The Big Blue Wave

Summary

Podcast Summary: “The Big Blue Wave”

Podcast: The Find Out Podcast
Date: November 6, 2025
Guests: Amanda (Amanda’s Mild Takes), regular “Find Out” hosts
Theme: A celebratory, candid roundup and analysis of the massive Democratic wins in the previous night’s elections, their implications, and what comes next for the left.

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Episode Overview

This electrifying post-election episode captures the hosts and guest Amanda riding the high of a Democratic sweep across the country. They break down key wins, analyze what the “big blue wave” means, and dissect shifts in political culture, media, and activism. The tone is irreverent, thoughtful, and laced with inside jokes and raw honesty—typical of “Find Out.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Big Blue Wave” and What It Means

• The episode opens with jubilation: Dems didn’t just win—they “won big everywhere.”
• “We won everywhere. And it wasn’t just that we won everywhere. We won big everywhere.” (Host 2, [01:13])
• Major victories: Abigail Spanberger’s landslide in Virginia, Mikie Sherrill’s strong win, progressive legislative wins in Maine and Mississippi, and Maine’s passage of a red-flag gun law.
• The sense of doom and resignation that’s gripped the left for nearly a decade finally lifts.

Memorable moment:

“I opened the bottle of champagne that I did not get to open on election night 2024. I opened it last week.”
—Amanda [02:27]

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2. What Made This Wave Happen?

• No single type of winner: Successes ranged from moderates to progressives, all sharing locally resonant messaging and a focus on affordability.
• “They won on the things their electorate cares about, and they wrapped that in messaging that resonated.” (Amanda, [03:26])
• Key insight: Stop searching for ‘the face’ of the Democratic Party or a singular left-wing Joe Rogan; the party’s mosaic is its strength.

Quote:

“It’s not two equal things on opposite sides of a spectrum…it’s crystallized things on the left and absolute fucking mayhem on the right.”
—Host 1 [04:37]

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3. Are Free and Fair Elections Dead? Amanda’s History Lesson

• Amanda delivers a nuanced take: America has never had purely free and fair elections—fights about the franchise are constant.
• “We have never in the history of this country had free and fair elections. Literally, not ever.” (Amanda, [05:11])
  • Referencing historic exclusions, modern voter suppression, and the need for constant vigilance.

Quote:

“The franchise is something we have been fighting for for 250 years. And that fight did not end just because you can walk into your polling place with ease…That doesn’t mean it has been easy or free or fair for other people. And that is still the case.”
—Amanda [06:38]

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4. Republican Panic & the Shifting Electorate

• Rural backlash against MAGA: Even deep-red rural regions underperformed for Trumpist candidates.
• Latino swing: GOP’s gains among Latinos from 2024 have evaporated.
• Suburbs in Virginia swung sharply left (“Glenn Youngkin…won Chesterfield County by five points in 2021. Abigail Spanberger won it last night by 17 points.” —Amanda, [10:27])
• Republican figures (like Marjorie Taylor Greene) are scrambling to rebrand.

Quote:

“20 and 30 point swings to the left… all of the things [Republicans] prayed would hold are now not true.”
—Host 1 [08:01]

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5. Rise of Alternative Media & Political Influence

• Traditional media is barely reaching voters under 50; podcasts and leftist influencers are driving turnout and awareness.
• “Viewership of the main cable news networks is down. It falls every year…the bottom is falling out.” (Amanda, [15:04])
• Direct engagement by candidates with digital creators proved pivotal (e.g., Amanda’s work with Spanberger’s campaign).
• Digital natives like Zoran Mamdani succeed on the strength of social media, not legacy press.

Quote:

“The voices of people making content about politics on the left are becoming more influential than mainstream media, if they aren’t already.”
—Amanda [15:37]

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6. Generational Change and the “Next Wave”

• The success of young, progressive candidates signals a new era; “now is the time” for nontraditional contenders.
• “There are people who are going to be in that [2028 presidential] race whose name you don’t know.”

—Amanda [21:53]

• Encouragement for anyone, even in red areas: “Run. Just do it.” (Host 2, [22:11])

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7. The New York City Case Study: Zoran Mamdani

• Mamdani, a digital native democratic socialist, clinched a broad mandate using savvy social campaigning, not just old-school politicking.
• The turnout in NYC was the highest since the 1960s—“without an international conflict” ([19:25])
• Discussion on what Mamdani needs to deliver—universal childcare, affordable housing, etc.—to keep momentum and counter any red-baiting or Islamophobia from opponents.

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8. GOP Civil War and MAGA Identity Crisis

• Deepening splits between the “culture warrior” and “mainstream” factions.
• The right, especially high-profile figures like Trump and Stephen Miller, is doubling down on nativism and explicit bigotry (with a sidebar on Trump’s anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant rhetoric).
• Vivek Ramaswamy’s failed attempts to court the GOP base despite bigotry toward him as a Hindu candidate ([44:58]-[45:53]).
• Ongoing in-party feuds could deliver more Democratic opportunities in “red” states like Ohio.

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9. What Should Democrats Do Next?

Amanda’s strategic advice:

• NO uncontested races, anywhere (“No dog catchers, no fucking milkmen, no uncontested races anywhere. I don’t care if it’s a holler in West Virginia. We need to be running people.” —Amanda, [48:06])
• Begin recruiting for the 2026 cycle now—primaries are the opportunity for progressives.
• Local power structures are key: “Power structures are built at the municipal level.” ([51:44])
• Build “the base, a feeder system essentially, for candidates” (Host 2, [22:11])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re entering the find out season.” ([11:33])
• “I think that [the Republican Party has] forgotten fundamentally what the American culture is, which is defined science. That’s American culture.” —Amanda, [39:12]
• “Maybe instead of doing like a half ass remodel of the kitchen, we just do it, right? Like, what if we just rebuilt a better thing?” —Host 1, [20:15]
• On the mainstream media’s decline: “People who want background noise. Like, that’s what the mainstream media is really turned into.” —Guest 2, [17:46]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:13] — Election results roll call and emotional reactions
• [03:26] — Amanda on lessons learned: tailored campaigns, not one face of the party
• [05:11] — “Free and fair elections” discussion & historical context
• [08:01] — Republican panic and shifting turnout
• [15:37] — Alternative media’s impact and digital organizing
• [19:25] — NYC turnout and generational change
• [22:11] — “Just run!” and running candidates everywhere
• [32:33] — Trump’s anti-Semitic attacks and GOP politics in NYC
• [39:12] — Amanda on GOP’s cultural misread
• [48:06] — Amanda’s advice: run everywhere, focus on primaries

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Closing Thoughts & Takeaways

• The left’s “doom spiral” mindset is finally breaking as evidence mounts: They can—and did—win big.
• Success is coming from diverse candidates focused on affordability and local needs, not ideological purity or celebrity endorsements.
• Alternative, independently produced content is shaping turnout and awareness much more than traditional avenues.
• The Democratic Party must seize this momentum, aggressively contest every office, and continue engaging media-savvy, nontraditional candidates.

