The Foolish Optimist: Hanieh Jodat, political strategist

Hanieh Jodat on Anti-War Politics, Sanctions, and Building Progressive Power

 

Host Amy McDonald interviews political strategist Hanieh Jodat about her path from an Iranian immigrant household and nonprofit work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to organizing after Trump’s election, including leadership with Women’s March Los Angeles and serving as a 2020 Bernie Sanders delegate. Jodat explains delegates’ platform-writing role and describes building the Muslim Delegates and Allies coalition to push progressive policy language on healthcare, education, and foreign policy. She discusses working with left candidates Hartzell Grey (MO-4) and Rose Penelope Ye (CA-02), emphasizing coalition building, mutual aid, and an anti-war through line that redirects resources from Pentagon spending to domestic needs. The conversation critiques sanctions as “silent” violence that harms civilians, arguing Iran sanctions weakened civic society and empowered the regime, and links U.S. foreign policy, Gaza, and Democratic Party leadership and accountability, ending with advice for immigrants and women of color to enter politics now.

 

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

02:26 Finding a Path to Politics

03:48 Trump Era Awakening and Women’s March

05:58 Becoming a Bernie Delegate

06:45 What Delegates Actually Do

08:04 Why Foreign Policy Hits Home

10:25 Working With Left Candidates

14:51 Red Lines and Values in Strategy

17:47 Paying for Progress at Home

23:12 Pentagon Spending and Endless Wars

24:08 Sanctions as Silent Violence

27:18 Iran War Talk and Regional Fallout

32:33 Gaza, Imperialism, and a New Wave

35:11 Impeachment Push

35:53 JD Vance Scenario

36:38 Nuclear Fears

37:59 Inside Party Fights

41:02 Kamala Strategy Critique

42:51 Racism Sexism Palestine

45:22 Billionaire Brain Freeze

48:31 Epstein Watergate Parallels

50:23 Donors Aging Leadership

52:39 Soft Republicans Debate

54:58 Rapid Fire Wrap Up

59:27 Run For Office Now

01:01:06 Final Thanks Credits