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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.
Ally: Hey, Seth
Seth: Hey, Aly
Ally: Another great guest today.
We have Chris Ahuja.
So Chris ran for Congress in California.
Unfortunately, he did not win his primary,
however, he's still really active.
Um, he's a creator.
I, I follow him on Instagram.
He is always kind of giving
it to Trump, which I love.
Um, I imagine he's still pretty
active in, in his community.
We'll find out.
But I love to talk to candidates
who've won and, and unfortunately
lost their primaries because it's
nice to have that debrief and
understand what the process looks like-
Seth: Yeah
…
Ally: to run for office, because
a lot of people don't know.
If you've never run for
office, how would you know?
Seth: Exactly.
Yeah.
And so it's a good thing that Chris
is here to kinda let us know a
little, little insider information- A
Ally: little inside
baseball … about, about
Seth: how it goes down.
Ally: Yeah.
Yeah.
So let's welcome him in.
Hey, Chris.
Welcome to Left Out Loud.
Christopher Ahuja: Hey, good to be here.
I really appreciate the opportunity,
and, uh, yeah, I'm excited about this
conversation and just letting you
guys know how, how it's all been.
Ally: Yeah.
So let's start there.
Um, you didn't win your primary.
And when was it?
It was… Time both stands still
and moves at the speed of light
under this administration, so-
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah
…
Ally: was it a few weeks ago?
Christopher Ahuja: It,
it… Yeah, literally.
I, I mean, now it feels like, it feels
like it was a, a few months ago, but
no, it really was just a few weeks ago.
It was June 2nd.
Yeah.
Ally: Okay.
Christopher Ahuja: So,
um, yeah- I ran in 2024-
Ally: Mm-hmm
…
Christopher Ahuja: which was very
different than this time around in 2026.
And we didn't win, which
obviously you wanna win.
I'm a competitive person.
Sure.
But, uh, I think this time around,
especially in 2026 with so many
different races across the country,
there's all these grassroots candidates.
Ally: Mm.
Christopher Ahuja: And, and then of course
social media, using social media to get
your name out there and really let people
know that there are options out there.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And for
me, I think I learned a lot.
I learned so much this past cycle and,
um, yeah, I have all sorts of sto- I have
all sorts of stories, um- Oh, I can't
Ally: wait to hear them.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, when you, when
you, when you're getting attacked a lot
on social media by, uh, what seems to be
coordinated attacks, um, and then they
slowly stop attacking you, you're like,
"No, keep, keep, uh, keep attacking me-"
Yeah … 'cause there's, there's some
very coordinated attacks, um, that weren't
Ally: just- And, and, and
do you think they were…
Were they from the right or were they
from the establishment Democrats?
Were they a mixture of both?
Christopher Ahuja: Uh, you know,
the k- the specific coordinated
trolls, I think they were from
within the Democratic Party.
Yeah.
Uh, uh, or you know, um, what's the word?
Allies of the incumbent.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, y- I
don't have proof of it, but-
Ally: Sure
Christopher Ahuja: it was
pretty interesting the
timing, uh, the consistency.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, and one of
the trolls, um, on TikTok, they
actually then wrote something I
think a week or two ago, and they're
like, "Oh, you're still posting.
Well, I'll give you that." Um, hmm.
Ally: Wow.
Christopher Ahuja: And that
Ally: was- Like you should just m- cease
to exist if you don't win your race.
Well, the,
Seth: the grift is over, guys.
Right.
The grift is over.
Yeah.
Yeah, right.
So you just- Here- So you
just stop talking, right?
Christopher Ahuja: I mean, I've seen
that too from other people, but, uh-
Seth: Sure
…
Christopher Ahuja: from, from… Yeah,
no, and you guys have too I'm sure.
But- Mm-hmm … um, yeah,
I had no intention to stop.
You know, it's good to take a break.
Like, I walked my dog for an hour earlier.
I haven't, on a weekend I haven't
done that 'cause I've been, you know,
canvassing for pretty much like a year.
Yeah.
Knock on doors consistently every weekend.
Um, s- I do enjoy that.
It is fun to talk to people,
but it's good to take a break.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Kind of, uh,
Ally: breathe.
Christopher Ahuja: Decompress.
Ally: Yeah,
Christopher Ahuja: decompress.
That's the word I was looking for.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ally: Yeah.
Decompress.
It's, it's such a huge commitment
and sacrifice, especially if you're
a progressive grassroots candidate.
You don't have a ton of
money in the coffers, right?
You get small dollar donations.
No big PACs are contributing.
So you've gotta be out
there pounding the pavement.
It has to be exhausting.
Christopher Ahuja: It…
Yeah, it's exhausting.
Uh, when I ran in 2024, that was literally
like six and a half weeks, and so I
didn't even have, like, a website up.
That was still being built out.
Um, that was- Like, like a crazy sprint.
Seth: Mm.
Christopher Ahuja: And so this
time around, um, I didn't keep the
energy like that for 10 months.
Y- you know, y- you have to
take a break a little bit.
Sure.
Of, of course everyone's a volunteer so
have to be respectful of everyone's time.
Mm-hmm.
And you do what you can, and you
organize the best that you can.
Um, but at the same time
still, um, kinda map it out.
So this time around there was
more time to kinda look at things
from a very strategic standpoint.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And,
and that's what I did.
I started implementing social media
strategies back in September of 2024.
So, uh, I didn't do that before.
I didn't really have a big social
media presence the first time around.
Mm-hmm.
And so using all the platforms, being
consistent about it, being diligent
about it, and creating attention.
That's kind of what that goal
was because we're grassroots so
we don't have a lot of money.
And-
Seth: Yeah
…
Christopher Ahuja: and for the… Yeah,
I think, yeah, everything I posted for
this cycle, everything was organic.
So when we reached millions
of people, that's all organic.
It wasn't paid at all.
Obviously it's good to pay to boost things
specifically for the district so you're-
Ally: Sure
Christopher Ahuja: turning out the vote.
Um, but yeah, that, that was…
I learned a lot and i- yeah.
But it's good to just chill.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Seth: Sure.
And, and that, and that's perfect
'cause that kinda leads into
what I was gonna ask you about.
Yeah.
Because obviously this is
your second time through.
And so what do you, what do you
feel like the lessons were, uh,
from the first and the second one?
And, and what, how do you feel
like you kind of improved?
You talked about the social media game.
Yeah.
What do you feel like you really improved
on the most, and, and what can you
take into possibly another run at it,
uh, and, and take from those lessons?
Christopher Ahuja: Good question, Seth.
Um, well, what, what I learned from this
is- Well, and I already knew that…
Sorry, I hurt my shoulder kinda
like doing jujitsu or something,
so I'm switching my arm chairs.
I was
Seth: gonna ask you about that too.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Uh, uh, good, we can talk about that.
Um, so the, the main thing is, uh,
my main strategist, uh, he's an
expert in political science and
voter statistics, voter behaviors.
He's a PhD, uh, from the
University of Michigan, for all
the Michigan fans out there.
So even in 20- 2024, uh, like I knew
the same things, but this time around it
started to really connect, because name
recognition is the most important thing.
