Leftist Campaigner Turned Trump Voter

Summary

Morning Wire – “Leftist Campaigner Turned Trump Voter”

Date: August 9, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guest: Evan Barker, Author of Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democrat Operative

---

Episode Overview

This episode centers on an interview with Evan Barker, a former progressive Democratic campaign operator who ultimately left the party, voted for Donald Trump in 2024, and now identifies as politically independent. The conversation dives deep into Barker’s disillusionment with both the Democratic establishment and its progressive wing, the pressures and internal dynamics she witnessed, and her personal evolution in political thought. The episode explores why trust in traditional media and the Democratic Party is eroding, unpacking both personal stories and broader sociopolitical shifts.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Evan Barker: Her Political Roots and Early Motivation

• Healthcare as Motivation:
  • Diagnosed with a genetic lung disease, Barker was drawn to politics by issues around healthcare access.
  • Started campaigning for Barack Obama in 2008:

    “I was only a senior in high school... I have a pre-existing genetic lung disease similar to cystic fibrosis. So healthcare access back then, it could be a real problem for people like me." (02:01)

• Family Background:
  • Raised in a Midwestern Democratic union family, noting:

    “...A lot of my relatives back then, you know, just they supported Democrats. You know, nowadays most of them have drifted over to the right actually.” (02:18)

2. From Believer to Insider: Barker’s Career in Progressive Politics

• Early Campaign Experience:
  • Started working on establishment Democratic campaigns after Trump’s election (post-2016).
  • Felt the party had lost touch, focusing more on “opposing Donald Trump” than concrete solutions:

    “They just didn’t seem to really stand for much other than opposing Donald Trump…that wasn’t really what was speaking to me.” (02:44)

• Immersion in Progressive Wing:
  • Moved back to Kansas and joined a campaign endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — present at the first AOC/Bernie meeting:

    “I was actually there the day that AOC and Bernie Sanders first ever met. I was with them because they came. I know it’s crazy. I didn’t realize what I was witnessing at the time, you guys…” (03:13)

3. Disillusionment and Departure from the Far Left

• Experience with Progressive Organizations:
  • Worked at Left Rising, a far-left PAC supporting the likes of Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, and Jamal Bowman:

    “They championed these crazy far left views that just completely turned me off and turned off people in my family.” (05:10)

• Disenchantment Culminates at the 2024 DNC:
  • Attended the DNC hoping for openness and reform, but instead witnessed the “coronation of Kamala Harris” and party leaders ignoring economic struggles:

    “People shouting out joy. It was a brat summer. They were completely ignoring the economic pain that people like my mom were feeling in the middle of the country.” (05:53)

• Viral Break:
  • Posted a video expressing her resignation and criticisms, expecting it to reach a few dozen people – it garnered millions of views:

    “I went home and I posted a video thinking that it would be my resignation letter to 40 followers. And I woke up the next day it had millions of views to my surprise.” (06:02)

4. Key Grievances with the Progressive Movement

• Cultural Dynamics and Internal Hierarchies:
  • Noted behind-the-scenes ugliness, particularly around race, identity, and donor influence:

    “...It just felt very ugly at times…It wasn’t just the activists that were dragging the party to the left. It was the donors, too.” (08:50)

  • Example: Soros organizations allegedly preferring to fund only organizations led by people of color for five years, impacting who got jobs and influence:

    “George Soros’s organization actually put out a directive…that they would only fund organizations led by non white people for five years. So this had a systemic impact on the leadership class in the Democratic Party.” (09:33)

  • Personal anecdote of being fired for correcting a woman of color on the day of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict:

    “I was fired by a client for correcting her about a fundraising strategy because I did it on the day of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict.” (09:56)

• Culture of Conformity and Fear:
  • Experiences of enforced orthodoxy, including pressure to affirm progressive dogmas even among those who privately disagreed:

    “Just the self-flagellation from men especially. The progressive wing...is just dominated by women. There’s so much bashing of men behind the scenes that even men themselves have to participate… then see them hop onto a Zoom call and say their pronouns and say something to bash their own gender.” (13:47)

  • Summing up her work environment:

    “It was like hell for me. It was like my, my Democratic DEI nightmare. That’s how I describe it now.” (14:37)

5. Policy Disappointments and Shifting Priorities

• Healthcare:
  • Admits Obamacare helped her but eventually rejected Medicare for All after seeing the downside of single-payer systems abroad:

    “I thought that Medicare for all was the way to go. At this point, I no longer support Medicare for [all].”

