In this episode of Left Out Loud, Ally sits down solo with John Hsu, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District, just hours after he officially made the ballot. John talks about why he ran in 2024, why he is back in 2026, and how his campaign is rooted in grassroots organizing, labor solidarity, anti-war politics, and a rejection of corporate PAC and AIPAC money.

Links and Resources

• John Hsu for Congress  
• Ballotpedia candidate profile for John Hsu  

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• (00:10) - Ally opens the episode and introduces John Hsu as a progressive candidate running in New Jersey’s 6th District

In this episode of Left Out Loud, Ally and Seth are joined by Phil Walker for a wide-ranging conversation on Iran, the Middle East, and the long shadow of U.S. foreign policy in the region. After one of Phil’s recent Substack videos took off, the hosts brought him on to break down the history, context, and current realities behind the latest conflict involving Iran.

Phil shares how he got into foreign relations, what it was like working in and around the Middle East for years, and why Americans often misunderstand the region. The conversation moves from Iran’s history and U.S. intervention to the Gulf War, Iraq, international law, media failures, Trump’s role in the current crisis, and the broader consequences of endless war. It is a detailed, candid discussion about power, credibility, propaganda, and the cost of American decision-making abroad.

Links and Resources

• Phil Walker on Substack: https://substack.com/@phillipjameswalker
• Phil Walker’s video commentary on Iran
• Discussion of international law, UN authorization, and U.S. military intervention
• References to foreign and international media coverage, including Al Jazeera and the BBC

Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Left Out Loud on social media. Share this episode with someone who wants a deeper, more grounded conversation about Iran, war, and U.S. foreign policy.

• (00:00) - Intro

In this episode of Left Out Loud, hosts Ally Warhol and Seth Hagan sit down with Victoria Broderick, a grassroots candidate running for Congress in Tennessee’s 4th District. Victoria shares what pushed her from concerned citizen to candidate after the overturning of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, what she learned from her first run, and why she is continuing to build a people-powered campaign centered on safety, affordability, freedom, and equity. The conversation also covers reproductive rights, Tennessee politics, universal pre-K, campaign financing, labor and economic pressure, and what it means to run without corporate PAC or AIPAC money.

Links & Resources

• Victoria Broderick campaign website: Victoria4Tennessee.com

As Mentioned in This Episode

• Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
• Roe v. Wade and the impact of its overturning
• Tennessee’s trigger ban
• Afton Bain
• Scott DesJarlais
• Universal pre-K
• 2018 tariffs and their downstream effects on logistics jobs
• AI guardrails for consumers and workers
• Palestinian people / pro-peace pledge
• TikTok activism and online voter education
• The West Wing
• The American President
  Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media. Share this episode with someone who should be part of the conversation, and support independent voices helping shape the future of politics.

• (00:00) - 00:00:00 – Intro

In this bonus segment for Episode 02 of Left Out Loud, Ally and Seth test-drive a new recurring format: “A Shot at the News.” With equal parts frustration, humor, and political commentary, they react to a handful of major headlines and absurd moments from the news cycle while trying to keep things sharp, honest, and a little unhinged.

They break down Trump’s appointment of Erica Kirk to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, react to the eye-popping cost of Kristi Noem’s ad campaign, and dig into reports that the Pentagon spent $93 billion in a single month, including on bizarre expenses like king crab, a Steinway piano, and fruit basket stands. They also highlight one rare good-news story about Costco being cheaper than Walmart and Aldi while still paying workers better, then close by talking through the Texas Senate race, Jasmine Crockett’s loss, and why Democrats are rallying behind James Talarico in the bigger fight to flip the Senate.

Links and Resources

• U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors
• Erica Kirk / Charlie Kirk / Turning Point USA
• Kristi Noem ad campaign discussion
• Pentagon spending controversy
• Costco vs. Walmart / Aldi price comparison
• Texas Senate race
• Jasmine Crockett
• James Talarico
• Tim Cywinski's interview is referenced at the end of the episode

Mentions in the Episode

• Donald Trump
• Erica Kirk
• Charlie Kirk
• Kristi Noem
• Kamala HQ / “Headquarters Newsroom”
• Barbie
• Oppenheimer
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Iron Man
• The Matrix
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Pentagon budget and audit failures
• Iran
• Walmart
• Aldi
• Costco
• Stephen Colbert
• CBS
• FCC
• John Fetterman
• Kyrsten Sinema
• Joe Manchin
• John Cornyn
• Ken Paxton
• Christian nationalism

Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Left Out Loud on social media. Share this bonus segment with someone who wants politics coverage with a sharper edge and a little less nonsense.

In this episode of Left Out Loud, Seth and Ally sit down with Vance Bostic, who is running in the Democratic primary for New York’s 8th Congressional District.

Vance explains why he decided to challenge longtime incumbent Hakeem Jeffries and what he’s hearing from constituents across the district. The conversation dives into representation, leadership in Washington, and what voters in NY-08 want from their next member of Congress.

We also discuss Vance’s personal journey — including how the COVID pandemic became an opportunity for him to pursue higher education and earn three degrees in five years. From gig worker protections to grassroots organizing, Vance outlines the ideas and policies driving his campaign and why he believes new leadership is needed.

If you care about New York politics, Democratic primaries, and grassroots candidates challenging the status quo, this episode offers a direct look into the race for NY-08.

• (00:00) - Introduction

In this episode of Left Out Loud, we sit down with Tim Cywinski, a reformist Democrat running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st District.

Tim discusses his campaign built around the Fair Shot Agenda, a platform focused on restoring competition, accountability, and opportunity so that everyday families, workers, and small businesses have a real chance to succeed. Rather than relying on temporary fixes, he argues for structural reforms that address the root causes of inequality in American politics and the economy.

Before launching his campaign, Tim interned for Senator Tim Kaine, where he witnessed firsthand how partisanship and procedure often prevent meaningful progress in Washington. He later turned to community organizing, helping deliver real results for local residents. That experience shaped his belief that political change must start from the ground up.

• (00:00) - Meet Tim Suski

Ally and Seth sit down with Wisconsin congressional candidate Mike Heidenreich to break down the Democratic primary in the 6th District and why midterm primaries matter more than most voters realize.

Mike shares his background as a union worker, his experience on the Obama campaign, and what brought him back into politics after Trump’s election. The conversation dives into working-class voters, tariffs, trade policy, union power, misconceptions about gun rights, and why electing the right Democrats is essential to protecting democratic institutions and winning back Congress.

KEY TOPICS

Wisconsin 6th Congressional District

Democratic primary strategy

Grassroots organizing

Union voters and working-class politics

Tariffs and trade policy

Campaign funding and no corporate PAC money

Midterm election strategy

Protecting democratic institutions

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Mike Heidenreich for Congress

https://www.heidenreich4congress.com/

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• (00:00) - - Introduction & Setting the Stage

What if keeping up with politics didn’t feel overwhelming?

Welcome to Left Out Loud, the progressive political podcast breaking down the biggest stories shaping our democracy — without the spin, the noise, or the false equivalencies.

Hosted by Ally and Seth, this show delivers sharp analysis, real debate, and unapologetic commentary on the headlines dominating your feed. From midterm elections and breaking political news to in-depth conversations with grassroots Democratic candidates, Left Out Loud spotlights the people and movements fighting for real change.

If you care about elections, organizing, and the future of the Democratic Party — but you’re tired of feeling buried under nonstop chaos — this is your front row seat to the fight for democracy.

Smart. Informed. A little loud.