The legacy Gloria Steinem leaves behind

0:00This message comes from the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Foundation. All U.S. citizens abroad may request an absentee ballot to vote in the 2026 election. Visit registerabroad.com to get started. WVR podcasts, Boston. It's a kind of blue collar working woman who needs these reforms the most, I think, and also poor women and welfare women, but I think it really is going forward on all levels at one. Remembering feminist icon Gloria Steinem. It's Thursday, September 3rd, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WVR. I'm Chris Bentley. Today on the show, President Trump's executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting is causing headaches for some state election officials. We just anticipate law changes last minute.

1:04We have to be ready to pivot. Also, basketball star Janis Antitagumpo says he learned how to shoot fadeaways after first practicing them in video games. Sometimes things that you imagine and you do in the game, you're going to try them on the court and it works out. But first, the trailblazing journalist and feminist activist Gloria Steinem died yesterday at 92 years old. For decades, she challenged gender stereotypes, fought for a reproductive freedom and supported equal pay for women. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Steinem began her career as a journalist writing about working undercover at the Playboy Club, exposing the sexism and poor working conditions for women there. She went on to serve as a founding editor and writer at New York Magazine, later launching her own publication, Miz Magazine. Her work in activism has inspired generations of women, including Amanda Wynn.

2:04Wynn is an astronaut and author of the Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights. She worked with Steinem on a masterclass about the feminist movement in the US, and today she's spoke to Scott Tongue. Of course, it's a bittersweet day. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say I do feel an immense and profound sense of grief. The course, this loss that I feel made up of the memories that I have of this extraordinary human is also coupled with the thought of what a gift Gloria has been to our entire world. Of course, it's a feminist movement, but to every human being. I wouldn't be where I am, you know, the survivor rights movement for gender-based violence wouldn't be where it is without her. And together, the two of you taught a masterclass. Can you talk about that class? Yeah, absolutely. Actually, that class was because Gloria wanted to share the stage. I think masterclass actually approached Gloria and saying, would you like to teach? And she said,

3:09no, actually, I would do this if I'm able to bring other people along. She wanted to share it with you. And others that were there. And so this is very to Gloria's principles. She believed in movement building. She believed that we are linked and not ranked, that, you know, revolutions, like trees grow from the bottom up. So these are quotes by her, by the way. She has so many amazing books. I have just been reflecting. Yes, you know, at her heart, she's a writer, you know, and groundbreaking this magazine. I know she was about to go on a book tour for her memoir that's coming up and about to be published. So, you know, we're obviously looking forward to reading her memoir now in a world that she has no longer in, but has created change. Yeah. And just trying to kind of understand, because I find fascinating, you know, the masterclass that you talked together. Do you remember what she said, what she expressed in the masterclass?

4:15The specific principles that she found important was that the most revolutionary act for a woman is to have her own journey. And she wanted to emphasize that the varied entry to creating change, is really just when we decide. You know, one of her quotes is a movement is only people moving. And the way that she created changes, of course, enormous. That's what we honor her for today. And always, there was also micro on the individual level, on the empathy level. You know, I know one of her quotes is empathy is the most radical of human emotions. And she wanted to really teach and express that we all can make change no matter who we are, where we come from. Yeah. Your organization rise, advocates for survivors of sexual violence. How do you connect your work today to the work of glorious dynamin per generation? I mean, we wouldn't be where we are without her,

5:19you know, because she spoke up and showed us what political organizing looks like, you know, because she had such an incredible force in movement building. And also in showing us the way that our voices matter, that created the foundation for our generation of activists. You know, for me, she specifically helped in mentoring on the United Nations resolution that we ended up passing. I remember once when we were on another book tour of hers, she had expressed advice on coalition building, how to get decision makers to listen to you, but also more importantly, how to organize our communities, so our voices are heard. You know, we would not have been able to have these rights without her. Larissa and I'm of course, had her critics, many strident, many criticizing her personally working against her proposals and ideas. How do you think about the

6:22state of the movement now? The challenge is now. Yeah. I mean, when one trail blazes, there's a reason anything they're blazing against in a patriarchy in a world that was not and is not necessarily set up for someone like her. She has become a legend and we as women do have more rights because she fought for us. We do have greater platforms because she demanded it for us. And we know now how to organize because she has shown us the way. We've been talking about glorious time with activist and astronaut Amanda Winn. Amanda, thank you very much. You can read more about Steinem's life and here are interview with her from earlier this year right now at here and now.org. In February, we spoke with Steinem about her children's picture book, Rise Girl Rise,

7:27written with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Lama Bowie, who campaigned to end the Civil War in Liberia. Indira Lachmanon asked Steinem whether conditions for women had improved since the start of her career. Our imaginations have improved and imagination is the first step towards changing reality. Sometimes our realities have changed. There is more idea that women have the right to make our own decisions about our lives, our education, our reproduction. If we look at who are the chiefs of state, we may feel a bit less hopeful, including in the United States, because we have never managed to represent the female half of this country, which is supposed to be a democracy. So I would say we're improving, but we have a long and heartful and full of love way to go.

8:32The late Gloria Steinem, speaking to here and now earlier this year, you can listen to that whole conversation right now at here and now.org. And while you're there, we also need your help with next Friday's episode of this podcast. That day will mark 25 years since 9-11. We want to know how that day changed your life. Did it affect how you think about America? Did it change the trajectory of your career? Did you serve in the military after the attacks? Tell us your story. Go to hereandnow.org slash remember and record a short voice message for us, or send us a voice memo or write us an email at letters at here and now.org. That's here and now.org slash remember or letters at here and now.org. We'll be right back. This message comes from the Center for US Voters Abroad Foundation. US citizens live, travel and serve all over the world, but wherever they are, they can stay connected

9:36to home through voting. All US citizens abroad may request an absentee ballot to vote in the 2026 election and requesting yours is easy. Keep your connection strong no matter how far away you are. Visit registerabroad.com to get started. The 2026 election season is underway. North Carolina starts mailing out ballots for the midterm election this week, but there's an ongoing legal fight over President Trump's attempt to restrict voting by mail. And at the state level, Republican election officials are also pushing some big changes at the last minute. A federal judge heard arguments today about President Trump's plan to have the post office scrutinize voter rolls. That plan is temporarily blocked, but a government whistleblower said it could derail elections and lead people not having their votes counted. Dawn Hurdle is director of the Board of Elections for Alamance, County, North Carolina. Next to Greensboro, she told Peter O'Dowd, they're ready to start mailing ballots.

10:36We plan on mailing out over 500 currently civilian ballots and we have close to 70 military and overseas ballots. We email those ballots out. Well, and just so I understand, you know, the president has tried to restrict mail in voting. He wants states to send a list of approved voters to the postal service. That's on pause right now. Is that legal fight affecting what you're doing to get these ballots ready? That particular federal law does not affect North Carolina. As North Carolina doesn't use that system that is with the post office. Not yet, anyways. Right. Not yet. Okay, so you do have some other balls in the earth, the state level. North Carolina's Republican led state board of elections has recently made some changes, including reducing early voting on Sundays and the board may also try to get some new changes through tomorrow that could affect absentee ballots. How does that affect you? If you don't know the rules yet, but you're there trying to send these envelopes out in the mail.

11:36We are just preparing as the current law is in effect as of today. And if there's a halt between now and the time there to be mailed out tomorrow, we'll address it then. But as of right now, we are moving forward with mailing out absentee ballots. Sounds like you're saying business as usual, but does it concern you as an elections officials that there is so much uncertainty this close to that deadline? Where's used to that? This is basically where used to un certain laws changing like in 2020. It was like day to day changes. We just anticipate law changes last minute. We have to be ready to pivot and go with the way the law is telling us to go with that moment. I hear you, but pivoting at the last minute might make some people think, well, maybe my vote won't get counted. Are you getting questions from voters about all this? We've got a few questions from voters that are watching the news and we just tell them

12:42a reassure that if they abide by the instructions on their ballot and their ballot is returned properly sealed properly with all the correct signatures and that they should not have an issue with their ballot counting. I do want to ask you about something that Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin said this week to reporters about the possibility of ICE agents at polling places. Let's listen to that. The honoree is my we would be at polling places if there is a threat to that polling place or we're serving to yes or we're or we're serving a warrant on someone that we have been actively tracking down. What do you think about that? Do you and your colleagues have a plan if ICE shows up at the polls? I am currently working with our emergency management and our local state and local authorities. We're currently working on plans for that and are any situation. We

13:42have plans for every type of situation on election day or during early voting. Legal experts do say that something like that could violate federal law. Is that something that you know you would support or do you want to see federal agents away from polling places in general? In the as long as they're outside the 50 foot buffer zone we can't do anything you know they're just like any other election year or they have to stay outside the 50 foot buffer zone that we're working on with our local law enforcement and emergency management. Any violations within the voting enclosure are within the 50 foot buffer zone. That's our jurisdiction. I see that you've been working in local elections for almost two decades and I'm curious as you prepare for this one considering the climate around the country right now around voting. Does anything feel different to you? Every election has felt different lately. I just feel like there

14:48there's more scrutiny people walking and I've tell everybody we are open. Everything we do here is open to the public. For everything we do in North Carolina they're you know or the checks and balances and and internal audits. So I just feel like if voters were more aware of that and came to meetings or came to watch our vote LNA testing. Again everything's open to the public so we encourage that here in Alamance County so that voters do feel better about their vote county. Don Hurtle is director of the Board of Elections for Alamance County near Greensboro. Don thank you so much. Thank you. Coming up, an NBA star gets competitive on the court and on the couch when he's playing video

15:51games. Janis Antitapumpo talks to Kay in just a minute. The latest edition of the popular basketball video game NBA 2K comes out this week. Miami Heat Power Forward Janis Antitapumpo is one of many stars to appear in the game which he grew up playing. Antitapumpo now promotes video games when he's not busy on the court. He reps the console maker in ads as a PlayStation playmaker. And last month he joined us to talk about the overlap between basketball and gaming. Hey Janis how are you? Hey Chris how you doing? I'm good. I'm good thanks for being here. What do you like about gaming like video games? What's the appeal? Have you always been a gamer? I think I was one of the game when I was younger. You played these these Lego game I had all the superheroes. You played Iced Declanque but now with my kids I only play like 2K because they're like basketball. What it comes to 2K? I've

16:54always wondered what it's like for pro sports players to play sports video games. Oh I think I just heard one of your kids in the background there. Who's that? That's my son Mamick. But when you play when you play 2Ks there's things that we can do within the game but obviously everybody has their own roles and responsibility. And you kind of when you're the kid you imagine yourself being Kobe you imagine yourself being Jordan you imagine yourself being Najik Johnson, Larry Bird. And then you make it to the NBA like you got to fit in into your role right? So you got to fit them into a box. But when you play 2K you're free to do whatever you want. And I can take the ball and I can just shoot up a half court and be stiff. You feel free and I feel like that's why a lot of professional athletes play the game because they can be kids again. Do you ever take something that you learned or like I just played around with playing 2K and you use it on the court? Of course. Many times. I used to get Kobe and I used to shoot Fairways.

17:58And then I got myself 2016-17 to shoot Fairways and that's how I went when I was playing. And I learned that. I made a Fairway buzz a bit and I must describe it. So sometimes things that you imagine and you're doing the game you're going to try them on the court and it works out. And you're not just saying that so you can write off all the time, spent playing video games as training I guess, right? No, no. Actually speaking of gaming can be demanding on your time. So when do you play these days? Is it year round or more of an off-season thing? Offseason more because we have to pay during the season like my fingers and my wrist gets stiff. So it's kind of hard to pass the ball, shoot the ball. So I tried to find times in the off-season. And also having poor kids, I think that's very demanding for any parent. Again, it's something that I'm able to connect. I have this rule within our house now that

