INTERVIEW: Cori Bush Talks Running For Congress, AIPAC, St. Louis, Defeating The Machine + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club: Cori Bush Talks Running For Congress, AIPAC, St. Louis, Defeating The Machine + More

Date: March 2, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Lauren LaRose
Guest: Congresswoman Cori Bush

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club features Congresswoman Cori Bush, returning to discuss her renewed campaign for Congress after a high-profile and controversial loss. Bush opens up about her experiences with dark money, AIPAC influence, betrayal in politics, and personal resilience. The conversation explores the larger themes of political integrity, grassroots activism, and the evolving demands of voters in St. Louis and beyond. Bush passionately outlines her reasons for fighting to regain her seat and the lessons learned from an intensely adversarial and expensive campaign season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fight to Get Back in Congress

• Returning After Loss
  Bush acknowledges she was not ready to leave Congress and expresses how the defeat was not a genuine reflection of her effectiveness, but rather the result of outside financial forces.

  • “I wasn’t ready to leave and I should not have lost my seat. I should still be there right now.” (03:53)

• Unprecedented Campaign Spending
  A total of $15 million was spent against her in a campaign that typically would require $1-2 million, primarily coming from AIPAC, big crypto, and real estate interests.

  • “They spent $15 million to beat me... For them to spend 15 million to get me out and only win by five points…” (04:02)

• AIPAC’s Involvement
  Bush explains the political backlash she faced from AIPAC after introducing the “Ceasefire Now” resolution during the Gaza conflict, which she cites as a primary reason for the concerted effort to remove her.

  • “AIPAC got mad... wanted me out so bad. And not only that, big real estate wanted me out.” (05:00)

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2. Reflections on Her Defeat & Community Response

• Strategic Mistakes & Voter Confusion
  Bush notes that many supporters wrongly assumed she had the election “in the bag” or confused the timing of her primary, missing the chance to vote.

  • “People said, Corey, we thought you were running in November. So we missed a lot of people that way.” (08:45)

• Emotional Impact of Loss
  Bush describes the personal toll, emphasizing it stemmed from external manipulation, not job performance.

  • “It broke me down because I didn’t lose because I wasn’t doing my job... I lost because $15 million of dark money... made the decision of who was going to represent St. Louis.” (09:27)

• Personal Betrayal
  She recounts feeling betrayed by her opponent, a former friend, whom her own father once supported under false pretenses.

  • “My dad gave him a check. Two weeks later, he announced he was running against me.” (11:27)
  • “I lost all respect for Dude. Because the thing is, if we’re friends, you can run... at least, be up front.” (12:09)

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3. New Campaign Strategies & Lessons Learned

• Stronger Team & Community Engagement
  Cori discusses how losing made her stronger: she’s more organized, more responsive, and now constantly in the community.

  • “They made me stronger... I’m better than I was then... I’m with the people.” (06:59)
  • “People are coming up to me saying, Corey, we made a mistake... Now we understand you were saying that you care that that money stays here in St. Louis.” (07:51)

• Voter Education
  Explains her focus on communicating the importance of timing and primary participation to avoid prior turnout mistakes.

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4. AIPAC, Political Influence, and Identity

• AIPAC’s Role & Primary Targeting
  Bush points out the unusual funding patterns in her and Jamal Bowman’s races, raising the racial undertones and concentrated attacks on Black progressives.

  • “Why would they need to spend all that money in a Democratic district, with two Black folks running?... Why are you coming for two Black people?” (14:09)

• Defining AIPAC for Listeners

  • “AIPAC is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee... if you won’t vote exactly how they want... even if it deprioritizes the United States, you’re in trouble.” (29:34)

• America-First Messaging
  Both Bush and Charlamagne note that domestic needs must take priority for most Americans, explaining why sending money abroad is such a contentious issue.

  • “If people’s basic needs in America were taken care of ... they could care less where you send money.” (31:38, Charlamagne)

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5. The “Squad” and Progressive Politics

• Continued Solidarity with the Squad
  Bush reaffirms her connection with the progressive House group and details its history and enduring support.

  • “We’ve never stopped communicating... I’m still squad.” (24:17)

• Fighter Identity
  She pushes back on criticisms of her style, emphasizing that her toughness and fighting spirit are central to why communities trust her.

