• Vice President Kamala Harris is well on her way to shoring up the kind of historic support from Black voters that was starting to slip away from President Biden before he dropped out of the presidential race. In addition to recent polls that show Harris faring significantly better with Black voters than Trump, there’s also been considerable energy among groups of Black organizers who have set up Zoom calls to fundraise for the Vice President’s campaign. But amidst that enthusiasm, voter suppression remains a major concern heading into November. Cliff Albright, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, discusses how his organization is working to educate voters in states with a history of suppressing the Black vote.
• And in headlines: President Biden gave his first sit-down interview since leaving the presidential race, Israel carried out a deadly air strike in Gaza City, and the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close.

Show Notes:

• Learn more about Black Voters Matter Fund –https://blackvotersmatterfund.org
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TRANSCRIPT

Tre’vell Anderson: It’s Monday, August 12th. I’m Tre’vell Anderson. 

Josie Duffy Rice: And I’m Josie Duffy Rice and this is What a Day, the show that’s asking Trump’s presidential campaign, why do you keep playing unauthorized music at your rallies? 

Tre’vell Anderson: Last week in Montana, they played Celine Dion’s classic My Heart Will Go On from the soundtrack to the 1997 film Titanic. Dion’s official X account posted that she does not endorse this or any similar use, adding quote, “And really that song?” [music break] 

Josie Duffy Rice: On today’s show, President Biden reveals what led to his decision to step down from the election. Plus, we say goodbye to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

Tre’vell Anderson: But first, Vice President Harris is well on her way to shoring up the kind of historic support from Black voters that was starting to slip away from President Biden before he dropped out of the race. In addition to recent polls that show Harris faring significantly better with Black voters than Trump, there’s also all of this energy in many of our communities that can’t be denied. From the zoom calls of Black women and men fundraising to church sermons going viral on TikTok, encouraging people to vote.

Josie Duffy Rice: Yeah. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority incorporated, which Vice President Harris joined when she was a student at Howard University, even filed paperwork on Friday to create its own political action committee to help raise money for federal candidates. The AKA’s are one of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities collectively known as the Divine Nine. And that will certainly help boost turnout among their millions of mostly Black members in November. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Absolutely. They are going to be skee-weeing till the cows come home. 

Josie Duffy Rice: Look. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I hope everybody is ready. 

Josie Duffy Rice: I would not bet against the AKAs.

Tre’vell Anderson: [laugh] Absolutely not. But while so much attention is on Black voters, we also have to be certain to discuss voter suppression. Black Voters Matter is a voting rights organization that works in 25 states, including Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Mississippi. States that have a history of suppressing the Black vote and many of which that have also, since the last election, passed, all types of potential barriers for voters. Here’s a clip from my conversation with co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, Cliff Albright. 

[clip of Cliff Albright] What these bills have done, and particularly in battleground states, is that they’ve attacked all of those things that you just said, every aspect of voting, from registration, to voting by mail to absentee, to in-person, to drop boxes, to same day and to afterwards, which is the part that I’d even say we are most concerned with. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Black Voters Matter is working to educate folks about some of these changes and how they may impact their abilities to vote. Which means, Josie, they are on the ground talking to, you know, Cousin Pookie and Auntie Bam Bam, regular degular Black folks about the election, about VP Harris as a candidate. All of the things. I asked Cliff about the changes he’s seen in folks in the three weeks since VP Harris became the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. 

Cliff Albright: I don’t want to say it’s like night and day, but it sure is different. [laughter] I can give you, like just from personal experience. I live in Atlanta, our organizations based in Georgia, although we do work in 25 states. And I was actually at the Atlanta rally a week and a half ago. And let me tell you that the energy inside there was real. These images if you’ve seen of these rallies, whether it’s the one in Atlanta or Detroit or the other night in Vegas, the energy inside that arena was real. And it was a diverse group. You know, you had, um young folks, older folks, black folks, white folks, brown folks, I mean, you name it. And everybody was excited. And we’re hearing that from different parts of the country. You know, we got partners again in 25 states. And I’ve got people texting me like, hey, we ready to go, you know, what are we doing? What’s next? What? I mean, the energy is just and this matches what we’ve seen going on in terms of everything, right? In terms of like all the zoom calls, it’s the money, it’s the volunteers, and again, it’s the energy. And some people say, you know, vibes ain’t everything, right? You can’t win an election off of vibes. And and you’re right vibes ain’t everything. Because at the end of the day, you got to turn this attendance and energy at these rallies into votes, into organizing. Right. Um. So it ain’t everything, but but folks have made it to the White House. [laughter] Off of some strong vibes and energy. So it’s different over the past three weeks. 

