Scott Presler on Flipping PA & the 2026 Mission | Sage Steele Show | EP 93

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Sage Steele Show

Episode 93: Scott Presler on Flipping PA & the 2026 Mission
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Sage Steele
Guest: Scott Presler (Founder, Early Vote Action; voter registration activist)

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Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and strategic episode, Sage Steele sits down with Scott Presler, recognized for his grassroots work in flipping Pennsylvania for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. The conversation traverses Presler's transformative journey from dog walker to political influencer, the critical tactics that led to Republican victories, the importance of grassroots engagement, election integrity concerns, and Presler’s personal growth and health struggles. The tone is candid, optimistic, motivational, and pragmatic, with threads of humor and vulnerability throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Grassroots and Data-Driven Organizing

• Presler’s Strategic Focus on Pennsylvania
  • Pennsylvania ("the Keystone State") was the linchpin in 2024.
  • Reflecting on 2020’s narrow margin (80,000 votes) shaped his data-driven outreach.
  • Activating overlooked conservative groups: Amish, truckers, and hunters [08:41–12:00].
  • “There are 90,000 Amish in PA. … What if we reached out to get them to vote? … We got the Amish to use mail-in ballots to vote for Donald Trump.” – Scott [10:12]
• Boots on the Ground—Literally
  • Early Vote Action was founded to mobilize staff in all 67 counties, registering 50,000 new voters.
  • “You chose to go door to door, literally. What was that part like?” – Sage [08:33]
  • The approach: “Not necessarily converting Democrats, but activating unregistered conservatives.” [11:15]
• Listening as the Key to Persuasion
  • “When I went to the Amish, I shut my trap and listened: What do you want? How can I preserve your way of life?” – Scott [15:21]

2. Election Integrity and Civic Involvement

• Call to Continued Action
  • Don’t “take the foot off the gas” post-victory; 2026 and beyond require vigilance.
  • “Everyone thinks Election Day is the most important day. … But it’s really the year ahead that decides who is going to win.” – Scott [23:27]
• Actionable Steps for Everyday People [81:02]
  • Register to vote at your current address.
  • In closed primary states, register with your party to choose candidates.
  • Volunteer as precinct captains and election day workers.

3. Personal Transformation and Resilience

• Presler’s Year of Growth
  • From physical health struggles (anemia, weight swings, hospitalizations) to transformative wellness [41:44–46:31].
  • “I woke up April 4, 2025 and said, ‘Today’s the day I change my life.’ … After nine months, I’m in the best shape of my life.” – Scott [44:49]
• Dealing with Internet Hate and Past Bullying
  • Humorous, self-deprecating responses deflate trolls (“A lion doesn’t care about the opinion of sheep.”) [48:44].
  • Own your narrative: “Turn their hate into finance, more follows, more likes.” – Scott [53:53]

4. Identity, Community, and Representation

• Bridging Political and Social Divides
  • Rejecting the notion of being “the gay conservative” or boxed in by identity.
  • “I wanted to be known as the voter registration guy, not the gay conservative.” [65:34]
  • Experiences both criticism (“traitor”) and gratitude from diverse communities [70:21–73:21].
  • “My favorite is when I have these straight white dads who slide into my DMs … and say, ‘You’ve changed my mind.’” [66:41]
• On Diversity within the Conservative Movement
  • Highlighted surge in black, gay, and other minority voting for Republicans in 2024.
  • The movement “is for everyone … as long as you don’t hate America,” building a “big beautiful tent.” – Scott [68:24]

5. Cultural and Political Issues

• Women’s Sports and Safe Spaces
  • Strong opposition to men in women’s sports and spaces: “As a man, innately in my DNA, I am here to protect my kin, my family, daughters, women.” [59:17]
  • Celebration of state-level initiatives like Washington’s ballot measure for women’s spaces [60:25–61:10].
  • Solution: Grassroots action is necessary when leadership fails.
• The Need for Ongoing Political Accountability
  • Urges Republicans in office to seize their “one moment in time” and pass promised reforms, especially on election integrity [74:09–78:18].

6. Family, Legacy, and Personal Roots

• Family Influence and Connection
  • Military family values shaped Presler’s service mindset.
  • Recent genealogy revealed ancestral ties to the Pennsylvania militia of the Revolution, creating a sense of destiny in his work [31:03].
  • “This has brought my family together … My exposure, doing this, has brought a closeness back.” [32:40]
• Reflections on Parenting and Legacy
  • Desires to have children one day: “I gotta pass this hair on. ... My parents deserve a lineage.” [90:16]

7. Mentorship and Motivation

• Advice for Strugglers and the Bullied
  • Every child needs “some sort of individual success” to build confidence [52:08].
  • “Once you have that confidence, that is an unbreakable shield.” – Scott [52:22]
• Encouragement to Get Involved and Elevate Others
  • “If 330 million Americans did better, we wouldn’t be in the place that we’re in, even right now.” [81:56]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Listening and Empowerment:
  “I’m not here to be your savior. I’m here to show you what’s possible.” – Scott [14:04]

• On Achieving the Improbable:
  “With diligence, can-do attitude, and dare I say, persistence … you can go from the doghouse to the White House.” – Scott [85:13]

• On Self-Acceptance:
  “If I listened to everyone who wanted to change me, I wouldn’t be unique.” – Scott [03:34]

• On Internet Hate:
  “A lion doesn’t care about the opinion of sheep.” – Scott [48:44]
  “Turn their hate into finance … more follows, more likes.” – Scott [53:53]

• On the Importance of Action:
  “If Democrats wake up every morning thinking of ways to destroy our country, if Republicans put the same effort into saving her, then we would never have to worry about the fight for freedom, ever.” – Scott [80:06]

• On Living with Urgency:
  “We’re only on this earth for this one moment in time … I don’t want to wake up when I’m 90 wishing that I had done more. This is it.” – Scott [04:25]

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Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Theme/Content | |------------|----------------| | 01:23 | Introduction of Scott Presler & his role | | 05:33 | Founding of Early Vote Action, pivot to Pennsylvania | | 08:41–12:00| Amish & trucker engagement strategies | | 23:27 | Election Day 2024 experiences | | 31:03 | Family legacy and Revolutionary War ancestry | | 41:44–46:31| Health battles and transformative self-care | | 65:34 | Rejecting labels, bridging divides | | 74:09 | Accountability and GOP legislative priorities | | 85:13 | Dog walker to White House: Presler’s story | | 90:16 | Reflections on family, legacy, and having children |

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Key Takeaways for Listeners

• Grassroots efforts, targeted outreach, and data-driven strategy flipped Pennsylvania.
• Effective activism means listening, not just talking.
• Personal authenticity, resilience, and overcoming adversity propel effective leadership.
• The path from ordinary to extraordinary starts with taking the initiative—no role is too small.
• The work of civic engagement never ends—2026 and beyond require vigilance and action at all levels.
• The conservative movement is diversifying, breaking old stereotypes, but the work of inclusion, unity, and accountability continues.

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Final Word:
Scott Presler’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of persistence, grassroots work, and authenticity. Whether registering voters at a farmers’ market or facing down personal and public challenges, his message is clear: everyone, everywhere has a role to play in shaping the future—starting right now.

Transcript

[Sage]

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[Sage]

Several key people hugely responsible for Donald Trump winning in 2024. Charlie Kirk and Scott Pressler, the founder.

[Scott Pressler]

Of Early Vote Action and voter registration activist and deliver Pennsylv for Donald J. Trump. Congratulations. You deserve credit more than anybody else, man.

[Sage]

You chose to go door to door. What was that part like? What did President Trump and J.D. vance say to you?

[Scott Pressler]

President Trump said the hella head of a hair.

[Sage]

Hatred at all from others in the gay community.

[Scott Pressler]

Not anything more than you're a traitor. If Democrats wake up every morning thinking of ways to destroy our country, if Republicans put the same effort into saving her, then we would never have to worry about the fight for freedom.

[Sage]

So what can we do? What does the everyday person watching this do to try their best to ensure that where they are there is election integrity?

[Scott Pressler]

Oh, let me. This is an exclusive. I haven't told anyone this. Oh boy. I haven't even posted about this on social media.

[Sage]

I just like that I'm not the only one with a. With hair. Not issues. Hair greatness. Do you know that when I was at ESPN and even before I had bosses who were like, can you straighten it?

