The election of 2022 is over except for run-offs and returns that are still coming in. But the broad  outlines of the election are now becoming clear. The most important takeaway is that the "Red Wave", predicted by many, did not come to pass, with some commentators quipping that "it was more like a pink splash". This may give Republicans pause regarding the pubic's resistance to their extreme right wing positions.

The other piece of good news is that all 5 ballot measures about abortion, were voted  in favor of abortion remaining legal--including abortion protections being formally introduced into the state consitutions of Vermont, California and Michigan. However--albeit not as badly as feared--Democrats will still wind up in a worse place than they were during the first 2 years of the Biden presidency, as Republicans will have a majority in the House, and, when all votes are counted and races resolved--they may also control the Senate. This will make it less likely that people-friendly legislation will be passed. 

Our show today will cover what we know about the election results at this point and will focus on what the results mean for the various and ongoing battles around women obtaining full rights in this country--as well as other critical issues of democracy, including maintaining the integrity of the vote. In our second segment, we'll discuss the plan to make NYS voting machines completely digital--and why this is a problem.

SEGMENT 1

Our guest will be Carrie N. Baker, who is a Professor of Women and Gender Studies at Smith College and also a reporter for Ms Magazine. We'll speak in detail about the 5 ballot measures on abortion rights in Vermont, California, Michigan, Montana and Kentucky, as well as the outcomes of races for Governor in various states. According to a recent Ms Poll, the amount of young women who registered to vote, motivated by the overturn of Roe, was groundbreaking and may have defeated the expected 'red wave'. Professor Baker will take us through all this in detail in the inteview that begins our show.

SEGMENT 2

Then we'll speak with Lulu Friesdat who is the co-founder and Executive Director of SMART Elections about how the planned digitalization of New York State voting machines, which may take effect in 2023, could mean inaccurate and/or rigged voting results in NYS--and what we can do about it.

In our Feminist News Segment, stories wil include: The November 8 Election; Salarie amounts being mandated to become transparent--and how this will benefit women; #MeToo five years later; Brazilian Women and the defeat of Bolsonaro; and an international petition in support of the ongoing Iranian protests (led by women), which was originated by Academics worldwide and whose signatories include luminaries such as Angela Davis. We'll also present timely feminist music.

BACKGROUND ON OUR GUESTS:

ABOUT CARRIE N. BAKER:
Carrie N. Baker, J.D., Ph.D., is the Sylvia Dlugasch Bauman professor in the Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College. She is a contributing editor at Ms. magazine. You can contact Dr. Baker at cbaker@msmagazine.com or follow her on Twitter @CarrieNBaker.

ABOUT LULU FRIESDAT:
Ms. Friesdat is the co-founder and Executive Director of both SMART Elections, and the partner project SMART Legislation. She is a journalist and filmmaker who contributed to Emmy award-winning coverage at ABC News, and has also had news assignments with NBC, MSNBC, & CBS. Her election security investigations have received over four million views.  She's been quoted in the New York Times; and her journalism and advocacy work have been featured in The Washington Post, The Hill, Politico, MSN.com, City & State NY, NY Focus, and the Albany Times Union. Fin