Tre’vell Anderson: You know, your group had written a letter in support of keeping President Biden on the ticket when so many other people were demanding he step down. I’m wondering, do you think he made the right decision, and how has that decision shifted your organization’s strategy? 

Cliff Albright: So yes, we think it was the right decision, but we still think it was important to send the message that we sent because part of that message and folks can go and look at the statement that we did, part of it was based on a healthy skepticism [laugh] of whether or not people were going to rally around the vice president, right? So we thought it was important to communicate that. And in terms of tactics and strategies, that hasn’t changed, right? Fundamentally, it’s still the same thing we gotta we gotta make phone calls, you got to send text messages. We got to, you know, have these conversations, do the early polling place parties. We got to educate people about the ongoing challenges of voter suppression. The messaging is obviously going to change and obviously changing in some good ways. It’s in some ways easier with her being the nominee then with President Biden being the nominee. And there’s a range of other issues. And then, you know, there’s the obvious. There’s the obvious that there’s this chance to make history, that we’ve got the first woman president, Black woman president, Indian woman president, all of that. Right? All of that is historic. But again, it’s not just about identity. It’s about policy. Right? It’s about that we see in this person because of her messaging, because of what she says and because of what she’s done, that it’s easier to message around what’s at stake, what issues are important, and what are the differences between these two candidates. 

Tre’vell Anderson: So to what extent do you think that Harris really needs to focus on, you know, outreach to Black communities, Black voters? We know that before Biden dropped out of the race, polls showed that, you know, he was struggling with young Black voters, especially men. What is it that Harris has to do to win their support? Should she be focusing more on Black voters? Where are you on that? 

Cliff Albright: I think she needs to keep doing the things that she’s doing now and the things that she’s been doing, right? It doesn’t make it any less important that she reach out to Black voters. You know, you got some people out there thinking that, oh, you got a Black candidate. And so it’s just automatic that Black folks will come out. And no it’s not automatic, as I said earlier, energy still has to be turned into votes. Energy still has to be turned into organizing. Is there some really good energy out there? Definitely. Do folks recognize that she reflects an experience that is consistent with what many of us have gone through, whether it’s the experience of having [?] the other day talking about her working at McDonald’s in college. Guess what? I did that too, right? And so whether it’s because of her experiences, growing up a certain way, going to a HBCU, pledging AKA, or just as being a Black woman in this world where as Malcolm X said, you know, the Black woman is still the most disrespected and underappreciated person in the world. All of that, we believe, translates into the way that people see policy. Like, all she needs to do is keep doing what she’s been doing. If they stay the course like that. They’ll be fine. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I wonder how you think specifically about the ways that misogynoir, right, will likely continue to show up um in this race. Um. And how, if any ways, Black Voters Matter is thinking about navigating and combating these issues, specifically right within the Black community? In an election where I feel like every time I hear folks talk about Black voters, they’re talking about a specific group of Black voters who seem to be, quote, unquote, “Trump curious.”

Cliff Albright: Right. 

Tre’vell Anderson: How are you all, as an organization, thinking through and navigating these very specific things, right, as you try to get the message out for VP Harris? 

