--- title: Defend Democracy Project Chair warns of threats to workers' rights description: The AWF Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Michael Podhorzer from the Defend Democracy Project joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/defend%20democracy%20project%20thumbnail.png --- 1 min read Season 6, Episode 35 # Defend Democracy Project Chair warns of threats to workers' rights [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) February 18, 2025 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AFL-CIO](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/afl-cio) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [Defend Democracy Project](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/defend-democracy-project) ![Defend Democracy Project Gray (1)](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Defend%20Democracy%20Project%20Gray%20(1).png?width=400&height=400&name=Defend%20Democracy%20Project%20Gray%20(1).png)   Guest Name: --- Michael Podhorzer Guest Website: --- [Defend Democracy Project](http://projectdefenddemocracy.com/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/DefendDemocracyProject/) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/DemocracyNowUS) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/defend-democracy-project/) Supportive Documents: --- Michael Podhorzer, Chair of the [Defend Democracy Project](https://projectdefenddemocracy.com/), joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact of billionaire influence on elections, the importance of unions in defending democracy and the need for increased public awareness and action. Podhorzer, a former political director for the [AFL-CIO](https://aflcio.org/), emphasized the unprecedented power wielded by billionaires in American politics since the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs. FEC. He noted that in recent elections, outside interests —primarily billionaires— outspent candidates and parties in crucial races. This shift has fundamentally altered the political landscape, giving wealthy individuals disproportionate influence over election outcomes and policy decisions. Podhorzer stressed that unions are often the first targets of autocratic movements, as they represent organized resistance to anti-worker policies. He highlighted ongoing legal challenges by unions against mass firings in federal agencies. Podhorzer continued by emphasizing the importance of collective action in pushing back against attempts to undermine workers' rights and democratic institutions. Podhorzer addressed the challenges in raising public awareness about threats to democracy, particularly in regions where alternative media narratives dominate. He cautioned against assuming that negative consequences of current policies will automatically lead to pushback in affected areas, citing the power of information ecosystems in shaping public perception. Podhorzer urged increased efforts to bridge information gaps and foster a shared understanding of democratic challenges across diverse communities. For more insights on the threats to democracy being posed by the Trump Administration and how unions can help, listen to the show above. --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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