[Scott Pressler]

Really? Oh yeah.

[Sage]

I mean they wouldn't do that today because now they get sued, you know. But yeah, because if you think about it, no one on TV news anchors or any kind of, you know, sports, whatever, entertainment, nobody had curly hair, everything was straightened, and it was the anchor bob back in the day. And everybody. And I'm like, I don't know. That's a lot of wrist action. It's a lot of time. And as a young mom, I didn't have that time.

[Scott Pressler]

And it can be damaging, too, to your hair, doing it every day.

[Sage]

Totally.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, any. Even with myself, you know, there's a lot of pressure to conform to being the stereotypical male. And everyone's trying to tell me to change, and they're like, cut your hair. You're never going to get that job opportunity. People would take you more seriously if you had different hair. And I'm like, you know what? Quite frankly, I think my hair is what makes me different.

[Sage]

Totally.

[Scott Pressler]

And a little bit special.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

And if I just listen to everyone that wanted to change me, I wouldn't be unique.

[Sage]

It's so true. But that takes maturity. That takes time and wisdom and being through, you know, like, pushing through some things to be able to say, no, thank you, I'm good. I'm not going to conform.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes, well. And ultimately, I think just don't strive to make others happy. This is about internally taking care of yourself first. So that. That's kind of what I've been. This last year, it's been. It wasn't easy. It was tough. But this has been a year of transformative growth, like the whole health and wellness. And now I feel like I'm finally at that place in 2026 where I'm ready to go after everything I want.

[Sage]

So when you talk about it being transformative and growing, how so?

[Scott Pressler]

Just everything. I mean, I have my organization now. We have staff on the ground. I'm doing a better job of reaching out to donors and trying to elevate coming to Nashville, having the opportunity to go on shows like yours and not just staying stationary, but really taking it national and trying to reach upper echelons. And I think part of that is, I think as humans, we often box ourselves and we say to ourselves what we can and cannot do. And I'm at the point where, no, I can do anything I set my mind to do. And I'm at that point where I'm like, gosh, we're only on this earth for this one moment in time. And I don't want to wake up when I'm 90 wishing that I had done more like, this is it.

[Sage]

Yeah, that's the thing. Everybody knows it's a cliche. Oh, there's no guarantees. But I feel like we don't always live like that. And I love that that's a choice. You are choosing to do just that. Take us through. Yeah. Your organization now, you said you have employees, your boots on the ground, everywhere, literally across the country.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, and too, I want to say that's kind of how I met you and I came to know you. So I founded Early Vote Action. That's my organization. But up until that point, I was just kind of doing things solo. I was this nomad just traveling across the country and 2022 happens. And what happened in 2022? Nevada. We lost an election by 8,000 votes. It snowed on election Day. When do conservatives vote? Election Day. In Maricopa County, Arizona. The machines have errors on election Day. We lose with Kerry Lake by 15,000 votes. When do conservatives vote? Election Day.

[Sage]

Election Day.

[Scott Pressler]

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They run out of paper ballots on election Day. When do conservatives vote? And so I thought to myself, gosh, Joe Biden at the time is going to get reelected as president unless Republicans change the way that they vote and model Democrats using an all of the above approach to voting. And I said, nobody else is going to do it. And so we founded early vote action in 2023, January, and focused all of our time, talent and energy on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Because I knew PA is known as the Keystone State. And that was going to be the deciding factor as to whom was going to be elected the next President of the United States. And we were able to hire 87 staff across the 67 counties who registered 50,000 voters. And ultimately we won. Donald Trump won the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And that's where I met you at one of the hangar events. It was either, I think, Allentown or Lehigh County. And you were interviewing the now Vice President of the United States, J.D. vance.

[Sage]

That was a crazy moment for me, having tried to avoid politics my whole life because of what comes with it when you, you know, when you're genuine, when you own it. But that was at the first town hall I did. And Pennsylvania is Pennsylvania. Like, I think there's several key people that are hugely responsible for Donald Trump winning in 2024. Charlie Kirk.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

For very obvious reasons. And Scott Pressler, because of the state of Pennsylvania. And of course, the trickle effect of that trickle down effect that people are seeing what you're doing and being active in their states. Do you realize that? Do you believe that? I guess that your hard work is literally, in my opinion, the reason why he won Pennsylvania.

[Scott Pressler]

I am thankful for that acknowledgement, but I want to be mindful that this is a we effort.

[Sage]

It is.

[Scott Pressler]

And.

[Sage]

And we need leaders.

[Scott Pressler]

True.

[Sage]

You chose to go door to door, literally. What was that part like?

[Scott Pressler]

Oh, gosh, there's so much to it. Well, just backtracking for a second on how we kind of looked at Pennsylv. So I'm a weird numbers guy. I love data, I love math, I love analyzing things. So 2020 was decided by 80,000 votes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Joe Biden. 80,000, that's nothing. That's a drop in the bucket. And so for me, that is something that I held on to for the last four years. Something on my brain. Go to PA. 80,000 votes. Go to PA. 80, Thousand votes. And I started thinking to myself, what are groups that are underrepresented or don't vote enough in our elections that we can reach out to that fit that number? And so I started doing some research. There are 90,000Amish in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And I just got to thinking, wait a second. This group believes in freedom of bodily autonomy, not having forced vaccinations, freedom of school choice, freedom of religion, freedom to grow your property, what you choose to put into your body, what you choose raw milk, etc. And I thought, gosh, why don't we reach out to the Amish to get them to vote? And just side note, they get married on Tuesdays in November. Did you know that? Tuesdays in November. What happens on Tuesdays in November? Election day.

[Sage]

Oh, my gosh.

[Scott Pressler]

We got the Amish to use mail in ballots to vote for Donald Trump in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Then truckers. There are 80,000 truckers in Pennsylvania. Again, 80. And all these things just kept happening over and over, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, truckers are beautiful truckers. What if they're in Wisconsin driving a truck on election Day? Or they're in California or Michigan, Whatever, let's get them to vote early. Let's get them to vote by mail. And another number, 30% of hunters are not registered. That's 300,000 voters in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania not registered to vote. So my methodology and my strategy for PA wasn't necessarily converting Nashville liberals Democrats. It wasn't converting Democrats to come over. Sure, I'll take those votes and I'll work towards them. But my message is there are more conservatives out there than of the opposition, and we need to do a better job of reaching out to them, registering them to vote and mobilizing them. And that's what we did in PA. And ultimately, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania with 120,000 more votes than Kamala Harris. And it was because of a lot of these underrepresented groups that were activated and making their voices heard and just meeting them where they are, speaking their language and showing them we give a darn about them. I mean, what a. What a low bar when it comes to politics, right? Meeting the voter where they are.

[Sage]

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[Scott Pressler]

Well, and there's more to it, too. You know, the factor of Governor Shapiro, he's the current governor of the Commonwealth and he's a Democrat. His Department of Agriculture has been going after members of the Amish community for the raw milk. And it was the weaponization of the Commonwealth government that showed the Amish, wow, if we don't get involved, then the government can come after us, and the government's going to come after us either way. But it's kind of like with our truckers as well. What I'm trying to get at is if people truly want more power, why do you think the Democrats are so bold and they're out protesting and even being rambunctious, shall we say? It's because when they are loud and when they are vocal, their politicians listen to them and get things done. Conservatives are meek and mild and quiet, and then we complain when our politicians don't do anything. So my message to any group out there, if you want to be heard, if you want to be seen, then you register to vote at your current address and you make your voice heard in every election. Then you'll see raw milk bills being passed. Then you'll see trucking bills on behalf of that community being passed if you are taken seriously by registration and activation. And so really, I like to feel that the work that we are doing is empowering people. I'm here to lift up somebody to say, no, I'm not here to be your savior. I'm here to show you what is possible. And then, last thing, what you're doing with this platform is what we need to be doing better, too. And I know that I'm doing the opposite of it. But when I went to the Amish, I shut my trap and I listened. What do you want? How can I preserve your way of life? How can I make life easier for you? How can I stop the squeeze of the government to be less burdensome on your life? We need fewer people telling other people what they want, and we need to actually listen to the people.

[Sage]

Give me an example of some of the things they said and some of the things you experienced while talking face to face with them, while listening, while going door to door.