  • “If me getting assaulted by the police… didn’t knock me down…why would I give up now?” (25:44)

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6. Advice for Future Leaders & St. Louis Youth

• Encouragement for Political Engagement
  Stresses the need for younger generations and discouraged voters to continue fighting for change.
  • “Somebody’s going to get in the seat. Somebody is going to be your voice… Don’t let them do it without you.” (32:48)

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7. Democratic Messaging on Israel-Gaza and Party Autopsy

• Pressure on Democratic Candidates
  Bush predicts a reckoning within the Democratic Party, as voters demand candidates resist AIPAC funding and adjust their positions on Gaza.
  • “If [2028] candidates are taking money from AIPAC, they’re not going to get the votes.” (34:47)
  • “You have to make a change… do the right thing. Hard things are hard.” (36:47)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AIPAC’s Influence:
  “Their whole mission… is to make sure there is 100% support for Israel… even if it deprioritizes the United States, you’re in trouble with them.” (29:34, Cori Bush)

• On Getting Back Up After Setbacks:
  “If the bullets, tear gas, the noise, munitions, the dogs, me getting assaulted by the police – if none of that knocked me down… why would I give up now?” (25:44, Cori Bush)

• On Community Betrayal:
  “To see them turn on me… it was so easy. Like, they didn’t even reach out to say, ‘Sis, we got to make a different decision this time.’” (22:42, Cori Bush)

• On Forgiveness:
  “Forgiveness is not for them. Forgiveness is for me… so that I can go out and do the work with a clean heart.” (23:20, Cori Bush)

• On Youth Engagement:
  “Start showing up… get in on the ground floor because this is your world to create.” (33:25, Cori Bush)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:49–04:44: Why Cori Bush lost her seat and AIPAC’s influence
• 06:58–08:45: Running a different campaign and voter confusion
• 09:27–10:35: Emotional impact of loss and betrayal
• 14:09–14:25: The role of race and targeting of Black progressives
• 22:42–24:11: Forgiving those who turned on her and serving regardless of support
• 24:13–25:36: History and solidarity of “The Squad”
• 27:08–29:24: Fighting the political machine and rising community awareness
• 29:34–31:38: AIPAC definition and influence on US policy
• 32:48–33:25: Encouragement to young people and new leaders
• 34:26–36:47: Democratic party messaging and the future of US policy on Israel-Gaza
• 36:53: How to donate or volunteer for Cori Bush’s campaign

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Closing & Call to Action

Bush wraps up by inviting supporters to donate or volunteer through corybush.org, highlighting her grassroots, people-powered campaign and her intent to continue fighting for St. Louis and progressive causes.

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Summary prepared by your podcast expert summarizer. This recap preserves the spirit, context, and tone of this deeply personal and political conversation.

Transcript

[Cori Bush]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up.

[Cori Bush]

Wake your ass up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the breakfast club. Lauren LaRose is here as well. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, indeed.

[DJ Envy]

Welcome back, congresswoman from Missouri. Ladies and gentlemen, Corey with an I. Welcome. How you feeling this morning?

[Cori Bush]

Oh, I'm amazing. Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

Feeling good.

[Cori Bush]

I'm feeling so good. I'm so glad to be here today with you all again.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What made you want to get back into this fight, Corey?

[Cori Bush]

So first of all, I wasn't ready to leave and I should not have lost my seat. I should still be there right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They spent a lot of money to beat you.

[Cori Bush]

They spent $15 million to beat me. And for context, it only cost about $1 million. This race cost anywhere from 1 to $2 million to win and run. I mean, to run and win. So for them to spend 15 million to get me out and only, and they only won by five points. They, they couldn't even get me by double digits. Like it took that much. And when I beat the person that my predecessor, their family had been in, that had held their seat for 52 years, I beat them with $1 million.

[Redfin and Other Sponsors Announcer]

Wow.

[Cori Bush]

So that's just how hard it was for them to get me out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And when you say them, you. It was. He was APAC funded.

[Cori Bush]

He was. He was totally APAC funded. But big crypto and big real estate. They came in to help, but it was, it was mostly apac.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why though? Like, why did they, why did they need to spend so much money to take you out?

