Perseverance Personified Featuring Shavonda Miles and Shernice Mundell

WEBVTT

00:00:00.017 --> 00:00:06.117
Welcome. I'm Erik Fleming, host of A Moment with Erik Fleming, the podcast of our time.

00:00:06.417 --> 00:00:08.977
I want to personally thank you for listening to the podcast.

00:00:09.337 --> 00:00:12.737
If you like what you're hearing, then I need you to do a few things.

00:00:13.257 --> 00:00:19.377
First, I need subscribers. I'm on Patreon at patreon.com slash amomentwitherikfleming.

00:00:19.757 --> 00:00:24.637
Your subscription allows an independent podcaster like me the freedom to speak

00:00:24.637 --> 00:00:27.957
truth to power, and to expand and improve the show.

00:00:28.557 --> 00:00:32.837
Second, leave a five-star review for the podcast on the streaming service you

00:00:32.837 --> 00:00:35.577
listen to it. That will help the podcast tremendously.

00:00:36.437 --> 00:00:41.917
Third, go to the website, momenterik.com. There you can subscribe to the podcast,

00:00:42.297 --> 00:00:47.257
leave reviews and comments, listen to past episodes, and even learn a little bit about your host.

00:00:47.857 --> 00:00:51.877
Lastly, don't keep this a secret like it's your own personal guilty pleasure.

00:00:52.577 --> 00:00:57.097
Tell someone else about the podcast. Encourage others to listen to the podcast

00:00:57.097 --> 00:01:02.417
and share the podcast on your social media platforms, because it is time to

00:01:02.417 --> 00:01:04.177
make this moment a movement.

00:01:04.537 --> 00:01:10.197
Thanks in advance for supporting the podcast of our time. I hope you enjoy this episode as well.

00:01:11.337 --> 00:01:16.377
The following program is hosted by the NbG Podcast Network.

00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:55.920
Music.

00:01:56.510 --> 00:02:01.410
Hello, welcome to another moment with Erik Fleming. I am your host, Erik Fleming.

00:02:02.430 --> 00:02:06.510
Today, we're going to talk about perseverance, right?

00:02:06.770 --> 00:02:13.170
So I have a couple of young ladies on who are going through some things,

00:02:13.390 --> 00:02:19.190
but they're rapidly approaching the other side of the mountain, right?

00:02:19.450 --> 00:02:25.430
One is immersed into politics, and one kind of got thrust into politics.

00:02:27.430 --> 00:02:35.330
And, you know, they're navigating that journey in a way, but they're navigating it in a positive way.

00:02:37.590 --> 00:02:44.250
And I'm really honored that they wanted to come on the podcast to kind of share

00:02:44.250 --> 00:02:48.430
what they're going through and share their thoughts about what's going on in

00:02:48.430 --> 00:02:50.190
the world that we're dealing with.

00:02:51.030 --> 00:02:56.490
So I hope that you will enjoy those interviews.

00:02:57.870 --> 00:03:01.830
I had a lot of pleasure in talking to them.

00:03:03.030 --> 00:03:06.750
And, you know, like I said, I just hope that y'all enjoy it because I think

00:03:06.750 --> 00:03:07.990
y'all will get something out of it.

00:03:08.870 --> 00:03:14.390
We're still trying to get to our magic number, 20,000 subscribers.

00:03:14.390 --> 00:03:20.930
You can go to patreon.com slash momenterikfleming and go ahead and sign up for that.

00:03:21.650 --> 00:03:29.610
And, you know, we got some things lined up. This is the last episode for season 11.

00:03:31.230 --> 00:03:37.390
And as you know, the way it's going, I've been doing about a couple of seasons a year.

00:03:38.090 --> 00:03:43.790
And the only reason why I say, because, you know, in doing these podcasts basically

00:03:43.790 --> 00:03:45.650
year round since I started.

00:03:47.031 --> 00:03:52.951
And, but I break it up so that way, if you want to go back and say,

00:03:53.191 --> 00:03:57.571
well, I need to check and see what season was that interview with such and such,

00:03:57.971 --> 00:04:00.131
then you can go to the website,

00:04:00.891 --> 00:04:06.811
momenteric.com and, you know, go on the episode and then you can break it down and find it.

00:04:06.951 --> 00:04:09.911
It's a lot easier to find it that way than trying to remember the name.

00:04:10.491 --> 00:04:15.611
But then you can also go to the guest page on the website if you remember the

00:04:15.611 --> 00:04:22.691
person and go ahead and, you know, click on that person and it'll direct you to the episode.

00:04:22.951 --> 00:04:29.831
So please go to momenteric.com, you know, and kind of catch up on episodes and

00:04:29.831 --> 00:04:37.711
all that, you know, and, you know, you can go there too and connect to support the podcast.

00:04:38.631 --> 00:04:42.851
You know, we'll take reviews, you know, commentary, whatever.

00:04:43.411 --> 00:04:47.751
What has been happening lately, which has really, really been great,

00:04:47.951 --> 00:04:52.791
is that people have been using the website to try to get on the show.

00:04:53.211 --> 00:04:58.311
Now, you have to use the guest intake to set up if I invite you on.

00:04:58.311 --> 00:05:03.511
But if you if you think that there's somebody that needs to be on this podcast,

00:05:03.791 --> 00:05:08.571
somebody you think I need to interview, then you can just email me via the website.

00:05:09.571 --> 00:05:14.711
And or you can go to the guest and take thing yourself and set it up for them.

00:05:14.851 --> 00:05:15.931
Right. If they don't mind.

00:05:16.791 --> 00:05:23.011
But, you know, if you email me and I'll correspond and and we'll see if we can

00:05:23.011 --> 00:05:28.071
get them on. But, you know, most of the, I don't think I've rejected any suggestions.

00:05:28.931 --> 00:05:33.211
It may have been a couple early on, but I don't even think it was through the

00:05:33.211 --> 00:05:35.671
website. It might have been through another deal.

00:05:35.891 --> 00:05:42.971
But, you know, I try to be selective on who I want because I want guests that

00:05:42.971 --> 00:05:47.991
are doing some things in the community that are of value to the political discussion

00:05:47.991 --> 00:05:51.471
and of value to the listeners. Right?

00:05:52.594 --> 00:05:57.514
There's a lot of great people doing a lot of great things not related to politics,

00:05:57.514 --> 00:06:02.074
and that's not to minimize what they're doing, but this is a political show.

00:06:02.454 --> 00:06:10.434
And so everything that I'm doing here is to build the conversation in the political

00:06:10.434 --> 00:06:15.514
diaspora and to kind of remind folks,

00:06:15.774 --> 00:06:20.414
most people like me who have been elected while we were elected,

00:06:20.414 --> 00:06:23.134
that these are the people we get our ideas from.

00:06:24.094 --> 00:06:28.974
Yeah. You know, it's not everybody that gets elected is a natural genius.

00:06:28.974 --> 00:06:31.454
It's like, oh, I've got these agendas in my mind.

00:06:32.274 --> 00:06:37.574
No, you get your ideas from people. And so that's what we try to do here.

00:06:38.094 --> 00:06:44.554
And, of course, we also get our ideas from the news. So let's go ahead and get this program started.

00:06:44.634 --> 00:06:51.314
And as always, we kick it off with a moment of news with Grace G. .

00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:57.200
Music.

00:06:57.303 --> 00:07:02.123
Thanks, Erik. President Donald Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine and threatened

00:07:02.123 --> 00:07:04.303
sanctions on buyers of Russian exports.

00:07:05.083 --> 00:07:09.443
Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist,

00:07:09.803 --> 00:07:14.103
is seeking $20 million in damages from the Trump administration for alleged

00:07:14.103 --> 00:07:16.703
false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

00:07:16.963 --> 00:07:20.883
A federal judge in New Hampshire blocked the Trump administration from denying

00:07:20.883 --> 00:07:25.723
citizenship to some U.S.-born babies, allowing a class-action lawsuit to proceed

00:07:25.723 --> 00:07:29.103
and issuing a new national injunction against the policy.

00:07:29.363 --> 00:07:33.883
A U.S. Senate report revealed a cascade of failures and a lack of accountability

00:07:33.883 --> 00:07:37.943
within the Secret Service that allowed a gunman to shoot at Donald Trump during

00:07:37.943 --> 00:07:39.603
a campaign rally last year.

00:07:39.923 --> 00:07:44.043
An immigrant father of three, U.S. Marines Narciso Barranco,

00:07:44.463 --> 00:07:49.103
was released from federal custody after being detained by immigration agents last month.

00:07:49.263 --> 00:07:53.203
A California farm worker died from injuries sustained during a U.S.

00:07:53.203 --> 00:07:57.203
Immigration raid on a cannabis operation that led to hundreds of arrests.

00:07:57.483 --> 00:08:01.943
A federal judge in California issued temporary restraining orders against the

00:08:01.943 --> 00:08:05.823
Trump administration, halting aggressive immigration tactics such as racial

00:08:05.823 --> 00:08:07.443
profiling in detentions.

00:08:07.923 --> 00:08:12.603
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered half of the 4,000 National Guard

00:08:12.603 --> 00:08:14.723
troops to be removed from Los Angeles.

00:08:15.003 --> 00:08:19.963
A federal appeals court overturned the mortgage fraud conviction of former Baltimore

00:08:19.963 --> 00:08:24.943
State's attorney Marilyn Mosby due to overbroad jury instructions on venue.

00:08:25.263 --> 00:08:29.683
Despite losing the Democratic primary, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

00:08:29.683 --> 00:08:33.963
will run as an independent in the New York City mayoral general election.

00:08:34.263 --> 00:08:39.123
Texas Democrats are criticizing President Donald Trump's plan to redraw the

00:08:39.123 --> 00:08:42.663
state's political map, fearing it will dilute minority votes.

00:08:43.163 --> 00:08:47.383
And three people, including the shooter, were killed and multiple people were

00:08:47.383 --> 00:08:50.863
injured in a series of related shootings around Lexington.

00:08:51.123 --> 00:08:54.823
I am Grace G., and this has been a Moment of News.

00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:02.000
Music.

00:09:01.948 --> 00:09:07.188
All right. Thank you, Grace, for that moment of news. And now it is time for

00:09:07.188 --> 00:09:09.408
my guest, Shavonda Miles.

00:09:10.088 --> 00:09:14.988
Shavonda Miles is a Georgia native and a longtime resident of DeKalb County.

00:09:15.208 --> 00:09:20.128
Over 15 years of media and communications experience, including work at CNN

00:09:20.128 --> 00:09:25.108
and Warner Media, where she managed breaking news and supported on-air talent.

00:09:25.668 --> 00:09:29.888
Shavonda has devoted years to working with media and campaign management,

00:09:30.148 --> 00:09:33.908
working with prominent political candidates like Attorney Zulma Lopez,

00:09:34.228 --> 00:09:38.108
the first Latina elected in DeKalb County, and Attorney William K.

00:09:38.328 --> 00:09:45.348
Boddie, the 2022 statewide Democratic nominee for Georgia Labor Commissioner.

00:09:45.928 --> 00:09:50.568
Today, Shavonda specializes in brand management, helping clients and local candidates

00:09:50.568 --> 00:09:52.988
shape effective branding and media strategies.

00:09:53.328 --> 00:09:58.288
In addition to her consulting work as the CEO of Shavonda Monet, LLC.

00:09:58.628 --> 00:10:03.408
She volunteers with nonprofits across Atlanta and DeKalb County.

00:10:03.668 --> 00:10:07.888
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor and privilege to have as a guest

00:10:07.888 --> 00:10:11.248
on this podcast, Shavonda Miles.

00:10:13.040 --> 00:10:22.640
Music.

00:10:21.828 --> 00:10:26.048
All right, Shavonda Miles. How you doing, sister? You doing good?

00:10:26.748 --> 00:10:29.748
I am doing wonderful. I'm thankful to be here.

00:10:29.968 --> 00:10:34.268
Well, I'm honored to have you on. I wanted to pick your brain a little bit.

00:10:34.428 --> 00:10:38.608
And since you're active in the political scene here in the state of Georgia,

00:10:38.888 --> 00:10:44.708
and just wanted to kind of highlight you and some of the work that you've been doing. So.

00:10:45.528 --> 00:10:50.608
Thank you. In order to start the interview, I usually do a couple of icebreakers. So.

00:10:51.048 --> 00:10:53.588
All right. The first icebreaker is a quote.

00:10:54.068 --> 00:11:00.788
Okay. I believe in having the utmost professional work ethic and owning your narrative.

00:11:01.148 --> 00:11:05.708
I learned from my parents early in life that if you agree to do something,

00:11:06.328 --> 00:11:09.748
follow through with results. What does that quote mean to you?

00:11:10.491 --> 00:11:16.491
That is such a story of my life. Literally, everything you just say is what I do.

00:11:16.911 --> 00:11:20.651
I was able to be a journalist for 15 years working at CNN.

00:11:21.211 --> 00:11:25.551
And the one thing that you learn as a journalist is to control your narrative.

00:11:26.051 --> 00:11:30.211
I care about the way I look. And most importantly, I want to make my parents proud.

00:11:30.571 --> 00:11:34.451
So literally that quote, which I will get that after this episode,

00:11:34.731 --> 00:11:38.871
that is literally how I live my life. If I'm not making my parents proud,

00:11:39.111 --> 00:11:42.991
if I'm not controlling my narrative, if I don't show up being serious,

00:11:43.211 --> 00:11:44.311
no one's going to take me seriously.

00:11:44.551 --> 00:11:47.311
And the most important thing you want in life is respect.

00:11:48.051 --> 00:11:53.531
Yeah. All right. So the other icebreaker is what I call 20 questions.

00:11:54.191 --> 00:11:58.031
So I need you to give me a number between one and 20.

00:11:58.571 --> 00:12:03.891
All right. Let's go with lucky seven. Okay. What do you consider the best way

00:12:03.891 --> 00:12:09.291
to stay informed about politics, current events, health, et cetera?

00:12:09.731 --> 00:12:13.011
That's a very good question, Mr. Fleming.

00:12:13.251 --> 00:12:17.851
I would say now used to be non-linear media.

00:12:18.111 --> 00:12:25.171
Now everything is digital. I literally check my YouTube channel. I check it.

00:12:25.291 --> 00:12:31.151
I check Instagram, podcasts. So I would say all those, what I just named,

00:12:31.491 --> 00:12:36.271
that is what I do literally on a daily basis from the time I get up in the morning. Okay.

