Rep. Janelle Bynum Shares Playbook for Dems Winning in Red States

Summary

Summary of "Rep. Janelle Bynum Shares Playbook for Dems Winning in Red States"

Episode Release Date: May 22, 2025
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)

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Introduction

In this insightful episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers delve into the strategies employed by Democrats to flip traditionally Republican-held seats in red states. The focal point of the discussion is an exclusive interview with Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, a key figure in the Democratic efforts to regain control in pivotal districts. Hosted amidst a backdrop of recent political shifts, the episode provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the tactical maneuvers and grassroots initiatives driving the Democratic resurgence.

Key Discussion Points

1. Democratic Strategies for Flipping Red States

The conversation begins with the political commentator highlighting the Democratic Party's increasing momentum in capturing red congressional seats. Emphasis is placed on showcasing successful campaigns and identifying replicable strategies across different regions.

• Notable Quote:
  "We have to really talk about how Democrats plan on flipping red congressional seats blue, how they plan on flipping red states and turning them blue." (01:00)

2. Case Study: Omaha, Nebraska Mayoral Election

A significant example discussed is the recent mayoral election in Omaha, Nebraska, where Democrat John Ewing Jr. defeated a long-standing Republican incumbent by a substantial 20-point margin.

• Notable Quote:
  "It was a 20 point shift where a Republican who had held that seat for 12 years, that mayoral seat for 12 years lost." (01:30)

This victory is attributed to Ewing's focus on local issues such as infrastructure and healthcare, contrasting sharply with his opponent's emphasis on divisive culture war topics.

3. In-Depth with Congresswoman Janelle Bynum

The core of the episode features an in-depth interview with Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, who provides firsthand insights into the Democratic playbook for winning in red states.

• Focus Areas:

  • Healthcare and Medicaid: Advocating for accessible healthcare and protecting Medicaid to ensure vulnerable populations receive necessary care.
  • Education and Child Welfare: Prioritizing children's health and education to garner broad-based support.
  • Economic Stability: Ensuring seniors receive timely Social Security benefits and fostering stable job environments.

• Notable Quote:
  "I believe that Oregonians have told me they want to make sure they have the healthiest children, they have the brightest future, that we're taking care of our seniors." (06:41)

4. Highlighting Constituents' Stories

Bynum emphasizes the importance of personal stories in political campaigns, illustrating how highlighting the struggles and successes of constituents can humanize policy debates and resonate with voters.

• Notable Quote:
  "I don't really view it that much as politics. I view it as people. And you highlight the stories of people in your district and across the country." (07:32)

An poignant example shared is the story of Rose, a first grader battling a rare genetic syndrome, underscoring the real-life implications of policy decisions.

• Notable Quote:
  "This is Rose, she's seven years old... My Republican colleagues are working overtime to take Rose's health care away." (07:59)

5. Critique of Republican Policies

The discussion further critiques Republican legislative efforts, particularly focusing on a controversial budget bill aimed at repealing excise taxes on indoor tanning services. Bynum argues that such provisions prioritize frivolous expenses over critical needs like hospital beds for rural America.

• Notable Quote:
  "They're sacrificing Rose and millions of roses for a trash budget that lines the pockets of billionaires and oh, by the way, doesn't even lower the deficit." (09:10)

6. The "Give Them Hell" Tour

Bynum introduces the "Give Them Hell" tour, a series of town halls aimed at mobilizing Democratic support across various districts. The tour is positioned as a grassroots effort to engage directly with voters and address their concerns.

• Notable Quote:
  "We've launched our Give them Hell tour, 10 stops all throughout the summer." (06:41)

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a strong endorsement of Bynum's strategies and the broader Democratic approach to winning in red states. The Meiselas brothers commend her focus on tangible issues and personal narratives, reinforcing the effectiveness of connecting with voters on a human level. As the Democrats continue their "Give Them Hell" tour, the insights shared by Congresswoman Bynum serve as a blueprint for future campaigns aiming to shift the political landscape in traditionally Republican areas.

• Final Notable Quote:
  "That's why you attempt to push a trash budget through, because you know it's trash. It always started out as trash, always will be trash, and will forever continue to be in history." (11:02)

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Key Takeaways

• Grassroots Engagement: Personal stories and direct voter engagement are pivotal in swaying public opinion.
• Focus on Local Issues: Addressing constituent-specific concerns such as healthcare, education, and economic stability can lead to significant electoral gains.
• Critical Evaluation of Opponent Policies: Highlighting the discrepancies and real-world impacts of opposing policies strengthens campaign narratives.
• Strategic Tours: Organized tours like "Give Them Hell" facilitate on-the-ground mobilization and reinforce campaign messaging.

