On February 21, 2024, Joy Reid was honored by the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference for her bestselling book, and for her role in the Ceasefire music video.

Here is the conversation between Joy, Reena Evers, the daughter of Medgar and Myrlie Evers, and Rev. Mark.

Medgar & Myrlie is available wherever books are sold.

Markos and Rev. Mark examine the apparent slippage in numbers for the Democratic coalition that previously secured Biden's presidency. Despite the Democrats efforts, the nation experienced a conservative shift, with Trump gaining unexpected traction among low-propensity voters in rural areas.One revelation from the election is the curious shift in high voter turnout benefiting Republicans—a departure from historical trends favoring Democrats. Dramatically, Trump has managed to win over a significant portion of economically marginalized voters, taking 28 of the 30 poorest states. Republicans now align more with lower socioeconomic demographics, traditionally the Democratic stronghold.

And what about the influence of societal and gender dynamics on Nov. 5? With women advancing in educational and professional spheres, young men appear increasingly alienated and radicalized—a phenomenon with global echoes. This gender shift may underlie some of the support for Trump, whose rhetoric seems to galvanize men feeling disenfranchised by women’s progress.

Despite significant slippage of Latino support for Democrats, Markos cautions against viewing the situation through a panicked lens. Instead, he emphasizes understanding the existing fractures and addressing them head-on.

Should Democrats reevaluate their approach to voters, focusing on practical policy alignment over ideological purity? Should Democrats not just educate and uplift marginalized groups, but, also ensure their political strategies resonate with a broader audience, including those feeling sidelined by economic or societal changes?

Markos and Rev. Mark also discuss the necessity of leaving Elon Musk’s X platform for the bluer skies of Blue Sky.

Markos and Rev. Mark examine turnout among key Democratic demographics, despite unprecedented enthusiasm and fundraising efforts, and specifically, why Latinos and white women, did not vote as expected. Markos shares insights into cultural aspects that might influence voting behaviors, particularly within the Latino community. Drawing parallels with his home country of El Salvador, he suggests how issues of safety and conservatism could sway voter attitudes, noting that Trump's promises of economic and cultural security resonate deeply with culturally conservative segments.

The discussion also raises questions about gender dynamics in presidential politics. The decline in support among certain demographics suggests underlying biases, posing the question of whether America is truly ready for a woman president.

What went wrong in the ground game that had been so promising? How can Democrats more effectively take credit for their accomplishments to clear through the fog of misinformation?

Despite the disappointment, Rev. Mark reaffirms his commitment to social justice, calling for continuous action and vigilance. He recounts the historical relationship between protest and progress, reminding us that staying vocal and visible is crucial to the advancement of democratic ideals.

Markos joins for a Special Edition of Thursday Kos to discuss the Presidential, House and Senate races on the last weekend before Election Day.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, and Robert James, II, President of Carver Financial Corporation join.

Jobs

• The Black unemployment rate was 5.7% in September, near historic lows. The Black unemployment rate was 9.3% when President Biden took office.
• 2023 was the lowest year for Black unemployment on record.
• 16 million jobs have been created since President Biden took office, including nearly 2.4 million jobs for Black workers—achieving one of the lowest gaps between Black and White unemployment on record.
• Prime-age Black women have seen their labor force participation rates climb by about 3% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Wages/Wealth

• Real wages for Black Americans grew over 5% between 2019 and the four-quarters ending in Q3 2024.
• Black net worth is up 60% between 2019 and 2022 and the Black-white wealth gap is at its narrowest level in nearly 20 years.

Housing

• Black homeownership rates increased by 3.5 percentage points from 2019 through the four-quarters ending in Q2 2024. In the years of the Financial Crisis, Black homeownership had dropped 1.75 percentage points.
• As of Q2 2024, 37% of Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) homeowners self-identified as Black.
• In 2021, eviction filing rates in Black neighborhoods were less than half their historic average.
• 41% of ERA payments have gone to Black families as of Q1 2024.

Child Poverty

• Over 800,000 Black children were lifted out of poverty in 2021 through the expansion of the Child Tax Credit under the American Rescue Plan, helping drive the child poverty rate for Black children to its lowest level on record.

Small Business

• The number of Black households owning a business has more than doubled since 2019.
• Black business ownership is up 6.2 percentage points from 2019 to 2022 to 11%, the highest rate in history.
• In 2021, Black-owned companies employed 1.4 million people and paid over $50 billion in annual payroll.

· The number of Black workers that were self-employed—a measure of entrepreneurship—increased by over 30% from 2019 through 2024.

· The number and dollar value of SBA-backed loans to Black-owned businesses have more than doubled since 2020. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has now surpassed the $1 billion mark in lending to Black-owned small businesses for the third year, almost double 2019 lending amounts.

Also, young men are attracted to the political strongman, yet they aren't showing up to early vote as much as women are. Also, how are Latino and Arab voters trending toward the candidates?

12 days til Election Day! Markos joins for Thursday Kos!

Monifa Bandele of Moms Rising joins,

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Newly-elected and First African American Service Employees International Union President April Verrett joins and pays tribute to Coaliton of Black Trade Unionists Founder William Lucy,