The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald

By Amy McDonald

I’m Amy McDonald, and I am on the hunt for the next generation of leaders, both in the ballot boxes and the teams behind them. On The Foolish Optimist, you’ll find interviews with candidates running f... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald:

How many episodes does The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald have?

The podcast currently has 72 episodes available.

The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald episodes:

May 20, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Alani for Montana, US Senate
Montana Month: Alani Bankhead on Accountability, Housing, Healthcare, and Taking the Fight to Washington

Follow along with Alani's campaign at AlaniforMT.com

Host Amy McDonald interviews Alani Bankhead, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and supervisory special agent running for U.S. Senate in Montana, about why she entered politics in 2026 after seeing “Montana and the country burning” and believing democracy is at stake. Bankhead describes her counterintelligence and child exploitation work—operations on six continents and hundreds of arrests—arguing that government obstruction and lack of accountability are major problems, and calling for stronger oversight, town halls, and ending dark money. On the campaign trail, she says Montanans’ top concerns are housing and healthcare, driven by income inequality, rising costs, and out-of-state wealth reshaping land and communities. She emphasizes bipartisan, service-oriented “Montana values,” grassroots power, and rejecting culture-war distractions in favor of protecting vulnerable people and rebuilding trust.

00:00 Welcome to Montana Month
01:35 Why She Is Running
03:27 Hope Plus Action
06:25 Special Agent Background
07:48 Accountability in Congress
10:44 Dark Money Reality Check
13:45 Housing Crisis Stories
18:19 Leadership and Responsibility
22:33 What Montanans Want Most
23:50 Montana Purple State Power
30:41 Grassroots Against Abuse
34:05 Culture Wars vs Real Needs
35:41 Mission Focus Leadership
36:47 Accountability and History
40:36 Montana Values to DC
42:55 Breaking Senate Gridlock
45:08 Influence for Good
48:55 Child Exploitation Reality
54:24 Grassroots Campaign Push
55:46 Rapid Fire and Montana Love
59:56 Preserving Old Montana
...more
1h 3min
May 18, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Voices of Resistance, Los Angeles
Follow @CatieLaffoon and @AlexandriaAugustine_ to keep up with what is happening on the ground in Los Angeles

Get involved with Rae Huang's campaign at RaeForLA.com

Boots on the Ground in LA: May Day Crackdowns, ICE Collaboration, and the LA Mayoral Race Host Amy McDonald interviews Los Angeles activists Catie Lafoon and Alexandria Augustine about recent protests and the escalating police response in LA. They describe May Day actions that began peacefully in support of unions and mutual aid before LAPD formed skirmish lines, blocked access near City Hall and the Metropolitan Detention Center, declared an unlawful assembly, dispersed crowds, and assaulted, kettled, and detained members of the press, which they say is minimized or misrepresented by mainstream coverage. Alexandria recounts separate arrests by LAPD and DHS and discusses how police react to speech and public accountability. The guests argue LA is a “beta test” for a broader police-state model, citing surveillance and alleged LAPD–ICE collaboration. They connect domestic repression to Palestine and policing tactics. They criticize performative politics and discuss the LA mayoral race, urging support for Rae Huang in the June 2 jungle primary.

00:27 Meet the LA Activists
01:47 May Day Protest Recap
02:58 Skirmish Lines Explained
05:34 Press Targeted and Kettled
07:04 Rights, Permits, and Compliance
08:07 Arrests on the Front Lines
13:14 Voices as a Threat
15:59 LA as Police State Beta Test
21:08 Radical Solutions on Housing
23:50 Haunted LA and Palestine Link
28:04 IDF Training and Coming Snapback
28:51 Surveillance And Public Apathy
29:52 Voting Rights And Slow-Motion Rollback
30:37 Constitutional Convention Alarm Bells
31:39 Neuralink Money And Conspiracy Becoming Real
33:31 White Women Patriarchy And Solidarity
35:08 ICE Detention And Child Trafficking Claims
37:02 Masculinity Homophobia And Calling It Out
38:28 Hillary Kamala And The Establishment Machine
43:00 LA Mayoral Race Who’s Running
46:51 Policing Budgets Debt And Olympics Incentives
51:17 Vote Rae Huang Primary Dates And Wrap-Up
...more
54min
May 13, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Sylvia Wright for South Carolina
Sylvia Wright on Expanding Pre-K, Reforming Testing, and Rebuilding Trust in South Carolina Schools

Follow along with Sylvia Wright's campaign at https://www.wright2026sc.com/
Donate to the pod at https://venmo.com/u/amymaccc

