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  • It wasn’t even close. That was the verdict of most of the media—and millions of Americans—after the presidential debate on Tuesday. After Vice President Kamala Harris dominated former President Donald Trump on the debate stage, Trump has pledged not to debate her again. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Christina Greer, a professor of political science at Fordham University, and the author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream. The two break down the finer points of the debate, and what impact it could have on the race going forward.

    Guest: Christina Greer, professor and author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.  

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • The New York Police Department is perhaps the most famous—or notorious—police force in America, depending on who you talk to. Some see it as a group of thousands of dedicated civil servants, devoted to public safety. Others say the department is rife with corruption, tangled in politics, and—at best—indifferent to the racist brutality its officers visit on Black citizens of the city.

    Now, a new podcast aims to shed light on the complicated history of the N.Y.P.D. and race. “Empire City” is a new narrative series from Wondery, Crooked Media and Push Black. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by the show’s host and creator, NYU journalism professor Chenjerai Kumanyika. 

    Guest: Chenjerai Kumanyika, host of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Election season brings politicians of all parties to the doors of Black churches, looking for photo ops, votes, and support from powerful pastors. But the traditional Black church is—like many American faith communities—shrinking. And a growing number of middle-class African Americans are worshiping in more diverse congregations. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Dr. Jason E. Shelton, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. They discuss his new book, The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion, and how changes in African American faith communities are playing out in everything from politics, to education, to music.

    Guest: Dr. Jason E. Shelton, author of The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion.

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Many congressional staffers and workers on Capitol Hill have argued that, regardless of the party in power, the institution hasn’t evolved much on diversity in the workplace. And that means African Americans are frequently underrepresented in high level jobs, and can often be targets of racism and abuse during their work. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Dr. James R. Jones, the author of The Last Plantation: Racism and Resistance in the Halls of Congress. The two discuss bias and inequality among the workers on Capitol Hill, and what that says about Congress’s ability to represent an increasingly diverse nation.

    Guest: Dr. James R. Jones, professor and author of The Last Plantation.

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • In a recent CBS News interview, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance charged that the Biden administration was favoring Black farmers over white farmers in federal policy. That came days after the US Department of Agriculture began distributing more than $2 billion in relief to Black and other marginalized farmers who suffered historic discrimination from the agency. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by John Boyd, Jr., a family farmer and the president of the National Black Farmers Association. They discuss Vance’s allegations, the long road to the discrimination settlement, and the continued work of preserving African American farming communities.

    Guest: John Boyd Jr., founder, and president of the National Black Farmers Association

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Project 2025, the massive Heritage Foundation policy blueprint, has become a major issue on the campaign trail for Democrats. While former President Trump has tried to distance himself from the document, many members of his administration and inner circle worked to draft it. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Brandon Tensley, national political reporter for Capital B News. They discuss Project 2025, what it could mean for the Black community, and what elements may already be in effect.

    Guest: Brandon Tensley, national political reporter for Capital B News

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Many political spouses spend decades preparing for a White House run with their partners. But attorney Doug Emhoff had been married to then-Senator Kamala Harris for just five years when she first ran for the White House. Now, as the first Second Gentleman in history, he’s stepping into the spotlight, sprinting across the country for her whirlwind campaign. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson talks with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff about his family, his work combating anti-Semitism and other forms of hate, and campaigning with Vice President Kamala Harris.

    Guest: Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff

    Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel

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  • Donald Trump’s bombastic appearance at this week’s National Association of Black Journalist convention drew criticism, not just for the former president, but also the organizational leadership that invited him. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by longtime journalist and media company leader Roland Martin, who attended Trump’s interview. They discuss what happened, the media response, and the reckoning facing the NABJ.  

    Guest: Veteran journalist Roland Martin, host of “Roland Martin Unfiltered”

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola 

    Want more A Word? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/awordplus to get access wherever you listen.
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  • The weeks of Democratic hand-wringing ended suddenly on Sunday after President Joe Biden stepped out of the White House race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Her young campaign has energized Democrats. But Harris has befuddled Republicans who don’t know how to attack her, and a media that doesn’t know how to define her. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson discusses Harris’s record and her prospects with political analyst Niambi Carter, a professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. 

    Guest: Niambi Carter, political analyst and author of American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship.

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • After a tumultuous week of campaign news, Republicans wrapped their convention in Milwaukee by officially making former President Donald Trump their nominee. While President Joe Biden struggles with doubts within his own party, many in the G.O.P. believe there’s a new opportunity to reach out to Black voters. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by political analyst and former RNC Chair, Michael Steele. They discuss the current state of the race, Trump’s ideas about what Black voters want, and the media’s influence on public opinion.

