In this episode of Left in the Attic, hosts Ana and Deep discuss the critical issues of money in politics, corruption in D.C., and the affordability crisis. They are joined by special guest Melat Kiros, who is challenging long-time incumbent Diana DeGette for Colorado's Congressional District 1. Melat shares her motivation for running, focusing on the urgent need to eliminate corporate money from politics and restore integrity and effectiveness to government. The conversation delves into Citizen’s United, the importance of community involvement, and how small donations can make a significant impact in political campaigns. The episode wraps up with a strong call to action, encouraging listeners to support local candidates and engage in community-building efforts.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:26 Haircut Mishap and Weekend Volunteering

01:09 Deep's Speech and Debate Experience

01:57 Denver Urban Debate League

02:45 Student Advocacy at the Capitol

03:22 Introducing Melat Kiros

03:49 Campaign Motivations and Challenges

09:37 Money in Politics and Citizens United

14:02 Corporate Influence and Wealth Disparity

19:21 Trump's Middle East Golf Course and Political Corruption

19:48 Voter Disillusionment and the Need for Impact

21:08 Community Engagement Beyond Voting

22:54 Capitalism's Relentless Pursuit of Profit

24:52 The Power of Voting and Political Accountability

31:09 Unionization and Worker Rights

32:46 Corporate Greed and Social Safety Nets

38:08 The Importance of Small Donations in Politics

40:22 Conclusion and Call to Action

Meet Your Hosts

Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action. According to Deep, Ana has a dating life that could probably be its own podcast segment.

Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.

Links:

Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com

Instagram: @leftintheatticpod

TikTok: @left.in.the.attic

Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com

Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

In this episode of Left in the Attic, hosts Deep and Ana discuss congressional campaigns, war crimes in Venezuela, the deployment of the National Guard in the US, and political inaction. They feature special guest CU Regent Wanda James, a notable advocate for social change, and the first Black woman to own a cannabis business in the US. Wanda, currently running for Congress in Colorado’s Congressional District 1, shares her background, her fight against systemic racism, and her tenure in various political landscapes. The conversation covers her efforts to rectify the impacts of the war on drugs on communities of color, the Colorado political scene, the challenges she has faced and overcome as a small business owner and naval officer, and her plans to address affordability, food insecurity, healthcare, and education. They also discuss Wanda's perspective as a former Naval officer on the recent events in Venezuela and the alarming trend of military deployment in US cities. The episode concludes with a call to action urging listeners to support community initiatives and holiday charity efforts.

Ana and Wanda mentioned the Black Santa Project: https://www.theblacksantaproject.org/

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:17 Special Guest Introduction: Wanda James

00:26 Funny Party Stories

02:14 Wanda James: Background and Achievements

07:09 Political Landscape and Campaign Challenges

17:09 War Crimes in Venezuela

21:47 US Intervention in Latin America

22:09 Trump's Controversial Actions

23:36 Military and Legal Perspectives

25:32 Federal Employees and Ethical Dilemmas

27:56 Media and Political Courage

33:19 ICE and Immigration Issues

36:05 Running for Office and Political Responsibility

43:58 Call to Action and Community Support

Meet Your Hosts

Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action. According to Deep, Ana has a dating life that could probably be its own podcast segment.

Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.

Links:

Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com

Instagram: @leftintheatticpod

TikTok: @left.in.the.attic

Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com

Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

In this episode of Left in the Attic, hosts Ana and Deep delve into Colorado's political landscape with Representative Yara Zokaie from House District 52 in Fort Collins to discuss the personal and professional challenges of being an immigrant and the culture at the Colorado Capital. Rep. Zokaie shares her experience as a woman of color and young mom in politics. Topics range from anti-immigrant rhetoric, personal threats, to the intricacies of Colorado legislation, including paid leave and price gouging. They close out with a call to action, encouraging listeners to support local immigrant-owned businesses during the holiday season.

Ana shares that a Colorado non-profit, Cocina Libre, is selling cookbooks to support immigrants across CO. Check out https://cocinalibre.co/ for more information.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic

00:24 Anna's Thanksgiving Trip to Mexico

01:43 Yara's Thanksgiving Experience

03:20 Deep's Thanksgiving and Birthday Traditions

05:18 Introducing Representative Yara Zokaie

06:11 Yara's Journey into Politics

10:17 Challenges and Triumphs in Office

16:51 The Controversy and Its Aftermath

24:32 Political Turmoil and Bureaucracy

26:34 Facing Adversity and Safety Concerns

27:30 Encouraging Underrepresented Voices

28:18 The Challenges of Legislative Work

29:17 The Importance of Representation

32:32 Debating Racial and Ethnic Data

35:10 Changing Capitol Culture

36:20 A Week in the Life of a Legislator

40:42 Personal Reflections and Music Preferences

44:54 Supporting Local Businesses

Meet Your Hosts

Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action. According to Deep, Ana has a dating life that could probably be its own podcast segment.

Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.

Links:

Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com

Instagram: @leftintheatticpod

TikTok: @left.in.the.attic

Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com

Voicemail: (303) 416-2846