Advertise on podcast: Democrats Abroad: The Blue Vote Café

Dr. Raquel Armstrong is running for statewide office in Arizona's Legislative District 13. "Leadership," she says, "is the thing you do even when you're afraid." She talks about the importance of nonpartisan voter registration work, about issues specific to her district (including water, education, and addressing affordability holistically), and about the work she does to connect people in need with affordable, reliable transportation. For more information https://rockee4az.com/ Listen to the full library of Blue Vote Café episodes at https://bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every calendar year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Gay Valimont, Democratic candidate running for the U.S. House in Florida's 1st Congressional District, discusses gun violence prevention, fixing healthcare, and three urgent priorities when Democrats take office: ending the war, addressing the affordability crisis, and rolling back tariffs. She also shares how her moral compass guides her party affiliation, and the key message she wants to impart to younger generations. Listen to the full library of Blue Vote Café episodes at https://bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every calendar year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Dr. Christopher Jones (rocket scientist, minister, and girl dad) visits the café to talk about his campaign to represent Arkansas in Congress and the Triple A theme of his platform: affordability and accountability for all. Emphasizing the importance of human connection, he touches on how people are hurting, why this moment feels like 9/11, where progressives and MAGA voters find common ground, and how clearing away the rubble allows us to build something new. He also offers his perspective as a nuclear engineer on regulatory frameworks to manage AI, discusses the galvanizing force in the White House, and takes a brief tangent into the facial expressions of dogs—with a shoutout to #JudgeJohnHodgman. Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Acclaimed children's author Bruce Coville joins us to discuss teaching history through ghost stories. He shares the 30-year journey behind a long-gestating manuscript, the local Syracuse, NY history uncovered along the way, and the parallels he sees between the McCarthy era and modern-day threats to civil liberties. Plus, Bruce reflects on the formative influence of Mad magazine, landing as a New York Times crossword clue, sounding early alarms on AI scraping books, and paving the way for fart jokes in children's literature. Links & Resources: Full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes: https://bluevotecafe.com Register and request your overseas ballot: https://www.votefromabroad.org/ For more information, visit https://sdfcu.org/ or email [email protected].

Sam Salmon and Josh Barrett discuss the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) and its new partnership with Democrats Abroad, which allows DA members to join and bank with SDFCU. The conversation explores critical financial issues facing Americans living overseas, including debanking, accessing Medallion signature guarantees and remote notarial services, and receiving payments or checks from the U.S. government. They also discuss working with DA Taxation Task Force Chair Rebecca Lammers to make this partnership happen—and how Democrats Abroad's free membership makes it the only overseas Americans organization through which you can qualify for SDFCU without paying annual membership fees. • For more information, visit https://sdfcu.org/ or email [email protected]. • Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com. • Register and request your ballot every year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Laura Sirot is joined by Friend of the Pod Miguel Madrigal to talk about her run for State Senate in Ohio's District 31 under the banner of "finding common ground for the common good." Laura talks about being a problem-solver and a decision-maker, about getting s**t done, and about her ability as a mother to detect problems combined with the know-how of a scientist to solve them. She and Miguel share tales from the campaign about Trump fatigue, challenges for farmers, and the lack of public transit. Laura talks about being denied entry into a Ramaswamy campaign event and the importance of building respect between opponents. The questions of why Ohio did not establish a nonpartisan districting commission, whether Laura is too smart to be a politician, and where you can hear her talk about sex and reproduction (https://www.icameforscience.org/) are also explored. To reach Laura or to get involved in her campaign: https://www.sirotforohio.org/. Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

After a brief discussion of Ottawa's Canada Day fireworks—followed by the importance of Kool-Aid in Hastings, Nebraska—ASDC Chair and DNC Vice Chair Jane Kleeb tackles how to address anger directed at Democrats and the DNC. She explores what must change as we head into the midterms to hopefully regain the reins of government, and highlights a unique point of resistance that is uniting Americans: data centers. She also discusses how the DNC is preparing for possible interference by creating election protection plans, explains how grassroots organizations like Indivisible, No Kings, the Black Power War Room, and Swing Left operate like "after-school care," and invites listeners to review their strategy. View the DNC Playbook: https://democrats.org/the-dnc-playbook/ Listen to the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes: http://bluevotecafe.com Register and request your ballot every year: https://www.votefromabroad.org/

