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Left Out Loud is a progressive political podcast breaking down the biggest stories shaping our democracy. From up-to-the-minute political news and midterm election coverage to in-depth interviews with grassroots Democratic candidates, the show spotlights the voices and movements fighting for real change. Smart, informed, and unapologetically loud, Left Out Loud pairs sharp analysis with humor and plain-spoken commentary, cutting through the noise to focus on what actually matters. If you care about elections, organizing, and the future of the Democratic Party—and you like your politics with a little personality—this is the podcast for you.
All right.
Hey, Seth.
Hey, Ali.
So we have another great
guest today, Joshua Bristol.
Um, he also goes by Josh.
He is running for Congress
in New York's 9th District.
He is on the ballot, which is a really
difficult thing to do in New York City.
Um- Indeed … and he just had
some good news right before we
came on to record this, so let's
bring in our guest, Josh Bristol.
Hey, Josh.
Hello.
So right before we sat down to
record, I was scrolling on Instagram
waiting for our, our meeting time,
and I saw that you were endorsed
by the Progressive Voters Network.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Thanks so much.
Um, yeah, it was a huge
shock to me as well.
Um, I've been going for a billion
different endorsements- Yes
um, trying to get the name out there.
Um-
Awesome
That's fabulous.
Yeah, I'm so
happy.
And you were a delegate for… Were
you a delegate for Bernie at one
point?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah.
I was.
Um, uh, in Colorado, um, they have a,
uh, caucus system there- Oh … and
I was an elected delegate, um,
for the regional, um, in, in the
regional race there in Colorado.
Um-
That's
amazing
…
yeah, so I spoke- How cool is that?
… and gave a speech and everything.
That's so cool, and
congratulations on the endorsement.
I hope that's one of
many, many more to come.
So I like to start at the beginning, Josh.
I like our audience and myself
and Seth to get a chance to get to
know everybody we sit down with.
Um, I think your website is amazing.
You are… share a, really openly
share about kind of growing
up in a single family home.
Um, you faced some pretty
significant medical issues
that have continued on, right?
They have affected your life to this day.
Yeah.
Um, and I think a lot of Americans
can relate to that, if not personally,
someone in their family, you know,
someone that they're close friends with.
We're all, we all go through medical
issues at some point in our lives
unless you're really, really lucky.
Some are more s- severe than others, but
if you are- Once you get into a situation
like that, if you're not in a privileged
position, it can be really catastrophic.
Um, you know, medical, medical
bankruptcy is like the number one
cause of bankruptcy in the country.
So can you talk about, and I know you
were very young when you started going
through some of these challenges, but
can you talk about how you and your
mom sort of navigated all of that, and
did it inform sort of your worldview
of the healthcare system in America?
Yeah, definitely.
Um, so, um, my mother, she, um, she,
she's been like, she's kind of like
very, um, like spiritually minded.
Mm-hmm.
Um, I'm not necessarily, but she, she is.
So, um, she didn't necessarily like take
the very first word that all the doctors
said, um, because the doctors, like they
found out that I had a brain tumor at a
very, uh, young age, and they wanted me
to go down… Like I, I lived in rural
New Mexico- Mm-hmm … and they wanted
us to go down to like the local hospital
and like have it removed immediately.
And, uh, she was like, "Well, let's,
you know, consult with…" Like she
wanted a second opinion and a third
opinion, and this was way back before
the internet or like AI or anything else.
So you, there was like, it was
really hard to get resources too-
Yeah
…
on all of this kind of stuff.
So, um, she took some time
to do a lot of research.
Um, she also, uh, um, tried a
whole bunch of like s- spiritual
and healing, um, med- medicines
on me or, um, spiritual therapies-
Mm-hmm
…
um, to see if there was any other
way that, um, s- stuff could
happen with, with, uh, with that.
But, um, I had already, um, gone
blind in one eye 'cause of the
brain tumor that was in there.
Mm-hmm.
Um, um, it's actually
like a pituitary tumor.
Um-
Okay.
I'm very familiar with
that in my own family, yes.
Oh, yeah.
Um, it's a very common, uh- Yep … I
mean, not very common, but it's
a common enough, um- It is … p-
pituitary tumor, um, that that can
occur in ch- in childhood, um, and
even adolescence it can happen.
Yep.
Um, but mine was congenital, um- So yeah,
um, we went through, um, many different,
uh, trials and tribulations relating to,
um… Like, she actually at one point
got sued by the State of New Mexico, um,
for not, um, getting me care immediately.
Wow.
And she won the suit.
Um, and then, um, she did a bunch
of research, um, of like who it was
that knew how to, um, knew how to,
like, operate on these kind of tumors-
Mm-hmm
um, because, uh, the spiritual
avenues weren't working.
And-
And can I ask a quick follow-up, Josh?
Yeah.
Because that, that's a,
that's an unusual story.
How… Has that had any impact on
your relationship with your mom?
Um-
Mm.
How did that play out with your
relationship with your mom?
Uh, yeah.
