[00:00:00] Welcome. I'm Erik Fleming, host of A Moment with Erik Fleming, the podcast of our time.
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[00:01:20] Hello and welcome to another moment with Erik Fleming. I am your host, Erik Fleming.
[00:01:41] And today I am blessed to have two guests that fall in the vein of what Dr. King talked about
[00:01:49] when he said that, and I'm paraphrasing, you know, that we can't rest until we make sure that everybody is eligible to vote
[00:02:06] and that we have somebody to vote for, right? And my two guests are going to help with the vote for part.
[00:02:19] One is a candidate for office and one is an activist who is trying to make sure that people are informed
[00:02:32] when they go to the polling place. So I'm really, really excited and both of these folks have that personal connection.
[00:02:44] One guest is from Chicago, the other guest is from Mississippi, so yeah, for me there's going to be a down home show.
[00:02:54] And so I can't wait for y'all to hear these guests and what they're trying to do.
[00:03:02] But first, before we do anything else, it is time for a moment of news with Grace G.
[00:03:28] Hope Hicks, a former Trump aide testified that in 2016, Trump had her deny allegations of his infidelity to protect his marriage.
[00:03:38] Stormy Daniels testified about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump and receiving a hush money payment during his 2016 presidential campaign.
[00:03:47] Marjorie Taylor Greene's attempt to oust Republican Speaker Mike Johnson was overwhelmingly defeated in the House with bipartisan support.
[00:03:55] A Georgia appeals court decided to consider Trump's request to disqualify the district attorney prosecuting him.
[00:04:02] Donald Trump's Florida trial on charges related to the possession of classified documents has been postponed indefinitely.
[00:04:10] The United States remains optimistic about ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, despite Israeli forces invading Rafa.
[00:04:18] President Biden addressed the campus unrest related to the war in Gaza, advocating for the right to protest peacefully but condemning violence.
[00:04:27] A U.S. soldier based in South Korea has been detained in Russia on charges of criminal misconduct.
[00:04:33] TikTok and bite dance are suing the U.S. government to block a law signed by President Biden that would require the divestiture of TikTok or face a ban.
[00:04:43] Congressman Henry Quayar and his wife have been indicted for allegedly accepting bribes to influence U.S. policies in favor of foreign interests.
[00:04:53] The Biden administration plans to provide around 100,000 uninsured DACA recipients with access to federally funded health insurance.
[00:05:02] And President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a diverse group of 19 individuals, including the late civil rights leader, Medgar Evers.
[00:05:12] I am Grace G. And this has been a moment of news.
[00:05:21] All right, thank you, Grace, for that moment of news.
[00:05:28] And now it is time for my guest, Bridget Washington.
[00:05:33] Bridget Washington is the CEO founder of Raven, a bipartisan social media app that empowers and engages young adults, both voters and non-voters.
[00:05:44] To make better informed decisions that will ultimately preserve our democracy.
[00:05:49] Bridget's background, which includes more than 20 years of medical device sales, strengthened her interest and skill set in motivating hard to reach audiences like surgeons who have allotted state given its their patients health at risk.
[00:06:04] This interest eventually transitioned to politics where Bridget became more and more fascinated with how to galvanize another hard to reach audience, young adult voters and non-vote.
[00:06:16] In partnership with at 1871, an incubator and think tank Bridget is building the Raven app to share political news from diverse perspectives, identifying dispel minstern from AI fake news,
[00:06:32] provide head to head matchups and legislative comparisons of candidates running for office, including which bills they led, wrote or signed updates on state laws being debated that restrict and or uphold democracy.
[00:06:49] Our democracy has too much legacy in this country to take the granted while still being too young to just let die.
[00:06:58] The Raven app will put the power to save our democracy in the hands of the people who matter most, the well informed voter.
[00:07:07] Ladies and gentlemen is my distinct honor and privilege to have a guest as a guest on this podcast Bridget Washington.
[00:07:29] All right, Bridget Washington. How are you doing sister you're doing good.
[00:07:34] I'm doing pretty good. I'm doing pretty good. Thank you for asking how are you.
[00:07:39] Oh, I'm lovely. I am glad to have somebody with a Chicago connection on my podcast. I always try to get some local flight, you know some flavor in whether it's Chicago or Mississippi or Jackson State whatever I always try to get somebody got a connection on there so and it's always good to do that
[00:07:58] especially when they're doing good things.
[00:08:01] So, I definitely wanted to highlight that.
[00:08:05] I appreciate that. All right, so what I normally do to start off the interview is that I throw a quote at my guest.
[00:08:16] Alright, so this is your quote. Whenever the people are well informed. They can be trusted with their own government that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice.
[00:08:29] They may be relied on to set them to rights. What does that quote mean you.
[00:08:35] Well, I feel as if when people are given accurate information.
[00:08:47] The vast majority of us will make decisions that are just not focused solely on ourselves as individuals but as society as a collective now that could just be the way I think.
[00:09:07] But I really feel as if that's not the case and I feel that strongly particularly with this younger generation they are incredibly passionate and empathetic and active and I mean they are really strong and determine these young people are and so.
[00:09:31] Yeah, that's just that's my personal feeling about how most people.
[00:09:41] Basically would take information that is critical and important and true and make decisions voting decisions political decisions around that.
[00:09:52] Yeah, and it's pretty apparent you know with the protests that are going on that these young people.
[00:10:01] You know even before when it was dealing with the gun violence you saw it you saw it with Black Lives Matter.
[00:10:09] But you know it's gone to a whole nother level with these these campus protests because these are all organic things.
[00:10:17] And it's important to make sure that these this passion that you talk about with these young people have the right information to go along with that passion.
[00:10:27] So having said that, what is Raven.
[00:10:31] Thank you for asking.
[00:10:35] Raven is a social media app that engages and empowers young adults to make better informed decisions that will ultimately preserve our democracy.
[00:10:52] I mean this country is not.
[00:10:57] I mean there's a lot of history here there's a lot of issues that are going on that are extremely nuanced.
[00:11:04] And I want to provide people with the type of information in a manner of which that they normally consume information.
[00:11:14] That's informative and pivotal, as well as dispelling fake news information because that is just.
[00:11:24] Oh my goodness it was just these past couple of years that I learned the word gaslighting.
[00:11:31] I was like what is that I never heard it before and it's rampant you know what I mean just like so.
[00:11:38] That's what Raven is Raven is a social media app targeted to 18 to 29 euros and really anybody who cares about our political atmosphere women and people of color.
[00:11:53] Because there's so much on the line.
[00:11:56] You know in 2024 it really is.
[00:12:00] And I, you know I understand apathy that you know people don't like the age of the president but I think he's doing a fantastic job.
[00:12:10] I mean he could be doing some things different but in terms of the Israel situation but that is a long history of some things and luckily he's finally made some recent changes in terms of sending weapons over there and conditioning weapons in terms of how they're using them.
[00:12:31] I mean, took him a while to get there.
[00:12:34] But this you know this this was a insane situation for Hamas to start this I mean just, you know why would you scratch a ginormous bear.