Final motivational note:

“Enjoy this victory, take a little break, and then it’s a sprint to 2026.”
—Host 2 [51:47]

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For leftwing listeners worn down by the Trump era, “The Big Blue Wave” is both a celebration and a call-to-arms: Stay fighting, stay connected, and recognize your power—especially at the local level—matters now more than ever.

Transcript

[Host 1]

Foreign.

[Host 2]

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the Find out podcast. It feels good this morning. We're recording the day after election day. You'll. You'll see this on Thursday. But everything. Everything just feels lighter, guys. And we also have an amazing guest with us, and that is Amanda from Amanda's Mild Takes. She is a political and historical content creator. So, Amanda, thank you for joining us on this wonderful morning.

[Amanda]

I'm so happy to be here. Birds are singing. Everything is glorious.

[Host 2]

I know. The blue sky.

[Guest 1]

It feels like I was so mourning out of a Disney movie.

[Guest 2]

It does.

[Guest 3]

I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to do with myself now.

[Host 2]

I know, I know. It's been nine months or a year, really, of doom and gloom, and, I.

[Guest 3]

Mean, 10 years of doom and gloom.

[Host 2]

Well, we had a little break, but. But not really.

[Host 1]

We had a little break with a pandemic.

[Amanda]

During the plague.

[Host 2]

So, guys, we won everywhere. And it wasn't just that we won everywhere. We won big everywhere. I mean, Abby Spanberg, Abigail spanberger won by 13, 14 points. 15. Mikey Cheryl, who everyone thought maybe could be in trouble, won by, like 13 points. The yes on 50 campaign blew it out of the water. That passed Maine, Pat, like, beat back a bad voter bill and also passed a red flag law gun bill, which is actually really good, which allows law enforcement and police officer law enforcement and chief judges to take guns away from people who are domestic abusers or a threat to themselves, which is great. Mississippi broke the super majority. We were just joking before the show with Amanda that we haven't said anything positive about Mississippi, like, ever. And so there's. And there's so many more. There were, like, the. The. The Democrats in the House of Delegates of Virginia cleaned house. So I'm going to start with Amanda. How are you feeling? Yeah, just give us the. The. Yeah, the unedited version.

[Amanda]

I'm tired. I worked the polls yesterday for 16 hours.

[Host 1]

Holy cow.

[Amanda]

And, yeah, it was a lot. And as we were packing up and, like, calling in our results from our precinct to the county spam burgers, race was called before we'd even left the building. So that was amazing. That took 16 minutes from the time the polls closed in Virginia for decision just to call it. And then I went home and got really drunk. I got really drunk. I opened the bottle of champagne that I did not get to open on election night 2024. I opened it last week.

[Host 1]

Yeah, A little bit yummy.

[Amanda]

And now I feel great. I feel sorry.

[Guest 2]

I feel great.

[Amanda]

I'm not hungover, which I feel like is magic.

[Host 2]

Excellent.

[Amanda]

I'm 40 years old, y'. All. And those hangovers come fast.

[Host 2]

Not that I make it.

[Host 1]

And they stay with you.

[Host 2]

I've got you beat by a few years. And we had a. We had a live show last night and there were. There were some drinks. So they'll be we little slow this morning. But we're going to ask everybody. But I mean, I want to start with you. Like, what. What if. What did we learn last night? What does this mean?

[Amanda]

What did we learn? Well, I want to say. I'm going to just say this at the top. I do not think that what we learned was that any particular kind of candidate is the face of the Democratic Party moving forward. Donnie won by nine points. Spamberger won by 15 points. These are completely different candidates, but they both. And Mikey ran. All three of them ran on affordability, and all three of them won young men, which was. Is a problem for the Democratic Party, mom, Dani. By 40 points, which is amazing. And so they won on affordability. They won on the things that their electorate cares about. And they wrapped that in messaging that, that resonated with their voters because a voter in Brooklyn is not the same as a voter in Hampton Roads, Virginia. And that's what I think that. I think that's what we learned, that we just have to keep doing that. We need to keep doing that.

[Host 2]

Yeah, I. I completely agree. And I. We were talking about other show last night. Like, you know, everyone keeps saying, like, we. Who's the. Who is the future of the Democratic Party? And the answer is nobody. And everybody. Everybody. Yeah, it's.

[Guest 3]

It's the same thing as them saying they want a Joe Rogan of the left. Like, no, you're. You're trying to answer the wrong question. Like, you just need to tap all the talent.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it's reason versus chaos. Like, it's. The left versus the right is not two equal things that are on opposite sides of a spectrum. It's crystallized things on the left and absolute fucking mayhem on the right. And we don't want absolute fucking mayhem on the left to counter the mayhem on the right. Amanda, I was. I was very eager to. To talk to you today because I know that you've dealt with this in many of your comments, you've done videos on this. Are we ever going to have free and fair elections again? Because I'm still not convinced.

[Amanda]

Yeah, so my usual answer to that, you're right. I hear that every day. We're never going to have free and fair elections again. Actually, it Started, so give up. We're never going to have elections again, obviously. So then we just move the goalpost to the next thing to have an anxiety spiral about we're never going to have free and fair elections again. And my answer to that is generally, we have never in the history of this country had free and fair elections. Literally, not ever. When the country was founded, the only people who could vote were maybe three of you propertied white men. Overseas it took, you know, 200 years for black men to get the right to vote. It took another 60 for white women to get the right to vote. And then it took another 50 for people like me to get the right to vote. So that's never happened. And then we've had gerrymandering, poll taxes, literacy tests. I mean in some, in some counties now in America, it's illegal for you to hand out water to people who are in line to vote. And those lines are on purpose. Those lines are purposeful.

[Host 2]

Yep, yep.

[Guest 2]

I live in a state like that.

[Amanda]

Yes, voter suppression trash state real has been real. I mean yesterday we had bomb threats called into polling places in New Jersey. It turned out to mostly be like some dumb kid, but that dumb kid learned it from somewhere. That's something that you can do.

[Host 1]

And I didn't check, but I was like, I wonder if they were blue or red areas where the threats were called in. I, I think I know.

[Amanda]

Yeah, I didn't look either. But once I saw that it was a kid and a prank, I was like, well whatever. Probably just some chaos moving on. Which is a thing that, you know, we deal with a lot with especially young men now that have no coherent ideology. But yeah. So are we going to have free and fair elections in the midterms? I don't know. I mean, is there going to be more gerrymandering? Probably. We're obviously getting into that fight now too. Is there going to be more of a voter suppression? Maybe it's the future is not knowable. Which is also something that I have to say constantly to my followers. But I want people to understand that the franchise is something we have been fighting for for 250 years. And that fight did not end just because you can walk into your polling place with ease because you're not a felon and you're a white person or you're whatever. That doesn't mean that it has been easy or free or fair for other people. And that is still the case.

