The Electorette Podcast

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Rebekah Caruthers, President and CEO of Fair Elections Center, joins The Margin to examine why this moment may be the most consequential for American democracy since Reconstruction.

Using the All Roads Lead South march in Selma, Alabama, as a starting point, this conversation explores why today's fight for voting rights feels fundamentally different—and why many civil rights leaders believe the South is once again at the center of the nation's democratic future.

Caruthers shares the remarkable story of her great-great-great-great-grandfather, who was enslaved, emancipated after Juneteenth, and went on to found a town in Texas. His extraordinary journey becomes a powerful lens for understanding Reconstruction, the violent backlash that followed, and what that history reveals about the unfinished work of American democracy.

In this episode:

Why Selma feels like the beginning of a new civil rights movement

What America's 250th anniversary reveals about the unfinished work of democracy

The parallels between Reconstruction and today's political moment

The impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on voting rights

Why Black political representation has reached Reconstruction-era levels

What history teaches about democratic backsliding—and how to prevent it

Why today's generation refuses to lose another century of civil rights

"It took 87 years for Black folks to get their rights back. I'll be damned if we're gonna take another 90 years to get our rights back." — Rebekah Caruthers

The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, hosted by Jen Taylor-Skinner.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this video and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines.
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A timely re-release exploring the history behind one of the Supreme Court's most consequential constitutional questions.

With the Supreme Court poised to issue a landmark ruling on birthright citizenship, I'm re-releasing one of the most important conversations we've had on the subject.

In this episode, historian Martha S. Jones discusses her groundbreaking book, Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America, which traces the origins of birthright citizenship long before the Fourteenth Amendment—and long before today's immigration debates.

We explore how free and formerly enslaved Black Americans fought to define who belonged in the United States, challenged efforts to deny them citizenship, and helped lay the foundation for one of the Constitution's most consequential guarantees. We also discuss the Dred Scott decision, the colonization movement, the legal strategies Black Americans used to claim their rights, and why understanding this history is essential to understanding the debate today.

Although this conversation was originally recorded in 2019, its historical context is arguably even more relevant today.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this episode and follow @electorette for more conversations on democracy, constitutional rights, and the people shaping America's future.
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For generations, Black women have been among the most influential voices in the fight to expand American democracy. Yet many of their stories have been overlooked—or erased altogether.

In this episode, political strategist, organizer, and author Atima Omara joins me to discuss her new book, The Instigators, which traces the legacy of Black women who challenged injustice, organized their communities, ran for office, and helped shape the country we know today.

We discuss why Black women have so often been the catalysts for democratic change, the historical figures whose contributions deserve far greater recognition, what Shirley Chisholm's legacy still teaches us about political leadership, and why today's movements have so much to learn from the women who came before them.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this episode and follow @electorette for more conversations on politics, democracy, and the people shaping America's future.
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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joins The Margin to discuss her campaign for governor and the challenges facing Michigan—from housing affordability and economic growth to protecting voting rights in an increasingly polarized political climate.

Benson reflects on defending Michigan's 2020 election in the face of election denialism, explains why she believes states must step in as federal voting protections continue to erode, and discusses the role Democratic governors can play as a constitutional check on presidential power. The conversation also explores her plans to increase housing affordability, support small businesses, grow wages, and strengthen Michigan's economy.

The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media exploring the issues, races, and ideas shaping the 2026 elections.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this episode and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taylor Jung on how Zohran Mamdani uses media, messaging, and policy to shape public perception

Zohran Mamdani has been mayor of New York City for less than a year, but his influence already extends far beyond the five boroughs.

In this episode of The Margin, Taylor Jung, a journalist with Epicenter NYC, joins host Jen Taylor-Skinner to discuss Mamdani's first months in office, the excitement surrounding his inauguration, and why his approach to politics has captured national attention.

The conversation explores the policies Mamdani has begun to roll out, from housing to childcare, the challenges of governing after running on a bold progressive vision, and the growing role of content creators in shaping political narratives. Jung also discusses how Mamdani's team has used social media and highly produced digital content to build a national audience, the evolving relationship between journalists and influencers, and what it all means for political communication in the digital age.

As Mamdani's administration takes shape, the conversation offers a window into the opportunities—and challenges—of governing in a rapidly changing media environment.

If you found this conversation helpful, like this video and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines.
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