This Week on WURD: Voters force a political shift as the blue wave changes the landscape

🗞️: Chris Rabb, the U.S. Representative-elect for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, says Democrats have to show Americans in the next two years that they are prepared for a post-Trump reality. Rabb, who defeated his opponent with nearly 95% of the vote, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and ran a campaign focused on addressing affordability, the climate crisis and fully funded education.

He joined Solomon Jones on Wake Up with WURD to discuss the new face of the Democratic Party and what will change as a result. “We need to listen more to the people and not the wealthy insiders who have put us in this situation where we’re fighting like hell just to survive,” Rabb told Jones.

🗞️: Exit polls indicate that 86% of Black men and 93% of Black women voters voted for Democratic candidates. Linn Washington Jr., a columnist at The Philadelphia Tribune, says that despite Black voters overwhelmingly supporting Democrats at the ballot box, it’s crucial they keep their foot on elected officials to deliver on their campaign promises.

“When we look at the political system, the changes that are needed are more than just putting someone in office,” Washington told Jones about the historic breakthroughs for Black politicians.

🗞️: All year, Angelique Hinton and her team at PA Youth Vote have been engaging young and first-time voters and offering them resources like voter registration guidance and information about the candidates and ballot provisions. Their work paid off as she explained to Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDS after they saw strong participation among young constituents this week. She said they fully recognize that voting directly affects the issues they care about — but that they are also carving their own path. Hinton told Peterson that youth voter registration in Pennsylvania mirrors national trends, with an increasing number of young voters registering as Independents.

🤝: Jenné Johns is the founder and president of Once Upon A Preemie, a Black women-led non-profit organization committed to pioneering solutions for neonatal equity to center Black preemie family experiences. On November 17, Johns will bring together parents, healthcare professionals, advocates, and community leaders for the 5th Annual Black Maternal Health + Neonatal Equity Conference at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. This year’s theme, “Meeting the Moment: Reimagining Our Future,” will focus on respectful maternal and neonatal care, caregiver wellness, premature infant health, and solutions that can improve outcomes for Black mothers and babies.

🎨: Aliya Grace stars as Betty Boop in the North American tour of BOOP!, playing at the Academy of Music from Nov. 17-29. Grace joined joined Tiffany Bacon on Midday Breakroom to discuss the musical, which has received three Tony Award nominations. The production follows Betty Boop as she steps out of her classic, black-and-white cartoon world to experience a vibrant, colorful, and adventurous day in New York City.