Jonathan Mehta Stein's guest appearances

Jonathan Mehta Stein

Power Station

News In Context

Elon Musk

Jessica Green

Jeff Bezos

Nathaniel Smith

Elizabeth Lindsey

Celinda Lake

Brian Garcia

George Jones

Michael Anderson

Dan Kennedy

Robert Friedman

Desmond Meade

John Park

Patrick Gaspard

Rob Ford

OwlTail

In this episode, we explore elections issues that make it harder for us to participate in democracy, the consequences of that, and how we can address these issues and improve our civic health. This includes redistricting, campaign finance, voter suppression, weaponizing the recall, and other issues. My guest is Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause.

In this episode, we explore elections issues that make it harder for us to participate in democracy, the consequences of that, and how we can address these issues and improve our civic health. This includes redistricting, campaign finance, voter suppression, weaponizing the recall, and other issues. My guest is Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of <a href="https://www.commoncause.org/california/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">California Common Cause</a>.

Working Toward Free & Fair Elections, & Fighting efforts to suppress voices, with Jonathan Mehta Stein, ED at CA Common Cause

In 1964, the US Supreme Court ruled on a lawsuit challenging how electoral districts were drawn and political representation was apportioned. Such cases were inevitable as people moved from urban to rural areas and new immigrant populations settled into both. The Supreme Court ruled that electoral districts of state legislative chambers must be of roughly the same population providing for a one person one vote rule. Redistricting is the process of redrawing district lines based on the most current data from the Decennial Census. When it is politicized, the outcome is gerrymandered districts that favor one group at the expense of another. At California Common Cause, Jonathan Mehta Stein leads a statewide effort to democratize the redistricting process with the participation of those who have the most at stake. He credits Kathay Feng, whose successful ballot initiative enshrined community-based redistricting into California law. Jonathan views redistricting as one critical way to strengthen our political institutions. And he wants you to be seen and heard no matter where you live so that your district elects school board members, state legislators and members of Congress that represent the full humanity of your community.

In 1964, the US Supreme Court ruled on a lawsuit challenging how electoral districts were drawn and political representation was apportioned. Such cases were inevitable as people moved from urban to rural areas and new immigrant populations settled into both. The Supreme Court ruled that electoral districts of state legislative chambers must be of roughly the same population providing for a one person one vote rule. Redistricting is the process of redrawing district lines based on the most current data from the Decennial Census. When it is politicized, the outcome is gerrymandered districts that favor one group at the expense of another. At California Common Cause, Jonathan Mehta Stein leads a statewide effort to democratize the redistricting process with the participation of those who have the most at stake. He credits Kathay Feng, whose successful ballot initiative enshrined community-based redistricting into California law. Jonathan views redistricting as one critical way to strengthen our political institutions. And he wants you to be seen and heard no matter where you live so that your district elects school board members, state legislators and members of Congress that represent the full humanity of your community.

#184  Jonathan Mehta Stein, Common Cause California

While we worry about how to restore our democracy, Jonathan Mehta Stein knows that in disenfranchised communities, many people feel that democracy has never worked for them. This is the starting point that Jonathan, the newly appointed executive director of Common Cause California, embraces. He is a civil rights attorney who believes that at this moment in time, relying on litigation and legislation alone is not enough. He argues that we need more community organizing to inspire those who have been left behind to believe that voting can make a difference for them. The stakes are high as we head into the most consequential election of our lifetime. While voting in America is a constitutional right, the election process varies wildly across municipalities and is comprised by under-resourced bureaucracies, entrenched party politics and racism. And a devastating global pandemic raises deep concerns about how to carry out fair elections in 2020. California has raised the bar on lowering barriers to voting. Now the challenge is to motivate people to mail in ballots and turn out to polls. Jonathan talks about tackling the Common Cause mission and the transformational power of participation.

While we worry about how to restore our democracy, Jonathan Mehta Stein knows that in disenfranchised communities, many people feel that democracy has never worked for them. This is the starting point that Jonathan, the newly appointed executive director of Common Cause California, embraces. He is a civil rights attorney who believes that at this moment in time, relying on litigation and legislation alone is not enough. He argues that we need more community organizing to inspire those who have been left behind to believe that voting can make a difference for them. The stakes are high as we head into the most consequential election of our lifetime. While voting in America is a constitutional right, the election process varies wildly across municipalities and is comprised by under-resourced bureaucracies, entrenched party politics and racism. And a devastating global pandemic raises deep concerns about how to carry out fair elections in 2020. California has raised the bar on lowering barriers to voting. Now the challenge is to motivate people to mail in ballots and turn out to polls. Jonathan talks about tackling the Common Cause mission and the transformational power of participation.