Author Jen Thompson: WCPT 820 Interview

Joan Esposito is joined by Jen Thompson, former political campaign manager, former counsel in the U.S. House and Senate, and author of "Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten" (out now). Thompson, who once helped tip the U.S. Senate back to Republican control when she was managing GOP campaigns, openly acknowledges her complete departure from the party and hasn't voted for a Republican candidate since 2015. Here are a few key points from the conversation: - Thompson described a near-fatal car accident as the beginning of a long period of questioning her identity, ambition, and political work. - She declined offers from the George W. Bush White House and the Senate, moved to Australia for a visiting professorship, and later left politics entirely. - She began voting Democratic in 2015, and said her views on issues like reproductive rights changed substantially. - She described major financial and personal costs, including a pay cut of more than $200,000 and selling most of her possessions. - She now serves as chief of staff at the University of Redlands. Key quote: "When I moved to Australia, I just found this love for higher education. It's not for everybody, but for those that it works for, it's life changing, it's transformational, and that's what my book is about. That's what I'm about is finding ways that we transform our thinking through knowledge and courage. And I think for the right young people, or any people, higher education does that." Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive). Follow us: Website: https://heartlandsignal.com WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820 Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal Heartland Signal X: https://x.com/HeartlandSignal WCPT 820 X: https://x.com/WCPT820 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal Threads: threads.com/@heartlandsignal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartlandsignal