The Foolish Optimist: Dylan Blaha for Illinois’ 13th CD

Dylan Blaha on Running for Illinois’ 13th: Defunding ICE, Medicare for All, and Fighting Oligarchy   Check out Dylan's campaign at DylanForIllinois.com.    Get the Civic App in the apple app store or google play store.    Host Amy McDonald interviews Dylan Blaha, a pro-peace U.S. Army veteran and former cancer research scientist running for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District in 2026. Blaha says he decided to run after Rep. Nikki Budzinski’s votes, including support for the Laken Riley Act, pro-Israel positions on Gaza, and other votes he calls anti-trans, anti-environment, and anti–women’s rights. The discussion centers on the rise of fascism and surveillance, Democratic leadership’s perceived inaction, and priorities after 2026 such as defunding ICE, impeaching Trump officials, and delivering material benefits through Medicare for All, living wages, taxing billionaires, affordable housing, and aggressive environmental policy. They also discuss Citizens United, gerrymandering, term limits, contractor waste in the defense budget, AI’s impact on jobs and education, and the need for stronger journalism and public investment in schools.   00:25 Introduction to the Foolish News Podcast 00:43 Meet Dylan Blaha: Congressional Candidate 01:23 Why Dylan Baja is Running for Congress 02:54 Critique of Current Political Figures and Policies 03:54 The Rise of Fascism and Government Surveillance 05:19 Future Congressional Goals and Policies 06:49 Challenges and Criticisms of the Democratic Party 15:23 The Gerrymandering Issue in Illinois 13th District 16:35 Economic and Social Policies for Improvement 22:16 The Illusion of Self-Made Billionaires 22:30 The Crisis in Education 23:50 Media and Corporate Influence 27:28 The Military-Industrial Complex 28:52 US Foreign Policy and Misconceptions 30:45 Economic Inequality and Healthcare 34:25 Campaign and Personal Insights 35:17 Rapid Fire Questions 40:09 Concluding Remarks