Brogressive Podcast

Brogressive welcomes back fan-favorite guest Armand Domalewski to dive deep into the economic and political fallout of Trump's explosive tariff decisions (0:17). The guys analyze Trump's policy impacts on everyday Americans, the markets, and global trade (12:37) and discuss the political winners and losers emerging from this crisis (45:27). Next, the group dives into Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s recent book, Abundance, exploring whether this moment provides an opening for Democrats to move away from zero-sum politics toward a more optimistic, abundance-oriented agenda (50:06). Finally, they close by sharing their cautiously optimistic predictions for America's economic and political future (1:05:29).

Follow Armand Domalewski ⁠⁠⁠⁠@⁠ArmandDoma⁠⁠⁠⁠, YIMBY Democrats for America ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@yimbydems, Ben ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

In this chat, Tara Jirari and Gary Winslett dive into the nitty-gritty of recent tariff policies—how they’re hitting everyday folks at the store and affecting workers’ livelihoods, plus what’s really driving the politicians to make these calls. They toss around ideas about how Democrats could shake things up with a fresh game plan, zeroing in on practical, supply-side fixes for the economy. Think cool, out-of-the-box stuff like using mass timber to tackle the housing crunch. Along the way, they also riff on how culture’s shifting, how different generations see things, and why it’s high time for a reboot in how politicians talk and act.

Check out the Chamber of Progress!

https://progresschamber.org/

https://www.therebuild.pub/

In this week's episode, hosts Beleh and Dylan sit down with College Democrats President Sunjay Muralitharan to discuss how Democrats can effectively counter the GOP and win back support from young voters, especially young men.

We sit down with Marianne Williamson, bestselling author, political activist, and former Democratic presidential candidate, for an unfiltered conversation on how the Democratic Party lost its backbone, Elon Musk’s growing stranglehold on government, and what it will take to rebuild real progressive power.

Williamson starts by discussing the failures of the Democratic Party’s messaging—why they struggle to communicate their victories and how a consultant-driven, donor-focused strategy has alienated voters (01:20). She explains why Democrats are afraid to fully embrace their own progressive legacy, and how the party has allowed Republicans to define the political narrative (12:49).

The conversation shifts to how Republicans intentionally sabotage government programs to justify cutting them and how billionaires like Elon Musk are orchestrating a hostile takeover of the U.S. government (17:21). Williamson warns that Musk’s endgame is mass privatization and consolidation of power, turning the government into a tool for the ultra-wealthy (23:06).

Later, Williamson discusses the failures of Democratic leadership, explaining why Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, and other top Democrats have struggled to inspire voters (35:39). She reveals the corrupt inner workings of the 2024 Democratic primary, including how the DNC and corporate media colluded to deamplify her campaign and suppress challenges to Biden (41:59).

As the discussion deepens, Williamson addresses why young voters, especially young men, are shifting away from Democrats, and how the party needs to stop focusing on ideological purity tests and start welcoming in new voices (48:23). She warns that the Democratic establishment is running out of time to fix its failures before 2028 (55:19).

Finally, Williamson shares personal advice for young people navigating today’s chaotic world—how to stay politically engaged without burning out, why conviction and resilience matter more than credentials, and why your 20s should be a time of transformation, not self-doubt (1:02:47).

Follow Marianne Williamson ⁠⁠@marwilliamson⁠, Beleh ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Btoma15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

Beleh, Luis, and Alex sit down with bodybuilder Max Levin to discuss the impact of steroids, the best ways to lose weight, and the controversial effects of seed oils on bodybuilding and overall health. Max shares his personal experiences, fitness insights, and the science behind these hot topics. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on what really works in the world of fitness.

Follow Beleh ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Btoma15⁠⁠⁠⁠, Max @MaxLevin23 , Ben ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Twitter/X. Watch the full video and clips on YouTube on Brogressive Podcast!

In our newest Brogressive EXCLUSIVE interview, we got to sit down with authors William Cooper and Michael McKinley about their newest cyber-political thriller, "A Quiet Life". A Quiet Life centers on a dystopian political future where a tech mogul has become President of the United States and an innocent couple is dragged to the forefront of a global conflict. Check it out here as our newest exclusive episode!

A Quiet Life can be purchased where ever books are sold and at the links below.

https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781648210334/a-quiet-life/

https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Quiet-Life-Audiobook/B0DQLZP63W

https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Life-Novel-William-Cooper/dp/1648210333/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

Ben, Beleh, and Max sit down with Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-2) for a candid conversation on banning congressional stock trading, Trump’s next-level corruption, and why Democrats must overhaul their messaging to win back young voters.

