In the second part of episode 9, I'll take you on a deep dive into the most substantive policy proposal aimed at ending voter suppression and implementing sorely needed reforms to our election system, the For the People Act. I'll also break down what's standing in the way and the cost of inaction. Please subscribe, rate, leave a review, and share with your frineds! Also follow on Instragram @getwoke_dietrying for updates, announcements, and sentilating dialogue on these issues. Feel free to ask questions and make suggestions! Congressional Switchboard: Call (202) 224-3121, choose your state, enter you address, select which of your Senators you would like to speak to. In lieu of leaving a voicemail, you could also use the contact form on their website to send an email! Resources referenced: overview of HR1, annotated guide to the For the People Act, felony disenfranchisement in other countries, history of the filibuster, McConnell remarks, filibuster reforms, arguments for and against the filibuster, AOC remarks, recent supreme court case --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

Voter suppression: one of the sneakiest forms of disenfranchisement. Since the 2020 election, Republicans across the country have ramped up their voter suppression efforts. In this episode, I’ll take you through America’s dark history of voter suppression, how it’s evolved, the current tactics in play, and how it impacts voters. Follow on Instagram @getwoke_dietrying to join the conversation, ask questions, or make suggestions! Resources referenced: Stacey Abrams remarks, voter suppression legislation since 2020 election, history of voter suppression, poll taxes, literacy tests, redistricting criteria, redistricting commissions, history of gerrymandering, implications of gerrymandering, court cases on gerrymandering, amount of people disenfranchised, Voting Rights Act basics, gutting the VRA, suppression efforts currently advancing, Election Integrity Act, SB 90, timeline of election lies, common voter fraud myths, racial disparities of voting laws, Republican authoritarianism --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

And we're back! Following a longer delay than anticipated, Get Woke or Die Trying is back with an update introducing the long awaited season 2. I'm excited to dive back in and tackle these complex topics and sift through all the noise to get to the truth. Please feel free to send any ideas or requests for topics via Instagram @getwoke_dietrying. Stay tuned for this first episode of season 2 later this month! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

As a major winter storm swept across the south, unlike anything seen in decades, Texas residents were faced with crisis on top of crisis as the elcectrical grid failed many households' water was undrinkable. So commenced the blame game. In this episode, I'll take you through what led up to the crisis, how it could have been prevented, and how to make sure it doesn't happen again. Follow on instagram @getwoke_dietrying to ask questions, make suggestions, and join the conversation! Resources referenced: polar vortex, prediction by meterologists, Texas power grid, overview of crisis, astronomical bills, deaths, damages, governing trifecta, failures of Texas leadership, Greg Abbott remarks, AOC tweet, Green New Deal PDF, popularity of Green New Deal, vice presidential debate, climate change inflection point, spending by fossil fuel lobby, Texas politicians traveling --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

Now that we're more than 2 months into the vaccination effort, I wanted to bring you all an update to confirm the safety and efficacy, as well as address any lingering concerns. Hopefully this helps you make an informed decision! Follow on instagram @getwoke_dietrying for updates, to ask questions, and make suggestions! Register for COVID vaccine in your state! Resources referenced: total number of vaccines administered, side effects and allergic reactions, incidental illnesses, 1st news article, 2nd news article, Oregon vaccination dashboard, deaths after vaccine, deadly vs. transmissible illustration, variants --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

In this episode, I'll discuss the hotly contested idea of raising the minimum wage. In the face of economic devastation as a result of the pandemic and increasingly pervasive income and wealth inequality, I'm here to share my analysis on how raising the minimum wage would work and tackle some of the most common arguments against it. Follow on instagram @getwoke_dietrying for updates and to join the conversation! Congress Switchboard: Call (202) 224-3121, choose your state, enter your address, and choose which of your senators or representatives you want to speak to then leave a message! Resources references: history of minimum wage, state increases, medical/wages, inflation and cost of living, price increases, average cost of a 2 bedroom apartment, savings on public assistance programs, poverty threshold, tipped employees, Walmart employees federal aid, Waltons net worth, demographics of minimum wage workers, minimum wage and racial equity, unemployment in low wage workers, intersectionality of raising the minimum wage, workers with disabilities, small businesses, job losses, CEO earnings, increase during the pandemic, Fight for 15 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

With newly inaugurated President Biden doubling down on a message of unity, it’s now up to Congress to see if they’ll abide. That begs the question: is bipartisanship possible? In this episode, I’ll offer my analysis on how bipartisan efforts have turned out in the past and what’s likely to happen in this new administration. Follow on Instagram @getwoke_dietrying for updates and more information on topics, as well as to offer suggestions, ask questions, and join the dialogue! Resources referenced: ideological shifting of parties, quotes from Washington & Adams, Biden inaugural address, New Republic article, organizing resolution, McConnell remarks, January 21 press briefing, Romney remarks, Mitt Romney net worth, senate salaries, unemployment rates, eviction crisis, food insecurity, COVID relief bill, corporate liability shield, billionaire gains, comparison of economic relief, Brian Deese remarks, 2017 tax cuts --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

There’s certainly a lot to tackle in regard to the events that occurred at the Capitol on January 6th. In this episode, I offer my analysis on the need for accountability going forward and what that might look like. Tune in as I dissect the feasibility of resignation, invoking the 25th amendment, and impeachment, as well as the other parties involved in the coup attempt. *Disclaimer* This episode was recorded before the house reconvened on Monday, Jan 11th and may be missing updates since then. Please refer to a reputable news source for continued updates. Follow on instagram @getwoke_dietrying for further discussion, ask questions, or to offer suggestions. Resources referenced: Definitions, Bree Newsome twitter (activist with great commentary on the origins of the event), resignation, Trump thinks he did nothing wrong, 25th amendment, Pence opposition, House democrats in favor of impeachment, Republicans calling for resignation, Former Presidents Act, "Hang Mike Pence" chants, social media bans, Ted Cruz remarks, Josh Hawley involvement, "beat them at the ballot box", Hitler's rise to power, William Belknap impeachment, Save America Rally remarks, security failures, Capitol Police officers suspended, Congressional investigation, 14th amendement --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

In the first episode of the new year, I’m detailing a policy proposal many have called on Joe Biden to implement soon after he takes office – student loan debt forgiveness. I’ll explain arguments for and against it, as well as the economic impact it could have both on individuals and the nation as a whole. Follow on Instagram @getwoke_dietrying for updates, more information, and to join the conversation! Feel free to ask questions and share suggestions! Resources referenced: total student loan debt, credit card and auto loan debt, medical debt, demographics of repayment, impact of $10,000, racial wealth gap, unemployment rates, CARES Act provision, arguments against cancellation, GDP increase, predatory lending practices, rising education costs, impact of 2017 tax cuts, comparison of loan forgiveness and tax cuts, trickle down economics --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support

Join me as I take on another complex topic with serious implications – the COVID vaccine. I’ll thoroughly discuss the process of vaccine development, address concerns about safety and efficacy, and tackle some of the issues contributing to vaccine hesitancy. I hope you’ll soberly consider all of the information presented as you each make your own decision regarding the vaccine.  Follow on Instagram @getwoke_dietrying for updates, announcements, more information about the topics discussed, and feel free to share suggestions or ask questions!  Resources referenced: vaccine polling, safety for diabetics, infertility, mRNA vaccine basics, SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence, history of vaccine development, prior work on mRNA vaccines, speed of COVID vaccine development, Pfizer clinical trial data, Moderna clinical trial data, vaccines trials in children, pregnancy recommendations, at risk groups, normal timeframe of side effects, Guillain-Barre post-flu vaccine, distrust of medical community among black people, Tuskegee Syphilis Study, addressing racial disparities in vaccine distribution, demographic statistics, anti-vaxxer movement, herd immunity, DNA alterations --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robyn-toran/support