Thank you so much for being here, Representative Joanna McClinton.

I’m Zeke, a doctor, a Pennsylvanian and unapologetic supporter of Democratic values. You might have seen me on social media working my ass off for Democrats and meeting some pretty amazing people along the way - like President Barack Obama and Governor Josh Shapiro.

For years, I’ve knocked thousands of doors all over Pennsylvania and poured my heart and soul into supporting candidates and causes that make a difference—from local school board races to national elections. The personal is political, and I take every election in Pennsylvania personally.

Where the mainstream media has failed you, I will give you truth and independence. You’ll hear from Democratic leaders, candidates, and change-makers who are working to improve the health of the Commonwealth, and it won’t be boring as hell.

No matter where you are, I’ll meet you with hope and a plan to make your community better one day at a time. Welcome to the Zekely Podcast. Let’s talk Pennsylvania.

Thank you, glad to be here. Happy New Year.

Happy New Year. my gosh,

was rough. It was a hard year for me at least. ⁓ But I am so optimistic about Pennsylvania and Democrats this year, largely due to your leadership. So it is just such a joy to have you.

Yes. Yes.

Yeah.

⁓

I'm ready.

Joanna, Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed the Crown Act into law, which stands for creating a respectful and open world for natural hair and it protects Pennsylvanians from hair-based discrimination. And it really is unfortunate that this type of discrimination still occurs in America in places of employment and public school. But I am very grateful that you sponsored and voted for this law.

Yes, it is unfortunate that it's still occurring. So many people over the years that I've been working on this bill said, you know, well, this isn't a thing or that's in your head. It's not a real even, you know, they say not to read the comments on social media. I read many and they're pretty wild. They're like, ⁓ congratulations. This is the biggest problem you solve. But the truth of the matter is

it is still needed. know, both Mays and I at the bill signing talked about our respective journeys to not only wearing natural hair, but struggles with what's professional in so many settings, in college, in law school, and as a young lawyer, you know, always wanting to garner the judge, the jury, the client's respect. I thought I had to wear hair a certain way, and I based my whole life off of it. And even now,

People who wear natural hair, they still are like, okay, if I'm away this week, the second week of January, and I'm going to go swimming or things like that, people are planning so much around their hair. So knowing that we won't face barriers at work is a huge win for Pennsylvania color, especially black, Latino folks who have hair that otherwise wouldn't conform to the beauty standards that have been so heavily upon us even in this age.

I like that you bring up conformity because to me, this is a great example of how protecting the most marginalized groups protects everyone because my son has long hair and he gets misgendered all the time. And I'm grateful that in Pennsylvania, if he chooses to have long hair, if someone decides, well, all the boys have to have short hair, he's not going to face that type of discrimination and be forced to conform to the status quo. So I do appreciate this for all people, including my own son.

So thank you very much for sponsoring this bill. It's very important.

Absolutely.

Joanna, at one point in time you did an internship with WDAS radio that sparked your passion for public service. So what happened during that internship? I have to know.

Mm-hmm.

Absolutely. So in high school, ⁓ in 11th, 12th, and my first year of college, I was on a teen gospel radio show for the WDAS AM side. And it was in that opportunity that I first got to work professionally with Jordan Harris, our state rep. He's my neighbor in Southwest and he also serves South Philly and he's our appropriations chair.

in the state house. But beyond working with Jordan, I got introduced to all the world that is music, that is industry, is concerts and promotions and seeing how not only I had the ability finally to share my music interests and my favorite artists and amplify their voices, but also get a sneak peek into how the industry works.

And that was eye opening. had at the time a huge event called Unity Day every August in Philly on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. And it was like the biggest community based event I'd ever attended. Not only as a teenager, you know, till this date to life. It wasn't made in America. There wasn't a ticket. It didn't cost. Like it was for the whole city to come out and to have a good time, to do family fun events, to have stages. It was awesome.

That's awesome. I actually read about WDAS and it was huge in the civil rights movement. I had no idea that Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, they visited, they were heard on the station. So there's so much history with that network. So that must've been awesome.

Joanna, let's test your radio knowledge with some radio trivia. Okay. So the world's first commercial broadcast occurred in which Pennsylvania city?