'Cause that's a big decision- Yeah
to make on your child's behalf that could
have potentially been harmful, right?
Yeah, for sure.
Um, I still, I have a very,
uh, long memory, um, so I still
remember a lot of this stuff.
Okay.
Um, so I, I don't have any, um, you know,
a- as much as I am on the side of Western
medicine 90% of the time because I am
very strongly in favor of science- Mm-hmm
and I'm like an atheist, um, I don't, um,
begrudge any of, any of those experiences
because, uh, they, they were helpful.
I mean- Yeah … uh, they, they
h- made me feel less an- anxiety.
Okay.
Um, and, you know, um- And it, it was
just like, you know, we're gonna throw
it, throw everything at this, you know?
I mean, that's a great
attitude to have, honestly.
Uh, it's a really, really generous,
gracious attitude to have.
Yeah, so, um, you know, and, and
when something didn't work, then
we moved on to the next thing.
Yeah.
Um, and then, uh, she found through
her research the best, um, as far as,
like, she can understand, like the, the
person with the highest success rate.
Um, and they were
actually in New York City.
Um, so we flew out to New York City when
I was four years old, um, to… I can't
remember the exact name of the hospital.
Mm-hmm.
It was a big hospital in Manhattan.
It's still there, although
the name has changed.
Um, but, um, that, the guy that was
there, um, operated on it and it was
a completely successful operation.
Wonderful.
So.
Man, like I just can't imagine how
scary that would be as a parent.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know?
Like, where, where like you,
you don't have the internet.
Mm-hmm.
You don't have something
to research really.
I mean, like, that mu- I mean, that's
an incredible thing for her to, to be
able to research and to find all these
things without the help of the internet.
And it- Right … and like, and
that's not a shock to like, I
guess, people 40, 50 years ago.
But people nowadays?
Yeah.
People wouldn't know what to do.
They wouldn't know where to start.
So, you know, I mean, just, uh,
I, I'm glad that you still have
that relationship with your mom,
because like- Yes … that's gotta
be, that's gotta be super tough.
Um, and, a- and I mean, I would be worried
that my, that my, that my child would not
be able to survive a surgery like that.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
And so I can, I can kinda sit there and
relate to like, okay, I, maybe I trust
Western medicine, but like, I don't
wanna, I don't wanna lose my child.
Yeah.
So that's- Yeah … that's,
that's really incredible.
It's terrifying as a parent.
Terrifying prospect.
Yeah.
You know, and as a result, obviously
you've, you've had to live with
your disabilities, but a lot of
people like to say that their
disabilities are their superpowers.
Uh, things that, you know,
uh, regular people don't have.
That, you know- Yeah … that,
that you get kind of a leg up on.
What do you feel like is your superpower
in how your disabilities have led
you to, to seek this leadership role?
Well, um, people often say that I
somehow found the fountain of youth.
'Cause, um, I look very young, right?
You do
look very young.
Yeah, how old are you?
I'm 42.
No way.
Gosh,
stop.
Yeah.
Yeah, 42.
Buddy.
Buddy- Um- … I wouldn't,
I wouldn't have guessed 24.
Yeah.
Let
alone 42.
That's unbelievable.
Wow.
Um, so that's like, um, that's something
that fuels, uh, my passion for politics
is like, um, from the very beginning, like
when I was very young, like I learned that
the age where you can become president.
Yes.
And like, then I was like, it's like 35.
I'm like, I could already
be president right now
.
Yeah.
You know, all of this stuff, you know,
that's happening, it's all preventable.
Yeah.
Um, but of course it's nothing,
um, is relying on only one
person, uh, uh, obviously.
But, um, still it's like just
something I've always had
in the back of my mind and-
Mm-hmm
with things just getting worse and
worse over time, um, you know, it's
like, you know, at s- at some point
you can't just play your, y- do
your hobbies, you know, forever.
You have to like just step out and, and be
like, "Well, enough is enough," you know?
Um- Mm-hmm … and I have that
energy and that vigor as somebody
who looks younger to come out and
like be a working class champion,
and that's what I'm trying to do, um-
Love that
you know.
So cool.
And you've done a lot of,
um, organizing, right?
You've… You're very deeply involved
in your community and do community
outreach with, um, immigrant
communities and socialist organizers,
Democratic socialist organizers.
So what… H- Is there, are there any
stories that have come out in that
activism that have stuck with you?
You know, like can you think of a
situation or a story that someone
told you that kind of really maybe
pushed you a little bit closer
to wanting to run for office?
Hmm.
Well, um, I, I mean, uh, one of my
favorite stories, I don't know if it
ties into wanting to run for office, but
one of my favorite stories, um, uh, was
when I was, um, working for a food bank,
uh, or like a mutual aid, um, group-
Mm-hmm
uh, here in Crown Heights.
Um, it's Crown Heights Mu-
Mutual Aid, um, Network.
And, um- uh, I, you know, I was just
going over there to volunteer to, um,
you know, they have food that they give.
Um, and they have, like,
clothing and stuff.