Mm. And we're in June still, but even
the past few weeks, I was doing a really
cool job, uh, doing research for public
transit in Orange County, and even though
I was in Orange County, which isn't the
district, there were people who knew who
I was just because of my social media.
Seth: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And I was
kinda shocked by that, because
I wasn't around those people.
My, like, team members were like,
"Hey," somebody was asking like, "Hey,
is that Chris over there?" And they're
like, "Yeah, that's Chris." And like,
"I watch all of his videos." And I, I
thought my team members were kinda just,
you know, blowing smoke up my ass- Mm
just kinda like, you
know, 'cause I'm- Numbers
Ally: look good, Chris.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, exactly.
We're
Ally: really, we're really making a, we're
really making a, uh, impact here, Chris.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, yeah.
And so, uh, I was like, "They really
said that?" And they're like, "Yeah, this
person watch all your videos", and then
somebody else said they vote for you,
but they lived in LA, in Los Angeles.
And then that happened, you know, in the
district where I was at the grocery store,
I think a few days before the election.
And the reason I bring this up is because
name recognition is what people remember.
So- Mm … unfortunately, people don't
necessarily always vote on the issues.
Because if that was the case,
um, nobody would've voted for
Brad Sherman, the incumbent.
Seth: Right.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, but-
That guy, he blasted ads 24
hours a day using all his money.
So you see his ads all the time.
He copied my videos from a year ago, my
walking and talking videos about ICE.
And so but people see that, they go,
"Oh, that person's against ICE. They're
against Donald Trump," whatever it is.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: But they
just remember the name.
Yeah.
They don't actually know that they
never vote to support the things
they're actually talking about.
Seth: Right.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, so I
learned a lot about social media.
People recognize you.
They're like, "Oh, I watch all
your videos." Um, so that was
kind of a humbling experience.
Um, but yeah, that's a big takeaway.
Name recognition, how you build
that if you don't have the resources
that, uh, an institutional Democratic
establishment campaign has.
Seth: Yeah,
Christopher Ahuja: and- And yeah, it's,
it's definitely challenging, uh, even
for people who do have money, which
in our race we could see people who
did have money, uh, and the money that
they spent, um, not, not good at all.
Mm-hmm.
So for us, cost per vote,
um, yeah, we did fine.
Um, what was that other
question you had, Seth?
Sorry, I forgot.
Seth: I was just figuring out, like,
you know, what, you know, uh, you
guys did better this time around.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Like, well, where do you feel like
you improved the most in terms of
wha- whatever those metrics may be?
'Cause I know that there are just so many
different things that, like, you, you…
that you have to do to keep up with.
Yeah.
And so yeah, just like that and, and
like, you know, any kind of lessons
that you learned from that you
can kind of take into another run.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
So in terms of improving, well,
in 2024 there wasn't a whole
lot of time to really organize.
Certain… You know, it was only six
weeks, so some weekends we'd have
a lot of people knocking on doors.
Seth: Hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: But overall, I
don't have the exact numbers in front
of me, but using, uh, our canvassing
software and cutting our turf, oh, we
scaled that by… I don't know what the
number would be the percentage-wise,
but by a, a massive amount.
Hmm.
So we were able to, uh, be
consistent every weekend, uh,
and knock on lots of doors.
We'd have different goals.
And so when we did the first time
around, some were the same people,
some people weren't available.
But the first time around, uh, we
had a different software, which
unfortunately, that software's shut down.
However, we, we used the new
software that everybody uses here,
and we were able to be consistent.
We're like, "Hey, let's do 200 houses
th- than this, these two hours. Let's
try to do 400 houses. Let's try to
recruit so many people." And just
by doing that, we improved a lot.
And, and then, and then towards the
end, even like, I guess six, seven
weeks ago, using another software
specifically for texting or for phone
banking and seeing how that works,
it's like, oh, this is really cool.
We're able… We- in one hour, we
called- Uh, I don't know, 400 people.
Mm. Um, so you can kind of see like,
okay, you have your canvassing,
your turf, you have your phone
banking, you have your text banking.
Obviously you wanna be specific and
not waste money, and I can see that
where other people in other campaigns
are boosting their ads in areas
that are not part of the district.
That is literally throwing away money.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: It may
help your name recognition.
People may donate, maybe people volunteer.
But being really, uh, crystal clear
on, or intentional as people say,
on what you're doing with this area.
So the first time around, kind
of a, a rushed kind of case.
I learned, like meet and
greets are fundraising.
Working with a fundraising
team for the first time.
I, I never did that in 2024.
Mm-hmm.
So I, I worked with Zorwan's
team for almost, um,
I don't know, seven months?
Okay.
Uh, from March of 2025 I think till
towards the end of the year and
I had to make some decisions, um,
that were best for our campaign.
But that was a really good experience
in seeing how that part of it works.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Uh, and a
lot of meet and greets, like I
started doing more towards the end
because I, I did get like threats.
I had different threats, um, when I had
videos that went really massively viral.
Um, and I had all these messages
on Facebook, on Instagram,
and that was a little scary.
Um- Yeah … that I never had that before.
And so, um, I talked to some
different people who are experts in
that field and, and you know, I, I
was still, you know, more vigilant.
Um, so all these different things.
And then of course if somebody wants
to come over to my house, they're
more than welcome to, they just,
they're not gonna be able to leave.
Um- Um, but, uh, but figuring out
how to manage all these things
and of course having the right
people to lead certain areas.
And so I delegate and
put trust into my team.
Uh, one of our, one of our team
members, uh, was telling different
people this every time we were
like canvassing and I think he
posted on social media a few times.
But I think that's part of leading a team.
First of all, I don't think
anyone's born a leader at all.
I, I think it's something
you have to practice.
Mm. And so having different people,
um, doing different things, uh,
in terms of helping the campaign.
Yeah.
So the first time around it was so rushed.
Uh, it was hard to kind of, um,
see things from a distance 'cause
you're in the middle of it.
And so yeah, I learned
a lot this time around.
I know how to make it better.
Uh, yeah, it's, it's
a… I like a challenge.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: It's… I like
an, an impossible ch- a challenge.
Ally: So on that, kind of piggybacking
on that, um, what… Well, first
of all, a two-part question.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Ally: Besides sort of the threats
and things that happen, which are
horrible, unfortunately- Yeah … a
very real part of our politics, um,
especially, you know, with the, um,
the advent of social media and- Right
how it's kind of taken over- Yeah … and
the way that political candidates run.
But besides that, was there anything
throughout this process or behind
the scenes that you found really
shocking, that maybe, um, you know,
voters wouldn't get to see or know
about when running for Congress?
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Uh, you know-
Well, I think, oh, and I, and I saw
this the last time in 2024, there's so
many voters, uh, um, that don't know,
they don't know about certain things
that may be happening in the district.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Uh, so one
thing… By the way, I- I'm
looking over here, but hopefully
it doesn't look weird on the thing.
Um- No.
Seth: I catch myself doing that a lot.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, and I learned this
in 2024, where a lot of people didn't
know about the Sepulveda Transit Corridor
Project, and that is a project here in Los
Angeles that has basically been delayed
for, for a really, really long time.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: It, it would build
public transit, specifically we would
want heavy rail from the San Fernando
Valley over the Sepulveda Basin, the 405-
Ally: Mm-hmm
Christopher Ahuja: to West LA, and
then eventually would lead to LAX.