Okay, there we go. I was not guessing Pittsburgh.

Okay, okay.

my gosh, this is like these aren't in my talking points Dr. Zeke ⁓ Happy New Year

It's okay, we're just having some fun.

Wow. A while ago.

⁓ I got that one. I grew up in Houston Hall, the University of Penn.

You'll have to tell me.

It was the cathedral or art style, that tombstone look. Yeah, that was that. That's where it started. All right, here's the last one. What was the name of the Philadelphia DJ on Power 99 who debuted the Street Beat, which helped start the careers of

Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Run DMC and LL Cool J?

Well, that predates me. I'm an ages baby, but not a seventies one. I was going to say, I could ask my brother, but Lady B is still very much on the scene now. So I need to just do some profiles of courage.

It was, it's okay. ⁓ It was Wendy Clark or Lady B.

Yep.

That's okay.

That's okay. I mean, I wouldn't have gotten any of these. The fact that you got one of them is strong work.

Hey, thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Zekely Podcast. And if you're enjoying yourself, please take a moment to rate my podcast. Five stars would be great. Leave a comment as well. Okay, back to the show.

Joanna, as I said before, you were the first Black woman to be Speaker of the House in the history of Pennsylvania. And I will never forget what you said at a fundraiser I attended. And you spoke about the racism you experienced in Harrisburg as an elected official prior to becoming Speaker. So what changes have you noticed, if any, in Harrisburg in regard to equity and inclusion since your ascension to Speaker of the House?

Absolutely. So I was very proud that the first rules change that I was able to usher in for the House and for the institution was the change who can file claims against members of the Pennsylvania House for bad behavior, for the things that we most fear that happens in politics, sexual harassment, power dynamics that are not fair, that are not right, and people abusing that. So that was very important to me.

Anybody who works in Harrisburg for the House has always been able to say, this is a challenge, this is what happened, someone investigate, look into it. But if you did business in the House, but of course you're outside employee or you're an advocate or you're a constituent, there was no formal way for you to tell the House that something occurred. But now that exists and that is significant, not only for women, but especially for women.

And do those rules change as speakers change? Is that just while you're so, so it's extremely important that however long you are there, which I hope is a long time, that your successor will uphold those values as well. So I'm glad that that was instituted while you were

Yes, absolutely.

Joanna, why are you a Democrat? And why do you choose to represent the Democratic Party?

So I grew up a Democrat. My mother who raised me was a Democrat. But from my childhood days of going to the voting booths with her in Southwest Philly, I have learned a ton about the Democratic Party and it is my goal every day to embody them. The Democrats are for the average, everyday working person. They are for the rights that we've all wanted to see happen. We're just talking about fairness, justice, equity. We are able to fight for those rights and stand up.

not only for those on the sidelines, but we have a big tent party. So we go from far left to far right and that is what I love. We don't put up a stop sign and tell someone you're not welcome, you can't come, you can't be a part of the party or you know we don't see eye to eye on every issue. However, we are eye to eye on the right issues, on the democracy, on how government should serve people and our ability to make sure that their rights to organize for those who are working in

in conditions where they need to make sure that there's someone looking over saying, hey, no more contract negotiations without us, without our unit. And so we have been able to work on these issues, bring justice to these issues, and most importantly, give a voice to the folks who are in our party and those who perhaps are independent, but are able to resonate with the issues that I'm able to fight for every single day.

I appreciate that you embody the values and the ideals that I have and that you bring those to Harrisburg every day. So I really appreciate

Joanna, I was surprised to hear, now this could be a rumor, but I heard you've never actually been to an Eagles game. Is that correct? Like in person? That's not true? Okay, there was something I read that you love watching the Eagles. You follow them, you've never been to a So you have been to a game. Okay. Okay.

That's not true.

Yeah, maybe that was dated. So I went to

Oh, so that's recent. I mean, it's not that long ago. Yeah.

Okay.

the weather, you know, when we get out of September and October is like,

Yeah.

I hear you. I hear you.