[Cori Bush]

So first of all, when the insurrection happened, it was my third day in office. We didn't even have like water in the office yet. Like, we. I didn't have a panic button, but barricaded in my office. And I mean barricaded, like. And I said, you know, like, if these folks come down the hallway, if they come. If they come for me, because my name is on this door, if they come for me, like, we banging to the end. Like, I meant I was going to fight these people if they came. If they came for me and my team. But I sat there so pissed off that I introduced my first piece of legislation to investigate and expel any member of Congress that participated in the insurrection. So, first of all. So that pissed off Trump, you know, pissed off the administrator, it pissed off his administration. They were already upset with me before that because I'm the Ferguson protester, you know, so. But after that, I just kept doing things that was upset in the Right. But it wasn't until I introduced the Ceasefire now resolution when there was about to be this ground invasion in Gaza. How can I as a human being sit back and just say, how can I, as a human being just sit back and say, like, it's cool to bomb people? You know, when I have a. When I have a decision to make, when. If I didn't have a decision to make, that's different, but I had a decision to make whether I would vote to send money there, whether I would stay silent or not, because if bombs was about to drop in this country, you know, in my city, I would want somebody else to speak up and say something. So. So AIPAC got mad. They decided, we want somebody that's more aligned with us and we're going to use somebody that looks like you to help trick people, you know, and. And so that's what they did. So they wanted me out. They wanted me out so bad. And not. Not only that, big real estate wanted me out. So they worked together because I'm the one that camped out on the steps of the US Capitol back in 2021, when the eviction moratorium was about to expire. And I stayed out there, Activist Corey was out there on the ground four nights and five days. But we pushed the Biden administration, the CDC and all of those folks to extend that moratorium. So people were just mad. You know, I was going to ask, so this time around, you know, running, what are you doing differently? Knowing that, like, you know, they. They don't want you there and they're going to use everything they can, you

[DJ Envy]

know, when you're under attack.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, first of all, they made me stronger. So I'm a different person than I was then. I mean, I'm better than I was then. So I see things. I see things better. I'm doing things faster. We have a team that is bigger right now than we had when we ended the campaign last time. Like, we started off with a heavy team. We are making sure that our message is getting out there. One thing that's really different, too, is I had to be in D.C. and trying to run a race and work in Congress at the same time. Now I'm on the ground. I'm with the people. I'm, you know, I'm where people know. You know, Corey usually is. I'm out in the street. So that changes a lot because people said, well, Cory, I really couldn't hear your message. Like, I didn't know. Like, it didn't seem like you were fighting. And it's because I had to be away. Now I'm not away. And I'm. I'm with the community. The community is saying, we. So many people have come up to me and said, corey, we made a mistake. Like, we were listening to those ads. We, you know, we just didn't know what to think. And so. And the tide has turned. And so now people are like, oh, I understand why you were talking so much about, you know, keeping our money here and not. And our money not going to bomb people in another country. We just thought that you were saying you cared more about another country. Now we understand you were saying that you care that that money stays here in St. Louis.

[DJ Envy]

So besides the money, and what is the other reason? Because I'm sure you analyzed it, why you felt that you lost. Was it the ads that they put out? Because it had to be just something besides the money, where people not coming out. Like, what do you think the reason was? Because it wasn't by that much.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, well, so some people said that they thought I had it in the bag because I had won my other race, my. The race previously by 40 points, you know. Well, 40%. And so people were like, you. Like, there's no way you can then turn around.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You gotta go out.

[DJ Envy]

You gotta.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, so many people said that. And then the other part, which is something we're changing now, people said, corey, we thought that you were running in November. So we were waiting for the November election, and your election was really in. In. In August. And so we missed a lot of people that way. So we've been hammering it now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was a special election, right?

[Cori Bush]

No, no, that's. That's the primary, the Democratic primary. And so for Me, we're in a Democratic district, so the general election is a lot easier to win.

[DJ Envy]

How did you get.

[Cori Bush]

How did they get that mixed up, though? August from November? Because all of the talk about the. The presidential elect, presidential election. So people's focus was, I just need to show up in November.