• Economic Abandonment:
  • Felt economic issues faced by the working class (unions, jobs) were sidelined in favor of culture war battles:

    “They kind of pushed all of those things aside and they just went with the culture wars. And I know they like to blame you guys for the culture wars. They like to say that it’s the right that is perpetuating the culture wars. But …it was actually the Democrats themselves that created the mess, the monster that they’re in and that they’re still in…” (11:43)

6. Behind-the-Scenes of Progressive Fundraising and Identity Politics

• Pressure from Donors & Gatekeeping:
  • Recalls a donor whose voicemail excluded white candidates:

    “Her voicemail literally says, if you are not a woman of color, please don’t bother leaving a message. I won’t donate to you.” (13:06)

• Bizarre and Surreal Experiences:
  • Progressive politician “went on a hallucinogen trip to sort of like heal herself from the wounds of evil white people and to, to heal herself from her white ances[tors]…like really crazy stuff, you guys.” (13:21)

7. Where Barker Stands Now

• Political Affiliation:
  • Identifies as politically homeless, leans left on economics, right on social issues. Voted for Trump in 2024 but remains open to centrist Democrats:

    “At this point, I feel politically homeless. I did vote for Donald Trump in 2024...I could vote for a Democrat. If there was like a normal Democrat, I could. But I could also vote for a Republican. I lean left of center on economics and right of center on social issues.” (14:59)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the reality of progressive circles:

  “It’s even more insane behind closed doors than people actually realize.” (13:28)

• On her feeling of alienation:

  “At this point, I feel politically homeless. I did vote for Donald Trump in 2024, but you know, I consider myself an independent...I lean like left of center on economics and right of center on social issues probably…” (14:59)

• On the DNC experience:

  “It was a brat summer. They were completely ignoring the economic pain that people like my mom were feeling in the middle of the country.” (05:53)

• On men in progressive spaces:

  “Just the self-flagellation from men especially. I would then see them hop onto a Zoom call and say their pronouns and say something to bash their own gender. And that was just like...the daily.” (13:47)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Evan Barker’s background and early motivation:
  [02:01–03:20]
• Immersion and disillusionment among progressives:
  [03:30–05:15]
• Viral resignation and aftermath:
  [05:45–06:10]
• Key grievances and firing over identity politics:
  [08:36–10:35]
• Policy disappointments and culture wars:
  [11:06–12:50]
• Behind-the-scenes stories from campaigns:
  [12:59–14:35]
• Current political stance and outlook:
  [14:46–15:25]

---

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is candid, personal, and at times darkly humorous, revealing how identity politics, donor priorities, and internal culture wars have driven some former operatives away from the Democratic Party. Barker provides a rare insider’s look, challenging popular perceptions of who is driving polarization and the complexities behind political realignment. Listeners come away with a nuanced understanding of why some lifelong Democrats have become disaffected and why trust in establishment politics continues to erode.

---

“It was like hell for me. It was like my, my Democratic DEI nightmare. That’s how I describe it now.” — Evan Barker [14:37]

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This episode is brought to you by Claude by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don't stop at Goodenough. It's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks with you. Whether you're debugging code at midnight or strategizing your next business move. Claude extends your thinking to tackle the problems that matter and finds connections you might have missed for problems worth solving. Get started at Claude. AI Spotify.

[7-Eleven Advertiser]

When you're 7 11's hottest fire chicken sandwich. People think you're intense.