And the incumbent wasn't always
catering to the 1% and the areas
surrounding where it would be built.
And when people go, "Oh, wait a minute, I
could get on a subway or a train from the
San Fernando Valley, get to where I need
to go on the West Side in, in minutes,"
um, they of course all supported it, but
so many people didn't know about that.
Seth: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And so certain
issues, especially things like that, they
don't get the… They're not very loud.
You don't hear about them as much.
Maybe more now because of social media.
Um, also-
People are… Well, they're creatures of
habit, and this particular district, uh,
Brad Sherman has been here for 30 years
Ally: Ugh And so- So long So- So long
Christopher Ahuja: I know, it's so long.
Or 31 years, whatever it is, uh-
Ally: Insanity
Christopher Ahuja: And so I think
when you're talking to voters, um,
most people may not like somebody,
but that doesn't mean they're not
going to, um, stop voting for them.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And so it, it
really goes back to your name and
letting people know who you are.
Even after the election, there are
people like, "Oh, I didn't vote
for you." I'm like, "It's okay."
Like, you know, uh, there's only
so much we can do with our budget.
Ally: Right.
Christopher Ahuja: So I think voter
behaviors, uh, Republicans get sad
if you bypass their door 'cause
you're, you're not gonna talk to
them because you're going around.
So Okay … when you're knocking on
doors and you're like, "Oh, I need
to skip that house," but the guy's
outside, you know, uh, cleaning his boat.
Ally: And you don't wanna
look like an asshole-
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah,
Ally: so like- … and just walk on by.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Ally: Right?
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
But they talk… I have great
conversations with Republicans, but most
of the time they talk a really long time.
And so to be efficient-
Okay … we, we can't talk for
m- really more than two minutes.
That's it.
Sure.
Sure.
'Cause you're not, you're
not voting for me anyways.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: I can be nice, but
98% of the time a Republican is not
voting for you because of party ID.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: So Proposition
50, which was new for this cycle,
so Proposition 50 in California,
uh, redrew, uh, congressional lines.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Yep Even though
I think it was a good idea, it
really, in our particular race,
it really helped the incumbent.
It really helped institutional
power stay there.
Seth: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: And so that area that
got changed dramatically was all of Simi
Valley, which I really like Simi Valley.
I think it's a, a good community,
a lot of great small businesses
and really good people.
Um, but there are a lot of Republicans.
Seth: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: And we canvassed over a
thousand… I don't know what the exact…
Maybe it was 2,000, 3,000 houses there.
It was a lot of houses.
We had over 50 yard signs there.
And I don't remember the exact
number, maybe it was 700 votes
total, which I was like, "I thought
we would've done way better."
But my point is that really helped
the incumbent because- Mm … the
one Republican in our race, um, I
humiliated him a c- oh, a couple times.
Um, uh, that Republican
didn't, didn't even campaign.
He's, I think he's like
81 or 82 years old.
God bless the guy.
Um, but he was only rep- As a
Ally: first time, was he
running for the first time?
Christopher Ahuja: No.
No, no, he's, he's ran multiple times.
He ran against them- … in valet
when he was in another district.
He's just one of those
people who just runs.
They're, they're never gonna win.
It's just-
Ally: Yeah
…
Christopher Ahuja: I don't
know, maybe they just-
Ally: Something to do
…
Christopher Ahuja:
something to do, I guess.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: But that guy, because
there's only one Republican, he didn't
even raise hardly any money at all.
Like- Mm … practically nothing,
but- Mm-hmm … it doesn't
matter because of party ID.
Yeah.
So he, he got so many
votes, um, maybe 50,000.
I don't fr- I forget the number, but
he, he got so many votes just because
there was more Republicans now in the
district, and he is the only Republican.
So I think I realized that, I don't
know, a few months ago when it was
like, "Oh, there's only one Republican."
Last cycle in 2024 there was two.
Seth: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: He had 29,000
votes 'cause he was in it before.
The other one had like 15,000,
and then I had close to 13,000.
But this time around there's more
people in the race, more active
participants, one Republican, and when
you look at the numbers, at first it
looked like the incumbent was weak,
but that's actually like a mirage.
When you add up all of
the Democrats in the race-
Ally: Yes … the incumbent-
You're slicing up that pie
…
Christopher Ahuja: and, and the
incumbent though, even with all of
those Democrats in the race, that total
number is still significantly less than
what the incumbent Brad Sherman got.
He still got significantly more,
even with everyone added up.
So, um, it, it tells you kind of-
The challenges for anybody, even
if someone does have money, like
how do you beat an incumbent?
And it's not just for this
district, it's for other races too.
Sure.
And we'll see the next, these next
races that are gonna happen, um, whether
it's Senate, whether it's Congress.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
But, uh- Yeah, we see it.
We see it all over the country.
Right,
Seth: yep.
Ally: And, you know- It- … the
most challenging thing for a
Democrat is their incumbent.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Seth: Period.
Yeah, truly.
And so, you know, like what, what I'm
excited about is, you know, you're a
self-described Democratic socialist.
Yeah.
And, you know, we have
the momentum right now.
Like that, that is the thing that I
think that I love the most coming out of
these primaries, going into the midterms
is like realizing that we have even
more momentum than I thought we had.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, certainly New York,
uh, really showed us that.
Yeah.
And so, you know, I think w- the,
the performance that Democratic
socialists can do in, in some
of our biggest cities, right?
New York City, DC, LA
mayoral race was really good.
So-
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah
…
Seth: the performance of these mayors-
Christopher Ahuja: Mm. Mm-hmm
…
Seth: can really pay dividends
for candidates like you.
Maybe even when you're not working,
people are seeing, "Oh, these, these,
you know, these issues are really
working. These guys are getting results,
and they're not taking any crap."
They're not t- You know, 'cause for
years we were told, "Oh, there's
just not money for that. You
know, we gotta fund this." Yeah.
You know, "There's just… The money's
not there." And so Zoram's showing
us that there is money for that.
Yes.
And you just, and you've just been
told something completely different.
So I think, you know, and I, and I
wanna know what you think about it
too, is, you know, I think that, um,
the way that they're able to run their
cities and the results that they're
about to get are about to pay dividends
for y- for candidates like you.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, you know,
it, it was really cool when I
first started working doing, uh,
fundraising with the team that,
uh, works with Zoram, Mamdani, um-
'Cause that was early on, and so, um,
I forget what he was pulling at, but
it was inspiring to… I think he was,
like, pulling, you know, at the bottom.
Mm-hmm.
But like learning about him,
learning like what his focus is,
learning how, um, how he seems to
think and what he is unapologetic
about, uh, is definitely inspiring.
Even in my own neighborhood, I was
walking and s- there was somebody in
my neighborhood who was like, "Oh, I, I
phone banked for Zoran." And so he was
able to build such name recognition.
And, you know, these other people who
were trying to act like he didn't have a
job, like this Andrew, what, Andrew Cuomo.
You know, straight up loser, that guy.
Um.
Yeah.
No offense to the Andrew
Cuomo fans out there.
Um.
Ally: N- nah, not here.
