. Blue and purple states are visible.

Credit: Composite by A. Hoffman, License: CC By-SA 4.0. Map image credit: “Last 2 Election Red States and Blue States and Purple States” by BobWyatt07, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped, color-filled red states to black

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