How Gen Z Democratic Candidates are STRIKING BACK at Trump

Summary

---

The Tara Palmeri Show

Episode: How Gen Z Democratic Candidates are STRIKING BACK at Trump
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Isaiah Martin (Democratic candidate for TX-18, age 27)
Date: September 26, 2025

---

Overview

This episode features Tara Palmieri in conversation with Isaiah Martin, a rising Gen Z Democratic congressional candidate in Texas. Centering on Martin's viral and confrontational style, the episode explores how a new generation of Democrats is adopting the aggressive tactics associated with Donald Trump to energize voters and fight entrenched Republican power. The discussion covers Martin’s arrest at a gerrymandering hearing, his digital-first campaign, lessons from AOC, Democratic Party messaging, political violence, and Martin’s evolving view on Israel.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Isaiah Martin’s Viral Activism and Arrest Experience

• Martin’s Arrest at Gerrymandering Meeting ([01:45]–[03:40])

  • Martin was arrested at a Texas state Republican gerrymandering meeting, charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and disrupting a meeting.
  • The incident garnered viral attention and energized his campaign.
  • He describes the arrest as both shocking and a catalyst for activism.
  • Quote: “What those stupid Republicans didn't realize is that just energized so many folks...to stand up against this foolishness.” —Isaiah Martin [02:29]

• Jail Experience ([03:00]–[05:27])

  • Martin recounted his 30 hours in jail, using it as a platform to answer fellow inmates’ political questions — even holding an impromptu town hall.
  • Solitary confinement followed after guards accused him of "electioneering."
  • Quote: “I did a town hall in jail...standing in the middle of the room, and I'm answering questions: ‘Why is Trump doing tariffs?’...‘Can I still vote if I get convicted?’” —Isaiah Martin [03:20]
  • He described unpleasant conditions (no windows, poor food) but emphasized his resolve, stating he’d do it again for the cause.

2. Digital Strategy and Grassroots Fundraising

• Social Media Reach in a Local Race ([06:47]–[08:34])
  • Martin leverages TikTok (500K+ followers), Instagram (30,000+ on lives), and regular online events to build name recognition and connect directly.
  • His digital outreach converts into local visibility and robust grassroots fundraising, boasting a record $700,000+ in one quarter from 35,000+ donors.
  • Quote: “There’s no way I’d be able to run for Congress if I didn’t have the support of thousands of people that are chipping in an average of 19 bucks a person.” —Isaiah Martin [07:54]

3. Confrontational Messaging: Fight Fire with Fire

• Embracing Ruthless Tactics ([07:31]–[11:30])

  • Martin advocates for unapologetic, aggressive tactics, mirroring the combative style of Trump, Jasmine Crockett, and Gavin Newsom.
  • He directly rejects bipartisan overtures, viewing them as ineffective in the current climate.
  • Quote: “I always kind of believe in fighting fire with fire, and you know, the Republicans are literally coming for our head, so I say right back at you.” —Isaiah Martin [07:34]
  • He urges Democrats to use every tool to block what he calls the destructive Republican agenda, especially when in the minority.

• Learning from AOC and the Party’s Old Guard ([08:57]–[10:57])

  • Martin studied under Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, whom he cites as a model of effectiveness and relationship-building.
  • He distinguishes his approach from AOC’s early years, emphasizing he knows the value of building coalitions but will not soften his rhetoric.
  • Quote: “I’m relentless against Republicans. They don’t scare me one bit. But I do look forward to building meaningful relationships with my future colleagues in the House.” —Isaiah Martin [09:56]

4. Generational Change & Democratic Messaging

• Critique of Party Messaging and Kamala Harris ([14:16]–[17:11])

  • Martin argues Democrats should communicate clear, bold, tangible policies — not vague themes.
  • Reflects on Kamala Harris’s failed presidential bid, blaming overly broad messaging and lack of clarity.
  • Quote: “I think our party needs to really do a better job of communicating actual, tangible ideas. And I think sometimes we get caught up into communicating themes rather than ideas.” —Isaiah Martin [14:59]

• Top Picks for 2028 ([17:20]–[20:14])

  • He expresses excitement for Gavin Newsom, John Ossoff, JB Pritzker, and Westmore, with particular praise for their combative and clear messaging styles.
  • Critiques the “respectability politics” of past generations as ineffective in today’s polarized environment.