I mean, my wife is a huge baseball fan. She's not a football. And I have to say, I enjoy baseball infinitely more sitting at home, climate control, know, cheaper food options. So I get it. But I know that you're a huge Eagles fan. So for you to wait that long to go, that's pretty big.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, so I've been to under five games, but what I found since I've gone is that it's harder, at least for me, to watch and enjoy and to cheer without interruptions. I'm like, interestingly enough, nobody interrupts me when I'm in my living room at home.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

interesting, very interesting.

Well, I've never been to an Eagles game. It's not my area of expertise, but maybe someday, who

But let's play a little Eagles trivia, okay? And if you're such a fanatic, let's see how this goes, all right? The biggest regular season point total for the Eagles this year was against what opposing team?

Mmm.

this year or this...

This year.

you'll have to tell me.

It was a Washington Commanders. It 55 points.

⁓ we-

And penalties?

Yes, I don't know.

⁓ AJ Brown, ⁓ the star wide receiver. yeah. There you go. Here's the last one. He was the first eagle to make the cover of Madden EA Sports football video game.

AJ?

That's shocking to me.

don't have the games. wow. I'm thinking like in this season again, that same framework. Interesting.

Donovan McNabb. Yeah. Yeah, Donovan McNabb. There you go.

Joanna, I'm sure you get many emails from constituents, people all over Pennsylvania. But do you ever get any fan mail?

I wouldn't describe it as fan mail. There's a card that I received that stays with me from a neighbor in Yaden.

who shared in the card, and it wasn't a letter, it was actually on a card, so it was but so long. She struggled with property taxes and she appreciates me fighting for fair school funding because that lowers her property taxes. And that is something that I kept closely because it is rare that you hear a neighbor making a

Okay.

connection between something that you've done and something that's helping them. Not in person, in person and in passing, sure. People are like, ⁓ by the way this was great, your office did this or you did this or you gave a speech here or this bill has helped me and I've got money back but like to get it in writing was really meaningful to me.

Mm-hmm.

I love that. I love when voters understand the connections between what you do in Harrisburg and how it affects them on the ground in their own municipality. I I hear all the time people say, why are my property taxes going up? And I tell people, like, you know, who's funding your public school? You know, the large chunk of it, that's Harrisburg and who's been in control of the state Senate for the last 40 years. I mean, these are things people don't realize. So that's great. I would keep that letter close to me as well. That's a great connection that they made. That's awesome.

That's it.

Yeah.

Okay, it's time for one of my favorite games to play. Okay, it's Name That Committee in which I'm gonna give you some things that people in Harrisburg will be doing on committees. You're gonna name that committee for me, okay? ⁓

Alright.

which committee would you discuss an act amending the Child Labor Act, further providing for definitions and for employment of minors?

children and youth or it could be labor. I mean, my office sends the bills out, but I don't do it personally.

You got it. Nope, you got it. It was chill. Yeah.

at state judiciary.

Take a step.

You would be right, Joanna. You would be correct. It is judiciary. All right, have two more. An act amending regulations related to malt and brewed beverages and issuance of off-premise catering permits.

liquor control.

You got it. That was kind of an easy one. All here's the last one. An act amending the professional nursing law further providing for continuing nursing education.

professional licensure.

Very good. See, I like to do this game because I feel like, you know, Harrisburg is a black box and things happen. Nobody knows where things go. And I say, there are committees. People sit around, they discuss things, they debate it. It comes out of committee, goes to a general vote. And that's how things change in Harrisburg. So thank you very much for playing. Name that committee.

Joanna, you are a Zumba enthusiast, correct? What do you like so much about it?

That is correct.

because there are so many different options today, but you chose Zumba. What is about Zumba? ⁓

Well, for me, I go and as always, when I go to something at, you know, six o'clock, I'm tired from the day. I'm drained and I'll tell you, not even 30 minutes into class, I am completely pepped up. I'm dancing, I'm sweating, I'm happy. I've got the joy joys. I've tried to keep up with the instructor to no avail.

Yeah.

And it's just fun. It brings me big joy because of the dancing and of course the loud music. Very different from the floor of the house, right? We're all in stretch pants, but we're relaxed. You know, there are no pearls on. It's a good time.

yeah.

Yeah.

That's great. And I'm assuming it's a good community, right? I think like a lot of these exercising communities, it's a really great community, good people, and they kind of, see them over time and that sounds good. That's great. I've never done Zumba. Maybe someday I need to get back into it. I have to say this past year has been terrible on my mental health. I'm better after November 4th. I'm better now. I feel like my wind is back in my sails, but I definitely fell off the working out, working out wagon, but I need to get back into it because

Mm-hmm.

Thank goodness.

My scrubs are getting a little tight at work, I have to

⁓ huh.

Joanna, what would you say to someone who is disaffected with democracy?

So I'd say that we cannot turn the news off. We cannot put our heads down and pretend everything is going to be okay. We have to get involved. And that is different for everybody. It doesn't mean you have to run for office. It doesn't mean you have to raise money. It doesn't mean you need to give to a campaign. But it does mean you have to commit to voting and making sure all the folks that you talk to the most are also voting.

I appreciate that. feel like falling into apathy is so easy these days and the the mainstream media is failing us every day and that's a large reason why I started doing this podcast. Meet people where they are and you know if someone's telling you your vote doesn't matter then they're not on your side. They're not trying to make things better for you. I mean you can't read about history and think that everything that we've gotten to this moment was done by just sitting around on the sidelines and not doing anything. People have fought.

Mm-hmm.

They have marched, have bled, they have died for a democracy. I don't know what's gonna happen in this world, but my kids are gonna know that I tried everything I could for them. And I really appreciate what you're doing to move the needle forward. So thank you very much.

You're halfway through the episode and you're still here. I hope you're enjoying yourself. Please take a moment to rate my podcast. Five stars would be great and leave a comment as well. Okay, back to the show.

Joanna, let's play another segment I enjoy. It's called Constitu-what? Where you tell people what type of constituent services that you offer as a state rep, because I don't think people know.

on your website, it is a long list. There is a long list of links as to what you can offer. So just highlight some things that people might not know that you can offer as a state rep.

Absolutely. So every single state rep office, my office is not unique in this way, can help you with PENN DOT.

That's a great equalizer. You're having a problem with your driver's license or you need help with the real ID or you got a ticket and points and you don't know what to do or you have a license suspension. We have a liaison at every state agency. So I use PENNDOT because that's something we can relate to. We all get that letter in the mail to renew our registration or that our ID is going to lapse or our license is going to need to be renewed by a certain date.

So any state agency that you can think of that you've ever had to interface with, you are in between jobs and you need unemployment. That's the great equalizer. That is the state benefit. And people can be frustrated and say, nobody picks up in Harrisburg. It's not okay. But if you contact your state representative, we have someone who talks directly to us and with your consent will help us fill in the blanks so that we can get your

issues resolved.

I appreciate that you highlight that. I will be sure to post that link for your constituents. But again, every state rep has basically the same list on their website. And I just feel like a lot of times people throw their hands up in the air and say, who's here to help me? Who can help me with these little things that happen in your life that grind you down, but your state rep is there for it. We vote for them. They're elected officials. They represent us in Harrisburg, of course, but they can help us navigate life as complicated as it can be. So thank you for playing that with me. I appreciate that.

Yep.

Mm-hmm.

course.

Joanna, the Democrats in the state house, along with your leadership, have really been working in lockstep with each other to write and pass laws to help Pennsylvanians. What would you tell someone who is frustrated that positive change isn't happening fast enough?

Positive change takes time, but we're seeing wins every time. We just finished the budget last November. It was a not positive experience for four months plus that it took to finish it. But when we finished it, we were able to better fairly fund our schools. We were able to get a working Pennsylvania tax credit where this year, 900,000 of our neighbors are going to get $800 back when they file their taxes. In addition,

Yeah.

to the federal earned income tax credit, we were able to do some great things that will help people instantly, not later, but now. And it gives us the ability to keep expanding it. got, as I said, I read the comments, some people say you should never, but many times you actually hear from people and what they need. One of the constituents wrote to me on Facebook and said, well, this doesn't help me because I make X. Well, the thing is we started it.

And we, with every program we start, want to expand the eligibility. But it was the start that was necessary to even open up our Senate Republican minds to how about we help people who are working but still struggling.

And I just, I wanna add a detail, okay? Because you are correct. It took a long time to get that budget passed. But the reason why it took a long time to get that budget passed is because the Democrats in the state house refused to compromise their values, refused to compromise what they could deliver for Pennsylvanians. And it was the Republican controlled Senate that was holding things up. So people are frustrated that the budget in Pennsylvania took over 140 days to get passed.

Mm-hmm.

It wasn't because of Democrats in the state house, because you passed over 14 budgets in that time span and the Senate Republicans were not come to the table in good faith. You held your ground, you delivered for Pennsylvanians. And if it takes a long time, it is not because Democrats are holding the wheels back. So I just want to add that detail because that is important. We need more Democrats to get

important.

Okay, Joanna, I have an idea.

for a theme for my local democratic committee's spring fundraiser. And I wanna get your opinion, because your opinion means a lot to me. So last year, I'm the finance chair of my local democratic committee. Last year, the theme was the fight is local, okay? But this year, I want the theme to be it's go time,

Mm-hmm.

It's time to reelect governor Josh Shapiro. It's time to expand.

Okay.

our democratic majority in the state house. It's time to flip the state Senate and it is time to take back democratic control of Congress. What do you think? Is it go time?

Otherwise.

It's go time.

One.

⁓ Whoo. Whoo.

and we

Okay.

can use a slingshot and send those back ideas back to our so-called president with Hakeem Jeffries as speaker of the United States House because they will not get through his chamber and continue to butcher all of our rights and freedoms.

Mm-hmm.

Inject it straight into my veins, Joanna. Inject it straight into veins. my god. So you approve of It's Go Time as my theme? Okay, you hear that? You hear that DCLMN? It's Go Time, so let's fucking go. Let's go.

yeah, it's go time.

Let's go.

This is a segment I call Small Business Spotlight, where I like to give you the floor to just highlight a business in your district that you feel like could get some love on The Zekely Podcast.

Absolutely. So we have so many. The first one that I go to is for when the weather breaks. Sadiq's Real Fruit Water Ice is located at 60th and Spruce. It has won many awards for it is a very refreshing, delicious sweet treat in the spring, in the summer, in the fall, and most importantly, it is made with real fruit as it says in the name and less sugar. So I'm not saying it's a smoothie.

Mm-hmm.

But it is definitely a healthier option and something I enjoy. Another one is Chubby's Ice Cream at 59th and Baltimore. They are both on their sabbaticals for the winter, but Chubby's will reopen in April. Sadiq's will reopen in March. And it is also homemade ice cream. It is so creamy, so delicious. And the best part about small businesses is when we support them, we're supporting people's dreams.

huh. ⁓

We're supporting young people getting job opportunities in the neighborhood where they live. And so we have a lot we can do when we look around our communities and say, yeah, I could definitely order something online from a huge bulk store where everybody's a billionaire that runs it, or I can shop small and locally.

Yeah.

I love it. What's your favorite flavor at Chubby's?

Ooh, it is called Oreo cookies and cream.

⁓ that's a good combination. Okay. Yeah, we are somewhat of an ice cream family. So we're gonna have to check that out sometime. My wife is an ice cream connoisseur, one might say. So she'd be... Absolutely. That sounds

Ooh, yeah.

Well, she can give us some feedback.

Joanna, what is your favorite and least favorite part of being Speaker of the House?

Sure. So we'll start with favorite. I enjoy making sure there's a fair debate every time there's an important issue on the house. I'm not picking sides and saying, you're not going to get to speak because I don't like what you have to say. I'm never doing that. That is my favorite. Because for years, starting when I sat in the back of the house as a first term and second term member, I saw speakers.

Mm-hmm.

silence other representatives as if they were not important, as if they were not recognizable, as if they didn't deserve to be heard. When it's like, we're all elected to do the same job, slow up speaker. Don't lose yourself in the moment. You're not the governor or the president. You're just up there being fair. And I saw so many that weren't fair. So I'm grateful that I get to be fair.