00:12:36.931 --> 00:12:40.571
All right. So you kind of started it a little bit when you were answering about

00:12:40.571 --> 00:12:44.851
the quote, but explain the journey from growing up in Decatur,

00:12:44.991 --> 00:12:49.431
Georgia, to becoming a political consultant, shaping the future of Georgia.

00:12:50.131 --> 00:12:55.551
Thank you. So I would say I grew up in the 80s, 80s baby.

00:12:56.671 --> 00:12:59.591
Early in life I had to

00:12:59.591 --> 00:13:02.571
learn how to figure things out I would say the

00:13:02.571 --> 00:13:05.411
journey to where I'm at now I knew

00:13:05.411 --> 00:13:09.891
from going to college University of West Georgia I knew I wanted to be a journalist

00:13:09.891 --> 00:13:15.091
that was directly something I wanted to do to tell people's stories I learned

00:13:15.091 --> 00:13:20.271
early in life how to write and it's one of those things I enjoyed it I was probably

00:13:20.271 --> 00:13:24.171
the only student it really went into detail to write things.

00:13:24.451 --> 00:13:30.051
And I was so thankful Ms. Ledbetter at Lakeside High School gave me an award of how.

00:13:31.350 --> 00:13:35.710
Detailed my writing was. So I knew at an early age, this is what I wanted to

00:13:35.710 --> 00:13:38.030
do. I didn't know the journey to it.

00:13:38.350 --> 00:13:43.550
And my parents, I would say particularly my dad, gave me the confidence to,

00:13:43.770 --> 00:13:48.030
if you apply for something, you don't give up if you don't get it the first time. You keep going.

00:13:48.350 --> 00:13:53.730
So to be hired at CNN, even though it took like two to three years to get on

00:13:53.730 --> 00:13:59.250
because you go through such a tedious process, to be an employee of a national

00:13:59.250 --> 00:14:01.550
media outlet, it was an honor.

00:14:01.710 --> 00:14:05.690
And I took that very seriously and did that job for 15 years,

00:14:05.830 --> 00:14:10.670
whether I was representing CNN anchors and domestic or the people on the phone.

00:14:10.850 --> 00:14:16.870
I was positioned as a liaison and one of my last assignments was working with

00:14:16.870 --> 00:14:20.510
junior business analysts and business analysts for the rollout of HBO Max.

00:14:20.850 --> 00:14:25.910
That was my last assignments before the layoff. So I know for 15 years,

00:14:25.910 --> 00:14:28.610
I got to do something that I passionately love.

00:14:28.810 --> 00:14:35.350
And I was thankful to merge from that to getting offers of working with Dominion

00:14:35.350 --> 00:14:36.990
Voting, which I did behind the scenes.

00:14:37.170 --> 00:14:41.410
I have worked recently with DeKalb County as a poll worker, a poll assistant manager.

00:14:41.610 --> 00:14:46.910
So I would say the transition into politics, it kind of was just destined because

00:14:46.910 --> 00:14:49.850
I worked very closely with the CNN brand.

00:14:50.050 --> 00:14:54.550
And if you're watching that all day at work, you literally see in real time

00:14:54.550 --> 00:14:58.190
bills being passed, historic things going on nationally.

00:14:58.430 --> 00:15:03.350
So to be asked, I have been blessed that I have been asked by people to represent campaigns.

00:15:03.530 --> 00:15:07.530
It is like a perfect marriage. I got to see the media side controlling the narrative

00:15:07.530 --> 00:15:12.050
and the media and the politicians work together to verge a story.

00:15:12.310 --> 00:15:17.670
So that is kind of how my path was able to move from a layoff from CNN to directly

00:15:17.670 --> 00:15:20.870
in politics. So it kind of works together. So I'm very thankful.

00:15:20.870 --> 00:15:23.750
And it's something I passionately love, both sides.

00:15:24.650 --> 00:15:30.410
Yeah. So talk a little bit about the layoff. What happened there?

00:15:30.950 --> 00:15:34.890
Because you had been with the company for like, what, 14, 15 years?

00:15:35.350 --> 00:15:43.070
Correct. Yeah. So talk about the layoff, you know, and then kind of what you

00:15:43.070 --> 00:15:46.530
were dealing with right right after the layoff.

00:15:46.870 --> 00:15:51.930
So it's it's still it's like people there when I worked there,

00:15:52.050 --> 00:15:56.810
if you were there in a company for 14, 15 years, you literally grow with people like family.

00:15:57.619 --> 00:16:02.599
So one of the things that I saw in my capacity, I was working with consultants.

00:16:02.859 --> 00:16:05.119
We had a project called Turner 2020.

00:16:05.999 --> 00:16:09.739
Now that I look back at it, we were one of the first companies that was using

00:16:09.739 --> 00:16:12.099
AI technology way ahead of time.

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:17.319
I had to program recordings, voiceovers with Parlance, which records audio greetings

00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:19.419
for hospitals, big corporations.

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:24.459
But CNN, when you work at CNN, you're ahead of the shift already because of

00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:27.999
the technology that you're working with. And my last division was business systems

00:16:27.999 --> 00:16:30.999
and technology, working with Sina Internal Communications.

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:36.659
So our clients were internal clients. So I kind of had this feeling when I'm

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:39.479
working, when you work with consultants, you're going through the processes,

00:16:39.479 --> 00:16:42.779
your project management, your shareholders, your deliverables.

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:47.219
But I never would have thought that the shift in technology,

00:16:47.219 --> 00:16:50.459
as we are doing right now in podcasting, politics.

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:57.739
The incipients of President Trump, it speeded up the process of whatever he

00:16:57.739 --> 00:17:02.319
said to his viewers, it affected our company.

00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:07.719
If you keep saying things, people are going to believe that and there is a blurred

00:17:07.719 --> 00:17:10.399
line between something that's true and false.

00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:13.359
And the validity, it was just the hardest

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:16.459
thing to see These are people's lives that were affected

00:17:16.459 --> 00:17:19.459
From just doing their job And if

00:17:19.459 --> 00:17:24.699
you speak to any journalist Their job is to report the truth To get the questions

00:17:24.699 --> 00:17:30.299
out that someone needs to know And when you are affecting lives of thousands

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:35.099
of employees It still is a sore subject Because literally the CNN Center in

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:37.219
downtown Atlanta The building is gone.

00:17:37.949 --> 00:17:42.949
Those restaurants, Moe's, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, all those businesses are affected

00:17:42.949 --> 00:17:45.869
when employees went downstairs to buy coffee or food.

00:17:46.029 --> 00:17:50.689
So I would say that it still is something to this day.

00:17:50.849 --> 00:17:53.289
Some of my friends, I know, and I used to always say, I want to go back home,

00:17:53.289 --> 00:17:55.949
but you can't because the technology has shifted.

00:17:56.349 --> 00:18:01.149
There is not just a non-linear watching television for your news.

00:18:01.289 --> 00:18:03.809
You're now getting it through streaming. You're getting it through podcasts.

00:18:04.049 --> 00:18:09.169
So you have no choice but to adjust with technology. which I'm still doing now.

00:18:09.629 --> 00:18:13.149
Think a few years ago, we didn't have Canva. So you didn't need,

00:18:13.369 --> 00:18:17.709
now you may not need a PR person or a graphics designer. You can do these things on your own.

00:18:18.049 --> 00:18:22.649
So I would say, but going through that, I am forced to stay consistent,

00:18:23.229 --> 00:18:28.869
to pay attention, keep reading, keep watching different podcasts, news, digital things.

00:18:29.109 --> 00:18:32.349
So I had no choice but to adjust, but it was very difficult.

00:18:32.549 --> 00:18:37.189
It still is because for 15 years, that was my home, that was my business.

00:18:37.189 --> 00:18:42.269
So any advice I would give to somebody, stay consistent and pay attention and

00:18:42.269 --> 00:18:43.709
do your research and homework.

00:18:44.169 --> 00:18:50.229
But to answer that, it's still a transition shift because that's something I did for over a decade.

00:18:51.109 --> 00:18:55.569
Yeah. And then it's kind of like the ironic thing is you were working with consultants

00:18:55.569 --> 00:18:57.609
during a lot of that period.

00:18:58.449 --> 00:19:02.729
And now you are a consultant in the political realm.

00:19:02.949 --> 00:19:06.569
So I think you've transitioned pretty good. I think you're doing okay.

00:19:07.189 --> 00:19:10.229
So let me ask you this. Let's let's get into the political discussion.

00:19:10.429 --> 00:19:17.289
What is what is the most frustrating thing to you about this current political climate?

00:19:18.269 --> 00:19:21.829
That's a very loaded question. What is the most frustrating thing?

00:19:22.009 --> 00:19:27.109
I would say having a strategy. I think that what's confusing to me.

00:19:28.173 --> 00:19:31.373
What is the strategy for going forward?

00:19:31.613 --> 00:19:39.313
When this last election, both candidates nationally, completely different paths.

00:19:39.833 --> 00:19:42.613
Completely different strategies, completely different audiences.

00:19:42.993 --> 00:19:49.693
And I guess for me, I, as a consultant, I pride myself on having strategies for clients.

00:19:50.113 --> 00:19:54.893
What are our audiences? Who is our coalitions? And it's just confusing to me

00:19:54.893 --> 00:19:59.253
that we're just kind of moving along. But what are the strategies?

00:19:59.573 --> 00:20:02.993
What are the time when you're in a business? You have four quarters, business quarters.

00:20:03.293 --> 00:20:06.533
What are we doing in the first quarter, in the second, third and fourth?

00:20:06.733 --> 00:20:09.213
What are our ideas? Where are our events at?

00:20:09.513 --> 00:20:16.233
It's very frustrating for me to just wake up one day and see a story and we have no strategy.

00:20:16.313 --> 00:20:20.553
What are we going to do to combat that? I would believe our political system,

00:20:20.553 --> 00:20:25.993
we elect these people to make decisions speaking on behalf of us, our voters.

00:20:26.393 --> 00:20:29.913
So for me, coming from the media side and the political side,

00:20:30.153 --> 00:20:36.553
I can't understand what are the strategies, where we're at right now in July,

00:20:36.713 --> 00:20:40.913
I think, what's the day, July 17th today, 2025.

00:20:41.333 --> 00:20:48.253
What is the strategy for this quarter? What are we doing to combat the problem? it has to be a solution.

00:20:48.613 --> 00:20:52.653
Everything has to have a solution. Are we having focus group meetings with voters?

00:20:52.893 --> 00:20:55.573
Are we having focus groups with small business owners?

00:20:55.853 --> 00:20:59.273
What are the issues that affect your local voters?

00:20:59.933 --> 00:21:05.913
How do we get people to the polls? How do we get people to trust the election system again?

00:21:06.193 --> 00:21:11.173
And not just with election deniers. How do we, where are our strategies and

00:21:11.173 --> 00:21:12.433
where are our solutions? Where are we going?

00:21:12.633 --> 00:21:15.373
So that's probably the biggest frustrating thing for me.

00:21:15.613 --> 00:21:20.733
So when you when you lay out a campaign for a candidate, do you work from election

00:21:20.733 --> 00:21:26.153
day back or how do you how do you organize a campaign?

00:21:26.753 --> 00:21:29.953
Thank you for that question. For me, I don't do it that way.

00:21:30.113 --> 00:21:33.453
I think it's best like you said to me at the beginning of this podcast.

00:21:34.013 --> 00:21:37.853
You need to know your client. You need to know their history.

00:21:38.313 --> 00:21:42.773
You study them. And what are the key people in that community.

00:21:42.993 --> 00:21:46.333
When I worked statewide, I divided it up. When you're a journalist,

00:21:46.473 --> 00:21:48.633
you have 12 media markets. I think it's in Georgia.

00:21:48.993 --> 00:21:51.733
I divided the state up into regions.

00:21:52.650 --> 00:21:56.690
Who are the people, key influencers in each region, whether it's the coast,

00:21:56.870 --> 00:21:59.750
southwest Georgia, southeast Georgia, northwest Georgia, the metro?

00:22:00.150 --> 00:22:05.390
You have to break it down. And the first thing you do is know you're a candidate.

00:22:05.710 --> 00:22:09.890
Really ask the questions. What are your platforms? How was your history growing

00:22:09.890 --> 00:22:13.170
up? What makes you, why should someone vote for you?

00:22:13.610 --> 00:22:17.530
Why should I get out the house and go to the polls? So I start with that process

00:22:17.530 --> 00:22:18.910
and deduct information.

00:22:19.250 --> 00:22:22.330
And then I want to know, I said this to my candidates all the time,

00:22:22.330 --> 00:22:24.830
who is your school board member? Who is your commissioner?

00:22:25.230 --> 00:22:28.570
Who is the sheriff? Who is your state rep? Who is your state senator?

00:22:28.770 --> 00:22:30.290
Who is your U.S. representative?

00:22:30.710 --> 00:22:33.410
Do you know what Sonny Dye is if you work in a state house?

00:22:33.930 --> 00:22:38.050
You need to know, why are you running for this position?

00:22:38.350 --> 00:22:43.170
So some people go backwards into backwards or chronological. I break it down.

00:22:43.470 --> 00:22:47.590
What's your relationship with the PTA? Do you go to events? Do you go to church?

00:22:48.090 --> 00:22:51.990
So I break it down of learning the candidate, who are the key people in your county?

00:22:52.330 --> 00:22:55.910
I have spreadsheets where I ask you these questions. That, for me,

00:22:55.970 --> 00:22:58.070
helps me to understand, do you take this seriously or not?

00:22:58.250 --> 00:23:02.510
And then we learn through messaging, communication side for me,

00:23:02.670 --> 00:23:06.030
what are the messaging that relates to people in your community?

00:23:06.370 --> 00:23:14.290
You cannot win unless people feel authentic presence because there are people

00:23:14.290 --> 00:23:15.670
who say you meet them where they are.

00:23:15.830 --> 00:23:22.430
For me, canvassing the fields where I started, that is one of the most important parts of the campaign.

00:23:22.590 --> 00:23:26.010
Yes, you got to have money and fundraising is important, but if you're not getting

00:23:26.010 --> 00:23:29.330
those people to believe in you and persuade with the messaging,

00:23:29.530 --> 00:23:30.630
they're not going to vote for you.