And I just went there for my very
first time only, um, pa- passing out
food to people, and there was, like,
a long line, so I was introducing- Hmm
myself to people in the line,
um, to let them know about all
the stuff that was on offer.
And, uh, one of the people that was
there, um, she, she could tell that I
was very cold because I was wearing,
like, a, only a very thin jacket and it
was- Mm-hmm … in the middle of winter.
And, um, and also, like, as part of
my disease, I have, like, a, like
a, um, hypersensitivity to cold.
Okay.
Um, which a lot of people don't know.
Hmm.
But, um, yeah, so I was out there in
the frigid winter talking to people
about, you know, mutual aid and-
Mm-hmm
…
and, uh, this, this lady, um, she was
like, "Well, let me give you a jacket
'cause I have this jacket that I ha-
I haven't, um, used for a long time."
And, uh, uh, you know, and, and, like,
and I was like, wow, like, I'm here
to give people food, not take stuff.
Yeah.
And it's like, wow, that's,
like, a powerful thing.
It's like mutual aid.
Yeah.
Um, it's
not- That's what it's all about, right?
Yeah,
yeah.
If somebody needs something
and you have it, you give it.
Right.
And vice versa.
And, you know, that's such a beautiful
story, and people don't- I think people
have this, I, I've said this before,
this misconception about New York City.
And hearing stories
about like that, right?
Where mutual aid is happening and
people are just looking out for
one another, I think that's part
of what makes New York so special.
Yeah.
And this jacket, it was the
most amazing thing ever.
Um- … s- super thick and puffy, and I,
at the end of the day- … I was wearing
two jackets, and I felt like I was in
just like a, a cloud of heavenly warmth.
That's amazing.
I
love
that.
That's so cool, man.
Um- Well, uh, I w- But yeah,
that is inspiring too, though.
Um- Yeah.
Very.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just like, I mean, somebody who
was coming for aid and was still
willing to give up what they had.
Yeah.
You know?
And like, I mean, that's just,
that, that's incredibly selfless.
So I can understand why that
would stick in your memory.
That's, that's, um, that's really cool.
Uh, one thing that's happening right
now, and arguably one of the, the biggest
stories in politics right now, is that,
uh, Thomas Massie, who is a big, uh,
probably the biggest proponent of exposing
the Epstein files among other things, uh,
was unseated, uh, in, uh, in his primary.
In his- Yeah … primary in Kentucky.
And so Thomas Massie was
unseated in his primary.
Um, you know, where the vote
doubled magically, and they spent
something like 20 to $25 million,
whether it was billionaires, MAGA
supporters, or around $9 million
from AIPAC- Yeah … to unseat him.
And, you know, and this is one of the
biggest things going on right now,
and so that's why I wanted to talk
to you about it, 'cause obviously
you're a proponent of not being, you
know, uh, you know, uh, supported by
PACs or AIPAC or any foreign entity.
So obviously this is like a glaring
problem right now in our country,
and I just want you to, to talk about
that as somebody who's very anti,
uh, corporation, a- anti super PAC,
kind of it putting this much, I mean,
so much influence in our elections.
Yeah.
Well, um, you know, Trump is…
I've, I always like to say Trump
is like a symptom of the, the last
gasp of the conservative white man.
Mm-hmm.
But it's become much more
powerful than we think.
Um, you know, they're still,
they're still gasping and it's
cause- causing a lot of harm.
Um, you know, Massie obviously, um-
You know, I, I… You could probably
say he's a patriot even though,
you know, I can't, uh, rubber stamp
everything that he's done as a
reporter.
Right.
He's a, he's a confusing guy.
Yeah.
He's very
confusing.
Um, but, um, no, uh, it, it's just
goes to show that, like, uh, we
really don't have control over our
politics and, um, they're, they're
just, they're, they're running away.
The billionaires are running away
with the system that we have.
Mm-hmm.
And, um, you know, that's why
it's gonna take people like
every one of us to, to get out.
Another thing, um, that's interesting
that's happened right now, um,
is, is the, um, Texas situation.
Yeah.
Uh, the Texas Senate race.
Um, you know, uh, there's, there
was a guy, um, over there that
was, like, not endorsed by Trump.
Um, and the, and then the
person that was endorsed by
Trump, um, Ken Paxton, uh, won.
Yes.
Um, so you know, all over the
place, um, we're seeing that Trump
still has this, uh, sense of clout.
Um, MAGA's not fully dead yet.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but that's why it's more
important than ever that, um, you
know, that we come out and challenge,
uh, ch- challenge these guys.
Yeah.
Um, because, um, they're really
turning the country, um, into a hell- a
hellscape - Yeah … for so many people.
That… I mean, I can't agree
more with that statement.
Um, so I wanna tie in and piggyback
on Seth's question because you are
fully grassroots candidate, and you
are on the ballot in New York, which
is a very difficult thing to achieve.
So tell me, how did you even make
that, how did you make that happen?
How long have you been
out there campaigning?
I know, you know, people think getting
on the ballot is a simple thing.
