In episode 162, we’re joined by Amanda Nelson of Amanda’s Mild Takes to talk about how power actually operates in the United States. We dig into the fears around the 2026 elections, the history behind modern immigration enforcement, and what real pro-democracy change could look like if Democrats retake Congress.

Amanda Nelson is an amateur historian and political content creator behind Amanda’s Mild Takes, a media brand that uses history, political science, and civics to explain how power actually operates in the United States. She publishes daily political analysis and action ideas for an engaged audience of over a million people who want historical context, not just headlines.

Resources:

* Amanda’s Mild Takes on…

* Instagram

* TikTok

* Substack

* Uncap the House: The fastest pro-Democracy law we could pass today

* Is ICE the Gestapo...or something more American?

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* Buy us a coffee ☕️

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

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In episode 161, we talk with congressional candidate Don Leonard about what it really means to be a “Do-Something Democrat” in this political moment. Our conversation spans the issues hitting working families hardest - from healthcare, childcare, and housing to economic insecurity, immigration, and accountability for ICE - and what practical action in Congress could look like.

Don spent the last decade as a City and Regional Planning professor at The Ohio State University and recently stepped away from teaching to run for Congress as a Do-Something Democrat in Ohio’s 15th District. A Medicaid kid turned educator and new dad, Don entered the race after watching working families get squeezed while extremists profit from division and dysfunction. Don is focused on economic freedom, protecting democratic institutions, and flipping one of the most competitive Republican-held seats in the country. He’s building a people-powered campaign centered on real results for working people.

Resources:

* Don’s Campaign Website

* Donate to Don’s Campaign

* Volunteer for Don’s Campaign

* Instagram

* TikTok

* Facebook

Connect with United SHE Stands:

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

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In January’s ✨bonus✨ episode, we debrief The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life by Anu Partanen. We unpack how Nordic countries define freedom, independence, and care. We also explore how universal systems like healthcare, childcare, and worker protections can actually increase individual freedom. This conversation challenges what A…

In episode 158, we sit down with Democratic candidate Allison Russo to discuss her run for Ohio Secretary of State, her record defending free and fair elections, and her vision for strengthening democracy for all Ohioans.

Resources:

* Campaign Website

* Donate to Allison’s Campaign

* Instagram

* TikTok

* Facebook

* X/Twitter

* Threads

Connect with United SHE Stands:

* Substack

* Instagram

* TikTok

* YouTube

* Threads

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

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In episode 157, we’re joined by Hell Cat Cait Conley - a decorated combat veteran and national security expert running for Congress in New York’s 17th District. From protecting our democracy to fixing what’s broken in Washington, Cait shares why it’s time for leaders who know how to get sh*t done.

Resources:

* Cait Conley for Congress Website

* Hell Cats Website

* Donate to Cait’s Campaign:

* ActBlue

* Numero

* Cait’s Social Media:

* Instagram

* Facebook

* X/Twitter

* Bluesky

Connect with USS:

* Substack

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

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In episode 156, we set our 2026 intentions and ask the uncomfortable question - why don’t more people care about politics? We dig into where apathy comes from, why it matters, and how we move from disengagement to action.

Resources

* Political Apathy | EBSCO Research Starters

* 10 Causes of Voter Apathy in the United States | GoodParty.org

* How Does U.S. Voter Turnout Compare to the Rest of the World’s? | Council on Foreign Relations

* The-100-Million-Project_KF_Report_2020.pdf

* Voter turnout in United States elections - Ballotpedia

* Dive into abstentionism: understanding voter apathy

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

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Week Two of our holiday break AKA we’re re-releasing another goodie from 2025! Be sure to listen to this episode (or listen again) with David DeWitt to hear him talk about the importance of state and local news.

Original Air Date: August 12th, 2025

David is the Ohio Capital Journal Editor-in-Chief and a Opinion Columnist. He has been covering government, politics, and policy in Ohio since 2007, including education, health care, crime and the courts, poverty, state and local government, business, labor, energy, the environment, and social issues. He has worked for the National Journal, The New York Observer, and The Athens NEWS. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and is a board member of the E.W. Scripps Society of Alumni and Friends.

Resources:

* Sign up for The Eye-Opener Newsletter

* Ohio Gerrymandering: A brief and Awful History of the Very Recent Past by David DeWitt

* Find a Nonprofit Newsroom (Powered by Institute for Nonprofit News)

* Social Media Accounts:

* Ohio Capital Journal on Bluesky

* Ohio Capital Journal on Facebook

* David DeWitt on X/Twitter

* David DeWitt on Bluesky

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

* Instagram