Christopher Ahuja: But seeing… He
was already an elected representative,
so he was already in state assembly,
so he already had, um, support.
He already had donors.
He already had, uh, name recognition.
Obviously not as much
as he did once he won.
Mm-hmm.
But I think that's inspiring.
And also, yeah, about the issues.
Issues are why we do this, and speaking
up about whether it was about ICE,
whether about Gaza, um, affordability.
And then the Democratic
Party establishment started
copying the affordability.
They all started saying,
"Affordability, affordability."
Seth: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, when they
still will say, "Oh, we don't
have money for these things."
You know, most of these time,
especially with recent… whether
it's in Iran, you see the Democratic
Party voting for an illegal war, and
it's like, what are you guys doing?
You're, you're just,
you're this complicit.
And so I've, I made a lot of videos
about this where, yeah, maybe it's
not politically smart to criticize
Hakeem Jeffries, but I'm sorry,
I'm, I'm going to criticize him.
I do it
Ally: all the time.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
I mean, it's… I think actually it's- One
Ally: of my favorite
things to do, actually.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Ally: And I get, and I get a
lot of shit for it, but sorry.
Christopher Ahuja: Well, we have that
right to do it, and when you can see
someone performing, Cory Booker too, like-
Ally: Yes
…
Christopher Ahuja: Chuck Schumer.
Ally: And Chuck Schumer, yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Ally: I mean- But-
all Democratic leadership right
now has failed colossally.
Christopher Ahuja: There, there's
really only a few people who are doing
anything, and there's, uh, only a few
people maybe in the Republican Party.
And like Thomas Massie, I was… you know,
it was cool to see him do that stuff with
Ro Khanna and for them to work together.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: But at the same time,
you're only speaking up because you lost.
Ally: Exactly.
Christopher Ahuja: That's a coward.
Yeah.
Like, you're, you're a coward.
You're only saying now because you're
not worried about Donald Trump.
And so, um, yeah, you want to
hold these people accountable.
They're supposed to be working for us.
Mm-hmm.
And in our area, um, like Brad
Sherman, for example, voted present
on the Charlie Kirk Remembrance Act.
Seth: Ooh.
Christopher Ahuja: Why
can't you vote no on that?
Why can't… But that's h- what,
that's what his strategy is.
Yeah.
We did a podcast, um, um,
with my strategist- And we're
talking about his strategy.
His strategy is to keep his head down.
That's what Brad Sherman does.
Mm-hmm.
He doesn't wanna take any risk.
He doesn't wanna cause any trouble.
He just keeps it low.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And I think
that's a thing that most of these
politicians do across the United States.
Most people, we don't, don't even
know who their congressperson is.
Ally: Do you know if
Brad… This is a theory.
I don't know much about Brad.
Yeah.
Do you know if Brad does any
investing, um, any trading- Um-
getting any kind of,
like, big lobbyist money?
What's his financial deal look like?
Christopher Ahuja: I think there's some
websites that list it, and I, I did
some research maybe six months ago.
Uh, he seemed to be into bonds, I think.
Okay.
I think that's what I saw.
Um, obviously AIPAC is a big part of,
of his record of being in Congress.
Wall Street.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: I think
the military industrial, um-
Ally: Complex, yeah … lobby.
And see, and, and I… And that's… So
my theory is people that keep their head
down- Mm-hmm … they're maintaining their
own personal financial security, right?
Yeah.
If I don't draw too much attention
to me- Mm-hmm … no one's gonna look
into what's really going on- Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm … behind the scenes
in my- Yeah … personal life.
And- Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm … I, I feel like a
lot of our politicians do that.
Yeah.
Um, and it's, it's fucked.
It's fucked up.
Yeah.
Especially now.
Christopher Ahuja: There
is… Oh, oh, yeah.
It's, it's insane.
Like, th- these politicians where
they're not serving the public interest,
they're not serving their communities.
They're serving themselves.
They're there to enrich themselves.
It's like the John F. Kennedy, uh, slogan
where it's like, "What can you do?"
Ally: Yeah.
"
Christopher Ahuja: For your country."
For, for Brad and these other people, it's
like, what can you do f- for themselves?
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Like, and so I
had s- some group message me on X,
and it was a very specific, uh…
I won't get into it, but it was like…
And they were implying all sorts
of things, but that's just hearsay.
I, I, you know, have the
resources to- You can't
Ally: do much with it, but
I will say, like, I see it.
You know what I mean?
Mm-hmm.
I mean, just observationally- Mm-hmm
… human behavior, the people that tend
to be the most head down- Mm-hmm
the quietest-
Christopher Ahuja: Uh-huh
…
Ally: are usually the ones making
a killing with their, with their
position and with that privilege
that comes with that position.
Christopher Ahuja: I, I
wouldn't, I wouldn't doubt it.
I, I… That's, um-
Y- y- I think that we s- especially
now we see with Donald Trump,
we see all these people, they're
just doing it out in the open.
Yeah.
And maybe these other politicians,
maybe they're more, um, covert about it.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, but
unfortunately, yeah, overturning
Citizens United, banning stock trading.
Yeah.
Uh, or is it John Fetterman?
Like, he's on these different… There's,
and that's the thing about social media.
There's all these really cool social
media, these accounts that will
break down what they're trading,
what committee they're on that
approved this particular product,
and people are profiting off of it.
They all are.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And that's just
like, you're already making a decent
enough salary that's more than
the average American is making.
Right.
That should be enough for you
to take care of your family.
You already get amazing health insurance.
You're getting all these things-
Right … taken care of, but you still
need to take more and more and more.
And Trump, he's just, he, I mean,
he, that's all, it's literally,
it's just about him making more
Ally: money.
It's never enough for Trump.
Christopher Ahuja: And then- It's
never enough … it's never enough.
And then of course, you have, and
I'm a Democrat, you can say that.
There's other Democrats who
are doing the same thing.
Sure.
And then you have no real opposition for
somebody to fight for actually for people.
And, but I think a lot of
things are happening right now.
Ally: I agree, and I love the momentum.
I feel energized by it.
I wanna let Seth have the last word
with you, but- Yeah … before I, I
turn it over to him, just you've been
through, obviously, two campaigns now.
Yeah.
The first one was kind of brief.
This one was more, um, was longer.
Um, so much energy it has to
require to do all of that.
Right.
And I'm sure, like you said,
you're kind of still decompressing.
It's only been a few weeks.
Yeah.
But tell me, are you feeling hopeful?
Are you feeling optimistic?
I mean, even though you weren't able
to, you know- Mm-hmm … secure the,
the bid in your district, how are
you feeling just overall politically?
Christopher Ahuja: Overall
politically, um, yeah, I don't…
I, I always kind of am optimistic.
Um, I've never even, I guess the
past couple… Well, let's see.
Well,
I've never been, like,
completely, um, defeated.
I, I've never felt that way, and I know
there's so many people that feel that way.
Sure.
A lot of people do.
And then you have other
people who don't wanna even
participate, who are checked out.
And I have friends who are like that.
Like, they just wanna plan their
summertime and what are you bringing
to the 4th of July barbecue, um,
Ally: Mm-hmm
…
Christopher Ahuja:
which is important, but-
Ally: I have lots of
those people in my life
Christopher Ahuja: Um.
