The Work Doesn't End on Election Day | Skye Perryman

What does the fight for reproductive freedom look like beyond Election Day? Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson joins The Electorette to discuss the state of reproductive freedom in America—and what comes next. From the devastating consequences of abortion bans to the growing strain on healthcare providers, McGill Johnson examines the human toll of policies that have made pregnancy more dangerous and reproductive care increasingly difficult to access. She also discusses the power of storytelling to challenge cultural stigma, the importance of bodily autonomy, and why securing lasting reproductive freedom will require looking beyond any single election. As McGill Johnson reminds us, “We can't be a free nation when women aren't free.” In this conversation, we look beyond Roe, beyond the midterms, and toward a future in which reproductive freedom is protected for generations to come. #spotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kansas may be a reliably Republican state, but its voters have elected Democratic governors and rejected efforts to restrict abortion rights. Now, with Governor Laura Kelly term-limited, the race to succeed her carries consequences far beyond the state's borders. In this episode of The Margin, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Kansas state senator and Democratic candidate for governor Cindy Holscher about what's at stake in the 2026 midterms, the political contradictions shaping Kansas, and the fight over reproductive rights, public education, and the state's future. Holscher also discusses the growing influence of political extremism in the Kansas legislature, the disconnect between voters' priorities and their elected representatives, and why the outcome of this race could have national implications. As Holscher puts it, “This race not only impacts Kansas, it impacts the nation.” The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, exploring the voters, communities, and political battles that could determine the margin of victory in 2026. #TheMargin #KansasPolitics #CindyHolscher #Midterms2026 #TheElectorette Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Road to November 2026 — NewDEAL Leaders With the 2026 midterms approaching, what are voters actually looking for from Democrats—and are candidates listening? In this episode of The Margin, host Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Debbie Cox Bultan, CEO of NewDEAL Leaders, a national network of Democratic state and local elected officials, about the organization's Road to November 2026 messaging guide, developed from conversations with leaders across the country about what they're hearing directly from constituents. Together, they examine four central themes shaping the midterms: frustration with the status quo, the rising cost of living, the demand for tangible results, and the importance of showing up in communities Democrats have too often overlooked. They also explore why effective policies don't always translate into political support, the growing anti-Washington sentiment, and the disconnect between legislative accomplishments and voters' lived experiences. The conversation raises a larger question that extends beyond November: Can Democrats translate their campaign promises into meaningful improvements in people's lives—and rebuild trust in government along the way? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are Republicans trying to keep Donald Trump away from the campaign trail—even in his home state? Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried joins Jennifer Taylor-Skinner on The Margin to discuss the 2026 midterms, Trump's influence on Republican candidates, and the race to replace Governor Ron DeSantis. Fried says she's hearing that Florida Republicans are urging the White House to limit Trump's campaign appearances. She also discusses why Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is attempting to establish some distance from the president as he faces Democrat David Jolly. In this conversation: • Why Trump's influence is becoming a campaign issue in Florida• Byron Donalds, David Jolly, and the governor's race• Billionaire donors and their influence on Florida politics• AI data centers, environmental concerns, and Republican-led states• Florida's attorney general race and political accountability• Why Fried believes Florida could signal a broader national political shift• The Democratic Party's long-term strategy for rebuilding in the South Florida hasn't elected a Democratic governor in nearly 30 years. Could the 2026 midterms mark a turning point? The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette, produced in collaboration with URL Media. Subscribe to The Electorette for more conversations about politics, power, and the people shaping American democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the 2026 midterm elections just weeks away, what does political desperation look like—and how far might an administration go to hold on to power? In this episode of The Margin, Jennifer Taylor-Skinner is joined by political analyst and scholar Dr. James Peterson for a wide-ranging conversation about the Pentagon's controversial plan to livestream an execution, its timing ahead of the midterms, and the political implications of turning capital punishment into a public spectacle. They also examine the growing enthusiasm gap between Democratic and Republican voters, Trump's campaign appearances in traditionally Republican strongholds, and what these developments may reveal about the political landscape heading into November. On the Democratic side, they discuss the enduring influence of Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, the role of Black voters in the midterms, and whether Harris's political future could include another presidential run in 2028. The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette in collaboration with URL Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leaders of Intersections for Our Lives — Christina Baal Owens, Regina