In this solo episode of You Don’t Have to Listen to Me, Jesse James delivers a passionate political rant sparked by the recent elections in Seattle and New York City. He opens with optimism over the victories of Democratic socialists Katie Wilson in Seattle and Zoran Mamdani in New York, both of whom ran on platforms focused on affordability and housing reform. Jesse contrasts these wins with the failures of incumbent leaders like Bruce Harrell and Andrew Cuomo, criticizing their establishment ties, corporate donors, and hollow rhetoric about “experience.” For Jesse, their losses represent a shift away from complacent politics and a small victory for progressive change.

Moving from celebration to scathing critique, Jesse dives into what he sees as Seattle’s systemic rot under Bruce Harrell. He calls out the former mayor for prioritizing wealthy neighborhoods in infrastructure projects, undermining pedestrian safety, and catering to developers and donors. His frustration culminates in mocking a social media post by a self-described “white male homeowner tech worker” lamenting Wilson’s rise—an example, Jesse argues, of the entitled mindset driving inequality and hostility toward affordability efforts. His message is blunt: if you see yourself as a victim because the city focuses on helping the poor, maybe Seattle isn’t for you.

Finally, Jesse turns national, skewering the Democratic Party for folding during a prolonged government shutdown without winning healthcare concessions. He questions the logic of subsidizing massive private insurance premiums instead of adopting public healthcare, pointing to the absurdity of both parties’ inertia. His closing argument ties the local and national together: voters must stop re-electing leaders who “suck” and start demanding competence and courage. Jesse’s hope for newcomers like Wilson and Mamdani is cautious but clear—democracy only works if we replace those who fail us.

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