5. Meme Politics & Political Communication

• Effectiveness of Memes ([20:14]–[21:15])
  • Martin notes that memes and viral content are now required for spreading political messages and driving engagement.
  • Quote: “I put something on threads...‘I want guaranteed health care.’ Got like 400 likes. I put a meme up...13,000 likes.” —Isaiah Martin [20:54]

6. Political Violence and Rhetoric Escalation

• Addressing Violent Political Climate ([21:15]–[25:26])

  • Discusses the killing of Charlie Kirk and recent political violence, condemning all political violence but placing primary blame on Trump and high-profile Republicans for radicalizing rhetoric.
  • Refuses to temper his confrontational rhetoric while Republican leaders fail to tone down theirs.
  • Quote: “Donald Trump is a fascist wannabe dictator that’s destroying the United States of America. If that offends a Republican, then so be it.” —Isaiah Martin [22:15]

• Reflections on Responsibility ([23:07]–[24:38])

  • Tara presses Martin about the potential for his own rhetoric to escalate tensions; Martin says his first duty is to “tell the truth,” arguing there can be no peace in rhetoric unless both sides participate.
  • Quote: “I don’t believe in turning down my rhetoric when Republicans literally will not tone down theirs.” —Isaiah Martin [24:43]

7. Stance on Israel: Evolving Positions

• Shift in Israel/Palestine Policy ([29:54]–[31:27])
  • Martin evolved from a pro-Israel stance (2023) to openly opposing US involvement in occupation or war in Gaza, criticizing the Israeli Prime Minister’s actions as excessive and disastrous.
  • Quote: “If he wants United States troops on the ground, you can’t get my vote to do that, so it’s not going to happen.” —Isaiah Martin [31:39]
  • He advocates for politicians to admit when their positions change in light of new circumstances.

8. Campaigning and Youth Perspective

• Day-to-Day on the Campaign Trail ([32:02]–[33:31])
  • Martin describes the relentless and direct approach he takes, meeting voters everywhere and reveling in the competition of ideas.
  • Quote: “If I go to a restaurant, I will campaign to the people in line...If I’m at a stoplight or a stop sign, when I’m walking down the street, I’ll be campaigning there.” —Isaiah Martin [32:31]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What those stupid Republicans didn't realize is that just energized so many folks, not just in my district, but around the state and around the country to stand up against this foolishness.” —Isaiah Martin [02:29]
• “I did a town hall in jail...answering questions: ‘Why is Trump doing tariffs?’...‘Can I still vote if I get convicted?’” —Isaiah Martin [03:20]
• “I always kind of believe in fighting fire with fire, and you know, the Republicans are literally coming for our head, so I say right back at you.” —Isaiah Martin [07:34]
• “I’m relentless against Republicans. They don’t scare me one bit.” —Isaiah Martin [09:56]
• “I think our party needs to really do a better job of communicating actual, tangible ideas.” —Isaiah Martin [14:59]
• “Donald Trump is a fascist wannabe dictator that’s destroying the United States of America. If that offends a Republican, then so be it.” —Isaiah Martin [22:15]
• “I don’t believe in turning down my rhetoric when Republicans literally will not tone down theirs.” —Isaiah Martin [24:43]
• “If he wants United States troops on the ground, you can’t get my vote to do that.” —Isaiah Martin [31:39]

---

Major Timestamps

• 00:02 – Episode intro and Isaiah Martin’s viral arrest introduction
• 01:45 – Audio clip and discussion of Martin’s arrest
• 03:00 – Jail story, “town hall” in jail, solitary confinement
• 06:47 – Social media strategy, local impact, grassroots fundraising
• 08:57 – Lessons from AOC and plan for coalition-building in Congress
• 10:57 – Rejecting bipartisanship and approach to Republican control
• 14:16 – Discussion of Kamala Harris, Democratic messaging failures
• 17:20 – 2028 Democratic hopefuls: Newsom, Ossoff, Pritzker, Westmore
• 20:14 – The necessity of memes for modern political communication
• 21:15 – Responding to political violence and the state of rhetoric
• 25:26 – Texas ICE office shooting, more on rhetoric, and polarization
• 29:54 – Martin’s shift on Israel and opposition to US ground troops
• 32:02 – Campaign trail anecdotes and running as a Gen Z candidate

---

Summary/Takeaways

• Isaiah Martin embodies the “fight fire with fire” Gen Z Democratic ethos, combining viral provocations with movement-building.
• He believes Democrats must abandon “respectability politics” and adopt clear, bold messaging coupled with meme-driven digital strategy to motivate voters and donors.
• Martin is unapologetic about escalating rhetoric, blaming Republican leaders for radicalizing the political climate, and holds strong views against US military involvement in foreign conflicts like Gaza.
• Throughout, he emphasizes authenticity, adaptability, and the willingness to state when one’s positions have changed.

This engaging and highly candid episode offers a window into the next generation’s playbook for political campaigning and activism in a hyper-polarized age.

Transcript

[Tara Palmieri]

Welcome back to the Tara Palmieri Show. There's another young firebrand that may be heading to Congress. His name is Isaiah Martin, and he's telling his legions of social media followers that Democrats should take no prisoners. Martin is 27 years old and he's part of a new wave of Democrats who are adopting the same bare knuckle style as Trump. Fight fire with fire. Sounds like Jasmine Crockett and Gavin Newsom. Right. Well, he's campaigning to represent Texas's deep blue 18th district, so he has that freedom to come in hot. And he sounds a lot like AOC did at the start of her rise. But here's the question. How do you actually get anything done in Congress if you've already declared war? Take a listen to my interview with this rising star in the party and stick around until the end to hear about the surprising position he shifted on over the past two years. Hey, Isaiah. Welcome to the Tara Palmieri Show. It's a pleasure to have you. You are online sensation. You've clearly mastered the digital game. You could say something that I think some of your older colleagues in the Democratic Party are still sort of struggling with. And I've got to ask you, though, you know, you caught my attention with a very viral moment that you had that wasn't, you know, perhaps planned or maybe it was, you could tell me, but you were arrested at a gerrymandering, a Republican gerrymandering meeting. Can you what was it like to be arrested? I mean, they were literally threw you down on the floor. I'm gonna have my producer, Eric play this for everyone. Take a, take a look here.