[Host 1]

I love that response I was expecting like, no, the Doom Spiralers can fuck off but you actually gave a really nuanced, thoughtful, like, shit. I got to think about it. We're in an active fight is what you're saying. We're in an active fight forever, America. So maybe we shouldn't say, oh, man, and then, like, go turn on romcoms and give up. I mean, that's always an option, but.

[Amanda]

Yeah, there's a place for that. I might do that later today because I'm exhausted. But not a permanent state to live in. No.

[Host 2]

Yeah, well, self care, obviously. I mean, people need to take care of themselves, especially after a big victory last night. Yeah, people should be resting and, and getting gearing up for now, which is going to sound crazy, but the midterm elections are now less than a year away by one day, and now the focus is on that. What do we.

[Host 1]

Those campaigns are starting in, like, three months, and they already have. I mean, but in. In earnest, right? Like, after the. After. Yeah, they're fundraising now, organizing. But, like, this is, this is my big takeaway. When I woke up this morning, it was like, holy shit. If I'm a Republican and I won my seat by 12 points last cycle in the House, notably, and now I'm going, what the fuck? There are 20 and 30 point swings to the left in some of these areas. And he completely lost the Latino gains that he made, by the way, in 2024. Yep. Back. Back to baseline. 22 to 1, 6060. 30 for the Democratic candidates in multiple states, in multiple counties where there's a strong Hispanic vote. All of the things that they thought were going to hold, that they prayed were going to hold true into the midterms are now not true. And they are facing that, and they're facing the fact that they just spread themselves thinner in a bun areas for. For with gerrymandering. So I'm like, if I'm, if I'm the person in the House deciding, am I going to do Trump's work anymore, or am I a rising star thinking of getting into politics? 2026 looks real, real bad now compared to how it looked even 24, 48 hours ago.

[Guest 3]

Have you guys seen Marjorie Taylor Greene? Suddenly she's trying to rebrand herself as rational, insane. I can't believe she's been, like, going on the View and talking as if she's a normal person, which she is, will always be Marjorie Taylor Greene. But she recognizes that even in her district, which would be impossible for a Republican to lose, that she's got to start working like she's. She's got to work to keep that seat. And, and that's going to be the case for every Republican in the House.

[Host 2]

If I am one of those Texas members of Congress district went From a, a Republican + 10 to 12 to + 7 because of the gerrymandering because you have to put the Democrats somewhere. I, I be, I would be, I would be freaking out today.

[Host 1]

I'd be on indeed right now you guys.

[Host 2]

Mike Johnson says he doesn't think that.

[Guest 1]

Last night was about Republicans at all. He says it's not indicative about, about Republicans at all.

[Host 1]

Sure.

[Host 2]

But Mike Johnson, Mike Johnson should take.

[Guest 2]

A look at the best performing person against the Democrats was a Democrat in Cuomo and he did. And so every Republican Shellac Democrats won.

[Host 1]

91% of votes in.

[Amanda]

I mean even if you look at like the suburbs of Virginia which Republicans have to win the suburbs in my state to, to go to Congress like Chesterfield county which is the fastest growing county in this in the state suburbs of Richmond. Glenn Youngkin, our Republican governor won chesterfield county by five points in 2021. Abigail spamberger won it last night by 17 points. 17 points.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Amanda]

If you're and, and that and Chesterfield county is in Rob Whitman's district and he, he ran ahead of Trump a little bit in 2024. I don't know that I mean if I'm him I'm waking up today pissing myself.

[Guest 2]

Yeah, I mean I saw that trend all night last night because I'd like to dive into the numbers and it was really the rural areas where I was the most surprised because these were like people are coming out really, really bad for MAGA because MAGA's like Trump's approach in the generals is to run up the numbers in rural America and it's worked extraordinarily well. And this time the polar opposite happened because people are actually feeling the pain Trump presidency that the prices aren't getting better and they can't, they just can't. They have to have something change or they're screwed.

[Guest 3]

Yeah, we, we're entering the find out season. This is, it's hard to be harder to get to get vaccines. We're, we're only beginning to see like the FDA like food and drug protection starting to get rolled back. Like people are literally going to be getting sick and dying and paying more for health care because of all the decisions that Republicans have been making for the last 12 months.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Guest 3]

So I think that the wave that we saw last night is, is just the beginning. Like more and more Republicans, even the die hard Magaz are Going to start peeling away from Trump. I mean, building a massive gold plated fucking ballroom while the federal workforce is. Is either getting laid off or furloughed or forced to work without pay. And they're waiting for Virginia's not voting Trumpy again like that. The shutdown hurts Virginians more than anyone.

[Host 1]

If you guys want to see a really good number out of Fairfax, I'm like, okay, I'm looking at the counties. Fairfax County. That's. Yeah. Largest county, Largest bluest county in Virginia. 66% for Kamala Harris. In 2024, J. Jones got 68. Oh, my God. In Fairfax outperformed. Not because Jay is that great, because he won 52% statewide, but because that's how much everyone is pissed off.

[Amanda]

I mean, in Northern Virginia, close to.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Well, I was looking at. I was looking at Loudon Loudoun county last night when like, 75% was in. And I was. I think actually Zach. Zach and I were talking about it on the. On our live thing, and I was like, wait a minute.

[Guest 1]

It's.

[Guest 2]

She's not.

[Host 2]

Spamberger's not just overperforming Kamala. She's running ahead of Joe Biden in 2020. I was like, holy. And like, that was. That was a big year. Because obviously, like, voter turnout in that year was so huge because of COVID and everyone couldn't stand Trump. And then I guess we forgot, and now we're back to understanding. He needs to go. Just a reminder that Americans.

[Host 1]

You're waking up my PTSD again.

[Guest 1]

Worse than a goldfish.

[Host 2]

Yeah, but, but, but it's just incredible. And I think the great point that you made, Amanda, is that we are running the right candidates in the right places.

[Amanda]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

And we have all, myself included. I mean, I don't know if you have, Amanda, but I, you know, we've been critical of Ken Martin, the chair of the dnc, but you are like, it's not that he waved a wand and made it awesome, but, like, they clearly knew what they were doing on the ground. And I think that has made a tremendous difference. And the other thing, and I'd love to get your take on this, is that this is really like, Democrats are waking up to the alternative media, like the podcasts and the influencer space, and I think it's making a huge difference. I. I've no, like, I. There were like, seven or eight people I knew in my feed arm in arm with Mikey, Sheryl and Abigail Spanberger and Gavin Newsom in California. Like, they are getting it, and it is Working.

[Amanda]

I. Absolutely, yes, yes, I agree. I mean, I, I worked with the Spamberger campaign really closely for the last few months and I saw her, the candidate specifically, be so game to talk to, like, do digital content with influencers and pull, like, just not limit herself to going on CNN or, or even Fox News or whatever. Like, the mainstream media is useless. I don't want to be like, it's.

[Guest 1]

Gone the way of the dinosaur.