Ally: Just, just another day.
Hey, it's Saturday, guys.
What are you, what are
you doing this weekend?
Like, I don't know, the world's burning.
What do you mean?
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, it's
like, oh, I didn't know that.
Um, so I've… No, I'm, I'm optimistic.
I think, I think kind of looking
at all these things and just paying
attention That sooner than later, and
we can kind of start to see that every,
every couple weeks, we can see the
Republican Party getting pissed off-
Seth: Mm-hmm
Christopher Ahuja: and
angry at Donald Trump.
And it's gonna first break there,
which it's, it's, it's not there yet.
Yeah.
So I think as that keeps getting worse and
worse for them, and the congresspeople,
the districts, uh, the communities that
voted for him, once they start getting
really angry at their representative,
uh, then it becomes real, and then
they will drop Trump so quickly.
Yeah.
Like, it's gonna hap- it's
gonna happen like that.
Mm-hmm.
They will turn on him so fast,
and hopefully the Democrats don't
fuck it up- … and they can
actually, like, figure out how to-
Ally: Fingers crossed, Chris
…
Christopher Ahuja: how
things, fingers crossed.
How they can facilitate, uh,
that so, because the Republicans
will, they'll eat Trump alive.
Like, they're gonna turn on him.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: And o- and once
he gets, he loses and all these
people start losing and losing,
losing, that pain is when it happens.
And, um, and yeah, in terms of Democrat
socialism or Democrat socialist or
socialist socialism, I think more and more
people I saw on The View was Joy Behar
was talking about, like if the ambulance
comes, if the, if the police come- Yeah
if the fire department come.
Like, yeah, that's good governance.
That's, uh, y- I think that's
the, the way people… It all
goes back to education, honestly.
It, it just goes back to education.
Ally: And I feel like when they say
things like that, "Well, do you like
your weekends?" And, like, that is all
true, but it's also sort of the way we
have to make it palatable when, you know,
truly it's, it's so much bigger than…
Like, do you want policies
that actually work for you?
Christopher Ahuja: Right.
Ally: Or do you want it policies
that are working for the
billionaires and the donor class?
It's really that simple.
I-
Christopher Ahuja: it's really that
simple, and I think when I talk to people
It's crazy for somebody, es- especially
a Republican, to defend a billionaire
because that person I'm speaking to, the
likelihood that they're a billionaire
in front of me is, is very low.
They're, we're not
Ally: at the- And it's never gonna happen
…
Christopher Ahuja: and it's pro- yeah,
it's likely never, never gonna happen.
Ally: So- Statistically, it's
not going to happen to you.
I'm sorry.
Christopher Ahuja: No, it
doesn't matter if you work hard.
Ally: No.
Christopher Ahuja:
That's not how it works.
Ally: You better have a
shit ton of connections.
You- You better have
come from a lot of money.
Yeah.
You better have gone to an Ivy
League school- Oh, yeah … and
you're going to have to crush
a lot of people to get there.
Christopher Ahuja: Oh, you, you, you
have to, uh… Yeah, you, you… If
someone doesn't become a billionaire, uh,
which by the way, I think I had a donor.
I don't remember the name exactly, but
I think they were a billionaire, and I
think they were d- they're donating $27,
and I think they were, they weren't…
They were in the health field, and somehow
they got lucky with whatever real science
that they made to, like, help people.
Um, so maybe they were the
unique billionaire who, um-
Ally: And it was $27 donation?
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Ally: Pony up, motherfucker.
My God.
I
Christopher Ahuja: know, I know, I know.
Seth: What is up with
Ally: that?
Goddamn.
Seth: Yeah.
That's crazy.
Christopher Ahuja: But,
but, uh, I might be…
Maybe I'm wrong.
Maybe they're 800 million.
I don't, I don't know.
Uh-
Ally: It's, I mean, it's all relative.
Once you get past the first half
a billion- It's, you know…
Seth: Yeah, it, it's all… And, and
a lot of it comes down to your stock.
I mean, uh, Elon Musk had about a two-week
run as the world's first trillionaire.
Yeah.
And now he's back below, you know-
A billionaire … $900 million
because- … Tesla and, and Star
Gate- SpaceX … or whatever the hell.
Yes.
SpaceX got- Oh, yeah, yeah … got, got
killed in the- Yeah … after the IPO.
But I, I, I, I don't wanna
completely like just throw this off.
No.
But I, I had a question-
Ally: Yeah
…
Seth: uh, that I really wanted
to, to get into with you.
Yeah.
Um, because, um, a, a sh- a race
that's really gonna shape the Senate
is the one in Texas with Talarico- Oh,
yeah … running against Ken Paxton.
The first thing- Yeah … Paxton did
was try to go after Talarico's manhood.
Yeah.
Because, because he's a soft-spoken
Christian guy, and he called him a,
you know, he called him a transsexual.
Uh, you know, t- first, first
opportunity he could, eh, he, to be
a bigot, Ken Paxton took, took it.
Yeah.
Because that's who Ken Paxton
is at the end of the day.
But I think, I think, Chris, that
this debate about w- what, who
i- like, what is really a man?
Christopher Ahuja: Mm-hmm.
Seth: Yeah.
Like, like who is a man?
Like, how do, how are we gonna
define that going forward?
Because we have the Trump
version of what a man is.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Seth: A manipulator, a, a
misogynist- Mm-hmm … a sexist.
Serial cheater.
Yeah, right.
Mm-hmm.
Right.
Like, uh, infidelity like crazy.
You got the wife at home.
You're, you know, you're
stepping out on her.
And then you have guys
like James Talarico.
You have guys like Zoran Mamdani.
You, you got this new wave- Yeah … of
people that are showing you that you don't
have to be… You don't have to drink your
whiskey straight, and you don't have to
be this John Wayne weirdo- Right … you
know, you know, white knight type of-
Ally: And by the way … gentleman.
Zoran Mamdani is a total thirst trap.
Go on the internet.
Women love him.
Yeah.
This one too.
Not,
Seth: not denying that.
Yeah.
And we just had a great
conversation with Bernard Taylor.
I mean, nobody's- Oh, cool.
Cool … stepping to that guy.
Christopher Ahuja: Oh,
Seth: yeah.
Bernard, Bernard is awesome.
Nobody's stepping to Bernard Taylor.
And obviously- Yeah, he's
awesome … yeah, and, and,
and obviously you, you- Yeah
you do your jujitsu, your jujitsu
training- Yeah … and whatnot.
Yeah, yeah.
So I'm not- Right … I don't,
I wouldn't recommend anybody to
step in the ring with you either.
So I, I just… After a- all that
being said, like, what do you think-
Right … about, like, this debate about,
like, what a man really is and what it-
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah
Seth: you know, why, why can't
liberal guys be tough and soft
at- Yeah … the same time?
Christopher Ahuja: I know.
Thanks for that question, Seth.
Like, I… That's, like, something
that, like, initially kind of when
I jumped into, like, my community,
really was kind of because of jujitsu.
And that was, like, during
COVID, and of course all the mask
stuff in a lot of jujitsu gyms.
