
Robin Johnson, along with Representative Cheri Bustos, former Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, put together a research project about how Democratic representatives in 10 midwestern states won in districts carried by Donald Trump. Roger & Robin discuss those findings, how Democrats can rebound with rural voters and midterm election politics in Iowa & Illinois.
Jul 25, 2022
28 min

Tom Winter, a former state representative, is now running for U.S. Congress in Montana's newly created 2nd Congressional District. He joins Roger to discuss how to run & win as a progressive in Montana, the population growth in the state and who the new arrivals are politically, running against a former member of Trump's cabinet, and more.
Mar 18, 2022
33 min

Talking Points Memo founder Josh Marshall joins Roger to discuss how the mainstream media is set up in a way that gives Republicans the advantage, the reasons Democrats have a harder time with campaign messaging, why Democrats should make the 2022 midterms about Trump, and more.
Jan 17, 2022
40 min

Special guest co-host Reuben Rodriguez, a self-described Latino Centrist, joins Roger to recap the political year of 2021 and preview what to expect in 2022. They discuss the reasons for Biden's approval rating, the politics of COVID, the Latino vote, how the 2 parties should approach the 2022 midterms and more.
Dec 29, 2021
34 min

Joe Kennedy, a member of the legendary Kennedy political family, served 4 terms in Congress but left government this year to form Groundwork Project, a grassroots organization that supports and invests in community organizers in red state America. Roger & Joe discuss how Democrats can win back rural voters and what it takes for Democrats to be competitive long-term in red states.
Dec 14, 2021
31 min

Poppy Northcutt was the first woman ever to work in NASA's Mission Control. Her work in the space program made her acutely aware of women's rights issues and she eventually became an attorney who has been on the front lines of abortion rights activism since the days of Roe v Wade. She & Roger discuss the current Texas abortion law, the strengths & weaknesses of the Pro-Choice movement and Texas politics.
Dec 1, 2021
37 min

After an in-person encounter with Hillary Clinton, unemployed coal industry worker Bo Copley decided to run for the Republican Senate nomination in West Virginia. New York filmmaker Todd Drezner followed Bo's Senate campaign and the result is the documentary, The Campaign of Miner Bo. Todd & Bo join Roger to discuss what it's like for outsiders in politics and what a liberal filmmaker learned about red state America.
Nov 11, 2021
30 min

Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh started off as a Trump supporter but began to sour on him quickly. In the end, he not only turned on Trump but ran against him in the 2020 Republican primaries. Roger and Joe discuss Joe's regrets in helping to create the Republican Party that exists today, where Trump voters are at now and whether they can be reached, Joe's advice for Democrats, and more.
Aug 6, 2021
30 min

Comedian Steve Hofstetter is back on tour for the first time since the pandemic started and checks in with Roger from the road. They discuss comedy & politics: the difference in performing in red vs blue states, responding to hecklers & harassers, whether comedy can persuade people politically and more.
May 29, 2021
28 min

Ross Benes grew up in small town Nebraska, surrounded by Republicans. Now he lives in Brooklyn. His book "Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold" details Nebraska's move rightward but is also a personal story about understanding both rural and urban cultures, and how to bridge that divide. Ross and Roger discuss the misconceptions about rural voters and how Democrats can be competitive in Nebraska again.
Apr 5, 2021
25 min
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