Today’s episode of The Sage Against the Machine Podcast was really about getting back to the issues that matter to working people.

We started with Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s First Congressional District. Christina and I talked about growing up in working-class families, struggling with healthcare, and what it means to understand firsthand what so many Iowans are dealing with today.

One of the biggest themes of our conversation was corruption in Washington. Christina talked about the influence of corporate money and special interests, and why she believes restoring trust in government has to start with getting money and corruption out of our politics.

We also talked about something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: political distractions.

Every day we’re bombarded with another outrageous headline, culture-war fight, or political stunt designed to get us angry and keep us arguing with each other. Meanwhile, working people are still struggling with the cost of groceries, gas, rent, healthcare and housing.

That’s the conversation I want The Sage Against the Machine Podcast to keep having.

What does this actually mean for the working class? Who benefits? Who pays the price? And why isn’t our government focused on making people’s lives better?

We also got into the Iran war and the human cost being paid by American service members. After nearly six months of war, the reported number of wounded service members really hit me. Having served in Iraq, I don’t see those numbers as statistics. They’re people with families, futures and lives that can be changed forever.

At the end of the day, I don’t want this podcast to just chase whatever outrageous story is trending.

I want us to cut through the bullshit, expose the distractions, call out corruption and keep our focus on working people.

Because that’s who our government is supposed to work for.

Not billionaires. Not corporations. Not political insiders.

Us.

On today’s episode of Sage Against The Machine, Dr. Bob Leonard and I sat down with Taylor Wettach, Democratic candidate for State Auditor of Iowa, to talk about corruption, accountability and what government should actually be doing for working people.

Taylor’s story is one of the reasons I think he’s worth paying attention to. He walked away from a lucrative legal career after his firm made a deal with the Trump administration that he believed crossed a line. Instead of looking the other way, he decided to get into public service and fight corruption.

We talked a lot about rural Iowa and the importance of getting outside Des Moines. Taylor believes the Auditor’s Office needs to be present in small towns, helping local governments get things right while making sure taxpayer dollars are protected.

That philosophy really resonated with me.

Democrats can’t just show up in rural Iowa during election season and expect people to trust us. We have to listen to people, talk about their lives and understand what they’re actually dealing with.

Taylor told a great story about meeting a man at the Greene County Fair. They talked about horses and local issues before politics ever came up. Eventually, the man learned Taylor was a Democrat running for State Auditor and told him he’d never voted for a Democrat, but Taylor was the first one who had ever come out and talked to him.

That’s how you change minds. You listen first.

After Taylor left, Dr. Bob and I got into the national and Iowa political headlines, including Donald Trump’s approach to South Korea and North Korea, the Iran conflict and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s appearance in Iowa.

We also talked about the growing political theater and manufactured outrage that has become far too common in American politics.

At the end of the day, Iowans have real problems. They’re worried about their families, their jobs, their schools, their communities and whether they can afford to stay where they live.

Those are the conversations we need to be having.

And that’s why I appreciated today’s conversation with Taylor Wettach. The State Auditor should be a watchdog for all Iowans, following the money, finding problems and holding government accountable.

If you’re tired of politics being nothing but noise, don’t just complain about it.

Get involved.

Knock a door. Make a phone call. Write a letter. Volunteer. Talk to your neighbors.

The election is getting closer, and if we want to change things, it’s going to take all of us.

We’ll see you Thursday with Christina Bohannan.

On the latest episode of The Sage Against The Machine Podcast, Dr. Bob Leonard and I sat down with Rachel Burns, Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 7.

Rachel is exactly the kind of candidate I believe we need more of. She’s a speech-language pathologist, firefighter, EMT, medical examiner and longtime public servant. She’s not running because she wants a title. She’s running because she sees people struggling and believes we can do better.

What really stood out to me was what Rachel is hearing at the doors. People aren’t just asking for civility anymore. They’re frustrated. They’re worried about health care, affordability, education, clean water and whether they can simply afford to get by.

Rachel told us something else that I think is incredibly important: she doesn’t care about political labels nearly as much as she cares about solving problems for the people she represents.

That’s the kind of Democrat I want to see more of.

When I asked Rachel why she should be the next representative for District 7, her answer was simple: “We’ve had enough.” Farmers are struggling. Small businesses are struggling. Families are struggling. And she believes Iowa deserves better.

I couldn’t agree more.