Maybe it's changed a little bit,
but, uh, a lot were like, "Hey,
you know, the government's telling
me what to do." But then they're,
they're just looking from the, uh-
The conservative or Republican side.
Um, and then of course, yeah,
the, "Oh, you're not a man if you
wear a mask." So for me, it kinda
goes back there, back then, and my
youngest daughter was just born.
She had gotten RSV, like, at six weeks.
She's, she's fine.
But when you see, uh, anybody, let
alone a baby, on oxygen, it's like,
man, like, all you people out there,
you start saying all this shit.
And first of all, if somebody wants
to wear a mask, they can wear a mask.
Like, yeah, it sucks that they're
telling you you can't operate
your business the normal way.
Yeah, that sucks.
But they're trying to do it
because they're trying to
prevent deaths from happening.
Mm-hmm.
And so that's what kind of triggered me to
get into public service in my community.
And that particular, this question that
you have, Seth, um, and then what I've
seen they say about James Talarico,
in saying these things, uh, trying to
belittle him, his masculinity, because
he's clean cut and maybe the way he looks.
The, it's just… First of all,
I'm not gonna say it's childish,
because children don't act like that.
It's just, it's just- Yeah … it's just
mean, and it's, it's fucking stupid.
And so the way you cut through
that is you cut through it to them.
And so, and sometimes, sometimes
people on the left get upset.
Like, if I make a video about something
like that where I'm, I'm turning around on
those people, sometimes people on the left
are like, "Oh, you shouldn't do that."
I'll do whatever the fuck I wanna do.
And I will say whatever I wanna say.
Clip
Ally: that.
Christopher Ahuja: We,
yeah, let's clip this.
And so, and I've had that
myself, and I still do.
I've, maybe someone wrote
something earlier today.
But they always say libtard,
uh or these different terms.
And- Crazy … I made a, I think
I made a video last week I think
calling some MAGA person a libtard.
I forget who it was.
But the thing about being a man or,
um, masculinity, and you, if you're
talking about Donald Trump, these
people- A serial cheater, a rapist,
um, a thief, all these people.
And first of all, Donald Trump,
he's so insecure that he has
to project all these things.
The fact that he has to h- go- how even if
he went to UFC from the beginning, Donald
Trump has never trained in a ring before.
He's never done any grappling.
He's never done any boxing.
He's, he's not athletic.
He, if anything, he is so beta, that guy.
He is so beta.
Yeah.
He's beta Trump, that's who he is.
And so when all these other people who
perpetuate this thing about masculinity,
and I see it, people will comment.
I have, like, the, all these just
random trolls throughout America,
and they say these things, and I
don't go around fighting people,
but I will fucking choke them out.
Like, I will choke them out in a second.
I'll let them take my back if they want.
They can start with an advantage,
and I still will choke them out.
That doesn't mean I'm a man, but
the fact that these guys out there
perpetuate this toxic masculinity,
uh, I f- it's so offensive to me
because that's not what a man is.
A man takes care- Mm … of their family.
A man is a good person.
A man, uh, takes care of their daughters.
Like, there's so many things
that make up what a man is.
And so when these people, Stephen
Miller, that fucking asshole-
… those people, they're not men.
They're the, they're the opposite
of what men are, and they're not
women either, 'cause they're not
even g- they're, they're just in…
They're not even human,
honestly- Yeah … these people.
And they're there for the grift.
They're there to steal.
They're there to make profit off of,
of kidnapping families, putting them in
private prisons that are owned by the
same donors who funded their campaigns-
Mm-hmm … and who also fund Democrats.
And so the masculinity thing,
that's r- that really pisses me off.
And because I would hear in the
jujitsu community so much, and there's
people in the jujitsu community who
are well-known and Even like a week
or two weeks ago when that guy, um,
who was at the White House, the, the
fighter who said Michelle, you know,
Ally: that opened- Oh, yeah, that guy
…
Christopher Ahuja: that guy, I didn't
even know who that guy was before, but,
um, like that was so fucking gross- Yeah
and just an asshole.
Like, Michelle Obama, that's the First
Lady, uh, Barack Obama, President of the
United States, they represent America,
and at the White House, that guy happened
to go there to fight and say that.
And I remember seeing this one well-known
jujitsu, um, teacher like, like promote
that, and I was just like, I already knew
that about that guy, and I know a lot of
these people, so not that, that person,
but I know other people who know…
It's a small community-
Ally: Yeah
…
Christopher Ahuja: uh, when,
when you like distill it.
But I was just like, you know, like, and
seeing the comments when that teacher
said that, the comments were like,
"Dude, unfollow. You're gross, man."
Ally: Oh, good.
Yeah.
I'm, I'm glad to hear that.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
And, and there's people in the jujitsu,
jujitsu community who are like, who
are, they're anti-establishment.
They're not like pro like
Democratic Party, but they're
not pro MAGA or Republicans.
Yeah.
They're just like anti-establishment.
They almost lean more Democrat socialist.
Um, maybe they don't realize it.
And
Ally: so there's- My, my daughter's
boyfriend is in the jujitsu community.
Oh, cool.
And yeah.
Yeah.
It's… I cannot…
We say we don't talk politics.
Yeah.
I can't really pin him down in terms of-
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah
…
Ally: where his head is.
Um, but he is The sweetest guy.
Yeah.
I mean- Yeah … just
so authentic and kind-
Christopher Ahuja: Mm-hmm
…
Ally: and lovely to my daughter.
Yeah.
Um, yeah.
That's cool.
There's a lot of stereotypes baked in-
Christopher Ahuja: There- … to
Ally: all of that
…
Christopher Ahuja: there, there, there
is with, like, with jujitsu, 'cause I've
been doing it for a, yeah, I've been doing
it for 10 year- yeah, basically 10 years.
Um, and there are people,
there's a lot of, like, doctors.
Mm-hmm.
There's all different types of
professionals who do jujitsu.
It's just a really unique art to do.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, and it's, it's,
uh, always, you're always learning.
So sometimes the people who are
really good are, like, these really,
uh, unassuming, like, dorky- Mm-hmm
looking people, and they're
j- they're just really good.
Um, and so with jujitsu, though, I
think, yeah, there's been people in the
past 10 years who really were, like,
these hardcore MAGA people, but then
there's this other element where people
are… Like, they message me online,
and then they start following me, and
they were, like, high-level jujitsu
people, and they're like, "Thanks
for saying all that stuff," 'cause
sometimes they're afraid to speak up.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, and, and you know,
it's, real quick, a real good story.
Um, a, a, a teammate of mine for w-
the school that I- I'm ranked under,
they have coaches from all across the
United States, and a really cool dude,
um, who was a Republican supporter,
um, always liked Trump, and did
security when they didn't have enough
people in, uh, uh, where he lives.
And I saw him a few years ago.
I said, "Hey, you know, I don't
support that guy, but you seem like
you were really happy doing your
job, uh, providing security with the
Secret Service. You know, I respect
that." Um- And I hadn't talked to
them, I hadn't seen them in a while,
and I've been making a lot of videos,
and they call me up out of the blue.
And I was like, "Oh, wonder
what they're gonna say."
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: And I was listening
to him talk, and really nice guy.
Um, but also, you know,
a little intimidating.
Yeah.
And, and he said, um, "I've been
watching your videos." And I said,
"Yeah?" He's like, "Yeah, you
got me thinking." And then, and
basically he says, "It's a cult, bro.
It's a cult, man."
Seth: Oh.
"
Christopher Ahuja: They, they lied
about the wars, the Epstein files,
they lied." And he's like, "I… These
cer- some things about the Democrat
Party, I'm not sure about those, but,
uh, I'm, I'm done with that." Yeah.
And I went, "Wow." Like, he, he's like,
"You, your v- your videos, like, got me,
like, really thinking about a lot of these
things, and, uh, you were right, brother.
You're right." And, um-
Ally: That's fantastic.
Yeah.
That
Christopher Ahuja: was,
like, it was a- Love that.
Yeah.
And he, and he, and that guy, he
is literally the epitome of what
you think of, you know, masculine.
Ally: Sure, sure.
Like, he's, he's
Christopher Ahuja: lifting tires.
He is-
Ally: Yeah
…
Christopher Ahuja: you know, a big guy.
He's out in the wilderness.
Um, but just a really
sweet guy, authentic.
Mm-hmm.
And I think he felt that he was lied to.
Yeah.
And, um- And he
Ally: was.
Christopher Ahuja: And a lot of Americans-
He was … yeah, a lot of Americans were.
People… You know, I talked
to a guy a few weeks ago.
Um, he had a shirt, and I was like, "Hey,
wait a minute, I think I, we know each
other." And jujitsu guy- Yeah … same
kind of circle, and he is an immigrant.
And we were talking, and he was
really upset about everything.
And then he said to me, he goes, "Yeah,
I, I voted for Trump." I said, "Hey,
man, you know, a lot of people did."
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Uh, he felt bad.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Ally: And tho- and those are, you
know, I'm glad that you're still
engaging in those conversations.
I'm glad that your content
is having an impact.
I love your videos.
Thanks.
Um, I truly hope that you run again.
I know it's exhausting, and it's a huge-
Yeah … commitment of time and energy,
and I'm sure, uh, a sacrifice financially.
But, um- Yeah … wow, you're so,
you're so right for that type of role.
And, uh, so I really hope to
see you make another run for it.
But if you don't, whether or not you
h- you do or don't- Yeah … um, really
appreciate you, the sacrifice that
you made to try- Yeah … and make a
difference in your community and for
our country, and it's really honorable.
Not everyone is cut out for that.
Um, and uh, I think it's just speaks
volumes about the type of person you are.
And so just wanna say
thank you for running.
Thank you for trying and f- putting up
the good fight, and continuing to fight.
And um, and thank you so
much for coming on the show.
It's been a real pleasure.
Yeah,
Seth: man.
Yeah, you're a friend of the
show now forever, man, so-
Aw, thank you, guys Yeah.
Absolutely … i- if you ever, if you
ever run again, you need to come back.
If you don't, we still love to
have you back just talking- Yeah
… Democratic Socialist stuff, baby.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Thanks.
No, thanks, you guys.
That means a lot, Ally.
Uh, Seth, I, I've, I, I… It
does mean a lot, 'cause you get in
the middle of it, and you're just
like, "Okay, we're gonna hit 200
houses today. We're gonna do this."
Right.
Yeah, so then… But, uh,
no, it, it means a lot.
And, um, yeah, I just, I… It's
hard for me to s- sit still and
just kinda let things happen.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Um, I don't know
if I'm gonna run for that seat again.
I'm not sure.
It's-
Ally: Yeah
…
Christopher Ahuja: pretty challenging.
Ally: It's fresh.
Yeah.
It's only been a few weeks, so-
Christopher Ahuja: True
…
Ally: you know, you, you, you gotta just
allow yourself time to rest, you know?
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
And-
Ally: Get back to real
life for a little bit
…
Christopher Ahuja: I'm glad to, to have
met you through the, that Signal chat.
Uh-
Ally: Yeah, me too
…
Christopher Ahuja: um, so yeah, I really
appreciate the opportunity to do this.
Uh, you guys are super
cool, super authentic- Thank
you … um, super professional.
Um- So
Ally: are you … appreciate that.
Thank you.
Christopher Ahuja: You're
Ally: all of those things.
Thanks.
And uh, and I'm a big fan, and I'm
gonna keep watching your content.
And, um, it's just so good.
You're so good- Yes … with
the burns, Chris.
Love it.
Christopher Ahuja: Thank, thank you.
That's that is a big, a big
Some DSA folks and they're like, "Well,
you should be talking about this." I'm
like, "Yeah, we do talk about that,
but you gotta do this too." Yeah.
Yeah.
And then when you show them the
analytics, they're like, "Oh, okay."
Ally: Oh, wow.
Wow.
Oh.
Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Um,
Ally: but thanks- Dems are funny.
Dems are funny.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, it's, yeah, it's
all, it's about, uh Wait, real quick.
So y- you probably saw, like, Brad
Sherman had the whole thing with the
airplane where he was on the iPad.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: Looking
at the inappropriate photos.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Christopher Ahuja: And so
I thought that was fake.
I thought it was, like, AI, and then
we double-checked and I was like,
"Oh, this is real." So I was having
a conversation, like, at 10:00 PM.
My guy was like, "You need to
make as many videos as possible."
Like, get off the fucking phone.
Yeah.
You need to troll him, attack
him, call him a gooner.
Yeah.
I'm like, "What is a gooner?" I
didn't know what a gooner was.
Ally: And,
Christopher Ahuja: uh- And he's
like- Oh, boy … this, this
is a PhD in political science.
So he's like, "You need
to do this right now."
And then I'm… And I'm like, "Okay." And
he's like, "If you don't do it, the other
candidates are gonna box you out." Yeah.
Like,
Ally: they're going to-
Christopher Ahuja: That's
right … they're gonna do it for you.
You have to get out
Ally: front.
Christopher Ahuja: And so right after I
got the phone, my other friend texted me
a tweet from the White House Coms page.
Uh, that Steven Cheung guy.
Ally: Yes.
Christopher Ahuja: That guy.
And it said that they reposted Brad
Sherman's photo with the iPad, and
they said, "Ugh, gooner Brad." And
I was like, "Oh, shit." I was like,
"I was just about to do that first."
Ally: Oh.
Christopher Ahuja: And I made so many
videos till, like, 3:00 in the morning.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: Just making fun
of him, just over and over again.
And the other candidates
in my race, not really.
They didn't even-
Yeah … really do it at all.
That was beneath them to do that.
Ally: Sure, sure.
Oh, oh.
Christopher Ahuja: But I got picked
up by all these, like, different on-
online news articles, these news groups.
Mm-hmm.
And then that's when this one
particular troll, I forgot the troll's
name, there's like 50 messages.
Like, "Oh, you should stop doing this."
Ally: Mm-hmm.
"
Christopher Ahuja: You should stop
talking about this." And, and then
that continued for a long time.
It was pretty cool.
Yeah,
Ally: yeah.
Unreal.
Christopher Ahuja: So they
said, "Stop talking about this.
Talk about issues." And I was
like, "Oh, well then I guess
we'll keep talking about this."
Ally: Yeah.
Oh, it's bothering you?
Well, then that definitely says
we should be doing more of that.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, yeah.
