January 21, 2025 by Nick Halaris

Leveraging the Overlooked Power of State Legislatures #74

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Melissa Walker, the Head of the Giving Circles Program at the States Project, an organization focused on leveraging the consistently overlooked and massively underestimated power possessed by State legislatures in our system. On top of being a passionate civic activist, Melissa is a popular author of teen novels and an accomplished magazine contributor.

 

Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.

 

I wanted to have Melissa on the show to learn more about the States Project and the role they are trying to play in improving our American democracy. In this day and age, when hardly a citizen can even name their state representatives let alone know what policies they stand for, Melissa and her colleagues at the States Project are smart to focus here. While the big money players have all but captured the national scene, State legislature elections are as accessible as they are impactful. The American Constitution grants vast power to the states and state-level laws are often much more impactful to citizens’ daily lives than Federal laws.

Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:

  • The critically important role that states play in our system as the laboratories of democracy

  • How the States Project is taking advantage of funding disparities in state and national legislative races to pursue political change

  • Why they are pursuing an American Promise policy agenda that includes effective government, personal freedom, fair markets, and representative democracy

  • How State legislature elections, which cost a fraction of a national Congressional race (less than 6%), present a compelling and affordable opportunity for political activists

  • The crucial role that the local news used to play in state and local political engagement and how its demise has threatened our democracy

&

  • Much, much more

Stay tuned to the end to learn why Melissa set aside her thriving career as an author to work on the States Project full time and why she believes this work is the most powerful thing she can do today.

As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode. Thanks for tuning in!

Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show. 🙏 Thank you 

Keywords

States Project, state legislatures, democracy, civic engagement, local politics, bipartisanship, community values, local media, NIMBY movement, voter apathy, state politics, housing laws, electoral strategies, campaign costs, local governance, civic engagement, political activism, funding, community connection, democracy

Summary

In this conversation, Nick Halaris and Melissa Walker discuss the significance of state legislatures in American democracy, emphasizing the need for civic engagement at the local level. They explore the mission of the States Project, which aims to build power in state legislatures to improve people's lives, and the importance of bipartisan efforts in achieving shared values. The discussion also highlights the challenges of civic apathy in local elections, the role of local media in informing citizens, and the impact of movements like NIMBY on political engagement. In this conversation, Melissa Walker discusses the intricacies of state politics, the importance of local governance, and the strategies employed by the States Project to influence electoral outcomes. She highlights the significant differences in campaign costs between state and congressional races, the challenges of engaging local politicians, and the impact of grassroots funding through giving circles. Walker emphasizes the need for civic engagement and the potential for change at the state level, sharing her personal journey from author to activist and the rewarding nature of her work in democracy.

Takeaways

  • State legislatures hold significant power in shaping policies that affect daily life.

  • Bipartisanship is essential for advancing shared values in state politics.

  • Local engagement is crucial for effective democracy and policy change.

  • State governments can act as laboratories for democracy, testing new policies.

  • Civic apathy is a major issue in local elections, leading to low voter turnout.

  • Local media plays a vital role in informing citizens about state politics.

  • Understanding the connection between state policies and daily life is important for voter engagement.

  • The NIMBY movement illustrates the challenges of citizen engagement in local politics.

  • State lawmakers are often overlooked but are key to local governance.

  • Voter education and awareness are necessary to combat civic apathy. State politics often mirrors city-state dynamics.

  • Electoral strategies focus on states where power is at stake.

  • Campaign costs for state races are significantly lower than congressional races.

  • Local governance decisions impact critical issues like education and healthcare.

  • Civic engagement is essential for a healthy democracy.

  • Grassroots funding can shift majorities in state legislatures.

  • The States Project aims to build infrastructure for long-term political engagement.

  • Fair maps are crucial for equitable representation in state legislatures.

  • Engaging in local politics can foster community connections.

  • Personal experiences can drive individuals to become civic activists.

Titles

  • Empowering Local Politics: The States Project

  • The Cost of Change: State vs. Congressional Campaigns

  • Civic Engagement: Building a Stronger Democracy

  • From Author to Activist: Melissa Walker's Journey

Sound Bites

  • "State governments have incredible power and budget."

  • "The citizen is the customer of the government."

  • "NIMBYs are a minority, but they win in politics."

  • "It's often cheaper to change the balance of power."

  • "State legislative races cost about 6% of Congress."

  • "This is where the rubber meets the road on policy."

  • "We need to protect a slim one seat majority."

  • "We can see a path to a trifecta in Wisconsin."

