When Senator Joni Ernst told an Iowa town hall “we’re all going to die” in response to concerns about cutting Medicaid, something strange happened.Empathy left the building.And we found her.

In this special podcast episode, we sit down with the abandoned emotional conscience of the senator, now hiding out in a trench coat, listening to old CSPAN clips and muttering about dental care and divinity.

She talks about:

* what it felt like inside Ernst during the town hall

* how the Tooth Fairy became a policy metaphor

* the loneliness of being the last feeling left in a cost-cutting administration

* and why even Jesus probably would’ve needed prior authorization

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to empathy in American politics, this is your episode.

Amen. And logout.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit filtheenews.substack.com/subscribe