[Isaiah Martin]

Will not remember you for what you have done. It is a shame, it is horrific for what you have. Travis county records show Martin's misdemeanor charges are resisting arrests, criminal trespass, and disrupting a meeting. State troopers made the arrest you see there on your screen.

[Tara Palmieri]

What was that like, Isaiah?

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, it certainly wasn't on my bingo list for the year.

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah, you know, you didn't think that was going to happen?

[Isaiah Martin]

No, absolutely not. You know, just to, to go and to speak out on behalf of the district and then to then spend 30 hours in jail was definitely a crazy experience. But, you know, the one thing is very clear, the Republicans are very scared and they're weak. And they did it as an intimidation tactic, you know, but what those stupid Republicans didn't realize is that just energized so many folks, not just in my district, but around the state and around the country to stand up against this foolishness. So, you know, I guess. You know, I guess I'm going to thank them for all the energy that they have done and brought for this campaign and for so many others across the country.

[Tara Palmieri]

Okay, so what was the jail like? I've never spent any time in prison. 30 hours seems like a long time to be detained.

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah. So I get there, right? And, you know, my first thought is, all right, I'm gonna make some friends. Right? Like, let's see what this is about.

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah. What was it all drunk tank people?

[Isaiah Martin]

No, actually, you know, and that's what was interesting. No, it wasn't, actually. I mean, it was people there for, you know, a variety of different reasons. Maybe one missed a court date. One, you know, was there on a missed image. Like, just very, you know, not super serious or super crazy stuff. And I get in there, and they find out that, you know, I'm there for a political thing. And I did a town hall in jail. Like, I literally am sitting there, seriously, like, tell me.

[Tara Palmieri]

Tell me all about this. I need to hear about this.

[Isaiah Martin]

So I get in there, right? And I'm standing in the middle of the room, and I'm answering questions. They're like, why is Trump doing tariffs? What's the tariffs about? Like, then they tell me about how child care is all expensive. Like. Like, they're literally just, like, asking me questions about, like, can I still vote? Like, if I get convicted? Like, all these things. Like, you know, and so I just was up there answering questions, and, you know, the guards didn't like that too much, and I went to some solitary confinement type thing, but.

[Tara Palmieri]

Stop it. They put you in a private cell because they thought you were, like, electioneering in prison. Is that what they were thinking?

[Isaiah Martin]

Who knows? I just went straight to this little cell. Four walls. I had blood splatter on the wall. I walked in there, I was like, oh, my. It was much like the movies. I mean, seriously, you know, it had four walls. And you know what's maddening about it, Tara, is that you don't know what time it is. You have no idea what time it is. And so you have no window. So you don't know if it's daytime, nighttime. You don't know if it's day or night. You've got, like, no, no.

[Tara Palmieri]

You know, I have a window, and this one.

[Isaiah Martin]

No, nobody has a window.

[Tara Palmieri]

Oh, my God.

[Isaiah Martin]

It's. It's terrible. Would not recommend. I remember getting my first meal.

[Tara Palmieri]

I mean, you have to eat something over 30 hours?

[Isaiah Martin]

No, I mean, barely. So they. I walk in there Right. And they give me. Who was it? It was, like, pretzels and stale peanut butter, cold bread. They gave me that twice. So I really didn't eat for 24 hours. But then they gave, like, some Salisbury steak, which is actually kind of good. So I did.

[Tara Palmieri]

Really. You know, you always hear these weird stories about, like, weirdly good food in prison, in random prisons, and these aren't prisons, they're jails, to be clear. But, yeah, it's. Yeah, it's kind of funny. I'll hear this from people. They're like.

[Isaiah Martin]

I would say, yeah, the south bed, it was pretty solid.

[Tara Palmieri]

Wow. Would you do it again? That's the question.

[Isaiah Martin]

Absolutely. You know, and that's the thing about it, is, like, these Republicans, you can't give them an inch. And ultimately, I'm just very clear about, like, you know, they did this because they were scared of us speaking out. And if they think that throwing me in jail is going to stop me from speaking out, whatever it is, it is. What it is, is how I feel about it.

[Tara Palmieri]

So your specific congressional district, the 18th district, it looks very weird because of gerrymandering. It's like, has a heart inside of it, and it is the outside of it. Look, it's like the outside lining of a heart. Is that what you see? A question mark?

[Isaiah Martin]

I see a question mark every time I see it.

