EPISODE · Mar 27, 2026 · 2H 24M
The Political System Isn’t Broken — It’s Corrupt. Enough Is Enough. With Jackson Franklin
from Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America · host Tabitha Zeigler
I sat down with Jackson Franklin, and this wasn’t a polite political conversation. This was someone saying out loud what most politicians are too afraid to admit: the system isn’t broken by accident — it’s working exactly the way the powerful want it to. A combat medic, a paramedic, and now a congressional candidate, Jackson has literally watched veterans get sent home to die because they couldn’t afford healthcare. How are we still pretending this is normal? How are we still calling this the “best country in the world”?We talked about what real progressivism actually means — not the watered-down version politicians use when it’s convenient, but the version that fights for disability and trans rights, immigrants, veterans, women, and working-class people without apology. And yes, we went there: corporate money in politics, endless wars, billionaires controlling policy, and politicians who care more about donors than the people they claim to represent. If that makes people uncomfortable… good. It should.What this really comes down to is courage. Not branding. Not personality. Courage. Are you willing to stand up to corporate influence? Are you willing to call out injustice even when it costs you something? Because too many politicians aren’t.So, are we finally ready to vote based on policies? Or are we going to keep rewarding the same broken system over and over again?Find more info on Jackson Franklin here:Website: Jackson Franklin for CongressEmail: [email protected] Jackson’s suggestions below:Breaking Points w/Krystal Ball and Saagar EnjetiDrop Site NewsGround NewsIndivisibleMADVotersMuncie ResistsOpen Secrets Secular Talk w/Kyle Kulinski00:00 The Importance of Lived Experience in Politics12:00 Learning from Global Systems18:14 Defining Progressivism26:53 Women Influences32:59 Addressing the Trans/Immigrant Communities38:31 Term Limits/Congress Wealth Caps 51:00 Understanding Apartheid/Human Rights01:02:04 Housing Crisis/Young People's Future01:04:20 Environmental Concerns01:16:11 Identifying True Progressives01:19:29 Defunding ICE01:30:37 Accountability for the Powerful01:36:38 Universal Childcare/Education01:40:21 Advocating for Disability Rights01:53:19 Accountability/Candidate Track Records01:56:08 Commitment to the Cause02:02:24 Vision for the Future02:12:19 Empowering the Next GenerationContact Tabitha:[email protected]://tabithazeigler.com/
What this episode covers
I sat down with Jackson Franklin, and this wasn’t a polite political conversation. This was someone saying out loud what most politicians are too afraid to admit: the system isn’t broken by accident — it’s working exactly the way the powerful want it to. A combat medic, a paramedic, and now a congressional candidate, Jackson has literally watched veterans get sent home to die because they couldn’t afford healthcare. How are we still pretending this is normal? How are we still calling this the “best country in the world”?We talked about what real progressivism actually means — not the watered-down version politicians use when it’s convenient, but the version that fights for disability and trans rights, immigrants, veterans, women, and working-class people without apology. And yes, we went there: corporate money in politics, endless wars, billionaires controlling policy, and politicians who care more about donors than the people they claim to represent. If that makes people uncomfortable… good. It should.What this really comes down to is courage. Not branding. Not personality. Courage. Are you willing to stand up to corporate influence? Are you willing to call out injustice even when it costs you something? Because too many politicians aren’t.So, are we finally ready to vote based on policies? Or are we going to keep rewarding the same broken system over and over again?Find more info on Jackson Franklin here:Website: Jackson Franklin for CongressEmail: [email protected] Jackson’s suggestions below:Breaking Points w/Krystal Ball and Saagar EnjetiDrop Site NewsGround NewsIndivisibleMADVotersMuncie ResistsOpen Secrets Secular Talk w/Kyle Kulinski00:00 The Importance of Lived Experience in Politics12:00 Learning from Global Systems18:14 Defining Progressivism26:53 Women Influences32:59 Addressing the Trans/Immigrant Communities38:31 Term Limits/Congress Wealth Caps 51:00 Understanding Apartheid/Human Rights01:02:04 Housing Crisis/Young People's Future01:04:20 Environmental Concerns01:16:11 Identifying True Progressives01:19:29 Defunding ICE01:30:37 Accountability for the Powerful01:36:38 Universal Childcare/Education01:40:21 Advocating for Disability Rights01:53:19 Accountability/Candidate Track Records01:56:08 Commitment to the Cause02:02:24 Vision for the Future02:12:19 Empowering the Next GenerationContact Tabitha:[email protected]://tabithazeigler.com/
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The Political System Isn’t Broken — It’s Corrupt. Enough Is Enough. With Jackson Franklin
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