Rachel Burns is doing the work, knocking doors, having the difficult conversations and standing up for people who feel forgotten. Now it’s our job to help her and candidates like her across Iowa.

Give this episode a listen. Rachel is worth hearing.

On this special Wednesday episode of the Sage Against The Machine Podcast, Dr. Bob Leonard and I sat down with Congresswoman Haley Stevens for a conversation that I think politics needs a hell of a lot more of: honesty.

Haley and I don’t agree on everything. We probably never will. But that’s kind of the point.

We talked about what working people are dealing with every day, the cost of living, healthcare, rising prices, corporate power and the feeling that Washington spends a whole lot of time talking while regular people are still trying to figure out how the hell they’re going to pay the bills.

One thing I really appreciated was hearing Haley talk about where she came from. She talked about growing up in Michigan, her parents’ small business and watching her dad work his ass off. Those experiences clearly shaped the way she looks at working people and what government is supposed to do for them.

And that’s where we got into the Democratic Party.

I said this on the show, and I’ll say it again: Democrats have to start listening to people instead of lecturing them.

Haley talked about the need for Democrats to reconnect with working-class Americans and stop spending so much time fighting with each other. Losing a primary shouldn’t mean you walk away from the fight. We can disagree. We can argue. Hell, we can get pissed off at each other. But at some point, we’ve got to come back together and fight for the people we’re supposed to represent.

We also went way beyond the usual political talking points.

We talked about democracy, how government works, corporate power, data centers, taxes, healthcare and why so many middle-class families feel like they’re getting squeezed from every damn direction.

One thing Haley said really stuck with me: we should be willing to imagine a better version of America.

That shouldn’t be controversial.

We should be able to talk about what a more perfect union actually looks like and then have the guts to try to build it.

And, of course, this is the Sage Against The Machine Podcast, so eventually we had to get away from politics.

We talked about Haley’s favorite movies and TV shows, including Tommy Boy, The Simpsons and The Golden Girls. Honestly, that probably tells you more about her than any campaign bio ever could.

What I liked most about this conversation was that Haley didn’t pretend to have every answer. She was willing to talk about what isn’t working, ask tough questions and admit that there’s a lot Democrats need to figure out.

That’s what we’re trying to do with this podcast.

We’re not looking for political perfection. We’re looking for real conversations with real people about what the hell is going on and how we make things better for working people.

I’m glad Haley Stevens came on the show. I think you’re going to get a lot out of this conversation.

Give it a listen. And then tell us what you think.

When I first met Jackie Norris during the campaign, one of the first things that stood out to me was how blunt and honest she was.

I respected that immediately.

Campaigns can get weird. You meet people who are supposed to be your opponents, but you also end up meeting people you genuinely like and respect. Jackie became one of those people for me.

On the latest episode of the Sage Against The Machine Podcast, we talked about politics, Iowa, public education, water quality, caregiving, working-class families and what might be next for her.

But one thing Jackie said really stuck with me.

She talked about how we need to look at these issues from the perspective of a parent.

If you’re a parent in Cass County, you want your kids to be able to swim in a clean lake. You want them to go to a good public school. You want to know that when your parents need care, your family isn’t going to be financially destroyed.

That’s what politics is supposed to be about.

Too often, we make everything about political parties, special interests and who can score the best campaign attack. Meanwhile, regular people are just trying to live their lives.

Jackie also made an important point about public education. We shouldn’t demonize parents who make different choices for their children. We should ask a bigger question: How do we make sure every kid has the opportunity to succeed?

That means talking honestly about funding, but also about what we’re teaching, career pathways, technology, cell phones, parental involvement and the challenges facing kids before they ever walk into a classroom.

And maybe most importantly, it means listening.

Jackie told us that her approach to decision-making has always been about hearing every voice, including the voices that don’t necessarily come to you on their own.

I think that’s something politics desperately needs right now.

We don’t need more people yelling at each other.

We need more people willing to sit down, have uncomfortable conversations, listen to people they disagree with and actually try to understand what working families are dealing with.

That’s what we’re trying to do with the Sage Against The Machine Podcast.

No political consultants telling us what we’re supposed to say. No pretending everything is perfect.

Just honest conversations about the issues that matter to people.

I’m grateful Jackie came on the show, and I’m grateful that somewhere along the campaign trail, an opponent became a friend.

And whatever Jackie decides to do next, I hope Iowa gets to see more of her.

Because we need more people in public life who actually give a damn.

Keep it real. Talk to people. Listen to people. And never forget who we’re supposed to be doing this for.

P.S. Happy Birthday Jackie!

On this episode of the Sage Against The Machine Podcast, Dr. Bob Leonard and I sat down with Iowa House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer for a conversation about the issues that are impacting working people across our state.

One of the biggest themes throughout our discussion was affordability. Everywhere I went during my 99-county tour, I heard the same thing from Iowans: people are struggling to keep up. The cost of housing, healthcare, utilities, and everyday expenses continues to rise, and too many families feel like they are getting squeezed from every direction.

Brian talked about the Iowa House Democrats’ affordability plan, including raising wages, lowering healthcare costs, freezing utility rate increases, and helping more people achieve the dream of owning their first home. These are not political talking points, these are real issues affecting people’s lives every single day.

We also talked about public education, water quality, and what kind of Iowa we want to build for the next generation. Brian shared why he believes Iowa can once again be a leader in education and why protecting our water and making Iowa a place where families can thrive should be priorities for everyone.

Another important part of our conversation was the future of politics in Iowa and across the country. Brian spoke about the importance of listening to Midwest voters and making sure the voices of everyday Iowans are not ignored. Too often, people feel like decisions are being made by people who don’t understand the challenges facing rural communities and working families.

Dr. Bob and I also had a broader conversation about the divisions inside the Democratic Party, the labels we put on each other, and why the focus needs to be less on whether someone is called a moderate or a progressive and more on whether they are fighting for people.

At the end of the day, people want leaders who will listen, show up, and work to make their lives better. They want to know: Can I afford my home? Can my kids get a good education? Can my family have a future here?

Those are the conversations we need to be having.

We also wanted to end this episode by celebrating Iowa. With the Iowa State Fair, the Knoxville Nationals, NASCAR coming to Newton, county fairs, local events, and so many hidden gems across our state, there are incredible things happening right here that many people never get the chance to experience.

Being working class does not mean you should miss out on the best parts of Iowa. We should be finding more ways to make these opportunities accessible to everyone.

That is what The Sage Against The Machine Podcast is about, honest conversations, real issues, and giving working people a voice.

Thank you to Leader Brian Meyer for joining us, and thank you to everyone who continues to listen, share, and support this podcast.

We’ll keep showing up, asking questions, and fighting for a better future.

This week’s episode of Sage Against The Machine Podcast was one of the most important conversations we’ve had yet.

Dr. Bob Leonard and I sat down with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart to discuss the future of Iowa politics, rebuilding trust with working-class voters, and what it will take for Democrats to compete again in every corner of the state.

One thing stood out throughout our conversation: winning starts with listening.

Rita talked about rebuilding the Iowa Democratic Party from the ground up, recruiting strong candidates, opening field offices across the state, investing in organizers, and meeting voters where they are instead of assuming they already agree with us. She made it clear that the goal isn’t simply to win elections; it’s to earn back the trust of Iowans who have felt ignored or left behind for far too long.

We also tackled one of the biggest questions facing Iowa Democrats: how do you win back independents and former Republicans? As someone who spent years as an independent before running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, that’s a question I care deeply about. The answer isn’t slogans or talking points. It’s listening to people’s frustrations, addressing the issues that affect their daily lives, and proving through action that government can work for working families again.

Later in the show, Dr. Bob and I discussed several national stories that we believe deserve more scrutiny, including renewed tensions with Iran, controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s handling of criticism over the White House reflecting pool, and Todd Blanche’s confirmation as Attorney General. These conversations centered on accountability, transparency, and the need for government to stay focused on solving problems instead of creating new distractions.

We also discussed reporting from Iowa Starting Line concerning Representative Ashley Hinson, campaign donations, and questions surrounding the release of information connected to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. During the podcast, I expressed strong frustration over what I believe should be greater transparency and accountability from elected officials, while emphasizing that protecting children and holding powerful people accountable should never be a partisan issue.

If there’s one message I hope listeners took away from this episode, it’s that none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines anymore.

Politics isn’t a spectator sport. If you want lower costs, honest government, better schools, stronger rural communities, or leaders who actually listen, it starts with getting involved. Volunteer for a campaign. Register people to vote. Knock on doors. Have conversations with your neighbors. Democracy only works when everyday people participate.

