IHIP News Podcast Summary

Episode: Trump Panics As Red States Turn On Him; He's Drowning in Blue Wave

Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie "Pumps" Sullivan
Guest: Afton Bain (Progressive Candidate for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District)

Main Theme

In this charged, upbeat episode, hosts Jennifer and Angie drill into the shifting political winds in deep red Tennessee with progressive congressional candidate Afton Bain. They discuss growing disillusionment among traditionally conservative voters, expose the failings of unregulated capitalism and corporate political influence, and spotlight the surging grassroots energy that could turn the state blue in a high-stakes special election.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Red State Shift: Signs of Change (00:20–02:56)

• Discontent in GOP Heartland: Angie highlights feeling a palpable disillusionment in states like Tennessee and Oklahoma, where decades of GOP dominance have failed to deliver material gains or stability.

  “You have to blame Republicans for all your problems and then compound that with the Republican running the federal government right now. And the lies are just too hard to look away from.” - Angie (01:20)

• Building a Coalition of the Disenchanted: Afton describes her campaign’s focus on voters who've become “pissed off” with being left behind economically.

  “Voters who are very disenchanted with the current administration… are waking up and realizing they’re upset with the cost of living, they're upset with the chaos of Washington, and they want change.” - Afton (02:56)

2. The Economic Agenda & “The Big Ugly Bill” (02:56–03:31)

• Genesis of Bain’s Candidacy: Afton recounts her decision to run after the passage of "the big ugly bill"—a piece of legislation that resulted in drastic Medicaid cuts and the largest transfer of wealth upward in US history.
• Stark Voter Reality: Bain makes a direct appeal:

  “If you think things are going well. I’m not your candidate.” - Afton (03:26)

3. GOP Tactics, Trump’s Panic, and Grassroots Momentum (03:31–05:00)

• Opponent’s Profile: Her opponent, though personally “a good guy,” is bankrolled by big corporate donors (including a $1 million drop from Jeff Bezos) and hand-picked by Republican kingmakers.
• Heightened National Attention: Trump is personally attacking Bain’s campaign on social media—clear indication the GOP is nervous.
• Volunteer Surge: Bain’s campaign is powered by hundreds of volunteers and intense on-the-ground action:

  “We knocked 13,000 doors in one day with 600 volunteers. The Republicans just can't compete with that.” - Afton (04:39)

4. Winning Over “Triple Trumpers” & Fracturing the Narrative (05:00–06:27)

• Cracks in the Conservative Base: Angie inquires about lifelong Trump voters (16, 20, 24), and Bain confirms the ground is shifting; people are starting to see through the empty promises.

  “I don’t care who you voted for. Welcome to our side. If you are upset about the cost of living in the chaos of Washington, then I'm your candidate.” - Afton (06:05)

• Humanizing the Political Divide: Bain brings humor to Trump’s attacks:

  “I find it comical that the President… is beefing with someone who had a ‘Hot Girls Hit Curbs’ bumper sticker on her car for a few years.” - Afton (06:27)

5. The Money Problem: Corporate PACs and Privatization (06:58–08:58)

• Voters’ New Litmus Test: Angie observes a dramatic shift—voters of all stripes are rejecting candidates who take corporate PAC money.

  “If you were sitting here telling me you’d taken APAC money and Jeff Bezos gave you some money, I'd immediately say, Afton, you’re full of shit.” - Angie (07:19)

• TVA Privatization & Corporate Capture: Bain connects the dots between federal attempts to privatize public utilities and plummeting public welfare in Tennessee.

  “Corporations have bought our democracy and are bankrolling these politicians in what we call the devil’s bargain…” - Afton (08:12)

• Tennessee’s Dire Stats: Bain anchors her motivation in the harsh realities of state failures: highest maternal mortality, dangerous workplaces, lowest quality of life.

6. Deregulation Dangers & Systemic Villainy (11:47–12:50)

• Deadly Consequences of Deregulation: Bain relays a recent tragedy where 16 workers died due to lax safety enforcement.

  “Because of the labor deregulations in our state… Nothing was done because there’s no penalties… These workers died… their families can only sue the company for $20,000 per person.” - Afton (12:20)

• System, Not Just Individuals, to Blame: Angie points out that billionaires like Bezos, Musk, and Thiel are “easy to hate,” but emphasizes the root cause is systemic corruption and deregulation.

7. The Call to Action & Optimism for Change (13:55–14:38)

• Specific Voting Instructions: Bain urges voters to turn out regardless of weather, as it traditionally portends campaign victories.

  “Every campaign I won, it has rained.” - Afton (13:59)

• Sense of Moment: The episode ends on the hopeful note that the people of Tennessee are “fed up, done begging for crumbs,” and have a rare chance to flip their district and send a signal nationally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They have been lied to. And when you look at states like Tennessee… you have to blame Republicans for all your problems.” - Angie (01:18)
• “I decided to run for this race after the big ugly bill was passed in July.” - Afton (02:56)
• “The fact that the federal administration and his billionaire friends are pouring money into this race…is funny, but it’s a testament to the organizing muscle that we’ve built.” - Afton (06:36)
• “If you are upset about the cost of living in the chaos of Washington, then I’m your candidate.” - Afton (06:09)
• “Tennessee has been bought and sold to the highest bidder… I have never taken corporate PAC money and never will.” - Afton (07:57)
• “I want to make Tennessee better. And that's exactly what we've been doing with this race.” - Afton (08:48)
• “One of the, I mean with this campaign we’ve really tried to articulate, like, who the villains are in the story, which are the billionaire boys club and multinational greedy corporations that are selling you out from under your feet and telling you to blame your neighbor for it.” - Afton (12:30)

Important Timestamps

• Red state shift discussion: 00:20–02:56
• Big Ugly Bill & Medicaid cuts: 02:56–03:31
• Trump panic, volunteer surge: 03:31–05:00
• Triple Trumpers & change in voter attitudes: 05:00–06:27
• Corporate PAC/campaign finance: 06:58–07:49
• TVA privatization & state failures: 07:49–08:58
• Tragic effects of deregulation: 11:47–12:50
• Call to vote and send a national message: 13:55–14:38

Tone & Style

The episode fuses biting humor, righteous anger, and an unwavering optimism for grassroots-driven change. Jennifer and Angie maintain a casual, relatable tone—direct and unfiltered, but with a powerful undercurrent of solidarity and hope. Bain meets the energy with data, personal anecdotes, and a clear-eyed vision for flipping Tennessee’s 7th.

For New Listeners

If you missed the episode, you’ll come away understanding how the left is seizing momentum in unlikely places, the depth of economic and political frustration fueling the shift, and why old political divisions in red states might be giving way to new, coalition-driven change. Crucially, you’ll see how organizing and honesty—not party loyalty—are reshaping the conversation and activating voters who are ready for something real.