The Electorette Podcast

Why women candidates are winning—and changing what “electable” means

For years, politics has been shaped by assumptions about who is “electable”—assumptions that often sideline women candidates. But those assumptions are starting to fail.

In this episode, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Jessica Mackler, President of EMILYs List⁠, about what that shift looks like in real time, starting with Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton’s recent primary win.

Despite being outspent and underestimated, Stratton’s victory reflects a broader pattern: women candidates, including women of color, are winning competitive races—and doing so without the traditional advantages long seen as necessary.

They discuss how the idea of electability shapes funding, media coverage, and political strategy—and what happens when candidates succeed without fitting that mold.

This conversation examines how power is built, who gets backed, and how those dynamics are beginning to change.
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How flipped seats are shaping the response to federal immigration enforcement — A conversation with Sarah Curmi of ⁠States Win⁠

From lawsuits to new legislation, states are beginning to push back on federal immigration enforcement in ways that were once unthinkable.

This shift isn’t happening in a vacuum. Since the last election, Democrats have flipped 30 state legislative seats—changing who holds power in key chambers across the country.

In this episode, Sarah Curmi of States Win explains how those gains are translating into policy—and why state legislatures may be the most important political battleground right now.
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ICE at airports, a weeks-long shutdown, and why the DHS Secretary may not be in charge

The Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down for weeks. At the same time, ICE agents are showing up in airports, and Markwayne Mullin has just been confirmed as DHS Secretary.

So what’s actually going on—and who’s really in charge?

In this conversation, I’m joined by Andrea Flores, former DHS and White House official, attorney, and immigration policy expert, to break down the reality behind the headlines. We talk about why this leadership change may be more symbolic than substantive, how immigration enforcement is expanding in ways most people aren’t noticing, and why this moment may be less about policy—and more about power.

We also dig into what Democrats should be doing right now, what’s at stake heading into the midterms, and why it’s important to understand just how far outside the norm this moment really is.

From this episode:

A New DHS Secretary Won’t Change Trump’s Immigration Agenda

Securing America's Promise
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Kelly Hall on how lawmakers are quietly dismantling ballot initiatives—and how voters are fighting back.

Ballot measures have become one of the most powerful tools voters have to bypass politicians and pass policy directly—from raising the minimum wage to expanding Medicaid to protecting reproductive rights. But according to Kelly Hall of The Fairness Project, that power is under coordinated attack.

In this episode, Jen Taylor-Skinner talks with Hall about the organization’s new report, Direct Democracy Under Assault, and the accelerating effort to weaken the ballot initiative process across the country. They discuss how lawmakers are changing the rules to make ballot measures harder to qualify, harder to pass, and easier for politicians to manipulate after voters have already spoken.

They also explore why these attacks are not just procedural—they’re a warning sign. Rights are often lost gradually, through technical changes and bureaucratic barriers that seem small on their own but add up over time. If voting rights are eroded drip by drip, Hall argues, direct democracy can disappear the same way.

This is a conversation about ballot measures, yes—but also about power, representation, and what it means when politicians decide they no longer need to listen to voters.

READ THE REPORT: ATTACKS ON DIRECT DEMOCRACY DOUBLED IN 2025

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:00 — What ballot measures are and why they matter Kelly explains the ballot initiative process and why it has become such an important democratic tool in an era of political dysfunction.

04:15 — The Fairness Project’s new report: Direct Democracy Under Assault Kelly breaks down the report’s central finding: attacks on ballot measures are accelerating fast.

08:20 — The numbers behind the backlash Jen and Kelly discuss the scale of the legislative assault, including the dramatic rise in anti-ballot-measure bills.

09:30 — Why the backlash is happening now Kelly connects the attacks to recent ballot measure victories, especially on reproductive rights.

11:15 — Why this isn’t just about abortion The conversation widens to include wages, Medicaid, voting protections, gerrymandering, and other policies voters can pursue through ballot initiatives.

12:00 — Who is behind these attacks? Kelly draws an important distinction between Republican voters and a small group of extremist Republican lawmakers attacking direct democracy.

14:45 — What it means when politicians refuse to listen to voters Jen and Kelly discuss the deeper democratic crisis revealed by these efforts.

19:20 — What would a healthy balance look like? A discussion about how ballot measures and legislatures might work together in a better-functioning democracy.

22:10 — Why voters split their tickets but support progressive ballot measuresKelly talks through the complexity and nuance of how people vote.

26:20 — How rights erode “drip by drip”One of the most powerful parts of the conversation: how democratic rights are lost gradually, through cumulative procedural attacks.

28:50 — The Florida exampleKelly explains how Florida has become a case study in making ballot measures harder to use.

32:20 — The Missouri exampleA look at how politicians use delay tactics and bureaucratic obstruction to interfere with the process.

36:50 — Fighting back: ballot measures to protect ballot measuresKelly explains how some states are going on offense by using ballot initiatives to strengthen direct democracy itself.

39:20 — Can there be federal protection for ballot measures?A discussion about the limits of federal intervention and why this remains a state-level fight.

40:20 — What people can do right nowKelly shares where the front lines are and how listeners can support this work.

42:20 — Why this matters even if you don’t live in a ballot-measure state

The episode closes with a reminder that these fights affect all of us.
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In this episode of The Electorette, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Rebekah Caruthers, President and CEO of the Fair Elections Center, about growing concerns around voter intimidation and the potential role of federal agencies like ICE at or near polling places.

They discuss how proposed laws like the SAVE Act could change voter registration requirements, the broader strategy behind voter suppression efforts, and why some Americans are increasingly anxious about voting. Caruthers also puts this moment into historical perspective, reminding us that the fight over voting rights is not new—and that Americans have defended the ballot through some of the most difficult periods in the nation’s history.

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 — The State of American Democracy
Jen and Rebekah begin by taking the temperature of democracy in the United States, discussing how current political rhetoric and policy decisions are shaping the country’s democratic institutions.

02:30 — A Long History of Fighting for Voting Rights
Rebekah reflects on historical struggles for democracy, including the work of Ida B. Wells and the civil rights movement, and explains why understanding this history is essential to navigating today’s challenges.

06:00 — ICE, Voter Intimidation, and the Politics of Fear
The conversation turns to concerns about federal law enforcement being deployed near polling places and how intimidation—real or perceived—can discourage people from exercising their right to vote.

07:30 — The SAVE Act and New Voting Restrictions
Rebekah breaks down the SAVE Act and similar legislation, explaining how proof-of-citizenship requirements and stricter ID laws could make voter registration significantly harder for millions of Americans.

11:30 — Barriers to Registration and Voting Access
From criminal penalties for election workers to reduced early voting and limited ballot drop boxes, the discussion explores how multiple layers of policy changes can collectively restrict access to the ballot.

17:00 — What Voters Can Do Right Now
Rebekah offers practical advice for voters, including checking registration regularly, voting early when possible, and ensuring ballots are properly received and counted.

20:00 — Disinformation and Targeting Black Voters
The episode examines how misinformation campaigns often target Black communities and why voter suppression historically focuses on communities whose turnout can shift political outcomes.

24:00 — Elections in Times of Crisis
Rebekah puts current fears about voting into historical perspective, reminding listeners that the United States has successfully held elections through wars, national crises, and economic collapse.

27:00 — Hope, Resistance, and the Future of the Vote
The conversation closes with reflections on hope, civic participation, and why Americans continue to fight for their right to vote—even in difficult political moments.
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