It's really not, especially
in a place like New York.
Yeah.
No, it was a huge challenge.
So, um, I began campaigning
in October of last year.
Um, and that was after Zoran,
um, had won, um, his primary.
Mm-hmm.
And I was just like, "Wow," like,
you know, we have Zoran, we have AOC.
Um, there's so many others, um, on
the left that are doing well too.
But, um, you know, these people
are showing that, like, a working
class person can get out there.
Mm-hmm.
And they can make a difference.
So, um, you know, that's like,
well, I gotta start doing something.
I saw that the DSA was around
and they were, um, they had a lot
of power and a lot of strength.
Um, and so there, like,
there was that backing.
Um, and so I was like, "Wow, I
gotta really start to get this
show on the road." Um, and, uh-
And I started looking around for,
like, who is in power right now.
You know?
Like, like even city council.
Like, who, who's your city council?
Yeah.
Who, who are the people that are
making decisions right now that
you have nothing, no idea about?
Um, and the very first person
that c- that came to mind, um, in
Congress, um, was, uh, was, was
Dan Goldman, uh, in New York 10.
And, uh, you know, he's
like a pretty bad guy.
He's heir to a fortune.
Um, and so I d- uh, decided to
launch a campaign in New York
10, which I did originally.
Mm-hmm.
Um, because I wanted to, like, be
running in a high-profile race.
Yeah.
I get that.
Um-
And that's a really good strategy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I, I thought so.
I mean, um, Dan- Dan Goldman, uh, you
know, he, he's… he has a ton of money.
He's, uh, backed by some of
the worst, um, people in power.
Um-
And even if you don't win in
a district like that, you have
an opportunity to bring so much
attention and awareness to it, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And, and I love when I see people running
against incumbents like that, that are…
have a lot of money being thrown their
way, um, very deep, deep-pocketed donors.
And they're… You know, it's an
opportunity at the very least-
Yeah
…
to say, "Well, what is this guy
really doing for the district?
And also, he's so compromised.
He's not here for you."
Right.
And I work in New York 10, so, um,
you know, that's a big part of my
life is work, and you can see, uh, how
the regulations are not helping us.
Right.
Um, my, my workplace is not unionized,
and, uh, you know, there's just, uh, a lot
of, uh, misery over there in , in, in 10.
Mm-hmm.
There's a lot of rich people, and there's,
uh, you know, there's a lot of inequality.
So, um, you know, but then, like, you
know, I, I received a lot of, uh, feedback
on this and, um, there were DSA candidates
that were hopeful to run as well.
It was becoming a very crowded race, so
I decided to, um, switch over to where I
live- Okay … um, which is New York 9.
Um, so I switched over to New York 9, and
I found out that, um, Yvette Clarke, even
though she's on the progressive caucus
and she's chair of the, um, Black caucus,
she's taken money from AIPAC as well.
And so it's like that- It's like the…
That's so heartbreaking, isn't it?
Yeah.
Or it's so disappointing.
And it should be disqualifying It
really should.
How are you in the progressive
caucus- Yeah … taking AIPAC money?
Like, I, it just doesn't make sense to me.
Yeah.
Insanity.
Insanity.
Um, but, um, so yeah, so I, I
started, um, the peti- learning
about the petition process, um,
around the turn of the, the year.
And, um, I just, uh, I looked in,
like, the, the sig- the signatures that
you had to get, and I started trying
to get endorsements, and I couldn't
really, uh, pin down any endorsements.
Um, but what I did was, um, I had a
wonderful, uh, campaign manager, um,
who has now left the campaign, but,
um, she was really great and she, um,
made my, um, petition sheets for me.
Oh.
And we had a whole bunch of tricks.
Like these, uh, petition sheets only
had five, uh, on them- Uh-huh … so
that, like, um, any lawyer that was
gonna go through and do a challenge
would have to, like, read through
double the, um, signature pages
because most people put- Oh … put 10.
Okay.
Um, and like just- Clever.
Love
it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Love
it.
So, um-
Smart
…
just, like, little things like that, um,
and that, that set me up for success.
And then, um, basically my strategy
was to go out to the subway stations.
I first started knocking on
doors and it, it didn't work.
It was way too slow.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and I started going to the subway
stations every day, and I, I even
have an Instagram, um, uh, of that
which, um, went semi-viral, um, that,
uh, showed me, like, asking people
in real time if they're a Democrat,
like, just asking every single person.
Oh, I
saw that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I saw that.
That was great.
Yeah.
So, like, that, that kind of was done
in, like, a sing-songy, like, fakey way.
Mm-hmm.
But there, you, you, you saw there were
people walking around in the background,
and that was, like, just how it was.
Yeah.
Um, the weather was so cold- I was wearing
my double jackets that I had gotten
from that story I just told you guys.
Um, and I was… There were
also, uh, random 70 degree
days when it was extremely hot.
Right.
Yeah,
yeah.
Um, and so, like, I would just go
out there and it was very, very hard.
But I, I would just say, "Can I get one?"
