The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald

Julie Zimmerman on Mental Health, Medicaid Expansion, and Community Leadership in South Carolina House District 71 Host Amy McDonald welcomes Julie Zimmerman, a licensed therapist and Democratic candidate for South Carolina House District 71 (Irmo, Ballentine, Chapin in Richland County and two Lexington County precincts).
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:21 Why Julie Is Running
06:08 Grief and Taking Action
09:42 COVID Aftershocks and Connection
14:59 Affordability and Mental Health
16:10 Fixing Mental Health Access
24:25 Medicaid and Breaking Stigma
28:51 Where to Find Julie
29:32 Rapid Fire Questions
31:51 District 71 Map and Favorites
33:16 South Carolina Beauty and Wrap Up

Brit Robinson on Democratic Socialism, Tech Oligarchs, and Flipping Florida’s 4th
 
Host Amy McDonald interviews Brit Robinson, a Democratic socialist running in the 2026 Democratic primary to flip Florida’s 4th Congressional District from Trump-endorsed Rep. Aaron Bean. 
 
@Brit4Congress
brit4congress.com
 
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:12 Why She Is Running
03:13 Democratic Socialism Explained
06:10 Paying for Basic Needs
13:15 District Issues Overview
20:30 Regulating Surveillance Tech
23:36 AI in Schools Concerns
27:38 Teachers Not Tech Fixes
29:07 Billionaires Buying Power
31:24 Citizens United Reform
35:30 Universal Healthcare Story
39:02 War Spending And Corruption
41:43 Foreign Policy And Immigration
43:29 Systems Near Collapse
45:43 Where To Support Campaign
47:03 Rapid Fire Questions
50:41 Why Florida District Four
52:21 Final Thanks And Wrap

Yen Bailey on Flipping Florida’s 2nd District, Medicare for All, and Rural Voter Outreach
https://yenbaileyforcongress.com/
Host Amy McDonald interviews Yen Bailey, a North Florida native and daughter of Vietnamese refugees running for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. 
00:26 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:21 Why She Ran in 2024
04:45 District Two Breakdown
06:44 2026 Campaign Shift
07:40 Hope and Voter Action
09:10 Primary Rules and Dates
10:14 Democrats and Change Fight
15:08 Top Issues Healthcare Costs
16:54 ER Bills and System Failure
20:20 Drug Prices Outrage
20:57 Healthcare Fuels Economy
21:28 Beyond Employer Insurance
22:30 Fixing Social Security
23:33 Taxes Not Handouts
24:06 Immigrant Perspective Shift
25:52 Visas Refugees And Value
27:16 Intervention And NAFTA Fallout
29:02 Medicare For All Roadmap
31:42 Data Centers Rural Exploitation
35:09 Where To Support Campaign
35:42 Rapid Fire And Farewell

Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera on Florida’s 6th: Healthcare First, Affordability, and Environmental Survival
Host Amy McDonald interviews Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 6th congressional district and longtime public servant speak about why he’s running, the personal sacrifices of campaigning, and barriers that keep working-class people out of office. 
ron4congress.com 
01:22 Campaign Life Reality
03:47 Why Run in 2026
04:34 Hurricanes and No Help
06:06 Florida Environment Crisis
09:40 Future Generations Mindset
13:28 Florida Is Not Red
15:40 Money in Politics
17:24 Teachers and Education
19:38 Budgets War and Welfare
24:16 MAGA Fallout and Farmers
26:09 New York Values Story
26:36 Florida Help Culture
27:00 Medicaid Dental Gaps
27:39 Spend Down Trap
28:50 ER Bills Spiral
29:44 DeSantis Rejects Funds
31:17 One Hour Fact Talk
32:47 Dignity Of Work
34:16 Billionaires And Wages
36:16 Healthcare First Platform
38:23 Accountability And Corruption
40:57 Where To Find Ronnie
42:14 Rapid Fire Favorites
45:19 Proudest Moments
46:59 District Diversity Tour
48:32 Final Thanks And Vote

