Purple Political Breakdown

By Radell LewisSociety & Culture News Politics

Purple Political Breakdown episodes

November 02 Sherrod Brown vs. Jon Husted, Amy Acton vs. Vivek Ramaswamy: Who Wins Ohio on November 3?
Two days before Election Day, Radell runs through every major race on the Ohio ballot in one episode: the U.S. Senate special election, the governor's race, and all 15 congressional districts.
The Senate special election for the seat JD Vance vacated pits former Sen. Sherrod Brown against Sen. Jon Husted. Radell walks through the late polling averages, why Brown has always been viewed as the Democrats' strongest pickup chance in Ohio, and the questions Husted faces over the FirstEnergy scandal.
The governor's race between Dr. Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy gets the longest segment. Radell covers the spread of recent public polls, Ramaswamy's path from the 2024 presidential primary to DOGE to this race, the H-1B controversy, his shifting position on AI data centers, and the ad his campaign ran featuring Acton's estranged mother, which Gov. Mike DeWine publicly urged him to take down. Radell also gives his criticism of Acton for declining to debate.
Then the full congressional map: Greg Landsman vs. Eric Conroy in OH-1, David Taylor vs. Jen Mazzuckelli in OH-2, Joyce Beatty vs. Cleophus Dulaney in OH-3, Jim Jordan vs. Joshua Kolasinski in OH-4, Bob Latta vs. Brian Shaver in OH-5, Michael Rulli vs. Elizabeth Kirtley in OH-6, Max Miller vs. Brian Poindexter in OH-7, Warren Davidson vs. Vanessa Enoch in OH-8, Marcy Kaptur vs. Derek Merrin in OH-9, Mike Turner vs. Kristina Knickerbocker in OH-10, Shontel Brown vs. Mike Kirchner in OH-11, Troy Balderson vs. Jerrad Christian in OH-12, Emilia Sykes vs. Carey Coleman in OH-13, Dave Joyce vs. Maria Jukic in OH-14, and Mike Carey vs. Don Leonard in OH-15. The episode closes on the two Ohio Supreme Court seats and the statewide row offices, including Secretary of State.
This episode includes Radell's personal take on several races, clearly his own read.

KEY INFO FOR OHIO VOTERS
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
No early voting on Monday, November 2.
Absentee ballots must reach your county Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Statewide ballot question: Issue 3, the photo ID constitutional amendment.

Check your registration and polling place: https://www.ohiosos.gov
PODCAST NETWORK
ALIVE Podcast Network. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Independent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/
r/PolicySolutions - A subreddit where people can post and discuss political solutions. Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
GET DAILY NEWS
Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com
Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/
ALL LINKS
https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: 'Political solutions without political bias.'
Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle!
Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
26 min
November 02 How Do You Make Sure Your Ohio Vote Counts? Claire Wagner of the League of Women Voters Explains
Two days before Election Day, Claire Wagner, president of the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area, joins Radell for a straight voter information conversation. The League is 106 years old, came out of the fight for women's right to vote, and has published nonpartisan voter guides for its entire history, online for the last 20 years at Vote411.org.
Claire walks through what she is seeing this cycle: early in-person voting far above the last midterm, the busiest fall her speakers bureau has had in years, and confusion over mail ballots now that Ohio ended its four-day grace period. Her advice: if your absentee ballot is still in your hands, take it to your county Board of Elections drop box instead of mailing it.
Then the part most voters never hear. People who served time and are now out can vote in Ohio. So can people jailed on a misdemeanor. Claire explains curbside voting, the accessible voting machine at every polling place, the Secretary of State's Safe at Home program for voters who must keep their address private, and how housing insecure Ohioans register.
As a Hamilton County poll worker, she breaks down exactly what happens when you show up: the photo ID scan, why an address mismatch means a provisional ballot rather than a lost vote, how to cure a provisional ballot within four days of Election Day, the free state ID available at the BMV, and VoteRiders.org for help getting documents. She also describes the bipartisan controls inside the Hamilton County Board of Elections, down to the badge doors that require a Democrat and a Republican to enter together.
Also covered: Issue 3, the photo ID constitutional amendment (the League has not taken a position), the 15 Hamilton County judicial races, how the League takes policy positions, misinformation vs. disinformation, why political ads are allowed to lie, Amy Acton's bid to become Ohio's first elected woman governor, DEI and legacy admissions, and the League's acknowledgment that the suffrage movement left Black women behind.

