1 00:00:10,935 --> 00:00:11,355 Ally: All right. 2 00:00:11,355 --> 00:00:15,415 We have another great congressional candidate today, John Z. You will 3 00:00:15,415 --> 00:00:19,735 see I am solo, sadly so alone today. 4 00:00:20,245 --> 00:00:25,624 Um, my partner in crime, my co-host Seth, is he had a work a work conflict. 5 00:00:25,955 --> 00:00:29,060 In earlier episodes, he mentioned how he's part of the gig economy 6 00:00:29,679 --> 00:00:32,584 and when the gigs happen and they come up, you gotta take him. 7 00:00:33,075 --> 00:00:36,825 On my own today, but I'm really looking forward to this conversation. 8 00:00:36,825 --> 00:00:41,055 John is running for Congress in New Jersey's sixth district 9 00:00:41,055 --> 00:00:42,555 that's in central New Jersey. 10 00:00:42,915 --> 00:00:43,965 True progressive. 11 00:00:43,965 --> 00:00:45,974 He was a Bernie delegate. 12 00:00:46,345 --> 00:00:53,345 He's really on the ground even in his role as a private citizen helping 13 00:00:53,345 --> 00:00:55,535 out the community, helping out. 14 00:00:55,900 --> 00:00:57,970 Nurse workers who went on strike. 15 00:00:57,970 --> 00:00:59,980 We'll talk about that in this episode. 16 00:01:00,519 --> 00:01:02,769 Just can't wait to get to know him better. 17 00:01:02,769 --> 00:01:03,340 And, uh. 18 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:08,050 I will not see you on the other side because I'm not gonna do the at 'cause 19 00:01:08,050 --> 00:01:09,280 I don't have my buddy this week. 20 00:01:09,790 --> 00:01:12,550 But please enjoy this conversation with John Chu. 21 00:01:13,210 --> 00:01:16,540 John Chu, so excited to have you here on Left Out Loud. 22 00:01:16,540 --> 00:01:18,520 Thank you for joining the podcast today. 23 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:19,720 John Hsu: Oh, it is my pleasure. 24 00:01:20,170 --> 00:01:22,690 Ally: And I feel like it's especially exciting. 25 00:01:22,690 --> 00:01:26,380 It's almost like we have breaking news here, because I saw on your 26 00:01:26,380 --> 00:01:30,070 socials a couple of hours ago that you were officially on the ballot. 27 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:30,250 Mm-hmm. 28 00:01:30,490 --> 00:01:32,170 For New Jersey's sixth district. 29 00:01:33,190 --> 00:01:33,910 John Hsu: Yes, yes. 30 00:01:33,910 --> 00:01:37,600 So we collected 1,598 signatures. 31 00:01:38,140 --> 00:01:40,060 We needed 500 to get on the ballot. 32 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:42,400 Uh, Friday was the deadline to challenge that. 33 00:01:42,910 --> 00:01:44,680 So we are officially on. 34 00:01:45,010 --> 00:01:46,240 I'm very excited about that. 35 00:01:46,420 --> 00:01:47,470 Ally: Congratulations. 36 00:01:47,470 --> 00:01:48,100 That's great. 37 00:01:48,790 --> 00:01:53,710 And this, um, so why don't we start with, if you don't mind, tell me a little 38 00:01:53,710 --> 00:01:58,390 bit about your background and sort of what motivated you to run for congress? 39 00:01:59,035 --> 00:01:59,545 John Hsu: Oh, sure. 40 00:01:59,905 --> 00:02:01,975 So I was a Bernie Sanders delegate. 41 00:02:02,035 --> 00:02:08,125 I was the, uh, the coordinator for the campaign in 2020 in Middlesex 42 00:02:08,125 --> 00:02:11,905 County and Monmouth County, which encompasses my congressional district. 43 00:02:12,325 --> 00:02:12,415 Ally: Mm-hmm. 44 00:02:13,135 --> 00:02:16,855 John Hsu: Um, so I traveled to Iowa, traveled to New Hampshire, uh, for those 45 00:02:16,855 --> 00:02:19,644 campaigns in my local Democratic party. 46 00:02:19,644 --> 00:02:24,925 I was the chair of the, uh, progressive caucus, uh, in my, in my town. 47 00:02:25,230 --> 00:02:29,850 And I was also the chair of our revolution, New Jersey, and that was 48 00:02:29,850 --> 00:02:32,910 a group that came outta the Bernie Sanders campaign, and we've helped a 49 00:02:32,910 --> 00:02:37,299 lot of we helped the nurses and their labor strike, local labor strike. 50 00:02:37,359 --> 00:02:39,759 We helped, uh, yeah, that was a big one. 51 00:02:39,859 --> 00:02:42,559 We helped some steel workers and their local, uh, strike. 52 00:02:42,949 --> 00:02:48,499 We help stop a power plant, uh, in a, uh, environmental justice, uh, community. 53 00:02:48,829 --> 00:02:52,039 And, uh, yeah, some rental work. 54 00:02:52,774 --> 00:02:53,254 Just a lot of, you've 55 00:02:53,254 --> 00:02:56,314 Ally: been, you've been extremely active in politics it sounds 56 00:02:56,314 --> 00:02:57,514 like, for quite a while now. 57 00:02:58,114 --> 00:02:58,954 John Hsu: Quite a while, yeah. 58 00:02:58,984 --> 00:02:59,284 Ally: Yeah, 59 00:02:59,284 --> 00:02:59,644 John Hsu: definitely. 60 00:03:00,574 --> 00:03:01,774 Ally: And you ran. 61 00:03:02,149 --> 00:03:04,129 Uh, in 2024, correct? 62 00:03:04,134 --> 00:03:04,194 Yes. 63 00:03:04,199 --> 00:03:04,279 Yes. 64 00:03:04,279 --> 00:03:05,959 For congress in the same district. 65 00:03:06,259 --> 00:03:06,349 John Hsu: Yes. 66 00:03:06,379 --> 00:03:11,589 Ally: So, tell me, like, has your thinking changed at all in terms of your 67 00:03:11,589 --> 00:03:13,929 approach to running this time around? 68 00:03:13,929 --> 00:03:17,539 We just we just had our last guest, Victoria Broderick, is running in 69 00:03:17,539 --> 00:03:22,129 Tennessee yet, and she is also, she ran in 2024 against the incumbent. 70 00:03:22,489 --> 00:03:24,319 She's doing it again in 2026. 71 00:03:24,319 --> 00:03:25,699 So just curious. 72 00:03:26,054 --> 00:03:30,284 Has anything changed from your perspective in the way that 73 00:03:30,284 --> 00:03:31,574 you're running this time around? 74 00:03:31,664 --> 00:03:31,754 Mm-hmm. 75 00:03:32,654 --> 00:03:35,774 John Hsu: Yeah, so I ran in 2024 because of Palestine. 76 00:03:35,804 --> 00:03:36,764 What's happening in Palestine? 77 00:03:37,004 --> 00:03:37,244 Ally: Mm-hmm. 78 00:03:37,484 --> 00:03:39,164 John Hsu: Uh, there are a lot of mosques in my district. 79 00:03:39,374 --> 00:03:40,934 Uh, I think either eight or nine. 80 00:03:41,584 --> 00:03:44,944 And I was visiting one of the mosques for community outreach. 81 00:03:45,034 --> 00:03:49,204 One of the leaders, uh, started talking with me and, uh, he was. 82 00:03:49,614 --> 00:03:52,524 Express concern about a Congress person who's actually probably the 83 00:03:52,524 --> 00:03:56,304 second worst person in the House of Representatives, uh, when it 84 00:03:56,304 --> 00:03:58,974 comes to Israel and funding Israel. 85 00:03:58,979 --> 00:03:59,369 Mm-hmm. 86 00:03:59,454 --> 00:04:00,294 And, um. 87 00:04:01,494 --> 00:04:01,734 Yeah. 88 00:04:01,734 --> 00:04:04,764 So he asked me to run, it was a short campaign. 89 00:04:04,824 --> 00:04:10,404 Unlike this time I had, uh, only two weeks to collect the petition signatures. 90 00:04:10,494 --> 00:04:11,064 Ally: Wow. 91 00:04:11,364 --> 00:04:13,764 John Hsu: Uh, but it was easier, it was easier two years to go. 92 00:04:13,794 --> 00:04:16,015 'cause the, uh, the requirement was only 200. 93 00:04:16,734 --> 00:04:20,604 But that was not too hard for me because of my connections with our revolution and 94 00:04:20,604 --> 00:04:22,974 all the political work that I've done. 95 00:04:23,304 --> 00:04:23,454 Ally: Mm-hmm. 96 00:04:23,714 --> 00:04:25,724 John Hsu: But it was, I had to hustle, but it wasn't too 97 00:04:25,724 --> 00:04:25,844 Ally: much. 98 00:04:25,849 --> 00:04:26,489 Yeah, yeah, 99 00:04:26,494 --> 00:04:27,674 John Hsu: yeah, yeah. 100 00:04:27,704 --> 00:04:29,594 But, um, yeah, so. 101 00:04:30,054 --> 00:04:32,364 Fast forward two years later. 102 00:04:32,394 --> 00:04:35,634 I decided to run, this time I started last April. 103 00:04:36,294 --> 00:04:37,944 Uh, a big difference. 104 00:04:37,944 --> 00:04:41,994 So start more than a, uh, more than a year ago or almost a year ago. 105 00:04:42,144 --> 00:04:42,324 Ally: Mm-hmm. 106 00:04:42,655 --> 00:04:46,794 John Hsu: And, uh, you know, it's running on similar issues. 107 00:04:46,824 --> 00:04:51,775 However, things are have gotten worse I think, in the last two years. 108 00:04:51,780 --> 00:04:52,019 Yeah. 109 00:04:52,159 --> 00:04:53,179 And you know. 110 00:04:54,059 --> 00:04:57,659 Having a computer science degree, you know, I'm allowed, I can 111 00:04:57,659 --> 00:04:59,219 talk about AI a little bit more. 112 00:04:59,519 --> 00:04:59,609 Ally: Mm-hmm. 113 00:05:00,089 --> 00:05:03,869 John Hsu: My congressman's completely quiet on ai and we can 114 00:05:03,869 --> 00:05:05,579 talk about, yeah, it's really bad. 115 00:05:05,579 --> 00:05:06,659 And he's on the AI committee. 116 00:05:06,749 --> 00:05:07,679 Ally: How is that possible? 117 00:05:07,764 --> 00:05:09,744 John Hsu: Uh, you know, I don't know if he misspoke, misspoke, or. 118 00:05:11,594 --> 00:05:12,914 I don't know if he was lying or we spoke. 