[Amanda]

Yes. But it's. And it's not just, that's not just my opinion. Like, viewership of the, the main cable news networks is down. It falls every year. It's, it's. The bottom is falling out and you know, to kind of hang a lantern on it. When people tell me, like when people criticize the Democrats or Ken Martin, whoever, sometimes I get pushback about that from my followers and they'll say, well, that's just because the mainstream media spreads right wing propaganda. I'm like, maybe that's true, but nobody fucking watches the mainstream media.

[Host 1]

Right. I'm not spreading right wing propaganda.

[Amanda]

Like, we have issues we need to correct. We have to course correct. After a big loss. It's not just propaganda. Even if it was, it's propaganda no one hears, so who cares?

[Host 1]

Right? Right.

[Amanda]

But even, like, I thought about this a lot last night when I was drinking champagne, but the number of people that I hear from who, when I did, for example, content about the race in Mississippi where they broke the GOP super majority in their state senate, I had probably 30 people who lived in Mississippi DM me and say they did not even know that election was happening. They would not have known if it hadn't been for digital content creators and influencers talking about it. So I think that we are, I'm not, we're not like, responsible for this, you know, that's not what I'm saying. But I think that the tide is changing and that the voices of people making content about politics on the left are becoming more influential than mainstream media, if they aren't already.

[Host 1]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, the number of times I get comments and I'm one of what, maybe 5,000, 10,000 content creators who get, you know, hundreds of thousands of millions of views a month. The number of times I get comments that are about things that I think are like kind of mainstream news. And they'll say, I, I wouldn't have known about this if it weren't for this video. It might be two or three, you know, per video. But that shit adds up when you've got 5, 10,000 people who are all doing this. I saw the speech. Prof. Professor Chesko, who's one of my favorite creators on Instagram, he mentioned the other day that he gets about 100 million views a month across all of his platforms, which I had no idea. I know. Which I'm like, what are you doing? That I'm not doing. But he does videos about like, guys should wipe their beds more and keep themselves clean and stuff. So his videos are a little more mainstream. But no, the reach absolutely. Like, people don't realize mainstream media, like on a good night, it'll get to like 800,000 people, maybe a million people. Like, that's, that's a, that's one good video from any of the six people on the screen right now. And that happens in 24 hours too. I'm like, you're telling me it's this easy and they're spending what, 6 million a day, 10 million a day, you know, on their budget to create that same content. It's just a, it's a 70 year old different narrative.

[Guest 2]

You have to be over 70 to even. Well, I know my parents are over 70. Like they just have Ms. NBC in the background all day long. But that's it.

[Host 1]

That's the only.

[Guest 2]

It's like literally just people who want background noise. Like, that's what the mainstream media is really turned into.

[Host 1]

Old people turn way up because they don't have hearing aids.

[Guest 2]

Right, Sorry. To my parents who listen to this. You're not old, I promise.

[Amanda]

Trump's 60 Minutes interview from earlier this week.

[Host 1]

90 Minutes.

[Amanda]

He was like bragging about it. It got like 16 million viewers or something like that. It was record setting and all of this. And I was like, I do that in 48 hours.

[Host 2]

I don't know. Are you suggesting Donald Trump inflated numbers? Does that benefit him?

[Amanda]

Even if he didn't or even if he don't.

[Guest 1]

Rich, I think you meant 27 minutes.

[Guest 2]

Not that impressive.

[Host 1]

His views are up 3.2% since last year.

[Host 2]

It's true. I mean, who, like, can you name the anchors of all of the network evening news at this point? I can't. And that used to be like back in the day, it was like Dan Rather, Peter Jennings and who was on NBC? Oh, God, now I can't see Edward R. Murrow. Oh, yeah, yeah, well, Brian Williams at one point, you know, but anyways, like nobody want. I mean, I think people over, over 70 watch that stuff. I mean, if you're retired, it totally makes sense. But like nobody under 50 watches that at all. And so, you know, I mean, I think and, and look like, you know, we had the first digital native win a big race in Memdani here in New York City last night. And the reason he spent money on TV was only to push down the margins that Cuomo would get because he was getting with older voters. But the majority of the people that he reached was entirely on social media. And we had, I think, the biggest turnout for an election since the 1960s.

[Guest 3]

Which is really significant because that was when like New York City was. And all of the college campuses were on fire because sometimes literally because of protests against the Vietnam War. So for, for turnout to reach that level without. In international conflict is the basis of it. That's, that's like, really significant. And I, I haven't seen anyone put it in that context yet.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Amanda]

And in Virginia, Spamberger's margin, a Democrat has not won the Virginia Governor's mansion by that margin since the early 60s, when the Democratic Party stood for some very different things.

[Host 2]

Things. Yeah, yeah.

[Amanda]

Especially in the South.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Yep.

[Amanda]

So it's a really, like. When you're talking about modern American politics, she has set a new standard for the state.

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

I think the, the thing that's really inspiring to me is like 2024 November, we like, our house got burned down, right? Like the whole. Our media house got burned down, our political house got burned down. The actual House of Representatives almost. It was bad. And so now we're in a period where it's like, well, maybe instead of doing like a half ass remodel of the kitchen, we just do it, right? Like, what if we just rebuilt a better thing? That it's way more expensive, it takes for ever, it is a lot more work, but you get to do it correctly. And I think that's something that is really. I think the pandemic had this effect on our economy to some degree. But it's, it's. We're in a place now where we get to say, well, do we want MSNBC to be our source of truth? Do we want a Beyonce endorsement for the presidential candidate to be the most important thing in the world? Like, we don't have to do any of those things that didn't work for us. And now we get to just do a new thing. And that's really exciting to me because we're seeing like, Zoran Mamdani would not have been a viable candidate in a, in a normal election year. They would have been like, no, you're too young. Wait your turn. And they would have just crushed him way before the Primary season. But he knew and everybody knew, like, no, we need. We need a big swing. We need something crazy right now to wake everybody up. And that's what we're going to see. And I think we're going to. Now, this is just a spark. I think we're going to continue to see everybody else who looks like Zoron and who sounds like Zoron or any of these other candidates who are thinking, like, I want to get into this. Now is the time. Like, this is 2006, Barack Obama, right? Where you're like, okay, in two years, the timing is going to be perfect.

[Amanda]

And this is why I refuse to make a prediction about 2028. People ask me. This is probably the most asked question, then again is, who do you think is going to win the 2028 primary? And I'm like, man, we don't even. There are people who are going to be in that race whose name you don't know.

[Guest 1]

Yep.

[Guest 2]

No question about it.

[Amanda]

So just give. Stop. Like, just let it. Let it unfold.

[Host 2]

Let's focus on one. One election at a time. Right. Like, I think. Right. What I think is really exciting about last night is that I hope this sends a signal to people who are thinking about running for office to run. Like, if you are, even if you're in a red area, run. Just. Just do it. And. And the thing about it is that, you know, we were talking about this last night, but you run in some of these elections, like, even if you run close and lose somebody below you that might put them over the finish line, like building a base, a feeder system essentially for candidates is so important. And that's why I talk about run for something so often, because they help train people.

