#TalkRadio – January 7: Preparing To Win in 2025: Perspectives on the Year To Come

SPEAKERS:

Atty. Terry O’Neill: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
Current Board Secretary of the Transformative Justice Coalition; former President of the National Organization for Women (NOW); Former Host of the podcast What Equality Looks Like; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-o-neill-3076303/ 

Prof. Ernest J. Quarles, Esq: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
Professor at John Hopkins University and African American Policy Forum Board Member

Andres Cubillos: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
TJC Alumni and Fellow; Andres Cubillos is a Campus Organizer and Graduate of Florida State University. In 2020 Andres and the Student PIRGs team at Florida State University increased FSU’s voter registration rate to 90.3% and youth voter turnout to 76%. Now, Andres works with a variety of organizations on community issues including Students Demand Action, the Student PIRGs, Campus Vote Project,  and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition. Instagram: Andres.Cubillos_ ; Twitter/X: Andres_Cub20

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “Preparing To Win in 2025: Perspectives on the Year To Come”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and special guests Atty. Terry O’Neill; Prof. Ernest J. Quarles, Esq.; and, Andres Cubillos. 

At the advent of the new year our nation is confronting an era of unprecedented fear, hatred, and unbridled greed that threatened the foundation of our democracy. During this show we will hear from expert voices about the many challenges that we all will confront in 2025 and how do we best ensure that our vision of an inclusive and just multiracial democracy stands strong. We will explore the challenges in the federal and state legislatures, the courts, and in all sectors of our society as we grapple with this turbulent and critical historical moment. Throughout this show our guests will offer ideas for how our listeners can help combat destructive policies and promote positive outcomes. Among the issues to be discussed will be: 

• How to address the many adverse policies articulated in Project 2025 that the new administration will seek to implement, especially efforts to dismantle DEI, the banning of books and the teaching of African American, women, LGBTQIA, and other history

• The real threat of mass deportation, the disenfranchising provisions of the SAVE Act,  the tax cuts to the rich, and House Resolution 5 setting forth legislative priorities that also encompass anti-Trans, restricting on doctors performing abortions, and anit-environmental legislation (https://rules.house.gov/bill/119/h-res-5  ) – all of which are dominant portions of the massive bills that the GOP Congress is planning to take up in the first several weeks of the new administration (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-johnsons-push-pass-trumps-agenda-one-massive-bill-faces-big-hu-rcna186399?form=MG0AV3 )

• The nominees and the threat that has been made to primary senators that oppose any of these nominees

• How this second Trump Administration will be different in that the corporate sector has shown less willingness to hold the administration accountable to democratic principles

• How Social Security benefits are already being attacked publicly by leaders of members of “DOGE”

• The substantial threat to the First Amendment by the Federal Government and the States over body cam footage and efforts to silence and limit the scope of work of 501(c)3 organizations

Our guests have been intimately involved in many of these fights and will offer not only their perspectives but also their best recommendations of how people can unite to win in 2025 and 2026. 

This show will be one of many in which we will highlight TJC’s affirmative agenda for 2025 and 2026.

[This show will begin by discussing the terrible terrorist attack in New Orleans and the bombing in Las Vegas]

• As we look at the many issues that are confronting us in 2025, what for you are your top three priorities that you hope our listeners will be paying attention to and will be willing to take action to help protect our democracy, fellow citizens, and the Constitution?
• We note that of 12 pieces of legislation in House Resolution 5, five had something to do with anti-immigrant and deportation. We know that mass deportation is going to be a huge issue. How can people be a positive force in protecting people who are targeted by the mass deportation hysteria?
• What’s your number one action that you would recommend that our listeners do to be involved in 2025?
• What are your favorite resources that you recommend that people utilize during this time?
• Where do people go to get the best information?
• What activities are planned in 2025 that you hope our listeners will be engaged in?
• Let’s discuss some of TJC’s priorities for this first quarter of 2025 and how they will help in this battle. 
• We know that there are elections in 20 states being held this year, two major ones in New Jersey and Virginia and major contests, nonetheless, in many other states at the critical mayoral and other electoral levels. How can our listeners help in these elections? (TJC intends to be on the ground to help outreach to voters; the importance at the local level of people having contacts and holding meetings, chats, and engagements to keep voters inspired)
• How do people stay inspired during this time? There’s going to be a lot of misinformation, lies, and horrible actions by democracy opponents during the next year, and a lot of people are already feeling checked out. How do WE stay inspired and re-engage people who are horribly disengaged and confused about what’s happening?
• What would you recommend our audience do to prepare for 2025?
• What are your one-minute final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

[TJC will continue to vigorously defend the rights of all Americans and will fight the implementation of Project 2025 and our future shows will continue to cover any hate crimes and how we effectively protect ourselves while advancing our agenda for justice.]

[Daryl and Barbara may share their favorite books and encourage people to donate towards TJC’s giveaways of banned and affirming books.]

SEGMENT ONE

• In one minute, describe what our audience should know about your background.
• What was it like to be in Washington, D.C.?
• What was the highlight for you during this Training?

SEGMENT TWO

• What was new that you learned in this Training?
• What, to you, was the most valuable experience from this Training?
• Why do you care so much about democracy?Final Questions:
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENT THREE

• This segment will open with an 8-minute interview with Myles B. Caggins III, who will a bring timely update about the US Department of Agriculture’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. This is his second time as a guest on our program this year. The Black farmers fund, from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act contains an assistance fund for farmers who were discriminated against. This fund has $2.2b to cover 75 million applicants and covers anyone who can provide proof that they were discriminated against by the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023.
• In addition to the application deadline change, the deadline to request records from USDA’s Farm Service Agency for use in applications has been extended to Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. The application process was designed so that FSA records are not required, though relevant records may be attached to an application as additional evidence if they are available.
• To learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program or receive assistance in English or Spanish, visit www.22007apply.gov, email info@22007apply.gov or contact the national call center at 1-800-721-0970 from 8 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. PT, every day except federal holidays. If you use sign language to communicate, you can use the 711 relay service to call. You may also email or contact the national call center if you have a disability and need another accommodation. Information about the program, resources, recent office openings and local events across the country is also available through a weekly e-newsletter.]
• Myles, what is the new deadline?
• Myles, How do people apply?
• What is it that people really need to know about applying for the program, such as the November 3rd deadline for requesting records from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency for use in applications and how applicants should be describing their discrimination and the amounts they need?
• Thank you for all of your hard work, Myles. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• Quincy and Candance, during our Training, we talked a lot about racial injustice and this USDA program is just a part addressing and recognizing the many forms of discrimination. Since the Houston Training, both of you have been on several other engagements with TJC. How was your experience different being a Team Leader?

SEGMENT FOUR

• As Team Leaders, what did you hear from your Team about their experiences?
• The next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training will be held on April 3rd – 7th, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona during the HBCU All-Stars 2024 games. What are your top arguments for why people should attend the next Training?
• The Transformative Justice Coalition is rolling through Kentucky and Ohio November 1st – 8th, 2023. Quincy, tell everyone why the election in Kentucky is so important? (non-partisan)
• Final Questions to guests:
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?