Ally: Um, and you can do both.
You can talk about issues, and
you can call out, you know, the
incumbent for being a gooner.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
'
Ally: Cause what the fuck, Brad?
Seth: Politics, man.
Christopher Ahuja: What the fuck?
What the fuck, Brad?
Ally: Uh,
Christopher Ahuja: I think the last video
I did, like, oh, like, on June 3rd or
something, I was like, "Hey, um, we're
gonna get you a nice big iPad, Brad.
We're not going
Ally: anywhere." Increase
that font size, Brad.
Seth: iPad Brad.
iPad Brad.
Ally: That's good.
Seth: iPad Brad, baby.
Christopher Ahuja: iPad Brad.
Ally: Oh, hilarious.
Christopher Ahuja: Yeah.
Good times.
Good times.
But,
Ally: um- Oh, well, Chris,
thanks again for coming on.
Welcome, you're welcome.
A real delight.
And like, and like Seth
said, come back anytime.
Christopher Ahuja: Absolutely.
This is great.
Yeah.
You guys are awesome.
Um-
Ally: Thank
Christopher Ahuja: you … I
appreciate the opportunity.
Have a great evening.
Ally: Thanks, you
Christopher Ahuja: too.
We'll stay in touch.
Ally: Yeah.
Christopher Ahuja: This was a lot of fun.
You guys are awesome.
Thank you.
Ally: It was- Thanks, Chris
Christopher Ahuja: Best
Ally: pumpkin that I
Christopher Ahuja: ever had-
Ally: All
Christopher Ahuja:
right … this whole time.
Yes, for real.
Really?
Ally: For real.
Okay.
Christopher Ahuja: There's good
ones- We're gonna have to talk too
no offense to the other people.
Ally: Yeah.
But
Christopher Ahuja: yes.
Ally: Thank you.
I love that We'll see you soon, for sure.
All right.
Sounds good.
We're gonna stay in touch.
Thank you, Chris.
Thanks, you guys.
Thanks, Seth.
Good question.
Bye,
Christopher Ahuja: Chris.
All
Seth: right.
Christopher Ahuja: See you.
Bye.
Ally: Bye.
Christopher Ahuja: Bye.
Seth: Well, Ally, that was a lot of fun
talking with Chris Ahuja, and I mean, that
is a guy who, you know, obviously did not
win, but c- I think he has a great future
in politics if that's what he chooses.
Yes.
Um, you know, he's, uh, obviously
very well-versed in the issues,
very involved in his community.
Mm-hmm.
And I think that's, that's, you know,
one of the better things is people that
see him in the community really making
change, and he's still continuing to do
it despite not running for office anymore.
So- Yeah
you know, just a really fun guy.
You know, I'm glad that we got
to talk a little bit about, like,
what is a re- what a real man is.
Ally: Mm.
Seth: Yeah.
Um, you know, that, that
was good stuff, too.
And you know, obviously, like
I said earlier, I think, you
know, he, he can only do so much.
Ally: Yeah.
Seth: What we, what we need right now
is results from our Democratic Socialist
candidates across the country, and I
think w- if he, you know, if he stays
involved and those candidates start to
really affect change in some of our,
some of our bigger cities, especially
in California where Chris is- Yeah
I mean, I think if he comes back in
and people are going, "Oh, you're a
Democratic Socialist"- Mm-hmm … I
think that will look a lot different.
And obviously, the, the
Republicans are running scared.
They saying- Yeah … we're
communists, whatever.
We get it.
You're scared.
We, we, we, we feel the,
the insecurity from here.
We… I can taste it.
Yeah.
And so you know, I think, I think
Chris is in a good spot, and I just
hope that, you know, we continue
to do g- do good things around the
world and I, and I know that we will.
Ally: I agree.
And I think, uh, yeah,
Republicans are scared right now.
We are… Democratic Socialists
are having a, a moment.
Um, and Republicans are really good
at threat assessment, and so they're-
Yep … going on the offense and they're
calling us all communists and, um, and
Democrats are sitting on their hands
being like, you know, the establishment
Dems are like, "Oh, couple races, couple
states. It's not gonna change the party."
Bitch, it's gonna change the party.
Mm. I'm, I'm here to tell you
Democrats have consistently fallen
short over the last handful of years
when it comes to reading the room.
And you need… The party needs some
reforming, and if it means getting
Democratic Socialists in big numbers
injected into the party to reform it
from the inside out, I'm cool with that.
Yeah.
I'd love it if they would get on board,
but if you're not going to, then get out
of the way- Yeah … 'cause we're, you
know, we, we are ready for this change.
And, um, you know, Chris represents the
best of us and, and those aspirations
and- Gosh, he worked so hard.
A whole year is such a long time-
Seth: Man
…
Ally: to put in to campaigning.
And as a small
Seth: business owner, like- Yeah
…
Ally: I can't imagine.
It, it has to be exhausting
to juggle all of that.
And of course we're so sad that
he didn't win that primary,
but his videos are great.
Check out his socials, um, on Instagram.
He is fantastic.
We'll, we'll put a little
banner here so you can find him.
And, uh, and keep your eye on him 'cause,
you know, he is… He's really tuned in,
um, politically because he's been, you
know, running for office, 2024, now 2026.
And just an overall all around great guy.
What a pleasure.
Seth: Exactly.
And I, I mean, again, uh, a guy that,
you know, uh, really is just deeply
entrenched in his own community.
Mm-hmm.
And I think, you know, he was talking
about the m- name recognition,
and that takes time, right?
Yes.
That takes time.
But I think, I think with the social
media game, if he stays involved
in that… And again, you know, the
Democratic Socialist name, that's
gonna become d- it's gonna get better
and better, 'cause we're gonna- Yeah
continue to see… We're gonna see
results in some of our biggest cities.
It's gonna be undeniable.
Ally: And, and name recognition
is difficult in a state
as giant as California.
Yeah.
Jesus.
I mean, it, it, you know, you can have
collectively millions of views and likes
on social media, but it's California.
So, you know, that alone is a huge
accomplishment for him to have gotten
sort of as viral and well-known as he has.
But, um, it's a big state.
It's a big, big bowl, a big
fishbowl, you know, big pond.
Um, and I, I hope he keeps at it.
I don't wanna pressure him
too much 'cause- Yeah … it
takes so much damn sacrifice.
But, uh, he's built for
it, that's for sure.
And, um, great time.
So all right, we have another
interview coming up tomorrow.
Great.
And then one on Wednesday, and then we'll
take a little break for the 4th of July.
Um, but it's, it's been a great
last couple of weeks, Seth.
Seth: Well, I tell you what.
Great week for
Ally: progressives.
Seth: Yeah.
I mean, like I said earlier, better
than I, than I could've hoped for.
Ally: Me too.
Seth: And so, you know, we're
doing this for a reason.
It's really great to see, you
know, the things take root.
Ally: Yeah.
Seth: It's really special to
watch the beginning of this.
Ally: Mm-hmm.
Seth: Because it's just the beginning.
Ally: Absolutely.
So much more to come.
All right, Seth, enjoy the rest of your
night, and I'll see you again tomorrow.
Seth: All right, see you then.
Ally: Bye.