The Middle American

The Democrats enjoyed a historical change election last night that exceeded even the most ardent supporters' expectations.  The American public sent a message.  However, this was not a message for our politics to move to the Progessive Left.  Independents and moderates showed up in unprecedented numbers for a midterm election.  They had seen enough - as had Democrats.  However, the mandate to those Democrats is to moderate.  Centrists won competitve races.  But those centrists are party members - and the parties are largely made up of elected officials who are anything but moderate.  Will the Democrats listen to the people or the party?  They hold the keys.  The people have chosen the direction.  Recent history suggests the Party will drive the other way.  

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Election Day is here.  I give my thoughts on how the contested races for Senate will play out and my overall thoughts on the election cycle.  

Will a Blue Wave take place?  Yes, it just depends on what you define as a wave - but Democrats will take over the House.  If you are feeling politically homeless or are a member of the Middle Class and find yourself unable to afford what has defined your class status for generations - will you situation change with the results tomorrow night?  No.  In fact, your situation will only get worse regardless of what happens tomorrow night.  

Chapters 1-8 of my book, Our Middle American Life, explain why.  Chapters 9 and 10 are what you can do about it - starting November 4th. Buy the book here: https://a.co/d/04yFuG9g

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Robbie joins the pod to discuss his campaign for Congress as an independent candidate in New Hampshire District 2.  Robbie talks about what motivated him to run, and why he chose to do so as an independent.  From needing to secure 1,500 verified registered voter signatures to being precluded from the debate stage,  Robbie shares his efforts to overcome the partisan wall he has faced and why he has hope - not just about his campaign but for independent candidates and voters going forward beyond 2026.  

Find out more about the pod and book here: https://briangroesser.com/

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My book, Our Middle American Life: The Middle Class, Political Middle and Fight for the American Dream is finally here.  Ebooks and paperbacks are available on October 20th.  I discuss the book, what brought it about, and my vision for what I hope it accomplishes. The book diagnoses these two issues: (1) Why does the largest electoral group (independents) have basically no representation in government? and (2) Why is the Middle Class increasingly unable to affford the very things that have generationally defined it?  More importantly, the final two chapter are a call to action as to how we, not the parties or politicians, can fix it.  

Read it. Share it. Live it.  

Purchase here: https://a.co/d/00eqUbU6 

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Trump is the most resiliant politician in American history. He has survived scandals, two impeachments, criminal indictments, and an election loss. 

This is different. The unraveling of his influence has begun. Democrats will take over the House in November - and possibly the Senate. Equally important, after Election Day he becomes a lame duck president. 

Broken promises. Low approval ratings. Families struggling economically to afford groceries, utilities, gas, and rent/mortgages.  It is all coming to a head.  The script has not changed - just the audience's reception of it.  

There will be an opening for moderates and independents like never seen before in 2028.  Will they take advantage of it?

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Shelly Headen is a Democrat running in a competitive State House district in North Carolina trying to unseat a long-serving Republican.  She is a vital component of the North Carolina Democratic Party's efforts to flip the state legislature for the first time in over a decade.  Over the weekend, the Party abandoned her.  Why?  A history of vile social media posts that are not only disqualifying but disconcerting.  The continued rise of rhetoric from candidates of both parties must be addressed.  Unfortunately, the trend only truly gets checked in competitive races - something that is rare in politics.  The Party did the right thing by condeming and abandoning her - but should they have done so prior to the public outrage?  

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25 years ago we lost our innoncence.  A generation removed from that tragic day requires us to take a look back.  We have a duty to remember.  We also have a duty to teach and learn.  

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Few people understand North Carolina politics better than Charlotte Observer columnist and Carolina Journal reporter Andrew Dunn.  His new book covers the career of former Charlotte Mayor and North Carolina Governor Pay McCrory that challenges the politician's public perception.  Andrew and I discuss:

1. How McCrory transformed Charlotte over 14 years in office as a Republican mayor.

2. What led to him winning the highest elected seat in NC while carrying two major, traditionally blue counties - Mecklenburg and Wake.  

3. The HB2 bathroom bill crisis and fallout.

4. Where McCrory fits in today's politics.  

The conversation addresses broader ideas like whether the electorate awards those who govern versus those who fight; if the McCrory of 2012 could even win a Republican primary in 2026; and what motivated him to step beyond being a citizen and become a candidate to better his community and state.  

Finally, we discuss an emerging new change agent: the rise of the democratic socialist.  Tune in for an engaging discussion about the book and beyond.  

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Nick moved to North Carolina and found himself immediately involved in a development dispute within his new neighborhood. His pragmatic approach to helping neighbors led them to encourage him to do more within the community.  With no prior political experience, he decided to run for the town's non-partisan Board of Commissioners.  He won.  After four years of service, he felt he had more to give.  He ran again.  He lost.  But his service did not go unnoticed by his colleagues, who brought him back when a vacancy on the Board came up.  

Hear Nick discuss:

1. What led him to initially engage with his new community.

2. The difficulty of taking that first step in practicing citizenship, along with the reward in doing so. 

3. How partisanship impacted both of his campaigns in a non-partisan race. 

4. What he has learned about himself and politics by serving his community. 

5. What advice he would give to those who are looking to take their own first steps in practicing citizenship.  

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Jacob, a fellow attorney and father of four, decided in the midst of COVID that he should do something more upon seeing his children struggle with remote learning.  He had been involved in state government, but not as an elected official.  He was practicing citizenship.  In 2021, he decided to run for WCPSS School Board.  He lost.  But rather than treat the loss as a verdict, he used it as a lesson to learn from.  Now he is running again.  Tune in for our conversation about:

1.  Why he decided to step beyond his comfort zone and get involved in state government. 

2.  What he learned from his time at the state legislature that gave him confidence to run on his own.

3.  What he learned from his first campaign, including how partisan non-partisan races are in reality.  

4.  Why he decided to keep running, after losing two straight campaigns, and how he is a better candidate now than when he started.  

5.  How is vision for The Wake Framework can be applied at WCPSS.  

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