[00:12:47] In the face. You know what I mean just hope try to poke his eye right on out. You notice this country was bigger stronger and more effective in terms of coming after you.
[00:12:58] But anyway we won't.
[00:13:00] Well I mean you know that the only counter I'd say to that is, you know, they they were print planning for a year and Israel did nothing to stop them from doing it it's one thing it was totally by surprise.
[00:13:16] You know, it's like you knew they were coming to scratch you.
[00:13:22] And you and you and you underestimated them but like you said, we can have a whole nother show about that.
[00:13:29] But I want to go ahead.
[00:13:32] I was gonna say this one thing, you know, the fact that they chose to not pay attention was about misogyny.
[00:13:41] The fact that they didn't listen to that woman tell them hey something's going on over in Gaza.
[00:13:48] Misogyny.
[00:13:50] Misogyny racism keeps up keep keeps us all back.
[00:13:56] Anyway, sorry.
[00:13:57] No, it's like I had I had a guest who was dealing with intelligence for the Capitol police.
[00:14:06] And because she was a woman, they did the same thing that discounted her I mean she had literally just gotten the office like the October before all that happened.
[00:14:17] And she had figured out what they were going to do.
[00:14:21] And and the people just ignored her and then January 6 happened so your point is well taken on that deal.
[00:14:32] So you kind of talked a little bit about the mission of the app but what was your motivation?
[00:14:41] Why did Bridget Washington say, you know what?
[00:14:44] I'm going to create an app for young people to get them more engaged and more informed.
[00:14:49] What was it that that that spurred you to be the catalyst for this?
[00:14:54] I was absolutely livid.
[00:14:58] To watch a president.
[00:15:01] Dip into states with people where the turnout was huge of people of color.
[00:15:12] Of all different nationalities, black people, Latino people when where the numbers were much bigger than they normally were.
[00:15:20] Right to see him go.
[00:15:23] Oh, we need we're coming after Georgia specifically Georgia.
[00:15:26] Oh yeah, Maricopa County to watch him to hear him go after those states to invalidate those votes.
[00:15:37] Given the history of this country, the fact that African Americans built a lot of this country for free.
[00:15:46] I don't believe we this country really became a democracy until after 1965 shortly after because if you can mess with the voting rights in Alabama or Arkansas or any of that you are.
[00:16:01] We're not really a democracy.
[00:16:03] You know what I mean?
[00:16:04] And so until everybody wins.
[00:16:06] So just to see that it made me so mad. And at the same time.
[00:16:12] Twitter was just acting was on was just blowing up and just acting completely crazy. I want to say this was when around the time.
[00:16:21] The CEO took over the organization whose name I will not mention, right?
[00:16:27] All of that.
[00:16:28] All of that combined. And you know it was so funny because I was like LeBron can't you do something. I don't know like wow, how did I call on LeBron right?
[00:16:37] I don't know him at all. But I just thought, can't somebody celebrities do something about Twitter like buy it or something. I don't know what I was thinking.
[00:16:45] And you know, I am a big believer in the universe talking to me and it kept on me like a just on me. And then I was, I was in Los Angeles with a friend of mine.
[00:17:03] And this is what really, really pulled it out of me. Like she told me about the black girl follow train and I went and looked it up. This was December 2022.
[00:17:15] And I went and looked it up and it had like 440 million views.
[00:17:21] And I was like, holy crap. This is unbelievable. And then under that was like black girl follow train, you know, big booty, you know, all of these various versions 5 million here 2 million there 500,000 there to just a ton of viewership on this black girl
[00:17:38] And so I had been talking to the universe. I'm a big Abraham Hicks fan, my friend Latanya Johnson got me into that. But anyway, I was talking to the universe about my next steps because I just left at it.
[00:17:52] And which was a fantastic corporation, I will say.
[00:17:58] I had just left and I was sitting there and I was thinking to myself and I came up with the name Raven. This is a slightly longer story.
[00:18:06] Okay, so I was a big Game of Thrones fan.
[00:18:11] And there were Ravens in Game of Thrones that was going to the various houses with little messages.
[00:18:17] I thought that was really cool a little black raven or whatever and I was like, okay, that's interesting.
[00:18:23] I thought about that. And then another one of my friends when I was visiting in California, she was just like, well, you know, the word Raven was already taken as an app as a website.
[00:18:33] And I was like, okay.
[00:18:36] And so she was just like, well what about then like Venn diagrams that's the democracy I was like a queen is I call it Queenie.
[00:18:44] Oh my God, you're right. And so Raven came became Raven Raven calm. And that same day the strangest thing happened to me because I was so nervous and I have been an entrepreneur, entrepreneur before.
[00:18:57] And I knew the challenges ahead, right. And I was so nervous about it I was sitting out on the veranda and I'm sitting there.
[00:19:06] And Alicia hasn't gotten up yet. And I'm thinking about, oh my God, what are you about to do like are you this, are you this affected by this or you're about to then I was just like I got to do something what would happen if this man wins the next election.
[00:19:20] I mean the goal is to keep a democracy. This is not about Republican or Democrat, although, you know I have my own personal views. But this is about maintaining our democracy because the moment we lose our democracy, the people who I think will be
[00:19:36] in the most danger are black people. And that's not something I was willing to allow happen. So I'm sitting on the veranda, I'm thinking about it and so Felicia comes out and these these birds are flying around.
[00:19:48] And they're flying really weird and so Felicia is like, wow, these are weird and I'm like Felicia listening to me I just bought Raven calm. And she was just like, Okay, you know, okay, what are you going to do with it so we're talking about it.
[00:19:59] And then she starts looking up again and these birds flying around and patterns of two flying around something that looks like Saturn.
[00:20:06] Right in this really weird matter now I'm just like, girl I ain't thinking about no birds. Listen to me, I'm talking to you about what I'm doing like this is I'm really I'm nervous I'm scared like but I'm so compelled to do this I have to do it you know after
[00:20:19] I'm thinking about how many people on tic-tac would be focused and they were black women or most of them were black women I was thinking to myself.
[00:20:28] Black women get it. Right, and so then her boyfriend comes out on the deck and he's just like, man what's up with these birds that fly really low and I'm just like listen to me y'all I'm talking about this app I just bought.
[00:20:40] And she's just like, okay. And so we're talking about it and these birds are still flying right. And so she's just like these birds are really flying really weird she looks it up.
[00:20:52] And she finds that they are Ravens mating.
[00:20:57] I was so blown away, because while I was sitting out on the deck out in the veranda I was saying to myself Lord you have to send me a message, a really big message that I absolutely cannot deny to make me go forth with this because other than that I was in medical device sales.
[00:21:14] I could still get a role there you know what I mean like I was doing really well. They just are reimbursed me got cut so they let a lot of us a lot of us go anyway so that's what brought me to the concept of Raven then about a couple of weeks later I was talking to my friend Stacy, and she was
[00:21:34] telling her my idea and she was just like, you know my cousin is the CFO of 1871 I think you maybe need to look into that place. And I did. And I just fill out an application to join with the concept.
[00:21:52] And he's like, Okay, yeah we like that come on down and we're going to give you a scholarship. And they have been incredibly helpful to me and so that was February 2023 that all of this really kicked off the idea was Christmas and 2022 but that I started at 1871 at February 2023.
[00:22:12] And I haven't looked back like I can't imagine myself doing anything else because I'm really really scared.
[00:22:19] Well, you know that's, that's awesome. And that's that's an that's an incredible testimony to as far as prayers being answered and direction being given.
[00:22:35] How will.
[00:22:37] There is one point I want to say, I would argue with you about when democracy started.
[00:22:45] Even though 1965 was Voting Rights Act it wasn't until 1972 when 18 year olds could vote.
[00:22:51] And so, I would say that that's when democracy started, which is really your target group you want to get those young people. So how will how will Raven be different than other platforms that claim to
[00:23:07] be about voter information and all that.
[00:23:12] Well most of the other websites that are out there, none of them are social media.
[00:23:20] Right. This app will allow because we don't all think the same we don't all have the same information we're not all you know moving in the same direction but we should all be focused on maintaining our democracy.
[00:23:35] Because that's for the people by the people of the people right.
[00:23:41] So, that's the main one of the major differences that it is in a social media platform and a social media platform and also I'm going to be delivering people with information that is solely focused on our democracy.
[00:23:57] So you may be cute as a button but keep it on Instagram. You may be talented down know what, but keep it on tick tock your dog could be the cutest thing I'm a dog parent myself, but keep that on Facebook right we talking business on my website, but it will still be fun.
[00:24:15] And the other thing that's really different about it is, I just saw this on the native land pod the other day. And I don't really want to tell it because it's almost like my IP.
[00:24:25] But this woman wrote in and was like, hmm, I know something we need. And then Tiffany Cross was like, yeah, we need it in this way and I was like, it was like another signal to me because it is not easy right now I'm about to start fundraising because I've gone so far but now I'm at a point like I built the app.
[00:24:44] But now I'm at a point where I really need a technological person to do these API is and things because I'm pulling information straight from the government.
[00:24:54] So but the other thing the page that that's, that's the social media page is called what you raving about. Thank you.
[00:25:02] What you really I love that.
[00:25:05] That's going to be delivering information that leans left right into the center, but not far left and not far right.
[00:25:14] You will not be able to upload information, you know from like Breitbart gateway pundit.
[00:25:20] And I'm going to be some far left ones that I'm going to block to because we need to come back is basically people are so far left and far right with like horseshoeing, you know what I mean.
[00:25:31] And at the end of the day, we need to focus on maintaining our democracy.
[00:25:38] So one of the biggest concerns in opening up a platform like that is security.
[00:25:46] Will it be a secure platform.
[00:25:49] Absolutely. Absolutely, which is the reason why it's unfortunate that I happen to have impeccable tastes literally and everything. I believe this is one of my gifts.
[00:26:00] I'm just going to go ahead and say that I'm going to say that. And so my point is that I do not plan on delivering anything that is not secure.
[00:26:12] The only information that I really want from people is their zip code so that I can tell them and have an alarm for them to tell them hey couple weeks this is you know early voting time.
[00:26:25] This is where you can go for your polls that's for your, you know, to go vote that type of thing so I'm not taking a lot of you know I don't want a lot of information and I have there's zero plans to sell it.
[00:26:39] I don't want to take any more information at all. Like that's why one of the ways this place will make because it's a free app.
[00:26:47] Money is to get grants sponsorships and partnerships with foundations that are working to maintain and strengthen our democracy and there are quite a few of them out there.
[00:27:02] And if you've formed, this is kind of getting a wheeze a little bit but have you formed a nonprofit organization to be the catalyst for Raven or is this just a typical LLC kind of thing.
[00:27:16] Now it's a typical LLC, but that is not it's plans. It does not I have zero attention to keeping it that way.
[00:27:24] It is that way because I'm in the process of building the whole the whole thing like everything that I that that has to be done for business I'm doing, but the next move is to turn it into a corporation because that's the only way you get investors anyway.
[00:27:42] So I'm in that process and then also signing up for or creating Raven the Raven Foundation. So I'm in the beginning stages as far as that's concerned.
[00:27:53] But I definitely have my LLC, I've got trademarks for Raven where democracy lives which is the you know my logo and what you Raven about.
[00:28:07] So, yeah. All right, so what is, what is the importance of the Alliance with IWN.
[00:28:14] So IWN is owned by a friend of mine Dante Hamilton. And he has been he's also a founder at 1871.
[00:28:25] And we were in the pyros class classes together or webinars or programs together and still are like I work with Dante every day after I get off the phone with you what I'm going to be calling Dante.
[00:28:38] Dante is fantastic. And the reason why is because he is a very busy person with his own businesses, but he is concerned about our democracy too.
[00:28:50] And he is an all hands on deck situation because right now the only way we can get out of this foolishness is to vote ourselves out of it.
[00:29:01] Literally, and so Dante has motivated me to do things that I didn't think I can do again. I was in medical device surgical sales for 30 years.
[00:29:11] I think that I could build an app, but I've built an app. Right. But I'm only going to be beta testing that app because I don't want to launch it out there and because it needs to be secure.
[00:29:23] So, that's what my Kickstarter is for to build to raise the funds to actually have the real person to build it. I've already found a young brother, Hamo,
[00:29:34] and I'm going to be working with him to build my app. He's out of Atlanta, New York.
[00:29:47] Okay. So, one of the reasons why I wanted to highlight that in the question because Dante is is an African American who has been really moving.
[00:30:01] I'm not saying the shadows but not necessarily in the forefront of the technology we hear about the guy you don't want to mention and all these other people that are in tech but Dante's name and his company is not getting the same amount of attention.
[00:30:22] So, the fact that I saw that you were collaborating with him.
[00:30:27] You know, I thought we needed to highlight that these are two African Americans that are pushing a product that's going to help better educate our voters.
[00:30:43] Absolutely.
[00:30:45] My final question to you is this.
[00:30:48] Why is it important to have clarity and trust in our institutions as far as especially as far as government is concerned.
[00:31:01] Oh my gosh, it's incredibly important.
[00:31:05] Because again, we have chosen the best type of governance. The founders of this country chose the best type of governance and they have written down that they were working towards basically reminds me of the, I can't, I don't know it correctly but the arc of, you know, the arc bends towards justice it just been slowly you know Martin Luther King I get that wrong all the time.
[00:31:33] That's pretty close. It was pretty good.
[00:31:37] So, it's important to have trust in our institutions because it's the government is and this is what made me realize what's tremendously different in our government from these from our current years to back when the years of J Edgar Hoover.
[00:31:57] Right.
[00:31:58] It's tremendously different tremendously different right and the reason why is because our government is us.
[00:32:09] You know, they're not like aliens.
[00:32:12] They're your neighbors they're people.
[00:32:14] You know, who live next door to you and so it's important that people do things that the government has such high standards, typically with the people that they hire.
