Former Congressman Colin Allred Talks No Kings, Government Shutdown

Summary

Bloomberg Talks: Former Congressman Colin Allred Talks No Kings, Government Shutdown

Date: October 20, 2025
Guest: Colin Allred, former Democratic Congressman (TX) and U.S. Senate candidate

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Episode Overview

This episode features a timely conversation with Colin Allred on the 20th day of the U.S. government shutdown—the third longest in history. The discussion centers around the recent “No Kings” protest movement across America, public sentiment, political gridlock, and Allred’s ongoing Senate campaign in Texas. The episode explores the interplay between grassroots activism and electoral politics, the impact of the shutdown on healthcare, and Allred’s strategy for winning in a historically red state.

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Main Themes & Discussion Points

1. "No Kings" Protests and Their Impact

[01:19 - 03:54]

• Allred attended a major Houston protest, praising the turnout and diverse participation:

  “The protest that I was at in Houston had a lot of families there... I thought it was about as American as apple pie...” (Colin Allred, [01:34])

• Emphasizes the American tradition of protest and drawing parallels to civil rights history.
• Suggests the real measure of success is whether protesters “turn that into votes”:

  "...we have to take that not just in terms of protest, but then make it into action in terms of voting and then try and get policy..." (Colin Allred, [01:51])

• Comments on the organic, grassroots nature of the events, rebuffing suggestions of them being Astroturf (artificially manufactured):

  "And folks I think came and they were thanking me for coming, quite honestly, because they were just looking to have some way to express themselves outside of just... doom scrolling on their phones." (Colin Allred, [02:56])

2. Political Reactions & Public Perception

[02:25 - 03:54]

• Discussion of contrasting reactions:
  • President Trump’s dismissal of protesters as unrepresentative and “whacked out.”
  • Senator Ted Cruz calling the protests “Astroturf.”
• Allred rejects the depiction, highlighting the earnestness and diverse makeup of the crowds—families, ordinary people, not just activists or outliers.
• Notable Moment:

  "There are some things that you don’t plan for and that are much more organic. It can just happen… when folks are fed up, then they show up with... their feet." (Colin Allred, [03:28])

3. Government Shutdown & Healthcare Consequences

[03:54 - 05:34]

• Allred’s stance on government shutdowns—strongly against them, noting personal experience:

  “When I was in Congress, I was sworn in during a shutdown. We introduced a bill pretty quickly thereafter called the SEIZE Act... Shutdown to End All Shutdowns Act.” (Colin Allred, [04:13])

• Advocates for lawmakers feeling the same economic pain as furloughed workers if shutdowns occur.
• Criticizes the current Republican leadership for failure to negotiate and end the shutdown:

  “Republicans have the power and the speaker of the House has spent a month not calling the House back into session… I’m sorry they have not used the power that they have to try and protect folks health care...” ([04:37])

• Warns of tangible impacts for Texans—4 million enrolled in Affordable Care Act exchanges may face “dramatic increases” in costs and premiums if the shutdown continues.

  "If you see costs go up that much for your premium, that's basically the same thing as not having health care at all." (Colin Allred, [05:10])

• Calls for bipartisan negotiation to resolve the stalemate.

4. Senate Campaign Strategy in Texas

[05:34 - 06:30]

• Responds to Texas’ long pattern of Republican victories; the last Democrat won a statewide race in the early 1990s.
• Allred’s approach centers on refocusing on “what working folks are going through,” not just partisan talking points.

  "What I’ve been trying to do is make sure that we reorient ourselves around what I think working folks are going through." (Colin Allred, [05:52])

• Notes that earlier promises to lower costs and contain inflation have not materialized.
• Outlines grassroots campaigning: meeting working people where they are, such as at jobsites and grocery stores, rather than traditional political events.
• Personalizes with his experience growing up with a working mother:

  "I'm constantly thinking about my mom who was working two jobs... she couldn't come to one of our town halls... But if I go to them on the job, then we can have those conversations." ([06:08])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On American protest culture:

  "I thought it was about as American as apple pie, to be honest with you." – Colin Allred ([01:37])

• On the need for action beyond protest:

  "...make it into action in terms of voting and then try and get policy to try and respond to what I think folks are going through and what they're worried about." – Colin Allred ([01:51])

• On political authenticity:

  "There are some things that you don’t plan for and that are much more organic... when folks are fed up, then they show up with... their feet." – Colin Allred ([03:28])

• On government shutdowns:

  “I hate shutdowns as a rule… if this did ever happen again the members of Congress and Senators would feel the same pain as working people out there who are not getting paid.” – Colin Allred ([04:14])

• On inflation and campaign focus:

  "I think there were a lot of promises made to working people in the last election about their costs were going to go down and inflation was going to go away on day one. And we've seen the opposite." – Colin Allred ([05:55])

• On relatable politics:

  "I'm constantly thinking about my mom who was working two jobs... she couldn't come to one of our town halls... if I go to them on the job, then we can have those conversations." – Colin Allred ([06:11])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction to Episode & Guest: [00:18–01:19]
• Allred on the No Kings Protests: [01:19–03:54]
• Political Reactions to Protests: [02:25–03:54]
• Shutdown Discussion & Healthcare Impacts: [03:54–05:34]
• Senate Race & Texas Political Dynamics: [05:34–06:30]

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Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is earnest, direct, and driven by Allred’s personal experiences and commitment to relating complex politics to everyday life. The interview maintains a pragmatic yet hopeful outlook, emphasizing grassroots power and incrementalism in pushing for meaningful change.

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Summary Takeaway

Former Congressman Colin Allred uses this moment—not just to critique political dysfunction—but to push for civic action, voter engagement, and a renewed focus on practical solutions for working families. Whether discussing protests or policymaking, his approach is rooted in lived experience, community, and a call for direct participation—both at the ballot box and in daily life.

Transcript

[Indiana University Announcer]

Indiana University is shaping the future of healthcare, advancing discoveries that become treatments for Alzheimer's, obesity and cancer and training the providers trusted to deliver them. See how IU solves what's next iu. Edu Impact.

[Bloomberg Radio Host]

Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio News this is the first time in history that we've been in this situation. There has never been a party that shut down the entire government or a party that shut down, you know, over a clean CR for nothing but political partisan purposes. Their rally illustrated exactly what we've been saying for the last 20 days. It's about politics and it's disgusting.

[Bloomberg Interviewer]

And that was House Speaker Mike Johnson on the 20th day of the government shutdown, now the third longest in US history. Johnson's comments came 48 hours after one of the largest demonstrations in recent memory, with the so called no Kings protest happening in cities and towns coast to coast as demonstrators made their voices heard protesting against the President and his supporters in Congress. One voice that was there joins us now. Colin Allred, former Democratic congressman from Texas and now U.S. senate candidate. Congressman, thanks so much for being with us.

[Colin Allred]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[Bloomberg Interviewer]

Millions of people were in these dubbed no Kings protests this weekend. You were one of them in Houston. You saw the images, the pictures, just the large crowds. The question now, Congressman Allred, is how do you turn that into votes?

[Colin Allred]

Well, first let me just say that I was really proud of the folks who came out to protest. The protest that I was at in Houston had a lot of families there. I took pictures with moms and dads with their kids. There were some pretty clever signs, as you can imagine. And I thought it was about as American as apple pie, to be honest with you. I'm a believer that sometimes protest is necessary in this country. Certainly as a civil rights lawyer and African American, I know that history. But you're right, we have to take that not just in terms of protest, but then make it into action in terms of voting and then try and get policy to try and respond to what I think folks are going through and what they're worried about. And what I saw, you know, at the no Kings protest in Houston was a bunch of folks peacefully protesting, but also with an idea in mind that they weren't just going to stop there, they're going to take that into the next election.

[Bloomberg Interviewer 2]

We just talked to Senator Ted Cruz about this and he said unquestionably we should take political peril seriously. President Trump said nobody showed up and those who did looked whacked out. And I don't know if you saw Folks wearing T. Rex costumes or if they were dressed like hot dogs where you were, Congressman. But we did see quite a bit of character and color out there. The idea though that as the President suggested, that they did not represent America says what to you?