00:23:30.810 --> 00:23:34.350
So I just deduct it from my communication skill set.

00:23:34.710 --> 00:23:39.030
That's what I enjoy. I want to build a relationship with my client.

00:23:39.330 --> 00:23:43.290
I want to know what makes them the best person for the job.

00:23:43.450 --> 00:23:48.350
So I basically use a calm style with canvassing in-person events.

00:23:48.910 --> 00:23:51.770
I think people need to believe in you and you need to be authentic.

00:23:52.570 --> 00:23:58.350
Yeah. All right. So you successfully helped in securing a Democratic nomination

00:23:58.350 --> 00:24:02.830
for a candidate, but that candidate did not get elected in the general election.

00:24:03.250 --> 00:24:06.510
What about Georgia did you learn from that experience?

00:24:06.510 --> 00:24:13.010
And what do you think it will take for a Democrat to win a statewide constitutional

00:24:13.010 --> 00:24:19.650
race in Georgia? And I had to make the delineation because Georgia has two Democratic U.S.

00:24:19.790 --> 00:24:26.410
Senators as elected statewide, but every constitutional position in the state

00:24:26.410 --> 00:24:28.530
of Georgia is a white Republican man.

00:24:29.090 --> 00:24:35.170
So what was it going to take for a Democrat to be able to break that?

00:24:35.924 --> 00:24:41.024
Thank you for that question. I think we start with, for example,

00:24:41.684 --> 00:24:43.984
you have people, like you said, you have your U.S.

00:24:44.084 --> 00:24:46.964
Senators who represent the state and go into the Capitol.

00:24:47.324 --> 00:24:52.904
We have our state senators, our state house reps, and obviously municipals and

00:24:52.904 --> 00:24:54.104
other positions as well.

00:24:54.504 --> 00:24:59.564
For me, all I could think about being a political strategist,

00:24:59.784 --> 00:25:01.944
particularly, and I'm going to say if I'm working with the Democrats,

00:25:02.264 --> 00:25:06.344
which I have, all my clients have been, 91.

00:25:07.144 --> 00:25:11.664
91 is that number that's in my head. You need to know how many,

00:25:11.824 --> 00:25:15.084
what is that number we need to get to to get legislation passed.

00:25:15.264 --> 00:25:21.044
If we don't focus on our local races, no matter what bills are brought up in

00:25:21.044 --> 00:25:26.604
that legislative session, we have no power to get any legislation changed.

00:25:26.904 --> 00:25:31.864
And like I said, it goes back to strategy. Okay, so we have people who worked

00:25:31.864 --> 00:25:37.744
on national campaigns, but where are the strategies for directly the statehouse?

00:25:37.884 --> 00:25:40.764
How do we get to that number 91?

00:25:41.424 --> 00:25:47.844
And then you look at the districts. Yes, my candidate, I was asked to represent him in District 81.

00:25:48.124 --> 00:25:54.164
So I had to learn that district, speak with people, some of them weren't Democrats,

00:25:54.184 --> 00:25:56.924
and I actually made it homework.

00:25:57.624 --> 00:26:00.664
I didn't have a lot of time to do that by the time I was introduced to him.

00:26:00.904 --> 00:26:06.564
But I just knew if we can get to that number 91 and we focus on down ballot

00:26:06.564 --> 00:26:08.544
races, things will change.

00:26:08.784 --> 00:26:13.384
But you got to actually do the action and the work. It is not an overnight success.

00:26:13.744 --> 00:26:18.324
You have to go to events in person. You need to canvas and you need to learn

00:26:18.324 --> 00:26:21.524
how to spend money wisely. And most importantly, it got to be the messaging.

00:26:21.964 --> 00:26:25.484
If people don't connect with that messaging, they're not going to vote.

00:26:26.247 --> 00:26:31.067
And I took that very seriously. I can't control how other people are seeing,

00:26:31.287 --> 00:26:37.527
but I'm hoping that we can, as consultants, do our job and literally invest

00:26:37.527 --> 00:26:41.187
in your candidate and most importantly, in your community.

00:26:41.667 --> 00:26:47.127
You cannot win if that community does not feel led to go vote.

00:26:47.447 --> 00:26:53.007
It is persuasion, but it is being in the community, meeting people where they are.

00:26:53.147 --> 00:26:56.087
If they're going to church, are they going to a fall festival?

00:26:56.247 --> 00:26:58.747
Are you going to give food to the homeless?

00:26:59.107 --> 00:27:05.447
You have to be authentic and be in the community And I think that we have to

00:27:05.447 --> 00:27:10.107
invest and remember we're here to do a job This is not a popularity contest.

00:27:10.347 --> 00:27:13.307
This is not just looking. I mean, you're going to get to the legislature And

00:27:13.307 --> 00:27:17.567
nothing gets done and we're just wasting time So for me, I think you have to

00:27:17.567 --> 00:27:22.847
make sure that you're doing the steps on a daily basis or weekly basis To make

00:27:22.847 --> 00:27:25.007
sure that we get to that number 91.

00:27:25.807 --> 00:27:29.047
So when someone, if we don't have control of the statehouse,

00:27:29.407 --> 00:27:32.187
that bill is just going to be something different.

00:27:32.307 --> 00:27:35.147
It'll be a little bit of resistance. That's what's in my head, 91.

00:27:35.767 --> 00:27:41.227
So if I understand what you're saying, if I'm running statewide,

00:27:41.227 --> 00:27:46.727
like for governor, lieutenant governor, my best strategy is to make sure that

00:27:46.727 --> 00:27:50.527
there's some active campaigns in Albany, Georgia.

00:27:50.727 --> 00:27:54.307
There's some active campaigns in Milledgeville. There's some active campaigns

00:27:54.307 --> 00:27:57.667
in Columbus, Macon, Savannah, Rome.

00:27:57.887 --> 00:28:04.847
I need to make sure that we're having competitive races, whether it's in the

00:28:04.847 --> 00:28:10.587
state legislature or county commission or whatever, in those places that'll

00:28:10.587 --> 00:28:12.007
generate enough excitement.

00:28:12.852 --> 00:28:20.972
For my statewide campaign. So if we can win in these spots, then overall we win the total election.

00:28:21.792 --> 00:28:26.532
Correct. And like you just said, it goes back to building, learning those key

00:28:26.532 --> 00:28:27.512
people in your community.

00:28:27.752 --> 00:28:31.032
Who is your commissioner? Who is your school board member?

00:28:31.232 --> 00:28:34.572
Once you start learning those people in the committee, in your community,

00:28:34.852 --> 00:28:38.952
that candidate needs to build relationships with the voters.

00:28:39.492 --> 00:28:42.992
The voters need to know that candidate on a first name basis.

00:28:43.192 --> 00:28:45.252
Oh, that's Representative Fleming.

00:28:45.492 --> 00:28:47.952
Oh, that's Representative Sam.

00:28:48.332 --> 00:28:51.532
You know, like you need to, the voters have to know who you are.

00:28:51.972 --> 00:28:53.592
They are the people that elect you.

00:28:54.052 --> 00:28:57.152
And if they don't know who you are, that means you're not in the community.

00:28:57.492 --> 00:29:03.012
You're not going to events and you work to build coalitions with the key people.

00:29:03.252 --> 00:29:04.632
We're supposed to be a team.

00:29:05.032 --> 00:29:09.972
We have one goal, to represent the people and your party's values.

00:29:10.372 --> 00:29:15.712
We should be working together, coalition, and getting the messaging that is

00:29:15.712 --> 00:29:18.552
clear that represents the people in your community.

00:29:18.672 --> 00:29:22.552
Like you just said, so if you're doing something statewide, you have a much

00:29:22.552 --> 00:29:26.512
bigger areas and you still got to divide it across the regions across the state.

00:29:26.792 --> 00:29:29.772
What does the people on the coast want? What are the people of southwest Georgia,

00:29:30.172 --> 00:29:31.352
northeast Georgia, Northwest.

00:29:31.692 --> 00:29:33.732
Everybody has different qualities.

00:29:34.192 --> 00:29:38.012
Those county party chairs. You need to build relationships with the county party

00:29:38.012 --> 00:29:40.732
chairs. They have these meetings every month. They have committees.

00:29:40.972 --> 00:29:45.672
They have post-seat holders. They have precinct captains. It should be a community.

00:29:46.172 --> 00:29:50.472
And you cannot win if we're not cohesively working together.

00:29:50.792 --> 00:29:55.812
That is something I believe that is a winning strategy to build relationships.

00:29:56.312 --> 00:30:02.552
Let's get rid of the egos and let's actually work together so people will feel, okay, they're strong.

00:30:02.792 --> 00:30:06.192
They got a plan. And that goes back to having strategies.

00:30:06.452 --> 00:30:09.972
But I think that we, there's nothing wrong with being competitive. This is America.

00:30:10.412 --> 00:30:13.872
We have the right to run. This is public office. You're doing your civic duty

00:30:13.872 --> 00:30:15.232
to represent your voters.

00:30:15.392 --> 00:30:19.912
But it got to be a plan, a strategy, and working together with the inner circles,

00:30:20.012 --> 00:30:24.412
your chairs, your state reps, your local government, your city council.

00:30:24.752 --> 00:30:28.952
You need to build a real community and,

00:30:29.132 --> 00:30:37.012
of course, affect issues that affect the voters yeah all right so representative

00:30:37.012 --> 00:30:41.072
jasmine crockett recently said in an interview with the grill that she felt

00:30:41.072 --> 00:30:45.952
like she was being used by the democratic party to help them raise money but

00:30:45.952 --> 00:30:48.352
was not respected for the leader she is,

00:30:49.086 --> 00:30:53.766
Do you feel that Black politicians, political activists are being used?

00:30:54.126 --> 00:30:55.906
Just give me your take on that.

00:30:56.666 --> 00:31:00.526
Okay. I do know what you're talking about. I did see that interview with the Griot.

00:31:00.886 --> 00:31:06.586
I think what we need to do, we can't use one person to keep doing media outlets.

00:31:06.826 --> 00:31:08.026
That is exhausting to do.

00:31:08.306 --> 00:31:11.446
We also don't know, and I can say this from my experience working at CNN,

00:31:11.866 --> 00:31:13.006
people get death threats.

00:31:13.506 --> 00:31:17.026
It happened a lot with anchors. Some of these people are now independent journalists.

00:31:17.566 --> 00:31:22.766
I did that job. I had to communicate with a team several times with Homeland

00:31:22.766 --> 00:31:25.766
Security, APD, when it was at the CNN Center.

00:31:25.986 --> 00:31:29.286
We had packages that came. We had to change processes.

00:31:29.566 --> 00:31:33.686
So she's probably speaking, I'm booked on this show.

00:31:33.746 --> 00:31:38.886
I'm booked on this podcast. You're using one person to get the messaging across.

00:31:39.166 --> 00:31:44.446
There are other legislative officials that should also be doing the same thing.

00:31:44.566 --> 00:31:47.846
If you're going to do a press run, it is a very draining thing to do.

00:31:47.846 --> 00:31:53.006
You're basically trying to think quickly and make sure that your language is not offensive.

00:31:53.326 --> 00:31:57.426
You have to make sure that you're not being too passionate. This will drive off this voter.

00:31:57.746 --> 00:32:01.826
Are we still making sure that the ratings are high? But I think she's probably,

00:32:01.886 --> 00:32:07.286
I'm assuming, again, she's probably tired of being able to have a busy schedule.

00:32:08.186 --> 00:32:13.046
She's being worked a lot. When you hear her name, there are other people in

00:32:13.046 --> 00:32:16.426
the Democratic Party that is just as intelligent as she is.

00:32:17.066 --> 00:32:21.286
And I don't know. I can't control who's booking her if she has an agent doing

00:32:21.286 --> 00:32:23.906
that. But she could possibly be just really tired.

00:32:24.226 --> 00:32:28.586
I hope that we can hear more point of views from other elected officials.

00:32:29.026 --> 00:32:32.686
That's something that I'm hoping we can do. I know she's not the only one.

00:32:32.986 --> 00:32:37.946
We have just as many as that. And you never know. Maybe if we use others or

00:32:37.946 --> 00:32:41.306
book other people, that's going to inspire more regular citizens to run for

00:32:41.306 --> 00:32:42.946
office because that's what it's about.

00:32:43.226 --> 00:32:45.886
You need that person to say, you know what? I want to be like her.

00:32:46.426 --> 00:32:50.486
I want to be like him. But you have to not use the same person for each media

00:32:50.486 --> 00:32:52.806
outlet. But that's my opinion. Okay.

00:32:53.750 --> 00:32:59.550
All right. Karine Jean-Pierre stated that she was leaving the Democratic Party

00:32:59.550 --> 00:33:04.070
after all the events that took place in the 2024 presidential election.

00:33:04.490 --> 00:33:08.330
Do you feel that she was right to do that so publicly?

00:33:08.730 --> 00:33:14.930
And more importantly, is it time that black Americans start reassessing their

00:33:14.930 --> 00:33:16.830
loyalty to the Democratic Party?

00:33:17.850 --> 00:33:22.570
Thank you for that question. Again, she was in a high profile position.

00:33:23.170 --> 00:33:28.950
She was a press secretary. That has to be one of the most stressful jobs in the country.

00:33:29.710 --> 00:33:34.490
You're literally on video. You're at a podium. And you're taking questions from

00:33:34.490 --> 00:33:35.810
all type of media outlets.

00:33:36.350 --> 00:33:40.870
And you're expected to give an answer. But you can't say that and make sure

00:33:40.870 --> 00:33:44.810
you don't say the wrong thing because that is going to be clipped, sliced, and cut up.

00:33:44.950 --> 00:33:51.410
And that can ruin your career. The same stress that Representative Jasmine Crockett has I'm sure Ms.

00:33:51.510 --> 00:33:57.710
Pierre had the same stress I don't know why she put her personal opinion I assume

00:33:57.710 --> 00:34:03.430
she may, obviously she had a book So what do we do to sell books?

00:34:03.590 --> 00:34:07.550
You got to give something, a catchy headline Something to get people to buy

00:34:07.550 --> 00:34:09.690
it That was her personal opinion.

00:34:10.413 --> 00:34:15.253
But the rest of the people who are in party or consultants or campaign management,

00:34:15.513 --> 00:34:17.513
their job is to represent their

00:34:17.513 --> 00:34:21.493
client and making sure that you persuade those voters to get elected.