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This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a comprehensive look into the strategic elements driving Democratic successes in traditionally red areas, with Congresswoman Janelle Bynum providing invaluable perspectives on effective campaigning and policy prioritization.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator]

Are getting closer than we think. And I think we have to really talk about how Democrats plan on flipping red congressional seats blue, how they plan on flipping red states and turning them blue. And we have to look at what's working across the country. And we do see things that are working. And so I think it's important we highlight people who are in these frontline districts who are winning. I want to remind every about our reporting last week about the mayoral election in Omaha, Nebraska where a Democrat, John Ewing Jr. Defeated the longest serving Republican mayor incumbent in the United States. And it was a 20 point shift from the prior election held in 2021. So a 20 point shift where a Republican who had held that seat for 12 years, that mayoral seat for 12 years lost. I want to remind you of What John Ewing Jr. Said when he, when he won here. Let's play this clip quickly.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Tonight we embark on a new chap.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

I am deeply honored and humbled to.

[Political Commentator]

Stand before you today as your mayor elect. You know, one of the things in that election that I think was important is that the Republican candidate went full MAGA and was talking about all these culture war issues and bathrooms and just all of these things. And John Ewing Jr. Was talking about potholes and medicine and healthcare and things that really mattered to his constituents. There was a debate over this horrible budget bill that the MAGA Republicans are trying to ram through. And this is a portion that kind of brings it home where there was a Congresswoman Fernandez wanted one of these MAGA Republican Congress members, Adam Smith, to just read the legislation they were pushing through at 1am and they were sneaking in all of these provisions like a way to do tax Deductions or exemptions for tanning beds because, you know, they're all tanning themselves. You know, you know, orange over there while taking away hospital beds. This is an important moment that I think really resonates with voters.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Let's play this clip so that the American public knows what this bill does. One of the little things that it does. Would you Please read page 901, line 20?

[Political Commentator]

I think it'd be better if you read it.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Oh, he doesn't want to read it. I'll read it.

I know the.

Actually ranking member Moore. Ranking member Moore. It was a question. If you would read it. So I'll ask ranking member Moore to read the text. This is in their bill. They don't want to read a line from their own bill. Ranking member, I don't want to read.

[Political Commentator]

The bill for you.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

I am. I am testifying about this legislation.

[Political Commentator]

I'm not going to read the bill to you.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Okay?

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

I am.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

I am. This is amazing.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Ms. Leger Fernandez, shall I pass this back or shall I read it for you?

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Why don't you just read it?

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Action 11, 1106. Repeal of Excise tax on indoor tanning services.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

So they're going to repeal. They're repealing an excise tax on tanning beds. Okay. So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break. And if you need a hospital bed in rural America, I'm sorry, you're out of luck. Right. And I don't know where this particular provision came from. We do know that there are certain elected officials who appear to have a certain orange hue about them, that maybe they want to make sure that tanning beds get a little bit of special credit. But really, really, we are prioritizing tanning beds over hospital beds in rural America.

[Political Commentator]

So then we look to Oregon's 5th congressional district for, I think, one of the best roadmaps of how Democrats can flip seats. There you had Laurie Chavez, dreamer, a MAGA Republican who's now the labor secretary, who actually hates labor. She's been a fraud her entire life, but she pretended that she was for labor. You had the now Democratic Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, who had ran against her before, but was really able to effectively point out in this past election that Laurie Chavez Darimer did not care about the constituents. And Congresswoman Bynum's always focused on hospital beds, healthcare, Medicaid, focusing on issues that people really talk about. And she won. Laurie Chavez Darimer lost. Darimer then became the labor secretary and then admitted that she was against the pro act, against the major thing for labor. So I wanna bring in Democratic Congresswoman Bynum to again talk us through. We've had Congresswoman Bynum on before, but a few months back. What are you seeing now across the country? We're doing this interview late May. Ish. What do you see in Congresswoman?

