The Foolish Optimist: William Marks for Texas CD 25

Texas-25 Candidate William Marks on Book Bans, Voter Suppression, and Congress Ethics   Host Amy McDonald interviews William Marks, a 22-year-old Navy combat veteran and Democrat running for Texas’s 25th Congressional District against incumbent Roger Williams. Marks discusses Texas gerrymandering and voter suppression, says recent redistricting made the race more competitive, and argues the district needs higher turnout. He lays out a platform focused on affordability, expanding healthcare, breaking up monopolies, and ethics reforms such as banning congressional stock trading, ending the lobbying revolving door, overturning Citizens United, and pursuing term limits. Marks also recounts organizing a coalition that helped overturn a Trump administration book ban at the U.S. Naval Academy and restore 381 books, and directs listeners to volunteer, donate, and find events via williammarks.com.   Download the Civic App in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for all of your politics needs.    00:00 Welcome to the Foolish Optimist Podcast 00:43 Introducing William Marks 02:00 William Marks' Motivation to Run 03:29 Gerrymandering in Texas 07:54 Challenges of Voter Suppression 11:33 Campaign Strategies and Grassroots Efforts 25:35 Book Banning and Advocacy 30:21 The Power of Collective Action 31:34 Affordability in Texas 33:07 Breaking Up Monopolies 35:22 Corporate Influence and Consumer Protection 40:32 Reforming the Political System 45:48 Economic Inequality and Corporate Welfare 50:33 Supporting Small Businesses 54:40 Community Engagement and Voting 55:18 Rapid Fire Questions