119 00:05:12,914 --> 00:05:13,004 Mm-hmm. 120 00:05:13,244 --> 00:05:13,844 I'm not sure. 121 00:05:13,934 --> 00:05:17,324 So we just put that out there on our social media. 122 00:05:17,624 --> 00:05:20,504 But yeah, so this time we have more to talk about. 123 00:05:20,774 --> 00:05:26,924 And besides ai, you know, Iran, he's not talking too much about it, you know? 124 00:05:26,924 --> 00:05:27,014 Right. 125 00:05:27,014 --> 00:05:31,244 All the, all the Democrats are delaying the war Powers resolution 126 00:05:31,244 --> 00:05:35,504 vote, and he's part of that leadership class that doesn't. 127 00:05:36,199 --> 00:05:39,079 He might not be the one on the committee blocking it, 128 00:05:39,079 --> 00:05:40,189 but he's not talking about it. 129 00:05:40,429 --> 00:05:40,759 Ally: Mm-hmm. 130 00:05:40,999 --> 00:05:42,499 John Hsu: Um, talking about like what we can do. 131 00:05:42,604 --> 00:05:42,954 Right. 132 00:05:42,959 --> 00:05:43,219 Right. 133 00:05:43,219 --> 00:05:48,739 So he's definitely not doing everything in his power to keep us outta war out 134 00:05:48,739 --> 00:05:51,259 of a, a ground invasion with Iran. 135 00:05:51,499 --> 00:05:51,709 Ally: Yeah. 136 00:05:51,709 --> 00:05:52,969 John Hsu: And it's very, very concerning. 137 00:05:53,544 --> 00:05:55,254 Ally: It is concerning to everyone. 138 00:05:55,254 --> 00:05:55,764 I think. 139 00:05:55,769 --> 00:06:00,364 Uh, there's such there's, there's very little support for this war in Iran. 140 00:06:00,454 --> 00:06:00,544 Mm-hmm. 141 00:06:00,784 --> 00:06:01,474 To begin with. 142 00:06:01,504 --> 00:06:03,544 And putting troops on the ground. 143 00:06:03,604 --> 00:06:06,754 I mean, I don't think there's really any appetite for that in America. 144 00:06:07,144 --> 00:06:12,369 So your incumbent has been in Congress, I believe, since 1988. 145 00:06:12,574 --> 00:06:13,354 Is that right? 146 00:06:13,894 --> 00:06:14,164 John Hsu: Yeah. 147 00:06:14,164 --> 00:06:16,954 So 38 years, if he wins, it's gonna be 40 years. 148 00:06:17,404 --> 00:06:18,754 Ally: That is incredible. 149 00:06:18,934 --> 00:06:20,854 How do you feel about term limits? 150 00:06:21,264 --> 00:06:22,044 John Hsu: I support them. 151 00:06:22,344 --> 00:06:22,524 Ally: Yeah. 152 00:06:22,524 --> 00:06:26,334 John Hsu: You know, I'm a little divided because, you know, I like Bernie. 153 00:06:26,634 --> 00:06:27,114 Uh, 154 00:06:27,144 --> 00:06:27,294 Ally: sure. 155 00:06:28,464 --> 00:06:30,504 John Hsu: At times I like Elizabeth, Elizabeth Warren. 156 00:06:30,624 --> 00:06:31,884 Uh, sometimes I don't. 157 00:06:31,944 --> 00:06:32,214 Right. 158 00:06:32,214 --> 00:06:32,274 Yeah. 159 00:06:32,544 --> 00:06:39,114 But, you know, there's some good congress people, but I think, uh, at this point, 160 00:06:39,114 --> 00:06:43,134 I think, I think we should like, even maybe 20 years for the house, like 161 00:06:43,164 --> 00:06:43,284 Ally: mm-hmm. 162 00:06:43,524 --> 00:06:44,784 John Hsu: That's a pretty long time already. 163 00:06:45,054 --> 00:06:45,414 Ally: Yeah. 164 00:06:45,534 --> 00:06:46,734 That's a very long time. 165 00:06:46,974 --> 00:06:47,304 John Hsu: Yeah. 166 00:06:47,694 --> 00:06:48,684 Like compared to 40. 167 00:06:48,954 --> 00:06:49,254 Ally: Right. 168 00:06:49,254 --> 00:06:50,424 John Hsu: You know, that's, that's half the time. 169 00:06:50,424 --> 00:06:50,664 Right. 170 00:06:50,664 --> 00:06:54,544 Ally: So I, I feel, if I feel if you are doing this for 40 years just. 171 00:06:56,134 --> 00:07:02,614 By default, you kind of have to lose touch with your constituents and, and 172 00:07:02,614 --> 00:07:07,984 as you said, things that are, you know, new issues that wouldn't have been 173 00:07:07,984 --> 00:07:13,564 issues when he first entered his seat or took his seat in Congress, such as 174 00:07:13,594 --> 00:07:16,744 ai and, and things like apac, right? 175 00:07:16,744 --> 00:07:18,695 There's more awareness around 176 00:07:18,814 --> 00:07:18,905 John Hsu: mm-hmm. 177 00:07:19,145 --> 00:07:20,314 Ally: All of that now than there. 178 00:07:20,854 --> 00:07:24,005 Probably was when he first took his seat. 179 00:07:24,005 --> 00:07:30,065 So it just feels impossible to believe that people can continue to be effective 180 00:07:30,395 --> 00:07:32,765 in Congress over a 40 year period. 181 00:07:33,994 --> 00:07:34,804 John Hsu: That's a great point. 182 00:07:34,955 --> 00:07:36,395 And I think that's definitely true. 183 00:07:36,575 --> 00:07:41,794 I think, you know, he's not talking with people who are opposing all the 184 00:07:41,974 --> 00:07:44,255 military aid and the wars with Iran. 185 00:07:44,434 --> 00:07:48,455 You know, he's, there might be some donors that donate to him. 186 00:07:48,484 --> 00:07:48,575 Mm-hmm. 187 00:07:48,815 --> 00:07:50,255 That support, support this thing. 188 00:07:50,284 --> 00:07:51,034 I'm not sure. 189 00:07:51,099 --> 00:07:56,675 But, um, you know, I, on the ground, do you know it is. 190 00:07:57,215 --> 00:08:02,144 It does feel a bit nerve wracking to bring this up, but, you know, I talk about Iran. 191 00:08:02,775 --> 00:08:07,754 So far I've only met about four or five Democrats that support the war with Iran. 192 00:08:07,789 --> 00:08:08,139 Ally: Right? 193 00:08:08,294 --> 00:08:12,854 John Hsu: Um, and I talk about the military aid to Israel and 194 00:08:13,934 --> 00:08:17,924 you know, that's a very divisive issue, but actually on the ground. 195 00:08:18,224 --> 00:08:22,965 I, I found like so many people have opposed it and a lot of people don't know 196 00:08:22,965 --> 00:08:28,094 that he was, uh, voted for all the, all the weapons last two and a half years. 197 00:08:28,484 --> 00:08:31,665 Ally: I feel like it's divisive at the government level. 198 00:08:31,665 --> 00:08:36,405 I feel like from a constituency perspective, it's not that divisive. 199 00:08:36,405 --> 00:08:41,504 I think most of us are opposed to, um, that military aid especially. 200 00:08:41,684 --> 00:08:45,704 Now that it's gotten us into this situation in Iran, and like I 201 00:08:45,704 --> 00:08:49,964 said, there's just the awareness of that grows I think more and more. 202 00:08:50,505 --> 00:08:50,685 John Hsu: Yeah. 203 00:08:51,075 --> 00:08:51,990 Ally: How do you think. 204 00:08:52,605 --> 00:08:54,495 Now that you are on the ballot. 205 00:08:54,555 --> 00:08:54,645 Mm-hmm. 206 00:08:54,885 --> 00:08:58,814 Do you feel as though, and you have a Democrat incumbent, you're running as 207 00:08:58,814 --> 00:09:01,005 a democratic socialist, a progressive? 208 00:09:01,305 --> 00:09:01,395 John Hsu: Mm-hmm. 209 00:09:01,635 --> 00:09:01,645 Ally: Mm-hmm. 210 00:09:01,645 --> 00:09:07,635 Do you feel like democratic primaries are kind of structurally tilted towards 211 00:09:07,635 --> 00:09:13,365 the incumbent that makes it more challenging for a new person to run? 212 00:09:13,995 --> 00:09:14,564 John Hsu: I think so. 213 00:09:14,625 --> 00:09:14,925 Yeah. 214 00:09:14,925 --> 00:09:15,405 So. 215 00:09:16,245 --> 00:09:20,145 Actually, I've heard that the Democratic parties in many states, they don't endorse 216 00:09:20,145 --> 00:09:22,935 candidates until after the primary. 217 00:09:22,935 --> 00:09:23,355 Ally: Mm-hmm. 218 00:09:23,625 --> 00:09:25,005 John Hsu: Uh, in New Jersey we do. 219 00:09:25,305 --> 00:09:28,785 So we have a convention and they have the other, they have the endorsement vote. 220 00:09:29,395 --> 00:09:32,845 So, you know, they, they do a good job of putting people that they 221 00:09:32,845 --> 00:09:35,635 know, like, uh, you know, friends. 222 00:09:36,010 --> 00:09:39,310 Some government employees, local government employees, that type of thing. 223 00:09:39,850 --> 00:09:42,100 You know, and they, they build the relationship with the, 224 00:09:42,130 --> 00:09:44,290 uh, incumbent over the years. 225 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,070 So a lot of the mayors and council people, you know, they'll like him. 226 00:09:48,070 --> 00:09:52,620 And so that, that's one structural, uh, uh, interns, 227 00:09:52,770 --> 00:09:53,100 Ally: right? 228 00:09:53,610 --> 00:09:54,930 John Hsu: Um, yeah. 229 00:09:54,990 --> 00:09:58,830 But you know, there's, uh, well, I mean, there's the. 230 00:09:59,655 --> 00:10:02,145 The fact that, you know, he has, he gets a lot of donations. 231 00:10:02,204 --> 00:10:02,295 Mm-hmm. 232 00:10:02,535 --> 00:10:03,824 60%. Yeah. 233 00:10:03,824 --> 00:10:07,485 60% of his donations are from Corporate pacs. 234 00:10:07,814 --> 00:10:07,935 Right. 235 00:10:08,805 --> 00:10:11,145 Uh, 39% are large donations. 236 00:10:11,564 --> 00:10:13,214 Uh, so that's a, 237 00:10:13,395 --> 00:10:15,405 Ally: so he doesn't really have to canvas. 