Davis Moss, and Lupe Rodriguez — join The Margin to discuss a new national study examining the priorities, concerns, and political outlook of women of color. The survey found deep anxiety around affordability, healthcare, economic security, and the future of the American Dream. Among its findings: three in five women of color said politicians are not talking about the issues that matter in their daily lives, while many described the cost of raising a family, buying a home, accessing healthcare, and simply making ends meet as increasingly out of reach. The conversation explores what those findings reveal about political trust and belonging, as well as why reproductive justice extends far beyond abortion access — encompassing the ability to have children, not have children, and raise families safely and with dignity. The guests also discuss immigration as a reproductive justice issue, barriers to healthcare for immigrant communities, and the policy changes they want lawmakers to pursue. And with the midterms approaching, they examine the gap between asking women of color to show up at the ballot box and actually delivering meaningful change in their lives — and why solidarity across Black, Latina, and AANHPI communities remains central to their effort to build political power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Maryland governor on ICE, AI guardrails, and governing beyond the base Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins The Margin for a conversation about the power—and the limits—of state government as the 2026 midterms approach. The interview begins with election security. Moore responds to attacks on Maryland’s election administration and discusses threats to send federal agents to polling places, arguing that states have an essential role in protecting free and fair elections. The conversation then turns to ICE, including recent confrontations in Maryland, the agency’s dramatic growth in funding, accountability for federal agents, and what governors can do when federal immigration enforcement reaches into their communities. Moore also discusses artificial intelligence, calling for stronger guardrails around children, deepfakes, national security, infrastructure, and weapons systems while arguing that AI can still deliver meaningful benefits in areas such as health and education. And with the midterms approaching, the conversation turns to persuasion. Moore explains why he believes politicians have to talk to voters across party lines and tells the story of a Republican mayor in western Maryland who did not support him the first time he ran—but later endorsed his reelection after working with his administration following devastating flooding. His takeaway: politicians have to “show and prove,” make their case, and accept that persuasion begins with showing people who you’re willing to fight for. The Margin is a collaboration between The Electorette and URL Media, focused on the voters, communities, and issues shaping the margins of the 2026 midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. James Peterson of WURD Radio on the political legacy of 9/11, the GOP’s unusual midterm convention, Trump’s $5,000 promise, and the road to November. Twenty-five years after 9/11, what does this moment mean to an electorate increasingly too young to remember it? This week on The Margin, Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Dr. James Peterson, host of Evening WURDs on WURD Radio, to break down some of the biggest political stories shaping the midterms. They reflect on their own memories of September 11 and the policies and political realignment that followed — including what it means to teach 9/11 to a generation with no living memory of the attacks. Then they turn to the Republican Party's unusual midterm convention, Donald Trump's attempt to put himself at the center of an election in which he isn't on the ballot, his promise of a $5,000 “dividend” if Republicans win, and why some Republican candidates appear reluctant to tie themselves to him heading into November. The conversation also gets into Tim Scott's role at the convention and Peterson's argument about why Republicans want prominent Black surrogates while pursuing policies he describes as anti-Black. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ACLU Deputy Director Ming-Qi Chu on the Trump administration’s latest effort to gut Head Start—and the larger agenda behind it. The Trump administration is taking aim at Head Start, the 60-year-old program that provides early education, healthcare, nutrition, and other critical services to low-income children and their families. Jen talks with Ming-Qi Chu, deputy director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, about a proposed rule that would eliminate roughly 90% of Head Start’s performance standards, weaken health and developmental screening requirements, reduce services for children with disabilities, impose English-only instruction, and make enrollment more difficult for some of the country’s most vulnerable families. They also examine the larger agenda behind the attack: the Project 2025 vision of traditional gender roles, the dismantling of America’s care infrastructure, and why weakening childcare ultimately threatens women’s ability to work and remain economically independent. Plus, Jen shares her own connection to Head Start—and why the program mattered to her family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skye Perryman on reclaiming our power ahead of the midterms In this episode of The Margin, a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward and author of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times. Perryman discusses the erosion of democratic guardrails, why Americans need “information sobriety” in an overwhelming news environment, and what history teaches us about the power of ordinary people to protect and expand democracy. With the midterms approaching, she explains why voting matters—but why the work of defending democracy cannot begin or end on Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices