Podcast Summary: The Joy Reid Show Episode Title: Barbara Lee: from Black Panthers Ally & Shirley Chisholm Mentee to Oakland Mayor | TJRS Mayors
Host: Joy-Ann Reid
Guest: Barbara Lee, Mayor of Oakland, CA
Date: August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This special "Black Mayor Series" episode features newly elected Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, a civil rights icon, Black Panthers ally, and mentee of Shirley Chisholm. Recorded in Oakland, Joy-Ann Reid and Barbara Lee reflect on Lee’s remarkable journey from grassroots activism to political leadership, delve into the complexities facing Oakland and Black-led cities, and discuss the fight for democracy during a turbulent, autocratic moment in America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Barbara Lee's Swearing-In & Ancestral Inspiration

Barbara Lee opens by expressing gratitude as she prepares for her public swearing-in, crediting her mother’s perseverance during Jim Crow as her foundational inspiration.

“She grew up in the Jim Crow South ...She said to her three daughters, she said, can't is not in the dictionary.” —Barbara Lee, [02:26]

2. Movement Politicians vs. Politician Politicians

Joy Reid distinguishes Barbara Lee as a "movement politician":

“There are politician politicians and there are movement politicians. And your mayor, the great Barbara Lee, is a movement politician.” —Joy Reid, [04:45]

3. Diversity & Community Building in Oakland

• Lee describes Oakland’s multi-ethnic neighborhoods—Montclair, North Oakland, Chinatown, Fruitvale, and beyond—underscoring the city’s patchwork of Black, Latino, AAPI, and immigrant communities.
• She notes efforts to maintain coalitions across communities despite attempts by the political right to sow division.

“We have an Afro, African American Latino coalition ...I have to keep ...the black community stays strong with the immigrant community because, you know, Trump and them like to ...divide us.” —Barbara Lee, [06:14]

4. Record Voter Turnout & Empowering the Marginalized

• Lee details how her mayoral win was powered by turnout among the previously disengaged: formerly incarcerated, unsheltered, and system-impacted people, many of whom were unaware they could vote.

“They were never asked. They were out holding my signs. It was like, whoa. And that’s how we won.” —Barbara Lee, [09:31]

5. The Black Panther Party's True Legacy

• Lee and Reid discuss Lee’s organizational roots in the Black Panther Party, breaking myths by highlighting its coalition-building, internationalism, and focus on health, education, and food justice.

“The Black Panther Party, first of all, was a coalition party...they were an international party.” —Barbara Lee, [10:39]
“They were the ones who started the whole movement for sickle cell testing...the free lunch program...police accountability.” —Barbara Lee, [11:46]

6. Shirley Chisholm’s Enduring Impact

• Clips and memories detail how Lee ran Chisholm’s CA campaign as a Mills College student, which pivoted her from activist to elected official.

“I ended up organizing her Northern California campaign from my class at Mills College...I registered to vote...I went on to Miami as a Shirley Chisholm delegate.” —Barbara Lee, [15:58]

7. The Democratic Party & The Challenge of Change

• Reid prompts Lee on Democratic Party frustrations. Lee defends progressive policies enacted but stresses the need for better outreach and communication.

“Democrats are Democrats, and we take too long to do stuff, but we're Democrats. Right. And so democracy is ...messy.” —Barbara Lee, [17:46]

• She recounts bipartisan successes (e.g., with George Bush on PEPFAR) and her lone vote against the AUMF post-9/11, highlighting integrity over expedience.

“I voted against and all hell broke lease on me. You talk about death threats and craziness and all...” —Barbara Lee, [23:55]

8. Autocracy, Resistance & the Role of Black Mayors

• Oakland’s status as a sanctuary city and Lee’s organizing to protect immigrants are discussed amidst threats of federal overreach.
• Reid notes Black mayors as particular political targets in the current regime, with Lee reflecting on resilience strategies.