00:34:21.813 --> 00:34:25.353
Those were her personal opinions. So, again, it goes back to what I said.

00:34:25.693 --> 00:34:31.313
I think if we train, really help train candidates how to deal with media,

00:34:31.533 --> 00:34:34.233
that's a class that we need to do.

00:34:34.833 --> 00:34:40.133
How do you handle an interview? What if you have to do a press run on a forward media outlet in one day?

00:34:40.613 --> 00:34:45.673
Sometimes that happens. Or one week. How do you answer those questions repeatedly

00:34:45.673 --> 00:34:47.713
over and over and over again?

00:34:48.393 --> 00:34:51.893
Ms. Pierre, that's her opinion. But I think it goes back to how do we train

00:34:51.893 --> 00:34:54.993
and have more than one person doing one press run?

00:34:55.193 --> 00:34:58.213
One candidate doing several press runs. You're going to burn them out.

00:34:58.413 --> 00:35:00.233
And that happens a lot in politics.

00:35:01.333 --> 00:35:05.113
Consultants, campaign management, they get burned out quickly.

00:35:05.113 --> 00:35:10.153
It's not a regular job where you're working sometimes up to seven days a week.

00:35:10.553 --> 00:35:14.533
And obviously, you know, in a high position where Representative Jasmine Crockett

00:35:14.533 --> 00:35:17.833
or Miss Pierre, they are doing a stressful job.

00:35:18.193 --> 00:35:23.973
And it is our duty to make sure that we have training to help other people so

00:35:23.973 --> 00:35:27.893
they want to step up and run. You know what? I really want to do that.

00:35:28.193 --> 00:35:32.333
And we shouldn't crucify people who did take the responsibility to step up and

00:35:32.333 --> 00:35:35.853
do that. we should be supporting them most importantly than ever.

00:35:36.073 --> 00:35:38.733
So her personal opinions, that's her personal opinion.

00:35:38.993 --> 00:35:43.493
But she also probably was really stressed. I'm assuming she also wanted to sell

00:35:43.493 --> 00:35:45.413
that book too. So that's why she said that.

00:35:45.913 --> 00:35:50.193
So let me combine those two questions and reframing it.

00:35:50.533 --> 00:35:55.013
And I'll use a number like you use 91, I'll use 92, right?

00:35:55.793 --> 00:36:02.413
So 92% of Black women voted for Kamala Harris to be president.

00:36:02.653 --> 00:36:10.393
And now we see that, you know, black women are not being as,

00:36:10.713 --> 00:36:16.253
well, they're not participating in a lot of these protests. They're not doing a lot of things.

00:36:16.413 --> 00:36:20.033
That's the kind of thing in social media. It's like, you know,

00:36:20.133 --> 00:36:22.393
they say they're taking a break.

00:36:22.893 --> 00:36:27.813
As a black woman that's involved in politics, how do you feel about that?

00:36:27.993 --> 00:36:29.593
Do you agree with that assessment?

00:36:29.913 --> 00:36:36.333
Do you, because you kind of said that these women that I mentioned are high

00:36:36.333 --> 00:36:40.593
profile people and you probably need to take some stress off of them.

00:36:40.993 --> 00:36:45.273
But as a black woman that's engaged in politics, how do you feel about black

00:36:45.273 --> 00:36:49.213
women saying, yeah, we're not going to be on the front lines anymore?

00:36:49.213 --> 00:36:51.553
How does, how does that make you feel?

00:36:51.933 --> 00:36:56.053
So I was thinking about when You said that when I worked a statewide race,

00:36:56.213 --> 00:36:58.733
I worked consistently for 18 months.

00:36:59.683 --> 00:37:05.763
Throughout the week, you might drive to Albany. There are times I went to small

00:37:05.763 --> 00:37:08.763
cities like Montezuma, Cuthbert, and Randolph County.

00:37:09.523 --> 00:37:14.303
Again, we need to support our Black women.

00:37:14.523 --> 00:37:19.563
When I was on those win with Black women calls, there were times that those

00:37:19.563 --> 00:37:23.883
moderators, they were allowing so many women in that Zoom call.

00:37:24.163 --> 00:37:29.943
People were excited. It was exciting to see a woman of color who looked like

00:37:29.943 --> 00:37:32.583
me at one of the highest positions.

00:37:33.363 --> 00:37:39.803
And as a woman, we work so hard in the industry that's particularly dominated by men.

00:37:40.403 --> 00:37:46.343
Sometimes you don't get promotions. And when you do get promoted, it can be a small number.

00:37:46.503 --> 00:37:48.943
There were times I had maybe a 3% raise.

00:37:49.483 --> 00:37:53.503
That's not going to affect my bill cycle, but we work just as hard.

00:37:53.503 --> 00:37:57.403
So a lot of those Black women felt, what did we do wrong?

00:37:57.603 --> 00:38:02.563
We were out there on the front line, 92%. That's a high, high number.

00:38:02.903 --> 00:38:06.583
These are women that are breadwinners in their families. They're mothers.

00:38:06.843 --> 00:38:12.123
They're probably taking their kids to softball games and gymnastics or, you know, football.

00:38:12.543 --> 00:38:19.163
We can handle so many different roles. So to see you wake up one day and say, what happened?

00:38:19.903 --> 00:38:23.663
And these women now, as you see, we knew.

00:38:24.003 --> 00:38:27.143
You listened to the press run interviews from a few months ago.

00:38:27.463 --> 00:38:33.663
There are people that have shown a contrast from today, from a few months ago. We showed up.

00:38:34.123 --> 00:38:37.503
We showed up. We did our part. They need a break.

00:38:38.263 --> 00:38:42.543
Let them have their break. Let them go back to what they want to do to make

00:38:42.543 --> 00:38:45.563
happy, whether it's boots on the ground dancing. That's the one thing about

00:38:45.563 --> 00:38:47.263
Black women. They are resilient.

00:38:47.943 --> 00:38:51.743
We don't get the credit sometimes for working right next to a man,

00:38:51.903 --> 00:38:53.303
but they deserve their break.

00:38:53.743 --> 00:38:57.283
And when they get ready, they're going to be right back out there when they

00:38:57.283 --> 00:39:01.123
are ready. So I think that I just give them the grace.

00:39:01.583 --> 00:39:05.403
I know when I worked statewide, I needed a break. I love my family.

00:39:05.403 --> 00:39:08.623
If anybody go to my Instagram page, you will see I'm in a Disney World with

00:39:08.623 --> 00:39:10.183
my family. You need that break.

00:39:10.403 --> 00:39:14.203
They deserve that break. So I support them having that break.

00:39:14.343 --> 00:39:17.243
And when they're ready, I'll be back out there with them. Yeah.

00:39:18.023 --> 00:39:21.263
All right. So the Democratic National Committee called and said,

00:39:21.443 --> 00:39:26.143
Vonda, we need your help in the 2026 midterm elections.

00:39:26.643 --> 00:39:30.043
What advice would you give them? Thank you for that question.

00:39:31.083 --> 00:39:34.383
My advice goes back to when we first started. What's the strategy? you,

00:39:35.287 --> 00:39:39.687
Do we have focus groups? What are our committees? Just like in the statehouse,

00:39:39.967 --> 00:39:41.427
they have study committees.

00:39:41.927 --> 00:39:45.347
We can't just do whatever we're doing before.

00:39:45.727 --> 00:39:49.767
The definition of the Senate is doing the same thing over and over and over

00:39:49.767 --> 00:39:51.567
again, expecting a different result.

00:39:52.187 --> 00:39:57.587
Clearly, something been wrong. The messaging did not resonate with the voters.

00:39:57.947 --> 00:40:01.647
We had over 70 million people that didn't even vote. they

00:40:01.647 --> 00:40:04.827
didn't care when we lose our core

00:40:04.827 --> 00:40:08.127
base there is a problem but you

00:40:08.127 --> 00:40:14.447
have to be authentic and have these conversations let's talk to the voters in

00:40:14.447 --> 00:40:18.567
the note the local neighbors in the rural communities you can't expect someone

00:40:18.567 --> 00:40:26.027
from atlanta to have the same point of opinion as somebody in Savannah or Cuthbert or Stevens County.

00:40:26.787 --> 00:40:32.867
We have to talk to those voters, have those focus groups, and get a committee and study.

00:40:33.007 --> 00:40:36.667
So if I'm asked to be a part of that, what are our studies?

00:40:36.887 --> 00:40:40.387
Are we going to have weekly meetings with people, the county party chairs?

00:40:40.607 --> 00:40:43.367
Are we going to go to the festivals and actually do a civics class?

00:40:43.727 --> 00:40:46.367
Everybody, you can't assume everybody knows what the judicial,

00:40:46.507 --> 00:40:48.507
legislative, and the executive branch does.

00:40:48.787 --> 00:40:54.087
I took Georgia history in high school, but you can't assume that we have the

00:40:54.087 --> 00:40:55.467
same curriculum from years ago.

00:40:55.647 --> 00:40:59.987
So I would say if I'm asked to do that, what are we going to do?

00:41:00.167 --> 00:41:03.947
Let's get started. Let's break down in our studies and let's get started in

00:41:03.947 --> 00:41:04.807
getting out to the communities.

00:41:05.207 --> 00:41:11.627
We need to have one person, an ambassador, to go to those different regions of the country.

00:41:11.647 --> 00:41:14.327
If you're asking for DNC, you got to divide out in the country,

00:41:14.327 --> 00:41:16.467
but you got to do some homework.

00:41:16.587 --> 00:41:20.627
We got to start back and scratch and we got to have a strategy without a strategy

00:41:20.627 --> 00:41:27.707
we're lost yeah all right so let's close with this using your life journey to

00:41:27.707 --> 00:41:29.867
find the importance of perseverance.

00:41:31.227 --> 00:41:34.007
Perseverance to me is not giving up.

00:41:34.527 --> 00:41:41.307
It's fighting for what you want. I don't like to give up. I knew I wanted to work at CNN.

00:41:41.727 --> 00:41:44.927
I applied several times. My dad said, just keep playing.

00:41:45.287 --> 00:41:48.847
Go back, look at your resume, make them keyword changes.

00:41:49.187 --> 00:41:54.867
You get back out there. But you have to know when to make some transitions when things don't work out.

00:41:55.127 --> 00:42:00.787
And most importantly, have respect for your neighbors. have respect for everyone

00:42:00.787 --> 00:42:03.867
who lives around you. I don't try to treat anyone disrespectful.

00:42:04.467 --> 00:42:09.507
I listen. I make those changes. Most importantly, being a consultant,

00:42:09.947 --> 00:42:14.387
I want people, when my name is mentioned, that I fought for you when I wasn't even in the room.

00:42:14.567 --> 00:42:19.187
Or I want to make sure that my name is attached to integrity and quality.

00:42:19.607 --> 00:42:23.447
For me growing up in DeKalb County, being a part of the the M program,

00:42:23.767 --> 00:42:29.667
being bused across the county at an early age from 1988, I learned and my parents,

00:42:29.747 --> 00:42:31.067
I didn't understand them. I'm older now.

00:42:31.287 --> 00:42:35.947
My parents wanted me to understand what being a diverse community, what the others think.

00:42:36.267 --> 00:42:38.267
So I went to schools across the county.

00:42:38.647 --> 00:42:42.347
Best experience ever happened to me. I was able to understand different issues

00:42:42.347 --> 00:42:45.527
in the Latino community, the white community, and the black community.

00:42:45.727 --> 00:42:51.327
You just need to be respectful and just understand that you got to keep going.

00:42:51.807 --> 00:42:56.927
I knew I wanted to do CNN. And that is one of my most proudest goals because

00:42:56.927 --> 00:42:58.587
I learned how politics work.

00:42:58.927 --> 00:43:04.327
When I watched those TV shows and listened to AM radio with my father at a young

00:43:04.327 --> 00:43:08.087
age, Neil Bortz, learning from Bill O'Reilly with his O'Reilly factor when I

00:43:08.087 --> 00:43:09.867
was there, you need to know both sides.

00:43:10.765 --> 00:43:15.065
You need to know both sides. What are the issues that resonates with this party and the other party?

00:43:15.345 --> 00:43:19.285
So for me, you just got to keep going. And I hope in my heart that people,

00:43:19.505 --> 00:43:25.405
when they see my name on paper or an event, she gave it 100 percent and she's respectful.

00:43:25.865 --> 00:43:32.085
So perseverance means being respectful, showing up and not giving up. Yeah.

00:43:32.665 --> 00:43:37.205
All right. So, Shavonda Miles, if people want to get in touch with you,

00:43:37.425 --> 00:43:42.145
if people want to utilize your services and your talents, how can they do that?

00:43:43.025 --> 00:43:47.585
Thank you so much. I'm working on my website. It will be finished soon.

00:43:47.825 --> 00:43:59.005
Www.vondamone.com. but currently you can reach out to me through Instagram and

00:43:59.005 --> 00:44:07.365
it's still the same at lowercase V-O-N-D-A-M-O-N-E on Instagram.

00:44:07.745 --> 00:44:12.565
So I try to keep it consistent if people can find me. I like to use my Instagram

00:44:12.565 --> 00:44:16.885
just to show duality when I'm working with clients and my life.

00:44:17.105 --> 00:44:21.525
You have to have a balance or you'll burn out as we discussed earlier today.

00:44:21.525 --> 00:44:23.465
That those are the best ways to reach me.

00:44:24.145 --> 00:44:28.925
Well, Shavonda, it's been a delight and an honor to have you come on the podcast.

00:44:30.725 --> 00:44:36.865
I know that I'm not the only one to see that you are a rising star in Georgia

00:44:36.865 --> 00:44:41.185
politics, and I hope that your profile continues to expand beyond Georgia.

00:44:42.045 --> 00:44:47.145
And I just, I don't have to wish you much success because I know you're going

00:44:47.145 --> 00:44:55.025
to achieve it, But I just I'm just encouraged and I I'm glad that you came on the podcast.

00:44:55.265 --> 00:44:58.285
So thank you for coming on Thank you for this opportunity.

00:44:58.585 --> 00:45:04.345
I take those words very seriously I Just gonna hope that that manifests what you just said.

00:45:04.565 --> 00:45:10.005
Yes, ma'am All right, guys, and we're gonna catch y'all on the other side Music.

00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:28.720
Music.

00:45:28.563 --> 00:45:34.323
All right. And we are back. And so now it's time for my next guest, Shernice Mundell.