[Scott Pressler]

So when we first and shout out to Chairwoman Juanita Byler, she's a woman that grew up Anabaptist in gosh, what's the. Oh, they're gonna hurt me if I can't remember this county, it will come back to me. Oh, my gosh, I can't believe I'm forgetting it. So when we first went to speak to the Amish, we just went around Sawmill to sawmill, to farm, to restaurant, even just meeting with members of the Amish. And first we started listening. What do you care about? Have you ever thought about voting, why don't you vote, etc. And we learn so many things that, you know, they believe in going to the heavenly kingdom, we're on the earthly kingdom. And so they usually don't get involved in things that are just here because their ultimate goal is to get with our, our heavenly Father. And they believe in peace, not war. And. And they believe in preserving Amish way of life. And so just listening and being studious and taking it seriously what they want, I was able to then formulate, well, if we want to preserve things like school choice, etc. You need to register, you need to vote. Did you know in New York they are now forcing vaccinations in your next door neighbor in New York? Did you know that we would have school choice here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if it weren't for current leadership? Did you know that President Trump is the pacifist, the peace president, not the wartime president? And it was through listening, learning and understanding, I was able to then cultivate a message to show them we were serious about earning their votes. And I like to use that word in particular. I'm here to earn your support, to earn your trust.

[Sage]

It seems like for so many years, the Democrats were the ones that were really good at this. Grassroots community organizers and doing that and going door to door. And I do think that we were quieter, also known as lazy in many ways, not intentionally lazy in the traditional definition of it, but just assuming that you know what the right thing will happen. And then we learned in 2020, I think what happens when you just sit back. Right. Do you feel that there are others like you around the country more now than before, who realize that you have got to get your hands dirty if you want this message to get out.

[Scott Pressler]

Absolutely. Yeah. So we're seeing a rise of people taking this. Certainly, I welcome more help. I want more people to be a part of the solution, be a part of the equation. But at the same time, people don't know what they don't know.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

And that means I need to do a better job of providing training. And so on the 31st of January, early vote action is going to be doing a training in Harrisburg, where we start off privately with my team to meet all of our organizers across the state. And then we're going to open up to the public. So let's do an example. What do I do when I'm out In public. And I'm registering voters. Let's give an example of, of how easy it is. So in Lancaster, part of the Amish community, they have a place called the Green Dragon Farmers Market. And now with Maha, a lot of people are buying local. They're getting their local sourced produce. So we set up a voter registration table at the Green Dragon Farmers Market. Now, of course, I want to register conservatives to vote. I mean, I want to empower everybody, but I especially want to reach out to our beautiful Republicans. And so we have our table. I've got my forms and everything, and I have a big, beautiful whiteboard. And the whiteboard will have a message on it. For example, how is Governor Shapiro doing? And maybe it will say A, B, C, D, F. And people can vote how they feel about the governor. So if they put F, oh, baby, I am pulling out a voter registration form right away. Or it will say, do you believe men should not be able to enter women's locker rooms, showers and other private places? Now, here's where the nuance comes in. So do you believe in banning men from entering women's private places? Yes, will be in red, meaning the conservative choice. And they can put a red. No, will be in blue. So when I'm there with the whiteboard and somebody is answering my question at the Green Dragon Farmers Market, if they're saying men should be banned from women's private places and they're putting yes in red, I'm immediately going into, this is a conservative voter. This is somebody that I need to launch into. Are you registered to vote? Are you active with your local committee? Are you voting into the next election? And so not only meeting people where they are at the right place at the right time, but also cultivating a message to make sure I am discerning my base and then activating them. That's really how easy it is. Anyone can do this. And people make fun of me because they're like, Scott, you know, you always say you started off working the corner. So I have to be very careful saying that now. But, but really I'm. What I do isn't extraordinary. We just have to do a better job of teaching it. And I hope that there are going to be an army of sages out there and Scott Presslers just leading on people towards the 2026 midterm elections.

[Sage]

Well, I think right now we absolutely have to elbow our friends and encourage others to do the same because, I mean, we know what usually happens, right? Okay. So it swings the other way in the midterm based on who's in office. And in 2022, it went our way, right? You look at Miami and flipping and so Many pauses in 2022 with Biden in office. So we have to be very careful with 2026. And I think there's, there's. And especially because Trump's in there. And therefore just that name makes people quite often go the opposite direction. I do believe that people know now it is kind of a now or never. I do want to ask you this though. On election day in 2024, where were you?

[Scott Pressler]

I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Shocker, Shocker. And I was going from polling to polling location. I started in Slippery Rack over there in Western Pennsylvania and then I went over to Cranberry and it was fun and it was a blast. I'm going to polling locations and these people would just come up, oh my gosh, Scott Pressler. And I'm like, I need your vote. And they're like, I just voted for Donald J. Trump. And like people are in the parking lot, they're all screaming and the energy was great. And the Democrats, oh, they look so mad. They were not happy that all this long hair was there. They just knew something was going on. And so that's really how I spent my day, is I probably put out a million posts on social media because that day, what people don't understand is everyone thinks that Election day is the most important day. It is, in part. But it's really the year ahead that decides who is going to win. It's the going to the Green Dragon and registering voters. It's the doors that you knocked for the last year. It's the relationships that you cultivated, it's the volunteers that you trained, it's the donors that helped finance you. It's everything you did for the 365 days before election Day. That final day is just crossing every appendage on your body and hoping that people actually come out to vote.

[Sage]

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[Scott Pressler]

Well, I was alone. So on election day, I am. I'm a nervous wreck. I have to just, I have to be by myself because I'm freaking out, not saying anything but in my head, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. So I'm sitting in my car. There's a watch party going on. All my friends are there, My team is there. They're all inside. My behind is alone in a car, in a car in the parking lot. Oh, yeah. And I'm just looking at my phone and I'm hitting refresh, refresh, refresh over and over and over. Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. And I'm looking at the returns on the meal and voting and I was like, wait a second. These numbers don't look that bad. Here's how it goes in Pennsylvania. Allegheny county is Pittsburgh. You need 40% of Pittsburgh to win the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You need 20% of Philadelphia to win the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The mail in ballots was like 17, I think, percent at the time over in Philly, and it was nearing 20 and Pittsburgh was nearing 40. And I'm like, these don't look bad. McCormick doesn't look bad. And then I think it was 1:30 in the morning. From inside, I hear ruckus, applause and cheering. And my team comes running out to me and they're like, scott, we just won Pennsylvania. They Said, we won the White House. It's done, it's over. And so I just kind of took a second to myself and everything is just running through my head. I don't even know what to think. I don't know what to say. And I just pull out my phone and I start composing a post on X And I say, Mr. President, I'm pleased to share that we have delivered the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for you, sir. Congratulations at real Donald Trump Post. And that was it. And it was done. We had elected the 45th and 47th President of the United States. And, and here's the best part. In 2016, we waited until 3am for Pennsylvania to be called. Donald Trump was elected and announced the presidential winner at 1:30. It didn't go even past 1:30. It was done. Yeah. And he won by 120,000 votes. And we were the only swing state in the entire country that elected a Republican senator. Arizona didn't, Wisconsin didn't. Michigan didn't. Nevada didn't. Pennsylvania did. It was pretty cool.

[Sage]

I hope that you have taken a few more quiet moments to yourself and even if no one else can see, Scott, like, are you proud of yourself? We are. And every. We are so grateful for you.

[Scott Pressler]

Thank you. Well, I'm, I'm a shoot for the stars kind of guy. And I look back and I'm so grateful and words can't even be said. We were talking about this earlier. Just putting gratitude in your attitude and just recognizing how special life is and how blessed we are to even be in this space and having this moment. But I'm a, you're only as good as your most recent win kind of guy. I'm a, what's next?

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

How can I do better? How can I elevate? How can I take this to the next level? And so even after 2024, I'm looking towards 2028. I'm looking towards 2032. You know, I don't want this to be a flash in the pan. I think we need to create a 24, 7, 365 work ethic if we're going to save our country. But no, I have taken a few quiet moments, but no, I want to keep going.

[Sage]

Family. What does your family say about that? What did they say about that moment when you helped lead to the win in Pennsylvania?