[00:32:28] To make sure that they're doing things right. Again, the arc bends towards justice but it does been slowly but
[00:32:38] I do feel that leadership matters and that directly affects our government and its ability to do his job which is to work for us.
[00:32:56] Yeah, and even though it been slowly is alright to give a little nudge right.
[00:33:02] Yes.
[00:33:04] Yes.
[00:33:06] And so you know as somebody that has been an elected official I greatly appreciate that one of one of my biggest joys was that organization all of us in the state legislatures were affiliated with was national conference of state legislatures.
[00:33:26] And they had a program called back to school day where we would coordinate with the local high schools or you know middle schools in our district.
[00:33:38] To go talk to students about what we do and why it's important.
[00:33:44] And you know so what I see you trying to do was is doing this in this digital information age and setting up where everybody that is able to vote can can get information because you know information is information has always been power.
[00:34:09] And I think Dan rather said it best he said whether it's in the city hall and I might be quoting a while is like city hall, the state capital or the White House.
[00:34:26] Our obligation is to speak truth to power.
[00:34:30] And I view what you are attempting to do and what I hope will be successfully launched, especially in this election year is is trying to achieve that.
[00:34:42] So having said all that.
[00:34:46] How can people get in touch with you how can people donate.
[00:34:50] You know make your pitch.
[00:34:53] Wonderful. First of all my words have power I know that just like your words have power Eric this app is launching this app will change the stratosphere going forward as it relates to the US politics.
[00:35:08] My goal is to create young policy nerds.
[00:35:13] You know what I mean.
[00:35:15] Just young policy nerds because they're so passionate, you know, but all they need is the information and they need the information from someone who cares.
[00:35:25] Not from, you know, Russia or China or Iraq right they need it from someone that's just like them just a little older.
[00:35:36] People I have, you know, a billion things to do as a new founder for sure. And so the one thing that I'm doing right now is about to launch my
[00:35:47] My campaign on Kickstarter. I currently have one on iPhone women, but I believe Kickstarter is probably the better place for me to launch my campaign.
[00:35:58] I'm only trying to raise $70,000 which would take care of advertisement and also the building of the app.
[00:36:07] Also have platforms on there's on Facebook I'm Raven on Instagram I'm Raven app on Twitter I'm Raven for seven and how you spell Raven is R A V E V E and in.
[00:36:23] And so I'm excited about this I have been given a lot of help from.
[00:36:32] I just met Betsy Ziegler the CEO of 1871 Michael Stratman is the executive director of the Obama Foundation.
[00:36:42] He's introduced me to at least what I call nine heavy hitters, a bunch of people who were, you know, very educated and well versed working in the Obama White House and some even the Biden White House to help me usher this into
[00:36:58] into the stratosphere because we really need some help. So you can find me on, like I said Facebook as Raven R A V E V E and in Instagram, Raven app R A V E V and in and yeah, follow me there and also LinkedIn.
[00:37:17] You can find me there.
[00:37:20] Well, I'm a I'm a agree with your affirmation.
[00:37:25] I think that this app is going to have a major impact in the election.
[00:37:32] I thank you for following your the universe as you put it to go ahead and do this because it's needed.
[00:37:45] And so I appreciate you and that's why I wanted to make sure I got you on my platform of my podcast, so that people are listening to me can be hip to it.
[00:37:57] And, and hopefully that, you know, all these heavy hitters connect and and and get this ball rolling because we definitely we definitely need that so Bridget Washington thank you for doing this.
[00:38:13] And thank you for coming on the podcast.
[00:38:16] Thank you so much for having me Eric, I really appreciate it. I really appreciate it. I also have a website, Raven dot com and app dot Raven dot com.
[00:38:26] Yeah, and I really was kind of hoping you said that because it's like you've got like a whole store going on and with Merch and all that stuff and I think that was one of the other things that I W and helped you put together so
[00:38:42] I'm glad you put that in there too.
[00:38:44] Yes, he helps me Dante is the kindest most considerate helpful guy and he told me the other day he was like Bridget, I help people, but I'm helping solely you know what I mean because one I believe what you're doing is necessary and
[00:39:03] and you're open to change to advice to movement so he's been awesome I keep trying to make him make him my co founder but he's just like no because he's got his own businesses but I'm like please come over.
[00:39:16] But yes, I do need some help.
[00:39:19] Well he's down with you in spirit of nothing else and with with other things that he's got going on so again, Bridget thank you. Thank you.
[00:39:30] Thank you so much Eric I appreciate you reaching out to me I really do. I really didn't thank you.
[00:39:36] Alright guys and we're going to catch up on the other side.
[00:40:01] All right, and we are back so now is time for my next guest.
[00:40:08] Ty Pinkins and I kind of invested interest in this brother.
[00:40:16] Primarily because he's embarking on a journey that I embarked on in 2006 and 2008.
[00:40:26] He is running to be a United States Senator from the great state of Mississippi.
[00:40:34] And Ty Pinkins was born and raised in the small town of rolling for.
[00:40:40] So he calls Mississippi Delta his home is retired army officer who served 21 years in the military including three combat tours.
[00:40:50] He is the co-founder and president of the pyramid project, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing you from underserved communities to the social cultural and economic capital necessary for them to fulfill their dreams.
[00:41:07] He is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law School and he is happily married to Sabrina Curtis and is the proud father of two children, Joseph and Rukia.
[00:41:19] Ladies and gentlemen is my distinct honor and privilege to have as a guest on this podcast.
[00:41:26] Ty Pinkins.
[00:41:31] All right, Ty Pinkins. How are you doing man? Are you doing okay?
[00:41:47] I'm making it. I'm making it. I cannot complain. I am doing well on this campaign trail of running across this state around this state and through this state trying to get people excited about November.
[00:42:00] Looking forward to what's to come. How are you?
[00:42:03] Oh, I'm doing lovely. I'm not campaigning for nothing. So I'm doing great.
[00:42:09] So you're not tired like me.
[00:42:11] That's right. That's right. I'm not trying to diverse 82 counties, but I've been there done that so I commend you for getting out there and doing what needs to be done and you're going to have some fun over these next few months.
[00:42:28] I promise.
[00:42:29] I have but Mississippi is a big state. I think people don't realize how large this stadium is with these 82 counties. It's a long, it's a tall state.
[00:42:40] You know, we're trying to get around this place. It's challenging, but like you said, it's a lot of fun.
[00:42:46] There are a lot of beautiful places and beautiful people in the state of Mississippi that I met over the last 16 months.
[00:42:51] Yeah, from the Soto County to the Gulf Coast baby. That's how we had a role.
[00:42:56] So look how I normally start off these interviews is that I throw a quote at somebody and then I get them to respond to it.
[00:43:05] So your quote is this, let us remember that our collective future is not written for us but by us in our state, which has produced some of this country's most prolific writers.
[00:43:19] We have the power to pen a new chapter for Mississippi, a story of unity over division, compassion over indifference and progress over stagnation.
[00:43:30] What does that quote mean you.
[00:43:32] That means that that that every day we in Mississippi we've done some special things.
[00:43:38] People take a look at our past.
[00:43:42] And we've been we've been judged by that for far too long.
[00:43:48] But we have a lot of people in Mississippi that have the power to reshape the image of our state and those are voters. Those are everyday Mississippians like you just quoted.
[00:44:01] We are the birth, our state is the birthplace of American music.
[00:44:05] And in that vein, understanding that we have the power to make sure that every voice in Mississippi is heard from the school teacher to the cafeteria cook to the concerned parent from the nurse to the neurosurgeon from the farm worker to the factory worker.
[00:44:21] If we get these people to turn out and vote and participate in the political process, we can show people that Mississippi is not really as red as they think it is Mississippi is more purple as blue than people, then people give us credit for.
[00:44:35] We just have to get up and amplify our voices in this election cycle and election cycles to come.
[00:44:43] Yeah, when I ran for the seat. We had this thing called blue dots.
[00:44:49] And you know I said that I was a blue dot and a red sea.
[00:44:54] And when I put that out there is a lot of folks were saying well I'm a blue dot to miss Fleming I'm a blue dot.
[00:45:01] And so the key is is connecting those blue dots.
[00:45:07] Yeah, but you're seeking a position in an institution that has a 15% approval.
[00:45:14] Yep, very low. Very low. Why would you want that job and to what can you do if you're elected to improve the image of Congress.
[00:45:23] Well, that's a wonderful question and to answer the first part of your question.
[00:45:29] Why would I want a job where the approval rating by the people that are that you're benefiting or working for is only 15% why would I want the job my entire adult life has been in public service from serving 21 years in the military, including
[00:45:51] combat towards bronze star to working in low income communities as a nonprofit nonprofit public interest lawyer. This is where my heart is my heart is helping people and representing and people, and so that's why I want the job, because
[00:46:08] I feel like this is what I am built and designed to do this is what my heart is at to serve to serve communities low income communities Mississippians Americans in general.
[00:46:21] With regard to the second party of question, the 15% approval rating and, and what I can do if elected to improve the image of Congress we all recognize that Congress has an alarmingly low approval rating.
[00:46:34] I understand why many Mississippians many Americans feel disillusioned with our government however I think that with that we have an opportunity. First, I'm running because I'm passionate about Mississippi.
[00:46:48] I'm passionate about this country that's related my military service and the issues we face they are real and pressing for Mississippians.
[00:46:57] The second party of question is how to improve Congress's image that's vital to rebuilding trust and transparency in Americans in Mississippi one I think effective communication, and that comes with ensuring that there's open and consistent dialogue between myself as an elected official and constituents,
[00:47:17] whether that be Mississippians, but more broadly Americans in general. And that's why my campaign motto is you talk. I listen, we do. And for the past 16 months that's precisely what we've been doing and that's what I intend to do after I get elected.
[00:47:33] The second thing is bipartisan collaboration that's nothing that's sorely missing in our in the Senate and Congress in general, just in general.
[00:47:42] Now while partisan divides can strife or progress our work to find common ground and build consensus on both sides of the aisle because you see it as well as I do that we have this red, blue, Republican, Democrat right left divide.
[00:47:59] And when we have a Democratic Legislature or President and power, no matter what policies are put forth, Republicans are going in the corner and sit on their hands, even if they agree with it.
[00:48:18] And we have to be fair that Democrats do the same thing sometimes also when we have Republicans in power, when there are some policies that are put forth that Democrats agree with simply because of who is in power sometimes will go sit on our hands that's why I consider myself an independently minded Democrat.
[00:48:33] And I think that is what we're missing. We're missing leaders who want to work to make sure that regardless of who puts forth the policy, if the policy benefits a majority of Mississippians, a majority of Americans, then you vote to support that policy, as opposed to voting against it simply because the people that put it
[00:48:57] forth are on a different side of the aisle on a different team or on a they wear a different color. And I think that's, that's where we're sort of a long time ago there are a lot of veterans serving in the middle of serving in Congress, a lot.
[00:49:12] But it's decreased to the point right now, where we're missing those those core elements that veterans bring to office, the of working together for the better the greater good of all Americans all Mississippians as opposed to continuously going into our respective corners and not supporting policies and issues that benefit everyone.
[00:49:33] So that kind of leads me to my next question. What what experience would make you a better senator your military experience, your legal experience or your experience as a young man that grew up in Mississippi Delta.
[00:49:47] All of the above, all the above.
[00:49:49] I'm serving our country and the army taught me the importance of discipline team work and sacrifice and in difficult situations conditions across the globe I learned the value of unity and achieving a shared mission as a United States senator this background will help me navigate complex national security issues but more importantly
[00:50:08] understand how important it is to work together with people that disagree with me. And again I think that's what's missing, because my opponent is also a veteran.
[00:50:16] But from a veteran's perspective and I talked to veterans all the time about this what separates me from him and what would make me a better candidate than he would it specifically because of how we approach our service, both of us myself and my opponent Roger Wicker both sworn off to support and defend the
[00:50:36] Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. We have done that.
[00:50:41] I did it. He did it as a as a as an active service member, and he also did it as an elected official but here's my argument.
[00:50:48] You can't honor that oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic on one hand, and at the same time, embrace the person who instigated and orchestrated an attack on our nation's capital.
[00:51:04] Those two are totally contradictory. You cannot do that. And there are so many veterans that I meet every single day who are very, very upset about that because they feel like, and I feel like that he has betrayed those core values that we abide by in
[00:51:24] service in uniform, loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, personal courage. He's betrayed all of those things by embracing Donald Trump, the person who instigated and attack on our nation's capital as a lawyer I have advocated for individuals and communities fighting for justice right here in Mississippi
[00:51:42] Mississippi, some of Mississippi's most underserved communities I attended Georgetown law and earned my JD and my LLM. But after I graduated, I sold my house up in Maryland and I came right back to Mississippi.
[00:51:55] And for the past few years I have been working in some of Mississippi's poorest communities in the Mississippi Delta where the poverty rate is as I 39% where we have single mothers being kicked out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic in the middle of winter at
[00:52:09] the same time. And so I think those two experiences combined with the fact that I grew up in poverty in the Mississippi Delta, I'm taking that unique voice to Washington that's needed, where I understand what people are going through because I've gone through it and my family has gone
[00:52:26] to my parents, my grandparents, their their parents and their grandparents and taking those core values that we abide by in the military and re implementing those into the thought process in Washington.
[00:52:41] And I'm going to get back to something about the veterans in a moment. But there's two questions I want to ask you. Why is it important for another black voice to be in the Chamber of the United States Senate. That's one and then the second part of that
[00:53:00] question is, why do you think it is so challenging for a black person to be elected to the US Senate.
[00:53:07] Those are really, you know what I love that I love those two questions. And me personally, and I know a lot of people feel this way is it's essential to have a diverse have diverse voices in the United States Senate to ensure that the experiences and perspectives
[00:53:24] of all Americans are represented on in our national dialogue when when the Senate reflects the varied democracies of our country it becomes more responsive to the needs and concerns of different communities, you can't be responsive to the people if you
[00:53:40] don't look like the people. You know that that's common sense. And here's why that matter. America, our country is a nation of many coaches we are melting pot background of backgrounds and experiences when we bring a diverse range of voices to the Senate we enrich our policy making
[00:53:58] process, and that leads to more nuanced, effective policies that serve the diverse needs of our entire population Mississippians, Chicagoans, Americans in general, and a Senate that draws on the various various perspectives creates legislation that is inclusive and takes into account the challenges faced by all of our
[00:54:22] different communities and representation is not just about one group or one demographic it's about ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table, and that all viewpoints are considered and I think that's why so important that we elect not only more black voices but more black and brown people to the United
[00:54:42] States Senate. So in short, it's not just about having another black person in the Senate and this is about ensuring that our institutions are represented and representative of the vibrant diversity that makes our country what it is our diversity is not a weakness
[00:54:59] that's a strength. That's what makes us unique around the world you station in Germany. Yeah, they have diversity diversity there somewhat of a stew pot. I've been stationed in Asia, I've been stationed in Japan and Asia and I've been stationed all around the world, but the United States.
[00:55:20] The one thing I think that sets us apart is that we have so many different groups of people working together because they're in love with this democracy this country. And I think making sure that we have a more diverse Senate particularly making sure that we elect more black people.
[00:55:36] It only benefits our country.
[00:55:39] So why do you think it's hard to get black folks in the Senate.
[00:55:45] Man, the challenges of electing black folks to the United States Senate stem specifically from a lot of the, I guess, ingrained shortcomings that we've had throughout history to be viable to be a viable candidate.
[00:56:10] You generally need three things you need the numbers, you need organization and you need money. Right. The numbers you need you need the number of voters to win organization you need grassroots organization, and you need a reliable donor base that's the money.
[00:56:25] Mississippi has one of those two things. That's the numbers take a look at Georgia. Georgia just elected elected Democratic senators three times.
[00:56:37] And also, and one or twice in less than 10 years.
[00:56:43] Georgia's only about 28% African American.
[00:56:47] Mississippi is nearly 40% black. So the numbers are there. They are there. What we're trying to do with this campaign is fix the other two legs that still creating an organized grassroots organization and a reliable donor base.
[00:57:05] That's part of the reason we're running this campaign to create that so that for future elections in 2025 we got municipal elections in 2026 we got statewide elections again where we got Cindy high Smith for Senate in 2027 we got statewide elections.
[00:57:20] Building those three legs of the stool will help that and I think that's why it's so challenging to elect a black person in Mississippi because oftentimes you don't have all three of those components that's necessary to make that candidate viable.
[00:57:34] Yeah.
[00:57:38] Yeah, I, you know, one of the one of the things with it was, you know, after the eight election when I ran.
[00:57:45] There was a big forum at USM and University Southern Mississippi free all listening for Mississippi.
[00:57:55] And it was like one of the professors he was black political science professors were saying, oh, you know, it's just straight up racism and blah blah this that other.
[00:58:06] And I remember I asked a question to the audience was about 250 folks there, maybe about two or three of them black folks.
[00:58:16] I asked a question how many y'all have a black banker when y'all go to the bank to deal with your money.
[00:58:24] And only two of the people raised their hand and only one of them was black.
[00:58:30] And I said, the United States Senate is one half of a body that votes on $3 trillion.
[00:58:38] The average citizen is not used to dealing with a black person with their personal finances.
[00:58:44] It's kind of hard to get them to picture a black person making decisions about $3 trillion.
[00:58:53] And so I said it's a combination of exposure and trust.
[00:58:58] And so that I think is what you as a candidate other than the stuff that you enumerated is is the challenge that you have to convey that trust in the people.
[00:59:11] Oh, absolutely.
[00:59:12] I agree 100%.
[00:59:13] And I think one of the things that's been missing is candidates doing the right things to and to engender that trust especially in state life Mississippi.
[00:59:24] And this is for me, miss meeting them over the last 16 months.
[00:59:29] The thing that surprised the shock that I get when I when I when that that I see is when I knock on their doors and go into communities, rural communities in Mississippi is you what are you what are you talking about I have a candidate standing on my doorstep asking me for my vote.
[00:59:47] That should not be a surprise.
[00:59:50] A voter should not be surprised that a candidate is knocking on their door and muttering these simple words, can I have your vote, tell me what's important to you.
[00:59:59] And over and over again, I see in Mississippi voters eyes first the shock and then the appreciation that someone is asking them for their vote.
[01:00:08] And I think for too long, Mississippi has have been neglected pushed aside and these are pushed aside and just relegated to a position where they feel like that they're not appreciated.
[01:00:21] And that's what I'm trying to change with moving around the state and you don't do that by in modern politics you need radio you need television you need internet is inevitable you need it.
[01:00:33] There's also an element to meeting people in their communities and talking to them and listening to them that I think is effective and I think that's one of the things that we've been doing over the past year just want to make a difference in the next five months.
[01:00:46] Yeah, there's no substitute for retail politics brother.
[01:00:49] Oh, no, not at all.
[01:00:50] And yeah, it's a it's a it's an awesome feeling when you get to talk to people and people tell you I never had somebody run for us in it actually actually come to my town or actually knock on my door to vote.
[01:01:04] So yeah, that means a lot.
[01:01:06] Yeah.
[01:01:07] What are what are the main issues you want to address when you get to watch it and this is why I wanted to interject me.
[01:01:17] Since you were bringing up your your military experience.
[01:01:21] One of the most disturbing things I saw when I was in my many visits to DC was the fact that in front of the Veterans Administration building.
[01:01:36] And I forget what street is on now but there's a park literally right across the street from it.
[01:01:42] It's like it is nothing but homeless veterans in that park.
[01:01:49] And it would seem to me that at some point in time, somebody in that office would get to the secretary of Veterans Affairs and say, you know we need to address what we're looking at every day when we come to work.
[01:02:07] Because that doesn't make it no veteran to me should be homeless.
[01:02:11] Period.
[01:02:12] And you know so that's that's one thing I think that you as a veteran can bring to the table but that's just me interjecting.
[01:02:22] What exactly is your priority what are you trying to do when you get to the US Senate what issues you want to address.
[01:02:30] Well, just on the mod the three platform issues that I'm running on the jobs and economy health care and education for obvious reasons Mississippi has been at the back of the line with regard to job creation and economic development for a long time back when you were running.
[01:02:46] Our state was at the back of the line before then, and now we're we're still at the back of the line we have one of the highest unemployment rates.
[01:02:56] Our, even though it's low, is still triple the national average in some counties in the state.
[01:03:02] There are some counties in Mississippi where the poverty rate is as high as 39%. The national poverty rate system about 12%.
[01:03:09] That's a 27% gap that's existed to some degree for the past few decades and lots since my opponent took office so figuring out ways to make sure that jobs are brought to Mississippi to improve our economy health care.
[01:03:23] We're near last in maternal mortality will last in infant mortality and the sad thing is that we're one of the few states that have not expanded Medicaid in this country.