[DJ Envy]

Elections are in November. So people just automatically think of November's election, November's elections.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did it hurt to lose?

[Cori Bush]

It tore me up. Like, it was really. It was devastating. And not because I lost an election. I had. I had lost elections before, and it's. It's tough either way, let me just say. But this one, like, broke me down because I didn't lose because I wasn't doing my job. I didn't lose because I was a bad congresswoman or a bad candidate. I lost because $15 million of dark money, of corporate interest money, made the decision of who was going to represent St. Louis. And the person ran on live. So $15 million worth of ads saying, Corey wants children to drink contaminated water from lead pipes. You know, Corey hates Joe Biden. Those were most of the ads. None of the ads spoke about Israel. None of the ads spoke about Gaza or anything else. They. They. It was mostly about Joe Biden. And so my thing is this. If you run in on truth, like, if you believe you better than me and you're going to do more for the community, say that. Say what you're going to do. Like, I respect that, but don't lie, because if you lie, then you're deceiving the very people that you claim you want to represent. And it's about you, not the people.

[DJ Envy]

Now, the gentleman you lost to is a brother. Do you have any relationship with him at all? Do y' all know each other at all coming up or anything like that?

[Cori Bush]

Oh, yeah, we, you know, we were friends. We were friends. And so, so much so to where my dad even went to one of his events when he was Cause. So first he came out saying he was running against Josh Hawley. We all know Josh Hawley, Republican out of Missouri who became, you know, I think he. He got some more notoriety at the insurrection when he put up the fist outside the Capitol. So he said he was running against him. He called him the greatest threat to America and to democracy. He actually wasn't really running against him. He used that to raise money, but to run against me. But so my dad was so excited, like, okay, somebody's gonna take out Josh Hawley. And my dad got all of his friends to come to one of his fundraisers and My dad gave him a check. Two weeks later, he announced he was running against me.

[DJ Envy]

And he used your dad's money to run against you.

[Cori Bush]

You know, and so I. But before that, we had worked together on different issues. Um, you know, we had been at events together. We were cool. Like, we would talk on the phone.

[DJ Envy]

You know, even though he's Republican, it didn't matter, y'.

[Cori Bush]

All. Well, you know, he played like he wasn't a Republican, but he really. You know, I think in his heart, he really is. But, yeah, we were like, we weren't. You didn't see this coming at all? No. Like, I wouldn't have never thought that. And so. But what I did, though, because people kept calling me saying, corey, he's running against you. Like, it's a lie that he's running against Josh Hawley. And so I called him one day. I called him, and I said, hey, yeah, You know, But I was like, okay, let me just. Let me just tell you what people are saying, because a whole article came out in our. In our biggest newspaper in town saying that he was. It was really a lie. So I called him. I'm like, hey, why am I hearing all of these things about you running against me? And you said you run against Josh Hawley. Oh, sis. No, I'm not. I would never run against you. I wouldn't. You won your race the way I did. I would never run against you. And so I. So I. Because he started doing. Then I hit record, and I recorded it. And so. So it turns out, you know, he. He was. He lied. And, you know, so I lost all respect for Dude. Because the thing is, if we're friends, you can run against. This is a democracy. You can run against somebody. Like, that's not my issue. But at least, like, be up front, say that, hey, this is what I want. But when AIPAC comes to you, Hill Harper sat with you all and, what, a year, two years ago and talked about how AIPAC came to him and asked him to run against. To run, I think, against Rashida Talib for $20 million, and he turned it down. Well, the guy that's in the seat now, in my community, he didn't turn the money down.

[DJ Envy]

And he's a Democrat. I just want to say. I said Republican before. He is.

[Cori Bush]

He was the campaign manager to a Republican that was trying to restrict abortion rights in Missouri. So it's crazy how this is. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[Cori Bush]

I was gonna say just listening to it. Literally, it's like the shows that we watch on tv. Like, what goes Down. And I know that, that because you guys race was one of the most expensive primaries in American history. Literally. Yes, yes. Just because they were trying to get you about it. Only because they wanted me out, you know, and they knew that I had already been. Been like, doing a lot to try to uncover what was going to happen with Project 2025. Had Trump got in and people were like, oh, no, it's not real Trump. You know, Project 2025 won't happen. And so they were just trying to stop that. So, yeah, they spent all of that money, you know, and the thing is this. Why would they. Why would they spend what? Why would they need to spend all of that money in a Democratic district, one that's going to go to a Democrat anyway? And AIPAC is primarily funded by Republicans. But why would they get involved in a race like that? And you got two black folks running. Why get involved? You know, why. Why did they get involved in my race and Jamal Bowman's race and make us the most expensive US House races in history? Primaries in history. Why are you coming for two black people?