Victoria Broderick on Running Again in 2026, Grassroots Organizing, and Making It Safe in Tennessee’s 4th
Host Amy Macdonald interviews Victoria Broderick, a LGBTQ+ mom and full-time tech worker running for U.S. House in Tennessee’s 4th District in 2026 after launching a 2024 campaign when the seat was set to go unopposed. Broderick describes building name recognition after earning 28% of the vote in five months without corporate PAC or AIPAC money, using social media and community organizing to boost turnout, support down-ballot candidates, and attract independents and some Republicans. She discusses redistricting that created a primary with four opponents, the challenges of running as a working-class candidate, and her view that politics must be accessible and voter turnout is decisive. She outlines her platform—safety, affordability, freedom, and equity—encourages people to engage locally, and shares rapid-fire personal favorites before closing with voting reminders and the August 6 primary date.
02:09 Why Run for Congress
03:32 Building Momentum in 2024
06:13 Coalition on the Trail
08:46 Millennial Energy and Stakes
10:38 Keeping Campaigns Fun
12:46 Redistricting and Primary Fight
14:21 Grassroots Versus Donor Class
16:14 Civics Tip Visit Congress
17:23 Working Mom Campaign Balance
19:24 Holding Officials Accountable
20:58 Vote Down Ballot
22:49 Money In Politics
23:40 Grassroots Campaign Playbook
25:04 Progressivism Explained
26:25 Broken Endorsement System
27:55 Building Future Leaders
30:52 Women Running For Office
31:45 Vetting And Safety Risks
33:41 Platform And How To Help
36:23 Rapid Fire Wrap Up
39:18 Final Call To Vote

Mike Cortese on Building a Post‑Trump American Story in Tennessee’s 4th District
Host Amy McDonald interviews Nashville metro council member, music industry veteran, and Belmont adjunct professor Mike Cortese, who is running for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District after being redistricted from the 5th. Cortese says he’s motivated by witnessing Pittsburgh’s steel collapse and seeing similar desperation in East Tennessee, arguing both parties abandoned working people and that Democrats too often defer to donors and dismiss voters’ concerns. They discuss Hurricane Helene relief being delayed in Tennessee over school vouchers, economic insecurity, and the need for leaders who show up, tell the truth, and fight for a “next great American story.” Cortese highlights local work on transparency around algorithmic pricing, critiques monopoly power and private equity consolidation, supports challenging big money in politics via SpeechNow, and describes a demanding campaign schedule and growing grassroots organizing across Tennessee.
00:26 Podcast Intro Guest Bio02:03 Tennessee Politics Frustrations03:07 Why Mike Is Running04:07 Working Class Abandonment06:54 Democrats Messaging Problem10:46 Economic Insecurity Reality11:30 What Voters Want13:18 Algorithmic Pricing Bill16:35 Fighting Doomerism20:10 Redistricting Campaign Shift22:53 Winning In Conservative Areas24:28 Tribal Fear and Complicity25:39 Democrats Need Real Options27:35 Life on the Campaign Trail28:50 Rebuilding Rural Trust30:37 Ground Game in Tennessee33:57 Hardship Builds Fighters37:22 Antitrust and Monopolies39:40 Private Equity Vertical Control44:11 Pay to Play and Reform46:20 Support the Campaign47:27 Rapid Fire Get to Know52:24 Why District 4 Matters