On the Foolish Optimist podcast, host Amy McDonald interviews Sylvia Wright, a Charleston-born educator and candidate for South Carolina State Superintendent of Education in 2026, about why she’s running and her plan to improve a system ranked 43rd and in the bottom 10 for 20 years. Wright says a leadership and respect problem is pushing teachers out, argues for universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds, and describes shifting away from traditional standardized testing toward Florida’s progress-monitoring model to better identify strengths, weaknesses, and interventions. She also advocates revamping K–12 to increase career exposure and pathways, listening to teachers, parents, and students through town halls, and addressing rural neglect by rebuilding trust. The conversation touches on vouchers, public education narratives, campaign challenges related to race and funding, and where to donate or volunteer.
00:00 Welcome to Foolish Optimist
00:42 Meet Sylvia Wright
01:53 Why She’s Running
03:32 Universal Pre-K Vision
07:20 Beyond Test Scores
08:25 Florida Model Inspiration
09:38 Career Exposure Pathways
11:09 Relationships and Waste
13:30 Reading for Life
15:44 Microschools and Innovation
17:54 Progress Monitoring Testing
18:48 SC Rankings and Change
20:48 Service Over Power
23:20 From State to National Impact
23:56 Campaign Hurdles and Bias
26:33 Degrees vs Classroom Experience
26:56 Leadership and Teacher Retention
27:34 Reframing Public Education
29:08 Vouchers and Funding Drain
31:39 Listen to Teachers Locally
33:15 Winning Rural Trust
34:44 Donate Volunteer and Vote
37:03 Rapid Fire Favorites 39:30
Why South Carolina Matters
41:03 Final Thanks and Call to Action
...more
42min
May 06, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Lux for Montana's Second Congressional District
Sam Lux on a Worker-First Green Energy Transition and Rural Montana’s Cost-of-Living Crisis

Host Amy McDonald interviews Sam Lux, a farrier and small business owner running for Montana’s 2nd Congressional District, about why he entered politics after working with ranchers and farmers who are falling further behind amid tariffs, market instability, and farm closures. Lux emphasizes breaking up omnibus legislation into single-issue bills, including a proposal he says could return billions to small farms, and argues the U.S. should roll back tariffs, rebuild trade relationships, and raise food-quality standards so Montana wheat stays domestic rather than being exported while lower-quality grain is imported. He highlights severe poverty, housing shortages, and healthcare deserts in his district, and proposes a worker-first clean energy transition for communities tied to a decommissioning coal plant using parallel green infrastructure, paid retraining, early retirement, reclamation jobs, and wage guarantees. Lux criticizes money in politics, pledges transparency and no PAC funds, and calls for Congress to reassert war powers regarding Iran.

00:00 Introduction
01:28 What Does a Farrier Do
05:01 Millennials and Civic Duty
08:06 Fixing Food and Farm Bills
12:05 Campaign Trail and Primary
14:52 Cost of Living in Montana
19:51 Worker First Green Energy
25:57 Jobs Numbers and Gig Work
26:48 Money in Politics
27:53 Energy Transition Reality Check
28:53 Finding Senate Allies
29:41 Beating the Incumbent
30:22 Showing Up Locally
35:35 Radical Transparency
41:41 Pay and Stock Trading Reform
44:14 Term and Age Limits
46:19 Montana Progressive Roots
49:11 Where to Find and Donate
49:43 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up
...more
52min
May 04, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Russell Cleveland for Montana 1
Russell Cleveland running in Montana's First Congressional District joins host Amy McDonald, to discuss healthcare, Montana's history, and why Montanans are ready for change.

Follow along with his campaign at RussellCleveland.org
Support the podcast https://venmo.com/u/amymaccc
00:00 Montana Week Kickoff
01:41 Why Russ Is Running
03:05 Growing Up Montana
03:46 Top Issues On The Ground
07:31 Race Upended By Dropout
09:07 Montana Purple Politics
11:41 Primary Fight And Dark Money
14:50 Montana Plan Against Corruption
19:21 Libertarian Streak And Abortion
21:29 Big Family Ranch Economics
23:39 Party Disconnect And Listening
27:28 Ranked Choice Roadblocks
27:47 Primary Rules Exclude Independents
29:21 Messaging Versus Democracy
30:02 Structural Fixes Agenda
30:51 Anti Corruption Reforms
33:05 Term Limits Age Caps
34:35 Medicare For All Plus
36:17 Pedal For Prevention Tour
39:22 Insurance Denials Personal Loss
43:16 Drug Prices Rare Disease Fight
46:12 How To Support Campaign
47:24 Rapid Fire And Farewell
...more
52min
May 01, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Alex with Integrity Alabama
Integrity Alabama: Mobilizing Millennial Voters in Northeast Alabama