    Guests: Political Analyst and former RNC Chair Michael Steele

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • It's convention season, and nerds everywhere may be suiting up to attend the Cons, gatherings of hardcore science-fiction, comic book, fantasy or anime fandoms. That includes BlerdCon, the gathering where Black nerds celebrate their interests in comics, anime, gaming, and much more. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by two artists who will be featured at this year’s BlerdCon, comedian Jay Washington, and actor Phil Lamarr. They talk about the event, the evolution of Black nerd culture, and handling the backlash over diversity in science fiction and fantasy entertainment. 

    Guests: Performers Jay Washington and Phil Lamarr


    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • This year’s Supreme Court session loosened laws on official bribery, overturned decades of precedent on regulation, and granted immunity to the president for official actions. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by legal analyst Elie Mystal of The Nation. They review the Court’s most important decisions, and talk about the political implications and the potential fall out for ordinary Americans. 

    Guest: Legal analyst Elie Mystal

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • In this election year, there’s more criticism and distrust of the media than ever. For veteran journalist Ali Velshi, his belief in the power of journalism is rooted in a family history of pursuing social justice, across continents and generations. On today’s episode of A Word, he joins host Jason Johnson to talk about his career, and his new memoir Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy. 

    Guest: Ali Velshi, MSNBC host and author of Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy 

    Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel

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  • June is Black Music Month, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of some of the most influential albums in contemporary African American music, including Nas’ Illmatic, and TLC’s CrazySexyCool, to Notorious B.I.G’s Ready to Die. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by pop culture columnist Panama Jackson to discuss the legendary Black music of 1994, and the difference between a merely great album, and one that’s going to stand the test of time.

    Guest: Panama Jackson, columnist at TheGrio

    Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel

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  • The stereotype of Black fathers is that they’re largely absent, and uninvolved in their children’s lives. And that image persists, despite research that suggests that Black fathers are often more involved in the daily care of their kids than white fathers. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Sean Williams, the founder of The Dad Gang, an organization that uplifts and supports Black and other marginalized fathers. They talk about the challenges of fatherhood, and building a community where dads can help each other.

    Guest: Sean Williams, founder of The Dad Gang

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • “Petty.” “Jealous.” That’s what many male sportscasters are saying about the women competing against WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark. The former Iowa star is bringing a new level of attention to women’s basketball, but many men who ignored the league for years are now leading the coverage. So how is sexism and racism fueling the way they’re talking about Clark and the rest of the WNBA?

    On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by veteran sports journalist Jemele Hill to discuss the way the media treats Clark and the African American players who are competing with her. Hill is a contributing writer to The Atlantic, and wrote about the issue for them in the article, “The One Downside of Gender Equality in Sports.”

    Guest: Veteran sports journalist Jemele Hill

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Former President Donald Trump and his supporters are furious after his conviction on all 34 counts related to his hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by legal analyst Yodit Tewolde to discuss the path to the conviction, key moments in the trial, and what the verdict says about the justice system.

    Guest: Legal analyst Yodit Tewolde

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Haiti has suffered under decades of crises, but the latest may be its most intractable. Violent criminals are now effectively in charge of the country, after years of assassinations and political instability left a power vacuum. As a new international force prepares for an intervention, A Word host Jason Johnson discusses the current troubles with Patrick Gaspard, leader of the Center for American Progress. They explore how Haiti fell into such dire circumstances, the role that American guns and policy have played, and how Haitian Americans and the U.S. government could help Haiti find stability.

    Guest: Patrick Gaspard, chief of the Center for American Progress

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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  • Drake didn’t know who he was messing with, and was never on Kendrick Lamar’s level in hip hop. That’s the verdict of cultural commentator and author Touré. On today’s episode of A Word, he joins host Jason Johnson to break down the meaning behind the brutal rap battle, and whether Not Like Us, BBL Drizzy, Family Matters and other songs central to the beef will rewrite the blueprint for diss tracks forever.

    Guest: Touré, host of the Touré Show podcast, and author of Nothing Compares 2 U: An Oral History of Prince 

    Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel

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  • Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates is arguably the strongest voice of his generation on the role of race and identity in American politics and culture. He’s the author of several books, including “Between the World and Me,” “We Were Eight Years in Power,” and “The Beautiful Struggle,” and the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant and a National Book Award. For this week’s episode, we feature a conversation between Coates and host Jason Johnson, recorded live at the recent Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. They discuss everything from the diss track battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, to the campus protests over the Middle East, to the limits –and necessity– of participating in electoral politics. 

    Guest: Award-winning writer Ta-Nehisi Coates

    Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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