[Tara Palmieri]

You know, I see the outer rim of a heart. I don't know. It's very bizarre.

[Isaiah Martin]

I. I've never thought about it like that. But honestly, now that you've mentioned it, it kind of does look like a heart.

[Tara Palmieri]

I mean, I really, like, deformed our heart with some weird tentacles coming out of it. But, yeah, it's bizarre.

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah, it's crazy.

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah. But I mean, it's pretty. It's pretty blue. So really, all you have to do is win the primary. Right?

[Isaiah Martin]

That's right. That's right. That's right. So.

[Tara Palmieri]

So you've kind of been, you know, it's interesting because you are in Texas, and I've seen, you know, your videos are obviously viral. You figured out how to really penetrate this, like, Internet ecosystem. Your Instagram lives are getting as many as 30,000 people, and you host them regularly. You are, you know, half a million TikTok followers, probably more by now. Does that help you in your small district? I mean, how does that translate? And. And also, I've noticed, like, you're, you know, you kind of have a, like, similar rhetoric to what some of the Republicans have when you're calling for no mercy Against Republicans. How do you, how do you square that?

[Isaiah Martin]

You know, look, I always kind of believe in fighting fire with fire, and you know, the Republicans are literally coming for our head, so I stay right back at you. But you know, I think ultimately, you know, I go to a lot of community events and for me, I go to a lot of high school football games in the district, and almost every single section I go to, someone says, you know, I watch you on TikTok or I watch you on Instagram or I've already seen you Isaiah. You don't even need to come and give me one of your little pamphlets. So, I mean, it really is amazing reach that we've been able to redo, but it also helps us on a fundraising perspective because, I mean, I'll tell you straight up, like, there's no way I'd be able to run for Congress if I didn't have the support of thousands of people that are chipping in an average of 19 bucks a person. We went this quarter and broke a fundraising record for the largest fundraising quarter in the history of our district from more than 35, 000 people chipping at an average of 19 bucks a person. Like, that's not possible for someone.

[Tara Palmieri]

Can you do the math for people like me who struggle with that?

[Isaiah Martin]

I'll break some news. It's in the 700, 000 range.

[Tara Palmieri]

Damn. For a congressional race, that's a lot of money.

[Isaiah Martin]

That's pretty crazy. I mean, in one quarter, that's only a three month. It's in the three month time span. So I mean, like I said, I would have never imagined someone like me being able to raise a million dollars total for a congressional race. But you know, it's because of the support of so many that we've been able to really build a movement to take down anybody.

[Tara Palmieri]

So a lot of young candidates like you though, they come in really hot right into Congress and they're like, no mercy, burn it down. I knew this girl named aoc and she showed up at Nancy Pelosi's office and basically held a sit in outside of. And you know, now she's got to walk along and, and play along to get alongs. I think during that period of time, she really didn't have any influence over legislation. I mean, she was great in oversight hearings and she was really performative and she built a online base and she built a movement, but she didn't really pass any bills or get anything done. And I think now she really wants to play the inside game after all this Time after the eight years, like, what do you learn from someone like, like AOC coming in really hot? Is that. Do you. Are you worried that you may have burned bridges in Congress already?

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, you know, I think the one thing is, you know, I spent four years with Congresswoman Jackson Lee as our senior advisor, and Congresswoman Jackson Lee was ranked the fifth most effective lawmaker inside of the House of Representatives. And as a result of that, I really got a chance to see how to, I guess, toe the line. I'm very open about who I am. I'm relentless against Republicans. They don't scare me one bit. But I do look forward to building meaningful relationships with my future colleagues in the House and the caucus. And look, I think that we can build relationships to work on key issues, talking about wiping out medical debt, getting big outside money out of politics, making sure that we can, you know, guarantee health care and child care. I think that those are things that we can all find common ground on. So, look, I'm not going to change my rhetoric because that's just who I am. And I just think that people in this country are looking for people to be unapologetic and be authentic to who they are. But in terms of, you know, building relationships with my colleagues to get stuff done, I've learned from, I think, one of the best at getting that done with Congresswoman Jackson Lee. And I'll be able to really go in on day one and get to work on that.

[Tara Palmieri]

So. But you have been urging your Democratic colleagues to, to stop talking about bipartisanship and to. Just like I saw that you interviewed my former, you. You did an interview with my former colleague Peter Hamby at Puck, and you said, when they go low, we go to the ditch. I mean, how do you, how do you have. How do you do anything when they're in power? I mean, they. And they very well may likely be in power in the next Congress, certainly will be in the Senate. So how do you do anything if you're like, let's cream these people. Right?