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Well, we're seeing Democrats take the fight. I'm doing it both on the east coast and the west coast. So in D.C. we're making sure we're standing up for Oregonians and Americans, making sure we're protesting in the well, making sure that we are bringing these issues of Medicaid, of pharmacies and drugs, and making sure that we are talking about how we center children in our policy. I'm someone that believes that Oregonians have told me they want to make sure they have the healthiest children, they have the brightest future, that we're taking care of our seniors. I'm doing this on the east coast and the West Coast. We've launched our Give them Hell tour, 10 stops all throughout the summer. We've already started and people are giving us the material to take back to.

[Political Commentator]

D.C. you know what I love about your approach to politics is that I don't really view it that much as politics. I view it as people. And you highlight the stories of people in your district and across the country. Who are the victims, who are the targets of this MAGA cruelty? Like Rose, a first grader who you highlighted recently. Let's play this clip.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker,. This is Rose. She's seven years old, in the first grade, and she makes friends everywhere she goes. Rose was diagnosed with an ultra rare genetic syndrome when she was just three and a half and now uses a feeding tube in a wheelchair. Medicaid allows Rose to receive physical therapy. And thanks to this therapy, she's starting to take steps. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker. My Republican colleagues are working overtime to take Rose's health care away. It might be easy for people to strike through one number and write in another. Take a little bit from here and there. But each of those numbers represents a person, a child like Rose, who will lose critical care so billionaires can have more money in their pockets. We cannot let them steal from our kids and our families. We will not. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.

[Political Commentator]

And so, Congresswoman, when we talk about, you know, 1am and tanning beds over Medicaid, we're talking about Rose, aren't we?

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Yeah. You know, they're sacrificing Rose and millions of roses for a trash budget that lines the pockets of billionaires and oh, by the way, doesn't even lower the deficit. Trash. Garbage in, garbage out, doesn't even protect our children. And I just can't understand it. There's also some sort of disconnect. $5,000 if you have a kid, without even thinking about what it takes to support our children. Making sure that every child in this country has a full belly when they get to school, making sure that our seniors are cared for. When they need medical care, it's there at a rural hospital. Making sure that our parents can care for their children, that they have good, stable jobs and that they're not going to have the wool to ripped out from underneath them like that is the essence of what we're fighting here. Trump and his cronies are going to go down hard in the midterms guarantee.

[Political Commentator]

You know, your district is a purple district in Oregon. I mean, it was held by a Republican for many years, so you just.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Made sure of it.

[Political Commentator]

But you. But, but that means that people for those years went into the ballot box, they saw a D and an R, and for whatever reason, they clicked the R1 for those years. Unfortunately, no more.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

No more.

[Political Commentator]

But there are people who. What are you hearing from those people, though, right now who went in that direction? Republican, ostensibly. Republican voters, Purple voters.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Well, here's what people are telling me. Number one, they care about getting their Social Security benefits on time. And that wasn't a red issue or blue issue, that was just a green issue. They want to make sure that they can count on their government to deliver what it's supposed to and when it's supposed to. The issue with having the Republican candidate in this race was that she was lying to Oregonians about what her beliefs are and what she was going to defend. And we illuminated the fact that she wasn't really pro labor. She got to her nomination seat and started saying, no, I don't remember that. And that to me, that to me is the warning for Americans in the midterms that these people will lie, say that they're on your team, and then when the rubber meets the road, they can't remember. That's the problem. Wolf in sheep's clothing trying to make you think that you're going to get X packaging, you get Y. That's why this trash budget is so dangerous. That's why they're trying to do it in the middle of the night. That's why they're trying to rush it through in just a couple of days and hold everybody's time in their district hostage. That is why you attempt to push a trash budget through, because you know it's trash. It always started out as trash, always will be trash, and will forever continue to be in history. Trash.

[Political Commentator]

Congresswoman Bynum, thanks as always for joining us. We're going to be following the tour. Where are the next stops?

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

Oh, we're going to Albany, Lake Oswego. We're going to Bend. We're going all over the district.

[Political Commentator]

All right. We'll have Asin from our team following those town halls. We'll get some clips out of it as well, and I'm sure our audience wants to see that. Thank you, Congresswoman, for joining us.

[Congresswoman Leger Fernandez]

Thanks.

[Congresswoman Janelle Bynum]

I hope to see everybody on the Give Em Hell tour.

[Political Commentator]

Amazing. Everybody hit subscribe. Let's hit 5 million subscribers this month. Can't get enough Midas. Check out the Midas substack for ad free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].