[Colin Allred]

Yeah, well, you know, it's pretty hot in Houston still. So you know, we might not have as many of the full on costumes as you would in other places at this time of year, but there were definitely some colorful folks out there. But like I said, I saw folks also bringing their kids in little red wagons. So I thought it was very organic. And folks I think came and they were thanking me for coming, quite honestly because they were just looking to have some way to express themselves outside of just I think, you know, doom scrolling on their phones. And I think they felt a sense of community. I think they felt a sense that they were not alone and that their concerns were shared by others. And I think it was something that there are some things that you don't plan for and that are much more organic. It can just happen. You can try and have a rally or response to something, but what really happens is when folks are fed up, then they show up with, they vote with their feet. And to spend part of your weekend walking around the heat in Texas for thousands of folks to do that and to do it peacefully I think says a lot.

[Bloomberg Interviewer 2]

Interesting. Senator Cruz, I think referred to it as Astroturf in this case. So Congressman, we've got a government shutdown that's now on day 20 and we'd love to ask you about your campaign in this case. Would you be one of those Democrats who broke ranks to vote to reopen the government if you were in the Senate?

[Colin Allred]

Yeah, well, listen, I hate shutdowns as a rule. When I was in Congress, I was sworn in during a shutdown. We introduced a bill pretty quickly thereafter called the SEIZE Act. It was called the Shutdown to End All Shutdowns Act. And we were trying to make sure that if this did ever happen again that the members of Congress and Senators would feel the same pain as working people out there who are not getting paid. But in this case, Republicans have the power and the speaker of the House has spent a month not calling the House back into session. They have the power to negotiate this and say, listen, we know that we need your votes and we want to make sure that we are in consultation and negotiation the way things have always been done. And I'm sorry they have not used the power that they have to try and protect folks health care, which is what I think Democrats are standing up for we have 4 million Texans, 4 million here who are in the Affordable Care act exchanges. I just got an email from some of the associations that I'm a part of saying that with open enrollment is going to be starting next month and saying to expect dramatic increases in your, in your costs and in your premiums. In some cases, we may see those double. And if you see costs go up that much for your premium, that's basically the same thing as not having health care at all. And so I think this is very clear and very straightforward. I hope Republicans will come to the table and negotiate and try to make sure we can end this shutdown as soon as possible.

[Bloomberg Interviewer]

Congressman, before we let you go, we do want to talk about your race. You know this statistic as well as anyone. No Democrat has won statewide in the state of Texas since the early 90s. You ran, you did not win last time and you raised a lot of money. So what makes you think this time around it's different?

[Colin Allred]

Well, listen, what I've been trying to do is make sure that we reorient ourselves around what I think working folks are going through. And I think there were a lot of promises made to working people in the last election about their costs were going to go down and inflation was going to go away on day one. And we've seen the opposite. And as I've been going around the state, I'm not just going around. I'm trying to, to find areas where I can go directly to working folks because I'm constantly thinking about my mom who was working two jobs and was watching me in the evening, and she couldn't come to one of our town halls that we have or to a political rally. But if I go to them on the job, then we can have those conversations. And so I was in grocery stores and construction sites.

[Bloomberg Interviewer 2]

Come back and talk to us when we have more time to talk about your race. Congressman. It's good to have Colin Allred with us. This is Bloomberg.

[Indiana University Announcer]

Indiana University is shaping the future of health care. Advancing discoveries that become treatments for Alzheimer's, obesity, cancer and other rare and complex diseases. And training the next generation of providers, doctors and nurses trusted to address health challenges with skill, compassion and purpose. From the lab to the clinic, from research teams to patient care, IU talent is driving medical innovation, improving health outcomes and strengthening communities. See how IU solves. What's next? Iu Edu Impact.

[Matt Levine]

Are you looking for a new podcast about stuff related to money?

[Colin Allred]

Well, today's your lucky day.

[Matt Levine]

I'm Matt Levine.

[Colin Allred]

And I'm Katie Greifeld.

[Matt Levine]

And we are the hosts of Money Stuff the Podcast. Every Friday, we dive into the top stories about Wall street, finance and other stuff.

[Colin Allred]

We have fun, we get weird.

[Matt Levine]

And we want you to join us. You can listen to Money Stuff the Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.