[Amanda]

Like, the.

[Host 2]

The message of last night is, one, we can win in red areas, but two, also, like, you. You can run. Like you. It doesn't actually take that much. Look at Marjorie Taylor Greene. She doesn't know anything and, like, is a crazy person and is a member of con. Is a member of Congress. Lauren Boebert, who wore that racist Halloween costume the other day that was. She's won, like, three times. Most. I think people think that there is, like, a barrier to running.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Next year we need to run candidates everywhere because we can actually win in places that I don't think anyone would imagine yesterday. Yeah.

[Guest 2]

I mean, look, I mean, Mom, Donnie is the perfect example of that. I mean, he was pulling it, like, what, 1% if you rewind to the primary, like, early days. And now he has just won 50.5% of all of New York City.

[Host 1]

A million votes with three.

[Host 2]

With three major candidates.

[Host 1]

Right, right too.

[Host 2]

So it's not a, it wasn't a one on one. I did see some funny threads, posts from angry Cuomo people yelling at Curtis Lewa for staying in is like, you caused us the election. And everybody was like, can you guys do math? Even if you take this all, all of them, which wouldn't even happen, he still wouldn't have beaten him.

[Amanda]

So yeah, being a Republican in New York, I would be so pissed off at Donald Trump right now, actually. Like, Sliwa won a major party primary and Trump just abandoned him. I know he's a character and he's a joke.

[Guest 1]

I understand he cigarettes and he was.

[Amanda]

Never going to find. But like that's, he won your primary and you're left endorsing Cuomo in the wind and endorsed an establishment Democrat.

[Guest 2]

Like, it's very bizarre. I mean that, that race was weird too. Like the number, like I'm just looking at the numbers now and it's like to me, that's the only one where I was like, there's something, there's a deeper story to this because Cuomo outperformed the polls by 10%. Like that. I don't know why, like that. I, I'm, I, I, it seems like a bunch of Sliwa support people got there, went, ah, all right, I'll just go for Cuomo because he's only viable person. But that I, I am very curious how that's going to go because I do think, like, Mamdani's win is really critical for like, what we're talking about in 28 and even in 26. Because how he does in the job, I think is going to play a role in how willing the Democratic Party is to embrace like, deeper Democratic socialist ideas. If he falls in his face and it doesn't work, I think they'll be like, nah, forget it, we're not doing it. But I think if he succeeds, it'll be interesting. So I, I, like, I wonder, is he gonna feel like I didn't perform as well as I thought I was going to because almost the polling was way better than what ended up working out here. So I hope he still sticks to his guns and attacks this because he needs to or else Democrats are going to run another Hakeem Jeffries type.

[Host 2]

Well, I think if you look at the numbers right, like, like most of the polls had sliwa in the 15% and he ended up around 16 was the average.

[Guest 2]

He got seven he really, essentially what.

[Host 2]

You said is correct. Most of those people got to the ballot box and made the decision for Cuomo. But the Memdani thing, now there's a couple things, as the resident, New York City resident of this, in this show right now, there's a couple things. One, he has to, he has to appoint really smart people with city government experience to run the departments underneath him. Like that is a very, very important thing. And the other thing that is, is kind of flying under the radar right now is that the speaker of the City Council, which is essentially like the legislature for the city, is, is retiring, Adrian Adams. And there is a battle underway to be the next speaker. And there is my city council member, actually. Crystal Hudson is the Memdani person. And then there is a more. I, I don't think it's fair to call her the Cuomo version, but like, she, she didn't endorse a mayoral candidate and these are the two. So it's going to be a, you know, I think having either one of them is going to change the dynamics of how things get done. I think with Crystal, it's a partner. And with the other woman, which, I'm sorry, I cannot remember her name, she's from the Upper east side, I believe. You know, it may be a little more contentious, you know, so it'll be interesting. But he has to, he has to deliver on some of this. Yes, or, but it will backfire on us. But he is a smart guy and the city is behind him. I mean, he has a mandate over 50%, a three way race. He has a mandate, so 100%. But he has to move quickly, I think, because otherwise you're right. I think Trump will salivate at going after him. But if he performs well, I think Mamdani could be his worst nightmare.

[Guest 2]

He's got to pick one thing and champion that one thing. Sort of like Obama did with Obamacare. I'm just going to just attack this one gigantic issue and prove that I can get something done. I think he's got to do that. I mean, I leave it to you, Tim, being the New York City resident of what that should be, but needs to be something big. And like a lot of the city feels it.

[Host 2]

Well, it's going to be a partnership with Kathy Hokel, because a lot of the things in the city that need to get done, you need, you need state approval. The free bus idea, for example, the MTA is not run by the city, it's run by the state. So there you have to talk about that. He can raise city taxes on millionaires. So like, I assume that that will get done. And again, that that average, I think is like $2,000 extra for people making a million dollars because it's only on the money. Above a million. People always think that it's all or nothing and it's no tier thing. You know, the rent control stuff, he's got some, he's got some levers, but about 8% of apartments in New York City are rent controlled and those are the ones that he really can manage. But all the ballot initiatives passed last night, which means there is more flexibility to develop housing in the city. So like, that's probably an area where he really needs to get to work. The challenge with that is that we won't see results of that for two years because building big buildings takes a while. And so that's going to be a challenge, you know, universal childcare.

[Guest 2]

Yeah, that feels right.

[Host 2]

Maybe. So we'll have to see because that, that one will save New Yorkers on average. I think the average is like 20, $25,000 a year.

[Guest 2]

That's what he's saying.

[Host 2]

That is the affordability win.

[Guest 2]

Yeah, exactly. I mean, not everybody has kids, but I mean a ton do. And that will be a large scale effect that everybody can get behind.

[Host 1]

It's also a lot of money that gets freed up and dumped into the economy in other ways because it's not like the child care providers are not getting paid, they're just getting paid by somebody else. And then suddenly you've got $25,000 to spend. But I, I think. Right, exactly. Like, oh, new hot tub, I think.

[Host 2]

Right, right.

[Host 1]

Pay off the student loan debt that, Exactly. That Biden tried to, to cover for you. You know, New York City will have New York City things to sort out with mom. Donnie. But, but when you look at like the national win, like what is Trump going to do with it and will it be good or bad? Is it like, like, like he used to try to do with Pelosi? I mean, we're talking about one year, you know, Right. Until people decide in the midterms. So like, in terms of national political impacts, if Mamdani can pick one thing. If, if, if he freezes rent, if he gives, if he can give childcare, if those million billionaires that we talked about in the last episode all leave New York, then housing prices are going to go way down really fast. Those, those are going to show up in his approval rating. And if he's got a 50 plus percent approval rating, whatever Trump says won't really matter because people vote with what's happening to their life. Like that's what we saw last night and that's what we'll see again. It's what we've seen in every election, frankly, forever. If you have more money and you're happier personally, you are more likely to vote with an open mind, you know, for the future and for other people, you've got a bigger capacity for empathy. So if he can just keep, if he can just maintain where he's at today, score some wins, I'm. Trump can say every fucking stupid ass thing that he's inevitably going to say. He can invade Venezuela and he was going to either way. So I'm not, I'm not.