That’s exactly what the Sage Against The Machine Podcast is about, giving working-class Americans a voice and having honest conversations that too often get ignored.

I hope you’ll give Episode 10 a listen. Whether you agree with us or disagree, the conversation matters. And Iowa’s future depends on more people being willing to have it.

This week on Sage Against the Machine, Dr. Bob Leonard and I were joined by Jerrad Christian, Democratic nominee for Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, for a conversation about what it really means to fight for working-class Americans.

Jerrad shared his journey from serving in the U.S. Navy to working a variety of jobs before becoming a software engineer and congressional candidate. We talked about why he decided to run, the challenges facing working families, and why he believes everyday people deserve representatives who answer to voters, not corporate donors.

After the interview, we covered several headlines, including former President Barack Obama’s endorsement of Josh Turek for the U.S. Senate and the exciting news that Lindsay James was added to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program, signaling that Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District is a race to watch in 2026.

I also shared my thoughts after attending Rob Sand’s town hall in Carlisle and why I believe leaders willing to answer tough questions are exactly what Iowa needs.

Finally, in this week’s “What’s Making Nathan Cuss?” segment, I discussed the Senate hearing involving Dr. Anthony Fauci and why I believe political theater shouldn’t distract us from the real issues facing working families across America.

A huge thank you to Jerrad Christian for joining us and to everyone who continues to watch, listen, and share the podcast. Your support helps us keep speaking truth to power and fighting for the voices too often ignored.

We’ll see you next episode.

This week’s episode of the Sage Against The Machine Podcast, Dr. Bob Leonard and I were joined by Iowa State Senator Catelin Drey to talk about the issues that are hitting working-class Iowans every single day, from healthcare and affordability to the future of public education and rural communities.

Senator Drey shared her personal journey after being diagnosed with uterine cancer and how that experience strengthened her commitment to fighting for better healthcare access. Even with good insurance and access to quality care, she still faced thousands of dollars in medical costs. It’s a reminder that too many Americans are one diagnosis away from financial hardship.

We also talked about women’s healthcare, struggling rural hospitals, and what Democrats need to do to reconnect with working-class and rural voters. One message came through loud and clear: people aren’t looking for politicians to lecture them, they want leaders who will listen.

Another major part of our conversation focused on what Senator Drey sees as a growing effort to privatize public services in Iowa. From healthcare and public education to local government, we discussed what happens when essential services are treated like businesses instead of public investments and who ends up paying the price.

After the interview, Dr. Bob and I discussed Iowa Democrats losing first-in-the-nation caucus status and what that means for the future of the party in Iowa. We also wrapped up the show with Why Nathan Cusses, where I talked about Congressman Zach Nunn criticizing campaign trackers. Accountability comes with running for office. If you’re asking for the public’s vote, the public has every right to watch what you’re doing.

Thank you to Senator Catelin Drey for joining us and to everyone who continues to support the Sage Against The Machine Podcast. If you haven’t listened yet, I hope you’ll check out the episode and join the conversation.

We’ll be back Thursday at 5:00 PM Central with Democratic congressional candidate Jerrad Christian from Ohio’s 12th District. Until then, keep asking questions, stay engaged, and never stop fighting for the working class.

This week on the Sage Against The Machine Podcast, Dr. Bob Leonard and I sat down with Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Chris Jones for one of the most important conversations we’ve had so far.

Chris didn’t come on the show to deliver political talking points. He came to talk about the reality facing Iowa, our water quality, the future of family farms, and why so many rural communities continue to struggle.

We discussed how decades of failed policies have left too many Iowans frustrated with polluted water, disappearing small farms, and an agricultural system that often benefits large corporations more than the people who actually live and work here. Chris shared his vision for improving water quality, expanding local food production, strengthening family farms through diversification, and holding pesticide applicators accountable.

After the interview, Dr. Bob and I broke down several headlines making news this week, including the Trump administration’s proposed nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, new reports showing more Iowa women traveling out of state for abortion care, and the continued rise in ICE detentions across Iowa.

As always, we wrapped up the show by calling out the political distractions that keep Iowans focused on culture wars instead of the issues that affect their daily lives, health care, affordability, clean water, and the future of our communities.

If you haven’t listened yet, I hope you’ll give Episode 7 a listen. I believe it’s one of our most important conversations yet because it focuses on what really matters: fighting for working-class Iowans and building a stronger future for our state.