Magaziner kicks things off by giving an inside look at the exclusive House members' gym — who lifts the most, which Republicans hit the CrossFit circuit, and the surreal moment he walked in on Jim Jordan in a towel (01:14).

Then, the conversation shifts to Trump’s staggering corruption and why his financial grifts — ranging from his crypto scam to lawsuits that conveniently result in massive settlements — make previous scandals look small by comparison (17:39). Magaziner breaks down why Congress must ban stock trading among its members to rebuild public trust and counter Trump’s “everyone’s corrupt” narrative (19:27).

Later, they discuss how Democrats lost young men in 2024, why ignoring online media cost them the election, and how the party must engage with voters where they actually are — on podcasts, YouTube, and social media (29:03). He also explains why Democrats need a concrete policy agenda to match the GOP’s Project 2025, and how economic populism could help Dems win back working-class voters (33:50).

Wrapping up, Magaziner reveals his "Vacation for Everyone" bill — a push to guarantee every American worker 10 days of paid time off (48:47). Plus, he weighs in on the Celtics' championship hopes, Mahomes vs. Brady, and why he was rooting against the Eagles in the Super Bowl (07:31).

This episode is packed with insider stories, sharp political analysis, and a fresh strategy for Democrats to reclaim their winning coalition.

Follow Congressman Seth Magaziner ⁠@SethMagaziner + @Rep_Magaziner, Beleh ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Btoma15⁠⁠⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

Ben, Beleh, and Max sit down with Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) for a no-holds-barred discussion on Trump’s second term, Elon Musk’s outsized influence in the White House, and how Democrats can fight back.

Levin kicks things off by breaking down Musk’s unprecedented power grab, explaining why his unilateral agency cuts and government overreach are blatantly unconstitutional (01:39). He calls out Republicans’ silence on Musk’s influence and their reliance on billionaire donations, revealing that Musk himself poured $300 million into the 2024 election (04:28).

Later, they dive into how Democrats can reclaim their working-class identity, exposing Trump’s economic failures, from rising costs to disastrous tariffs (12:14). Levin also hammers Trump’s inaction on inflation and lays out what Democrats need to do to rebuild their populist appeal (16:22).

The conversation turns to America’s eroding global credibility, as Trump’s erratic foreign policy decisions leave the U.S. looking weak on the world stage (17:58). Plus, Levin shares his optimism for the Padres, his frustration with the Angels, and his thoughts on the Super Bowl and Chargers' future under Jim Harbaugh (20:11).

This is a must-listen for anyone who wants an insider’s take on the battle to stop the billionaire takeover of our democracy.

Follow Congressman Levin @MikeLevin + @RepMikeLevin, Beleh ⁠⁠⁠@Btoma15⁠⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

Ben, Beleh, and Dylan sit down with Michael LaRosa, former press secretary for First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, for an unfiltered conversation about the Biden White House, the campaign’s media failures, and what went wrong in 2024.

Michael kicks things off by sharing his experience working with Jill Biden and how he navigated the campaign’s inner circle despite being an outsider with deep media connections (00:39). He reveals how Biden’s team actively avoided press engagement and how Dr. Biden pushed for Joe to be more visible while campaign staff wanted to “run out the clock” (07:10).

Later, the conversation turns to the critical mistakes that doomed Biden’s reelection bid—why the team refused to adjust strategy even as his numbers plummeted, their bunker mentality, and how failing to engage with the media let GOP narratives take over (12:52). Michael explains how internal White House arrogance prevented them from seeing the warning signs and why their response to Biden’s disastrous debate performance was worse than the debate itself (34:26).

Wrapping up, Michael discusses the future of Democratic strategy, the lessons they should have learned from Trump, and why scripted, robotic candidates are no longer viable in today’s media landscape (23:06). Plus, he reflects on the Biden family’s deep distrust of the press, stemming from the 1987 plagiarism scandal, and how that shaped their approach to the 2024 race (42:38).

Follow Michael LaRosa @MichaelLaRosaDC, Beleh ⁠⁠@Btoma15⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠,⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

In the newest episode of the Brogressive Podcast, we collaborated with The Electorate! The Electorate was founded in November 2024 by Ian, a North Carolinian Democrat. Max and Ian talked a retrospective of 2024, and compared the roadmap for Democrats in the future. We talked leadership for the future, the need to build things in America again, and authenticity in a scripted political world. Ian and the Electorate can be found at the links below!

https://x.com/ElectoratePod

https://www.youtube.com/@TheElectoratePodcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/2g3HdewhhF13PX5LXkyzji?si=e83cfff089244b91