Episode Description
Ejeris welcomes back movement strategist, organizer, and longtime friend Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson for a necessary and informative debrief of the 2026 midterm elections. Ash-Lee offers a clear-eyed assessment of what the results tell us about grassroots organizing, particularly from the perspectives of Black, Southern, and marginalized communities that have too often been ignored and written off. Despite historic election victories, the fascism barometer remains dangerously high. Ash-Lee and Ejeris discuss what it will take to protect election results, ensure every vote is counted, and why we must resist the temptation to mistake electoral success for lasting political power. This vital conversation makes clear that the future depends on how we organize. This is an all gas, no brakes moment!
Episode transcript coming soon!
About Ash-Lee
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson is a movement strategist, trainer, thought leader, organizer, and writer from Southeast Tennessee. She served as the first Black woman executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center. Ash-Lee founded Utopian Visions and Experiments4Good, has hosted mass calls for national movement formations, and is the author of a forthcoming book from Haymarket Books.
About Ejeris
Ejeris is a political strategist passionate about strengthening liberation movements and building community safety. Ejeris serves as the Fascism Barometer's "movement meteorologist," exploring the impact of fascist movements on communities of color, queer and trans communities, and all marginalized people. Having worked for the past twenty-five years at the intersections of racial justice, LGBTQ liberation, anti-violence, transformative justice, and economic justice movements, Ejeris focuses on creating political and strategic experiments to strengthen social justice movements through the organization Ejerie Labs.
Resources
Read
Listening Guide coming soon!
“What To Do During A Coup” by Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Medium
“They’re Counting On Not Counting Us” by Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Medium
“Who Gets Counted As Election Risk” by Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Medium
“What Would Make You Disobey” by Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Medium
“Gathering Forces: Election Defense In Authoritarian Times” by Marcy Rein, Sandra Hinston, Convergence Magazine
“In the Records: Exposing and Disrupting Federal Attempts To Interfere In The 2026 Midterm Elections” by Democracy Forward
“Black Voters Help Propel Democrats, Including History Makers, In Sweeping Midterm Victories” by Bill Barrow, Kim Chandler, Kate Burmback, Associated Press News
“Where Voters Stand On State Ballot Measures, From Abortion To LGBTQ Rights To Guns” by Rachel Treisman, National Public Radio
“Has US Fascism Moved From A Theoretical Debate Into An Urgent National Crisis?” by Nolan Hiddon, Truthout
“Republicans Tried To Gerrymander Their Way Out Of Big Congressional Losses. It Didn’t Work” by Ashley Lopez, Benjamin Swasey, Rahul Mukherjee, National Public Radio
“Special Issue—Quiet Is Not Peace” by Scot Nakagawa, The Anti-Authoritarian Playbook
“The Midterms Repudiated Trump. Grassroots Momentum Will Shape What Comes Next.” By Daniel Hunter, Truthout
Stories That Didn’t Break the Barometer
Roundup Sources
Watch
Listen
Action
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