[DJ Envy]

They said they spent over $8.5 million from Apex. Spent more than that.

[Cori Bush]

I know you said it made you stronger, right? Strong enough to run this time, but did you ever feel discouraged to the point where you like, no, I'm not doing this. Yeah, up until I made the. It took me months, you know, I was broken. So I lost the race. August, I think it was August 6th of 2024, and I still had to be in Congress for another several months, until January. So I had to, you know, move out of the office. They put you in this little cubicle. Like, you didn't. You don't even have an office anymore. They're trying to transition you out. And so I had to still show up as a congressperson, still do all of my work and know that I was. That I was leaving. And I was trying to figure out, like, what do I do with my life? Because I didn't. Like, I had been working for this for 10 years, you know, so, like, what, like, what am I going to do now? So that was just really. I just didn't know what to do. But it was after I left my sister in service, Rashida Talib, she came to me like that, February, and she said, corey, you're going to run again? And I was like, no, you know, I'm talking to my husband. We're like, you know, we're trying to get our. Get ourselves, like, grounded. And then the people of St. Louis were coming up to me on the street, like, everywhere I would be walking down the street and people would stop and jump out of cars. You gotta run again, like, you know, and so that's what helped to build me back up, is seeing the community like, we messed up. We didn't do right by you last time. We want to be. We are here for you now. And so that really helped. But I. To climb out of that, you know, it. You know, it's hard because my heart wasn't. My heart wasn't for me. My heart was for the community. Everything I did, I have been. I have been shot at, beat up. Like, so many things have happened to me and my family to be able to do this work. We needed security because we needed security. You know, like, I put my life on the line for the people of my community in this country. And then to get kicked in the back like that, it was. It was hard. What did the pastor do? Like, the pastor? You. Like, you know, the pastor. And you did that kick in? Like, absolutely. No, that's what did it. I. So first I had to check with my family and my husband more directly because how things impacted us, you know, and how like, the. The DOJ was being weaponized against us, you know, we want to make it seem like you a criminal and you did this, all of that kind of stuff. So I had to make sure that home was good first. But it was my faith that kept me from feeling like I needed to go hide in a corner somewhere. You know, it was like, Corey, you know who you are and whose you are. You know, you got God and you know you have a purpose. The only reason I ran for that seat in the first place was my mission. I knew that it was my miss Even right now. Even right now. It's like, you know, like. Like you asked Charlamagne, like, you know, you putting yourself out there, doing this again. Some people have asked me. My Ayanna Pressley had asked me. She's like, corey, why would you want to do this to yourself again? You know, and for me. And what I said to her was, because it's not about me. It's about the mission. It's what I know that the Lord is sending me to do, you know? And so whether, however it goes, I gotta. I gotta say yes. Like, I gotta say yes. Because on the other side of this, yes, people are helped, whatever it looks like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I'm glad you're saying this, and I'm glad you just asked those questions because I've seen so many people Just become bitter. And all they do now is complain on Instagram.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I'm like, yo, why don't you get back into the fight?

[Cori Bush]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, I mean, like, just get back into the fight. Okay, you lost a couple of races. Get back into the fight.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, but it got to be depressing. It got to be difficult, it got to be hard.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you don't got to stay there though.

[DJ Envy]

You got to feel like you would, you know, people switch sides on you. It got to hurt, you know, because especially when all you want to do is do something positive for your community and you see all these ads, it got to get to a point where you be like, f this, I'd rather my piece. But you know, you decided to say, nah, I'm going to get back in there and fight.

[Cori Bush]

But like you said, people was coming up to you on the streets though. Like the people. That's what the connection is, right? Yes, always. Whether it's politics, pastoring, like it's people. As long as you connect to them. Yeah. And it's service. All of it is service. And you know, there are days no

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one knows what the future holds. But you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need. From storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal, real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts 24. 7.