[Evan Barker]

Well, yeah, I'm hot.

[7-Eleven Advertiser]

So, yeah, intense. Wanna see if you can handle the heat? Then try me with pickles or spicy mayo and jalapenos. Oh, and it's all just $4.99. That's a deal. Almost as hot as I am.

[Daily Wire Advertiser]

Almost.

[7-Eleven Advertiser]

Sweets? No, spicy. See for yourself. $4.99 and only at 7:11. Followed through 82546 participating stores only while supplies last visit store for full terms.

[Evan Barker]

I started to see over time I thought that it was the Democratic establishment that was out of touch. But the progressives were even more out of touch.

[Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley]

The rise of the Democratic socialists within the Democratic Party has shaken both loyal party members and establishment power players.

[Georgia Howe]

In this episode, we speak to a former Democrat campaign operator about her experience behind the scenes watching the party change and why she decided to leave. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. This is a weekend episode of Morning Wire. Joining us now is author of Nothing Left Confessions of a Democrat Operative, Evan Barker. Evan, thanks for coming on.

[Evan Barker]

Thank you so much for having me. It's great to be here.

[Georgia Howe]

So you formerly worked as an operative for a progressive Democratic fundraising outfit and you've now pivoted and you've captured the experience of working in that organization in your new book. First, can you tell us about the experience that led you to write this book?

[Evan Barker]

Oh, boy. Where do I even begin? So I actually got started in politics back in 2008. I was only a senior in high school and I have a pre existing genetic lung disease similar to cystic fibrosis. So healthcare access back then, it could be a real problem for people like me. And so I started working for Barack Obama. I also grew up in a Midwestern Democratic Union family. And so a lot of my relatives back then, you know, just they supported Democrats. You know, nowadays most of them have drifted over to the right actually. But, you know, so that's kind of how I got started. And then after college, Donald Trump was elected to be president. Of the United States. And so I was kind of reactivated by his prep, by his presidency. And so I ended up working on some establishment races on the East Coast. Kind of got disillusioned with the Democratic establishment as well. They just didn't seem to really stand for much other than opposing Donald Trump. They kind of talked about abortion a lot and just sort of like resisting. And that at that time, you know, that wasn't really what was speaking to me. And so I ended up moving back to Kansas, back home, and I ended up finding a progressive labor lawyer there who, who was endorsed by Bernie and aoc. So I was actually. I was actually there the day that AOC and Bernie Sanders first ever met. I was with them because they came. I know it's crazy. I didn't realize what I was witnessing at the time, you guys, but, you know, so I kind of got sucked up into the whole progressive world, you know, then kind of use that campaign as a launching pad into national progressive campaigns. Ended up visiting, visiting AOC's office, went out to see Amar Camp in Ajjar, who just ran again the cycle out in California, and then finally landed at Left Rising, which was kind of like the secret weapon of the far left. They were behind Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, Jamal Bowman, Abdul El Sayed. I actually worked for him too. And, you know, I started to see, over time, I thought that it was the Democratic establishment that was out of touch, but the progressives even more out of touch, and they championed these crazy far left views that just completely turned me off and turned off people in my family. And so, you know, once I kind of figured out what they were all about in 2022, I ended up kind of just resigning from my job. And I became a mom that year as well and had a little baby boy and just took a couple of years to just be a mom, focus on my son, which was so refreshing after working for the far left. And then got re energized when I saw that crazy debate with Joe Biden and Donald Trump that I'm sure you guys saw too. And that might sound funny that I might remember that. Oh, yeah, I think. I think all of us do except for Joe, right? Yeah. So. And so I wanted to go to the DNC because it excited me. I was like, maybe they're going to hold an open convention. Maybe we'll find out what they really believe in. It's like a chance for them to remake themselves. And instead, when I got there, you guys, I just saw the coronation of Kamala Harris. People shouting out joy. It was a brat summer. They were completely ignoring the economic pain that people like my mom were feeling in the middle of the country. And so on day three, I ended up leaving and I went home and I posted a video thinking that it would be my resignation letter to 40 followers. And I woke up. And then next day it had millions of views to my surprise. I know it's crazy. And so since then I've just, I've just been telling my story and, you know, that's what this book is.

