Episode One: Why I Sold My Food Truck for Bernie (And Why I'm Back)
My daughter Abigail stopped by the office while I was recording the first episode of America's Undoing. She's 17, works multiple jobs, and argues with Trump supporters on TikTok. Perfect co-host material.
"Do you like listening to old people talk?" I asked her.
"Not really," she said. Then added: "I like hearing Bernie Sanders talk. He's really old."
"What is it about Bernie?"
"He's just so cute and squishy. Like his little chair picture with the mittens."
That's my kid.
The Journey Here
Ten years ago, I was running a food truck in Tennessee, listening to Bernie Sanders on the radio talking about the struggles of working people. It sounded like he was describing my hometown of Morristown. So I sold the truck and hit the road for his campaign.
That led to starting Brand New Congress with some friends. We wanted to recruit hundreds of candidates to replace Congress all at once. We ended up recruiting 12. Only one won.
That was AOC.
Abigail was there the night she won - at the bar in the Bronx. "I lost my Nintendo there," she reminds me. "I still think about that to this day."
Why I Left (And Why I'm Back)
After working as AOC's communications director and helping launch the Green New Deal, I burned out. The political revolution we hoped for kind of dissipated. So I came back to East Tennessee, became a general contractor, and tried to forget about politics.
Then Trump won again.
The other night, police showed up at my Mexican neighbors' house. Their kids came running to our place crying - three girls ranging from 17 to 11, terrified their parents were being taken. That's when I knew I couldn't stay on the sidelines.
"They've fired more federal American workers than they've deported people," I told Abigail during the recording.
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God."
What This Podcast Is About
America's Undoing is going to cover a lot:
Why the economic statistics are lying to you (I spent a month and a half on a study proving inflation metrics are bullshit)
What happened to American manufacturing
Why we're spending $77 trillion on healthcare over the next 10 years
Stories from the Hill and the hills of East Tennessee
But mostly, it's about how we got here and how we get out.
"Even with somebody that's this hell-bent on getting a thing done and ignoring all the rules," I explained to Abigail about Trump, "he's not able to do it. So things are hard. That's why you need a big political movement."
The Kids Are Watching
One thing that struck me during recording - Abigail sees her peers getting pumped about Trump on TikTok. When she argues with them and they make good points, she says "yeah, that's a good point." When she presents facts, they say "no, that's not real. Trump says no."
That's why I want to bring high schoolers on the podcast. Not to debate them Charlie Kirk style, but to understand what's developing in their minds. These are the people whose political opinions are being formed right now.
"I think they're terrified of him," Abigail said about Bernie's presence.
"But like when I see pictures of him... oh, he's so cute."
That's the thing about politics - it's personal. It's emotional. It's about who you trust and who speaks to your experience.
The Plan
I'm going to film the abandoned industrial parks, show you the contrast between poverty and wealth in East Tennessee, bring on everyone from my MAGA father-in-law to local high school Trump supporters.
Because here's what I learned from helping elect AOC: Politicians run on fear. Win one big primary against someone like Joe Crowley, and suddenly a hundred members of Congress are signing onto the Green New Deal without even reading it.
That's power. That's what movements can do.
So yeah, I'm back. The general contractor is hanging up his tool belt (not really, I still have bills to pay) and diving back into the fight.
As Abigail would say: "What the fuck is happening?"
Indeed, kid. Indeed.
Episode One of America's Undoing is available now. Come for the economic analysis, stay for my daughter roasting my tomato farming dreams.
What brought you back into politics after stepping away? Drop a comment and let's talk about it.
Share this post