The Find Out Podcast

Episode: Why Republicans Fear Democracy
Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Tim, Chris, Luke
Guest: Congressman Cleo Fields (D-LA)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the ongoing fight over gerrymandering, minority representation, and the erosion of democratic norms under Trump's second term, with a special focus on Louisiana's redistricting battle. The hosts are joined by Congressman Cleo Fields, representing LA-6, who brings decades of experience and first-hand insight into Congress’s increasing partisanship, the details of Louisiana’s district battles, and the repression of minority voters. The show balances a critical, often humorous left-wing perspective with a palpable sense of urgency about threats to American democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressman Cleo Fields’ Perspective on the Changing Nature of Congress

• Difference from the 90s to Now (01:52)
  • Fields recounts how Congress has become “much more partisan now than it was back then.”
  • Technology and leadership styles have changed: “Back then … Speaker Tom Foley … would say … [Republicans] have as much right to hear from me as you do … That doesn't take place anymore.”
  • Members used to have respectful debates, even when disagreeing with the President (NAFTA, the crime bill)—today, party-line obedience dominates.
  • Memorable quote:

    “I don't represent the President. You know, I represent people of the 6th congressional district. And ... now when the President says something, it's like golden. … I just think that's very unfortunate.” (03:50)

2. The 'Big Ugly Bill': Attacks on Safety Net Programs (04:42)

• Recent legislation poised to devastate Louisiana’s most vulnerable (cuts to Medicaid, SNAP).
• Cuts were designed to take effect after midterms:

  “None of these, you know, cuts will take effect until after the midterm election, but ... these cuts are real. They're coming. … It's a big ugly bill. And it was ugly yesterday, it's ugly today, and it's going to be even uglier tomorrow.” (05:48)

• Impact: Potential closure of rural hospitals, loss of coverage for hundreds of thousands.

3. Redistricting, Minority Disenfranchisement, and National GOP Strategy (06:51)

• Trump’s direct involvement in state redistricting:

  “Who does that? Who says, I need five more Republican seats? Let me call up a governor, have him do it. I mean, that's ... draconian at best.” (07:56)

• The Supreme Court will rehear Louisiana’s case; possible special legislative session in October.
• Context: Voting Rights Act history and ongoing discriminatory practices.
• Lawsuit against the new district plan by white plaintiffs claiming 14th amendment violations.

4. Immediate Impact & Community Responses (12:38)

• Town halls “on fire all across the country,” with bipartisan anger at the cuts and power grabs.
• Many constituents terrified, including those outside his district who come to his town halls because their own reps “are not holding town hall meetings.”
• Quote:

  “We increased the deficit by $3 trillion and gave the richest of the rich people a tax break on the backs of poor people, taking away their Medicaid. That's unconscionable and it should not happen.” (13:34)

• Widespread perception of the U.S. trending toward dictatorship, eroding the co-equal branches of government.

5. Democratic Response and the Debate Over ‘Fighting Fire with Fire’

• Fields cautions against simply mirroring Republican tactics:
  • “I don't believe fighting fire with fire. I believe fighting fire with water, because when you fight fire with fire, you start another fire.” (15:06)
  • Sympathizes with governors like Gavin Newsom taking bolder action: “the best way to deal with a bully is just stand up to him ... And governors are standing up to him and good for them.” (16:36)
• Condemns alarming law enforcement tactics (e.g., unmarked federal agents detaining Americans).

6. What's at Stake if Louisiana’s Minority-Majority District is Dismantled? (17:25)

• If overturned, many Black voters would be subsumed into Speaker Mike Johnson’s majority-white district, diluting their representation.
• Fields: “If Louisiana go down that road ... that's a dangerous precedent in and of itself.” (17:57)
• But: “Drawing lines won’t keep them from [being heard in Congress].” (18:40) — faith in public mobilization.

7. Wider Reaction: Voter Rage and Republican Power Consolidation (19:02)

• The hosts summarize national anger:

  “They are taking power away from people ... to build their own power around legislation that ... [is] incredibly unpopular.” (19:05)

• Republican strategies—masked ICE agents, presence patrols—evoke comparisons to authoritarian regimes.
• Belief that these excesses will fuel high Democratic turnout.

8. Looking Forward: Democratic Strategy if They Retake Congress (22:19)

• Fields predicts quick legislative reversals of Trump-era policies if Democrats take back House & Senate:

  “I think they're going to do it from day one ... it's going to be a mandate from the voters to … silence a lot of this, this madness.” (22:26)

• On DEI:

  "I never thought I would dream to be in living a day where a President ... signs an executive order saying I want to do away with all diversity, all equity and all inclusion.” (23:03)

• Ready to act aggressively—“We have to fix it and we got to fix it right away.” (24:17)

9. Action Items for Listeners (25:41)

• Fields urges everyone to “do something”—contact their own Congressional reps and Senators, support organizing efforts (26:19).
• “It’s going to take everybody getting into action to change the trajectory of this country.” (26:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Congressional Change:
  “[Tom Foley] would say ... [Republicans] have as much right to hear from me as you do...” (02:32)
  “It is really divided based on party line ... It’s a truly divided Congress.” (02:48)

• On GOP Redistricting Tactics:
  “Who does that? Who says, I need five more Republican seats? Let me call up a governor, have him ... do it.” (07:56)

• On Impact in Louisiana:
  “Hospitals ... in Louisiana will close because people won’t be able to support them ... It’s a terrible bill ... it’s a big ugly bill.” (05:53)

• On Community Response:
  “Town halls are just on fire all across the country ... [people] are terrified...” (12:38)

• On 'Fighting Fire with Fire':
  “When you fight fire with fire, you start another fire. When you fight it with water, you put it out.” (15:08)

• On Masked Law Enforcement:
  “We got mass federal agents, you know, stopping people on the side of the road, not identifying themselves as police officers ... That's... We're better than that.” (16:54)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Time | Topic/Summary | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:17 | Introduction, Congressman Fields’ background | | 01:52 | How Congress has changed since the ‘90s; increased partisanship | | 04:18 | Relationship with Speaker Mike Johnson; critique of “the big ugly bill” | | 06:51 | Trump’s role in redistricting, Supreme Court’s involvement | | 09:31 | History and legal challenges of LA-6 as a majority-minority district | | 12:38 | Constituent fear and legislative unpopularity; town hall stories | | 14:56 | Response to Democratic leadership strategies, “fighting fire with fire” | | 17:25 | What happens if minority-majority district is dismantled | | 19:02 | Host commentary: power, repression, ICE/militarized law enforcement | | 22:19 | Fields on what Democrats would do with majorities—rollback of Trump policies | | 25:41 | What listeners can do; calls to action |

Additional Highlights

• Discussion of National Trends:
  Hosts and Fields connect Louisiana’s struggle to similar battles in Texas, highlighting how Republican officials are detaining Democratic lawmakers to force legislative quorums (28:20).

  “They’re trying to lock or … detain members of the opposing party in order to get what they want.” (29:25)

• Cultural Critique:
  Conversation expands into the normalization and tactical use of intimidation (ICE, National Guard), victim-blaming rhetoric (“just comply”), and the feedback loop of conservative hypocrisy (37:01–41:34).
• Satirical Segment:
  Luke delivers the “Get F***ed” monologue skewering Speaker Mike Johnson for hypocrisy, performative religiosity, and invasive family policies:

  “He rolls over at every possible turn and at the same time preaches him. … Oh, we passed the big beautiful bill where we're gonna cut Medicaid and health assistance for so many people ... and pray afterward.” (48:02–49:06)
  Ridiculing Johnson’s accountability app with his son, Luke concludes:
  “That’s the kind of person we’re talking about ... That is crazy.” (49:23–50:33)

Closing

• The hosts wrap with a call to action to support Congressman Fields, plug the show's website and merch, and reinforce the need for collective action:

  “They are a lawless administration ... They just care about power. That's it. And Democrats are absolutely sort of starting to wake up to that, I think.” (43:23)

Summary Takeaways

• The episode provides a sobering, sharply critical look at Republican strategies to undermine democracy—through gerrymandering, hamstringing minority representation, and wielding executive power to erode civil rights and social programs.
• Congressman Cleo Fields offers compelling historical context and personal testimony on the stakes for Louisiana’s Black voters, the cynicism of recent legislation, and the urgency of public activism.
• The Find Out Podcast balances robust analysis with irreverent, biting humor, generating both insight and catharsis for left-leaning listeners grappling with the realities of American politics under Trump’s second term.

For more details or to support Rep. Cleo Fields: cleofields.com
Find the podcast on Substack: findoutpodcast.substack.com