[Guest 3]

I think New Yorkers are going to reflexively rally around even, even those who didn't support him when they see that New York City, their home is being targeted because Donald Trump's a racist. Like that's going to start peeling away the Cuomo voters who, you know, never have supported a democratic socialist. I, I think New York City is going to be really unified moving forward.

[Host 2]

I also think when Cuomo voters realize that Mamdani is not instituting Sharia law like some of them seem to have indicated, to help tremendously. I mean that, that campaign and I actually ended up speaking out against the quo campaign because they ran like Cuomo went on a radio show and, and they were joking about, oh, could you imagine if Mdani was mayor on, on 9 11, you know, the Islamophobia, like it wasn't even masking it. And I think when people, but it worked on some people, they were just like, I can't live here. It's going to be like this socialist hellscape. And I'm like, the things he was talking about, like, if you looked at European politicians, I don't think they would call that socialism. It's just because we are such a right leaning country that the notion of, of government providing services is. The Republicans have done such a great job of making it seem bad. Right. In fact, most of the world knows that it is, it has problems, but it's good.

[Guest 2]

Right. Like all the things that they complain about, it's trying to solve those things. Like that's, that's what I don't like. It's so systemically.

[Host 1]

Right. Like, like holistically and systemically solve those things. Not like wait for a startup to figure it out and then charge you a monthly subscription fee for it.

[Amanda]

It.

[Guest 2]

Right.

[Host 1]

That's the private sector solution for everything.

[Amanda]

I think it'll be really interesting how the Jewish community in New York responds to mom Donnie especially, especially right now because the last few days have, have seen such a weird vibe coming out of the gop. Like, you know, Trump going on Truth Social and calling Mamdani a Jew hater and then saying, if you vote for him, you're Jewish. And then he said, if you vote for him and you're Jewish, you're stupid. Like, he just called Jewish people stupid.

[Guest 2]

That's awesome.

[Amanda]

And then everything that's going on with the Heritage foundation backing Nick Fuentes, who is an open verified, like the right. Is I think, just starting to be a little more mask off about, oh yeah, Jewish people, which they always have with Israel, is not the same thing as their alignment with what happens to Jewish people. So as he, as Mamdani gets into office and is very obviously not a Jew hater, like, nothing happens.

[Guest 2]

Right, Right.

[Amanda]

I think it'll be very interesting how the Jewish population response.

[Host 2]

Yeah. The other, the other thing that I, I found really interesting that a lot of people haven't been talking about is also Trump's these ICE raids, everyone hates them. Like, and I think that you see the Latino swings, like, it's crazy. Like, like Zach, you said or whoever said, like, they were completely wiped out. And I think that's another reason why New Yorkers, like, if he tries that, here it is, is Trump's popularity numbers will drop and then Donnie's numbers will shoot up. It is just a fact because New Yorkers are just, they've seen what happens in Chicago, see what happened in D.C. and it's not working. Like, it is not working in their favor at all. No. So it's all bad for them right now.

[Guest 2]

It's what, the miscalculation is so obvious too, because, like, if you look at the data, people did generally support his immigration plans when he was elected, but he misrepresented what this was like. He wasn't like, hey, hey, we're going to just go and just zip tie women and children to throw them in vans. Are you guys in? Like, nobody was in on that. They were like, all right, if you want to go after criminals and throw them out, that's cool.

[Host 1]

We're down with that.

[Guest 2]

Like, that pulled well. And then he just went 50,000 steps further and it was like, wait a minute.

[Host 1]

And we all heard the dog whistles.

[Guest 1]

Like, we knew everybody else paying attention and said, hey, we know exactly what's coming.

[Guest 2]

Right? Well, most people who vote for president don't pay attention, unfortunately.

[Amanda]

Yeah. And well, because it's coming from Stephen Miller now. Like, even if Trump genuinely. You. You never know if he's, if he genuinely believes the things that he's saying. Like, yeah, you can never tell. But even if he did genuinely think, when I get into office, I'm only going to target criminals. He's lost his mental capacity so quickly since inauguration. He's so addled with dementia. I legitimately don't know if he knows what day it is half the time. And Stephen Miller is running the immigration policy now. And Stephen Miller hates brown people. Like, I, Yeah, you, You can just see it's. It's disturbing, the amount of. And odd. Like, it's 20, 25. What are you. What is your problem? That's what I want to ask him. Like, what is your damage?

[Host 2]

He's also from, he's also from Santa Monica. Like, it's not like he's, like, had some experience. He's just awful. And his family is left leaning. Like, he had an uncle. Right. I think of the first Trump administration basically talking about how they all disowned him. Like, it, it is strange, but, like, there's even videos of him in high school saying, like, why do I need to put stuff in the trash when we have janitors?

[Guest 2]

Yeah, sorry.

[Host 2]

Yeah, that wasn't even racist. It's just. That's a classist thing, right? He is a. He is a Marvel villain. Like, he is a character of a villain. And like, when he was like, we're gonna do this and we're gonna go get the hippies, I was like, wait, is this Richard Nixon?

[Guest 3]

I honestly think that Stephen Miller looks at Joseph Goebbels and is like, like, I want to be remembered like that. I honestly, the, the speech of Charlie Kirk's memorial was like, was literally lifted from Nazi speeches. The, the themes, the exact language. I don't think it's an accident. I, I think that Stephen Miller wants to be remembered as the most powerful Nazi in history.

[Guest 1]

He's definitely got a tattoo of Goebbels naked somewhere on his body. 100.

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Well, hopefully we never see that. I mean, they're all such characters of like, of villains. It's. I mean, even the snap stuff, which I do think probably had an impact as well, like that Trump is willing to take food away from poor children and working class Americans to, like, win. Been an argument about taking health care away from the same people. It's like double cruel at the same time that people are seeing their premiums. And we were talking to you and we know Somebody that their business, they got their, the, the notice on their premiums, they're going to go up 100 next year. 100. And it's all a perfect storm. And, and yet they still don't talk about lowering prices. It's just, it's insanity because they can't.

[Host 1]

It's not possible. When you look at the, when you look at the convergence of things, it's a sign that he really doesn't think about things strategically. I mean, we've all known this. It's not three dimensional chess. You know, he's playing checkers with little pieces of chocolate. Like that's about where he's at. Government shut down healthcare. Like they passed the subsidy repeal. Like they knew exactly what was going to happen and they knew exactly when open enrollment is. It's always the same time. Every year. They set up open enrollment, price price hikes to spike, SNAP benefits to dry up, job numbers to vanish all. And in the middle of a government shutdown, which they knew that they would get blamed for because the party in control almost always does. Right over the top of an election. And they're like, how did this happen?