[Georgia Howe]

So what were some of the key grievances that you highlighted in this clearly very viral video? Like, what were the issues that were just final straws for you?

[Alliance Defending Freedom Advertiser]

I want to tell you about my friends at Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF is dedicated to protecting free speech, religious freedom, the sanctity of life, parental rights, and God's design for males and females. They've scored huge legal victories like helping to topple Roe versus Wade and securing a landmark free speech win at the Supreme Court just a few months ago on behalf of Christian counselor Kaylee Chiles. And they're fighting some of our culture's most pressing issues. From creating model legislation to protect women's sports to efforts to dismantle mail order schemes for abortion drugs. ADF relies on the generous support of people like you to defend every person's God given rights, working in the courtroom to make a difference in the culture. For a limited time, every dollar you give to ADF will be matched. That means $25 becomes 50, 50 becomes 100, but only while matching funds last. Go to joinadf.com wired or text wired to 83848 to have your gift to ADF doubled. That's joinadf.com wired or Text wired to 83848 to double your impact for freedom.

[Daily Wire Advertiser]

You know what nobody warns you about when you buy a house? It's not the planned projects that get expensive. It's the Tuesday afternoon when something suddenly stops working. You're suddenly searching for a contractor, hoping someone can come out quickly, hoping that the repair bill isn't as bad as you imagine. And that's why we here at the Daily Wire Trust, HomeServe HomeServe offers plans starting at just $4.99 a month to help with many of those unexpected home system repairs that regular homeowners insurance often doesn't cover, like plumbing failures and electrical issues. You call HomeServe's 24. 7 hotline and they help start the repair process. And the next time I need help with my home, homeserve is who I'll be calling your next costly home repair is already coming. Act now and get protected with a plan through HomeServe. For 50% less your first year. Go to HomeServe.com MorningWire and find a plan that's right for you. That's HomeServe.com MorningWire for 50% less savings compared to renewal price void in Florida.

[Evan Barker]

So it's interesting, in that actual video, I didn't quite. I highlighted grievances, but I didn't quite go all the way because I was still kind of afraid at that point to go up too much against them. And. But I talk about in the book. So, you know, in the summer of 2020, you guys remember the. The country was on fire and I was actually handed a new client by my boss. It was a criminal justice reform group headed by this guy named Shaun King. I don't know if you're familiar with him. Yes, I know. And that's kind of. That was the beginning of it for me. It's just kind of like seeing the way that people spoke about white people and, you know, just like behind the scenes, it just, it just felt very ugly at times. And then, you know, moving forward into 2020 and just kind of like the full on insanity, you know, I don't know if people realize, but it wasn't just the activists that were dragging the party to the left. It was the donors, too. I mean, George Soros's organization actually put out a directive during that time. This isn't public. I wrote this in my book that they would only fund organizations led by non white people for five years. So this had a systemic impact on the leadership class in the Democratic Party. I saw people get passed over for jobs. You know, I wasn't allowed to correct women of color. I was fired, you guys. I was fired by a client for correcting her about a fundraising strategy because I did it on the day of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict.

[Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley]

What? You didn't know? No corrections on that day.

[Evan Barker]

No corrections on that day. I was, I mean, it was just. It's crazy. Part of my job as a fundraising consultant was to give feedback and advice. And I think, you know, this particular candidate, she was a Justice Democrats backed candidate. And she, you know, she didn't want to call a donor list that I had sent her. And so I just pushed back. And I was like, I think it's really important that we call them, you know, because they're. They're donors that you need. And then, you know, my boss and everyone Was like, oh my God, like, do you realize what you did? The verdict was just handed down. She's going to be in a horrible headspace. Like, you know, you can't do stuff like this, Evan. You can't. And it was just that. It was like death by a thousand cuts. It was just constant.