[Scott Pressler]

They're. They're incredible. Well, here's the coolest part. Well, actually. Oh, let me. This is an exclusive. I haven't told anyone that.

[Sage]

Oh, boy.

[Scott Pressler]

This is. I haven't even posted about this on social media. So it's weird how life works. I have no. Now, I know I had no attachment to Pennsylvania, but something in the back of my head was always. And the Democrats are going to say, oh, he's crazy. No, something in the back of my head always just said, go to pa. Go to pa. Go to pa. And I never knew why. I just. I. Something. I had always been drawn to it just in inane desire. And my dad has been doing a lot of genealogy since he's retired and driving my mom crazy. Now he's got time and come to find out, my family, one of our relatives, we are sons of the revolution and, you know, creating the foundation of our country. And come to find out my relative was in the Pennsylvania militia for the Revolutionary War of our country that founded our nation in Somerset county, kind of in western Pennsylvania, where I now live. And it's just kind of one of those weird, very cool, cosmic, universal moments when I'm just like, no, I'm where I need to be.

[Sage]

Exactly where.

[Scott Pressler]

This is where I am destined to be in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And I am. I have it in my blood.

[Sage]

Full circle, without even knowing it very much.

[Scott Pressler]

So.

[Sage]

Oh.

[Scott Pressler]

And where I was going with that is this has brought my family together. Come to find out, I got family in California that, you know, you kind of lose touch with some of your extended family, extended family in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. My exposure, doing this has actually brought the family together. I've got family in Wheeling. Everyone's Republican. Everyone's Republican in Cali, in West Virginia, in pa, and it's brought us together. And we just did a family reunion over in Wheeling just a couple weeks ago for Thanksgiving.

[Sage]

Oh, my God.

[Scott Pressler]

And so, you know, my. My work has brought a closeness back together, and I think that's one thing that I really appreciate is being able to. To bring that togetherness.

[Sage]

Well, especially because quite often it's the opposite.

[Scott Pressler]

Correct. It's where it could be divisive. No, it's been, gosh, we're so proud. We're so thankful, and it's been a blessing.

[Sage]

See, and I know that you aren't one who's trying to please the world, please anyone else. And at the same time, how beautiful that you have made so many people in your family proud.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, I tack about them a lot. And I mean it. I'm blessed. My mom and dad, they've been married. Ooh, they're gonna hurt me if I get this wrong. Probably. I want to see 44 years, but maybe 40. That'd probably be more appropriate. And I tell you, my mom and dad, they share true love. They did everything for my brother and me. My dad's an evil captain, retired Navy captain. And my mom is just a loving housewife that did everything for, for our family. And I've been blessed. They instilled their values into me. I'm an eagle Scout. And I just, I like to think that I represent, well, what it means to grow up in a military family, what it means to grow up with, with those values of service. And, and I mean this very respectfully. I haven't served in our military, and I'm not even making an analogy between what I do and our members of the military. But I feel that this is my way of giving back to my country. I'm not serving in the military, but I'm serving in a very different kind of way.

[Sage]

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[Scott Pressler]

It's everything. Well, come to find out, not only my dad was a retired Navy captain, his dad was a retired Navy captain. And so I joke when I'm doing events. I'm like, I don't know what happened to me. And that usually elicits laughter from that.

[Sage]

And what. This doesn't resemble a Navy captain.

[Scott Pressler]

Right, Right. And I don't know, it's just family accountability Service. You know, I think all those things kind of, kind of wrap up what it, what it means to have that upbringing. And I just, I try to live. No, not terrible. I mean, I grew up in the. Oh, I'm going to age myself. I grew up in the generation where you're outside playing until dark and then, you know, to come home after dark and you're out doing kickball or my dad would just whistle and that was when I would come home. They don't do that nowadays. It's a totally different world.

[Sage]

Do they know what kickball is anymore? Probably not. I guess it's different.

[Scott Pressler]

I loved, I mean, we, we did everything. Yeah. I mean, there was, there was trust, but there was also, like, I knew when dad whistled to come home. I knew to come home at dark, otherwise I was going to be in trou. So there were, there were implicit and explicit rules. But, you know, I think it was also there was, I don't know, mutual trust in that.

[Sage]

And how would you describe your relationship with your parents and your brother today?

[Scott Pressler]

Well, we'll just keep it focused on, on my, my immediate family. Let's put it this way. When I come home to see mom and dada mom and so insist to do my laundry, I'm a grown adult. I'm a grown adult, independent man. But mom will insist to do my laundry. Insist to wash it, dry it, fold it. Dad will drive me to the airport. They'll insist on cooking. But now I'm on my own journey. So now I do my own thing. But no, they. They do everything they can to try to be accommodating and make my life as easy as possible.

[Sage]

See, us moms, we're really good at being helicopter moms, even. Or. You're 38, right. I'm aging you because you're a lot younger than me, so don't. So calm down.

[Scott Pressler]

I don't. I don't say that orally.

[Sage]

Oh, my gosh. Come on.

[Scott Pressler]

And you got it wrong because my Wikipedia is not correct. Just saying.

[Sage]

Oh, so that means you're older than your Wikipedia.

[Scott Pressler]

No.

[Sage]

Younger.

[Scott Pressler]

No.

[Sage]

Whatever you're doing, you look great. Thank you. But it is a mom thing where we know you're grown up, we know you're good, but it's like when you come home, I think we want this.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, and just looking back and anything I know about parent. I'm not a parent myself, but I think what moms and dads want more is to feel needed. Right. I don't know if I hit that on the head, but you. You want your child, even when they're grown up, to still need you.

[Sage]

Yes.

[Scott Pressler]

And so I'm recognizing that and acknowledging it, and. And I. I love my mom and dad.

[Sage]

Thank you for letting her continue to love you in that way.

[Scott Pressler]

Yeah.

[Sage]

You know. Yes. We want you to go. Be able to do it for yourselves. But then once you do it and you're respectful and you tell us that we are right about everything, then we want to. Yes. My daughter's over there. Admit it out loud, like it's true. It is. But we never. I'm 53, and my parents still want to take care of me in that way. You know, you were pretty public about your health issues over the last couple of years, and I imagine, as mom and dad, that was tough, right?

[Scott Pressler]

Yeah.

[Sage]

Tough to watch their son struggling in every. In every way. For people who don't know. Can you explain what it was and how. How you are today? Obviously, you're quite healthy. You look fabulous now.

[Scott Pressler]

Thank you.

[Sage]

But it's been a. It's been a journey.

[Scott Pressler]

Yeah. No. I became severely anemic. I went down to £143.

[Sage]

And you're how tall?

[Scott Pressler]

I was six, five. Skin and bone. And. And I just thought I was tired. I'm like, you know, gosh, I'm just working my patootie off, and I'm going Out in Arizona and 110 degree weather and just sweating, you know, my behind off. And. But I'm also very much, look, I'm a giver. And when you're a giver and when you're service oriented, you're not thinking about yourself. You're thinking about how can I help others, how can I accomplish my job? Especially when you think of the urgency of if we are not successful, it's done, it's over. And so for me, there was always this urgent warning of I had to keep going no matter what, or our country and our globe is doomed. And still we're not out of the woods. And so I had a moment when I had to go to the hospital. Hospital. And it took me out of the game right before the 2022 elections. And even from my hospital bed, I'm working and I'm getting volunteers. I'm like, go vote, please. The 2022 elections. Please go vote. And so now I'm, I'm very. This year of transformative growth has also been putting myself first and making time for myself. And I think that's one thing that Republicans can really learn from human beings in general. You make time for what you want. If you want those friendships, you make time for them. If you want your mom and dad to be, to be closer with them, you make time. If you want to be healthier, then you walk to Kroger six miles like I did last night. If you want to eat better, you make it a priority. You make time for what you want. And I think now I'm in a place where, yes, I'm going to continue my mission, but I'm putting me first because also maturing is recognizing my organization will fail if I don't take care of me. My employees who I pay will not be able to take care of their families if I am not successful. Our mission in 2026 and beyond is not going to be successful if I am out of the game. And so I have to make sure that I am wholly and completely taken care of.

[Sage]

And now what are you doing to maintain that now that you've gained a few pounds? You're not £143?

[Scott Pressler]

No, no. Now I'm 170. And I tell you, I'm on top of the world. I feel so good. This has been in the past nine months, I've lost 47 pounds. And I did.

[Sage]

You went from 143.

[Scott Pressler]

I went from 143 to 210. I but gained a little, but six.

[Sage]

Five too but six?

[Scott Pressler]

Yeah, but just not. Not for me. And I hate to say it, you know, I read everything online, I probably shouldn't. And I. After an election that we lost in 2025, people were severely fat, shaming me. And it takes you to a dark place when you listen to the comments, even though you shouldn't. And. But at the end of the day, I'm better for it now. I'm stronger for it. But I allowed what people were saying about me as opposed to just continuing to ruminate. I said, I'm gonna make a change. And what I did is I Woke up on April 4, 2025, and I said, today is the day I changed my life. It was three days after the Wisconsin election that we lost. It was terrible. And I said, I'm gonna make a change. And I took it slowly. First I cut out Starbucks minus 600 calories. I was like. Then I was like, I'm gonna begin walking every single day. I'm not walking enough. And then I was like, okay, now I'm gonna eat chicken for breakfast, which people make fun of me for. Now I'm going to shop for more produce. Now I'm gonna do this. And it was just an elevation of making simple changes and sticking to it. And after nine months, I'm in the best shape of my life. I think my skin is actually better. I think my hair is better. I just got all of my blood checked up on, everything is good and I'm eating steak, so I'm not anemic and just I'm investing in me.

[Sage]

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[Scott Pressler]

Well, to my chagrin, I listened to people, probably. You know what I've learned, especially this year after this transformation. Truly. And I'm not saying this disrespectfully, I'm not saying this from an egotistical place. A lion doesn't care about the opinion of sheep.

[Sage]

Exactly.

[Scott Pressler]

And a lot of these people, now that I look back, I'm really like, gosh, how silly I was to even give them any ability to give them, to make me feel. Yeah. But you know what I've done? I've taken my power back and I've shown myself I can do anything I set my mind to do. I can achieve it. I can accomplish it. And I'm thankful for that dark time because now I feel unstoppable.

[Sage]

I read that you were bullied as a kid.

[Scott Pressler]

Oh yeah?

[Sage]

How so?

[Scott Pressler]

Just, you know, everything. The. When. When you're going through high school and you're finding yourself and by the way, some people never find themselves even in adulthood.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

And you're just, you know, you're going through all of that and just the not so great comments. And I was short and pudgy and awkward and not very sociable and. But again, you. You go through those experiences, you learn from them. And I wouldn't be who I am today without it. But the scars are always there. You never. Even after getting reposted by Elon Musk, even after going to the Oval Office with President Trump, even after everything that's happened in the last couple years, we all have Insecurities. We all have things that we think about, but it's about growing from it and deciphering between, okay, these are things, sure, I can tweak and become a better human being versus no, these are just horrible people that are saying horrible things because they feel horrible about themselves.

[Sage]

That's something that I really needed to pound it into my head. My mom did it years ago, you know, working in television every single day. And the things that come at you and the things that people say, people that even are in your circles and it's like shocking sometimes, right? But my mom said that once, she said as much as their words were directed at you, it actually has nothing to do with you. This is something that they feel within themselves to make themselves feel better. They're going to try to bring you down. And I let it happen for a while. You know, we allow, because we're sensitive, caring people, we allow others opinions. And so I listen. It's still a struggle, right? No matter how much success or recognition that you've had. But even when it's a kid, when you're a kid and you were bullied, junior high, high school, whenever that was, how did you turn away from it? What did you take from it at that time? Or did you even realize at that time that okay, I don't need these people, let me refocus it?

[Scott Pressler]

I think. Well, one thing I do want to get back to, I'll mention it quickly, but I want to get back to the humorous element and owning it. Just I think if your child. My advice to a mom or dad that has a child that is struggling, they need to have some sort of individual success. They must, whatever it is, I don't care. Just something that they can look to and went, that's a good thing that happened.

[Sage]

Yes.

[Scott Pressler]

Because it was my academia and my. I'm. I consider myself pretty cerebral, pretty. And I was good at school and I did well. And once, because I listen to everybody and they would just say you're, you're stupid, you can't do it. And then you will let that impact you. But then when my grades were starting getting better and then I was doing really well. You build that confidence and once you have that confidence, that is an unbreakable shield that is impenetrable.

[Sage]

When did you find it?

[Scott Pressler]

It's an evolution, it's growing. I definitely listen after those comments from last year. I have it now and I say bring it, let's go. And I want to get to that for a second. Humor is the way that you approach those dark comments. This guy yesterday was like, scott, when Democrats take control of the house in 2027, you're going to prison. And any normal person, you know, you might be like, whatever. Or you might even be like, oh, gosh, you might be right. I wrote back. I'd be very popular. So, like, you know, have having fun with it. Or they'll show a picture of somebody with really long hair like me, like Caitlin Collins or Caitlin Clark. And so what I do is I reply to them and go, this is not me. And whenever I do that, it goes viral, and people are laughing and they're having fun. And what I'm also doing is I'm showing anybody that is trying to hurt me. I don't care.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

I'm gonna own it. And I'm gonna turn your. What you thought was into a moment. Into my moment.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

And I'll even reply and go, thank you early voteaction.com. so, you know, putting my organization out there, turn their hate into finance. Turn their hate into more follows. Turn their hate into more likes and more popularity, Whatever you want to call it. And so that's my biggest advice now to anybody suffering haters. Have fun with it. Own it. Don't let them own you.

[Sage]

Yeah, I have found a lot of power in that, too, because at first I'd be like. And what I did was I felt the need to say, no, no, no. This is what I meant. Or no, like, whatever it was, respond, engage. You feel like if I engage with them, they'll realize that I'm a human being. And, yeah, I might make mistakes, too, but I'm human. People don't want to have conversations. That's not what they want. So I've gotten really good at ignoring almost everything and laughing, and I probably have disengaged too much because, you know, either extreme, but because I'm like, I'm not even gonna bother. There needs to be something in the middle. My husband is learning, you know, as we've been together longer and longer, to not let them affect him. My mother is still, after all these years, 30 years of me in a spotlight, like, not taking this personally and not being like, you know, I'm gonna send a hitman out for you. It is an evolution to learn to deal with it. There's no way we're ever fully immune from it because we're human beings. But I do think it's. It's such a fine line, and it can. It can take you down.

[Scott Pressler]

Yeah.

[Sage]

So I. I love that you've Found that balance. And every once in a while, like once or twice a year, I'll take something particularly hateful and I'll repost it with, you know, some smart ass comment.

[Scott Pressler]

Sure.

[Sage]

And it's kind of fun to see people crush them and then all of a sudden they delete their account. Yes, that's fun.

[Scott Pressler]

Oh well, I call it dark Scott. Every so often I do. And then I'll put the, the emoji of a little bat. And that, that for some reason, I don't know why people crack up so much at it, but it's just, it's, it's fun and it shows a different side of you and it shows you that you can also be self deprecating and you're not taking yourself so seriously. And ultimately it just makes sense. Makes them look like the bad person.

[Sage]

Yeah. And allow them, let's allow them to show yourself.

[Scott Pressler]

I'm just showing a mirror. I'm just reflecting who you are and I'm just shining it back at you. And even sometimes I've had people apologize because yes, when they were rude, I'd say something like happy New Year. And then they'd comment later and be like, you know what I said to you earlier, you really didn't deserve it. And I'd say, you know what, that was very big of you and I accept your apology and I hope we can be friends or whatever. And so sometimes there is that room for growth on their side as well.

[Sage]

We're lost. I'm gonna pull over and ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're looking to get to the campground.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, you're gonna take a left at the old oak tree end of this here road. No, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

[Sage]

How are you getting a signal out here?

[Scott Pressler]

T Mobile and US Cellular decided to merge. So the network out here is huge. We're getting the same great signal as the city and saving a boatload with all the benefits. Oh, and a five year price guarantee. Okay, here's those directions.

[Sage]

Actually, can you point us in the direction of a T Mobile store?

[Scott Pressler]

America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out plus our five year price guarantee. And now T mobile is available in US Cellular stores. Best mobile network based on analysis by Oogle of speed test intelligence data 2H 2025 bigger network the combination of T Mobile's and US cellular network footprints will enhance the T mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data Exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details.