00:45:35.323 --> 00:45:40.483
Shernice Mundell is an Air Force veteran, mother of three, and a passionate

00:45:40.483 --> 00:45:42.523
advocate for equity in government.

00:45:42.823 --> 00:45:46.823
Based in Maryland, she formerly worked at the Office of Personnel Management,

00:45:47.083 --> 00:45:52.783
where she negotiated contracts with health insurance carriers for postal employees

00:45:52.783 --> 00:45:57.103
and retirees, until her job, as well as thousands of others,

00:45:57.283 --> 00:45:59.943
was eliminated by the Department of Government Efficiency.

00:46:00.763 --> 00:46:05.023
Shernice is committed to increasing Black representation in government to help

00:46:05.023 --> 00:46:07.943
build a more just and inclusive society.

00:46:08.303 --> 00:46:12.763
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor and privilege to have as a guest

00:46:12.763 --> 00:46:16.383
on this podcast, Shernice Mundell.

00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:28.400
Music.

00:46:27.483 --> 00:46:31.603
All right, Shernice Mundell. How are you doing, sister? You doing good?

00:46:32.303 --> 00:46:36.723
I am good. How are you? I'm doing great. I am really, really honored that you

00:46:36.723 --> 00:46:38.503
accepted my invitation to come on.

00:46:39.163 --> 00:46:43.103
I know when I initially reached out to you, you was like, who,

00:46:43.223 --> 00:46:45.243
me? What? You want to talk to me?

00:46:46.023 --> 00:46:49.283
It was like everybody else was talking to you. I said, yeah,

00:46:49.383 --> 00:46:50.763
I want you on my podcast too.

00:46:52.183 --> 00:46:58.423
But I'm serious. I really am glad to see you and and that you decided to come on.

00:46:59.243 --> 00:47:01.943
Thank you for reaching out. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

00:47:02.123 --> 00:47:07.603
So how I normally start off the interviews is that I do a couple of icebreakers. Right.

00:47:08.403 --> 00:47:12.183
So the first icebreaker is a quote that I want you to respond to.

00:47:12.183 --> 00:47:19.063
And the quote is, change will not come if we wait for some other person or if

00:47:19.063 --> 00:47:20.743
we wait for some other time.

00:47:21.023 --> 00:47:26.523
We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

00:47:26.963 --> 00:47:28.363
What does that quote mean to you?

00:47:29.023 --> 00:47:37.523
That means to me right now, given the state of the United States, I have to take action.

00:47:37.523 --> 00:47:43.043
But I have to, I always say if I want to want something to change,

00:47:43.223 --> 00:47:45.163
I have to participate in it.

00:47:45.863 --> 00:47:51.163
Yeah. All right. So now the next icebreaker is 20 questions.

00:47:51.623 --> 00:47:55.783
So I need you to give me a number between 1 and 20.

00:47:56.463 --> 00:48:02.583
Seven. Okay. What do you consider the best way to stay informed about politics,

00:48:02.883 --> 00:48:05.263
current events, health, etc.?

00:48:06.192 --> 00:48:11.012
To read, to listen to different outlets.

00:48:11.492 --> 00:48:18.012
I listen to Urban View, and I get a lot of, listen to all the talk show hosts

00:48:18.012 --> 00:48:22.252
on that station, and I get a lot of different information that way.

00:48:22.492 --> 00:48:26.672
And I know a lot of people always say, do your own research,

00:48:26.892 --> 00:48:32.172
but I really mean to do your own research and not just look at the headlines of something.

00:48:33.232 --> 00:48:37.072
Look at the article, read the article read find

00:48:37.072 --> 00:48:40.612
out more about about it yourself yeah

00:48:40.612 --> 00:48:43.772
all right so what was

00:48:43.772 --> 00:48:47.412
your life journey prior to february the 13th 2025

00:48:47.412 --> 00:48:51.752
um i it

00:48:51.752 --> 00:48:54.752
was i just figured you know everything was just

00:48:54.752 --> 00:48:57.812
going along i i'm

00:48:57.812 --> 00:49:00.712
a single i was a single mom young when i

00:49:00.712 --> 00:49:04.112
went into the air force so everything up

00:49:04.112 --> 00:49:07.492
until last year it

00:49:07.492 --> 00:49:10.272
was like basically doing everything to make sure my kids

00:49:10.272 --> 00:49:19.692
were okay last year I just decided to try to move into a another job field because

00:49:19.692 --> 00:49:25.092
the job that I was I previously had they were all like you know stable nothing

00:49:25.092 --> 00:49:27.592
was you know the pay wasn't that great,

00:49:27.792 --> 00:49:31.092
but it was enough to make sure that my kids were okay.

00:49:31.412 --> 00:49:34.752
My youngest son is graduating high school this year.

00:49:34.932 --> 00:49:41.272
So I just decided that maybe it was time for me to look into exploring another

00:49:41.272 --> 00:49:43.852
career with more opportunities.

00:49:44.272 --> 00:49:50.172
And so that's when I decided to apply for the job with the federal government.

00:49:50.512 --> 00:49:56.532
And I mean, up until, I want to say maybe the election, I thought everything

00:49:56.532 --> 00:50:01.892
in my life was taking a turn for the better because the pay had increased.

00:50:02.652 --> 00:50:07.152
I liked my coworkers, and everything was going good until...

00:50:08.110 --> 00:50:13.990
The day after the election. Okay. So how long did you serve in the Air Force?

00:50:14.410 --> 00:50:17.650
I was in the Air Force for three and a half years. Okay.

00:50:18.270 --> 00:50:24.270
And I understand that your oldest child just got a master's degree. Is that right?

00:50:24.770 --> 00:50:27.030
My middle daughter. Oh, it's the middle one. Okay.

00:50:28.630 --> 00:50:32.390
She just got her master's last year.

00:50:34.130 --> 00:50:37.670
Okay. All right. But I know there's something about the oldest one.

00:50:37.670 --> 00:50:41.870
I think she had just got a job or she was doing something because she was telling

00:50:41.870 --> 00:50:42.990
you, mom, it's going to be OK.

00:50:43.370 --> 00:50:45.770
And, you know, don't worry about all this.

00:50:46.530 --> 00:50:52.110
That's her. That's her. My oldest son is 29. He just turned 29. He is a truck driver.

00:50:53.170 --> 00:50:56.870
Yeah. Over the road truck driver. And my middle daughter, my daughter,

00:50:57.110 --> 00:51:00.430
she just got her master's in accounting.

00:51:00.430 --> 00:51:03.230
And yeah when the the

00:51:03.230 --> 00:51:06.190
whole thing happened with me getting fired you

00:51:06.190 --> 00:51:09.030
know of course I was you know upset trying to

00:51:09.030 --> 00:51:14.390
figure out what was going to happen and she just did basically tell me you know

00:51:14.390 --> 00:51:20.710
take my time take everything in find I didn't have to rush to to find another

00:51:20.710 --> 00:51:25.470
job and you know she would take care of everything as best she could with the

00:51:25.470 --> 00:51:28.450
bills all right so you had two Two boys and a girl.

00:51:28.670 --> 00:51:34.150
So I'm sure that was that was kind of an adventure, having a girl in the middle of two boys.

00:51:34.590 --> 00:51:42.230
All right. So what happened on February the 13th, 2025 that changed this life journey you were on?

00:51:43.030 --> 00:51:46.630
Well, I had just a little backstory with the hiring.

00:51:46.870 --> 00:51:53.730
I had started working at OPM, Office of Personnel Management, in August of last year.

00:51:54.030 --> 00:52:00.310
It was two days in the office, three days remote. So, I mean, it was a new department.

00:52:00.810 --> 00:52:04.630
They were still in the process of hiring everyone when I was hired.

00:52:05.130 --> 00:52:10.630
So we didn't have any funding for office space. So they were trying to find

00:52:10.630 --> 00:52:13.090
office space for us. So we were 100% remote.

00:52:13.890 --> 00:52:18.490
So I when I started, I think maybe a few weeks into me starting,

00:52:18.690 --> 00:52:23.290
I spoke with my supervisor and she told me that because the department was new,

00:52:23.550 --> 00:52:28.070
we would have other positions available and that I would just,

00:52:28.150 --> 00:52:29.310
you know, be on the lookout.

00:52:29.510 --> 00:52:34.810
And if once the job openings came, she would send them to me because of my skill

00:52:34.810 --> 00:52:39.830
set, I probably would qualify for something else. So in September,

00:52:39.830 --> 00:52:44.030
she sent me a job opening and told me I should apply for it.

00:52:44.210 --> 00:52:50.730
I applied for it, and I was hired in October. So I started that new position in November.

00:52:51.510 --> 00:52:56.750
So after the inauguration in January,

00:52:57.230 --> 00:53:05.110
we had started getting emails, not from HR, just from this random email address,

00:53:05.330 --> 00:53:07.750
which I now know I'm sure it was Doge,

00:53:08.130 --> 00:53:11.230
saying that we could accept the fork in the road,

00:53:11.390 --> 00:53:19.110
which was the designated resignation program, which was basically saying we

00:53:19.110 --> 00:53:25.950
could resign and stay on payroll until through September of this year.

00:53:26.090 --> 00:53:28.590
We would still get our full benefits, still accrue leave.

00:53:29.190 --> 00:53:33.890
But, you know, we would give up any rights to sue the government after,

00:53:33.890 --> 00:53:37.570
you know, after we accepted it. I didn't accept it.

00:53:38.439 --> 00:53:47.379
A few people on my team did accept it. So after they closed out the window to accept that,

00:53:47.639 --> 00:53:52.419
they started sending me emails saying that I was a probationary employee and

00:53:52.419 --> 00:53:56.619
that they're reevaluating my job to see if I'm still needed in government.

00:53:57.879 --> 00:54:05.059
So February 13th, I spoke to my supervisor that morning and she was calling

00:54:05.059 --> 00:54:09.779
us to see who had accepted the resignation. And I told her I wasn't accepting it.

00:54:10.019 --> 00:54:13.679
And she said, OK, well, I just wanted to know because some people accepted it.

00:54:13.799 --> 00:54:17.259
We're going to have to start divvying out the work different way.

00:54:17.379 --> 00:54:20.119
She just wanted to know who was going to work on what.

00:54:20.659 --> 00:54:25.299
And I said, OK. And she said she would get back to me later on that week or whatever.

00:54:25.839 --> 00:54:32.379
And we had a meeting, a department meeting at one o'clock that day over Teams.

00:54:32.679 --> 00:54:36.399
So I logged on to the meeting. It was from one to two thirty.

00:54:36.399 --> 00:54:41.979
In the middle of the meeting, I got a message from a team's invite saying,

00:54:42.199 --> 00:54:46.459
join this meeting, urgent, join this meeting at 2 o'clock, which I wasn't sure

00:54:46.459 --> 00:54:49.479
what it was because this meeting was scheduled until 2.30.

00:54:50.331 --> 00:54:53.871
So I'd emailed my supervisor and asked her if she knew anything about the meeting.

00:54:54.351 --> 00:54:58.671
And she said she didn't know. So she asked, she called me and asked me to share

00:54:58.671 --> 00:55:01.471
my screen with her so she can see what the meeting was.

00:55:02.211 --> 00:55:05.291
I shared it. She said, I have no clue what this is.

00:55:05.451 --> 00:55:10.691
She said, just hop on the meeting and just let me keep me informed about what's going on.

00:55:10.771 --> 00:55:15.291
Because at this time, none of the upper management knew what was going on,

00:55:15.411 --> 00:55:16.751
like the emails that we were getting.

00:55:17.251 --> 00:55:22.791
If it didn't concern you, you didn't get it. Most of the time when everyone

00:55:22.791 --> 00:55:27.371
else in the world learned about the resignation, that's when we learned about it.

00:55:27.431 --> 00:55:30.831
They would send us emails 10 o'clock at night, 1 o'clock in the morning.

00:55:30.951 --> 00:55:36.431
So I get on that meeting about 1.50.

00:55:36.711 --> 00:55:40.271
And as I'm getting on, it's maybe about 10 people on there.

00:55:40.491 --> 00:55:44.471
And there's a lady talking and she says, if you're a part of the union,

00:55:44.671 --> 00:55:47.471
you should get your union rep on the phone. And then she muted her mic.

00:55:48.111 --> 00:55:54.531
So we waited for about 10 more minutes. By that time, it was about 70 people on there, 70, 75 people.

00:55:54.811 --> 00:55:57.431
And someone asked her if she could repeat what she said.

00:55:57.791 --> 00:56:01.611
And she said, sure. So she said, I just wanted to say, if you're part of the

00:56:01.611 --> 00:56:04.011
union, you should get your union rep on the phone.

00:56:04.011 --> 00:56:08.191
And a lady had said, well, we were told we couldn't have any supervisors or

00:56:08.191 --> 00:56:12.611
anything on this call and she said, well, they're probably about to fire us anyway,

00:56:13.171 --> 00:56:19.071
so you should turn your cameras on and let them see and after she said that,

00:56:19.191 --> 00:56:20.691
everything just went blank.

00:56:20.871 --> 00:56:24.731
They disabled the chat, disabled our cameras, disabled our mics.

00:56:25.031 --> 00:56:31.831
So we had to sit there for maybe about 20 more minutes, 20, 25 minutes and we

00:56:31.831 --> 00:56:35.291
got another invite And it said join this meeting.

00:56:35.471 --> 00:56:40.731
So we clicked I clicked on that and it was a pre-recorded call from whom I'm

00:56:40.731 --> 00:56:47.771
assuming is the acting director of the of OPM now, I think is Charles, Charles Ezell.

00:56:48.231 --> 00:56:52.511
And he just basically said that I was a probationary employee.

00:56:54.140 --> 00:57:01.460
And that they had evaluated our position and we're no longer needed in the government

00:57:01.460 --> 00:57:06.120
at three o'clock today, all of our will be terminated.

00:57:06.440 --> 00:57:12.680
If you were in the office, you needed to pack up all your non-government issued equipment.

00:57:13.060 --> 00:57:17.360
Well, pack up all your government issued equipment, leave it on the desk and

00:57:17.360 --> 00:57:22.040
exit the building and give your ID card to the guard at the front desk.