And then I would say, "Do I wanna be warm
or do I wanna fight for working class
people?" 'Cause this is what it takes.
Mm-hmm.
Um- It
is the sacrifice, you know?
I say that all the time, Josh.
I don't think people realize, um,
when you're truly uncompromised, when
you're running as a progressive or
a Democratic socialist and you don't
have big money funding, um, your
body and your time is your currency.
Yeah.
And it just requires so much sacrifice.
I'm always so inspired and in awe
of candidates out there pounding
the pavement, trying to get those
signatures to get on the ballot.
It's, it's a lot of work.
Yeah.
So hats off to you-
Thank you … for that.
Yeah.
So I, I used, um, AI tools actually
because, um, they had… I mean,
I'm, I'm not really anti-AI.
Um, but of course there's issues.
We can talk about the issues.
Yeah.
And we have to make sure that
they're heavily regulated.
There's uses.
There's good uses, bro.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, um, I had the AI, um, keeping a tally
of the signatures that I was getting.
Okay.
And then they would tell me
my daily totals of how much
I had to get, um, in order…
You know, I would say,
"Okay, I got 50 today.
It wasn't that good of a day.
I had, I was too cold.
I had to come home." Um, and I knew
I was supposed to get 70, but I got
50, and then they're like, "Okay.
Well, to make it to 1,250 by the end of
the thing, now your, your total has jumped
up, so now you have to get 71 every day."
And then- Brilliant … you,
you would just get buried.
Yeah.
And they're like, "Uh, now it's
80 every day," so oh, oh God.
But then, like, by the end of
it I was getting 100 a day.
Um, and I- That's
fantastic
…
yeah, and I had volunteers too, um- Three
or four volunteers, um, towards the end,
uh, jumped on and were aiding me, and
I met a lot of people during this time.
Yeah.
Um- That's
probably the best part, honestly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
From getting into touch
with your community-
Mm-hmm … that's second to none.
And I was like, wow, so this is
like… I mean, I should be doing
this any, every day anyways, you know?
Right.
Right.
It's amazing.
Okay.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
That's a really cool way to look at it.
Yeah.
Um, so I like checks and balances.
Trump, not so much.
Progressives, very much so.
Um, you know, and we've kind of lost our
checks and balances dur- in this moment
with Trump, because he's just like force
it through, Congress doesn't matter.
Republicans are like in Co- Republicans in
Congress are like, "Yeah, we don't matter.
Just roll over us." Yeah.
Um, but, uh, in, on, in your website,
you actually have a, a subject line
that says, "Putting the checks and
balances back in checks and balances."
So I was like, okay, I like that.
I like that.
And it… But it said policy coming soon.
So I, I don't wanna, I, you know, if
you have a big surprise, if you're…
I don't, I don't wanna make you reveal it,
but I wonder if you would give us a little
preview of, of just what you mean by that.
Well, yeah.
Um, I mean, the checks and balances,
the whole thing needs to be redone.
I mean, I, I don't know if it's like
a constitutional crisis or what, but,
um, uh, Trump has like actually in some
ways done us a favor by revealing the
weaknesses of the system, and we have to
like patch every single one of those up.
So, um, I mean, the biggest elephant in
the room for me is the Supreme Court.
Um- Yeah … we had Louisiana versus Kale.
Uh, I mean, that, just like that
alone, you know, the, the Voting
Rights Act, um, you know- Embarrassing
… there's, uh, there, there's,
um- The, the, uh, women's, um issues
Reproductive rights?
Reproductive health Yeah, I
mean, they're so stacked up.
I mean, they are so backed up in those
courts because of all of the, what
I would call rescission of rights
that has been happening since this
guy got into office the second time
Yeah.
So, um, I mean, that goes, that goes
back to, um, the Obama administration.
Um, we lost, uh, a justice there who, uh-
Yeah … that wasn't even a very liberal
justice that was being, uh, propositioned.
Um, you know, uh, he, he went on
to become the prosecutor of the
Department of Justice, and he
didn't really do any prosecuting.
Um, so- Yeah.
Mer- Merrick Garland was one of
the most- Ugh … ineffective-
What
a disappointment … AGs of all time.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
All time.
Yeah.
And you thought, and you thought
maybe he would have a little, you
know, motivation since, you know, he
the Republicans, you know,
effectively took away the,
the, uh, Supreme Court spot.
Yeah.
I mean, that's your, that's your dream
if you're somebody like Merrick Garland.
But yet he was a paper
tiger while in office.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, so we, we, we lost that seat.
And then, like, RGB, uh,
retired, and we l- we lost,
like, a whole bunch more seats.
So, um, you know, we, we
need to add more justices.
We need to, um- I mean, there's, the,
whatever it is that we do, we have to,
like, do a complete change with how
the Supreme Court works, and I think
that the Supreme Court should probably
have more power to, um, like, you
know, uh, some way to enforce their
rulings would be good because- That
would be good.
Right now they, they can pronounce
whatever pronouncements they
want, but the Trump administration
just, just doesn't listen.