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah. Well, I think that ultimately the conversation about bipartisanship has gotten us screwed for so long. I mean, I mean, ultimately, look at where we are. They do control everything. And I think effectively, we now need to be in a moat since we're in the minority, where we're trying to block their legislative agenda. I mean, effectively, look at what they're doing. I mean, they're cutting Medicaid by a trillion dollars. I mean, they're trying to go ramp through more cuts in this next budget. I Mean, and they think the Democrats are stupid enough to go up to Congress and to go and approve such a ridiculous budget that's literally just going to go and cut health care for more people in this country. We can't get along with that. I mean, the real reason why he's talking in the House, I was looking at what Trump put on Trump social. I mean, he's such an idiot. He goes and he says, well, Democrats in the House are trying to go shut down the government. Buddy, you control everything. So. So if that's the case in the situation, go get your people like Victoria Spartan line, go get your Republicans in line that said that they don't want to go vote for your legislation. Don't try to come to Democrats. And all I'm saying is that I don't think that the Democratic Party, when we don't have to, to assist the Republican Party in any way to further their destruction of this country. And so I think that it's more of a game of understanding, leverage. And if the Republicans want to kick sand in our face, well, I say kick sand right back in theirs.

[Tara Palmieri]

What if. What is the older guard? Has anyone been like a mentor to you? Because I know you've already been on the Hill, so is there anyone that you look to and you're like, that's the kind of member I would like to be. Like, is there anyone that you really admire?

[Isaiah Martin]

You know, like I said, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was really just such a big figure for me. She's no longer here, but, you know, I worked so closely with her that, you know, I got a chance to see her fight. You know, she was somebody that was never afraid of calling out Republicans, but, you know, consistently brought in hundreds of millions of dollars for the district repeatedly to be able to serve on a key issue. So that, um, like I said, I know how to tell the line. Huh?

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah. I mean, I totally get it, but that's kind of easy for you in a blue district like the one you're in right now. Right. But you have to understand where some people are coming from, where they're kind of in more purple districts.

[Isaiah Martin]

Oh, yeah.

[Tara Palmieri]

They need to win over Independents and Republicans for sure.

[Isaiah Martin]

And like I said, like, that's why my job in Congress would be to represent my district. Right. Like, I can't tell somebody who is a frontliner how to act, and I can't tell somebody who's in a, in a Trump district what to do or whatever, because that's them. And, you know, the congresswoman always used to Tell me. Never tell someone else how to represent their own district. Right. So that's on them. But what I do know is for the people of Texas, 18th congressional district, they want somebody that's going to go up there and be unapologetic against Trump and crazy stuff that they have. So I look forward to representing their interest in Congress and to the many folks across the nation that is also looking for somebody that is more of a fighter. Well, then, look, I'm looking forward to being your fighter in Congress.

[Tara Palmieri]

So I got to ask you, while we're talking about the old guard, what do you think of Kamala Harris's new book? Do you think she gets why she lost?

[Isaiah Martin]

You know, I haven't read the book, but I've seen a lot of excerpts.

[Tara Palmieri]

And, yeah, we all have. You have to live under a rock to not have seen that.

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah, she's. She's really putting a lot of people on notice. So, look, I think it's. It's refreshing. I think people are kind of looking for honesty. And, you know, look, I got to read it to see more of what she's talking about. It is interesting, said Liz.

[Tara Palmieri]

So what do you, like, why. What do you think about why she thinks she lost? Like, why do you think she lost?

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, I think it's for a variety of different reasons. I think, one, I think our party needs to really do a better job of communicating, like, actual, tangible ideas. And I think sometimes we get caught up into communicating themes rather than ideas. That's why, you know, for me, I focus. Yeah. On, you know, standing up to Trump and the craziness that they're doing. But I also believe in giving people a reason to vote for something. So I talk a lot about guaranteeing health care, guaranteeing child care, wiping out medical debt, getting big money out of politics, all of these things to stop corruption. And I think Kamala Harris focused on a lot of those things, too. But I think the overarching message that a lot of the consultants and the consultant world had put on our plate was more to just be broad. Right. And. And to just hope that a lot of people come in and. And come forward with it. So, you know, I think I just.

[Tara Palmieri]

Felt like she didn't really stand for much when you looked at her positioning, because she, like you said, she was trying to be so broad that she didn't draw any lines in the sand.

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah, I think. I think that Kamala Harris would probably agree with that. Like, I think she feels from. And like I said, I haven't read the book. But from what I can tell, it seems that she's, you know, she realizes that a lot. She got a lot of advice from people that maybe had different motives or whatever, and ultimately it kind of didn't work out the way she thought it would. But like I said, I think that there's a lot of lessons in that race. We gotta be bold, we gotta be able to communicate ideas. I think we gotta be relentless. On the question of what we're gonna do to make your personal life better, it's like, yeah, we're going to stand up to Trump, but here's how guaranteed child care is going to save you money. Here's how guaranteed health care is going to make sure that you're not paying so much. Here's how wiping out medical debt is going to give you more of your own money. You can put your kid in Little League, you can go on vacation, you can do all the things that you want to do and not just be stuck. So there's a lot of different ways I think the party can move forward and I think also being less risk averse. You know what I'm saying? Right. Like, I think sometimes our party is very much like, oh, well, this might offend this person or that person. When the Republicans are just like, whoever the heck agrees with what we're saying is whoever the heck agrees with it. That's just what it is.