00:57:22.040 --> 00:57:25.420
And if you were home that they would contact

00:57:25.420 --> 00:57:29.040
us on how to return our equipment and they

00:57:29.040 --> 00:57:33.500
said we would have a follow-up email telling us why we were terminated and you

00:57:33.500 --> 00:57:36.720
know basically thank you for your service good luck in your journey and then

00:57:36.720 --> 00:57:42.680
it just went on a loop again and then I emailed my supervisor told her what

00:57:42.680 --> 00:57:46.840
was going on you know she didn't know her supervisor didn't know.

00:57:47.000 --> 00:57:50.020
The department head didn't know that this was going to happen.

00:57:50.400 --> 00:57:54.620
They all just got on a team's chat and just was telling us, you know,

00:57:54.760 --> 00:57:59.040
how sorry they were because it was a few of us in the department that were all

00:57:59.040 --> 00:58:00.660
probationary and was fired.

00:58:00.820 --> 00:58:03.440
And then at three o'clock, my access was terminated.

00:58:04.500 --> 00:58:14.980
Wow. All right. So you said that you had read Project 2025 and you had kind

00:58:14.980 --> 00:58:19.060
of stated that things were a little different after the election.

00:58:19.380 --> 00:58:25.300
So in other words, you were kind of anticipating that something was going to happen, right? Yes.

00:58:25.700 --> 00:58:30.360
You just didn't think it was going to happen this quick. Exactly. Yes.

00:58:31.680 --> 00:58:37.420
So at a congressional shadow hearing, you testified that I think eventually

00:58:37.420 --> 00:58:39.480
we're all going to need counseling.

00:58:39.860 --> 00:58:43.720
I'm just trying to hold it all together right now. I just want to find a new

00:58:43.720 --> 00:58:49.120
job where I can provide for my family because I'm not used to not working and

00:58:49.120 --> 00:58:50.720
not being able to provide.

00:58:51.100 --> 00:58:58.780
So let me ask you this. How have you been holding up? What's been going on with you since that day?

00:58:59.440 --> 00:59:06.240
Well, since that hearing, there was a court order back in April when they said

00:59:06.240 --> 00:59:10.000
that the probationary employees for certain agencies were supposed to be brought

00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:15.040
back and placed on administrative leave with pay. I was one of the employees.

00:59:15.760 --> 00:59:20.520
OPM was one of the agencies. I got paid one pay.

00:59:20.900 --> 00:59:25.280
And then ever since then, I've been put on leave without pay.

00:59:25.860 --> 00:59:31.840
Nobody will contact me when I try to email them because there's no phone numbers to call.

00:59:32.180 --> 00:59:36.140
They won't return anything to let me know why I'm on leave without pay.

00:59:37.027 --> 00:59:42.287
Because it is actually illegal for them to place an employee on leave without

00:59:42.287 --> 00:59:45.407
pay, without the employee requesting it. And I didn't request it.

00:59:45.587 --> 00:59:47.987
So I haven't gotten paid since April.

00:59:48.547 --> 00:59:51.367
I guess I'm technically still employed.

00:59:52.387 --> 00:59:56.647
But I mean, I guess that's just a name only.

00:59:57.227 --> 01:00:00.347
I haven't found a job yet. I'm still looking.

01:00:00.607 --> 01:00:07.787
My unemployment will be running out next month. I think up until last month, I was doing okay.

01:00:08.427 --> 01:00:13.187
Always optimistic about what's going to happen because I know because of the

01:00:13.187 --> 01:00:17.667
faith that I have in God, I know that he's not going to just leave me.

01:00:17.987 --> 01:00:21.647
I'm sure he's, you know, everything happens for a reason. So I know eventually

01:00:21.647 --> 01:00:22.727
I'm going to get through it.

01:00:22.827 --> 01:00:27.287
But I know in the past month, I felt like I was in a,

01:00:27.367 --> 01:00:30.287
I wouldn't say a funk I've been pretty depressed

01:00:30.287 --> 01:00:33.167
I'm just feeling like I'm coming out of it because

01:00:33.167 --> 01:00:36.087
I just I don't know something just feels like

01:00:36.087 --> 01:00:39.407
it's about to change for me and so I

01:00:39.407 --> 01:00:44.967
feel a lot better this this past week but I know the the past month has been

01:00:44.967 --> 01:00:51.507
like really hard I did I had a pre-scheduled trip for my 30th high school reunion

01:00:51.507 --> 01:00:57.367
we went to Punta Cana for a week and that kind of cleared up things for me.

01:00:57.467 --> 01:00:58.807
I got to enjoy myself a bit.

01:00:58.927 --> 01:01:03.127
I'm sure it would have been even more enjoyable if I wasn't in this predicament,

01:01:03.127 --> 01:01:05.267
but I did get a chance to do that.

01:01:05.387 --> 01:01:10.687
But right now I feel like I'm coming out of my funk and, and I think I'm hoping

01:01:10.687 --> 01:01:12.787
things will, will get better soon.

01:01:13.507 --> 01:01:20.027
Yeah. So when you, who, do you know who is handling the legal aspect?

01:01:20.307 --> 01:01:28.047
Is, is this, is this still in litigation right now as far as whether y'all are back or not?

01:01:28.707 --> 01:01:35.607
Are you in contact or is anybody in contact with you as far as how this is going in court?

01:01:35.847 --> 01:01:41.487
No, not really. I did once when I was initially fired because you have 30 days

01:01:41.487 --> 01:01:46.127
to file an appeal with the MSPB board and I did that.

01:01:47.067 --> 01:01:51.307
But then when I got rehired. I mean, that's still pending.

01:01:51.707 --> 01:01:56.227
I did reach out to the union. My union, they were helping me.

01:01:56.427 --> 01:02:03.087
They did file a grievance because the union president did contact OPMHR like

01:02:03.087 --> 01:02:06.127
three or four times over email and they never responded to her.

01:02:06.247 --> 01:02:10.847
So she filed a grievance, which she basically said to me.

01:02:11.839 --> 01:02:19.459
They're not following any of the court orders anyway. So I guess it's just a wait and see game.

01:02:19.739 --> 01:02:24.679
I don't know. I know they did. The lawyer that was assigned to assist me with

01:02:24.679 --> 01:02:30.219
appeal, he contacted me and said that he contacted me like two days ago and

01:02:30.219 --> 01:02:32.619
he said that the judge ordered,

01:02:33.079 --> 01:02:37.259
made an order that OPM couldn't be included in the class action lawsuit.

01:02:37.259 --> 01:02:41.299
So right now I'm

01:02:41.299 --> 01:02:44.519
just like getting information wherever I can get it from and

01:02:44.519 --> 01:02:47.199
waiting and trying to figure out everything on

01:02:47.199 --> 01:02:51.939
my own there I know everybody always says that we're this is we're in unprecedented

01:02:51.939 --> 01:02:57.899
times but this is I don't think well I know that there's never been a president

01:02:57.899 --> 01:03:05.359
that's just actually just defied the law the way he's doing so every it's new for everybody.

01:03:05.639 --> 01:03:08.859
So we're all just learning as we go along.

01:03:09.159 --> 01:03:11.679
So are you a member of AFGE?

01:03:12.219 --> 01:03:18.439
You're a member of that union? Okay. So that's the association of federal government

01:03:18.439 --> 01:03:19.999
employees? Is that? Yes.

01:03:20.919 --> 01:03:23.959
All right. So at least, okay.

01:03:24.199 --> 01:03:29.539
So technically you, you are being represented by the union at this particular point.

01:03:29.919 --> 01:03:33.339
Yes. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That's still kind of crazy.

01:03:33.559 --> 01:03:37.879
All that. So in an interview with the National Employment Law Project,

01:03:38.159 --> 01:03:41.839
you said this, I've always wanted to be an activist.

01:03:42.359 --> 01:03:47.239
And I think this was God's way of pulling me out of that comfort zone and pushing me.

01:03:47.499 --> 01:03:52.559
I've been asking what my purpose is. I think my purpose is to be more active

01:03:52.559 --> 01:03:54.399
and to possibly run for office.

01:03:54.599 --> 01:03:59.459
I'm looking into that. So my question to you is, are you still looking into that?

01:04:00.359 --> 01:04:06.339
Yes, I am looking. Before I was brought back on admin leave,

01:04:06.339 --> 01:04:12.099
I was prepared to go and file the paperwork to run for Congress here in Maryland.

01:04:12.099 --> 01:04:18.739
But because of the Hatch Act, I can't run, it has to be bipartisan.

01:04:19.619 --> 01:04:23.279
So I couldn't do anything yet.

01:04:23.399 --> 01:04:30.619
But like now I'm just, I feel like I'm just in limbo and they're holding my life up.

01:04:30.779 --> 01:04:34.299
And so I'm just looking into seeing what I need to do to move on,

01:04:34.439 --> 01:04:38.739
to go and run, because that's something that I really want to do.

01:04:39.199 --> 01:04:45.019
Because I, Like I said, you know, your first first quote, like I have to be the change.

01:04:45.479 --> 01:04:50.639
We have to change. And if we don't get back the house, you know,

01:04:50.999 --> 01:04:54.519
some I don't see us having a democracy after next year.

01:04:54.899 --> 01:05:02.179
So is your district, your congressional district represented by a Republican at this point? Yes. OK.

01:05:02.799 --> 01:05:06.019
Yes. He I've contacted him. You know, he.

01:05:07.050 --> 01:05:12.090
I contacted him through email when I first was fired. I think I would send him

01:05:12.090 --> 01:05:13.550
an email every other day.

01:05:13.770 --> 01:05:20.690
He never responded, just an auto reply with the, I agree with what the administration is doing.

01:05:20.970 --> 01:05:25.670
I've called his office, left messages, and I know that you're supposed to contact

01:05:25.670 --> 01:05:31.050
the constituent back when they leave you a message. He's never contacted me back.

01:05:31.310 --> 01:05:37.310
He doesn't have town halls. He had one town hall that was a call and you had

01:05:37.310 --> 01:05:40.270
to send in pre-screened questions for them.

01:05:40.370 --> 01:05:45.170
He didn't answer any questions. So he's not doing much, but,

01:05:45.170 --> 01:05:48.750
you know, holding the water for this administration.

01:05:49.230 --> 01:05:56.490
So is there anybody running against that person now or is at this point this person's unopposed?

01:05:57.250 --> 01:06:03.730
I did see that one person has said that they were going to run against him. Okay.

01:06:04.350 --> 01:06:09.310
All right. Because, yeah, it's like, you know, with these congressional and

01:06:09.310 --> 01:06:13.870
Senate races and presidential stuff, people try to get out early.

01:06:14.730 --> 01:06:17.910
And I know that was your intention based on what you were saying.

01:06:18.390 --> 01:06:22.410
Yes. But, yeah, because you're kind of in this limbo. you don't know if you

01:06:22.410 --> 01:06:27.730
are officially a government employee or not because you're on this leave that

01:06:27.730 --> 01:06:30.050
really ain't a leave kind of thing.

01:06:32.050 --> 01:06:36.370
Exactly. And I do, you know, I have so many people that are,

01:06:36.390 --> 01:06:39.670
you know, willing to help me with the to start the campaign.

01:06:39.730 --> 01:06:43.870
But, you know, until I figured that out, you know.

01:06:44.733 --> 01:06:50.113
Yeah, I would. Well, I guess I shouldn't be giving campaign advice,

01:06:50.253 --> 01:06:55.013
but I, you know, it sounds like to me that you if you really are serious about

01:06:55.013 --> 01:06:56.813
doing that, you might want to.

01:06:57.813 --> 01:07:00.893
Have you talked with anybody? Let's let me let me do it this way.

01:07:01.193 --> 01:07:05.433
Have you talked to somebody that's like an expert in election law,

01:07:05.573 --> 01:07:09.153
like an attorney or something like that to kind of guide you through to see?

01:07:09.773 --> 01:07:14.573
Because this is all unprecedented, if you say, well, look, I want to run,

01:07:14.713 --> 01:07:18.873
I want to start filing my paperwork, would I be in violation if I did that?

01:07:18.953 --> 01:07:20.373
Have you had that kind of conversation?

01:07:21.173 --> 01:07:25.473
Not with an attorney, just other, because I know that there's a lot of other

01:07:25.473 --> 01:07:29.553
federal employees that were fired that we have like a little,

01:07:29.653 --> 01:07:34.593
starting a little coalition where we're supporting everyone on that they want to run for office.

01:07:35.053 --> 01:07:39.533
The only thing that we really found that if you violate the Hatch Act is that

01:07:39.533 --> 01:07:41.673
you would be fired. Gotcha.

01:07:42.393 --> 01:07:46.653
I mean, I feel like I'm basically fired now, so.

01:07:47.073 --> 01:07:51.133
Yeah, it's kind of like, okay, well, you're not, you know, it's like at this

01:07:51.133 --> 01:07:52.713
point you don't have anything to lose,

01:07:52.713 --> 01:07:56.993
but I'm glad that there's a support group out there that a number of you all

01:07:56.993 --> 01:08:01.953
are sitting there talking about it and assessing whether it's something that

01:08:01.953 --> 01:08:03.993
you should do and all that kind of stuff.

01:08:04.913 --> 01:08:08.613
So how do you, How do you feel?

01:08:09.233 --> 01:08:13.433
Well, let me ask you the question this way. What do you want to see happen going

01:08:13.433 --> 01:08:19.193
forward as far as you personally and as far as how the country goes?

01:08:20.481 --> 01:08:25.061
I just, for the country, that's easier for me.

01:08:25.121 --> 01:08:30.881
I just want people to wake up and realize that what's going on,

01:08:31.041 --> 01:08:33.381
even though it's not affecting you right now,

01:08:33.621 --> 01:08:38.101
if you look at the bill that they just passed, everything is going to eventually

01:08:38.101 --> 01:08:41.061
trickle down to affect everybody.

01:08:41.241 --> 01:08:45.141
Kind of how they think trickle-down economics is supposed to work.

01:08:45.221 --> 01:08:49.361
That's what's happening with the destruction of this country.

01:08:49.361 --> 01:08:54.061
There's so many people that are not informed about what's going on,

01:08:54.281 --> 01:09:00.821
which I can't really say that I understand because before, I mean,

01:09:00.901 --> 01:09:02.181
I have a love of politics.

01:09:02.541 --> 01:09:07.081
But if, you know, when my life was fine and nothing was affecting me,

01:09:07.241 --> 01:09:09.901
I had no reason to, you know, I would go vote.