Dr. Mariah Lancaster on Running for Congress, Science in Government, Student Debt, and Counter-Corruption Host Amy McDonald interviews Dr. Mariah Lancaster, a veterinarian and former congressional staffer running for U.S. House in Massachusetts’ 6th District, discussing why Congress needs more subject-matter experts and lived experience to reduce reliance on special interests. Lancaster describes their work combating wildlife trafficking and drafting bipartisan legislation, critiques money in politics and billionaire-funded campaigns, and argues for aggressive counter-corruption to hold the executive accountable, calling recent wealth transfers “money laundering.” They also discuss underpaid congressional staffing, the student-loan crisis and its impact on healthcare and veterinary workforces, immigration’s role in essential care work, concerns about AI/data centers and consumer consent, and the need to build progressive power in safe blue seats. Lancaster shares how to donate, volunteer, and find the campaign online.
00:29 Podcast Intro and Guest Bio
01:43 Massachusetts Politics and Primaries
03:35 Representation and Queer Congress Math
06:13 Why Mariah Is Running
07:41 Science Expertise vs Lobbyists
12:21 Student Loans and Hill Pay Reality
17:47 Data Centers AI and Consent
22:02 Lived Experience and Jury Duty Congress
25:08 Safe Blue Seats and Party Power
26:05 Building a Progressive Bench
27:11 Fundraising Madness in Politics
28:46 Real World Experience in Congress
30:22 Education Debt and Workforce Crisis
31:53 Immigration and Care Work Reality
33:16 Donor Class and Lived Vulnerability
37:15 Democrats Without a Plan
38:47 Counter Corruption and Election Reform
41:43 Monopolies and Illusion of Choice
44:16 Money Laundering and Accountability
45:53 How to Donate and Volunteer
50:15 Rapid Fire and District Love
54:42 Final Wrap and Where to Follow

Michael Potter on Data Centers, Water, and Rebuilding Indiana’s Public Schools (House District 47)
Follow along with his campaign at FriendsofMichaelPotter.com
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:38 Why He’s Running Again01:52 Data Centers and Water Worries02:31 Geologist Perspective on Policy04:50 Building Better Data Centers07:55 Voter Turnout and Long Haul Plan11:24 Grassroots Organizing and Precinct Power16:45 Two Party Trap and Ranked Choice21:21 Term Limits and Mentoring Leaders25:23 Social Media Transparency for Candidates28:49 District Issues Solar to Data Centers30:08 Process Over Data Centers30:35 Floodplains And Extreme Rain33:05 Infrastructure Meets Politics33:18 Healthcare And School Funding35:06 Solar Powered New Builds39:27 Transit And Rail Revival41:49 Trails Spark Neighborhood Growth44:44 Rapid Fire And Indiana Pride46:18 Why He Went Vegan50:12 Campaign Life And Farewell

Craig Swallow is running in Massachusetts's  9th Congressional District. Follow along with his campaign @craigforcongress or craigswallowforcongress.com
01:29 Why Challenge a Democrat03:35 Democracy and Fighting Fascism05:14 Democrats and Structural Change09:46 Meet the Ninth District10:23 Incumbent Absence and Town Halls15:07 Medicare for All and Authenticity17:59 Affordability Agenda Healthcare Housing Schools21:34 Transit and Island Campaigning23:08 Money in Politics and PACs26:17 Representatives Must Face Voters28:00 Public Service Not Career28:47 Fighting for Future Generations31:01 Generational Power Shift32:07 Ballot Access Roadblocks35:34 Party Autopsy and Bias37:28 Term Limits and Constitution39:48 Regulation Taxes and War42:17 Oligarchs AI and Accountability45:25 Support the Campaign46:40 Rapid Fire and Farewell

Adam Baumel is the founder of TripleNC.org and the Abolish Ice Pledge. Follow along @abolish_ice_pledge on instagram.
00:00 Adam with Video00:24 Welcome and Guest Intro01:22 Why Abolish ICE02:42 Historical Parallels03:11 Detention Profit Machine03:38 The Pledge Explained04:05 Candidates and Algorithms05:07 Beyond Online Activism06:14 Making Abolish ICE Popular07:33 ICE Recruitment Dangers08:58 Project 2025 Fears13:17 War Economy and Distraction17:10 Immigration Courts vs Cages19:47 Market Manipulation Claims20:52 Peter Thiel and Surveillance22:32 Accountability and Uprisings23:54 Witch Trials and Puritans25:33 Censorship and Movement Building26:37 Sustainable Growth Repetition27:28 Door Knocking Gold Standard28:30 Vine TikTok Attention Spans29:24 Abolish ICE Pledge Strategy31:14 Turnover Accountability Recall34:24 Gen Z Millennials Show Up37:40 Mutual Aid Candidate Offices38:40 Homeless Work Program Ideas40:29 Scapegoats Zohran Storytime45:01 Where To Find Triple NC46:48 Rapid Fire And Hope