[01:03:37] So ensuring that the opportunity to expand Medicaid stays on the table until our state leaders get out and get themselves together because it's a decision for a state elected official to do it the federal in the Senate I can't force the state to do it but what I can do is fight to
[01:03:52] make sure that the affordable care act stays there to make it a make that expansion available education same thing.
[01:04:01] We're too long our children have been suffering because our state is near last in educational resources for our kids so those three things are priorities for me but the most important thing I believe I bring to the United States Senate is honesty,
[01:04:21] duty we're missing that where we have politicians that are going television today, today and blatantly tell a lie to the voters that they're working for or ignore obvious obvious issues that are going on take January 6 for example, we all saw that with our own eyes.
[01:04:41] But we have politicians that are so confident that they're going to get reelected because of Jerry manned congressional districts or partisanship that they will go on television veterans like my opponent.
[01:04:55] They will stand there and act like this never happened I think myself with my military experience and my my love for working in communities and helping people on the grassroots level.
[01:05:08] I think taking that that sense of service to Washington DC I think that's that will make a huge difference and that's one of the fundamental things that I want to do because I do think that our democracy is at risk.
[01:05:21] We are at a crossroads in this country to where we don't have a change in leadership.
[01:05:26] Where people are more cognizant of the needs of everyday voters, everyday constituents, then I think we're headed in the wrong direction but if and that's one of the reasons I'm running because I wanted to I want to correct that and make sure that we're pointing in the right direction.
[01:05:43] Yeah and I'm gonna get to that democracy question real soon but what I want to ask you now because one of the things that the United States Senate does is one of its unique powers is that they approve treaties that the United States gets into.
[01:06:06] And so I have a feeling that the only way that this is Israeli Hamas conflict is going to be settled.
[01:06:18] Is that the United States somehow gets involved in a treaty with Israel and and the creation of a Palestinian state in order to ensure that there's peace in that region, or at least that part of the region.
[01:06:36] So what would you like to see done dealing with this Israeli Hamas conflict? Because also you're going to have to vote on aid packages. Historically the Senate has always supported Israel even though now that's a point of contention.
[01:07:00] What's your viewpoint on what's going on over in Gaza and how do you feel that you can impact that as a senator?
[01:07:09] Well you know Israel has been one of our longest and strongest allies historically but one issue I have and there are a few is that the United States support should never ever ever ever be unconditional.
[01:07:34] That's with regard to our allies or people that are not our allies. It should never be unconditional. There should always be a condition on our support and that condition should be humanitarian related conditions, morally related conditions, especially during a conflict that condition should be closely tied to our allies adherence to international laws of conflict.
[01:08:00] I support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza first and foremost and this is essential to stop the violence and prevent further loss of life over 35,000 people have died because of this conflict. Most of those people women and children and the protection of civilians. This is absolutely paramount.
[01:08:20] So a ceasefire will allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need. So I certainly supported a ceasefire two state solution.
[01:08:29] I think while it's challenging to create, I think this is the only solution to have lasting peace in Gaza is to create a sovereign Palestinian state alongside a secure Israeli state.
[01:08:47] And what I don't agree with is when people say on one side of the aisle say well Israel's security is more important than Palestinians having a safe place to live.
[01:09:03] I think both things should exist at once should coexist. Palestinians deserve a place to call their home as well as Israeli deserve a place to call it home so I support a two state solution.
[01:09:17] All right, so I'm going to combine this into a final question.
[01:09:22] Gary Chambers and I don't know if you've ever met that brother or not, but he ran for the US Senate last time in Louisiana in 22.
[01:09:34] After he lost, he stated that low black voter turnout cost him his chance to win the election.
[01:09:41] So one part of the question is what can be done to increase voter turnout in your race. And then two, do you think saving democracy is enough motivation to get people especially black people to the polls.
[01:09:58] I think when we talk about low voter turnout, especially low black voter turnout and politicians turn and blame that on the voters. I think that's reporting the finger at the wrong place.
[01:10:09] Fundamentally, it's the candidates responsibility to give voters to come out.
[01:10:15] It is and when we do it all the time.
[01:10:19] Candidates and politicians they'll take a state like Mississippi and show up in some black community a week before election time, or a couple of weeks before election time and on Election Day when those voters don't turn out they turn around and say well look that's why we lost no.
[01:10:37] They didn't turn out because you waited until the last minute to show up in their communities to let them know that you care about them. How about the previous four or five years when you were serving in office and you didn't provide resources for their communities.
[01:10:50] You didn't show up in their communities to hear what they were concerned about. And so that's why I started this campaign early two years in advance to show up in those communities and let those community members understand that I was thinking about them and I'm concerned it was important to them.
[01:11:06] So I think that whole narrative of when people say is the voters fault. No, it's the candidates fault show up and encourage people to vote for you if they don't turn out and vote for you didn't do something right as a candidate.
[01:11:18] You didn't it's an uphill climb. Absolutely. It's a tough road to hold certainly but when you put your name on the ballot as a candidate that is your responsibility to climb that hill to hold that role and to get voters excited to come out and vote for you.
[01:11:36] Do I think saving democracy is enough to motivate to get people to the polls.
[01:11:42] As someone who's worn the uniform has promoted democracy in foreign countries and also defending democracy here at home I firmly believe that saving our democracy can and should be a powerful motivator for getting people to the polls and here's why.
[01:11:57] During my military service I saw firsthand how people around the world long for freedoms, long for the freedoms that we often take for granted here in the United States.
[01:12:07] And democracy it's, it's the foundation of those freedoms.
[01:12:13] And we have it right here. We have it but it's slowly slipping through our fingers right now you know as well as I do, all of us are watching this show where we're wondering after November 5th, going into 2025 is our democracy going to take a turn for the worse.
[01:12:32] And democracy only works when those in power held accountable to the people that they serve so by voting we ensure that our leaders are responsible for their actions and that's why this election cycle is so so so important so I absolutely feel like the fact that our democracy at risk
[01:12:50] and the importance of saving our democracy is and should be enough to motivate voters to come out and vote we just got to get people to pay attention we got to get young people to pay attention focus.
[01:13:01] They're going through so much right now, especially with student debt.
[01:13:05] Things that young people deal with they're going through so much, and it goes back to the candidate and the parties is the parties in that candidates responsibility to get their attention to meet them where they are whether they'll be on a college campuses campus or at a barbecue in a low income
[01:13:22] community or block party or a fish fry, get out there and meet voters and let them know how important it is and don't just assume that people are as locked into what's going on in politics, or in our government as you and I are, we're down in this stuff we
[01:13:40] eat it, which we eat it and we digest it every day, but the everyday American especially the everyday Mississippian is trying to survive.
[01:13:49] They're trying to feed their family.
[01:13:51] And it's my responsibility to talk to them and communicate to them what's important in this election cycle. And that's what we've been trying to do.
[01:13:59] Alright so now we're at the important part of the interview. Tell folks how they can get in touch and get involved with your campaign.
[01:14:08] Look, first of all, I thank you so much for bringing me on. I really appreciate you sharing your platform from form with me. The way that people especially Chicagoans and people up in Illinois can help me is I need contributions.
