Journalist and television host Katy Tur is a huge Phish fan who often works references to the band into segments she hosts on MSNBC. This afternoon, Tur welcomed Phish drummer Jon Fishman for an interview on MSNBC Live.
Fishman is a selectman in his current hometown of Lincolnville, Maine. The state was the first to use a ranked-choice ballot during the recent midterm elections. Fish, wearing a tie with the distinctive donuts from the dress he sports in concert, discussed ranked choice voting during his appearance on MSNBC Live. The drummer explained that by allowing voters to vote for multiple candidates in order of preference instead of just one, it lets them “vote with their hearts.” He also denied charges by critics that ranked-choice voting favors one party over another. “The beauty of ranked-choice voting is that it’s actually totally non-partisan. It does not favorite Republicans, it doesn’t favor Democrats, it favors the voter,” Fishman said. “It puts more power in the voter’s vote and gives the voter a broader choice. Instead of just having to vote for one (candidate), you get to rank how you would prefer them to fall.”
Tur ended the interview by telling Fishman she would see him on New Year’s Eve and quipping “Thank you Mr. M[a]iner” in reference to the Phish song “Harry Hood.” Watch the interview below:
