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INTERVIEW: Cori Bush Talks Running For Congress, AIPAC, St. Louis, Defeating The Machine + More - The Breakfast Club | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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

The Breakfast Club

Mon Mar 02 2026

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

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.

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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.

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

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Transcript

Cori Bush (0:00)

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Cori Bush (4:50)

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

Cori Bush (14:32)

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.

Cori Bush (27:22)

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

Cori Bush (34:47)

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.