[01:14:24] I need donations to help me down in Mississippi. Mississippi is the hardest place to raise money in in this country. You can go to www.typinkins.com.
[01:14:34] That's T-Y-P-E-S-N-P-A-L-I-N-K-I-N-S dot com and make a contribution. All my social media handles LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram are at Typinkins at T-Y-P-E-S-N-P-A-L-I-N-K-I-N-S.
[01:14:49] So tell me, send me a donation and because we're about to change the face of politics here in Mississippi. It's about to happen and we are going to maintain a Democratic Senate on a national level with your help.
[01:15:03] Yeah, it's not just my old home folks in Chicago but my new home folks here in Atlanta.
[01:15:10] Oh man.
[01:15:11] I hope you all got that. If you didn't get it, rewind the tape so you can find out exactly how to get in touch with this brother.
[01:15:21] Ty, I greatly appreciate you taking the time out of the campaign to come on. I wish you much success.
[01:15:28] I have obviously a personal reason why I want you to succeed and I just wish you the best brother on that campaign trail.
[01:15:40] Well, thank you so much Eric. I really appreciate it and we're going to win this thing. We are going to win this thing.
[01:15:45] Thank you for your help and your kind words and to all your listeners, www.typinkins.com. Go out, check me out and give me a donation so we can win this thing.
[01:15:57] We can change Mississippi and protect our country. Thanks a lot.
[01:16:00] All right guys and we'll catch y'all on the other side. All right, and we are back so I want to thank Bridget Washington and Ty Pinkins for coming on the podcast.
[01:16:25] I hope y'all listening support their endeavors. Bridget with her endeavor to inform young voters throughout this election season.
[01:16:38] And Ty and his quest to be a United States Senator from the great state of Mississippi.
[01:16:45] I hope y'all get engaged with those, those endeavors.
[01:16:50] But I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the fact that when this podcast airs it'll be right on the eve of the second anniversary of the shooting that happened at Topps grocery store.
[01:17:07] That took 10 lives.
[01:17:10] Including the mother of my friend Mark Talley.
[01:17:15] And both of New York.
[01:17:17] And
[01:17:20] I want y'all to think about those folks.
[01:17:26] You know, and the city of Buffalo as a whole, but especially the black community in the eastern part of the city.
[01:17:35] That
[01:17:38] You know, really
[01:17:40] Are still healing from all this.
[01:17:43] Not just the families of those who were slain but the families of those who were wounded as well.
[01:17:48] And there's been some incredible stories.
[01:17:52] Coming out of that tragedy that, you know, Lord willing.
[01:18:00] By this time next year.
[01:18:04] I want to be able to be there and talk to them personally. That's that's my goal is to get up there.
[01:18:13] And kind of see where everybody is.
[01:18:18] What changes have been made.
[01:18:20] All that kind of stuff.
[01:18:22] But they're, you know, just tracking everything, especially through mark.
[01:18:27] Some incredibly positive things have happened out of that tragedy. So, but just keep them in your thoughts and prayers and in the meantime, when you're thinking about them, think about the family.
[01:18:39] Frank Tyson from Ken, Ohio and Roger Fortson.
[01:18:44] Who I understand is from Atlanta.
[01:18:47] But he was in Florida serving his country.
[01:18:51] In the Air Force.
[01:18:53] Both of them were killed by police officers.
[01:18:59] Mr Tyson.
[01:19:01] Very similar fashion to what happened to George Floyd in 2020 only difference was instead of a street.
[01:19:09] It was in a bar.
[01:19:13] And for Mr. Fortson, it was literally in his own home.
[01:19:20] And probably was the wrong house that the police went to. And if you see the video take
[01:19:35] you would think that this is my opinion.
[01:19:40] You would think that it was an execution with Fortson.
[01:19:46] You think that that was a deliberate attempt to take that brother out.
[01:19:52] And like I said, this is a young brother just like Mr. Pinkins.
[01:19:57] Serving his country and gun down in his house and it really, really hit me.
[01:20:06] You know, Mr. Tyson bothers me a lot.
[01:20:10] You know, older black man when you see that video tape and he's telling the police you're not going to kill me.
[01:20:16] And they did.
[01:20:20] But you know, Brother Fortson was a young military veteran.
[01:20:26] Actually, he was still serving.
[01:20:31] Gun down at the age of 23 in his own home.
[01:20:37] And both of those instances were mistakes by officers who should have known better.
[01:20:47] Especially after what happened with George Floyd.
[01:20:57] If, you know, I was still in my position as an elected official.
[01:21:04] I would be outraged but being a former elected official and being somebody who was trained in law enforcement.
[01:21:13] It pisses me off.
[01:21:17] And I pray that these officers are made an example of.
[01:21:29] So maybe other officers that didn't quite get the memo four years ago, they'll get it now.
[01:21:41] And at the very least take that gun and that badge away from those that were involved in those deaths.
[01:21:50] At the very least, even if you still going to have dumbasses calling themselves law enforcement.
[01:22:01] Right.
[01:22:02] That's how strongly I feel about it.
[01:22:07] If I have never gone through the Academy, maybe I might need to ask some questions, but having gone through scenarios, having gone through a hell week in an Academy, having been preached to and watching tapes of other situations.
[01:22:25] And having to talk to instructors and explain to instructors how you will respond and how they would correct us.
[01:22:34] Having gone through all that to see what happened to Frank Tyson and Roger Fortson pisses me off.
[01:22:42] And I have no empathy.
[01:22:44] None.
[01:22:46] I don't care what lawyers they get from PBA or FOP and all that stuff.
[01:22:54] I don't care.
[01:22:57] You can find a jury that sympathetic.
[01:22:59] I don't care from what I saw.
[01:23:03] These gentlemen should never be in law enforcement again.
[01:23:09] And as a black community who constantly has to deal with these tragedies over and over again.
[01:23:18] The only empathy should be toward us.
[01:23:23] That we have to endure this over and over again.
[01:23:31] I'm tired of it.
[01:23:33] So I just, I just had to say my piece on that as we close out.
[01:23:41] But that goes back to the guests that we have on that we've had on the podcast.
[01:23:49] It, it, we got to be engaged politically because police departments, sheriff offices.
[01:23:58] All that's part of the government.
[01:24:02] And who you elect sets the standards for law enforcement.
[01:24:09] Who you elect determines who these chiefs of police thought who you elect.
[01:24:15] You actually get to elect the sheriff in your respective counties.
[01:24:26] And you could demand of these candidates running for sheriff that they've got to maintain that high of a standard,
[01:24:35] not just in the performance of the job, but who they are allowing to work.
[01:24:41] And I get it. It's a shortage.
[01:24:45] But there's a shortage of nurses, but you don't want to have a bunch of nurses killing patients in hospitals and nursing homes.
[01:24:52] Right? We frown on that.
[01:24:54] So why do we not frown on police officers that are killing black folks?
[01:25:05] I'm just throwing that out there.
[01:25:08] All right, guys. Until next time.