[Tara Palmieri]

So, I mean, their, their leader is zero care what, who, what, who or what he offends.

[Isaiah Martin]

And no, no.

[Tara Palmieri]

I've got to ask you though, who among the, you know, obviously 20, 28 hopefuls excites you the most? Or things can, like tap into or who you think can tap into that energy that you're talking about?

[Isaiah Martin]

You know, there's a lot of good people. But look, I like Gavin Newsom. I think Gavin.

[Tara Palmieri]

Oh, you do?

[Isaiah Martin]

I do, actually. I like the way that he's standing up to people and I think that he's not afraid. I think that he'll actually be able to really, you know, excite a lot of people. He's a good communicator. But look, I also like folks like Westmoreland. I like folks like John Ossoff. I think John Ossoff is a really, really, really good communicator that's focusing a lot on anti corruption, which I think is a really big deal. Look, I like J.B. pritzker. You know, look, we'll see, we'll see kind of how things go. Gretchen Whitmer is always somebody that's out there but you just never really know where things. Yeah, yeah. I mean, like I said, sure.

[Tara Palmieri]

The binder is. It hasn't Crusher.

[Isaiah Martin]

You know, like I said, it's not really my top tier candidate, per se, but, you know, look, a lot of people like it, but, but, but, like.

[Tara Palmieri]

Even Gavin, I mean, he's got to speak to his own record in California, where so many people have fled. And I wonder if your district would like Gavin. Do you think people in your district would like him?

[Isaiah Martin]

I think so. I mean, I tell me all the time, whenever I go out to forums and stuff, they say, we want.

[Tara Palmieri]

Oh, really? So it feels like Gavin's style is sort of mimicking Trump's style. Right? He's like, punch him right back, mock him, act crazy. I mean, you think that's just the future of politics and that's how the Democratic Party should roll?

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, certainly the way I am. So I think that there's definitely some. Some parallels there. But, you know, look, I do think it is. I think personally, we, you know, this whole idea of respectability politics is something that I deeply, deeply cared about. My young life, or. And I say young. I'm 27. But, you know, when I was first. Younger, when I was first kind of getting involved, I thought that was really the way to go. But, you know, then I kind of realized that, you know, these Republicans are really, really, like, they're not the same Republicans that people thought, you know, or might have experienced growing up. These guys are literally, like, coming for us at every single where you look. So you can't sit around and play around with people who don't think that you should exist in the first place. Like. Like, there's no, like, negotiating with that. So I think really the way you got to go forward is just to beat the heck out of these guys. And like I said, look, Gavin's doing, I think, a lot of good work. JB Pritzker is somebody who else has a really good record, I think, in Illinois that he's pushing that, you know, could potentially be something. And also. So if I had to really rank my top four, it would be Ossoff, it would be Gavin, it would be J.B. pritzker, and it would be Westmore. Those would be, in no particular order, but those would be my top.

[Tara Palmieri]

Right. What about. I mean, I, I agree with you in the sense that there's like a meme politics moment. You know, you kind of. You can't not be a part of the meme moment, I think, because that is how we people communicate. Now it's like they trade, they trade memes on politicians, they trade jokes. This is like in the social media world, they trade clips.

[Isaiah Martin]

I'll give you a good example. Like, you know, for me, I was really trying to communicate, you know, in this last week, more of like what I believe in, what I want to do. I, I put something on threads that was like, I want guaranteed health care, something like that. Got like 400 likes. I went, I put a meme up about how like all these other countries have basically guaranteed health care, but we don't. 13,000 likes.

[Tara Palmieri]

Wow.

[Isaiah Martin]

Like, it's a big difference. And so I started to use and incorporate means a lot when I communicate policy and like, our views and likes like exploded on similar things. So, you know, look, I think that that's really where things are and that's kind of how you communicate nowadays.

[Tara Palmieri]

I mean, it does. Also, the social media world feels like it's completely out of control. Right? Like, there are no, it's like the wild, wild west. There's no regulations. And it, and it can really incite radicalism in a lot of ways or violence. And I was just wondering, you know, are you concerned that you might be adding fuel to this? And, and, and what do you make of the killing of Charlie Kirk? I mean, how do you feel about that and the political temperature that we're at? And not to say that this is like. Yeah, I'm just curious what you think about that.

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, I think that if, if anybody really wants to talk about turning down the temperature, they should go watch Stephen Miller's speech at Charlie Kirk's funeral. I mean, this guy is literally calling for war. He's literally trying to say that Democrats are evil in a domestic terrorist organization. Donald Trump is literally saying he hates his political opponents. So, I mean, look, that's the fuel to the fire right there. And so look, I make no apologies for saying that we need to be unapologetic against the Republicans and tell it exactly as it is. Donald Trump is a fascist wannabe dictator that's destroying the United States of America. If that defends a Republican, then so be it. But I think ultimately Charlie Kirk did not deserve to die. That was wrong. And I think all political violence is wrong. But I would like to see the Republicans have just as much outrage as for the killing of Melissa Hortman in Minnesota, the same amount of outrage for the attempted killing of Paul Pelosi, the attempted killing of Josh Shapiro, the attempted killing of Gretchen Whitmer. We have seen a surge of right wing political violence in this country. And I think that it is absurd that the Republicans are trying to make this a one sided issue when we know that more than 62% of political violence comes from the right wing. So this is a right wing issue that I think Republicans need to own up to themselves.