19:02you don't have to have one hour of a screen time. You've got to be able to read the book in a beginner's book. And you read it if you read two, three, four, five books. Now you have three, four, five hours of screen time that you can distribute throughout the week. So we can use that one hour of screen time to play a little bit of a video game sometimes. You said you play video games with your kids now. I'm wondering if any of them can beat you at 2k yet. No, no way. Impossible. I am very, very competitive. The only person that can beat me in video games is my little brother. Makes sense. You play to win, right? I know that the characters get rankings. How competitive do players get over that? You got Nicola Yokic or Shay Gil, just Alexander holding it over you? That they're ranked higher? What are the rank? I don't know. I just know that Nicola Yokic and Shay Gil, just Alexander are higher than you. I think all of the players, I'm not sure. I think all of the players over me, they're 97 also. I'm not sure, but I try not to pay attention to that.

20:06Obviously, you get competitive and you see a lot of players coming up like, oh, I should have my rankings should be higher and you should rate me better. As long as I let handsome in the game, and when I play the game of my life, those are the screens that say handsome men in the video game. That's all I get about. Even 97 and 98. Well, speaking of, I'm not going to ask you just about video games, what we got you, Janis, onto the Cumpo, because I really want to talk about basketball just for a minute. Of course, you're about to start your first season on the heat. It's the first time that you were traded after 13 seasons in Milwaukee. How are you adjusting to the trade and to Miami? What are you looking forward to? I'm excited. I'm excited for the fans. I'm excited for the city. I'm excited for the goals that we've set as a team. Obviously, it's going to be new for me,

21:06being 13 years in Milwaukee and knowing everybody within that organization. It's going to place that's unknown. I think that's going to be hard. Building a new routine within that city. That's also, I think, going to be hard for me and my family. But I'm excited. I feel like change sometimes is good. Being a little bit outside my comfort zone. How do they say this? I crave adrenaline. adrenaline. Yeah, yeah, I do. In pressure. It's hard. It's not easy. It's hard than you. But I'm excited. Let's go with the championship. You changed your number when you left the Milwaukee box, leaving 34 behind after 13 seasons and a championship, by the way. So what's your message to fans in Wisconsin as you start this new chapter in Miami? The Milwaukee will always be my home. Milwaukee is a place that made me the man that I am today. Milwaukee is a place that gave me an opportunity to accomplish my dreams.

22:09To be the father that I am, the heart that I am. I grew up in Milwaukee. But then they asked me where are you from. I said, I'm from Athens, Greece. And then I said, from the US, I'm from Milwaukee. I spent 13 and a half years there. You know, my number, I changed my number because out of respect for the organization that you know, gave me this opportunity. I picked 34 because that number symbolized that my parents birthday. My dad was born in 1964. And my mom was born in 1963. So I took the three to four. You know, and out of respect for the organization, I decided to change that number to number seven, three, four equals seven. And if there's any opportunity for me to go back to Milwaukee, I probably will get a number 34. But now, not, number seven, James Bond, baby. There you go. Number seven in Miami. You know, Miami is also the

23:11city that the new Grand Theft Auto game is apparently based on. So are you going to play? Are you going to play GTA 6, you know, for research? Yeah, once I get the game, I will. But I heard that. All right. Well, Giannis, out to Ticumpo, power forward for the Miami Heat. I hope your kids can learn something about sportsmanship from playing 2K with you because if you're to be believed, they'll never learn what it's like to win if they just keep playing you. But maybe they'll learn sometime. Thank you, please. That's it for the show today. Here and now, anytime comes from NPR and WB War Boston. Today's stories were produced by Hapsa Kareishi, Koyani Sixana, Jill Ryan, and James Mash, Joe Marino. Our editors were Todd Munt, Mikhaila Rodriguez, and Michael Scado. Technical direction from Matt Reed and Andre Peralta. Our theme music is that Mike Miscato, Max Liebman, and me, Chris

24:12Bentley. Our digital producers are Allison Hagen and Grace Griffin. And here and now's executive producer, that's Alan Price. Thanks for listening. We'll be back with you tomorrow.