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Spenser Mestel on Voting Rights, Election Reform, and Writing a Book with Mat Fraser

Release Date: 07/23/2021

Todd Nief's Show

Paul Bearer is the vocalist for one of the most influential and underrated New York Hardcore bands of all time: Sheer Terror. Sheer Terror came out of the very strange New York Hardcore scene of the 80s — before the music became codified into the metallic, bouncy mosh parts we think of as NYHC today. While Sheer Terror is certainly no stranger to blending metal and punk, their sound is much more Tom G. Warrior plus Oi! rather than syncopated, single-string riffs. Nothing against bouncy mosh parts, but Sheer Terror is much more my cup of tea, personally. Paul and I talk not only about the...

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Todd Nief's Show

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Spenser Mestel on Voting Rights, Election Reform, and Writing a Book with Mat Fraser

Todd Nief's Show

I first encountered Spenser’s work through his writing for the , and at some point I clicked on enough links to realize that the majority of his work is on voting rights and election reform. I’ve been a subscriber to , so I wanted to get his take on how things went with New York City’s experiment in ranked choice voting in their Democratic mayoral primary. While election fraud and voter suppression are hot-button culture war issues, there are also a lot of low-hanging fruit for bipartisan election reforms. Spenser’s understanding of the voting rights landscape is deep and nuanced, so...

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Todd Nief's Show

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Todd Nief's Show

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Todd Nief's Show

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Todd Nief's Show

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Todd Nief's Show

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James Pligge (Harm's Way) Round II

Todd Nief's Show

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Todd Nief's Show

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I first encountered Spenser’s work through his writing for the Morning Chalk Up, and at some point I clicked on enough links to realize that the majority of his work is on voting rights and election reform.

I’ve been a subscriber to Spenser’s voting rights newsletter, so I wanted to get his take on how things went with New York City’s experiment in ranked choice voting in their Democratic mayoral primary.

While election fraud and voter suppression are hot-button culture war issues, there are also a lot of low-hanging fruit for bipartisan election reforms. Spenser’s understanding of the voting rights landscape is deep and nuanced, so I’m thrilled that he decided to indulge my questioning.

We also discuss Spenser’s forthcoming book with Mat Fraser, in which Mat finally spills the beans about his training, his injuries (that he didn’t want competitors to know about), and more. You can pre-order Hard Work Pays Off here.

Learn more from Spenser here:

Substack: spensermestel.substack.com
Website: www.spensermestel.com
Book: “Hard Work Pays Off” by Mat Fraser and Spenser Mestel
Twitter: @SpenserMestel
Instagram: @spensermestel

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Show Notes:

[02:35] How has ranked choice voting gone in the New York mayoral primary? And, what’s the deal with the New York Board of Elections?
[10:57] Did any of the theoretical benefits of ranked choice voting show up when it was tested in New York?
[27:42] What is the “steelman” case for voting rights restrictions? What is the prevalence of voter fraud?
[34:02] There is a history of political machines and electioneering. How concerned should we be with these kinds of manipulations?
[39:32] What’s the deal with voter ID requirements? And gerrymandering?
[52:50] Writing a book with 5 time CrossFit Games champion Mat Fraser — and the mental challenges of being an elite athlete
[1:05:55] Learn more from Spenser and subscribe to Spenser’s Super Tuesday

Learn more from Spenser here:

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