238 00:10:15,405 --> 00:10:16,334 He can yeah. 239 00:10:16,454 --> 00:10:18,760 Do ads and kind of coast and. 240 00:10:19,355 --> 00:10:19,685 John Hsu: Do that. 241 00:10:19,685 --> 00:10:19,925 Yeah. 242 00:10:19,985 --> 00:10:20,885 Ally: Wait for the election. 243 00:10:20,975 --> 00:10:21,275 Yeah. 244 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:21,490 Mm-hmm. 245 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:22,130 John Hsu: Yeah. 246 00:10:22,135 --> 00:10:25,955 Ally: And you're out there canvassing all day every day, from what I understand. 247 00:10:25,955 --> 00:10:27,695 You just got back from canvassing. 248 00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:27,730 Yes. 249 00:10:28,025 --> 00:10:28,115 Yes. 250 00:10:28,115 --> 00:10:28,925 It is a Sunday. 251 00:10:28,925 --> 00:10:30,365 We are recording on a Sunday. 252 00:10:30,845 --> 00:10:34,325 And John was not available until later in the evening because he 253 00:10:34,325 --> 00:10:37,145 didn't wanna interrupt his canvassing time, which is really respectful. 254 00:10:37,475 --> 00:10:39,155 It's, it is a full-time job. 255 00:10:39,155 --> 00:10:43,175 But your previous full-time job was as a software engineer. 256 00:10:43,355 --> 00:10:43,445 John Hsu: Mm-hmm. 257 00:10:43,715 --> 00:10:47,435 Ally: So, and you had kind of a firsthand. 258 00:10:48,075 --> 00:10:49,305 Seat to, 259 00:10:49,485 --> 00:10:49,695 John Hsu: yeah, 260 00:10:49,695 --> 00:10:53,475 Ally: the dismantling of the Department of Education when Doge came to town. 261 00:10:53,775 --> 00:10:53,985 That's right. 262 00:10:53,985 --> 00:10:56,565 Tell us a little bit about that and how it impacted you. 263 00:10:56,985 --> 00:10:57,465 John Hsu: That's right. 264 00:10:57,615 --> 00:11:01,005 So I worked for the Department of Education on a contract for 265 00:11:01,005 --> 00:11:01,905 the Department of Education. 266 00:11:01,905 --> 00:11:04,375 So not directly for them but. 267 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,960 Obviously I, you know, I lost my position, uh, last, uh, uh, last April. 268 00:11:11,260 --> 00:11:16,630 And, uh, you know, I worked on the nation's report card and international 269 00:11:16,630 --> 00:11:21,220 testing, so they completely cut international testing, so, we'll, we're 270 00:11:21,220 --> 00:11:22,990 not gonna have that for next couple years. 271 00:11:22,990 --> 00:11:27,670 So whenever you've seen in the past in the news, uh, US scores 272 00:11:27,670 --> 00:11:28,870 compared to other countries, 273 00:11:28,875 --> 00:11:28,925 Ally: uhhuh. 274 00:11:30,835 --> 00:11:31,285 John Hsu: That was cut. 275 00:11:31,285 --> 00:11:31,675 Ally: Gone. 276 00:11:32,095 --> 00:11:32,455 John Hsu: Yeah. 277 00:11:32,605 --> 00:11:32,875 Gone. 278 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:33,190 Ally: Just gone. 279 00:11:33,655 --> 00:11:34,045 John Hsu: Yeah. 280 00:11:34,285 --> 00:11:39,685 And, um, under the, under the, uh, department of Education, there's a 281 00:11:39,955 --> 00:11:42,565 National Center of Educational Statistics. 282 00:11:43,195 --> 00:11:43,465 Right. 283 00:11:43,465 --> 00:11:46,825 And they had a staff about, I, I think 13, 14. 284 00:11:47,545 --> 00:11:48,265 It was cut to two. 285 00:11:48,835 --> 00:11:53,155 So what they do is they make sure that our work is accurate. 286 00:11:54,055 --> 00:11:54,175 Right. 287 00:11:54,275 --> 00:11:54,695 Ally: Mm-hmm. 288 00:11:54,780 --> 00:11:56,860 John Hsu: It's, you know, it's data science. 289 00:11:56,860 --> 00:11:59,140 It's, uh, you know, accuracy is very important. 290 00:11:59,590 --> 00:12:02,140 One of the most important things that the US government does is 291 00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:07,000 collect data, help us, help policy makers make informed decisions. 292 00:12:07,180 --> 00:12:07,390 Ally: Sure. 293 00:12:07,630 --> 00:12:09,760 John Hsu: So that was, that was a big cut. 294 00:12:09,850 --> 00:12:11,695 I mean, I feel like our department. 295 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:18,670 Isn't as crucial as like, say, you know, made the pump of energy. 296 00:12:18,670 --> 00:12:21,700 Like if they're looking, you know, handling like the, um, handling like the 297 00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:23,110 nuclear waste, that, that type of thing. 298 00:12:23,650 --> 00:12:27,189 Ally: But 13, 14 people, John is not exactly excessive. 299 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,470 It still sounds a little bare bones. 300 00:12:29,560 --> 00:12:31,000 John Hsu: Yeah, it, it, it was, I mean. 301 00:12:32,575 --> 00:12:34,165 It was enough for what they, what they had to do. 302 00:12:34,405 --> 00:12:34,615 Like, 303 00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:34,750 Ally: yeah, 304 00:12:34,915 --> 00:12:35,185 John Hsu: yeah. 305 00:12:35,425 --> 00:12:39,085 'cause, 'cause they contract out the, um, some of the work to 306 00:12:39,085 --> 00:12:40,435 my company and other companies. 307 00:12:40,895 --> 00:12:42,125 Ally: But then cutting that down to two, 308 00:12:42,455 --> 00:12:44,375 John Hsu: cutting it down to two is, is ridiculous. 309 00:12:44,375 --> 00:12:44,795 Ally: Impossible. 310 00:12:44,945 --> 00:12:45,155 John Hsu: Yeah. 311 00:12:45,155 --> 00:12:45,215 It 312 00:12:45,215 --> 00:12:45,930 Ally: sounds like it would be. 313 00:12:46,550 --> 00:12:47,420 John Hsu: That's impossible. 314 00:12:47,450 --> 00:12:47,840 Yeah, 315 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:47,850 Ally: yeah. 316 00:12:47,930 --> 00:12:51,440 John Hsu: Well, you know, obviously cutting the, uh, international 317 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,410 testing, that means less work for them to have to handle. 318 00:12:54,650 --> 00:12:55,520 Ally: Oh, true, true. 319 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:55,730 John Hsu: Right. 320 00:12:55,730 --> 00:12:58,190 So, but still it was, it was too much. 321 00:12:58,190 --> 00:13:00,950 Like the, the Nation's report card is congressionally mandated. 322 00:13:01,490 --> 00:13:03,800 Uh, it's a big, big undertaking. 323 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,940 So two people to, I don't know how many staffers they have right now, but having 324 00:13:07,940 --> 00:13:11,720 those staffers, such few staffers handling that is, uh, is a big undertaking. 325 00:13:13,055 --> 00:13:17,675 Ally: And I think we've all seen a sort of degradation of data. 326 00:13:19,085 --> 00:13:23,345 You know, as they have made all of these Doge cuts, it becomes 327 00:13:23,825 --> 00:13:25,625 more difficult to not only. 328 00:13:26,495 --> 00:13:29,375 Get that data in a timely manner, but trust the data. 329 00:13:29,675 --> 00:13:29,765 John Hsu: Mm. 330 00:13:30,005 --> 00:13:33,965 Ally: Um, because the experts that were there previously are no more. 331 00:13:34,205 --> 00:13:35,105 It's really 332 00:13:35,105 --> 00:13:35,585 John Hsu: exactly 333 00:13:35,885 --> 00:13:36,425 Ally: a shame. 334 00:13:37,055 --> 00:13:42,425 So as a progressive, you are really involved in environmental 335 00:13:42,905 --> 00:13:43,115 John Hsu: Yes. 336 00:13:43,175 --> 00:13:44,285 Ally: Activism, right? 337 00:13:44,285 --> 00:13:44,435 Yes. 338 00:13:44,855 --> 00:13:48,725 Can you talk to me a little bit about your policies or platform 339 00:13:48,935 --> 00:13:50,915 when it comes to the environment? 340 00:13:52,055 --> 00:13:55,115 John Hsu: So, you know, I, I bought electric car early. 341 00:13:55,745 --> 00:13:59,225 I've come to the conclusion that that's not our solution, 342 00:13:59,555 --> 00:13:59,645 Ally: right? 343 00:14:00,005 --> 00:14:04,415 John Hsu: Uh, public transportation is, is a, uh, is a big part of it. 344 00:14:05,135 --> 00:14:08,885 We are suffering here actually with our, with NJ Transit. 345 00:14:09,245 --> 00:14:11,195 It's, uh, completely underfunded. 346 00:14:11,855 --> 00:14:14,555 Uh, it's also, it's a combination of a local issue too. 347 00:14:15,005 --> 00:14:15,125 Ally: Mm-hmm. 348 00:14:15,365 --> 00:14:16,625 John Hsu: Or a state, state issue. 349 00:14:16,745 --> 00:14:20,345 Uh, you know, one of our county commissioners is on the NJ transit 350 00:14:20,345 --> 00:14:24,875 board and, you know, they voted for rate rate hikes, but they also, the 351 00:14:24,875 --> 00:14:26,855 service has gone down while they're. 352 00:14:27,410 --> 00:14:30,440 Building a, a new multimillion dollar office building. 353 00:14:30,980 --> 00:14:31,040 Ally: Ugh. 354 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:31,250 Which, 355 00:14:31,310 --> 00:14:32,300 John Hsu: which I don't think they need. 356 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:32,870 Ally: Right. 357 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,680 John Hsu: Um, so, you know, a lot of the, a lot of those 358 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,670 positions, they're integrated with our local democratic party. 