You

The least favorite part is that when I'm fair to everybody, some times my friends are like, come on, you can shut them down. You've got the gavel. You can turn the microphone off. You can be mean. You're so classy. They don't appreciate you. They don't respect you. They should fear you and the gavel. it's like, it's not about that. We're not in an ego competition. We're in the fact of being in state government. We're delivering for people. We're serving people, but we're not.

cutting mics and showing who can be the toughest. I'm not in a race for that because what does that do to help anybody in rural or urban or suburban PA? Nothing. It might make you feel good because our caucus is in charge, the Democrats are in charge, but that is not going to do anything. And that is not, for me and the class that I have, setting a good example for the next Democratic speaker who will follow.

I appreciate that because as you highlighted, you're the speaker for all Pennsylvanians. And I really enjoy listening to Senator Vincent Hughes speak about that, where he talks about, you know, if your representatives are not going to fight for you, I'm going to fight for you. I don't care who you are in Pennsylvania, I'm going to fight for you. So that totally makes sense that you would treat everyone with respect and dignity, even if you don't agree with what they're saying. So thank you for that.

Joanna, has there ever been a time in your speakership or when you've been in Harrisburg in general that the speaker could not maintain decorum without calling in any officers?

Unfortunately, It was last October and things just were getting really, really rowdy on the floor. And we were debating a bill from our colleague in Allegheny County, Representative Mandy Steel to change the way

a gun can be used and turned into basically an assault weapon.

Mm-hmm.

Unfortunately, people from the Republican side were like lurching, like they were going to jump at members across the aisle. So I definitely asked the sergeant at arms to step in and to get people out of the aisles. And I've encouraged the members to take their seat. And it took a few minutes for people to kind of calm down. And of course, once that kind of everybody's settling down, I just reminded people.

Mm-hmm.

that they're at work.

I want to know where is their passion when children in Pennsylvania are getting gunned down. Where's that passion? Why aren't they leaping out of their seats? ⁓ When healthcare is being taken away from people when hospitals are being shut down, when children are having, you know, drills in their schools being traumatized because of mass shootings happening all the time. You know, where is the outrage there? That's just crazy. And that's just insane. That is nuts, but.

Mm-hmm. I know.

Not surprising, I shouldn't be surprised, but that's crazy.

Well, let's play a little game to lighten this up. I call it the Gentleman Will Suspend, a game where you would tell me if you would ask me to suspend my actions, if I were somehow a state rep in Harrisburg. ⁓ So as a supportive measure for my fellow colleague, I perform a beatboxing session behind them.

Okay.

Would you ask me to suspend or would you kind of let that go? You'd like, no, it's okay. Okay, I couldn't do that. All right, I'm not writing this down for the future, by the way. I'm definitely not doing that, all right? How about I do an interpretive silent dance next to my seat while someone addresses the house who I don't address.

No, you would definitely have to suspend that.

No. ⁓

You need to suspend that also. That's not nice.

I suspend that? Okay, fine. Fair enough.

Based on what you just said, that's fine. Alright, while I'm addressing the house, I do a silent sleight of hands with a deck of cards.

What is it that you're doing?

You know, like a card trick. You know, like a sleight of hand. Yeah.

a card trick. So our house

rules don't allow us to use any props. So that would definitely be, the gentleman will suspend.

Okay, no props.

No,

no magic tricks on the house floor. Fine. Okay. How about while I'm addressing the house, I ask one of my colleagues to yell out swoosh every time I raise my arm above my head for a fact.

Would you be asking them that during the speech or is this something you prepared?

this is prepared. This is all theater.

So

that would definitely be off guard. And if it was not a distraction or causing it so that the institution can't hear you, you would probably be able to keep going because that would be something. I'm always listening, but it's not uncommon for people to give a little audience participation.

Yeah.

Yeah, to do some aura farming, know, some aura farming

while I'm going. OK, fine, fair enough. Here's the last one. I play some smooth jazz on a portable speaker while I'm addressing the... That's a no-no? Can't have any background music to my speech? OK, fair enough. all right. Well, I know more now than I did a couple of seconds ago. So thank you very much. The gentleman will suspend.

Well that's a no no.

No.

Joanna, we talked about this a little already, but when the day comes, and it will come in my lifetime, that we have the trifecta, what is some dream legislation to get passed and go right to the governor's desk to get signed into law?

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, right.

⁓ do things to our Constitution to enshrine more rights. think that is more important than anything right now. know, some of the first bills we sent over to the House that this Republican Senate may not return are about health care, about making sure there are no lifetime limits, making sure that in our state Medicaid that pre-existing conditions can never be banned. Those are things that are like high up when we think about from, you know, birth all the way up until our time of expiration will come. Those are the type of rights

Right.

Yeah.

protect everybody. So strengthening our health care in the midst of such turmoil and chaos, especially coming from Washington, D.C.

I agree. I just can't believe that Republican politicians in Pennsylvania cannot get behind, you know, keeping kids on their parents' health care till they're 26. That they can't protect people from being kicked off of their health care for a pre-existing condition. This is like no-brainer. I mean, I'm a doctor. Look, I took an oath to do no harm. It doesn't matter who you are. But the fact that you as a politician have the power to protect people, to give them health care, to keep them healthy, to prevent them from getting worse and

That's the end of

be a larger burden on society at large is insane to me, but I know it's not the Democrats holding this up. So I appreciate that. I am looking towards the day when we have a democratic governor, democratically controlled state Senate and expanding our majority in the state house and the progress that we will make as a state will be unstoppable. So I'm looking forward to that.

Yes. ⁓

Wow you're still listening, thank you so much. I want to make sure as many people in Pennsylvania as possible get to experience The Zekely Podcast. So to help spread the word, please take a moment to rate my podcast. Five stars would be great and leave a comment as well. Enjoy the rest of the show.

What gives you hope?

So my hope comes from faith.

I have been raised as a faith-filled person from childhood and knowing that things will work out because my faith teaches me that and knowing that while I am given the opportunity to live and to breathe and to, you know, have my functions that there is a reason not only for me to do what I'm doing, but with the grace of God, I'll have the

I'm that I'm going I'm that that. that

of her life. She's about to be graduating and she's up close and in Harrisburg and in our district office and seeing what it means to make an impact. I'm excited that you know the baton I have whatever it will be by the time she's out in the real world she's going to take it and run with it and I look forward to so many individuals doing that and that gives me hope.

You give me hope, You really do. Everything that you do to protect our rights in Pennsylvania every day. I never lost hope last year, but I am more optimistic now.

Well, some hobbies that I have are cooking, baking, traveling, reconnecting with what I classify pre-politic friends.

So friends from college, friends from law school, friends from my neighborhood, making the time to not just see them on my birthday, but like literally check in, visit with their children. That is something that fuels me. And of course I have beautiful goddaughters. The youngest one will be nine ⁓ in June this year. I can't even believe my little baby is, ⁓

third grade and doing so well and then my next goddaughter is going to be 12. It means too much and the oldest one is 26. So you know spending time with them.

is also something that is so refueling, you especially when they were younger, because, you know, every infant toddler is like, politics, no, help me, feed me, I'm thirsty, I'm upset, I don't know what's wrong. They're not communicating at that level anymore, of course, they're all much bigger ladies. However, spending time with them reminds me again, that I'm able to share the love that's in my heart directly and the motivation, you know, of what I expect from them.

I know.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

one day at a time, my God, yeah. And what you do in Harrisburg helps me get through those tough days. So thank you for everything that you do.

God, Speaker Joanna McClinton is on my podcast. This is huge, I'm so honored. I'm so honored and I want you to know that I'm gonna be doing my part to give you what you need in Harrisburg to keep doing your job. And if you're listening to this, you all need to do your part. We have two elections this year, two, a primary, a general election.

Yes.

Yes.

And look, the minimum you can do is make a plan to vote. That's the minimum you can do. But if you can, latch on to a Democratic candidate, go door knocking, write some postcards, make a donation if you can, tell your friends and family, just pay attention, look for the helpers. And we can get through this together. We can make the state of Pennsylvania better, but only if we care, get off the sidelines and let Joanna do what she does best, which is to make things better for us. Okay, so Joanna, thank you so much. Really, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank

you.

Well, thank you so much for joining me here on The Zekely Podcast. Stay hopeful and get involved and until next time, let's keep building a stronger Pennsylvania together.