[Sage]

1 thing, obviously one of the hot topics that's out there and probably will be for a while, hopefully not. Hopefully we can fix this, is men and women's sports and women's spaces, which you mentioned before. And I'm fascinated that it's even still a thing. Like, what the hell are we discussing here? There's many things that you can debate, but to me, this is following the science. Men are mental. Women are women. Let's stop. I would love your take on this because to me, it's been awesome to see more and more groups, Gays Against Groomers, like so many groups that have been stereotyped. And it's like, just because I'm gay doesn't mean I agree with this. And I know a lot of people, a lot. See, that's my mom. She's always calling a lot of people in the gay community who are pissed off that it is being turned into the trans thing is being turned into. Everybody in the LGBTQ community believes this way. You're nodding.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, it just.

[Sage]

You've seen the people who. The groups now who are saying, no, no, no, stop. There's a difference here.

[Scott Pressler]

I just think this is. Look, as. As a man, I just. As a man, innately in my DNA, I am here to protect my kin, protect my family, protect daughters, protect women. Right. I can't imagine that any man, let alone anybody else, would ever think it's okay for a grown adult to male to be in a private place where women are unprotected, where they are supposed to be private, where they are supposed to feel safe. And. And that's why I'm outspoke. Look, right is right, and it has nothing to do with what's your sexuality. This is simply. As a man, we need more strong men speaking out about how this is wrong. And that's why I was just in Washington state, and I want to give a big congratulations to let's go Washington and the GOP out there, because it seems that they have collected enough signatures that Washington, which is led by Democrats, they would never put forth a bill to protect women, to protect batters. We had to force it to get on the November 2026 ballot. And so the people of Washington are finally going to have a say whether or not men are going to be banned from women's changing rooms, locker rooms, sports, etc. And so it comes back to that, ultimately, the power of one, the power of empowerment, the power of organizing that if we see Wrong being done in society. Let's be a part of the equation, be a part of the solution, and have the people rise up that if our leaders are not going to do it, we are going to do it.

[Sage]

I think that is something that has been. The most disappointing part, though, is that it has been left up to the we because the leaders have chose not to. And when I say leaders, that applies to a plethora of different people, whether it's coaches, teachers, administrators, athletic directors on every level, and congressmen and women and senators and governors who have chosen. I mean, look at the state of California, you know, who have chosen. Silence. And it's also fascinating because this is one of those issues where it's almost 80%, I believe, yes. Of people with basic common sense who say, no, no, no, this shouldn't be an issue. Why do you believe it still is then? When the vast majority of people agree with this with us?

[Scott Pressler]

I think people are afraid. It's kind of like what's going on against any minority group. Then you, as the majority, are seen as the phobiac. You know, they'll always take the root word and then add, you know, homophobic, transphobic, whatever. They're. They're afraid of being labeled that. But thankfully, I think that's changing. And it's because of people like Riley Gaines here in Asheville, Strong people not afraid to speak out and say the thing because it's the right thing to do. And we need to do a better job of elevating those people. What, what gets news, what goes on television, for the most part, the bad. The bad things that are happening in society. We have to use our platforms to do a better job of elevating those strong people doing the right thing. And then that's how we create the algorithms on social media that they'll go, wait a second, if I want to do better, well, maybe I should be a better person. So it's about changing society, culture, all.

[Sage]

Those kinds of things, having the conversations, God forbid, that's not what they. What's not what they want? Because if we do have the conversations, the common sense is going to take over, which it should. But I think they've been able to be very lazy in that way and just assume. But once we start talking, watch out, you know?

[Scott Pressler]

Absolutely.

[Sage]

Also, the diversity part of this last election, to me was fascinating. Listen, black, gay, whatever it is, we're put in boxes. And the amount of hatred that I have received my whole life, but especially when I came out of the closet as a conservative, we can Come out of the closet for all different reasons, apparently. You know what I mean? But based on this, I'm only allowed to think one way. And then you look at the numbers and you look at how blacks performed in this last election, you know, performed how they voted for the first time in what, over half a century, Right?

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

The percentage of black Americans who voted Republican, it was historic. I find that as well in my conversations with my many gay friends who are like, oh, hell no again, don't put me in a box just because of who I choose to love. Doesn't this matter? That's what I said about this, too. Like, I love hearing that, Scott. I've been fearful for years because I thought, oh, my gosh, the black community sees me as one thing based on this, and they hate me because I'm a conservative. And then the number of people I've had come up to me, it's brought me to tears at times because I'm like, you don't hate me. Thank you. I mean, it does affect you, especially if you're reading social media. Dave Rubin is a good friend of mine, and he talks about that all the time. Right. Because everybody is pigeonholed. Have you experienced that? As well as more and more people, whether it's black, gay, whatever, are like, hell, no. I'm a human being first, and that's how I'm gonna vote.

[Scott Pressler]

At first, when I. When I started doing this, it was more difficult. I mean, gosh, you know, you have this lot. I stick out like a sore thumb.

[Sage]

Six, five, long hair, so.

[Scott Pressler]

But at the same time, I think ultimately what I have worked tirelessly to do is I never wanted to be thought of as that gay conservative. I never wanted to be pigeonhelled into my minority aspect. I wanted to be known as the voter registration guy. I wanted to be known as the cleanup guy. I wanted to be known as the doer, the activist, the guy that gets stuff done. And respectfully, I think I've accomplished that. You have, people. The work that I do transcends any immutable characteristics. I think people respect me because I. I say what I'm going to do and I do what I say. Again, a very low, you know, small, small things. And my favorite is when I have these straight white dads who slide into my DMs in the most platonic, wholesome of way and say, scott, you know, you've changed my. My mind, or you've really opened up the way that I think about people and I view them and I'm grateful for you. And I just, I love that I have been able to be a bridge builder and I've been able to open people's hearts and minds by just simply being myself.

[Sage]

Yes. And as much as it shouldn't have to be that way. Right. I think this is, it's a huge blessing. And I mean, I've felt that way too, where I'm like, wait a minute, it doesn't matter, you know, that black. And then it was, well, it's you and Candace Owens. Because there can only be two apparently in the whole country. And so as much as it's annoying at times, it's also like, okay, I will take that. And if Scott, if you're present, being true to yourself in every way does help other people feel comfortable to be themselves.

[Scott Pressler]

I'll take it.

[Sage]

Hell yeah, you take it. But I think it's huge. And I think in again, I guess minority communities. Yes. There's more and more.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, I love my favorite, you know, going back to the hate comments, I love owning this. They'll go, Scott, conservative Scott, hate you, bro. Bro. Respectfully, I have 2.4 million followers on X alone and the majority of them are Christian conservatives. So who, who hates me?

[Sage]

Did you say again? You want, did you see his hair? You guys.

[Scott Pressler]

Who hates me? But honestly, I mean these people are just so simple minded, close minded and they, they just, they don't get it. I want to make it clear to, to anyone that sees this, the America first movement and MAGA is for everyone. As long as you want to put our Constitution first, you want to put the country first and you don't hate America, like the doors open, like really like that's it. That as long as you don't like maduro, like you're, you're. Well, you're welcome within the party. And I think that's why the Democrats, they just, I don't think they know how to move forward. Look at what we have now. We have Tulsi Gabbard as our DNI director. Peace not war. We have RFK Jr. A former Democrat with Maha. We are embracing what used to be so left wing to be health and wellness and holistic. And now that is conservative, right? Everything is topsy turvy upside down. But we built a big beautiful tent. And I think that we must learn from what we did in 2024 and continue that. And I don't want to delve into anything negative or what's happened this last year, but let's just say that we must understand what it took to win. And if we're going to continue to have victory and save our country, we must have that same mindset. And divided we fall. I am all about the unity. I am all about the togetherness.

[Sage]

I do want to ask you one more comment about the gay community in general. Because of my friends who have been super open with me and their experiences hatred at all from others in the gay community. You talked about others on the outside who are like, wait, you're so.

[Scott Pressler]

I mean, not anything more than, you know, you're. You're a traitor. I hear that one a lot.

[Sage]

How does that make you feel?

