October 15, 2025

Bonus Episode: The Joy Reid Show Cori Bush Interview

1 hour 31 minutes

In this in-depth "Basement Series" interview, Joy Reid sits down with former Congresswoman Cori Bush for a powerful and personal conversation about her time in "The Squad," the monumental forces that worked to oust her, and why she's running to reclaim her seat. Cori opens up about the $15 million Apac-backed campaign that defeated her, revealing the direct threats she received for advocating a Gaza ceasefire and the pressure from within her own party to stay silent. She details her complicated relationship with Wesley Bell, who assured her he wouldn't run against her before a pro-Israel-backed primary challenge. Bush also addresses the DOJ investigation into her husband and security services, her activism rooted in the Ferguson uprising, and the urgent need for a Democratic Party that fights unapologetically for the poor and marginalized. This is a raw look at the realities of power, money, and resistance in modern American politics.

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Chapters:

0:00 Introduction: The Political Legacy of MO's 1st District

4:20 Cori Bush's 2026 Campaign Announcement

7:06 Interview Start: Why She's Running Again

9:22 The Implied Contrast with Current Rep. Wesley Bell

12:45 The Recorded Phone Call with Wesley Bell

17:36 The Gaza Ceasefire Resolution and Death Threats

25:16 Wesley Bell's Pivot and Apac's $15 Million Campaign

33:11 The Inside View of Apac's Power and Tactics

39:04 The 2021 Infrastructure Bill and Betrayal of Build Back Better

44:49 The Democratic Party's Disconnect from Poverty

54:16 Meeting Her Husband and The Security Ethics Investigation

59:40 The Weaponized DOJ Investigation Under Trump

1:01:58 Rapid Fire Policy: Tariffs, Blue Cities, Immigration

1:12:26 Abortion Rights, the ERA, and Biden's Legacy on Gaza

1:16:00 The Gaza Ceasefire Deal and Lasting Damage

1:19:33 Rebuilding for Black Women and Flipping the Tables

1:23:54 First Priorities if Re-elected in 2026

1:24:23 Lightning Round: Walk-On Songs and St. Louis Ribs

1:29:16 Closing Remarks

ABOUT JOY REID:

Joy-Ann Lomena Reid (AKA Joy Reid) is a best-selling American author, political journalist and TV host. She was a national correspondent for MSNBC and is best known for hosting the Emmy-nominated, NAACP Award-winning political commentary and analysis show, The ReidOut, from 2020 to 2025. Her previous anchoring credits include The Reid Report (2014–2015) and AM Joy (2016–2020).

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By Joy-Ann Reid

4.8

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