[Public Investing Announcer]

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[Cori Bush]

Days when I'm like this, this still hurts. Because when you know that you've helped people, like there are people in the community that I help, organizations that I helped financially, where I put my name on the line, where I put. I was a freshman trying to help put. I was pushing leadership, saying, no, my community needs this. No, I need. You know, even President Biden would say, here, okay, Corey, here she comes. She's going to talk about St. Louis again. Like, people knew, like I was putting my name on the line, making sure that these folks that said we need X amount of dollars, that they were able to get those dollars and to see them turn on me when this other person decided to run against me, it was so easy. Like they didn't even reach out to say, sis, you know, we got to make a different decision this time because of X. It was just like stab you in the back, you know. So that's what it was. It was really hard. And even some days now and I've had to get myself together to forgive. You know, I had to, like, I had to really sit with forgiveness and understand, like, forgiveness is not for them. Forgiveness is for me. Forgiveness is so that I can go out and do the work with a clean heart. Because the thing is this, the night that I won my election in 2020, when I, when I won the last election that November, the general, I said I don't. In my speech. I don't care if you voted for me. I don't care if you like me. I don't care if you villainize my name. My question for you is, do you have food? Did you eat? Do you have shelter? Do you have water? Do you have. So that. And so today that is still the same.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Were you ever considered a member of the squad?

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, absolutely. Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And do you feel like they had your back after you lost in 2024?

[Cori Bush]

Oh, yeah. We've never stopped communicating. They are, you know, with me, you know, as far as, like we talk all the time. Yeah. There's. There's no distance between me and the squad. And I know some people have said you all haven't, but some people have said, oh, former squad member Corey. But I'm still squad.

[DJ Envy]

Explain.

[Cori Bush]

Sure. The squad started off in 2018 with four black and brown women who were able to win and some of them against incumbents were able to come in as full on progressives and Win these seats in congress where people. Where they didn't come from money and wealth and didn't have the, quote, unquote, pedigree that you would think would win these seats. But they came in and they won, and they held true to their progressive values. And once they got in, the Trump administration came for them, but they held strong. They never let go of their values. And they started to. People called them the squad, and I knew most of them already at that point, and so. But I lost. I ran in 2018, too, but I lost my race. And so in 2020, I ran. Jamal Bowman ran, and we were able to become part of the squad. Jamal, so far, has been the only guy in the squad.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How do you respond to critics who say, you know, voters already made their choice in 2024, so why. Why should they change their minds now?

[Cori Bush]

Because, you know, like, just said, voters are coming up to me saying, we need you to be our congressperson. We messed up. We failed you. You know, and this is actually what they're saying. And they. They say it all the time. We're getting our lick back. That's what they're saying. We're getting our lick back because this was stolen. Had you lost this fair and square. We understand that. That elections get dirty and all of that, but. But $15 million being one of the most expensive house races, you know, in u. S. History, primaries in u. S. History, that was intentional, and that was. That was designed to hurt St. Louis. So that's why, Pete. That's why, like, you can't. And the thing is, I'm a fighter. I went in as a fighter. You know, everybody's a fighter now. Everybody's a fighter. When I was, you know, coming into. When I was moving into politics, and I'm like, but I'm the fighter. They was like, oh, no, you got to be a statesman. Oh, decorum and be nice. And you're too aggressive. Now, everybody, you know, everybody's a fighter. But if I say I'm a fighter, if I say I get knocked down and I get back up, if the bullets, if the tear gas that the. The noise, munitions, if the dogs, if me getting. Getting assaulted by the police, if none of that knocked me down, if me living in my car, if me being left for dead by an abusive partner, if all of those things have happened to me in my life and I didn't give up then, why would I give up now? I'm gonna ask you about messaging, but, I mean, shoot. Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How you gonna defeat the machine, though?

[Cori Bush]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Because I mean, the machine is still here, you know what I'm saying? Like, you're still, you still, your stance has not changed.

[Cori Bush]

Right, right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So how are you going to defeat the machine? Cause they back still. They spending money now?

