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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    The Indigo Girls’ political activism

    The Indigo Girls have been intertwining politics and songwriting since they began making music 35 years ago. The folk-rock duo, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, just released their 15th studio album called “Look Long.”

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    By Madeleine Brand • Jun 22, 2020 • 50m Listen

    The Indigo Girls have been intertwining politics and songwriting since they began making music 35 years ago. The folk-rock duo, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, just released their 15th studio album called “Look Long.” They talk to KCRW about new songs and how they figure out their roles in social justice movements.

    “We are going to take the lead from our educators, our Black activist leaders. And we just want to be — even if the word shifts at this point — I'm going to use the word ‘ally.’ You can guide us, but we're also going to figure out what we have to do as white people amongst ourselves to stop this terrible racism and violence that's been happening for 400 years now,” says Amy Ray.

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:00

      Trump and Barr oust US Attorney Geoffrey Berman, who’s been investigating Rudy Giuliani

      Over the weekend, President Trump downplayed his involvement in firing Geoffrey Berman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Berman’s office put Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in jail.

      Read the story
      9 min
    2. 9:11

      Longtime Rep. Eliot Engel struggles in race against political novice Jamaal Bowman

      Primary elections are happening on Tuesday, and several might be upsets for Democrats.

      Read the story
      9 min
    3. 18:03

      LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey loses endorsement from Rep. Adam Schiff

      Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey is losing support of the Democratic establishment. This weekend, Rep. Adam Schiff withdrew his endorsement of Lacey. Mayor Garcetti is also re-considering his endorsement.

      Read the story
      8 min
    4. 26:27

      California banned affirmative action in the 90s, voters might reinstate it in the fall

      Reinstating affirmative action could be on the November ballot in California. The UC Board of Regents recently voted unanimously to back a measure on the ballot that would overturn Prop 209, which voters approved in 1996.

      Read the story
      9 min
    5. 35:49

      The Indigo Girls on marrying music with political activism, learning from Black leaders

      The Indigo Girls have been intertwining politics and songwriting since they began making music 35 years ago. The folk-rock duo, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, just released their 15th studio album called “Look Long.”

      Read the story
      14 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Rosalie Atkinson

      Associate producer

      News

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:009 min

      Trump and Barr oust US Attorney Geoffrey Berman, who’s been investigating Rudy Giuliani

    2. 9:119 min

      Longtime Rep. Eliot Engel struggles in race against political novice Jamaal Bowman

    3. 18:038 min

      LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey loses endorsement from Rep. Adam Schiff

    4. 26:279 min

      California banned affirmative action in the 90s, voters might reinstate it in the fall

    5. 35:4914 min

      The Indigo Girls on marrying music with political activism, learning from Black leaders

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand