The Foolish Optimist: Alex with Integrity Alabama

Integrity Alabama: Mobilizing Millennial Voters in Northeast Alabama   Follow Integrity Alabama on instagram at @AlexWithIntegrity, find them in the Act Blue Directory   If you want to support the pod, AmyMaccc on venmo is an easy way if you DON"T WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS. :)   Host Amy McDonald welcomes repeat guest Alex Braswell, former Democratic nominee for Alabama House District 11, to discuss launching Integrity Alabama, a state-level PAC alliance across four Northeast Alabama counties aimed at increasing turnout and engagement among voters ages 18–50. Braswell explains what a PAC is, distinguishes small grassroots PACs from corporate and super PACs, and describes how the effort grew from her campaign experience building younger networks outside traditional county party structures. They highlight massive untapped turnout—173,000 nonvoters ages 18–50 in Alabama’s Congressional District 4—and argue that votes and grassroots organizing can overcome money in politics. Integrity Alabama’s main initiative is a free September event, “Pints and Progress,” offering voter registration and connections to local groups, while encouraging donations, social sharing, and broader statewide collaboration.   00:00 Welcome Back Alex 01:05 Why Integrity Alabama 01:51 Meet the PAC Team 03:15 What Is a PAC 05:19 From Joke to Launch 06:34 Community Over Infighting 09:20 Pints and Progress Event 11:55 Building Young Candidate Networks 14:04 Turnout Numbers and Flip Potential 15:45 Voter Turnout Reality Check 16:20 PAC Money and Legislation 17:54 Why Showing Up Wins 19:21 Register Vote and Pints 20:04 Doug Jones vs Tuberville Talk 20:49 Building South Alabama Alliance 22:02 Competitive Primaries Momentum 23:02 Deep Red District Organizing 26:19 Beyond Elections and Protest 26:56 Where to Find Integrity