We sit down with Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey for a conversation that covers the personal, the political, and everything in between. We trade marriage proposal stories and talk about the importance of mental health—especially for Black men—and why community is a lifeline. We connect it to policy: Medicaid and mental health access, childcare, senior care, and the Child Tax Credit. Then we get into power—voting, Senate gridlock, Supreme Court term limits, campaign finance, fair taxes—and what Democrats must stand for. And we close with a “Sit Your Ass Down” pick for leaders who abuse power.

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Former U.S. Representative Colin Allred of Texas pulls up a chair for a candid talk about what shaped him and what’s next. We trace his path from being raised by a single mom in Dallas to the NFL, civil rights law, and Congress. He reflects on brokering the donation of a hospital to the VA as proof that leadership isn’t just about votes and legislation. We also unpack what he learned from his 2024 Senate race and why he pivoted to a new House district. We close by calling out “electability” attacks and the elite commentary Texas doesn’t need.

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We sit down with Roland Martin, a Houston original who built an independent media empire by centering Black audiences and telling the full story. After the laughs about Texas teams, Roland gets blunt about how campaigns and corporations treat Black-owned media like an afterthought. We unpack why “no” is a complete sentence, how gatekeepers freeze out Black platforms, and what it will take to build real scale. We also dig into the shifting Black electorate and the cost of misinformation as well as why investing in trusted Black news is a democracy imperative.

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We talk with U.S. Representative Robert Garcia of California to talk about power, accountability, and the human cost of oversight. From his immigrant upbringing and values shaped by service, to becoming the youngest Ranking Member of House Oversight in more than a century, we dig into how he leads with kindness in a cynical moment. He unpacks government corruption, the Epstein files, ICE abuses, and what real accountability should look like. It’s a candid conversation about leadership shaped by lived experience and what it takes to stand firm when power is being misused.

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We sit down with U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas for a deeply honest conversation about power, justice, and urgency. We trace her path from public defender and civil rights attorney to Congress and discuss how her current U.S. Senate run is rooted in lived experience and hard math. Rep. Crockett also explains why the system is designed to stay broken, why Black and Brown voters are key to changing Texas, and why waiting for permission is not an option when democracy is on the line. And throughout our conversation, she challenges the party’s comfort with “electability” narratives.

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We’re joined by Eliana Pinckney, daughter of the late Rev. Clementa Pinckney, to reflect on the Charleston massacre’s lasting impact and her father’s legacy of love, service, and civic duty. Eliana takes us back to being 11 and honors her mother’s quiet strength. She then talks about what it’s like to be part of the 9/11 generation shaped by gun violence, living with vigilance and exhaustion while “thoughts and prayers” continue to replace policy. We also talk about civic education, performative politics, and how Eliana turns art into activism and community into change.

To learn more about the Clementa Pinckney Foundation, visit: https://pinckneyfoundation.org/

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We kick off the new season in Los Angeles with Mayor Karen Bass, and she doesn’t hold back. She takes on her journey as a public servant and explains why she left Congress to come home and lead a city in crisis. We also dig into affordability and the policies that push people onto the streets and how her team has fought homelessness by cutting red tape and fixing broken systems. We also talk wildfire recovery, climate extremes, and the misinformation that fuels blame. Then Mayor Bass gets real about ICE raids, protests, and why nonviolent pushback matters.

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In our season finale, we sit down with Kamala Harris for an unguarded conversation about the weight of leadership and the search for steadiness through faith, family, purpose, and friendships forged through fire. Vice President Harris reflects on building a presidential campaign in 107 days, making history with the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and refusing to let others define her right to be in the room. Together, we talk about a Democratic Party that can’t play it safe forever as well as the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.

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Rachel Maddow joins us for a candid conversation about history and the fight for democracy. She traces her path from AIDS activism to journalism and explains how she learned to use stories to move hearts as well as minds. We also wrestle with PEPFAR, mass incarceration and Trump-era abuses, and we talk about protecting our own power and holding on to hope while we try to push this country forward. In the end, Rachel reminds us that telling the truth is its own form of power, and she challenges us to keep doing the work our moment demands.

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We sit down with Dr. Amy Acton to talk about her run for governor and why she believes Ohio is ready for honest, people-first leadership. She reflects on her childhood, leading Ohio through COVID, and why corruption and rising costs demand a new approach to government. Dr. Acton knows what it takes to rebuild trust and strengthen our communities. She reminds us that ordinary people can create extraordinary change. Together, we explore how courage, empathy, and real connection can move Ohio forward — and why this moment calls all of us to rise.

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