Yeah.
Um-
Yeah, it's the accountability
that's, that's missing, right?
Yeah.
Um, so many times I've been like, "Well,
why haven't they come and put this person
in the clink for…" You know what I mean?
Like ignoring a subpoena or blatantly
plagiar- you know, perjuring yourself
under oath, and there's just, these
days, no accountability whatsoever.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, um, you know, we need to,
uh, we need to deal with that.
And, um, as far as, like the
executive needs to be weakened.
Um- Yeah … the legislative, uh,
I mean, we, we need to, like…
I mean, this goes beyond probably
what, like one, uh, you know, lower
house member can do, but um, you
know, we need to adjust the balance
of the power with the Senate.
Right now in the Senate, um, there's
way too much power going to empty land.
Mm-hmm.
You know?
Um- Facts.
Yeah.
Oh, I love this.
I love this.
Yeah.
Right?
Like-
'
Cause it's like Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Idaho, it's just empty land.
No one lives there.
Yeah.
Alaska, nobody lives there.
He-
hey,
did you hear- But they, but they get
two senator seats like everybody else.
Yeah.
And there was a ruling today,
I mean, kind of related but not
really, in Delaware, um, they
ruled that a corporation can vote.
literally vote.
So in Fenwick Beach in Delaware, teeny
tiny little community, um, this suit has
been, I think, going on for a while and
they finally ruled that while there's
nothing in the Delaware Constitution
that says a corporation can't vote.
Yeah.
So if you have an LLC and you have
property connected to that business
in that particular area, that
corporation now gets to vote, which is-
That,
that's insanity
that can open up a whole… We ha-
I mean, uh, it's Delaware, it's a
teeny tiny thing, but let me tell you
something, wait till other people hear
about this and- Yeah … we're gonna
be seeing this spread like wildfire.
Oh my
God.
Yeah, I mean, that speaks
to Citizens United.
Um- Yep … you know, i- if, uh, if speech
is permissible, then you could argue that
voting is a type of speech or something.
Mm-hmm.
Um, we have to ta- tackle
that as well, um, that ruling.
But it's not as easy as just, like,
you know, what… Uh, you can't do it
just in the Lower House, it has to be-
Yeah
…
like, a, a big thing, um,
to, to, to get that through.
Absolutely.
And in the meantime we can continue
to do it state by state, like
Hawaii's just done with banning
Citizens United at the state level.
Mm-hmm.
Um, this is an America problem,
uniquely- Yeah … American.
No other countries- Yeah … let
money into their politics like this.
We've gotta get it out.
Um, so Josh, before we… I'm gonna
let Seth have the final word today,
but before we get to that, um, talk
to me about what you need right now.
So you're on the ballot.
When is your primary?
The primary is June 23rd.
June… Oh, that's coming up.
Okay.
Yeah.
Sure.
How many Democrats are on
the ballot in your district?
It's… There's only
three people in the race.
Okay.
It's a three-person race.
Okay.
It… This is such a winnable race.
Wow, three people total.
Okay.
Okay.
Um, so what are you looking for?
Volunteers, obviously small dollar
donations is helpful for every campaign,
but if we could give you a call to
action right now, what do you need to
get you, um, to win that primary in June?
Yeah.
In June.
My, my goal is to, like,
knock on these doors.
Um- Yeah … because even though Yvette
Clarke has been in power for 18 years
she is still strong and, um, there is
a lot of, uh, there are lo- there's a
large Caribbean American community here.
We need to knock on all of their
doors- Mm-hmm … and let them know
that I'm also Caribbean American.
Yeah.
Um-
Right
…
so there is another option,
there is another way.
Um, and, uh, yeah, we just need
to get that message out because
the, the, this, this election
should not be a difficult- choice.
Mm-hmm.
There's really only one left-wing
option on the ballot, and it's me.
So we just need to, you know, if you're
left-leaning, uh, if you're, I mean, uh,
even if you're a centrist, come on over.
Yeah.
Um, we need everyone.
Um, uh, sign up on my website,
joshuabristol.com, um, as a volunteer
and put your phone number in there,
and then you will get a call from me.
I love that.
And, uh- Oh, you're calling
everyone personally?
That's, that's so awesome, Josh.
It's cool.
That goes a long way.
Yeah.
So, um, you know, we just need
people to knock on these doors.
Um, I have, um, I'm doing everything,
um, it, like a cheap or free options.
Mm-hmm.
So I have like a Google My Maps set up
of all the turf that I've, um, knocked
on personally, um, which grows day by
day 'cause I'm canvassing every day.
Okay.
And, um, I have like a strong base
of support, I think, in like Crown
Heights 'cause it's where I live and
it's where I've spent the most time.
Mm-hmm.
And also where I got
all my, um, signatures.
Okay
And, um, so like, but like Flatbush, um,
you know, there's like a… There's even
large Jewish neighborhoods, uh, close by.
Mm-hmm.
I think that I could get
some support there too.