[Tara Palmieri]

Hmm. Yeah. I think it comes from energy on both sides, for sure. Everyone is looking at each other as the enemy, even within. You know, it's a, it's a hard. It's a. We're in a really, really tough moment. I mean, do you. Have you thought about how you might be a part of. How you might want to be a part of bringing that temperature down? Or is that something that you're not really interested in?

[Isaiah Martin]

And like I said, you know, Charlie Kirk did not deserve to die. That was completely abhorrent. You know, watching that, watching the video of that. You know, I think if you don't feel some type of, you know, pause and, and just absolutely taken aback by that. And I think that is something wrong with you, I guess. But look, I, I looked at that and was very upset about watching that. But in any event, look, I believe that our role in this country needs to be focused on winning. And I think we need to tell it like it is. And I think when you have one person that's declaring war on America, you can't sit back and wish things were better than what they were. Things are where they are. The Republicans are declaring war. Republicans are very energized. And I think we have to be able to excite our base in the same way. So look, when we win this war, as they call it, when we win this fight, are these just casualties?

[Tara Palmieri]

Is this how it's looked at?

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, Charlie Kirk is not a casualty. I don't want to say it like that. Right. But I don't want to make it sound like I'm just okay with him like dying. That is not where I stand. That is political violence is always wrong. But what I will say is, is that I don't believe in turning down my rhetoric when Republicans literally will not tone down theirs. And it's coming from people a lot more important than me. The President of the United States, the senior advisor to the President and Stephen Miller and so many others. And I think that we can work to bring things back to the way they used to be, but it's got to be to get rid of the source. And that means removing these people from power. We have to win elections. And I think that in order to do that, we have to tell it like it is in order to do that.

[Tara Palmieri]

I mean, this morning, Wednesday morning in Texas, near your district, a shooting inside of an ICE office. I mean, what is going on?

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah, I mean, it's absurd. I mean, but I mean, and this is what is happening in this country, I think because of a lot of different factors. I think one, in Texas, it's very easy for people that are crazy to get firearms. I mean, that is something that has been happening for a while. We saw it in Uvalde, we saw it in the Santa Fe shooting, not so far away from where I actually grew up. So, I mean, look, we're seeing this as a real issue, but I think ultimately the political violence and the political tensions in this country are stemmed from, I believe, one main person, and that is Donald Trump. Donald Trump is the main one that is spewing all this rhetoric into the air. His associates are doing the exact same way. And that is what is, I think, radicalizing so many people, per se. So.

[Tara Palmieri]

But what about, you know, someone like Jasmine Crockett, who responds by saying Trump is a wannabe Hitler? Does that concern you, too, that the react. I mean, his. Obviously, his language is incredibly divisive and. And causes this kind of reaction. But does that just add more fuel to the fire?

[Isaiah Martin]

I think that. I don't think that we should be getting a Jasmine for telling it like it is, though, because that's when you go and you compare side by sides and you listen to a global speech and you listen to what Stephen Miller said. I mean, they're effectively almost the same thing. It's almost like he plagiarized it. It's almost like he went on ChatGPT and said, hey, write me a global speech for this funeral. I mean, so Jasmine pointing out what the obvious. And I think that is one of the reasons why we're in the mess that we're in, is because people feel as if they can't tell it like it is, because ultimately, what these people are doing, trying to mimic folks from the 1930s. Look at the Homeland Security Twitter account. They're literally throwing out innuendos left and right that they're trying to coincide with those folks from back then. So, look, Jasmine is just telling it like it is. And I don't think that we should be, I guess, chastising the messenger for pointing out what the Republicans are clearly doing, you know?

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah. I mean, everyone has a right to free speech. Right. And just because you say something, I don't think you should be held responsible for that. But, yeah, I Just wonder who's going to be the one to step up and say, okay, like I have a, I've got an idea. And it's, let's try to, let's try to broker a peace deal in this rhetoric war. But it doesn't seem like anyone's interested.

[Isaiah Martin]

But Tara, I mean, I would love for that to be the case, but in order to have a deal, you need to have two sides to make a deal.

[Tara Palmieri]

No, you're right.

[Isaiah Martin]

And when Trump, and when Trump says literally what he's doing, and he's not just saying these things, he's actually doing it. He's sending government agencies after his opponents. He's saying that he's gonna hire a U.S. attorney, whether or not they're going to go after people who he disagrees with. Like, this is a five alarm fire. And you know, I wish that we could, I could wave a magic wand and say, Donald Trump, let's work together to not have this inflamed tension. But he doesn't agree with that. So instead I can't go to the people who I want to serve and say, I'm not going to tell you the truth because of Republicans saying that I'm inflaming tensions like I have to. My primary obligation is to tell the truth to the American people. And I think that that's just ultimately where we are.