“We have to lawyer up, first of all, and we have to have everybody in the community circling our immigrant community and making sure that we provide that circle of protection...” —Barbara Lee, [28:15]
“There's a focus on black people. ...And then a black mayor, of course, because we're the closest to black people.” —Barbara Lee, [32:27]

9. Organizational Roots & Reluctant Leader

• Lee shares that she never intended to run for office, but was continually pulled into service by her community and mentors, serving in the State Assembly, State Senate, and 27 years in Congress.

“No, I never expected nor wanted to run for office.” —Barbara Lee, [35:01]

10. Changing the Narrative of Oakland

• Addressing crime perception, gentrification, and hope, Lee emphasizes grassroots action—community cleanups, small business support, and amplifying Oakland’s culture.

“The crime rate is ticking down by 30% now. So the narrative has got to change. ...But also they don’t hear all the great things that are happening in Oakland…” —Barbara Lee, [44:17]

11. Voter Suppression, Hope, and the Future

• Looking ahead to the 2026 election, Lee expresses cautious optimism, advocating for election monitors and vigilance against voter suppression.

“We had better have some election monitors. We better lawyer up now and we better have some election protection in place because we know how that can go.” —Barbara Lee, [47:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Grassroots Leadership:
  “What you want is a movement politician. Because otherwise they're just taking up space face.” —Joy Reid, [04:43]
• On Voting Rights & Engagement:
  “We had to get people who never got engaged before, never were seen by anyone.” —Barbara Lee, [09:15]
• On Black Panther Myths:
  “People know more about Black Panther the comic than they really do about the Panthers.” —Joy Reid, [10:27]
• On Dismantling Democracy:
  “Most people don’t understand the signs of the dismantling of democracy. People will wake up one day if we don’t fight back harder and find out where are we? They won’t even recognize this country anymore.” —Barbara Lee, [29:05]
• On the Threat to Black Mayors:
  “If there’s a black mayor ...there is a particular focus ...we’re just targets.” —Joy Reid & Barbara Lee, [31:27–32:34]
• On White Supremacist Agendas:
  “If people don’t believe that this is not a white supremacist kind of agenda, then I don’t know what they’re ...this is an example.” —Barbara Lee, [39:15]
• On Hope and Young People:
  “These young people, this is a new day. They see, see it clearly, Joy.” —Barbara Lee, [48:24]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Barbara Lee’s Swearing-In & Mother’s Legacy [01:08–02:57]
• Joy Reid on Movement Politicians [03:37–05:17]
• Oakland’s Diverse Neighborhoods & Coalitions [05:23–07:28]
• Voter Engagement Strategies [08:28–09:37]
• Black Panther Party’s Legacy Clarified [10:08–13:55]
• Shirley Chisholm Campaign & Political Genesis [13:55–16:40]
• On Democrat Party’s Challenges [16:47–19:17]
• Vote Against the AUMF Explained [19:44–23:55]
• Sanctuary Cities & Federal Overreach [27:41–31:02]
• Threats to Black Mayors [31:27–32:59]
• Barbara Lee’s Path to Elected Office [35:01–37:48]
• Changing Oakland’s Narrative [42:40–46:47]
• 2026 Election Fears & Hope in Youth [47:22–48:39]

Tone and Style

Joy Reid brings her signature sharp political analysis and wit while Barbara Lee’s tone is candid, hopeful, and deeply grounded in her activist roots. The conversation is heavy on both lived experience and historical context, blending community anecdotes, policy critiques, and actionable hope.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a rich oral history and an urgent political manual, tracing Barbara Lee’s journey from radical organizing to City Hall. It grapples with coalition-building, the legacy of Black Power, the challenges of leading through democratic backsliding, and reinvigorating civic engagement at a moment when both Oakland and American democracy are at an inflection point. Lee’s resilience, integrity, and unwavering hope shine throughout, offering listeners both context and inspiration for the fights ahead.