[Scott Pressler]

I recognize the Republican Party hasn't always been great to some communities. So there's. There's a part of me that takes that cognizance of understanding historically why people may feel the way they feel, but ultimately, in my mind, I'm thinking, these people are just so lost. You don't, you don't get it. We're empowering minorities with the Second Amendment right to anyone that says, you know, acaba. Why would any minority community want the government to have Second Amendment authority while you were disarmed? Think about that. Why would any minority community want to give the majority the power and to disarm themselves? So that's number one. And then think about it. We're bringing people in from other countries that hate Western values, that, that, quite frankly, don't believe women should have a lot of rights, that don't believe I should have a lot of rights. And here you have President Trump trying to. To make sure that every American has those rights that other countries don't. And they just. I just feel they're very lost. And that's okay. I'm going to continue to do my work. And more and more people, 30% are voting conservatively, and I think that number is going to continue to grow. So my mission and my answer to a lot of these things are I'm going to continue to walk the way that I have been, and from my actions, people will know me. And from my actions, hopefully, I will earn people's support. So when they are ready, the door is always open on my part, but I'm going to keep doing my thing.

[Sage]

They.

[Scott Pressler]

Anyone that disagrees with me.

[Sage]

Yeah. And calls you a trade.

[Scott Pressler]

The opposition. Yeah. And some people, I mean, gosh, I love my Bernie Sanders supporters that were all for Bernie and then the election was stolen for Hillary, and now they're the biggest Trumpers that you know. Or, I mean, I've got people every day. Scott. I voted for Kamala Now I'm with Donald Trump. Scott. I voted for Hillary Scott. I wasn't a Donald Trump supporter. Now I am. People are coming over every single day. It's just about us also not holding back the way that we felt when they said things to us and just allowing for growth and that transition to happen, if that makes sense.

[Sage]

It does. It does. I do think, yes. Positivity, optimism, glass half full, always for everything, really, in my life. And one of the things I hated about the Democrats for all these years is a lack of accountability. So when it's our turn, we have to be accountable with those things. It doesn't mean, like, agree. I said this when, you know, several months ago with the Epstein stuff. And I can absolutely support Republicans and Donald Trump on all the obvious reasons, whether it's immigration and protecting women's sports. I mean, go down the very, very long list and be frustrated with the way that has been handled. It doesn't. I'm still voting over here.

[Scott Pressler]

Sure.

[Sage]

So when we don't.

[Scott Pressler]

You're right.

[Sage]

As people with platforms acknowledge the questionable things slash negative things, then we're just like them.

[Scott Pressler]

You're right. Well, and let's get into that for a second. I mean, I have a bone to pick. And I was just in D.C. yesterday outside of John Thune's office. Senator John Thune, Listen, we just gave Republicans everything on a golden platter. We gave them the House, we gave them the Senate, we gave them the White House. We won everything for the Republican Party. Okay. I love that we are securing the border. I love that illegal immigration is at its lowest point in modern history. I love that we are deporting criminal illegal aliens. I love that President Trump is trying to get peace in the Middle east and trying to stop the Ukrainian Russian conflict and he's bringing down gas prices, etc. I think Americans want more deportations. So I'm glad that Kristi Noem is going to be hiring more ICE agents and they're ramping that up.

[Sage]

Stop.

[Scott Pressler]

I think that's one thing the American people want more of. They want more of economic relief, which I think President Trump is working on via. I think deportation is important, but where's the SAVE Act? Where is election security? Where is election integrity? And quite frankly, this is their opportunity. Are they going to blow it like we did with Paul Ryan in 2016, where I'll remind the viewer, we had the House, we had the White House and we had the Senate. And what happened in 2018? Democrats won. AOC was elected. Rashida Tlaib was elected. Ilhan Omar was elected, the squad was elected. Do Republicans want a repeat of 2019 when President Trump and the Republican Party lost the House and President Trump was impeached and its agenda was stalled and went on to the election of Joe Biden in 2020?

[Sage]

Right.

[Scott Pressler]

Or are Republicans going to actually use this one moment in time to nuke the filibuster, be responsible on behalf of the American people, pass law after law, do everything in their power, even if they are unsuccessful, do everything in their power to do right by the American people. You've got one year. Not even the election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. So I haven't heard much about it.

[Sage]

I haven't heard enough about it.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, I saw President Trump just, I think even this morning did a presser before the House or members of Congress talking about what his agenda is. But I tell you, I'm going to do right by my audience and use my platform to continue to put peaceful pressure on members of Congress to fulfill the promises that they campaigned on going into 2024. And my number one priority, besides making sure that we are continuing with the deportation of criminal legal aliens and securing the border, is election integrity. If one registered Minnesota voter can vouch for eight persons without an id, if one residential Minnesota facility employee can vouch for unlimited persons within that facility, and if you don't have to be registered to vote to request a mail in ballot for Minnesota, then how can the American people have any confidence in Minnesota elections, notwithstanding the other crazy laws that we have in other states across the country? And how many more Senate seats would we have right now if we had had election integrity? How many more House seats would we have had right now if we had had that election integrity going in 2024? So the American people, like you said, accountability, they demand what the politicians campaigned on in 2024. And we have to hold them accountable to put that into action.

[Sage]

And in 2024, they went all out across the country with the RNC and Lara Trump and Michael Whatley, I think, and making sure that all of these precincts were there were eyes on everything. I mean, they had hundreds and hundreds of attorneys hired at all these polling places to make sure what happened in 2020 didn't happen again. I mean, that was an all out effort and then some. And I almost feel like after that it was like, okay, we won exhausted, I need a break. And that's when the bad guys creep up, frankly. So that's what I mean. I'm fearful that we've taken the, the Foot off the gas pedal and it's right here. And we don't, we don't have time for that. We're right back where we started.

[Scott Pressler]

It's not only legislation, but it's absolutely that. Now, even though we just had a big win, North Carolina, there are now more registered Republicans than Democrats. It's a good win, but we're slipping in other states. And like you said, after we had the big win, what happened in California, they kept counting ballots for a month and two seats. Michelle Steele and John Duarte, Republican members of Congress, each lost their congressional seats by fewer than 1,000 votes. And fact check me, I think it was like 400 for Michelle Steele and I think it was like 600 for Duarte. Imagine a member of Congress by fewer than 1,000 votes. Votes after the election. And the Democrats, they, I've used this quote a couple times and I really stand by it. If Democrats wake up every morning thinking of ways to destroy our country, if Republicans put the same effort into saving her, then we would never have to worry about the fight for freedom, ever. If Republicans just put in the same, a modicum of the same amount of energy that the Democrats do, we'd never have to worry ever again.

[Sage]

No, no. And because of what Trump is doing during this term or just a year in, they are more motivated than ever because they know that if there's back to back terms with J. Duvant in the White House, they're cooked and like the Democratic Party is done and so they will rest at nothing. I mean, to make sure that we don't win in 2028 and I don't. So what can we do? What does the everyday person watching this do to try their best to ensure that where they are there is election integrity?

[Scott Pressler]

Well, I'd say, number one, please register to vote at your current address. Number two, if you're in a state like California, Arizona, Nevada, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, register to vote as a Republican because they are closed primary states. And if you want to choose the best candidate for the general, then you must vote in your primary to choose that candidate. I'd say join your local Republican party so you can become a precinct captain and have that local control within your neighborhood become an election day worker. So we are the eyes and ears overseeing our elections. Number one thing I hear from people is they say, scott, it's who counts the votes. Have you signed up to be an election day worker? No. Why are you telling me it's who counts the votes that wins. But you're not even a part of the solution to the equation. And so I think that's the biggest thing is everyone watching this should should say to themselves, how can I do more? You don't have to be in our position. You don't have to be a Donald Trump. You don't have to be an Elon Musk. You just have to do what you can do locally, even just stepping it up a little bit more. And if 330 million Americans did better, we wouldn't be in the place that we're in, even right now.

[Sage]

I have two final points for you. Number one, I loved this quote, I'm a dog walker turned Republican activist. You were literally a dog walker picking up dog poopies on the sidewalk.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

Several times a day.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

What? Explain to those who don't know your incredible story.