After World War II, American GI colleges sprang up across Europe to educate US soldiers who were still stationed abroad. What was their lasting impact on the local communities, and what did these historic campuses really look like? In this episode of Blue Vote Café, we dive into a fascinating piece of post-war history. Glenn McRae, whose father attended one of these unique institutions, shares his extensive research into the American GI colleges founded in Europe. He is joined by Marc Artzrouni to recount their recent journey to Biarritz, France, where they retraced the footsteps of Glenn's father and visited the sites he would have known. In This Episode: The Legacy of Biarritz American University: We explore how these institutions served as prime examples of American "soft power" at its best and discuss the lasting effects they had on local European communities. Iconic Faculty: Learn about the experts and famous figures affiliated with the university, including the legendary Marlene Dietrich. The Marlboro Connection: Listen for a special shout-out to Marlboro College in Vermont—founded by some of the same people to educate veterans back home on the GI Bill—which also happens to be Rachel's alma mater! 📸 Special Bonus: Be sure to stick around until the very end of the video for some photos and a reminder of the beautiful voice of Marlene Dietrich. 🎧 Explore More Episodes: Find the full audio library and stay up to date with the Blue Vote Café at: http://bluevotecafe.com. 🗳️ Make Your Voice Heard: Your vote matters, no matter where in the world you are. Register and request your absentee ballot every year at: https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Political influencer Ariella Elm drops into the café to talk about why "voter apathy" is a myth, reminding us that Election Day is truly every Tuesday. She underlines the importance of knowing—and fighting for—what is politically possible, and shares insights on building active voter groups on Sway.co. This conversation touches on: The concepts of Rallywe'en and Doomerella. Thoughts on Chuck Schumer and the reasons why people stop trusting Democrats. Overcoming the lie that we are doomed and staying persistently engaged. Listen & Take Action: Follow Ariella Elm everywhere (and make sure to turn your notifications on!). Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Freya Proudman drops into the café to talk about building a youth caucus from the ground up. Rejecting the notion that youth engagement is just about free pizza, Freya underlines the importance of offering young people the opportunity to get involved and contribute in myriad ways to the effort of reclaiming the America we love. This conversation touches on: The current dearth of DA leaders under the age of 30. Why young people are not just our future, but our active present. The zine and other grassroots organizing efforts undertaken by DA UK. The realities of aging out of—or into—different classifications and leadership opportunities. Listen & Take Action: Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every year at VoteFromAbroad.org!

Are we watching history repeat itself? In this episode of Blue Vote Café, we sit down with Dr. Richard Sack to discuss the creeping shadows of 1930s Europe in today’s political climate and what we can do to fight back. About Our Guest:Dr. Richard Sack is an independent researcher, consultant, and the former Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). Holding a Ph.D. in International Development Education from Stanford University, his decades-long career has spanned academic and operational work across the globe, evaluating policies and shaping education systems in developing nations. Now, he brings his rigorous, systemic analytical lens to a different kind of global issue: the mechanics of authoritarianism. In This Episode:Obsessed with understanding the modern rise of fascism, Dr. Sack has meticulously inventoried the actions of the Trump administration, sorting them into 13 distinct categories of fascist behavior. We explore his comprehensive list, draw stark parallels between our current political reality and the 1930s, and discuss actionable ways to turn the tide. As Dr. Sack reminds us: despair is the enemy of the people. This conversation isn't just about identifying the threat—it's about finding the strategy and resolve to overcome it. (Note: A link to Dr. Sack's 13-category inventory will be added here soon!) 🎧 Explore More Episodes:Find the full audio library and stay up to date with the Blue Vote Café at:http://bluevotecafe.com 🗳️ Make Your Voice Heard:Your vote matters, no matter where in the world you are. Register and request your absentee ballot every year at:https://www.votefromabroad.org/

Former NIH scientists Drs. Jennifer Troyer and Jeremy Berg join the show to discuss the history and accomplishments of the National Institutes of Health, highlighting how investments in basic scientific research support the health and well-being of the entire nation. They examine why it made political sense for the administration to attack the NIH immediately upon taking power, and break down the resulting damage. The conversation also touches on statement shirts, featuring shout-outs to 27Unihted (https://27unihted.substack.com/), Stand Up for Science and the Bethesda Declaration (https://www.standupforscience.net/), and the Union of Concerned Scientists (https://www.ucs.org/). 🎧 Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com.🗳️ Register and request your ballot every year at https://www.votefromabroad.org/.

Michelle Samson, the newly appointed spokesperson for Democrats Abroad’s Global Women’s Caucus (GWC), discusses the fight against cultural pressures to be "small, thin, and quiet," alongside broader issues that disproportionately impact women. She highlights key GWC initiatives, including the Feminist Hackathon and an upcoming scavenger hunt spanning five cities with a history of resisting fascism. Michelle also shares insights from the intensive press training required for her new role. Listen: Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at bluevotecafe.com. Take Action: Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.

Independent journalist Terrell Jermaine Starr discusses expanding the definition of race and how racism informs politics both in the U.S. and abroad. He explores the relatively brief period of American history dedicated to "getting things right," explains why he dislikes comparisons between the modern U.S. and Nazi Germany, and shares his experience being embedded with Ukraine's territorial defense forces during the Russian invasion. Additionally, Terrell breaks down the Russian word for "Black," reveals what he would ask Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview, and offers a unique perspective on "woke culture." Support and follow his work: Patreon: patreon.com/Terrelljstarrofficia Substack: terrellstarr.substack.com Contributions: venmo.com/u/Terrell-Starr or paypal.me/terrellstarr Websites: terrellstarr.com and blackdiplomats.net Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at bluevotecafe.com. Remember to register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.

Recorded live in Kingston, Ontario, Canada! Historian, speechwriter, and author Arthur Milnes regales us with tales of the U.S. presidents and Canadian prime ministers he has known. In this episode, Arthur shares: The Nixon Connection: Why he ended up "chaining up" Richard Nixon in his backyard (it’s not what you think!). A Living Legacy: His unique garden filled with trees planted by presidents and prime ministers. The Carter Surprise: What happened when his wife discovered he’d offered to host Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter overnight—and the unexpected gift Dan Aykroyd sent for the occasion. Beyond the anecdotes, Arthur reminds us that the office and the individuals who hold it are worthy of respect, even when we find ourselves at odds with their political positions. Listen: Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at bluevotecafe.com. Vote: Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.