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Biden Presidency Preview | Charles Sumner's Legacy

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II Official Photo 2018
Franmarie Metzler
/
cleaver.house.gov
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II represents Missouri's 5th congressional district.

Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver gives Kansas Citians a preview of what to expect from the Biden administration and a historian explains how the Capitol insurrection this month is reviving the story of abolitionist Charles Sumner.

Segment 1, beginning at 4:46: The new president's earliest actions will include proposals to Congress for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and a stimulus package.
Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver feels confident that President-elect Joe Biden will "dramatically change the tone" of the U.S. Capitol, in part by making an effort to work with Republicans. Once he takes office on Wednesday, President Biden will propose a sweeping series of initiatives to tackle the economy and the coronavirus.

Segment 2, beginning at 35:05: The Capitol insurrection has revived Sen. Charles Sumner's "Crime Against Kansas" speech.

A photo from the Capitol Hill insurrection shows an unmasked man carrying a Confederate flag past a portrait of prominent abolitionist leader U.S. Sen. Charles Sumner. The namesake of Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, was almost killed on the Senate floor in 1856 after delivering an anti-slavery speech.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Mackenzie Martin is a senior podcast producer at KCUR Studios and host of the podcast, A People's History of Kansas City. Contact her at mackenzie@kcur.org.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.