[Scott Pressler]

I graduated from George Mason University 3.63. I want to make that very clear. With honors. Oh, yeah. Studying the administration of justice. And people don't know this, but back in 2014, when I worked ended up working for Governor Abbott, I was applying to be border patrol. Even in 24, nobody knows this. 2014, I was going through the process of applying for border patrol. What? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I took the written test, and I even did really well on the written test. And by the way, if you don't know Spanish, you have to do an alien language. Whole other story. And I was even doing PT, poly, everything. So even 12 years ago, I had the same values, same understanding of where I wanted to go, and I was applying for border. So after I graduated, this was during the President Obama years, to give you an example of the economy was not doing so great, but not being a victim, not blaming my circumstance on society, but having a can do attitude and saying, I'm gonna do something anyway. I started walking dogs for a living. And there's nothing wrong with that, of course. Worked at an elementary school and just said, there's something else for me. And so I applied to jobs all over the country and ended up working for the governor. But it was just a I'm going to kind of attitude where I like to say, I'm writing a book right now that the book's gonna come out this year. And the final line of the book is something to the effect of with diligence, can do attitude and dare I say, persistence. Because I'm known as a persistence. You can go from the doghouse to the White House. And I say that because this Last year, in 2025, I was in the Oval Office with President Trump and J.D. vance. The very men that our collective work together helped to elect in 2024. And just starting from very humble beginnings. And that's what it means to be an American and that's the spirit that we're fighting for. You can go from being a dog walker to being the first in your family to being invited into the Oval Office. That's what's make our country so great, so special.

[Sage]

What did President Trump and J.D. vance say to you?

[Scott Pressler]

Well, President Trump said it's a hella head of a hair. And then he turned to his staff and was like, should I do my hair like that? Imagine President Trump with hair.

[Sage]

Oh my goodness. He's well on his way though. It's, it's got the flow.

[Scott Pressler]

And so he's just, he's very complimentary and he's very relational. He always tries to relate to you on, on some level, whatever that is. And then with J.D. vance, remember how we were talking about earlier about Caitlin Collins and Caitlin Clark?

[Sage]

Yes. Two very, very different Caitlins.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes. Not. Not reporting from CNN, but J.D. vance thought it was funny that I troll Kaitlan Collins in the most respectful of ways. And, and J.D. very much like the president is very. Just trying to relate to you, which, which is hard as vice president to just, you know, a normal American. But I think they do a great job of, of bringing it on an even level playing field and so personable.

[Sage]

That they're very, when you are around them, it's like, oh yeah, they're human, they're normal, they're fine. They're funny. Yes, both of them, really funny. Certainly Woody and JD and that was the first time I met him, when I met you was when I did that town hall and I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know question. I mean, it was backstage, it was chaos. And then he comes in and you just go. And I'm like. You see it on tv, but when you see it in person at how brilliant someone is and quick, I'm like, oh, this guy. I can't wait. I hope you really do in those moments. Smell the roses. You don't have to be in the rose garden to smell the roses, you know, because you have helped millions. You've obviously helping save this country. But what we talked about earlier on a more personal level of allowing, of changing other people's minds just by being true to yourself. I don't know that we can emphasize that enough because yes, we can all go and be grassroots and we should and volunteer, but when they see us saying screw It. I'm going to be me. Even if it's painful, even if it's scary, even if I get threats, even if I lose friends. But you're still standing tall, literally and figuratively.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

So powerful, Scott.

[Scott Pressler]

Well, and that alone, truly, even through that pain, like you said, through the ostracism, through the fear of doing something. Look, everyone wants to fit in.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

Everyone wants just to be normal. Right. But it empowers people to think differently about what's passable for them. And I think that is the. The most extraordinary thing is. Is watching other people become the people that they were meant to. But, no, I'm. I'm so. I'm grateful for this opportunity and.

[Sage]

But to know that you've done that, the way you are when you. Like when you walk into a room. Yes, it's hard to miss you because you're six, but I know a lot of very tall people. No, you stand tall and proud. Do you feel like there's a difference? And even a year ago, based on how you felt about yourself, how you were living? Because right now, I don't know, I see this giant of a person in the best way.

[Scott Pressler]

I just. I just. I feel great.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

I feel really, to anyone, just wanting to make a difference, whatever that is. You know, we were talking earlier about making time for what you want.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

Truly, I mean this earnestly. If you have that friend that you've wanted to text, text them. If you have a health and wellness journey that you want to start, start now. If you have something that you desire to improve, there is no better time to start than right now. I feel so empowered that I've been tweaking things in my life that I know I can do better on, and it just. It changes the way that you feel about yourself. It changes the way that you feel about the world. And I tell you, I just. I think I'm shining outwardly because internally, that's how I feel.

[Sage]

I hope you. Do you want to have kids?

[Scott Pressler]

I do.

[Sage]

Do you want to get married? Do you want to settle down?

[Scott Pressler]

It's a hard topic, but look, I. I firmly believe in legacy.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

I'm very legacy oriented. And I mean, look, I gotta pass this hair on.

[Sage]

You do. Don't waste it.

[Scott Pressler]

I'm six foot five, blue eyes, all this hair. I mean, I want to pass on my jeans, but honestly, in honor of my family, too. Yeah, look, my parents deserve a lineage. My family deserves a lineage. If I am a son of the revolution, I gotta pass on these genes. But I. You know, I have a little bit of time. I feel like right now I want to continue service to my country. I want to continue the organization. I want to elect the next president. And I feel like maybe after 2028, I can take a little bit of a break.

[Sage]

You're not gonna take a break.

[Scott Pressler]

I'm not.

[Sage]

You're so full of it.

[Scott Pressler]

But no, I do want to. Family.

[Sage]

Yeah.

[Scott Pressler]

Is important. And whether I adapt, whether I have my own kids, I definitely want to see myself with someone who shares that.

[Sage]

Same desire and to lead the way that you are. Yeah. Don't waste this.

[Scott Pressler]

Thank you.

[Sage]

Finally.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

Skincare routine. Hair routine. What? Why this amazing glow?

[Scott Pressler]

I don't want to share the food. The hair. Well, the food is a big part of it. I really do. No, honestly, when I started eating. So here, I'll just give you an idea. Here's. Here's my day. Wake up, give or give or take a few variants. I'll have 500 calories worth of just chicken for breakfast. Chicken for breakfast. I know that sounds weird. People are gonna hate me for it, but it fills me up. I love it. I feel so good. Chicken for breakfast.

[Sage]

Then for fried chicken, I'm sure Kentucky Fried Chicken.

[Scott Pressler]

No. Yes.

[Sage]

I'm kidding.

[Scott Pressler]

Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. I eat my weight in zucchini and tomatoes and cucumbers. I love bone broth. Chicken bone broth in a crack. Pat with chicken. Oh, I know that doesn't sound good to a lot of people, but to me, and just. And then for my skin, ever since I was 25, which was just, like two years ago, of course, yesterday, after I get out of the shower, I put on some serum. And so I'm pretty meticulous on my. My. My skin care.

[Sage]

Why aren't you sharing hair secrets?

[Scott Pressler]

Because I'm waiting for that contract. Listen, if you like what you see, then you need to slide into my DMs and you give me a contract. But I would never promote a product that I don't use. I would never promote a product that I don't firmly believe in and that I don't use.

[Sage]

I will say that when Scott walked in with his bag. Very full bag, yes. The hair tools, etc. Most noticeable. And the tomatoes.

[Scott Pressler]

Yes.

[Sage]

So random.

[Scott Pressler]

I love. Well, to me, they're healthy.

[Sage]

I love it.

[Scott Pressler]

Lycopene. They're delicious. I mean, who doesn't like a good tomato? And. And it keeps me from making bad decisions, too. Look, I'm in Nashville. Oh, my gosh. They got big Daddy's everything. Daddy's chicken. Hot chicken. Nashville chicken. Everywhere you go, they have some sort of food here. So I got to stay good while.

[Sage]

I'm here in Nashville and walk your six miles. Okay, fine. Just. Yeah. Don't mess this up. It's goals for us chicks out there. God bless you. Thank you.

[Scott Pressler]

I'm so grateful for the opportunity. And next time I. Come on, I'll. I'll look. I'll wear socks.

[Sage]

Do you hear this? Do you hear this? It's on tape.

[Scott Pressler]

Okay, I. I may do black socks instead of pink or a different color.

[Sage]

You will like the hot pink polka dots that I pass on to you next time you're here. Or not. Maybe I'll do black polka dots. Thank you, Scott.

[Scott Pressler]

Thank you.