Follow Integrity Alabama on instagram at @AlexWithIntegrity, find them in the Act Blue Directory

If you want to support the pod, AmyMaccc on venmo is an easy way if you DON"T WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS. :)

Host Amy McDonald welcomes repeat guest Alex Braswell, former Democratic nominee for Alabama House District 11, to discuss launching Integrity Alabama, a state-level PAC alliance across four Northeast Alabama counties aimed at increasing turnout and engagement among voters ages 18–50. Braswell explains what a PAC is, distinguishes small grassroots PACs from corporate and super PACs, and describes how the effort grew from her campaign experience building younger networks outside traditional county party structures. They highlight massive untapped turnout—173,000 nonvoters ages 18–50 in Alabama’s Congressional District 4—and argue that votes and grassroots organizing can overcome money in politics. Integrity Alabama’s main initiative is a free September event, “Pints and Progress,” offering voter registration and connections to local groups, while encouraging donations, social sharing, and broader statewide collaboration.

00:00 Welcome Back Alex
01:05 Why Integrity Alabama
01:51 Meet the PAC Team
03:15 What Is a PAC
05:19 From Joke to Launch
06:34 Community Over Infighting
09:20 Pints and Progress Event
11:55 Building Young Candidate Networks
14:04 Turnout Numbers and Flip Potential
15:45 Voter Turnout Reality Check
16:20 PAC Money and Legislation
17:54 Why Showing Up Wins
19:21 Register Vote and Pints
20:04 Doug Jones vs Tuberville Talk
20:49 Building South Alabama Alliance
22:02 Competitive Primaries Momentum
23:02 Deep Red District Organizing
26:19 Beyond Elections and Protest
26:56 Where to Find Integrity
...more
29min
April 29, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Vance Bostic NY 8 Congressional District
Vance Bostic on Running in NY-08: Public Service, Housing, and Breaking Money’s Grip on Congress

Host Amy McDonald interviews Vance Bostic, a Brooklyn-born service-industry worker and artist running for U.S. House in New York’s 8th Congressional District in 2026, who says the establishment—especially Hakeem Jeffries—has failed and that the system is “rigged” by billionaire and corporate money. Bostic recounts launching his campaign in July 2025, filing with the FEC in August 2025, and making the ballot after completing petitions. He emphasizes relatability, authenticity, and educating voters about primaries, with plans for door-knocking, campaign and policy videos, and a proposal to poll constituents on how he should vote on bills. Key issues include affordability and fear of being priced out of Brooklyn, housing as a right (including making the COVID-era eviction moratorium permanent), expanding SNAP toward UBI, taxing billionaires, and redirecting funds from wars and policing toward community investments.

Follow along with his campaign at VANCEBforNY8.com

01:59 Why He’s Running
04:06 Campaign Launch Timeline
05:41 Service Industry Politics
09:25 Ground Game Strategy
11:35 Answering Cynicism
12:43 Vision and Platform Basics
13:34 Housing and Survival Needs
16:17 UBI and Paying for It
20:58 District Priorities on the Ground
22:31 Brooklyn Vibes and Voter Chats
23:49 Primary Access Gameplan
24:34 Campaign Video Plans
24:53 Door Knocking In Brooklyn
26:02 Let Voters Guide Votes
26:57 Fighting Apathy Together
29:22 Coalitions And Accountability
30:26 Fake News And Public Records
32:32 New Voices In Government
34:24 History Backlash And Racism
38:43 Where To Find Vance
39:36 Rapid Fire Favorites
43:35 Coney Island Love
44:34 Final Thanks And Wrap
...more
46min
April 22, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Heidi Schmidt for Maryland State Delegate 31
Heidi Schmidt on Running for Maryland Delegate District 31: Local Solutions, Transparency, and Defending Human Dignity

Follow along with Heidi's campaign at voteheidischmidt.com

On the Foolish Optimist Podcast, host Amy McDonald interviews Heidi Schmidt, a mom, small business owner, community advocate, and candidate for Maryland House of Delegates in District 31. Schmidt explains why she’s running now, arguing that electing the same officials yields the same results, and describes District 31’s makeup and needs, including roads, traffic, and community investment through legislative bond initiatives. The conversation covers state-level responsibilities such as balanced budgeting, education policy, labor rules (including strike penalties), and concerns about vouchers, “legislated bullying” of transgender students, and political decorum. Schmidt discusses AI’s uses and impacts, Maryland’s appointment process for legislative vacancies and calls for more transparency, and why state government will be central to protecting voting rights and democracy amid federal overreach.