Check out: https://my.lwv.org/ohio/cincinnati-area

KEY INFO FOR OHIO VOTERS
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
No early voting on Monday, November 2.
Absentee ballots must reach your county Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Find your polling place and candidate answers: https://www.vote411.org
League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area: https://www.lwvcincinnati.org
Help getting an ID: https://www.voteriders.org
PODCAST NETWORK
ALIVE Podcast Network. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/
VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY
Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Independent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/
r/PolicySolutions - A subreddit where people can post and discuss political solutions. Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
GET DAILY NEWS
Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code 'purple' to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)
ALL LINKS
https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: 'Political solutions without political bias.'
Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle!
Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
45 min
November 01 Collins vs Jackson: Can Democrats Flip Maine, Iowa, Kansas and Alaska?
Three days out, a quick-fire run through four Senate races that could flip the chamber. Maine: Susan Collins vs Troy Jackson after Graham Platner's exit, and whether Collins' moderate brand holds up. Iowa: Ashley Hinson vs Josh Turek on Medicaid and trans issues. Kansas: Roger Marshall's medical debt lawsuits vs Adam Hamilton. Alaska: Dan Sullivan vs Mary Peltola on Medicaid cuts.
CORRECTIONTroy Jackson was nominated at the Maine Democratic convention in July after Platner withdrew, not in a second primary.
Standard Resource Links & Recommendations
The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation:
PODCAST NETWORK
Check Out the Podcast Website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com
ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices.
Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/
CONVERSATION PLATFORMS
HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features.
Link: https://app.headon.ai/
Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides.
Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/
UNITY MOVEMENTS
Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences.
Link: https://www.us-united.org/
BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION
OtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content.
Link: https://otherweb.com/
VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY
Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting.
Link: https://www.equal.vote/star
Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse.
Link: https://futureis.org/
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement.
Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/
Join the policy conversation on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
GET DAILY NEWS
Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)
Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/
Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com
Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown
ALL LINKS
https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."
Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle!
Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
14 min
October 31 Talarico vs Paxton: Can James Talarico Flip Texas for the First Time Since 1988?
Next in my Senate series: Texas, James Talarico vs Ken Paxton. Early voting turnout is surging, polls call it a toss up, and Democrats have not won a Texas Senate race since 1988. I break down Paxton's record (securities fraud charges, the whistleblower firings, his 2023 impeachment, and refusing to debate), the attacks on Talarico over the border, trans issues, and "God is nonbinary," and why a Christian Democrat might be exactly what Texas needs.
CORRECTIONSMusk's documented spending for Paxton is over $150 million through Senate Leadership Fund and Texas PAC, not hundreds of millions. On "God is nonbinary," Talarico called the comment "provocative" rather than formally apologizing.
Standard Resource Links & Recommendations
The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation:
PODCAST NETWORK
Check Out the Podcast Website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com
ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices.
Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/
CONVERSATION PLATFORMS
HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features.
Link: https://app.headon.ai/
Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides.
Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/
UNITY MOVEMENTS
Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences.
Link: https://www.us-united.org/
BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION
OtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content.
Link: https://otherweb.com/
VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY
Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting.
Link: https://www.equal.vote/star
Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse.
Link: https://futureis.org/
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement.
Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/
Join the policy conversation on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
GET DAILY NEWS
Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)
Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/
Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com
Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown
ALL LINKS
https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."
Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle!
Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
25 min
October 29 El-Sayed vs Rogers: Can Abdul El-Sayed Win Michigan’s Black and Jewish Voters?
Six days out, I'm going race by race through the key Senate seats. First up: Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed vs Mike Rogers. Where the polls stand, how a razor-thin primary exposed El-Sayed's two biggest holes (the Black vote and the Jewish vote), what his THRIVE agenda and his break from Hasan Piker do to close them, and why I call Mike Rogers a coward for power over his shifting line on Trump and 2020. Then I make my call.
CORRECTIONSRogers was elected to the Michigan Senate in 1994 and served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015, not since the 1980s. On 2020, the record shows he condemned Trump's push to overturn the result, then in 2024 declined to say whether Biden won.
Standard Resource Links & Recommendations
The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation:
PODCAST NETWORK
Check Out the Podcast Website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com
ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices.
Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/
CONVERSATION PLATFORMS
HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features.