Cliff Albright: Black men are the most progressive bloc in this country. Second only second only to Black women. And there’s always a gap, to be clear. You know, where where women show up and show out a little bit more than more than brothers do. But I, I think it’s important that we start there because that issue isn’t going to show up on the vast majority, at least 80% of Black men that they are going to be all in and they they with her. Right. Then you got this other group. And to be real, there is another group where that is an issue. You do have a small percentage that will say, look, I ain’t gonna vote for her because she’s a woman. I didn’t vote for Stacey Abrams cause’ she a woman, I ain’t vote for Hillary Clinton cause’ she a woman, and they’ll throw it out there like that. Then you got this other segment that they’ll try to couch it under some other stuff. Oh, you know, I just I’m not sure. You know, there’s something about her that just doesn’t seem presidential. [laughing] I don’t know what it is. There’s just something about her that doesn’t, you know, and it doesn’t I can’t I can’t see her being the commander and chief. They won’t say what it is. Right. And so I think that the way that we challenge this is to challenge it right, is to speak to it, you know, just force folk to deal with that patriarchy, right? To not assume that it’s what’s driving everybody’s position, but to recognize that it is a real thing. And we’re already seeing it, right? We’re seeing it, obviously, we’re seeing it coming from the Trump campaign. Right. [?] stories out now about him calling her what the B word. I don’t know if I can say it on. Can we say it on the podcast?

Tre’vell Anderson: You can. You know. 

Cliff Albright: Can we say that Trump out there [laughter] Trump out there calling her a bitch, right? But at the end of the day, if we mobilized that other at least 80% to come out and vote at high numbers, and then maybe those, the ones that are on the fence that aren’t like the most hardcore with it, but they just dealing with that uncertainty that a history of patriarchy [laugh] causes in  in some men. Then we’ll be okay. 

Tre’vell Anderson: My last question for you, VP Harris, has been receiving some criticism for not having yet done, you know, like a sit down interview. For not having yet established any major policy positions that seem different than President Biden. One of the areas where that poses a potential major threat is her approach to the war in Gaza, which we know has been an issue that has been super contentious for a lot of folks. What do you think Black voters need to hear from VP Harris on this topic in particular? 

Cliff Albright: We are in solidarity with the uncommitted movement. Right. And so it does pop up as an issue, not just among activists like most people in the country actually, polls are showing, favor a ceasefire. Right. Part of what started, I believe, when Biden started to shift a little bit on this, not nearly enough, but, you know, when some of the language started to shift in terms of mentioning a ceasefire, keep in mind it was a group of Black pastors who sent a letter, who did an open letter saying, we demand and we’re calling for a ceasefire. So it would be a mistake, I believe, for people to think that this is just something that the fringe of the base is calling for. We have been in conversations with regular smegular Black folks. They may not know all the intricacies or whatever, but we’re an oppressed people. We know what another oppressed people looks like. We know the oppressed versus a more dominant, well-armed, well-financed governing structure. And so I think it is an important issue. Do I think that it necessarily is at the same as like people who are concerned about their housing on their daily basis or their jobs and all that? I wouldn’t say that, but I definitely would not say that it’s not something that’s important to folks and that people want to see some change on. 

Tre’vell Anderson: That was my conversation with Cliff Albright, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund. 

Josie Duffy Rice: That’s the latest for now. We’ll get to some headlines in a moment. But if you like our show, make sure to subscribe and share with your friends. We’ll be back after some ads. [music break]

[AD BREAK] 

Josie Duffy Rice: Now let’s wrap up with some headlines. 

[sung] Headlines. 

Josie Duffy Rice: On Sunday, President Joe Biden took part in his first sit down interview since withdrawing from the 2024 election. Speaking with CBS news correspondent Robert Costa, Biden gave further insight into his decision not to run for a second term. 

[clip of President Joe Biden] What happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in their races, and I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic you’d be interviewing me about. Why did Nancy Pelosi say, why did so? And uh, and I thought it’d be a real distraction. 

Josie Duffy Rice: He also discussed his plans to head out on the campaign trail to support Vice President Kamala Harris. And throughout the interview, President Biden emphasized his belief that democracy is at stake in this election and that Americans need to be proactive against attempts by the GOP to undermine it. 

Tre’vell Anderson: On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike hit a school in Gaza City that was being used by Palestinians as a shelter. According to the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, the strike killed more than 100 people and injured dozens of others. It’s one of the deadliest attacks since the start of the war. Israeli officials, however, have disputed the number of people killed in the attack and say the airstrike killed 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters. Hamas has denied that militants were operating out of the shelter. And on Sunday, Israel issued yet another evacuation order for Palestinians sheltering in Khan Younis. The area under evacuation includes parts of what Israel had previously designated as a humanitarian zone. The Israeli army claims that militants had been firing rockets from that area. 