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, they're spending money, yeah. What we're seeing right now is they're spending like somewhere around $2 million in a lot of these races. But back in 2024, people didn't really know, like on a, on a mass level anyway, on a mass scale who AIPAC was at the time, you know, and we weren't able to spend the money to get the, to make the connection to just like, message that we had to talk about other things as well. Now the tide has turned and people know who AIPAC is. People are pissed off now that they know who AIPAC is. There was a town hall in my community that the current congressman held his town. It was in person, his town hall, back in August. Most of the questions were around AIPAC money and it was around his support for a genocide. And when I say he was hammered over and over again at people asking about that because they were like, we just didn't know that this is who you would be. But also at the end of that, and I don't know if you all saw it, it went viral. But at the end of that town hall, some of his constituents were brutalized by local, his security and local law enforcement just waiting to talk, get a chance to talk to him, to ask him more questions. And so the community is already upset. Also. We had a devastating tornado that came through the inner City in St. Louis and devastated homes and people. That was in May of last year. People are still living in tents. People who are homeowners still don't have a place to live right now. And we, the community has been fighting for more dollars. He has not shown up. He has not shown up. And so people, so that's what's different, you know, is that people are saying, we know that we don't have the right person. So, yeah, AIPAC can try to put all of this money into our community. But the people are saying, we're watching now. We want to see if they're giving how much money they're giving because we don't want our candidates to take that money. So that's what's different too, is, is. And we're seeing it all across the country different. Members of Congress are saying, I'm not this time. I'm not going to take the money. Because they're getting pressure from their communities

[Charlamagne Tha God]

People who are listening, who don't know what AIPAC is like, explain to people you know what AIPAC is because I'm hearing a lot of folks now say they're not voting for any candidate who takes money from aipac.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, AIPAC is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. It is an organization, but they are, they also have affiliated PACs, political action committees where they can get funnel money to, to candidates to run for office. But their, their whole mission, to paraphrase is basically to make sure that there is 100% support for Israel and the agenda to be this big ally to the United States, but basically supporting Israel. So if you, you know, if you won't vote exactly the way they want you to vote on every single bill that prioritizes Israel, even if it deprioritizes the United States, you're in trouble with them. And for me, when my community is, you know, in need of health, people in my community don't have health care. When people in my community are sleeping on the street, when people in my community are still trying to figure out how to end gun violence. And you know, and we have all of these issues, you know, we don't have clean water all the time time. We have, you know, we have issues with water, we have issues. We have friggin people dying right now in our community from radioactive waste dumped in our community from the federal government. That's been happening for decades. And people are literally dying. And you're telling us to give money to, to prioritize another country, you know, and so that, so people, I need people to understand that we, this is not something that is against a people. We're not against another country. What we're saying is the United States deserve, we deserve to take care of our people, you know, but can we help Congo? Yes. Can we help, you know, the Sudan? Can we help Gaza? Can we help Syria, can we help Yemen? Can we help. Who are, can we help these other countries? Can we help Haiti and Cuba? Can we help? We should be helping who we can help. Can we help Honduras, we should be helping who we can help. But we take care of our people.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I mean, I mean that's why America first messaging works works. Right? And you know, I say it all the time. Nobody would care where America sent money if people in America were taken care of.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

If people's basic needs in America were taken care of and they had money in their pocket, they could care less where you send money.

[Cori Bush]

Right? But, but they want to defund the social safety net when you want to when this country says, you know what? We're going to knock people off a snap. SNAP is food. Like, it's. You need food to live, to survive. Nobody is becoming a millionaire or getting rich off of snap. You know, people just need to eat. So when you say we would rather prioritize, you know, giving tax breaks to the rich and the wealthy, and we're gonna, we're gonna help do that by. By defunding snap.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

When I saw Trump say at the State of the Union the other day when he was like, bragging about cutting food stamps, like, that's a good thing. I'm like, oh, he has no idea who's who.

[Cori Bush]

Even his base is who his base is, because they on food stamps. They're on food stamps.

[DJ Envy]

I was gonna ask, you know, when you have, you know, your district, right, what do you tell them? Because they have to be discouraged from all the politics and even young leaders out there that want to get into it. So what do you tell those young leaders and people from your district how to not get discouraged? Like, what is your message to them?

