WCPT 820 Interview: Daniel Squadron

Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez (Featured Interviews)

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are featured interviews from "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00…

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Patti Vasquez talks to Daniel Squadron, president and co-founder of Future Now and author of “The Fourth Branch: How State Government Can Save Our Union” (2026). They discuss the critical importance of state-level governance in addressing systemic issues like health care, labor rights, and economic inequality.

Daniel Squadron's Background
- Squadron grew up in New York City in a family deeply committed to public service and civil rights.
- His father was a lawyer who participated in the 1963 March on Washington, while his mother worked with the ACLU and participated in the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer.
- Squadron emphasizes the influence of historical figures like Bayard Rustin and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his worldview regarding universalism and equality.

The Power of State Government
- Squadron argues that state governments have a more direct impact on citizens' lives than the federal government in Washington, D.C.
- He left his position in the New York State Senate to focus on political shifts occurring across the other 49 states.
- The discussion highlights how state-level decisions determine critical outcomes for residents, such as Medicaid expansion and minimum wage levels.

Labor and Economic Stability
- The conversation explores how organized labor provides benefits like predictable scheduling, paid leave, and retirement security through negotiation.
- Squadron notes that even when private-sector union membership is low, these negotiations significantly shape the broader labor market and public policy.
- He argues that full-time work should provide a path to a reasonable life, including stable housing and the ability to support a family.

Healthcare Disparities by State
- Squadron compares health care access in Texas, where Medicaid was not expanded, to states like Colorado or Illinois, where it was expanded.
- He illustrates how state-level decisions impact families' ability to afford medical care during critical moments like childbirth or illness.

Media Influence and Civic Values
- Patti and Daniel discuss how conservative media consolidation has created an imbalance between progressive and conservative voices in radio broadcasting.
- Squadron suggests that Democrats should focus more on shared American values rather than just debating specific policies or partisan grievances.
- He advocates for grounding political movements in the "promissory note" of equality found in the Declaration of Independence to reach a wider audience.

Mobilizing Through Local Action
- Patti shares her personal motivation for entering politics, driven by advocating for social services for her son who has a rare genetic disorder.
- Squadron recommends three ways for citizens to engage: supporting The States Project, organizing at state capitals, or running for local office themselves.
- The dialogue concludes with an emphasis on moving from feelings of powerlessness toward active participation within state legislatures to protect democracy.