Um, and you know, uh, if we just tackle,
um, the people that, uh, these doors that
are around us here, we have a real chance.
Yeah.
Um, and like money is great, and
if you can donate, please do.
But, um, one of the great things
about my candidacy is that it's a
low dollar, um, low dollar campaign.
So, um, you know, I want… I
understand that the economy is toast
right now, and- Mm. … if you have
money for your family, please keep it.
But, um, if you have any capacity
whatsoever to like knock on a few doors,
uh, New York 9 is far away from a lot
of the big races that are happening,
like New York 7, um, or the other,
uh, DSA-backed candidates- Mm-hmm
um, where, where they're,
where they're at.
So like the, this, um, this
neighborhood is ripe for energy.
Love it.
Yeah.
And let's not forget, Zohran, you know,
his… The way that he campaigned was
so, was so grassroots, so unusual.
Um, I think there's a lot of, uh,
a lot of lessons to be learned and,
and duplicated or expanded upon.
And, um, there was just so much
energy, and I wanna see that energy
pouring into your campaign, Josh, too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we'll, we'll put that
call to action out there.
All-
all the energy will come-
Yeah, I think Zohran has showed
everybody they can be different.
Yeah.
For
sure.
Yeah, I th- I think Zohran has shown
everybody like, "Look, we don't
have to do this the regular way."
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
We… Like, we… I, I…
Like, he is getting results-
Yes
…
and he is not making it harder
on any working class people,
any lower income people.
He's getting it done.
And I think as he's exposing this
whole system that we've been in
where we've been taught to accept-
these people who are on the take.
Like-
He's the real doge,
Seth
oh, like the, this is like, like
this is all this- He's, he's
the legit doge.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Like he's the real check.
Like- Yeah … he's the guy that's
gonna come through, and I think,
you know, th- this is, this is
time for, for progressives like
us, for candidates like you.
Um, and so what, what we like to do here
on the show is we have a little scale,
and we have, uh, Chuck Schumer on one end,
and we have Bernie Sanders on the other.
Um, and you being a, a delegate of
Bernie's, you know, that's kind of, uh,
where a lot of your inspiration came from.
So, um, what we like to ask
everybody who comes on the show is,
uh, obviously you're a candidate
that is a grassroots candidate.
Uh, you're not taking any money from
corporations, from super PACs, from any
foreign entities and stuff like that.
And so we just wanna, uh,
confirm that with you, right?
Uh-huh.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Exactly.
So we're gonna slide you- Next … all
the way to the Bernie side,
which is the side that we love.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and I just wanna, I, I just wanna,
you know, with the, with all the
momentum behind Zoran and the, and more
importantly the results that he's getting.
There's a lot of talk.
A lot of people like to talk, talk,
talkity talk, but he's getting it done.
And the Knicks are in the finals.
I mean, if that's not
something- That's, it,
it is, it's kismet
…
if that's not some crazy
weird karma, then nothing is.
So I, I, I guess like
the last word is yours.
Like talk to the people and just let them
know like this new kind of leadership,
this new era of leadership can take us
into some, into a future that we couldn't
even possibly imagine 10, 20 years ago.
Yeah.
The, uh, we are the people, ours
is the power, now is the time.
That's my, uh, look, my slogan.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and, uh, you know, this,
we are entering a new era
for America, so a new dawn.
A new, uh, a, an, a new horizon
is blooming, and it's ours.
So, um- Mm-hmm … you know, uh,
if you want four-day work week,
uh, you know, that's, that's my
biggest thing that I'm fighting for.
Um, you know, the, um, we're,
we're gonna tax the rich.
Uh, we're gonna get Medicare for all.
We're gonna get the Green New Deal.
Um, you know, there's so much.
Uh, we're, we're gonna pass the
PRO Act, uh, for your unions.
Mm-hmm.
Um, you know, we're gonna
unionize everything.
Yeah.
And, uh, we're, we're gonna make it so
that, um, these corporations, they'll be
begging to unionize because it's gonna be
so costly for them to not be unionized.
And, uh- Oh, yeah … you know,
we're, we're, we… All the policies.
Whatever… If you have a pet policy,
uh, s- sign up to volunteer at my
website and tell me all about it.
Um, and we'll- Let's go … talk.
Um, so I'm here, um, to be an
agent of change, um, and to
bring, uh, power to the workers.
And who could ask for more than that?
Honestly- You will … if you're not,
if you're not- That's it … supporting
Josh, if you're not… If you're in
New York 9 and you're not voting for
Josh, boo, I guess you don't really
care about, uh, your future- … because
these are all the policies we need.
Yeah.
These are the policies
Americans really want.
Um, e- even if they say they're
against social programs, they just…
They're saying that from a position
of privilege, and they are one
catastrophe away from changing
their mind on that forever.
So these are real policies for
real everyday working Americans.
And Josh Bristol, this has been an
absolute pleasure talking to you.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thanks so much for having me on, you guys.
Absolutely.
We wish you all the luck.
You're a friend of the show now.
If you need anything as we get
closer to your primary, come back on.