01:09:09.901 --> 01:09:15.801
And once, you know, whoever was in office, as long as they were doing a good

01:09:15.801 --> 01:09:21.521
job or wasn't anything crazy like was going on now, I just kind of went along with the flow.

01:09:21.921 --> 01:09:29.901
But I just want people to understand, you know, not just listen to talking points

01:09:29.901 --> 01:09:36.861
from, you know, right-wing outcasts, I mean, broadcasts and everything like that.

01:09:37.001 --> 01:09:43.341
I just want you to know that, You have to look into it and see what's going

01:09:43.341 --> 01:09:45.541
on because, like I said, it's affecting everybody.

01:09:45.741 --> 01:09:51.741
And even with people that aren't like MAGA supporters, just regular people,

01:09:51.881 --> 01:09:56.981
people that are not brainwashed by what's going on, I just still want them to

01:09:56.981 --> 01:10:01.001
be informed, too, because it's a lot of my family and friends that they don't

01:10:01.001 --> 01:10:04.421
really know what's going on either until I told them what was going on.

01:10:04.541 --> 01:10:09.401
You know, a lot of people think that we were fired because we didn't want to go back into the office.

01:10:10.264 --> 01:10:13.604
And that's not why we were fired or we weren't doing any work or we didn't want

01:10:13.604 --> 01:10:18.284
to, you know, work or, you know, they just don't know what's going on.

01:10:18.424 --> 01:10:23.384
So I just want them to be more informed and get more get involved,

01:10:23.384 --> 01:10:30.764
because right now we can't really depend on just our leaders. This is right now.

01:10:31.084 --> 01:10:37.004
It's going to take the people to take back what has what we've lost in these

01:10:37.004 --> 01:10:38.844
past seven months. Yeah.

01:10:39.124 --> 01:10:44.824
And that's the most important reason why I wanted you to come on,

01:10:44.844 --> 01:10:50.904
because you early on, you were kind of like one of the people willing to go

01:10:50.904 --> 01:10:53.084
on the air and explain to people what was happening.

01:10:53.904 --> 01:10:59.384
And people need to understand. And just your personal experience shows that

01:10:59.384 --> 01:11:04.004
even folks that are close to you don't even know all the facts.

01:11:04.164 --> 01:11:09.724
So it's important to be able to get these facts out, what you're going through,

01:11:10.024 --> 01:11:16.124
what that experience was like, and hopefully we can figure out a way to do better, right?

01:11:16.604 --> 01:11:20.224
So I want to ask you a couple of questions real quick before.

01:11:20.604 --> 01:11:22.304
Well, I got one more question.

01:11:23.304 --> 01:11:27.304
And now as I'm talking, it kind of slipped my mind.

01:11:27.944 --> 01:11:36.724
What do you, what would be the definition of perseverance for you?

01:11:37.684 --> 01:11:41.664
How would you, based on what you've been going through and all that stuff,

01:11:42.064 --> 01:11:44.724
define what perseverance means to you?

01:11:45.244 --> 01:11:51.024
Basically, overcoming any obstacles that are put in my way. I mean,

01:11:51.924 --> 01:11:55.904
even if I, I feel like even if I run for office and I don't win,

01:11:56.204 --> 01:11:59.924
I still feel like I persevered because I didn't give up.

01:12:00.144 --> 01:12:05.464
It's, you know, doing the hard thing, even when you don't want to,

01:12:05.784 --> 01:12:08.944
because, you know, there's days that I don't want to get out of bed.

01:12:08.944 --> 01:12:16.404
But I still have to get up and do it because, you know, that's just what I have to do.

01:12:16.704 --> 01:12:24.944
So just overcoming obstacles that that you wouldn't normally have to overcome. Yeah.

01:12:25.844 --> 01:12:29.684
And well, I did have the now I thought about the question.

01:12:29.924 --> 01:12:36.164
The in doing my research on you, one of the things that you stress a lot is

01:12:36.164 --> 01:12:37.704
that you like to help people.

01:12:37.704 --> 01:12:44.524
Where did that desire to help people come from and how do you feel that you'll

01:12:44.524 --> 01:12:46.584
be able to do that going forward?

01:12:47.507 --> 01:12:51.347
I mean, I think it came from my mom.

01:12:51.667 --> 01:12:56.687
She was always like, she wasn't the, excuse me, she wasn't the,

01:12:56.847 --> 01:12:59.307
I'm not going to say she wasn't nice.

01:12:59.387 --> 01:13:05.947
She just had a hard shell, outer shell, but her heart was so giving.

01:13:05.947 --> 01:13:11.347
And she always, you know, if it was my friends and when I was younger,

01:13:11.487 --> 01:13:17.287
the kids in the neighborhood, if she had it to give, she would give it to you and she would help you.

01:13:17.487 --> 01:13:22.027
And I'm looking now that I think about it because I never thought about where

01:13:22.027 --> 01:13:24.107
that came from. It all came from her.

01:13:24.667 --> 01:13:31.707
And, you know, if I can help anybody, if I have it and I can it's not going

01:13:31.707 --> 01:13:34.847
to even sometimes it might be to my detriment.

01:13:34.847 --> 01:13:39.987
And if I can help you, I'll help you if I can. I think it all came from her.

01:13:40.747 --> 01:13:45.627
Okay. So if people want to get in touch with you to talk to you about running

01:13:45.627 --> 01:13:51.627
or, you know, just want you to come on their show or come and talk or whatever,

01:13:51.807 --> 01:13:53.747
how can people reach out to you?

01:13:53.907 --> 01:13:58.067
How can people keep track of what's going on with you? A lot of people have

01:13:58.067 --> 01:14:04.907
been reaching out through LinkedIn or my Instagram or Facebook.

01:14:06.087 --> 01:14:11.007
Yeah, that's, and I don't think anybody reached me on Twitter or anything,

01:14:11.007 --> 01:14:15.227
but it's mainly been like Facebook or Instagram or LinkedIn.

01:14:15.687 --> 01:14:21.627
So kind of talk about real quick, your LinkedIn profile, because it's a little

01:14:21.627 --> 01:14:26.147
different than a typical profile. Talk to me about LinkedIn so folks will be

01:14:26.147 --> 01:14:27.487
like, oh, okay, that's her.

01:14:28.087 --> 01:14:37.287
Oh, look, I just went on there because I was trying to put my resume on there because I needed a job.

01:14:37.487 --> 01:14:43.187
And that's where everybody, like, I just go on there and people will just send me a message.

01:14:43.327 --> 01:14:46.387
Y'all want to send me a message and connect to me that way.

01:14:47.687 --> 01:14:52.347
And excuse me, not the LinkedIn. I said LinkedIn, I meant Instagram because

01:14:52.347 --> 01:14:53.987
your Instagram is pretty unique.

01:14:54.587 --> 01:14:59.287
Oh, yes. They my Instagram, they just go in and they just yeah,

01:14:59.407 --> 01:15:00.907
they DM me on there as well.

01:15:01.367 --> 01:15:06.187
Yeah, but it's not what I'm getting at is not it doesn't have your name initially.

01:15:06.187 --> 01:15:09.027
It's about collections or something like that.

01:15:10.067 --> 01:15:14.847
Oh, I have one. It says it's my niece. And then I have one for it because I

01:15:14.847 --> 01:15:17.087
like to coupon. So I have two different ones.

01:15:17.507 --> 01:15:24.867
One is for couponing and then one is my own like personal one where everybody will DM me for stuff.

01:15:25.027 --> 01:15:28.327
And that's my niece. I think it's my niece 77. seven.

01:15:28.927 --> 01:15:32.687
I guess I hit the coupon one. That's why I was, that's why I was fascinated.

01:15:33.007 --> 01:15:37.847
I was like, coupons. Okay. I feel it. I said that, I said, that's going to come

01:15:37.847 --> 01:15:40.107
in handy right now until, until some break.

01:15:40.947 --> 01:15:46.707
It does. Look at my basement, down to my basement. I will not be stuck.

01:15:46.887 --> 01:15:49.707
Like in a pandemic, we was not stuck without the toilet paper.

01:15:50.767 --> 01:15:59.727
Well, well, Shernice Mundell, I'm really glad that you came on and I will continue

01:15:59.727 --> 01:16:06.047
to keep up with you and hopefully things will work out either job wise and or

01:16:06.047 --> 01:16:08.187
seeking political office.

01:16:08.187 --> 01:16:13.387
Because, you know, just reading about you and your heart's in the right place,

01:16:13.567 --> 01:16:17.527
whether you want to serve in government as an employee or serve as an elected official.

01:16:18.067 --> 01:16:21.847
And I hope you get that opportunity to do that.

01:16:22.247 --> 01:16:27.267
So I just I just want to thank you for coming on and thank you again for doing

01:16:27.267 --> 01:16:28.767
what you're doing and hanging in there.

01:16:29.287 --> 01:16:32.867
Thank you. Thank you for getting my story out.

01:16:33.007 --> 01:16:37.367
I really appreciate that. And when I go file, I will let you know,

01:16:37.507 --> 01:16:39.327
because I'm definitely. going to be filing.

01:16:40.087 --> 01:16:43.327
All right. Yeah, please, please do that. And you have an open invitation to

01:16:43.327 --> 01:16:46.787
come back. So that's, that's a rule for all my guests.

01:16:46.987 --> 01:16:51.387
It's like, anytime you want to come back on, just let me know and we'll, we'll make that happen.

01:16:52.207 --> 01:16:57.267
Okay. Thank you so much. All right, guys, and we'll catch y'all on the other side. Bye.

01:16:57.520 --> 01:17:07.920
Music.

01:17:08.473 --> 01:17:14.753
All right. And we are back. So I want to thank Shavonda Miles and Shernice Mundell

01:17:14.753 --> 01:17:23.533
for coming on and giving of their time and being open about what they're what

01:17:23.533 --> 01:17:27.733
they're dealing with and and how they're pushing through. Right.

01:17:28.593 --> 01:17:33.693
You know, and that should be encouraging for all of us in this day and age,

01:17:33.793 --> 01:17:35.373
in this time that we're living in.

01:17:35.933 --> 01:17:39.513
We're going to make it. It's not going to be easy, but we're going to make it.

01:17:39.773 --> 01:17:40.853
We're going to get through it.

01:17:41.753 --> 01:17:47.593
So I thank them for coming on, showing themselves as examples of that.

01:17:49.853 --> 01:17:54.713
And, you know, I just want to say I know a lot of people are,

01:17:54.973 --> 01:17:59.193
as this is airing, folks are talking about this Epstein thing.

01:17:59.853 --> 01:18:09.473
It is what it is. You know, the big picture is that we can do better than what we got.

01:18:10.013 --> 01:18:14.793
I know people, and I'm going to do the benefit of doubt thing this time,

01:18:14.833 --> 01:18:20.873
because I feel some kind of way about how everything went down in 2024 still.

01:18:21.073 --> 01:18:26.113
But let's do the benefit of doubt. And people voted out of anger and frustration.

01:18:27.033 --> 01:18:30.853
And they felt like for some reason they weren't being heard.

01:18:31.733 --> 01:18:35.653
Yeah, we can't do that. We can't be in our feelings, though, right?

01:18:36.233 --> 01:18:39.593
We got to be smart about this thing from this point going forward.

01:18:40.093 --> 01:18:43.373
And, you know, we're not going to be perfect in that. I mean,

01:18:43.553 --> 01:18:46.153
people were candidates are out there to win.

01:18:46.153 --> 01:18:50.653
And, you know, when I was out there, I was trying to say things,

01:18:50.873 --> 01:18:56.913
you know, and appeal to the voters, you know, trying to touch on issues that

01:18:56.913 --> 01:19:00.153
I felt not only were important to me, but important for the district.

01:19:01.453 --> 01:19:05.013
And, you know, my opponents did the same thing. And, you know,

01:19:05.113 --> 01:19:07.533
people running for all the offices did the same thing.

01:19:08.173 --> 01:19:14.053
You know, we elect public service commissioners and transportation commissioners

01:19:14.053 --> 01:19:17.873
and, you know, tax commissioners, you know, all these different spots.

01:19:17.873 --> 01:19:22.753
So they are going to be focusing in on certain things that pertain to that job.

01:19:23.353 --> 01:19:27.153
And, you know, there's going to be some folks that exaggerate or there's going

01:19:27.153 --> 01:19:31.753
to be some folks that are overly optimistic about what they can do. Right.

01:19:33.293 --> 01:19:34.473
But, you know.

01:19:35.769 --> 01:19:40.649
We still have to be thoughtful. And I've said it before. It's just like,

01:19:40.809 --> 01:19:43.649
don't go to a grocery store hungry, right?

01:19:43.929 --> 01:19:49.469
Don't go to a voting booth angry, right? Be smart about it.

01:19:50.929 --> 01:19:58.849
And vote for the person that's going to do the best job in keeping your city,

01:19:59.369 --> 01:20:04.989
your county, your state, your nation moving forward, right?

01:20:04.989 --> 01:20:09.109
That's going to do things that's going to make your life better,

01:20:09.569 --> 01:20:11.929
not convenient, better.

01:20:12.489 --> 01:20:16.009
Because a lot of times when we get angry, we're dealing with something that,

01:20:16.229 --> 01:20:22.169
oh, man, I wish this thing would work or I wish this thing wasn't that expensive.

01:20:22.689 --> 01:20:25.809
You know, I wish I had enough money to do what needs, you know.

01:20:26.369 --> 01:20:31.269
But you blame that circumstance instead of looking at the big picture,

01:20:31.629 --> 01:20:36.609
right? And the big picture is that we've got to have leadership that values

01:20:36.609 --> 01:20:40.609
work, that values life, right?

01:20:40.889 --> 01:20:46.369
And not in a grandstand kind of way, but in a pragmatic, effective way.

01:20:46.369 --> 01:20:53.429
You know, why are you going to have a limit on giving people tax breaks that

01:20:53.429 --> 01:20:58.249
work every day, but you want to make tax breaks for rich folks permanent?

01:20:59.409 --> 01:21:03.889
Right. Why do you want to sacrifice the health care of people?

01:21:04.069 --> 01:21:06.789
Why do you want to sacrifice the education of people?

01:21:07.129 --> 01:21:12.749
Why do you want to terrorize people who are just trying to work? Right.