00:26 Show Intro Heidi
01:39 Bios And ChatGPT
04:52 Why Run For Delegate
05:29 District 31 Priorities
09:20 Taxes And Accountability
11:40 Education Vouchers Fight
12:19 Culture Wars And Bullying
15:11 Appointed Delegates Explained
17:53 Legislator Pay And Access
21:34 What States Actually Do
24:43 Nothing Changes Message
26:42 Wave Year Politics
27:06 Young Challengers Rising
28:23 Building a Party Bench
29:56 Democratic Infighting
31:22 Core Values and Dignity
32:38 Party Realignment Ahead
33:56 States Defend Democracy
36:56 Early Political Career
39:57 Fear Based Fundraising
43:35 Local Fixes Mountain Road
47:15 Campaign Links and Donations
49:39 Rapid Fire Wrap Up
...more
53min
April 15, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Salaam Bhatti for Virginia's 1st District
Salaam Bhatti on Medicare for All, Uncapping the House, and Taxing Billionaires in Virginia’s 1st

On the Foolish Optimist Podcast, host Amy McDonald interviews Salaam Bhatti, a public interest lawyer running for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District in 2026 against Rep. Rob Wittman. Bhatti shares how growing up with immigrant parents and relying on WIC, free school meals, public libraries, and SNAP shaped his commitment to government programs now being cut, and highlights his work expanding SNAP, WIC screening tools, free school meals, and TANF in Virginia. He argues poverty is manmade and campaigns on Medicare for All, taxing billionaires, and campaign finance reform, including “uncapping the House” to dilute donor influence. They discuss the for-profit insurance model, workforce needs for universal healthcare, term limits, banning stock ownership for members of Congress, data centers in Virginia, Project 2025, and the need for grassroots involvement and small-dollar donations.

Follow Salaam's campaign at SalaamForVA.com
Find the Civic App in the App Store or Google Play Store

00:00 Welcome and guest intro
02:28 Why run in 2026
04:03 Programs under threat
05:31 Investments not handouts
07:56 Medicare for all path
12:06 Beyond the status quo
14:14 Primary and redistricting
17:45 Family sacrifice story
20:02 Term limits talk
21:03 Campaign finance fixes
22:21 Uncapping the House
24:00 Supreme Court reform
24:19 Expand The Supreme Court
25:25 Money And Stock Bans
26:36 Taxing Billionaires Now
29:23 Data Centers And AI
32:40 Awe And Existential Grief
35:54 Project 2025 And Democrats
38:00 How To Pressure Officials
41:05 Donate Volunteer Organize
46:12 Rapid Fire And Farewell
...more
49min
April 08, 2026 The Foolish Optimist: Mike DeCillis for New York's 11th Congressional District
NY-11 Candidate Mike DeCillis on Grassroots Organizing, Democracy, and a “Hard Reset” in Government

Find Mike and his campaign at Decillisforcongress.com

Find the Civic App in the google play store or apple app store.

Host Amy McDonald interviews Mike DeCillis, a Staten Island–Brooklyn candidate for Congress in New York’s 11th District, about why he’s running in 2026 and what he’s hearing from voters. DeCillis describes organizing Medicaid and immigration town halls and “No Kings” protests that grew from 120 attendees to NYPD-estimated 2,000, arguing the district has an appetite for grassroots engagement beyond the usual political echo chamber. He says voters care about the economy, affordability, immigration, and the collapse of democracy, and emphasizes NY-11’s diversity and immigrant communities. DeCillis calls for a “hard reset” in governance, including reversing Citizens United, raising corporate taxes, closing loopholes, and rebuilding public institutions with accountability, while also urging Democrats to show more moral courage. He highlights his public-service résumé and invites listeners to volunteer and donate at DeCillisForCongress.com.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:28 Why 2026
02:34 Grassroots Protests Surge
06:25 What Voters Care About
09:42 Campaigning and Accessibility
11:11 Beyond Trump The Broken System
14:18 Hard Reset Policy Agenda
20:05 Democrats Need Backbone
22:18 Two Americas No Accountability
23:45 Accountability and ICE
25:13 Coalitions and Candidates
25:52 Why I’m Qualified
27:58 From 9/11 to NYPD
29:23 Teaching and Policy Work
32:07 Structural Change Agenda
35:53 Billionaire Anger Rising
37:02 How to Support Campaign
39:55 Ground Game Beats Money
41:22 Representation in Staffing
42:16 Rapid Fire Round
44:30 Final Thanks and Voting Info
...more
44min

FAQs about The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald:

How many episodes does The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald have?

The podcast currently has 72 episodes available.