The Foolish Optimist: Hanieh Jodat, political strategist

Hanieh Jodat on Anti-War Politics, Sanctions, and Building Progressive Power   Host Amy McDonald interviews political strategist Hanieh Jodat about her path from an Iranian immigrant household and nonprofit work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to organizing after Trump’s election, including leadership with Women’s March Los Angeles and serving as a 2020 Bernie Sanders delegate. Jodat explains delegates’ platform-writing role and describes building the Muslim Delegates and Allies coalition to push progressive policy language on healthcare, education, and foreign policy. She discusses working with left candidates Hartzell Grey (MO-4) and Rose Penelope Ye (CA-02), emphasizing coalition building, mutual aid, and an anti-war through line that redirects resources from Pentagon spending to domestic needs. The conversation critiques sanctions as “silent” violence that harms civilians, arguing Iran sanctions weakened civic society and empowered the regime, and links U.S. foreign policy, Gaza, and Democratic Party leadership and accountability, ending with advice for immigrants and women of color to enter politics now.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:26 Finding a Path to Politics 03:48 Trump Era Awakening and Women’s March 05:58 Becoming a Bernie Delegate 06:45 What Delegates Actually Do 08:04 Why Foreign Policy Hits Home 10:25 Working With Left Candidates 14:51 Red Lines and Values in Strategy 17:47 Paying for Progress at Home 23:12 Pentagon Spending and Endless Wars 24:08 Sanctions as Silent Violence 27:18 Iran War Talk and Regional Fallout 32:33 Gaza, Imperialism, and a New Wave 35:11 Impeachment Push 35:53 JD Vance Scenario 36:38 Nuclear Fears 37:59 Inside Party Fights 41:02 Kamala Strategy Critique 42:51 Racism Sexism Palestine 45:22 Billionaire Brain Freeze 48:31 Epstein Watergate Parallels 50:23 Donors Aging Leadership 52:39 Soft Republicans Debate 54:58 Rapid Fire Wrap Up 59:27 Run For Office Now 01:01:06 Final Thanks Credits