01:21:13.549 --> 01:21:16.809
I mean, those are the kind of questions that need to be asked,

01:21:16.829 --> 01:21:23.489
because when a person is crafting legislation, when a person is addressing a

01:21:23.489 --> 01:21:26.769
particular issue, it's not just you in that living room.

01:21:27.149 --> 01:21:31.409
Right. It's a collective of people that might be in the same situation you're in.

01:21:32.129 --> 01:21:35.109
Some people are probably in worse situations than you in.

01:21:36.049 --> 01:21:43.669
And when you vote, you have to look at who's going to take care of us. Not just me, us.

01:21:44.951 --> 01:21:50.011
And so when we get into that mindset, it won't be hard to find somebody that

01:21:50.011 --> 01:21:53.591
believes in reparations, right? Because that's an us thing.

01:21:54.071 --> 01:21:56.811
It's not a me thing. That's an us thing, right?

01:21:58.111 --> 01:22:02.651
It's not going to be hard to find somebody that's sincere about education or

01:22:02.651 --> 01:22:04.131
health care because that's an us thing.

01:22:04.551 --> 01:22:06.551
That's not a me thing, right?

01:22:07.111 --> 01:22:11.671
You will benefit from it personally, but it's got to be about us.

01:22:11.671 --> 01:22:19.271
So we got to figure out a way to support farmers and so that our food will be cheaper, right?

01:22:19.631 --> 01:22:25.431
Not just from an industrialized vantage point, but these independent farmers, right?

01:22:25.731 --> 01:22:32.071
I mean, there's a lot of things in the big picture that can still have a positive

01:22:32.071 --> 01:22:35.331
impact on what happens in your house, right?

01:22:36.011 --> 01:22:41.231
You know, do we have to have a monopoly on power companies? You know,

01:22:41.291 --> 01:22:43.031
at one time there could have been an argument.

01:22:43.331 --> 01:22:48.091
Yeah, we need to be pragmatic about it and make sure that one person,

01:22:48.271 --> 01:22:50.631
one entity is responsible for our light.

01:22:51.111 --> 01:22:53.591
But in this day and age, maybe not.

01:22:54.191 --> 01:22:59.991
You know, but that's a big picture conversation. It's not just about you and

01:22:59.991 --> 01:23:01.311
your individual light bill.

01:23:01.831 --> 01:23:08.431
You see where I'm going with that? It's like, it's a hardship for you when inflation

01:23:08.431 --> 01:23:13.111
goes up to buy groceries and to pay for gas and all that stuff.

01:23:13.371 --> 01:23:17.051
Individually, yes, that's true. But you're not the only person going through that.

01:23:17.631 --> 01:23:23.051
And so what you want to do is elect people who have a big picture mentality

01:23:23.051 --> 01:23:28.131
and realize that there are thousands, if not millions of Americans that are

01:23:28.131 --> 01:23:31.791
dealing with that situation. or in a particular state.

01:23:32.711 --> 01:23:39.951
And so in Chicago, for example, my hometown, all the cities I've been to,

01:23:40.091 --> 01:23:43.251
that's still always going to be my favorite because that's where I grew up.

01:23:43.751 --> 01:23:46.531
It's where my foundest memories are, right?

01:23:47.511 --> 01:23:49.291
Jackson's a real close second. But.

01:23:50.433 --> 01:23:57.393
It's like when they decide that they're going to create more revenue for the

01:23:57.393 --> 01:24:01.273
city, they have a bad habit of putting it on gasoline tax.

01:24:02.233 --> 01:24:08.493
So maybe in the city of Chicago, y'all may need to say no more gas tax increases.

01:24:08.513 --> 01:24:11.193
I mean, a concerted effort, right?

01:24:11.633 --> 01:24:15.213
If you want to put it on something else, cool.

01:24:15.213 --> 01:24:20.493
But don't just keep sticking it on the gasoline because gasoline in Chicago

01:24:20.493 --> 01:24:26.673
is higher than every place else, except a few other cities that emulate that model. Right.

01:24:27.193 --> 01:24:34.853
But if if I'm in Jackson and the gas is like two ninety eight and I get to Chicago,

01:24:35.353 --> 01:24:37.653
the same gallon is like four dollars even.

01:24:38.453 --> 01:24:45.393
It's not because it's hard to get gas in Chicago. It's not hard to transport gasoline to Chicago.

01:24:45.833 --> 01:24:50.173
It's because, you know, they put taxes on it, right?

01:24:50.613 --> 01:24:54.693
So if you decide that you want to get behind candidates and say,

01:24:54.753 --> 01:25:02.233
we're not going to put any more burden on gasoline tax, that's an issue. That's an us issue.

01:25:02.373 --> 01:25:06.333
That's not just about you struggling to pay for gas. Right.

01:25:07.033 --> 01:25:13.273
And Mayor Johnson, if you hear this, don't I'm not trying to I'm just using it as example.

01:25:13.673 --> 01:25:16.873
Brother, don't don't be coming on me. It's like, hey, why are you jumping on?

01:25:17.933 --> 01:25:23.293
I'm just using that example because that's something that I've been in politics

01:25:23.293 --> 01:25:28.373
and being in a position where we're making decisions about where revenue was going to come from.

01:25:28.793 --> 01:25:31.993
I just know that's something that Chicago does historically.

01:25:33.173 --> 01:25:36.633
I'm not trying to say it's right or wrong. I'm just saying if you don't want

01:25:36.633 --> 01:25:42.833
that as the body, as citizens, then you need to elect candidates that are not for that.

01:25:43.833 --> 01:25:49.553
That's all I'm saying. But it's like the big picture is you've got to elect

01:25:49.553 --> 01:25:55.573
people that have a big picture mentality, have a mindset to help everybody,

01:25:55.573 --> 01:25:58.053
not just a select few folks.

01:25:58.273 --> 01:26:02.093
See, part of the 2025 that me and Ms. Shernice talked about,

01:26:02.453 --> 01:26:04.853
right, that's for a select group of people.

01:26:05.313 --> 01:26:08.693
That's not for everybody. That wasn't designed for us.

01:26:09.373 --> 01:26:13.313
If there are some of us that benefit from that, okay.

01:26:14.253 --> 01:26:19.573
It's a very narrow window of people that look like me and sound like me and

01:26:19.573 --> 01:26:24.653
all that that's going to, but it wasn't designed for us. Right.

01:26:25.113 --> 01:26:32.373
And so that's what I mean. If you think you fit into that category, you're probably wrong.

01:26:33.833 --> 01:26:34.853
And so.

01:26:36.238 --> 01:26:43.118
When we elect people to represent us, then they need to have a mentality of

01:26:43.118 --> 01:26:46.958
us, of helping us, right?

01:26:47.238 --> 01:26:52.238
In the preamble of the Constitution, it didn't say provide for the general welfare of a few.

01:26:53.038 --> 01:26:56.298
Provide for the common defense as a few, right?

01:26:56.798 --> 01:27:00.898
Protect individual liberty of the few. It said the nation, we the people,

01:27:01.458 --> 01:27:04.858
in order to form a more perfect union, right? it.

01:27:05.678 --> 01:27:07.758
It's about all of us.

01:27:08.698 --> 01:27:12.098
And you might be uncomfortable with people and their lifestyle.

01:27:12.098 --> 01:27:15.518
You might be uncomfortable with people that you don't understand their culture.

01:27:15.678 --> 01:27:18.958
You might be uncomfortable with people that don't look exactly like you.

01:27:19.518 --> 01:27:24.958
But I promise you, the overwhelming majority of people in this country want

01:27:24.958 --> 01:27:26.598
the same things you want.

01:27:27.378 --> 01:27:32.678
They want to live in a neighborhood that's safe. They want their children to be educated.

01:27:32.878 --> 01:27:39.018
They want to be able to attain wealth, either with a good paying job or to establish their own business.

01:27:39.938 --> 01:27:44.098
And primarily, they just want to be left alone to live the life they want to

01:27:44.098 --> 01:27:45.978
live and live it abundantly, period.

01:27:46.518 --> 01:27:53.098
They want to be able to go to the doctor, not just in an emergency situation, but to be preemptive.

01:27:53.558 --> 01:27:57.158
Just like we're encouraging people to go to the gym, just like you see all these

01:27:57.158 --> 01:27:59.698
things about taking these vitamins and all this stuff.

01:28:01.598 --> 01:28:06.398
Before you could advertise all that stuff on TV, the most effective thing was,

01:28:06.698 --> 01:28:09.198
hey, I need to have a physical. I need to go to the doctor.

01:28:10.078 --> 01:28:14.698
And people were able to do that. And now as health care costs are going up,

01:28:14.858 --> 01:28:16.878
it's not as easy to do that.

01:28:17.118 --> 01:28:21.638
Not unless you have great health insurance, which means that you've had to have

01:28:21.638 --> 01:28:24.038
a great job with great benefits.

01:28:24.658 --> 01:28:28.418
And that shouldn't be the case. Every American should have that opportunity

01:28:28.418 --> 01:28:31.258
to have access to health care.

01:28:31.798 --> 01:28:35.158
Every American should be like the United States Congress.

01:28:35.598 --> 01:28:38.738
The best health care plan in America is the United States Congress.

01:28:38.918 --> 01:28:41.518
If they need to see a doctor, they just go.

01:28:42.038 --> 01:28:45.858
If something happens to them, they get immediate health care.

01:28:46.118 --> 01:28:48.338
They get rapid response right then.

01:28:48.798 --> 01:28:52.958
They ain't got to worry about a bill. They ain't got to worry about the stress

01:28:52.958 --> 01:28:56.658
of the bills afterwards, they get taken care of.

01:28:57.238 --> 01:29:02.518
And these are the people that are representing you. So if the people that represent

01:29:02.518 --> 01:29:05.838
you have that kind of health care, then why don't you have it?

01:29:06.358 --> 01:29:09.538
Right? Because they're supposed to be a representative of you.

01:29:10.478 --> 01:29:15.658
That's all it is. And that's what we need to be focused on when we're talking

01:29:15.658 --> 01:29:22.378
about electing people, electing folks that understand the basic principle of doing no harm.

01:29:22.818 --> 01:29:27.618
Once they get in there, don't do anything illegal, right?

01:29:28.518 --> 01:29:33.718
Don't do anything immoral either, or unethical, but definitely don't do anything illegal.

01:29:35.149 --> 01:29:41.669
Right? And then that has a mindset that I want to lift everybody up.

01:29:42.289 --> 01:29:46.789
I do believe that a tide raises all boats.

01:29:47.629 --> 01:29:51.709
And your elected officials should feel that way too, right?

01:29:52.449 --> 01:29:56.569
Everything that Black people fought for in the civil rights movement has benefited

01:29:56.569 --> 01:30:04.129
everybody, Even to the point that other folks have used the strategies, right?

01:30:04.329 --> 01:30:07.269
Whether it was legal, how to protest, all that stuff.

01:30:07.729 --> 01:30:09.929
The rising tide lifts all boats.

01:30:10.769 --> 01:30:15.269
So that's the mindset that we have to have in governing.

01:30:17.309 --> 01:30:22.769
And despite the reality TV show type theatrics is going on right now,

01:30:23.029 --> 01:30:28.749
the biggest sin of this current administration is that they don't give a damn about everybody.

01:30:29.389 --> 01:30:34.309
They just only give a damn about a few. And that's not the right mentality to

01:30:34.309 --> 01:30:36.089
have in elected office. us.

01:30:36.749 --> 01:30:41.749
We can have differences about how to approach an issue,

01:30:41.749 --> 01:30:48.909
but the ultimate goal is that we want to help the most amount of people once

01:30:48.909 --> 01:30:52.989
we get to an agreement of how we're going to do it, right?

01:30:53.449 --> 01:30:57.969
If your whole objective is, well, I'm going to pad my pocket and take care of

01:30:57.969 --> 01:31:02.609
my friends and screw everybody else, that's not what government is about.

01:31:03.189 --> 01:31:05.809
That's why government is not like a business.

01:31:06.749 --> 01:31:10.889
Doesn't matter how much you pay into the government. If you're a citizen,

01:31:10.889 --> 01:31:13.349
you're supposed to benefit from it, right?

01:31:14.149 --> 01:31:20.029
The collective agreement is that all of us pay our fair share to make it work for everybody.

01:31:20.609 --> 01:31:23.169
And there are some folks that don't understand that concept.

01:31:24.679 --> 01:31:30.079
People that make the most money pay higher taxes or a higher percentage, right?

01:31:30.899 --> 01:31:35.859
Or just volume, even. If everybody had the same tax rate, they would pay more

01:31:35.859 --> 01:31:38.619
because they have more money, right?

01:31:38.939 --> 01:31:42.039
But there's people that have money that don't get that.

01:31:42.159 --> 01:31:47.759
And so they elect people that have that just keep us safe and let everybody

01:31:47.759 --> 01:31:50.759
else figure it out. It's not how it's supposed to work.

01:31:51.639 --> 01:31:58.359
Now, you can get caught up in Epstein and SignalGate and all the other gaffes

01:31:58.359 --> 01:32:00.699
that's out there, but the biggest mistake,

01:32:01.119 --> 01:32:06.659
the biggest problem with this administration is their lack of vision.

01:32:07.559 --> 01:32:10.119
Their lack of comprehension.

01:32:10.899 --> 01:32:16.179
And what do they not comprehend, Erik? They don't comprehend that government

01:32:16.179 --> 01:32:21.479
is of the people, by the people, and for the people. all of them,

01:32:22.119 --> 01:32:24.759
not just your favorite few.

01:32:25.579 --> 01:32:29.519
So when you go to vote next time,

01:32:30.259 --> 01:32:33.679
make sure you're voting for somebody that gets the big picture,

01:32:33.959 --> 01:32:38.119
that understands what the preamble of the United States Constitution is really

01:32:38.119 --> 01:32:43.819
about, and not somebody that's just trying to create their own little club.

01:32:44.479 --> 01:32:49.759
I promise you, we'll be better off for it, and you will be too.

01:32:49.879 --> 01:32:53.079
All right, guys. Thank you for listening.

01:32:53.759 --> 01:33:00.579
Don't forget, momenterikfleming, patreon.com slash momenterikfleming. Go ahead and subscribe.

01:33:01.139 --> 01:33:07.039
And, you know, just, just, just, just keep, keep listening, keep supporting

01:33:07.039 --> 01:33:09.079
the podcast. Until next time.

01:33:10.480 --> 01:33:57.150
Music.