359 00:14:40,820 --> 00:14:45,380 In our state, the local county parties are more powerful, are the 360 00:14:45,380 --> 00:14:46,460 central of the center of power. 361 00:14:47,270 --> 00:14:49,010 Other states is the state parties. 362 00:14:49,010 --> 00:14:49,040 Okay. 363 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,390 So our local party has a lot of con connections to anti-trans. 364 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,410 So, so that's, that's an issue. 365 00:14:55,860 --> 00:15:00,540 And I, I, I believe in, actually, I believe in free public transportation. 366 00:15:00,540 --> 00:15:00,630 Mm-hmm. 367 00:15:01,980 --> 00:15:04,560 Like if we could achieve that, I think that would help a lot. 368 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:08,550 You know, young people take public transportation to go to internships. 369 00:15:08,610 --> 00:15:08,910 Yeah. 370 00:15:08,910 --> 00:15:12,960 Uh, you know, let's cut down on the wear and tear on the roads, 371 00:15:13,110 --> 00:15:14,880 the obviously the emissions. 372 00:15:15,020 --> 00:15:15,800 Let's encourage that. 373 00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:16,160 Yeah. 374 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:17,120 'cause it's not just paying. 375 00:15:17,330 --> 00:15:17,540 Yeah. 376 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:18,620 Yeah. 377 00:15:18,770 --> 00:15:19,640 It's not just paying for it. 378 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,970 'cause there's, you know, residual, uh, benefits mm-hmm. 379 00:15:23,270 --> 00:15:25,610 To really support public transportation. 380 00:15:25,670 --> 00:15:26,660 And that's just one aspect. 381 00:15:26,660 --> 00:15:27,230 I have more. 382 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:31,250 Ally: Yeah, I mean, and I, I, and I agree with you. 383 00:15:31,250 --> 00:15:35,300 I mean, I, you know, I look at, at like Zora Momani who wants to 384 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,580 create sort of free public transit. 385 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:38,180 John Hsu: Love 386 00:15:38,180 --> 00:15:38,240 Ally: it. 387 00:15:38,325 --> 00:15:40,940 Not, not many people in New York City own a car. 388 00:15:41,270 --> 00:15:41,390 John Hsu: Yeah. 389 00:15:41,420 --> 00:15:46,760 Ally: Um, you know, I think there is definitely a great template there that 390 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,460 could be replicated across other states. 391 00:15:50,095 --> 00:15:52,345 If we choose to prioritize it, right? 392 00:15:52,405 --> 00:15:52,495 Mm-hmm. 393 00:15:52,885 --> 00:15:57,235 And that's the, I think that's the, the hiccup is how do we get that at 394 00:15:57,235 --> 00:16:01,835 the top of the list of priorities as it relates to environmental action. 395 00:16:02,195 --> 00:16:03,605 John Hsu: Yeah, that's one. 396 00:16:04,085 --> 00:16:04,445 Ally: Yeah. 397 00:16:04,515 --> 00:16:04,575 I 398 00:16:05,175 --> 00:16:05,535 John Hsu: don't know. 399 00:16:05,595 --> 00:16:06,765 I can share like so many more. 400 00:16:06,765 --> 00:16:07,155 Ally: Please, 401 00:16:07,215 --> 00:16:07,600 John Hsu: please do. 402 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:07,880 Okay. 403 00:16:07,885 --> 00:16:10,755 Uh, well we helped stop a local power plant that was an 404 00:16:10,755 --> 00:16:11,985 environmental justice area. 405 00:16:12,285 --> 00:16:12,375 Ally: Mm-hmm. 406 00:16:12,815 --> 00:16:13,955 John Hsu: We did a great job with that. 407 00:16:14,045 --> 00:16:17,405 And one of, I'll just say, mention one other thing because 408 00:16:17,405 --> 00:16:18,815 it relates to my Congress person. 409 00:16:18,875 --> 00:16:20,765 We, uh, we had a park that we were trying to save. 410 00:16:21,275 --> 00:16:25,605 Uh, it was sold to the county for half price by the federal government. 411 00:16:25,785 --> 00:16:25,965 Ally: Mm-hmm. 412 00:16:26,205 --> 00:16:28,575 John Hsu: So we had to go through the Federal Park service. 413 00:16:29,185 --> 00:16:32,305 Well, they had to go through Federal Park Service to get this approval to change 414 00:16:32,305 --> 00:16:38,365 the park into like a. Like a hybrid, uh, you know, for-profit, uh, sports center. 415 00:16:38,815 --> 00:16:42,295 So they added 14 artificial turf, turf fields is the plan. 416 00:16:42,595 --> 00:16:45,205 It's gonna cost $60 million and 417 00:16:45,295 --> 00:16:45,985 Ally: 60 million. 418 00:16:46,825 --> 00:16:47,155 John Hsu: Yeah. 419 00:16:47,155 --> 00:16:51,355 'cause they have to flatten the land, cut down the trees and put, put in all the 420 00:16:51,355 --> 00:16:53,275 artificial turf and like, have drainage. 421 00:16:53,905 --> 00:16:55,075 It's a huge piece of property. 422 00:16:55,435 --> 00:16:57,145 Ally: Is this for professional sports? 423 00:16:57,150 --> 00:16:57,410 Local 424 00:16:57,410 --> 00:16:57,810 sports? 425 00:16:57,815 --> 00:17:00,265 John Hsu: No, for, it's gonna be for, uh. 426 00:17:00,715 --> 00:17:03,655 You know, soccer teams and soccer tournaments, that type of thing. 427 00:17:03,985 --> 00:17:04,435 Ally: Wild. 428 00:17:04,825 --> 00:17:05,125 John Hsu: Yeah. 429 00:17:05,125 --> 00:17:05,300 So that is 430 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:06,180 Ally: an incredible, 431 00:17:06,715 --> 00:17:09,175 John Hsu: and the local government said, oh, we can't handle the booking. 432 00:17:09,175 --> 00:17:10,885 We're gonna out outsource the booking as well. 433 00:17:10,975 --> 00:17:16,045 So, uh, I tried to pose that and in that pro, like I went to Canvas, I, 434 00:17:16,045 --> 00:17:19,285 you know, got to copy people to write letters to National Park Service. 435 00:17:19,315 --> 00:17:19,675 Ally: Yeah. 436 00:17:19,675 --> 00:17:19,735 Um, 437 00:17:20,695 --> 00:17:22,975 John Hsu: and we, you know, we, we, I think we were able to generate 500 438 00:17:22,975 --> 00:17:24,205 letters 'cause it was a short time. 439 00:17:24,565 --> 00:17:24,775 Ally: Sure. 440 00:17:24,775 --> 00:17:24,835 Um. 441 00:17:25,705 --> 00:17:29,365 John Hsu: But you know, my Congo turns out, I found out my congressman 442 00:17:29,365 --> 00:17:34,255 called the National Park Service to get this approved and that, you know, 443 00:17:34,345 --> 00:17:35,665 we're not happy with that obviously. 444 00:17:36,655 --> 00:17:39,985 Ally: I'm sure there was some incentive there to get that done 445 00:17:39,985 --> 00:17:41,320 because why would you wanna. 446 00:17:42,550 --> 00:17:45,070 Would you even wanted to, to destroy that land? 447 00:17:45,430 --> 00:17:45,640 John Hsu: Yeah. 448 00:17:46,530 --> 00:17:50,130 Ally: And, and again, that's another thing that we've seen with this 449 00:17:50,130 --> 00:17:54,990 administration and the impacts on, on public land and wanting to privatize 450 00:17:54,990 --> 00:17:56,940 public land and make it for profit. 451 00:17:56,940 --> 00:18:00,240 And it's all really sad. 452 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:01,290 John Hsu: Yeah. 453 00:18:01,470 --> 00:18:02,755 Yeah, I agree. 454 00:18:03,515 --> 00:18:03,735 Ally: Um. 455 00:18:04,740 --> 00:18:08,670 So getting back to kind of your background as a software engineer. 456 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:09,090 John Hsu: Mm-hmm. 457 00:18:09,565 --> 00:18:12,600 Ally: I, I work, I have worked in tech for many years. 458 00:18:12,870 --> 00:18:12,900 John Hsu: Oh 459 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:12,990 Ally: good. 460 00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:15,270 So I'm curious tech adjacent. 461 00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:17,670 So I do like agile transformation work, but, 462 00:18:18,210 --> 00:18:18,270 John Hsu: okay. 463 00:18:18,270 --> 00:18:24,570 Ally: I'm curious, being a software engineer, how does that sort of shape the 464 00:18:24,570 --> 00:18:28,470 way you view government and bureaucracy? 465 00:18:29,100 --> 00:18:30,300 I imagine. 466 00:18:31,005 --> 00:18:34,395 I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but I imagine you must see 467 00:18:34,395 --> 00:18:37,215 opportunities for improvement. 468 00:18:39,045 --> 00:18:39,555 John Hsu: Oh, sure. 469 00:18:39,555 --> 00:18:39,855 Okay. 470 00:18:39,855 --> 00:18:41,325 That's all right. 471 00:18:41,385 --> 00:18:42,645 That's a, that's a tough question. 472 00:18:42,745 --> 00:18:45,835 Like in, in my role, uh, at, in the government mm-hmm. 473 00:18:46,375 --> 00:18:48,235 Uh, you know, I was as tour I was. 474 00:18:49,180 --> 00:18:52,630 At the end of it, I was reporting on data. 475 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,110 I was helping create the software to report the data. 476 00:18:56,830 --> 00:19:01,240 Um, so I, I was not too involved with that aspect of it, uh, in terms 477 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,070 of the administrative part of it. 478 00:19:03,550 --> 00:19:03,940 But. 479 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,810 I think, you know, computer programmers, yeah. 480 00:19:07,810 --> 00:19:12,550 They usually think logically and like, oh, if this, you know, 481 00:19:12,550 --> 00:19:14,480 with their, then this and then 482 00:19:14,525 --> 00:19:15,015 Ally: Exactly. 483 00:19:15,515 --> 00:19:16,455 John Hsu: Um, you know, I, 484 00:19:16,515 --> 00:19:19,060 Ally: and trying to streamline and automate and 485 00:19:19,330 --> 00:19:19,480 John Hsu: yeah. 486 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,700 Ally: Make things more efficient and predictable. 487 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:26,830 And all of that kind of runs counterintuitively to the way our 488 00:19:26,830 --> 00:19:28,600 government is sort of designed. 489 00:19:29,285 --> 00:19:29,505 John Hsu: It. 490 00:19:29,740 --> 00:19:33,820 It can be, well, here's what I found, like, just allow way the things. 491 00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:38,020 The things that are the things, the way things are run. 492 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:38,410 Ally: Mm-hmm. 493 00:19:38,650 --> 00:19:40,420 John Hsu: It's uh, there's a reason for it. 494 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,650 Sometimes it's a good reason, but then there's re residual effects 495 00:19:44,650 --> 00:19:47,800 that are negative and then like it becomes a whole, whole big thing. 496 00:19:48,250 --> 00:19:49,720 Uh, it's complicated. 497 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,170 I think it would take, you know, people who are willing to like 498 00:19:53,470 --> 00:19:55,330 review the whole system and. 499 00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:57,490 Maybe make a diagram outta it. 500 00:19:57,570 --> 00:19:57,690 I 501 00:19:57,690 --> 00:19:57,770 Ally: know. 502 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:58,130 Yeah. 503 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:58,850 Yeah. 504 00:19:59,215 --> 00:20:00,355 John Hsu: And then like, oh, okay. 505 00:20:00,355 --> 00:20:00,685 Yeah. 506 00:20:00,895 --> 00:20:04,885 I see why we try to do this, but it's, you know, it's not working well this way. 507 00:20:04,975 --> 00:20:05,065 Mm-hmm. 508 00:20:05,305 --> 00:20:07,165 So let's, let's, uh, reroute that. 509 00:20:07,375 --> 00:20:07,585 Right. 510 00:20:08,095 --> 00:20:08,635 Ally: Exactly. 511 00:20:08,635 --> 00:20:08,875 Exactly. 512 00:20:09,535 --> 00:20:12,145 John Hsu: But it's, do you know what I'm, I'm not gonna, I don't 513 00:20:12,145 --> 00:20:13,345 wanna put down the government. 514 00:20:13,585 --> 00:20:14,815 Uh, it's a hard job. 515 00:20:14,815 --> 00:20:16,435 It's a huge undertaking. 516 00:20:16,585 --> 00:20:21,115 It, would it be good to take a step back and, uh, re reevaluate processes? 517 00:20:21,295 --> 00:20:21,385 Mm-hmm. 518 00:20:21,625 --> 00:20:21,985 I think so. 519 00:20:22,315 --> 00:20:22,465 Ally: Yeah. 520 00:20:22,465 --> 00:20:22,855 John Hsu: Definitely. 521 00:20:23,125 --> 00:20:23,455 Ally: Yeah. 522 00:20:23,460 --> 00:20:23,630 Yeah. 523 00:20:24,115 --> 00:20:25,015 I'd love to see that. 524 00:20:25,355 --> 00:20:30,635 And I'd like to see, you know, more minds like yours approaching the government 525 00:20:30,965 --> 00:20:34,475 with just a completely different, you know, we tend, we tend to see 526 00:20:34,475 --> 00:20:40,445 a lot of former business executives and attorneys get into politics. 527 00:20:40,445 --> 00:20:40,505 Yeah. 528 00:20:40,535 --> 00:20:43,445 I, I think it's nice to have sort of a diverse. 529 00:20:44,025 --> 00:20:50,205 Background of people in politics that can bring all of their particular 530 00:20:50,205 --> 00:20:53,925 expertise into making things better, making things run better 531 00:20:53,925 --> 00:20:55,845 and smoother and more efficiently. 532 00:20:56,715 --> 00:20:57,015 John Hsu: I agree. 533 00:20:57,255 --> 00:20:57,735 Definitely. 534 00:20:58,425 --> 00:21:03,765 Ally: So you were, I wanna make sure I get this right, you were like a delegate 535 00:21:03,765 --> 00:21:06,375 for Bernie Sanders in 2020, is that right? 536 00:21:06,705 --> 00:21:07,455 John Hsu: That's right, yeah. 537 00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:07,790 Ally: Okay. 538 00:21:08,250 --> 00:21:08,470 And. 539 00:21:09,770 --> 00:21:13,730 Talk to me about, obviously, I'm sure you're still a big Bernie fan, um mm-hmm. 540 00:21:14,510 --> 00:21:18,320 And he has been sort of a beacon in terms of progressivism 541 00:21:18,620 --> 00:21:20,000 Mm. In the Democrat party. 542 00:21:20,630 --> 00:21:26,780 Is there anything that you think Bernie has gotten wrong, or is there any, 543 00:21:26,870 --> 00:21:31,940 is there something, is there like a mantle to be picked up from the, this 544 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,850 sort of new wave of progressivism? 545 00:21:35,810 --> 00:21:36,320 John Hsu: Yeah. 546 00:21:36,590 --> 00:21:39,290 Well, you know, one thing I, we were confused about, a lot of people were 547 00:21:39,290 --> 00:21:43,550 confused about was, uh, he didn't really fight too hard for the $15 minimum wage. 548 00:21:43,910 --> 00:21:44,150 Ally: Yeah. 549 00:21:44,270 --> 00:21:48,230 John Hsu: Uh, and he pro like, uh, he made Joe, he made Joe Biden promise 550 00:21:49,070 --> 00:21:52,370 in his concession, uh, conversation with Joe Biden, he made him promise 551 00:21:52,370 --> 00:21:54,470 that they would pass $15 minimum wage. 552 00:21:54,470 --> 00:21:55,010 Ally: Mm-hmm. 553 00:21:55,340 --> 00:21:57,360 John Hsu: So why not, you know, hold him to that. 554 00:21:57,690 --> 00:21:58,020 Ally: Yeah. 555 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,540 John Hsu: Uh, you know, his, his, um. 556 00:22:01,965 --> 00:22:06,015 His stance on Palestine was not, uh, the greatest, uh, but it was, you know, it 557 00:22:06,015 --> 00:22:10,095 was better than most of the senators, so I wish he was better on that. 558 00:22:10,095 --> 00:22:10,185 True. 559 00:22:10,695 --> 00:22:11,055 Ally: Yeah. 560 00:22:11,505 --> 00:22:12,615 John Hsu: I really liked Man Holland. 561 00:22:12,825 --> 00:22:15,285 And uh, I'll just say like. 562 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,930 One thing about Bernie pe Bernie supporters that I really like, they 563 00:22:18,930 --> 00:22:21,265 are free thinkers and you know mm-hmm. 564 00:22:21,450 --> 00:22:23,880 We don't, we don't worship the man because 565 00:22:23,970 --> 00:22:24,300 Ally: Right. 566 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,390 John Hsu: Of we like, you know, something special about him. 567 00:22:27,390 --> 00:22:31,980 We, we love his policies and we love just, just, uh, today I saw him, 568 00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:33,540 uh, having a video, have a video. 569 00:22:34,445 --> 00:22:40,295 Of making fun of, uh, the tax cuts for the tax, the taxes to billionaires, Uhhuh, and 570 00:22:40,295 --> 00:22:42,155 how much, uh, how much they would have. 571 00:22:42,155 --> 00:22:45,185 Like, oh, Jeff Bezos would only have $200 billion. 572 00:22:45,185 --> 00:22:47,855 What is he, how is he gonna, you know, feed his family with 573 00:22:47,855 --> 00:22:48,740 that, with that much of money? 574 00:22:49,385 --> 00:22:50,885 Ally: Money only 200 billion. 575 00:22:50,890 --> 00:22:51,220 Oh no. 576 00:22:52,565 --> 00:22:53,225 Poor man. 577 00:22:53,645 --> 00:22:56,375 John Hsu: It was, uh, he, he delivered that pretty well actually. 578 00:22:57,005 --> 00:22:57,425 Yeah. 579 00:22:57,425 --> 00:22:57,445 So, yeah. 580 00:22:58,115 --> 00:22:58,410 Yeah, so. 581 00:22:59,460 --> 00:23:00,540 I did like that about him. 582 00:23:00,690 --> 00:23:05,910 Uh, is there anything else I, you know, I guess, you know, there was, uh, not 583 00:23:05,910 --> 00:23:07,620 enough talk about Medicare for all. 584 00:23:07,770 --> 00:23:07,890 Mm-hmm. 585 00:23:08,670 --> 00:23:10,320 The a CA subsidies were getting cut. 586 00:23:10,950 --> 00:23:11,250 Yeah. 587 00:23:11,490 --> 00:23:14,070 I think there's strategic things. 588 00:23:14,070 --> 00:23:15,720 I don't know what's going on there. 589 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,570 I would certainly wanna push for them. 590 00:23:18,660 --> 00:23:21,570 Uh, that seems to, that seems like a good strategy move. 591 00:23:22,350 --> 00:23:23,430 You know, I think, 592 00:23:23,430 --> 00:23:24,120 Ally: mm-hmm. 593 00:23:24,465 --> 00:23:27,075 John Hsu: I think that's, uh, yeah, those are our leverage points. 