Podcast
Crashing The Political Party
Hosted by Please Repeat Podcasts · EN
Crashing the Political Party is a podcast for curious but busy people who feel let down by the current political system and are looking for something different. Each episode features conversations with, or about, alternative political candidates, topics, and ideas you won’t hear about on mainstream news. If you're ready to explore fresh voices and real options beyond the usual talking heads and cable news shouting matches, this podcast is for you.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Brian Bengs, South Dakota Independent
2w ago00:29:45Tap to summarizeFor this episode, we head to South Dakota to speak with independent senate candidate Brian Bengs. We talk Brian's background, how he's returning to his independent roots after a detour as a Democrat, "The Code of the West", why anti-corruption and anti-big money are major themes of his campaign, what issue Brian has shifted on over time, the biggest issue facing South Dakota that gets overlooked nationnally, Brian's experience gathering voter signatures in sub-zero tempratures, what he learned from voters while on his signature drive, political leaders he looks up to, and, of course, book recommendations!
Transcribe →Ken Estes Jr., Farmer and Independent Congressional Candidate
May 1500:29:22Tap to summarizeThis week, we’re joined by farmer and independent candidate for New York’s 24th Congressional District Ken Estes Jr. We talk farming, what Washington DC can learn from farm life, what’s one thing DC could do to help rural America, Ken’s “four pillars”, what a World Cafe is and why his campaign holds them, learning from voters, book recommendations, and more!
Transcribe →Brian Reisinger, The Impact of the Iran Conflict on American Farmers
Apr 2400:29:29Tap to summarizeIn the Season 5 premiere of our special "Hidden in Plain Sight" episodes, AJ sits down with farmer, author, and rural policy expert Brian Reisinger to unpack how the conflict with Iran is quietly reshaping American agriculture. They dig into the ripple effects most people never see: rising diesel and fertilizer costs, the squeeze on crop yields, and why higher grocery prices don’t necessarily mean higher income for farmers. The conversation also explores what government programs can and can’t do, how farmers are adjusting their plans in real time, what everyday consumers can do to support farms while keeping their own costs down, and more!
Transcribe →Ty Pinkins, Independent Mississippi Senate Candidate
Apr 1700:31:28Tap to summarizeFor this episode, we head down to Mississippi to talk with independent senate candidate Ty Pinkins. Ty and AJ talk about Ty's background, leaving the Democratic Party to run as an Independent, what Ty tells voters about supporting an independent over the major parties, policy priorities for Ty's campaign, how Ty's military service and being a father influence how he'd govern, book recommendations, and food!
Transcribe →Research Note #1
Apr 10Tap to summarizeIn our first Research Note mini-episode, AJ walks through one of his academic publications which tests the theory that alternative candidates would perform better in America under ranked choice voting than the current widely used electoral system. He answers questions about why that might be the case, how he and his coauthors went about studying this, what they found, why even small improvements can matter, and possible future extensions of the work.
Transcribe →Lindsay Church, Independent for IL-4
Apr 300:44:22Tap to summarizeLindsay Church, Independent for IL-4 Crashing The Political Party
Transcribe →Patreon Exclusive: Five Minute Briefing
Mar 2700:16:58Tap to summarizeThis week we're pulling back the curtain a bit and showing you a selection of our Patreon-exclusive show Five Minute Briefing, where Dr. AJ Simmons takes 5 minutes to highlight a news story we weren't able to cover on our regular show. This selection is from the first 3 shows. If you want more Five Minute Briefings and more join us at our Patreon!
Transcribe →Ed Hershey, Illinois Congressional Candidate of the Working Class Party
Mar 2000:22:18Tap to summarizeAJ and Ed talk about his background, who the party is, policy priorities, why the 4th congressional district is drawing so many alternative candidates, lessons learned in Ed's previous campaigns for office, how being a teacher and union organizer will shape his governing style should he win, what success might look like beyond election results, and book recommendations.
Transcribe →The American Solidarity Party, with Chairman Jack Ternan
Mar 1300:30:25Tap to summarizeFor episode 5 of season 5, AJ is joined by Jack Ternan, chairman of the American Solidarity Party. AJ and Jack talk about who the ASP is, what sets them apart from the Democrats and Republicans, what Christian democracy means, some of the major policy positions of the party, the party's stance on the US and Israel attack on Iran, Jack's goals as chairman, party goals in 2026, how Jack came to be part of the ASP, voter skepticism towards a Christian party, and book recommendations.
Transcribe →Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Chicago Alderman, and Independent for IL-4
Mar 6Tap to summarizeIn this episode, AJ talks with Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez about his independent campaign for 4th congressional district in Illinois, why he's running as an independent, challenges he's faced going that route, his policy priorities, vying for voter attention in a five way race, what his governing experience in Chicago has taught him, what his children have taught him about governing, books that have influenced him, and more!If you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe!Join on us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cppshowAnd for more updates check out our website: https://www.crashingpod.com/
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