The Fight Against Gun Violence: A Conversation with Shannon Watts

The Home Front

Reed Galen

Government, News, News Commentary, Politics

5.0 • 632 Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2026

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today, host Reed Galen interviews Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, discussing the ongoing issue of gun violence in America. They explore the origins of the organization, the cultural attitudes towards guns, the legislative challenges faced in enacting gun safety laws, and the role of young men in gun violence. Shannon reflects on her journey as an activist and the importance of women in organizing for change, as well as her new initiatives and book aimed at empowering women to take action in their communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everyone, it's Reed. I had another intro recorded for this episode, but I thought it was
0:04.9	important to re-record given the events in Minneapolis yesterday. I was fortunate enough to
0:13.4	be interviewing Shannon Watts, founder of Mom's Demand about her work to stop gun violence and all of the other things she's been working on.
0:24.0	But I think that what happened in Minneapolis with an innocent woman being gunned down by an ICE agent.
0:30.4	And if you've watched the video, I'm sorry.
0:32.1	If you haven't watched the video, it is horrifying.
0:35.3	It is angering.
0:36.5	It is to say it's angering doesn't do it enough. Doesn't do it. Doesn't do the expression of rage justice. But I'll tell you, gang, I'm pretty sick of seeing this stuff. I'm pretty sick of vigils. I'm pretty sick of otherwise innocent people, be they American citizens or residents, being treated like garbage by a bunch of out-of-shaped
0:57.2	thugs imported from other places in the country because they know that they won't feel bad
1:03.4	about how they're going to treat the people they find there. But I hope you'll listen to my
1:08.1	conversation with Shannon. I hope that you will double down on your
1:13.3	commitment to figuring a way out of this with us. And so now, here's my conversation with Shannon
1:19.1	Watts. I hope you all stay safe and on with the show. Welcome back to the home front. I'm your host, Reid Galen. Today, I'm joined by Shannon Watts.
1:30.3	Shannon is the founder of Mom's Demand Action, the nation's largest group fight against gun violence, known as the quote, summoner of women's audacity.
1:39.3	She spent more than a decade leading one of the world's largest field experiments for mobilizing women.
1:44.9	She has been named one of times, 50 most, 100, excuse me, influential people, a Forbes 50
1:50.8	over 50 changemaker. I have a hard time believing that is true age-wise and a glamour woman
1:56.0	of the year. Last year, she put out a book, fired up how to turn your spark into a flame and come alive at any age, and was an instant in New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Also, in 2024, she organized over 200,000 voters online and raised over $11 million for Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential race.
2:18.5	And also left in 2023 after 11 years as the full-time volunteer leader of Mom's Demand.
2:26.5	Shannon, welcome to the show.
2:28.3	Reid, it's so nice to be here with you.
2:30.5	Thanks for coming.
	...

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