Eric K. Ward & Rachel Carroll Rivas — Hate, Pardons, and Bridging the Divide

In February, Jamie sat down with Eric K. Ward—civil-rights leader and EVP at Race Forward—and Rachel Carroll Rivas—interim director of the SPLC Intelligence Project. Known for their on-the-ground work tracking extremism and building resilient communities, Eric and Rachel dig into the rise of hate in America and how we move forward together.

From the January 6 pardons and what they signal, to why antisemitism sits at the core of modern white nationalism, they trace the roots of militia movements, Charlottesville’s wake-up call, and how online ecosystems recruit young people—often starting as “jokes.” They also get practical: curiosity over combat, local organizing over cable-news theater, and “desegregating” our daily lives so we actually talk—and listen—across differences. Eric shares lessons from his punk rock days and why targeted, universal solutions beat zero-sum politics.

Whether you care about democracy, public safety, or bridging the red/blue divide, this conversation is candid, nuanced, and focused on solutions.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

  •  The ripple effects of the January 6 pardons and what comes next

  •  Why antisemitism animates today’s white nationalist movement

  •  How militias evolved from the 1980s to present—and why that matters now

  •  Charlottesville as a turning point (and what we learned—and forgot)

  •  Practical ways to build trust locally and talk across political lines

  •  How youth get pulled into hate online—and how adults can interrupt it

  •  Eric’s punk-rock to civil-rights journey and what it teaches about community

👉 If you care about democracy, community safety, and finding common ground, you won’t want to miss this episode.

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