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah, I noticed that in 2023 you had a pro Israel stance and obviously I'm wondering if that's changed in light of how the Democratic Party seems, has shifted since then. Where do you stand right now?

[Sponsor/Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. When you visit the doctor, you probably hand over your insurance, your ID and contact details. It's just one of the many places that has your personal info and if any of them accidentally expose it, you could be at risk for identity theft. LifeLock monitors millions of data points a second. If you become a victim, they'll fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first [e-mail] podcast terms apply.

[Isaiah Martin]

Well, you know, I'm for peace. And you know, I think that it was absolutely insane that people were murdered on October 7th, but I think that, I think it's insane that people were taken hostage. But I think two years later, we need to be incredibly concerned about the fact that Prime Minister of Israel effectively looks like he wants to completely take over the Gaza Strip, west bank and everything else. I think that's absurd. And I think that the question that will be coming up in front of Congress will be whether or not we want to send United States troops to go and occupy the Gaza Strip for Trump Gaza. I'm against that, and I'm a hard no. So anybody that tries to put that legislation on the floor, I can already tell you my answer. I'm a no on that. And I think that we need people that can be clear and unapologetic against it, because I'm not going to support what's happening. And I think that you can look at kids that are starving, people not getting the food that they need. When you see the videos, it's horrific what's happening in Gaza. And so I'm absolutely against what's happening right now. And I think that we need people that can be unapologetically against it.

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah. It's interesting to me that you change your position is that something like a lot of, you know, politicians are not really willing to admit when they change their position. How do you feel about that? I mean, you're the next gen. You could say of politicians. Do you think that they should be open when their positions change like you are?

[Isaiah Martin]

You know, I think that it's really just about understanding the circumstances of where we are. And I think the prime minister has not presented any type of plan whatsoever on bringing this war to a close, like, at all. Like, he's not really talking about how he's going to do that. And I think that when that's his position, I think that the United States should realize that our position must change. And again, if he wants United States troops on the ground, you can't get my vote to do that, so it's not going to happen.

[Tara Palmieri]

Yeah, well, I. This was a great conversation, and, you know, I think you very may well be in Congress soon enough. How is it being. How is it campaigning for yourself? I mean, it must be different than working with Sheila Jackson, who was certainly a congressman, woman of another era. But, like, what's it like now on your own?

[Isaiah Martin]

Yeah, I mean, you know, it's. It's definitely different, you know, campaigning for yourself than other people. But look, I find it to where I'm always campaigning. So if I go to a restaurant, I will campaign to the people in line. If I go to, like I said, a game, I'll campaign to the people there. If I'm at a stoplight or a stop sign, when I'm walking down the street, I'll be campaigning there. So, you know, look, I really am just trying to reach out to everybody that I could possibly find, because this election is just so important and it's a lot of fun. You know, I love speaking. I love going to senior homes. I love doing all the fun stuff that's a part of it. So I think there's a competition about ideas and, you know, I look forward to really getting there.

[Tara Palmieri]

You're only 27. You know, you graduated from University of Houston, got a long way ahead of you. So this was a really great conversation. Thanks for coming on the show and, you know, showing our listeners on the show what the next brand of Democratic politicians looks like and the new wave where you can find them on and you can find them on TikTok and you can find them on YouTube as well and Instagram.

[Isaiah Martin]

And if folks want to find our campaign, they can@isaiah martin.org is a I a H M A r t I n.org Cool.

[Tara Palmieri]

Thanks so much for your time.

[Isaiah Martin]

Absolutely. Thank you.

[Tara Palmieri]

That was another episode of the Tara Palmieri Show. If you like this show, please rate it, subscribe, share it with your friends, leave comments, tell me everything you want to hear. If you like my reporting, you can go to tarapaumieri.com that's T-A R A P A L M E R I.com and sign up for my newsletter, the Red Letter, and you'll get my exclusive reporting straight to your inbox. It's also a way to support my independent journalism by becoming a paid subscriber. I want to thank my team, my producer Eric Abenate, Adam Stewart on the thumbnails, and Abby Baker, who is doing research for us. If you like this show, I'll be back again. So please hang on and stick around for this wild ride. We have so much to cover and I'd love to hear from you about what you want to know more about. See you again soon.

[Expedia Narrator]

Mike and Alyssa are always trying to outdo each other. When Alyssa got a small water bottle, Mike showed up with a 4 liter jug. When Mike started gardening, Alyssa started beekeeping.

[Isaiah Martin]

Oh, come on.

[Expedia Narrator]

They called a truce for their holiday and used Expedia trip planner to collaborate on all the details of their trip. Once there, Mike still did more laps around the pool.

[Isaiah Martin]

Whatever.

[Expedia Narrator]

You were made to outdo your holidays. We were made to help organize the competition. Expedia made to travel.