Link: https://app.headon.ai/
Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides.
Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/
UNITY MOVEMENTS
Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences.
Link: https://www.us-united.org/
BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION
OtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content.
Link: https://otherweb.com/
VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY
Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting.
Link: https://www.equal.vote/star
Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse.
Link: https://futureis.org/
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement.
Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/
Join the policy conversation on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
GET DAILY NEWS
Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)
Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/
Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com
Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown
ALL LINKS
https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."
Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle!
Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
25 min
October 27 Should Vivek Ramaswamy Drop Out? Libertarian Don Kissick on the Amy Acton Ad, Data Centers and Flock Cameras
Libertarian Don Kissick is on the Ohio governor ballot alongside Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, and in this Ohio Edition interview he makes his case directly. Kissick, who lives in Ottawa in Putnam County, explains how a 2009 layoff from the Honda assembly line during the recession turned a former conservative into a Libertarian, and why he says his campaign rests on three issues: data centers, Flock cameras, and property taxes.
WHAT WE COVERED
The Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's mother. Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed it produced and is paying to air an ad in which Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calls her daughter a liar. Acton has said her stepfather sexually abused her as a child, and court records show he was charged in 1978. Kissick says he held a press conference calling on Ramaswamy to leave the race, and we discuss the role of PACs in negative ads.
Data centers in Ohio. Kissick wants an immediate, day one moratorium on new data center projects until the state sets clear rules on site selection, construction, local transparency, and environmental protection. He says no local official should sign a nondisclosure agreement with a developer, questions building on farmland, and asks who pays to decommission a data center once its equipment is obsolete. He also argues the largest tech companies can afford to fund small modular nuclear reactors for their own power.
Flock cameras and license plate readers. Kissick would end public sector use of automated license plate readers in Ohio. Private businesses could still use them on their own property, but he says government should need a warrant to get that footage.
Property taxes and affordability. With the Ax Ohio Tax campaign now aiming for the 2027 ballot, Kissick lays out his plan: eliminate the 5.75 percent state sales tax, let counties keep the sales tax they collect, and have the state write formulas so counties can fund schools, townships, and cities that cross county lines, like Delphos across Allen, Van Wert, and Putnam counties. He says the state would make up the difference with cuts to discretionary spending.
Immigration and ICE. Kissick calls immigration a net positive, opposes deputizing sheriffs and local police for federal immigration enforcement, and supports an Ellis Island style system with vetting. We discuss the death of Pierre Damas Bel, the Haitian Wright State student from Springfield.
Redistricting and the Statehouse. We both oppose partisan gerrymandering, and Kissick predicts Republicans keep their General Assembly majorities but could lose their supermajorities.
Debates. Kissick criticizes Acton for declining to debate Ramaswamy, and says Ramaswamy has declined to debate him.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to Purple Political Breakdown Ohio Edition00:59 Meet Don Kissick, Libertarian for Ohio Governor01:14 From the Honda Line to the Libertarian Party03:57 Running Against Jim Jordan in 2010 and the Republican Supermajority05:36 Partisan Gerrymandering and Ohio Redistricting07:59 Why Ohio Statehouse Races Matter08:42 What the Libertarian Party Offers Disaffected Voters12:58 Political Homelessness and Voters Feeling Unheard16:59 Constituent Connection: Jim Jordan vs. Marcy Kaptur18:25 The Ramaswamy Ad Featuring Amy Acton's Mother19:47 Kissick Calls on Ramaswamy to Drop Out25:20 Data Centers, AI, and Nondisclosure Agreements28:09 Banning Public Use of Flock Cameras and ALPRs31:35 What Happens When a Data Center Becomes Obsolete34:16 Affordability, the Federal Deficit, and Ohio37:58 Property Taxes and the Ax Ohio Tax Campaign38:51 Kissick's Plan to Eliminate the State Sales Tax42:57 Immigration, ICE, and Pierre Damas Bel50:06 Why Vote for Kissick: His Three Top Issues53:40 A Data Center Moratorium and Small Modular Nuclear56:15 Kissick on Amy Acton and the Debate Standoff58:58 Ramaswamy Declines to Debate Kissick59:45 Final Thoughts and Get Out the Vote
RESOURCES
ALIVE Podcast Network: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownDiscord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9r/PolicySolutions: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
Independent Center: https://www.independentcenter.org/Equal Vote Coalition and STAR Voting: https://www.equal.vote/starOtherWeb: https://otherweb.com/Living Room Conversations: https://livingroomconversations.org/CIVICS App: https://www.civicpolitics.com
The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: 'Political solutions without political bias.'Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle!