[Host 2]

How could this happen? I have a theory. I have a theory and I want to get Amanda's take on this. And I've seen other people. So this is not, this is not an original idea. I think after November, they thought that they had won forever, that they had effectively crushed the Democratic Party and progressives in general. They won up and up and down and everywhere. They got the Senate, they kept the House. I. And the way they have been operating, I think shows that they thought. And these guys are not geniuses, by the way. So like we have to factor that in. I think they thought they had it forever. So they were just going to implement their agenda, the American people. They were going to be able to, to crush mainstream media, which they did, and manipulate social media, which they did. But it wasn't enough. And I think that's why you have seen them do this. Incredibly stupid. Because they thought they had it locked up forever.

[Amanda]

Yeah, I think that's right. I think that they have forgotten fundamentally, like what the American culture is, which is defined science. That's. That's it. It's not apple pie, it's you. That's, that's American culture. And I legitimately, I understand why they assumed that Democrats would not do that.

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Amanda]

We aren't like historically great at that. No, we aren't the most. We are pretty good at it. Focus group message tests.

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Amanda]

Etc. Etc. But, you know, this is not business as usual. It's a singular time. And the pressure that the party felt from its base to wake up and do some actual fighting was enough. And not just the pressure on, like, our politicians or our leaders, but on Disney, you know, and I do think that the, the, the Jimmy Kimmel thing was a big turning point for people's willingness to resist. But there was. I think you're exactly right. There was an assumption that, like, they had a mandate, they'd won all, you know, all three whatever, both chambers of Congress and the White House, and now they were they. That no one would push back. I think that's what they thought. There, there's so much drinking of their own Kool Aid. Like, they sniff their own farts so much at the GOP, and there's never any thought for, like, 2% is not a mandate, you idiot. And like, someone's gonna wake up tomorrow and run against you. And like, they're just so shocked that anyone would have the audacity. But, you know, and I, I do think that the no Kings demonstrations had an impact as well. Like, 7 million people in the street creates a permission str. People who wouldn't otherwise be involved to be like, wait a minute, I don't like this, I'm gonna go vote. But, you know, and that may not feel like enough for some more revolutionary corners of the Internet, but, you know, it worked yesterday, so whatever.

[Guest 2]

Yeah, no, there's no question. I mean, like, for me, the thing that I always kind of judge Democrats on is they're just too risk averse. And this move, they. Maybe the shutdown was the polar opposite, which is exactly what I wanted to see. It was a very risky move because Republicans historically have been messaging masters. Like, it didn't matter if they're right or wrong.

[Host 2]

Wrong.

[Guest 2]

They win because they can win the messaging war. And they got the shit kicked out of them because Democrats, I think, caught them by surprise. They're like, they're not going to do this. And they did everything right, which is so weird to say out loud, but they really did. And I think they're kind of on their heels and going, oh, what are they going to do right next? And they're going to have to kind of recalibrate how they're going to strategize.

[Guest 1]

Trump said it today. He said that he thought the shutdown has been bad for Republicans.

[Host 2]

No, Sherlock.

[Amanda]

Yeah. Which is such a. Like, the unforced errors that he makes these days are so surprising to me. It's because no Matter how you spin that. So you're saying even if the shutdown is the Democrats fault, which is what he says. Right. So you're saying that the Democrat strategy defeated you, which is a weird thing for him to admit.

[Guest 2]

Right.

[Amanda]

Or saying that our shutdown. The Republicans are responsible for the shutdown and we ourselves like self defeated. Just said that makes any sense for someone to say.

[Host 2]

I think.

[Guest 1]

I don't know.

[Host 2]

I.

[Amanda]

Go ahead, Luke.

[Host 2]

Go ahead, Luke.

[Guest 1]

I mean, I don't know about the rest of you, but I thought that like the fascism would. Was going to have a lot more like, like cool, you know, black leather, you know, regime kind of vibes. And really it's just a bunch of people with mommy issues that are stupid.

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Guest 1]

Like that's pretty much the sum total of it.

[Amanda]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I mean they entrust.

[Guest 3]

What you're describing is, is the History Channel effect, like for real. I think that a lot of people growing up watching his History Channel who became fascists, saw like tons of documentaries about the Nazis and were like, that's a cool aesthetic. I wouldn't get into that.

[Host 2]

There is the guy in there is the guy in Chicago, right. That had the. That did wear that well.

[Guest 1]

There's one in Iowa that they have found his ass.

[Host 2]

And I was like, that's a choice.

[Amanda]

And like.

[Host 1]

Right, okay. They're always five, four. It kind of reminds me of like we all watch the like Victorian, you know, all the Victorian everything. And everybody's like, oh, it's so romantic. It's so big. Like only because you weren't there to smell what everyone smelled like.

[Host 2]

Right?

[Guest 2]

Right.

[Host 1]

200 every three weeks. It's humid as they're wearing 17 layers of clothes and they're wearing those collars to keep the mites of the. The shit from falling into their. Into their shirt. Like this was not a sexy time. But history has, has treated it favorably.

[Host 2]

This. When anyone ever asks when is the best time to be alive in history, it's right now.

[Guest 2]

Now.

[Guest 3]

Now.

[Guest 2]

Yeah, 100%.

[Host 2]

We do a bunch of terrible shit, don't get me wrong. But like right now, now. Victorian era. No, no, no, no, no, no.

[Host 1]

Like if you Antibiotic era, if nothing else.

[Host 2]

Oh dear.

[Guest 1]

I got a splinter. I'm going to lose my hand and I'm dead.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Amanda]

Calvin Kage's son died from a. From a blister in his foot.

[Guest 2]

Really?

[Amanda]

Yes.

[Guest 2]

Oh my God. That's crazy.

[Host 2]

William Henry Harrison. Didn't he die of a cold or, or the flu or something after. I know there's some question about it's.

[Amanda]

Probably pneumonia, but there was also theories that it was like, like tainted water because D.C. was a disgusting poop swamp.

[Guest 1]

Still is right now. It is.

[Guest 2]

What a metaphor.

[Amanda]

Yes.

[Host 1]

I, I want to tell you guys, I, I like to look at Truth Social periodically to see what's happening while we're recording, see if anything fun happens. I think somebody slipped Trump a memo with his Adderall this morning. This is what he posted while we were recording. Happy anniversary. On this day, November 5th, one year ago, we had one of the greatest presidential victories in history. Such, such, such an honor to represent our country. Our economy is booming and costs are coming way down. Affordability is our goal. Love to the American people. President Donald J. Trump. Affordability. It's a weird word for him to use. 2012 hours after did you see Vivek.

[Amanda]

On Twitter last night? What, Ramaswamy?

[Host 2]

No, no.

[Amanda]

Ramaswamy got on Twitter and made a video because, you know, he's running for governor in Ohio and he said we got our asses kicked because we don't focus on aff. Vulnerability. We talk too much about identity politics.

[Guest 2]

Yes.

[Amanda]

Is echoing.

[Guest 1]

See that dude? That dude's just scared because he's realizing that they will never accept him, Right?

[Guest 2]

Oh, I saw, I saw they beat the out of him. It's crazy.