  • "This is the most powerful thing I've ever done." 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the States Project and Its Mission

02:52 Understanding State Legislative Power

06:11 Bipartisanship and Shared Values in State Politics

09:11 The Importance of Local Engagement in Politics

11:46 State Governments as Laboratories for Democracy

14:50 Civic Apathy and Local Elections

18:09 The Role of Local Media in State Politics

21:05 The NIMBY Movement and Citizen Engagement

26:25 Navigating State Politics and Housing Laws

27:04 Electoral Strategies and Target States

28:32 The Cost of Political Campaigns

30:31 Impact of State Legislative Races

32:13 Challenges in Local Political Engagement

34:24 The Importance of Local Governance

35:18 Funding and Investment in State Politics

39:16 Future Vision and Strategic Goals

43:42 Civic Engagement and Community Connection

44:16 From Author to Activist: A Personal Journey

USAFacts is clearly performing an important public service with their work. Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:  

  • How USAFacts manages to navigate over 90K government entities to produce accessible, coherent, and often beautifully organized data on the state of America and the effectiveness of our policies

  • Why American citizens should start thinking of themselves as shareholders of the government

  • Why the USAFacts Government 10-k and its America in Facts Report are must-reads for all concerned citizens

  • How a noble mission to reduce poverty in America led Steve Ballmer in the unexpected direction of focusing on making data more accessible to the American people

  • What Poppy thinks of the proposal to reduce the deficit via efficiency improvements

    &

  • Much, much more 

Stay tuned to the end to learn about Poppy’s fascinating and transformative experiences studying abroad in Nepal and how what she learned there about community motivates her passionate civic work today.

As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode. Thanks for tuning in!

Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show. 🙏 Thank you

 

Keywords

USAFacts, government data, civic engagement, transparency, 10K report, local data, COVID-19, civic health, data accessibility, citizen shareholders, COVID-19, data collection, government reporting, FOIA, homelessness data, government audits, economic data, government efficiency, Congress, community service

Summary

In this conversation, Nick Halaris interviews Poppy MacDonald, the president of USAFacts, about the organization's mission to provide accessible government data to empower American citizens. They discuss the origin of USA Facts, the significance of the 10K report, and the concept of citizens as shareholders in the country. The conversation also delves into the complexity of government agencies, the importance of local data, the challenges of trust in government data, and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding data accessibility. In this conversation, Nick Halaris and Poppy MacDonald discuss the challenges of data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for improved reporting systems, and the complexities of accessing public data. They explore the issues surrounding homelessness data, government accountability, and the importance of understanding economic data trends. The discussion also touches on the quest for government efficiency, the role of Congress in data literacy, and personal reflections on community service and experiences in Nepal.

Takeaways

  • USAFacts aims to empower Americans with factual data.

  • The organization is nonpartisan and focuses on transparency.

  • The 10K report serves as a comprehensive overview of government spending and outcomes.

  • Citizens are considered shareholders in the country due to their tax contributions.

  • There are approximately 90,000 government entities in the U.S.

  • Local data is crucial for understanding community issues.

  • AI is being leveraged to provide personalized local insights.

  • Trust in government data is essential for informed decision-making.

  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for standardized data reporting.

  • Efforts are underway to improve data accessibility and transparency. Data collection during COVID-19 was labor-intensive and flawed.

  • Improved reporting systems are essential for timely data.

  • FOIA requests highlight the challenges of accessing public data.

  • Homelessness data is often inadequate and difficult to analyze.

  • Government audits are crucial for accountability but often fail.

  • Economic data must be contextualized over time to ensure accuracy.

  • Government efficiency is a pressing issue for budget management.

  • Congress is increasingly interested in leveraging data for decision-making.

  • Access to transparent information is vital for public understanding.

  • Personal experiences shape one's commitment to community service.

 

Titles

  • Empowering Citizens with Data: The USA Facts Mission

  • The Journey of USA Facts: From Idea to Impact

  • Decoding the 10K Report: A Citizen's Guide

  • Understanding Our Role as Shareholders in America

  • Navigating the Maze of Government Agencies

 

Sound Bites

  • "We will publish this 10-key report."

  • "You're making a big investment through your taxes."

  • "We want to keep doing that."

  • "We need data for the government."

  • "We were the country's data source."

  • "Imagine if there was an API feed of that data."

  • "There is still work that needs to be done."

  • "FOIA would be getting access to data that we want."

  • "There isn't great data available and accessible."

  • "How does a government agency fail an audit?"

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to USAFacts and Its Mission

03:03 The Origin Story of USA Facts

06:06 Understanding the 10K Report

09:04 Citizens as Shareholders of America

12:09 The Complexity of Government Agencies

14:48 Local Data and Community Engagement

18:03 Leveraging AI for Local Insights

20:50 Trust in Government Data

24:05 The COVID Data Challenge

26:07 The Challenges of Data Collection During COVID-19

28:05 The Need for Improved Reporting Systems

29:21 Navigating Public Data Access and FOIA Requests

30:31 Understanding Homelessness Data Challenges

33:09 Government Accountability and Audit Failures

36:22 Trusting Economic Data and Trends

38:02 The Quest for Government Efficiency

40:46 Congress and Data Literacy

42:59 Personal Reflections on Service and Community

47:00 Life Lessons from Living in Nepal