In this bonus rant, Jesse breaks down the shock announcement that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will resign her seat in January. While Greene is one of the most polarizing figures in American politics, Jesse takes a different angle: examining why, despite her many faults, she was one of the few members of Congress who actually represented her district exactly as her voters intended.

Jesse explores the uncommon parts of Greene’s political profile—her lack of corporate donors, her willingness to confront foreign lobbying groups, her advocacy for releasing the Epstein files alongside survivors, and her surprisingly defiant positions on healthcare costs, foreign military funding, and the war in Gaza. He argues that, unlike most establishment politicians, Greene wasn’t controlled by big donors, corporate money, or party machines—she simply reflected the values (however controversial) of the people who elected her.

The rant closes with a reflection on what genuine political representation should be, why “bought” politicians fail their voters, and the disappointing reality that Greene—someone who was at least authentic in her convictions—chose to resign rather than finish her term. Whether you loved her, hated her, or both, Jesse lays out why her departure says more about Congress than it does about Greene herself.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jesse and Chris kick off with the surprising election wins across the country—most notably Zoran Mamdani in New York and Katie Wilson in Seattle. Chris explains what made Mamdani’s grassroots, Bernie-inspired campaign unique: relentless street outreach, a crystal-clear economic agenda, and an authenticity that brought him from 1% name recognition to a decisive mayoral victory. Jesse adds nuance by breaking down campaign financing, the aggressive smear campaigns Mamdani faced, and how deeply flawed opponents like Cuomo and Adams made his win both expected and remarkable.

From there, the conversation shifts into a deep critique of the Democratic Party establishment and the failures of “moderate” governance. The two explore Obama’s legacy—particularly Obamacare—as an example of well-packaged policy that ultimately enriched insurance companies without fixing structural healthcare problems. They broaden the discussion to capitalism itself, debating whether essential needs like healthcare, housing, water, and groceries can function in a profit-driven market. The pair examine Mamdani and Wilson’s proposals on rent freezes, public grocery options, and anti-monopoly policy, weighing how each might help or unintentionally harm small businesses and low-income communities.

Finally, Jesse and Chris turn toward Seattle’s mayoral shift, analyzing why Katie Wilson’s win may be even more politically meaningful than Mamdani’s. They contrast Wilson’s affordability-focused agenda with former mayor Bruce Harrell’s wealthy-donor-friendly priorities, reflecting on how elite Seattleites often signal progressive values while voting to protect their own interests. The episode closes with a broader discussion of where progressive politics should go next—building local power, expanding progressive representation in Congress, and avoiding the trap of putting all hopes into presidential primaries.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.