Josie Duffy Rice: Former President Donald Trump’s campaign said on Saturday that some of its internal communications from earlier this year were hacked. Politico was the first to report the news. The outlet said that it began receiving anonymous emails with insider documents from Trump’s campaign in late July. On Saturday, the campaign claimed that it was hacked by the Iranian government. The campaign cited a report from Microsoft detailing how Iranian hackers sent a phishing email to a, quote, “high ranking official on a presidential campaign back in June.” But the tech company never named the campaign that was targeted and did not comment on the matter on Saturday. When Trump’s campaign was asked if it had any other evidence to support its accusation of Iran, a spokesperson declined to comment. 

Tre’vell Anderson: And before you go, we have one final Olympics recap now that the games are over. Breaking officially made its debut as an Olympic sport on Friday. Canada’s Philip Kim, aka Phil Wizard, took home the gold medal in the men’s category, while Japan’s Ami Yuasa placed first in the women’s event. And while fans were excited to see a new sport in the mix, it’s unlikely that Breaking will return to the Olympic stage. The event is not on the agenda for the 2028 games, and the only way a new sport can become a regular event is if it’s included in three consecutive games. Let’s just say it’s probably for the best that breakdancing will, you know, disappear for a little bit because I saw those performances. 

Josie Duffy Rice: It was great to try something new, and it’s good to untry new things as well, when those things fail. So you live and learn. 

Tre’vell Anderson: You live and learn. 

Josie Duffy Rice: Meanwhile, in team USA news, the International Olympic Committee said on Sunday that gymnast Jordan Chiles must return the bronze medal she won for her floor exercise. Chiles initially finished in fifth last week, but she climbed to third after her coach argued that her score should be higher. This is not uncommon. Coaches are allowed to appeal their athletes scores for a few minutes until the next gymnast begins their routine. But Chiles was last in line, which meant her coach only had one minute to appeal. The IOC ruled that Chiles must be moved back down to fifth place because her coach missed that deadline by four seconds. But USA gymnastics claims it has video evidence that proves that the appeal was on time. 

Tre’vell Anderson: In other team USA news, the U.S. men’s basketball team won the gold medal for the fifth year in a row on Saturday after defeating France. The women’s and men’s track teams also took home the gold, placing first in the 4×400 relay, and the U.S. women’s soccer team won gold for the first time in 12 years after beating Brazil in the finals. In total, team USA left Paris with 40 gold medals. Now that the games are over, we’re looking ahead to 2028 when Los Angeles is set to host. LA mayor Karen Bass said on Saturday that city officials are working to expand public transit over the next few years to create a, quote, “no car games,” where fans travel between events by bus or train. I love the vision, Karen Bass. 

Josie Duffy Rice: Love the vision. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I just don’t know if that’s gonna be, you know, the case. We’ll see.

Josie Duffy Rice: It’s kind of giving people will be able to swim in the Seine vibes. Big dreams are so good. But also I have questions. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Stay tuned Josie. 

Josie Duffy Rice: I am staying tuned. And those are the headlines. 

[AD BREAK]

Tre’vell Anderson: That is all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe. Leave a review. Check your voter registration status and tell your friends to listen. 

Josie Duffy Rice: And if you’re into reading and not just about how team USA swept the Olympics like me, What a Day is also a nightly newsletter, so check it out and subscribe at Crooked.com/subscribe. I’m Josie Duffy Rice. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I’m Tre’vell Anderson. 

[spoken together] And stick to your two song playlist Trump. 

Josie Duffy Rice: You can play the two Kid Rock songs that people know. I don’t know what they are, but he probably has two. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Well. 

Josie Duffy Rice: Maybe one. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I’m surprised he hasn’t called up Sexyy Red yet. Okay.

Josie Duffy Rice: Ugh, I forgot. Lord. [laughter] That just sent shivers down my whole spine. [laughter] [music break]

Tre’vell Anderson: What a Day is a production of Crooked Media. It’s recorded and mixed by Bill Lancz. Our associate producer is Raven Yamamoto. We had production help today from Michell Eloy, Ethan Oberman, Jon Millstein, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire. Our showrunner is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adriene Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. 

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