Mm-hmm.
Let us know what you need.
We'll put a call to action out.
And, um, yeah, we just wanna
see you win this district.
Thanks so much.
I f- I feel so good about, uh, the
future of this country, um, and I can't
wait to, uh, uh, serve the country
in the House of Representatives.
Love it.
Awesome.
Love the optimism.
Thank you, Josh.
Thank you, man.
Thank you.
Bye, you guys.
Bye.
Bye.
Well, Ali, uh, talking with Josh
Bristol from New York, uh, you know,
running for the 9th District there
in the state, and boy, I'm just so
encouraged by the, the enthusiasm he
has- Yeah … that boyish optimism.
Mm-hmm.
The kid's aging in reverse basically.
I mean- So- What did I just say?
He hit the face lottery.
I cannot believe he's in his 40s.
He looks amazing.
Um- I, I, I mean, I think he has to,
like, maybe identify that I am actually…
I think that's a, he's a millennial.
Yeah.
And most people are gonna look
at him and think he's a Gen Z.
Yeah.
Honestly, like, I mean, people are
gonna be clamoring for his moisturizer.
Anyway, uh, but it was, it was
so much fun to talk with him, you
know, from his background coming
up, uh, raised by a single mom.
So he had tons of challenges growing up
but, you know, he continued to work hard.
He got out there and c- and helped
people even though he was somebody
who needed help himself, kind
of grew up in that kind of era.
And- Yeah … you know what I mean?
Look at what it's done for him.
I mean, he's such a great guy.
He's outgoing.
He's charming.
I mean, he's really getting out
there and hitting the pavement.
You know, I love that little story that
he had about the, about h- his AI chatbot
letting him know- Yes … how many
more people he needed to go out there.
And I mean, he's d- I mean, you
know, uh, really sensitive to
the cold, living in New York.
You're out there getting, uh, names and
putting, uh, uh, names on petitions and
stuff like that, and having to come in
'cause you're, 'cause you're too cold, and
then going back- New York cold is cold,
y'all … out
there and doubling it up.
I mean- New
York cold is cold.
It's not quite-
Yeah
…
Chicago cold.
Yeah.
But let me tell you, walking
through the city in the wintertime
in New York City is no joke.
It is- Yeah … no joke.
And so New York, if that's the kind
of effort he's gonna put towards
getting names on a list, think
about what he's gonna do for you.
I mean, th- this is a guy just r-
in the same vein as Zohran Mamdani.
He's gonna go to work for you.
And I mean, i- if you've watched our
interview, I mean, you gotta be a fan.
Even, even if you're an ice cold
Republican, you gotta be- … a
fan of a guy like that, or
else you, you, you got no soul.
So-
You really don't
I really enjoyed it.
I mean, I loved his story about,
the mutual aid story where he went
to help people in his community,
and they ended up helping him.
And I mean, that's what prog- that's what
progressivism or Democratic socialism,
whatever label you wanna throw at it, and
I tho- I know they like to attack these
labels and make them into something scary,
but at the core of it, that's what it is.
Yeah.
It's really looking out for your fellow
Americans in real ways that make real
impact, except through policy when you
get to actually be in the government.
So take that story and think about the
possibility, if we lived in a country
where we had policies that truly genuinely
looked out for working class Americans,
people that are paying their taxes, and
we don't know where they're going except
to slush funds and, and- I, I don't
know, everywhere but us at this point.
Yeah.
And I just… That story's
gonna stick with me.
He is resourceful and passionate.
Um, you know, he studied philosophy.
We didn't even get to get into… There's
so much we didn't get into just for time.
Mm-hmm.
He'll definitely have to come back because
he's just got a big, beautiful story,
and I'd love to hear more about it.
Yeah.
He's an inspiring kid.
And I, and I- Yeah … say kid, he's
a little bit older than me, but-
Exactly.
I mean,
I can't tell.
I can't tell.
I
know.
So- It's crazy.
Yeah, yeah.
And so
real pleasure to talk to him.
So if you're anywhere around
the 9th district, vote for Josh.
Yeah.
Um, join his campaign.
Vol- volunteer.
Volunteer.
He needs people to-
Yeah.
Yeah, knock
on doors.
Donate $5, a dollar, and you
don't have to live in New York
to support people like Josh.
So call to action.
You know, you could phone bank, you
could donate a couple of dollars.
Um, go to his social media page,
share his videos- Yeah … with the
people that you're connected with.
That's how grassroots, uh,
campaigns work effectively.
So go
Josh
Bristol.
He's
only running against two people.
It's a very winnable race.
Yeah.
Y'all.
It really
is.
Couple- It really is
…
couple hundred votes could win,
could win the race, literally.
Yep.
Yep.
So, okay.
Fantastic, fantastic
interview, Josh Bristol.
Um, we have more interviews
lined up this week.
Busy, busy.
That's
right.
And, uh, we're gonna sign off for now.
Get some rest and be back at it tomorrow.
Right.
See you.
All right, Seth.
Bye.