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, so the thing is right now, and I know that there has. There had been a lot of discourse for a while, like, we're going to sit this out, like, you know, let somebody else do it. And I understand that sentiment, people feeling really discouraged. But I look at it like this. For all the things that we've gone through over the last 10 years, 15 years, but especially the last 10, to me, it was in preparation for this moment. It was us getting in place. It was us learning so we. That we could be ready for right now. Are we tired? Are we discouraged? Are we tired of our politicians, you know, being hypocrites? Are we tired of all of this? Yes, we are. But then this is the moment that we step up. Because if we do not, what are we leaving to our children and our children's children? What world are we leaving to them? And so I understand feeling discouraged and to our youth, too. What I tell them is, look, there are parts of Missouri where there are children. There are students who go to school four days a week. There are students who go to school five days a week. I said that was a decision that a person made. A person said, this is what I want. They went and talked to their friends and they made a law and changed and changed how kids go to school in Missouri. I said, that is how these laws happen. It's somebody's idea. It doesn't come from you, you know, up in the sky. So somebody's Going to get in the seat. Somebody is going to be your, your voice. Somebody's going to be the person to write these laws, to legislate for you to speak for you. Don't let them do it without you, you know, and don't. And start showing up. So I let them know, like, get on, get in on the ground floor because this is your world to create. And, and it's right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I want to ask you, you know, I'm sure you saw the DNC autopsy that said Kamala Harris, his silence on the Gaza genocide cost her votes. Like that was the headline.

[Cori Bush]

I saw that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What should the messaging be from Democrats in regards to Israel and Gaza moving forward? Because most of them that's going to run in 2028 are not going to pivot on their support for Israel.

[Cori Bush]

Yeah, well, I don't know about. I think that there's going to have to be a shift because so many people are saying that they're paying attention to AIPAC. There's a lot of talk that if, if the 2028 candidates are taking money from AIPAC, that they're not going to get the votes. So I think what they're going to have to do is reckon with what, what they did wrong. Look at this autopsy. Be real with it. Because not listening to the polling that was telling them this and people like me saying, hey, we're all over the country, this is what people are saying, like, in order to win, we need you to start listening and make some different decisions. You know, the fact that they didn't listen then to me, if they continue the way that they're doing, then they don't want to win. Like, you're not being serious about winning. You have to make a change. You have to do something different. So the message, the message has to be that, you know, there is. This is the United States. Can we support people who need our help? Yes, we can. Do we make anybody more. Does Is. Does anybody get the priority over anyone else? No, no. You know, but will we support what we need to? Yes. And we need to make sure that the, that the aid is getting in. We shouldn't be cutting programming, we shouldn't be cutting money going to, to groups like Unreal and so many others who are providing the support that's needed. People are still starving, people are still cold, people are still living in tents. People are still being bombed. You know, so that has to end. And if I. And the thing is this. When you want to be the most, when you want to be the quote unquote most powerful person in the world. You are saying, I'm signing up to do the hard work. I'm signing up to make difficult decisions that other people probably wouldn't want to make. So let's start with that. Yes, it's a difficult decision to make. Yes, it's going to be hard. Yes, you might get, you know, you might get, you know, demonized and dragged for it, but do the right thing. So I, I think that hard, you know, like hard things are hard.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How do they donate to your campaign, Corey?

[Cori Bush]

Look corybush.org It's C-O R I B U-S H.org yes, please, you know, small dollar donations. You know, we don't, you know, if you got $5, $20, whatever you have, all the way up, up to 3, $500, feel free, please reach out to us. We can use volunteers. You know, you don't have to be in St. Louis to volunteer for us because you can get on the phones. You know, there are so many things that a campaign needs. We are a grassroots campaign. We have never taken a dollar of corporate PAC money. So we are totally 100% people powered. And this is for the people. So if you, if you can donate, please, please go to corybush.org that's right.

[DJ Envy]

Congresswoman Cori Bush. Thank you for joining us this morning.

[Cori Bush]

Thank you for having me.

[DJ Envy]

Love you all.

[Cori Bush]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up.

[Cori Bush]

Wake your ass up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The Breakfast Club.

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[Cori Bush]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.