594 00:23:27,075 --> 00:23:29,805 There's, yeah, leverage points that we need to use, I think, and 595 00:23:29,895 --> 00:23:31,245 I'm not sure if Bernie, I agree. 596 00:23:31,245 --> 00:23:31,605 Ally: Screen 597 00:23:31,605 --> 00:23:32,715 John Hsu: all those so. 598 00:23:33,075 --> 00:23:33,165 Ally: Yep. 599 00:23:33,690 --> 00:23:33,960 John Hsu: Yeah, 600 00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:34,890 Ally: I agree. 601 00:23:34,890 --> 00:23:37,530 But I mean, he did, I think he's been effective. 602 00:23:37,530 --> 00:23:41,460 Does some, he's been effective at pushing the party further left. 603 00:23:41,610 --> 00:23:42,390 Um, oh, yes. 604 00:23:42,395 --> 00:23:45,720 And, and he, and he connects with people, I mean, his ideas are 605 00:23:45,780 --> 00:23:45,990 John Hsu: Yeah. 606 00:23:46,170 --> 00:23:48,450 Ally: Great ideas and they benefit everyone. 607 00:23:48,450 --> 00:23:52,650 And you know, I think maybe there's a stigma around the 608 00:23:52,650 --> 00:23:54,885 word progressive or the mm-hmm. 609 00:23:54,965 --> 00:23:57,450 You know, or for some reason mm-hmm. 610 00:23:57,690 --> 00:23:59,100 It doesn't, people don't. 611 00:23:59,390 --> 00:24:03,710 Relate progressivism to things that actually benefit 612 00:24:03,710 --> 00:24:05,780 them in real life already. 613 00:24:06,110 --> 00:24:06,200 Yeah. 614 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,620 And can benefit them more if we just embrace those types 615 00:24:09,620 --> 00:24:11,240 of policies going forward. 616 00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:11,870 Um, okay. 617 00:24:11,870 --> 00:24:14,990 So back to you were involved in a nursing strike. 618 00:24:14,990 --> 00:24:15,080 Mm-hmm. 619 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,330 Tell me what happened there. 620 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:17,690 Mm-hmm. 621 00:24:17,930 --> 00:24:19,070 What, what was that all about? 622 00:24:19,670 --> 00:24:22,070 John Hsu: Yeah, so the nurses at Robert Wood Johnson, new Brunswick, 623 00:24:22,730 --> 00:24:27,560 they decided to go on strike because of over of Understaffing. 624 00:24:28,010 --> 00:24:28,040 Okay. 625 00:24:28,250 --> 00:24:32,720 Uh, there's a, a nurse to patient ratio or patient to nurse ratio. 626 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:32,810 Mm-hmm. 627 00:24:33,260 --> 00:24:37,040 That, um, there's too many patients per nurses and that's very stressful. 628 00:24:37,340 --> 00:24:37,550 Ally: Yeah. 629 00:24:37,610 --> 00:24:41,630 John Hsu: Nurses are nervous about making mistakes and getting blamed 630 00:24:41,630 --> 00:24:43,130 for it and losing their license. 631 00:24:43,490 --> 00:24:43,670 Ally: Sure. 632 00:24:43,670 --> 00:24:43,700 Uh, 633 00:24:44,060 --> 00:24:48,680 John Hsu: or, you know, obviously, uh, you know, losing lives, uh, 634 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:50,630 as a result of, uh, understaffing. 635 00:24:51,410 --> 00:24:55,040 Uh, so they decided to go on strike for a better. 636 00:24:56,475 --> 00:25:00,635 Uh, better contract and for, uh, mandates for, for, uh, ratios. 637 00:25:01,685 --> 00:25:05,105 And, um, during that time I just, I started to spend a lot of time 638 00:25:05,105 --> 00:25:10,085 with them maybe oh, 10, 20 hours a week, uh, depending on the week. 639 00:25:10,085 --> 00:25:10,145 Wow. 640 00:25:10,545 --> 00:25:10,755 Yeah. 641 00:25:10,755 --> 00:25:11,865 So I got to know them really well. 642 00:25:12,075 --> 00:25:12,655 Ally: Yeah, yeah, 643 00:25:13,665 --> 00:25:13,785 John Hsu: yeah. 644 00:25:13,785 --> 00:25:16,275 Some of them are canvassing with, have been canvassing with me. 645 00:25:16,545 --> 00:25:17,475 Ally: Oh, that's great. 646 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:17,790 And all that. 647 00:25:17,790 --> 00:25:17,990 Yeah. 648 00:25:18,045 --> 00:25:20,025 And what was the outcome of all of that? 649 00:25:20,970 --> 00:25:25,710 John Hsu: So we were able to, uh, pass resolutions, local resolutions, 650 00:25:25,710 --> 00:25:27,530 30 of them supporting the nurses. 651 00:25:27,530 --> 00:25:29,690 We went down to Trenton, that's the capital. 652 00:25:30,170 --> 00:25:30,290 Mm-hmm. 653 00:25:30,530 --> 00:25:34,940 Um, and I, I spearheaded, actually, it was my idea to do the resolutions 654 00:25:34,940 --> 00:25:39,800 and then I helped train them for lobbying and, um, 'cause this, this, 655 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:45,320 uh, nurse, this particular, uh, nursing union, they are not as political 656 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:46,550 as some of the other bigger ones. 657 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:47,060 Ally: Sure. 658 00:25:47,210 --> 00:25:47,270 So 659 00:25:47,510 --> 00:25:48,590 John Hsu: I went down there to help them. 660 00:25:49,220 --> 00:25:53,090 We, we make meet up with the, uh, the bigger nurse unions and 661 00:25:53,090 --> 00:25:53,180 Ally: mm-hmm. 662 00:25:53,630 --> 00:25:56,510 John Hsu: You, I got to know those leader, uh, those leaders as well, and they were 663 00:25:56,510 --> 00:25:57,890 really happy that I was helping them. 664 00:25:58,510 --> 00:26:02,620 Yeah, so we, we got a lot of senators and, uh, uh, state senators and 665 00:26:02,620 --> 00:26:04,630 assembly people to, uh, get on the bill. 666 00:26:04,860 --> 00:26:07,170 Unfortunately, it, well, they told me that it was the 667 00:26:07,170 --> 00:26:08,430 furthest the bill has ever gone. 668 00:26:08,970 --> 00:26:09,210 Ally: Okay. 669 00:26:09,210 --> 00:26:09,240 He 670 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:12,420 John Hsu: had the, uh, the chair of the, uh, the chair of the health committee. 671 00:26:12,630 --> 00:26:13,770 You know, he had a good hearing. 672 00:26:13,770 --> 00:26:15,750 He had a, you know, really good speech about it. 673 00:26:16,290 --> 00:26:19,200 And, you know, the hospitals had their people, uh, talk 674 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:20,670 about why it's not needed. 675 00:26:20,675 --> 00:26:21,005 Ally: Mm-hmm. 676 00:26:21,145 --> 00:26:21,365 Um. 677 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,450 John Hsu: But, you know, we, we pushed it forward. 678 00:26:24,450 --> 00:26:26,730 I think you know, we, we could, 679 00:26:26,910 --> 00:26:29,340 Ally: and sometimes that's how you make progress. 680 00:26:29,340 --> 00:26:33,120 It's these little iterative steps, you know, might not have worked 681 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:36,480 out this time, but you just push it forward, push it forward, and 682 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,700 eventually the momentum makes it happen. 683 00:26:39,750 --> 00:26:40,860 John Hsu: That's what we hope, so, yeah. 684 00:26:40,865 --> 00:26:41,025 Yeah. 685 00:26:41,030 --> 00:26:43,950 So, well, and then they got, they got the contract and then, 686 00:26:44,550 --> 00:26:45,060 Ally: oh, okay. 687 00:26:45,180 --> 00:26:45,930 John Hsu: Yeah, so. 688 00:26:46,700 --> 00:26:50,690 Uh, well, their contract is expiring soon again, so 689 00:26:51,230 --> 00:26:52,010 Ally: back to the fight. 690 00:26:52,250 --> 00:26:54,230 John Hsu: It might be, it might be back to the fight actually. 691 00:26:54,290 --> 00:26:54,560 Ally: Yeah. 692 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:55,280 John Hsu: So we'll see. 693 00:26:55,670 --> 00:26:59,270 Ally: And you know, it's interesting and I think that's great that you did all that. 694 00:26:59,270 --> 00:27:02,870 I mean, spending so much time with those nurses must have felt great 695 00:27:02,870 --> 00:27:04,670 for them to have that support. 696 00:27:05,270 --> 00:27:09,110 And I think Democrats, by and large, we, we do that, right? 697 00:27:09,110 --> 00:27:13,100 We, we definitely see, injustice in the workplace. 698 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:13,370 Mm-hmm. 699 00:27:13,610 --> 00:27:14,900 Particularly with unions. 700 00:27:14,900 --> 00:27:19,610 We always try and, and you know, I think Dems historically, 701 00:27:19,610 --> 00:27:21,470 we, we care about unions. 702 00:27:21,470 --> 00:27:27,260 We care about you know, championing people that are, being taken 703 00:27:27,260 --> 00:27:30,530 advantage of not having the support that they need in the workplace. 704 00:27:30,830 --> 00:27:30,950 John Hsu: Hmm. 705 00:27:30,980 --> 00:27:35,180 Ally: And despite all that, John, it feels like we've lost Democrats, 706 00:27:35,180 --> 00:27:39,650 I should say, have lost some ground with working class voters. 707 00:27:40,185 --> 00:27:44,510 I, I have a hard time understanding the correlation between the two, but do you 708 00:27:44,510 --> 00:27:47,185 have any thoughts on why that may be? 709 00:27:48,215 --> 00:27:49,775 John Hsu: Sure, sure. 710 00:27:49,775 --> 00:27:52,625 So, well, I coached basketball, uh, rec basketball. 