59 min
October 25 Can Greg Landsman Hold Ohio’s 1st District Against Eric Conroy? Ft. Greg Landsman
Ohio's 1st Congressional District is one of the most watched House races in the country, and with Election Day on November 3, I sat down with Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Cincinnati) to hear his case for a third term against Republican Eric Conroy.
Landsman walks through his background as a former teacher, the Cincinnati Preschool Promise ballot measure he led, and his five years on Cincinnati City Council before Congress. From there we get into how Ohio went from the nation's bellwether to a reliably red state, what he says partisan gerrymandering and voter roll purges have done to turnout, and why he believes this year's voter enthusiasm can overcome the redrawn OH-1 map, which now reaches into Warren County and Clinton County.
We also talk about the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, which drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans in the closing weeks of the Ohio governor race.
On the economy, Landsman lays out what he calls the short-term affordability fixes: ending the tariffs, ending the war, restoring health care cuts, and extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies. He then makes the case for three structural changes: a tax code where the top pays more and working people get refundable tax cuts, breaking up corporate consolidation in markets like health care and food, and steering more capital toward traditional lending instead of high-risk investment banking. He also talks about money in politics and says he does not take corporate PAC money.
On data centers and AI in Ohio, Landsman explains the federal framework he plans to combine into one data center reform bill after the election: data centers pay their full energy costs under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) oversight, a $15 million per day penalty for noncompliance, disclosure of water sources and water use, environmental standards for air, noise, light, and soil, escrow money to return sites to farmland, and a ban on NDAs between public officials and developers.
We close on voting and elections: Landsman's support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, his push to end partisan gerrymandering and dark money, and his final message to Ohio voters. Have a plan, bring your ID, and vote early at your county board of elections or on November 3.
CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome: why Ohio local politics matters00:41 Who is Greg Landsman? Teacher, Preschool Promise, Cincinnati City Hall02:29 Is Ohio turning blue? Gerrymandering and turnout06:54 Landsman on Eric Conroy and the OH-1 race07:43 The Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's mother10:20 Affordability plan: tariffs, health care, ACA subsidies11:38 Structural fixes: taxes, corporate consolidation, Wall Street15:56 Data centers and AI in Ohio17:54 Inside Landsman's data center reform bill20:17 Voting rights, gerrymandering, and the SAVE Act22:34 Final pitch to Ohio voters23:33 Outro
RESOURCESALIVE Podcast Network: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: https://www.equal.vote/starCIVICS App: https://www.civicpolitics.comInformed daily news text line, 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636), code 'purple': https://informed.nowUnfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/r/PolicySolutions: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/All links: https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
24 min
October 22 Trump vs Mail-In Ballots, Fraud Tips Paid Before Convictions & Trump Waives Russia Sanctions!
Trump has spent years calling mail-in voting a fraud machine. This week he told voters in Alaska, Minnesota, Nebraska and Virginia: if you have a mail-in ballot, return it immediately. We start there, twelve days before the midterms.
In Nuanced News: DOJ's new $25 million Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program pays tipsters $10,000 to $30,000 once charges are filed, before any conviction. Trump pitched a 1% commission; DOJ caps the award. Is paying for accusations a fraud fighting tool or a way to aim the public at political targets? Then Trump, Putin and Ukraine: the Starshield slowdown nobody will own, the Russian diesel deal, and the waiver of the Russia sanctions Congress passed. Plus Australia's under-16 social media ban one year in, Houthi attacks around Saudi Arabia, and Hakeem Jeffries' 100-day plan.
In Research on a Dime: the generic ballot, Talarico vs. Paxton in Texas, El-Sayed vs. Rogers in Michigan, and Ohio, including the Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother. In Breakdown in the Public: DOJ charges 28 people in California as alleged noncitizen voters. We close with good news the media doesn't talk about.
CHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:48 Welcome back03:57 Trump L's of the Week: nothing confirmed yet04:45 Trump tells his voters to vote by mail12:07 Chat: election trust and what Democrats should pass15:45 Nuanced News: Trump's fraud whistleblower program26:58 Trump, Putin and Ukraine: Starshield, diesel and the sanctions waiver38:10 Australia's under-16 social media ban, one year in43:12 Houthi attacks and Saudi Arabia45:08 Hakeem Jeffries' 100-day plan46:58 Research on a Dime: generic ballot polls48:23 Texas Senate: Talarico vs. Paxton50:22 Michigan Senate: El-Sayed vs. Rogers51:46 Ohio: Acton, Brown and the Ramaswamy ad54:21 Breakdown in the Public: DOJ charges 28 in California56:06 Chat: does God have a gender, immigration and crime1:05:15 Support the ALIVE Podcast Network1:06:47 Good news the media doesn't talk about1:10:40 Outro
CORRECTIONS15:00 The Department of Education has been cut back, but Congress has not abolished it.16:40 Trump Accounts are investment accounts for kids from the 2025 tax law, not child care money. The $1,000 deposit covers babies born 2025 through 2028; the accounts don't end with Trump's term.19:01 Reporting from the event says Trump, not Vance, presented Nick Shirley's $10,000 check.20:22 DOJ's rules require a truthful tip that leads to charges. No conviction is needed, but DOJ hasn't said what happens if a tip proves false.26:15 The fiscal 2026 deficit ($1.99 trillion) is the third largest ever, not a record. The debt did pass a record $40 trillion.30:39 The system is Starshield. Trump said neither he nor Musk was responsible; Musk said the U.S. government controls it. The WSJ reported Musk ordered the slowdown; Reuters reported the White House approved it.36:34 The 500% and 100% tariffs came from the Graham sanctions law Trump signed in September. That is what he waived; there was no separate order he reversed.39:32 Australia's regulator found most underage users could still keep or create accounts, not that usage stayed the same. Max penalty: A$109.2 million.45:23 Jeffries is House Minority Leader, not Speaker, and his plan reverses Medicaid cuts, not Medicare.52:19 Acton says her stepfather, her mother's husband, abused her. That they skipped bail and left town is Acton's account; her mother disputes it.
RESOURCES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Check Out the Podcast Website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com
ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices.Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/
HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations, hosted or unguided.Link: https://app.headon.ai/
Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides.Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/
Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences.Link: https://www.us-united.org/
Join the conversation on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/
Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
ALL LINKS: https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9
Political solutions without political bias. Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics!
1 hr 10 min
October 17 Will Sherrod Brown Beat Jon Husted? Ohio Polls for Senate, Ramaswamy vs Acton, and All 15 House Races
Ohio's two biggest races are close heading into Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. In this solo episode of Purple Political Breakdown, Ohio Edition, Radell Lewis is back from a short break to walk through current polling in the Ohio U.S. Senate race, the Ohio governor race, and all 15 Ohio congressional districts, then breaks down five Ohio issues that landed this week.
THE OHIO SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION: SHERROD BROWN VS JON HUSTEDRadell shows a polling average with Brown up about 3.5 points, says he has seen few polls with Husted ahead by more than a point, and explains why Senate control matters for passing any legislation, including how the filibuster's 60-vote threshold works.
THE OHIO GOVERNOR RACE: AMY ACTON VS VIVEK RAMASWAMYRadell calls this one closer to a toss-up, with the average he showed at Acton up about 2 points. He criticizes Acton's decision not to debate, then lays out his critique of Ramaswamy's record and campaign, including Ramaswamy's past comments on H-1B workers and the personal money he has put into the race.
ALL 15 OHIO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTSA district-by-district polling check: OH-1 Greg Landsman vs Eric Conroy, OH-2 Dave Taylor vs Jen Mazzuckelli, OH-3 Joyce Beatty, OH-4 Jim Jordan vs Joshua Kolasinski, OH-5 Bob Latta vs Brian Shaver, OH-6 Michael Rulli vs Elizabeth Kirtley, OH-7 Max Miller vs Brian Poindexter, OH-8 Warren Davidson vs Vanessa Enoch, OH-9 Marcy Kaptur vs Derek Merrin, OH-10 Mike Turner vs Kristina Knickerbocker, OH-11 Shontel Brown, OH-12 Troy Balderson vs Jerrad Christian, OH-13 Emilia Sykes, OH-14 David Joyce vs Maria Jukic, and OH-15 Mike Carey vs Don Leonard. Radell also shares which candidates have joined the show or been invited.