[Guest 3]

So for anyone who hasn't seen this, Ramaswamy did a town hall style event and, and young people who I think might have been high school students were coming up and saying horrible things. They're like, you're Hindu, right? So you worship demons. Why should we trust you? And he answered like multiple questions. Kids just kept coming up and saying the same, like, insanely bigoted. And he still thinks that he's got a chance of, of winning this nomination.

[Amanda]

Wasn't it a turning point?

[Guest 1]

It was, yeah, you lie down with dogs and you get up with fleas. That's what happens.

[Amanda]

They're never gonna, they're never gonna pick you, buddy.

[Host 2]

Well, we're seeing a big war in the gop, right? Because there's the whole thing where Tucker Carlson brought on, you know, basically Nazi Nick Fuentes and now there are the, the culture warriors and the, I guess I'm going to call them the mainstream Republicans or the financial Republicans or whatever are just at each other's throat about this. And I just, I think just let them fight. But it is really interesting and I think it's going to cause problems for the next year because, like, you know, whoever wins out in that, some of the other side will not vote and it could be very helpful to Democrats. I mean, if we don't really, you know, talk about winning the Ohio gubernatorial race. But if that shit continues and the margins we see saw last night continue, Ohio is in play. Sherrod Brown is in. Is a very strong possibility to be elected to that seat, which is another flip that we would not expect. Like, they are. They are all spiraling, and they were spiraling before the election, probably because their internals told them the same story that we saw last night.

[Host 1]

Now the momentum is going to continue to push in both directions where their infighting is going to. Going to become more severe, and people like Sherrod Brown are going to look at this and go, oh, maybe I'm going to get into this race. Maybe this is the time. Smells like opportunity.

[Host 2]

Well, he is in the race. He is.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Right.

[Host 1]

Okay. I didn't know if he'd declared yet. I know that. Yeah, he did. Yeah. They're sometimes a little bit coy about that.

[Amanda]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 2]

No, you should go to people's. No, yeah. Well, yeah, I. I mean, yeah, it's interesting. Well, let's. We've only got a few minutes left, so let's. Let's. What. What do we think Democrats need to do now? Because obviously this was a great night. Night. But it. We have a lot of work to do. And Amanda, I want to ask you first, like, what. What do you think that the party needs to do to get prepared for what is going to be a sprint to November of 2026?

[Amanda]

So a couple. I just keep thinking about that Elmo Gif of the fire.

[Host 2]

More.

[Amanda]

More of that. We had such a historic night. Not just the margins of the big. The big statewide races, but so many flips happened on, like, city councils. You know, I was thinking about the Charlotte, North Carolina, City Council. One of their districts elected a Democrat last night for the first time ever. You know, so more things like that. I think that we need to lean on Ken Martin to have no uncontested race. No dog catchers, no fucking milkmen, no uncontested races anywhere. I don't care if it's a holler in West Virginia. We need to be running people. People. Which is hard. You know, recruitment is hard. I understand. I get it. Whatever. Shut up. Do it.

[Host 1]

That's the job.

[Amanda]

To donate any more money to you, you need to be so every county. We need to have a presence in every county. No one contested races. And I think now is the time to start. If you are a person who believes that the party needs to Run more progressive candidates and fewer establishment candidates or fewer candidates over the age of 75. You need to start thinking about the primaries now. Those have already started. You know, the Senate.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Amanda]

Races in Maine. The, the primaries are already underway. If Rob Whitman, my congressman, who's a Republican. There are six Democrats already lined up for the Democratic primary. So this has already started. So start getting involved in those races. This is the primaries are the time where you get to push the party in the direction you want it to go. Not the general. You vote for Blue Nomaru. And I know that's controversial, but whatever. But the primaries are now. It's happening now.

[Guest 3]

People need to start getting, getting connected with their local parties. My ballot had two or three uncontested races where Republicans are the only option. And I live in Westchester County, New York. It's one of the most wealthy places in the country. I know that there are a ton of people here who have a comfortable enough life to, to put everything aside and do some public service. Like, I, I just want to see more people who have that comfort in life step up to the plate and, and serve their country.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I think Howard Dean's 50 state strategy, you know, Obama, everybody loved Obama in 08, but Howard Dean was the architect of the greatest takeover of Congress, I think maybe ever. And the way I think about it, it's like. No, it's, it's everything. It's the candidates, it's the money, it's the investment. But it's also the fact that, like, we're all across the country, just the people here in this group. We're all across the country. Everybody's across the country. You have a cousin in Ohio, you've got a grandpa in Minnesota. Like, you've, you've got people everywhere. We're all so interconnected. If, if that person is voting for a person like Mamdani and you're like, well, that's great for you guys. I'm going to vote for my, you know, my local Democrat. At least they're not crazy like Mamdani. Like, you give this net effect across the country where it's not just that person or that race. It's. Well, I know people who voted for mom, Donnie, and they're like my friends or my family. And I might not agree with them, but they're not fucking terrible, monster crazy people. So I'm maybe a little bit more likely, 1 or 2% more likely to vote, you know, in my red state for the Democrat, because maybe they're not all crazy like you have to understand how interconnected people are. And if we take that approach and then we get good candidates, like, I love that. Amanda, every single. Every single race should have somebody you know about or you've heard about or you're, like, at least willing to maybe consider so that you then have permission to make the bigger decisions.

[Amanda]

Power structures are built at the municipal level.

[Host 2]

Yep, 100%. Well, guys, I'm glad we're celebrating. I think it's time for us to wrap this show. But it's been awesome and really, really nice. I, I did a video this morning where I'm like, everything feels lighter today. And I think. I think that's true. There are a couple. I want to do a couple things before we wrap up, but one is we asked you last episode to help a campaign to. To raise money to give federal employees who have been furloughed grocery store gift cards so they could feed their families. And we want to thank everybody who did that. And you could still do it if you go to thelaborforce.org find out thelaborforce.org findout we're still raising money for them so that they can give people the support they need to feed their families. The government is still shut down. It's probably not going to go too much longer, but these people need to eat now. So if you can donate, that would be. Be great. Also, I have to push our merch. Rich and I have lovely shirt. Shirt, lovely hoodie. Made in America. Oh, there's a mug coming out.

[Host 1]

Coffee, though.

[Host 2]

We. Oh, you're. Well, we. You can't. But can't buy that.

[Host 1]

But we got a wrap. So I can go buy or go pour more coffee.

[Host 2]

Yeah, so, yeah, so you can get that@findout podcast.com but finally, Amanda, thank you very much for joining us. We've all been big fans of your content for a long time. And actually, when I told my. Told my wife that you were coming on, one of her best friends was like, oh, she's like my favorite creator. So it all is great. So we really appreciate you coming on and also all the work you did to help get Democrats across the finish line and in particular, volunteering at the polling locations, which is kind of an unsung hero job of anybody who does that. So with that, everybody enjoy this victory, Take a little break, and then it's a sprint to 2026. Thanks, everybody. We'll be back next week.