711 00:27:52,625 --> 00:27:53,195 Ally: Mm-hmm. 712 00:27:53,375 --> 00:27:54,455 John Hsu: Uh, for fun. 713 00:27:54,485 --> 00:27:57,875 It was because I was at a polling station and one of the, the other 714 00:27:58,325 --> 00:28:01,775 person there was a ref he invited me to, to coach basketball. 715 00:28:02,195 --> 00:28:03,545 So I done it for two seasons. 716 00:28:03,645 --> 00:28:07,845 And one of the pairs was a union worker, uh, and Republican. 717 00:28:07,995 --> 00:28:11,535 So I do think, um, I do think there's a perception of the 718 00:28:11,535 --> 00:28:13,590 Democratic party, uh, you know. 719 00:28:14,505 --> 00:28:16,815 Focused on cultural issues and 720 00:28:16,995 --> 00:28:17,085 Ally: mm-hmm. 721 00:28:17,325 --> 00:28:17,955 John Hsu: Things like that. 722 00:28:18,405 --> 00:28:21,435 When I was talking to this union worker who's a Republican, uh, one of the 723 00:28:21,435 --> 00:28:26,115 parents, he, you know, I was trying to convince him about Medicare for all. 724 00:28:26,115 --> 00:28:29,835 I think he was buying that and, you know, he was all for the four day 725 00:28:29,835 --> 00:28:31,215 work, work, work week, and Sure. 726 00:28:31,845 --> 00:28:37,350 So, um, yeah, I think you, you know, and I think we've seen that in. 727 00:28:38,175 --> 00:28:38,745 Other states. 728 00:28:38,745 --> 00:28:42,585 I, I'm not the expert on that, but like, I know like West Virginia was a very 729 00:28:42,585 --> 00:28:45,075 blue state and very union heavy state. 730 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:45,220 Mm-hmm. 731 00:28:45,345 --> 00:28:47,175 And, uh, they lost that 'cause. 732 00:28:47,175 --> 00:28:47,265 Yep. 733 00:28:47,775 --> 00:28:51,675 Apparently the Democrats didn't help them, uh, didn't help the working, 734 00:28:51,675 --> 00:28:53,115 working class and the unions and 735 00:28:53,115 --> 00:28:53,625 Ally: Right. 736 00:28:53,925 --> 00:28:55,785 John Hsu: Uh, there's been a shift away from that. 737 00:28:55,785 --> 00:28:59,595 Like, you know, Chuck Schumer, he talked about like, oh, for every work, 738 00:28:59,655 --> 00:29:03,405 every uh, working class person we lose here, we're gonna gain one or two 739 00:29:03,405 --> 00:29:04,785 in the suburbs, something like that. 740 00:29:05,395 --> 00:29:10,590 So I think there has been a, a. Emphasis at least, uh, from the, the leadership 741 00:29:10,590 --> 00:29:12,120 and the establishment away from that. 742 00:29:12,570 --> 00:29:16,800 And, you know, there are good democrats that, uh, want to help others. 743 00:29:17,010 --> 00:29:17,100 Ally: Mm-hmm. 744 00:29:17,340 --> 00:29:18,420 John Hsu: Uh, help the working class. 745 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,150 Uh, but you know, it's a big tent, right? 746 00:29:21,150 --> 00:29:23,580 So it's, it's not, not all of us are. 747 00:29:24,340 --> 00:29:25,330 Pulling in that direction. 748 00:29:25,630 --> 00:29:25,990 Ally: Right? 749 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:26,650 Yeah. 750 00:29:26,650 --> 00:29:29,050 It is a big tent, but I do think as a party, 751 00:29:29,230 --> 00:29:29,470 John Hsu: yeah. 752 00:29:29,540 --> 00:29:31,790 Ally: I'd love to see us get back to Oh 753 00:29:31,910 --> 00:29:31,970 John Hsu: yeah. 754 00:29:32,330 --> 00:29:36,680 Ally: Kind of our, our gra our roots, our foundation, what we were initially 755 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:41,150 designed to do, helping, helping middle class, working class Americans. 756 00:29:41,150 --> 00:29:45,700 So, I love that you're doing that in, you know, locally in your area. 757 00:29:45,700 --> 00:29:46,960 I think that's really commendable. 758 00:29:47,620 --> 00:29:47,985 John Hsu: Oh, thank you. 759 00:29:47,985 --> 00:29:47,995 Yeah. 760 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:49,420 It's really nice of you say that. 761 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:50,650 Ally: Absolutely. 762 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:56,530 Alright, so you know this podcast, we are all about platforming, 763 00:29:56,770 --> 00:29:59,350 progressive grassroots candidates. 764 00:29:59,590 --> 00:30:02,530 I ask this question to every guest, I already know the answer, 765 00:30:02,530 --> 00:30:06,310 but for the audience, do you take any corporate PAC money? 766 00:30:06,555 --> 00:30:06,775 John Hsu: No. 767 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:07,750 No, we don't. 768 00:30:08,140 --> 00:30:11,320 Ally: Do you take any a APAC money or any foreign influence money? 769 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:15,010 John Hsu: No APAC money, no influence from the foreign governments. 770 00:30:15,130 --> 00:30:15,730 Ally: Perfect. 771 00:30:16,090 --> 00:30:18,250 And you know, I think that is. 772 00:30:19,795 --> 00:30:24,205 I think that might be the way forward for progressives is to talk more 773 00:30:24,265 --> 00:30:26,215 about the money of it all, right? 774 00:30:26,215 --> 00:30:26,305 Mm-hmm. 775 00:30:26,905 --> 00:30:32,245 Because progressives, you know, we have this we have sort of this threshold 776 00:30:32,245 --> 00:30:37,945 and it's like when it comes to big money, we, we reject that by and large, 777 00:30:38,425 --> 00:30:41,725 and I feel like most American voters. 778 00:30:41,935 --> 00:30:43,465 Would appreciate and respect that. 779 00:30:43,465 --> 00:30:43,525 Yeah. 780 00:30:43,795 --> 00:30:48,925 Knowing that that their vote for you or for other progressive candidates 781 00:30:49,255 --> 00:30:54,145 isn't a vote for corporations, isn't a vote for foreign interests 782 00:30:54,145 --> 00:30:57,985 when it comes to voting on issues that could negatively impact them. 783 00:30:58,345 --> 00:31:01,105 So maybe from a messaging perspective. 784 00:31:01,110 --> 00:31:01,410 Mm-hmm. 785 00:31:01,490 --> 00:31:02,370 Hopefully we can get. 786 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:08,410 Around that as a, as a movement of, you know, I, I can't imagine any voter 787 00:31:08,410 --> 00:31:12,820 that would say, Nope, I want the person that's taken money from corporations. 788 00:31:13,180 --> 00:31:13,450 John Hsu: Yeah. 789 00:31:13,870 --> 00:31:14,620 No, definitely. 790 00:31:14,710 --> 00:31:18,070 I think, I think there's a wide range agreement on that. 791 00:31:18,250 --> 00:31:18,370 Ally: Mm-hmm. 792 00:31:18,670 --> 00:31:20,260 John Hsu: Uh, I could share two stories from today. 793 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:20,680 Ally: Yeah. 794 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:21,490 I'd love to hear them. 795 00:31:21,490 --> 00:31:21,580 Um, 796 00:31:21,910 --> 00:31:26,740 John Hsu: so, uh, we were canvassing up at that end road and on the way back 797 00:31:27,940 --> 00:31:29,420 for someone we canvased, uh mm-hmm. 798 00:31:30,325 --> 00:31:35,635 Uh, opened the door and hey, John, and she like, and she asked me. 799 00:31:36,865 --> 00:31:37,975 You don't take APAC money, do you? 800 00:31:38,290 --> 00:31:39,290 I'm like, no, I don't. 801 00:31:39,835 --> 00:31:41,065 Ally: Wow. 802 00:31:41,065 --> 00:31:41,605 John Hsu: I do not. 803 00:31:41,605 --> 00:31:41,935 I do not. 804 00:31:41,935 --> 00:31:41,965 I 805 00:31:41,965 --> 00:31:42,925 Ally: love to hear that. 806 00:31:43,165 --> 00:31:43,435 John Hsu: And she said, 807 00:31:43,435 --> 00:31:45,115 Ally: people are thinking about that now. 808 00:31:45,230 --> 00:31:45,890 And that's, she said, 809 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:46,210 John Hsu: yeah. 810 00:31:46,510 --> 00:31:47,845 Ally: And that's a progressive thing. 811 00:31:48,055 --> 00:31:49,675 Republicans don't talk about it. 812 00:31:49,945 --> 00:31:51,805 Establishment Dems don't talk about it. 813 00:31:51,835 --> 00:31:51,985 Yeah. 814 00:31:51,985 --> 00:31:54,595 That's, that's purely a progressive mindset. 815 00:31:54,715 --> 00:31:57,955 John Hsu: And she, she said, oh, I looked up your website and I saw it and I just 816 00:31:57,955 --> 00:31:59,665 wanted to hear you say it like, yeah. 817 00:31:59,670 --> 00:31:59,770 Ally: Okay. 818 00:31:59,775 --> 00:32:00,955 That's so cool. 819 00:32:01,015 --> 00:32:01,975 I love that. 820 00:32:02,155 --> 00:32:02,305 John Hsu: Yeah, 821 00:32:02,305 --> 00:32:03,025 Ally: I love that. 822 00:32:04,885 --> 00:32:07,735 John Hsu: Another, the other story, one of our teams, uh, you know, 823 00:32:07,735 --> 00:32:10,015 we go, we have a couple teams. 824 00:32:10,015 --> 00:32:13,675 So one of our teams was going one direction, and my, uh, my, me 825 00:32:13,675 --> 00:32:16,585 and my partner were a little bit behind, uh, as we went forward. 