[Georgia Howe]

So you can maybe speak to this. It sounds like healthcare was an issue for you. What were the appealing issues that made you feel activated? What were the things that you were excited to promote that you feel didn't work out?

[Evan Barker]

Yeah, so back then especially, you know, Obamacare, it did really help people like me with pre existing conditions. It did. I know there's a lot of problems with Obamacare in general, but it did do that one really good thing. And so, you know, I felt like though the progressives offered the solution that at that time that the establishment didn't and that I thought that Medicare for all was the way to go. At this point, I no longer support Medicare for. I don't want a system like in Canada because I know people in Canada who have my condition and they're not able to get the same treatments that I get in the US unfortunately. So it was health care, it was unions. You know, I grew up in a union family. I was a big supporter of unions. It was more economic issues. And I think what I saw is that the Democratic Party kind of traded all of that stuff out. You know, I thought that they helped working class people like those in my family. You know, they kind of pushed all of those things aside and they just went with the culture wars. And I know they like to blame you guys for the culture wars. They like to say that it's the right that is perpetuating the culture wars. But what I hope that people take away from my book is that it was actually the Democrats themselves that created the mess, the monster that they're in and that they're still in, quite frankly, if you look at this new DSA squad iteration, I mean, they're as far as far left as ever. They haven't learned any of the lessons.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, speaking of your book, what are some of the surprising takeaways that people will find in there that you think would maybe shock them from behind the scenes?

[Evan Barker]

I mean, there was just so much pressure from donors. I mean, there was one time when we called a donor and I was with a candidate, we called this donor and her voicemail literally says, if you are not a woman of color, please don't bother leaving a message. I won't donate to you like it was that pervasive, you guys there. I mean the book is actually pretty funny. There's like, like now it's kind of like a dark comedy. But there's just, you know, there was one progressive politician, she ended up going on a, like a hallucinogen trip to sort of like heal herself from the wounds of evil white people and to, to heal herself from her white ances. I mean like really crazy stuff, you guys. Like this is, it's even more insane behind closed doors than people actually realize. Just the self flagellation from men especially. I think the, the progressive wing of the party especially is just dominated by women. And like I'm a woman, you know, I don't have a problem with women, you know, working or anything like that. But it's just, it's so much so. And there's just so much bashing of men behind the scenes that even men themselves have to participate, even if they're confiding into me, you know, offline or on the phone that they think it's stupid. I would then see them hop onto a zoom call and say their pronouns and say something to bash their own gender. And that was just like, it was like the daily.

[Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley]

Sounds like a blast. This sounds like a great time.

[Evan Barker]

I mean maybe for you guys, but it was like hell for me. It was like my, my Democratic DEI nightmare. That's how I describe it now.

[Georgia Howe]

So obviously you're making appearances on daily wire shows. Where do you find yourself now on the political spectrum? Do you, do you find yourself. A lot of people say they're homeless or would you say you're more right leaning?

[Evan Barker]

At this point, I feel politically homeless. I did vote for Donald Trump in 2024, but you know, I consider myself an independent. I could vote for a Democrat. I could. If there was like a normal Democrat, I could. But I could also vote for a Republican. You know, I, I lean like left of center on economics and right of center on social issues probably, which I think so.

[Georgia Howe]

You're a voice they need to listen to.

[Evan Barker]

I am, but they're ignoring me. Can you believe it?

[Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley]

I am not surprised.

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, not surprised. Evan, thank you so much for coming on. This sounds like a really entertaining book.

[Evan Barker]

Thank you. I hope you guys check it out. It's called Nothing Left. Thank you so much.

[Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley]

That was author and former Democrat campaign operator Evan Barker. And this has been a weekend edition of Morning Wire.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Daily Wire Advertiser]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months, or $180 for a 12 month plan required $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy. See terms.