FIVE OHIO ISSUES THIS WEEKEdChoice: the court rulings finding Ohio's private school voucher program unconstitutional, the roughly 180,000 students using it since the 2023 expansion, the argument that the Ohio Constitution requires one common public school system, and where the appeal could go next.
Prediction markets: Ohio's cease and desist letters to ten companies including Polymarket, Robinhood and Coinbase. The state says these apps run unlicensed sportsbooks. The companies say only the federal CFTC regulates them. Radell covers the Sixth Circuit ruling and the money these companies are spending in elections.
Ohio data centers: Acton's proposed moratorium unless data centers cover 100 percent of their utility costs, Ramaswamy's shift against the data center tax break, and whether data centers return as much to Ohioans as the power they use.
The Ohio gas tax holiday: the 90-day pause of the 38.5 cent gas tax and 47 cent diesel tax that started October 4, paid from the state's general fund.
Election security: a letter containing a white powder sent to Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office, one of several similar mailings to election offices in other states.
Find your Ohio ballot breakdown at purplepoliticalbreakdown.com before you vote.
CHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:46 Welcome back to the Ohio Edition03:33 Today's Ohio rundown04:06 Voting reminder: Election Day is November 304:56 ALIVE Podcast Network06:44 Ohio Senate polls: Sherrod Brown vs Jon Husted08:02 Senate control and the filibuster09:55 Ohio governor polls: Amy Acton vs Vivek Ramaswamy10:57 Acton and the debate question15:34 Ohio House races: OH-1 to OH-617:30 Ohio House races: OH-7 to OH-1219:35 Ohio House races: OH-13 to OH-1520:01 Ohio polling wrap up and statewide offices21:26 EdChoice vouchers ruled unconstitutional23:37 Ohio vs Polymarket, Robinhood and Coinbase26:28 Ohio data centers: Acton vs Ramaswamy28:40 Ohio gas tax holiday29:53 Suspicious letter to Frank LaRose's office30:24 Wrap up and get out the vote30:57 Closing clip
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30 min
October 15 Pentagon Wants to Livestream an Execution, Trump Buys Russian Diesel & Adobe vs AI Photoshop Clone!
I'm back after a few weeks off, and the show has a new format: less script, more conversation with the live chat. I start with where I've been. A bad faith debate in Vegas sent me back to the books on political philosophy, and I share where I landed on liberalism, equal starting points, and the role government plays in helping people become the best version of themselves.
In Nuanced News, I break down Trump's Russian diesel deal: Treasury's General License 135, the 2022 law Congress passed banning Russian energy imports, why Republicans like Susan Collins are pushing back, and why 4.8 million tons only covers about nine to ten days of U.S. diesel demand. Then the Pentagon's plan to livestream the December 3 firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, and why Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called it "beyond disgusting." Last, Club for Growth's request asking the FCC to allow AI robocalls to your cellphone before Election Day.
For Research on a Dime, I go through the latest midterm polling: the generic congressional ballot, Talarico vs. Paxton in Texas, Troy Jackson vs. Susan Collins in Maine, plus Iowa, North Carolina, Alaska, Georgia, Michigan's El-Sayed vs. Rogers, and the Ohio governor and Senate races.
In the Deep Dive Trend, a four person team used AI to build free, open source clones of Photoshop, Premiere and more. What do Adobe's terms of use say about reverse engineering, and could this kind of AI end up helping corporations more than everyday people? We close with good news: five cheetah cubs born at the Smithsonian, live on the cub cam.
CHAPTERS00:00 Intro02:46 Welcome back and the new show format06:29 Where I've been: the Vegas debate and my political principles11:05 Nuanced News: Trump's Russian diesel deal17:10 Trump: "I could say the stupidest things and you'd clap"18:00 What General License 135 actually says25:24 The Pentagon wants to livestream a military execution33:17 AI robocalls and Club for Growth's FCC request39:09 Research on a Dime: midterm polling43:33 Maine Senate: Troy Jackson vs. Susan Collins49:00 Ohio governor race polls52:50 Michigan Senate: El-Sayed vs. Rogers55:09 Chat: universal healthcare vs. a public option59:41 Deep Dive Trend: AI and open source software1:03:30 The free AI built Photoshop clone1:09:18 Adobe's terms of use and how corporations could respond1:14:47 Support the ALIVE Podcast Network1:15:33 Good news: five cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian1:16:42 Outro
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1 hr 15 min

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