826 00:32:16,735 --> 00:32:16,855 Ally: Mm-hmm. 827 00:32:17,095 --> 00:32:18,745 John Hsu: The person came out and called us again. 828 00:32:19,810 --> 00:32:21,370 Actually he said the same thing. 829 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:22,090 Yeah. 830 00:32:22,180 --> 00:32:22,750 It was just, 831 00:32:22,930 --> 00:32:23,740 Ally: he said the same thing. 832 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:24,820 You don't take APAC money. 833 00:32:24,820 --> 00:32:24,830 John Hsu: Yeah. 834 00:32:24,830 --> 00:32:25,845 You take a APAC money. 835 00:32:25,915 --> 00:32:26,205 Ally: Yeah. 836 00:32:26,205 --> 00:32:26,405 And 837 00:32:26,405 --> 00:32:27,245 John Hsu: I said, I said no. 838 00:32:27,430 --> 00:32:28,750 And he was so excited. 839 00:32:29,260 --> 00:32:30,160 Ally: I think that's great. 840 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:32,890 I think that, think that's great that people, I think it's great that voters 841 00:32:32,890 --> 00:32:37,240 are thinking about that and, and they're paying attention to candidates 842 00:32:37,780 --> 00:32:41,860 based on the fact that they are rejecting APAC money, corporate money. 843 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,485 And again, like I said, that's. 844 00:32:44,340 --> 00:32:46,320 That's unique to progressives. 845 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,460 No one else is going to talk about that because it just happens. 846 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:52,440 And we, and we don't talk about it, right? 847 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:54,180 We just take the corporate PAC money. 848 00:32:54,390 --> 00:32:57,630 They take the APAC money, but they don't really, they shy away 849 00:32:57,870 --> 00:32:59,160 from being public about that. 850 00:33:00,750 --> 00:33:04,830 So I love that people are thinking about it in your area and asking you about it. 851 00:33:05,070 --> 00:33:08,760 Even if they've read it, they just need to make sure that was funny, that it's real. 852 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:09,030 John Hsu: Yeah. 853 00:33:09,030 --> 00:33:10,860 Ally: I think that's, I think that's great. 854 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:11,400 John Hsu: Yeah. 855 00:33:11,970 --> 00:33:12,300 Ally: Okay. 856 00:33:12,300 --> 00:33:17,940 Well, you know, before we wrap up, tell us how, what support do you need right now? 857 00:33:17,940 --> 00:33:18,300 John? 858 00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:20,460 Do you need donations? 859 00:33:20,460 --> 00:33:21,960 Do you need volunteers? 860 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:23,430 Do you need all of the above? 861 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:26,310 Also, by the way, before we get to that, I love your social 862 00:33:26,310 --> 00:33:28,380 media, like the look of it. 863 00:33:28,470 --> 00:33:31,110 I think it is that a volunteer that's doing all that for you? 864 00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:32,340 It looks fantastic. 865 00:33:32,730 --> 00:33:37,140 John Hsu: Well, this is, this is someone who worked with me in our revolution Okay. 866 00:33:37,140 --> 00:33:39,270 And is helping me now and started as a volunteer, but. 867 00:33:40,245 --> 00:33:41,685 We're, we're paying her because 868 00:33:41,715 --> 00:33:43,425 Ally: Yeah, it's a lot of work. 869 00:33:43,995 --> 00:33:44,365 John Hsu: She's doing too 870 00:33:44,365 --> 00:33:44,385 Ally: much work. 871 00:33:44,385 --> 00:33:44,435 She's doing too much work. 872 00:33:44,435 --> 00:33:45,045 It's a lot of work. 873 00:33:45,075 --> 00:33:45,345 John Hsu: Yeah. 874 00:33:45,345 --> 00:33:46,305 Ally: But the, but it looks great. 875 00:33:46,305 --> 00:33:46,395 It's 876 00:33:46,395 --> 00:33:46,605 John Hsu: amazing. 877 00:33:46,905 --> 00:33:48,315 Ally: I think it looks fantastic. 878 00:33:48,345 --> 00:33:48,765 Yeah. 879 00:33:48,765 --> 00:33:49,545 John Hsu: Well, I'll let her know that. 880 00:33:49,785 --> 00:33:51,285 Ally: Really impressed with your socials. 881 00:33:51,345 --> 00:33:52,035 John Hsu: Yeah, that's Hannah. 882 00:33:52,035 --> 00:33:54,225 Ally: Um, what's her, what's her name? 883 00:33:54,225 --> 00:33:54,585 Hannah. 884 00:33:54,585 --> 00:33:54,945 John Hsu: Hannah? 885 00:33:54,945 --> 00:33:55,305 Yeah. 886 00:33:55,305 --> 00:33:55,640 Shout out to Hannah. 887 00:33:55,725 --> 00:33:56,805 Ally: Shout out to Hannah. 888 00:33:56,835 --> 00:33:57,825 You're doing a great job. 889 00:33:58,375 --> 00:34:00,115 And you know, they're the kind of the. 890 00:34:00,645 --> 00:34:03,645 The faces behind all of this, it's important to shout them out. 891 00:34:03,675 --> 00:34:06,435 'cause she's definitely, she's definitely done a good job with that. 892 00:34:07,005 --> 00:34:07,245 Oh, thank you. 893 00:34:07,245 --> 00:34:08,595 Um, so, okay. 894 00:34:08,595 --> 00:34:09,675 Back to your campaign. 895 00:34:09,675 --> 00:34:11,475 Tell us where you need help. 896 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:11,560 Mm-hmm. 897 00:34:11,565 --> 00:34:13,845 How people can help you, how to find you. 898 00:34:14,295 --> 00:34:14,625 John Hsu: Yeah. 899 00:34:14,955 --> 00:34:18,320 So John Tree for congress.com, you could fill out the form. 900 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,320 On the website there, even if, um, you're not ready to donate, 901 00:34:23,410 --> 00:34:24,910 obviously we love donations. 902 00:34:24,940 --> 00:34:26,590 Uh, small donations are great. 903 00:34:26,830 --> 00:34:28,630 $5, $10, anything. 904 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:32,170 Uh, you can just sign up for our updates to see what we're up to. 905 00:34:32,260 --> 00:34:37,360 You'll see how grassroots we are and how much, um, we've done, how much 906 00:34:37,390 --> 00:34:38,560 work we've done in the community. 907 00:34:38,890 --> 00:34:41,440 And, uh, I think it's a really nice thing to see. 908 00:34:42,100 --> 00:34:45,250 And, uh, or you could follow our, follow our Instagram as well. 909 00:34:45,555 --> 00:34:46,785 Uh, that's, that's good. 910 00:34:47,085 --> 00:34:51,255 That's a way to see, uh, where, uh, see what we're doing and get all 911 00:34:51,255 --> 00:34:54,615 the updates and see the work, the wonderful work that Hannah's doing. 912 00:34:55,030 --> 00:34:58,425 Ally: It, it, it is wonderful work and, you know, you guys are making 913 00:34:58,755 --> 00:35:01,755 really frequent updates and they just are aesthetically pleasing, 914 00:35:02,025 --> 00:35:04,245 visual, so just like the way it looks. 915 00:35:04,345 --> 00:35:05,155 But yeah. 916 00:35:05,155 --> 00:35:05,905 That's great. 917 00:35:05,905 --> 00:35:06,355 So John's. 918 00:35:07,020 --> 00:35:10,470 John Chu for Congress, I think you can see his name behind him. 919 00:35:10,500 --> 00:35:11,340 Check him out. 920 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:13,360 Give what you can small, do. 921 00:35:13,570 --> 00:35:17,470 Dollar donations are gonna make all the difference in these primaries 922 00:35:17,470 --> 00:35:19,150 and in these midterm elections. 923 00:35:19,540 --> 00:35:22,420 And uh, it's just been such a pleasure to talk to you today. 924 00:35:22,660 --> 00:35:23,860 I really appreciate you taking the 925 00:35:23,860 --> 00:35:23,950 John Hsu: time. 926 00:35:23,950 --> 00:35:24,580 Me too, Allison. 927 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:25,715 Yeah, this was my pleasure. 928 00:35:26,230 --> 00:35:29,110 Uh, I really enjoyed this conversation and it's, it's nice 929 00:35:29,110 --> 00:35:30,455 to come back and like, reflect on 930 00:35:30,855 --> 00:35:31,135 Ally: Yeah. 931 00:35:31,205 --> 00:35:32,110 John Hsu: Reflect on things. 932 00:35:32,110 --> 00:35:33,220 So I appreciate the questions. 933 00:35:33,250 --> 00:35:33,520 Ally: Yeah. 934 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,070 I'm sure you don't have much time to do that because you're working 935 00:35:36,070 --> 00:35:40,900 so darn hard on this campaign and I see it, I see it on your socials. 936 00:35:40,900 --> 00:35:42,160 I'll continue to follow you. 937 00:35:42,460 --> 00:35:43,210 Stay connected. 938 00:35:43,210 --> 00:35:44,320 If you ever need anything, thank you. 939 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:48,340 Please reach out and, uh, be happy to make you a friend of the show. 940 00:35:48,820 --> 00:35:49,615 John Hsu: Oh, thank you Allison. 941 00:35:49,615 --> 00:35:50,215 Really appreciate it. 942 00:35:50,805 --> 00:35:51,465 Ally: Thank you. 943 00:35:51,465 --> 00:35:52,305 Have a great night. 944 00:35:52,665 --> 00:35:52,995 John Hsu: You too. 945 00:35:52,995 --> 00:35:53,595 Have a great night.