Breaking The Meta

Florida's 2nd Congressional District (FL-02) is an open seat in 2026 after Neal Dunn's retirement. Democrat Amanda Marie Green — a former USAID operations and contracts director — is running to flip the rural Panhandle and Big Bend.Amanda spent 10 years intervening in famine, malaria, and HIV/AIDS overseas before turning her sights on the 16 counties of FL-02. In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Mike Winson sits down with her to talk about what's happening on the ground in Florida's 2nd District, why she's running, and why conservative voters in a +8 Republican district are signing her petitions to get on the ballot.We cover:• Why she jumped in — and what 16 counties told her they actually need• SNAP, rural healthcare collapse, and FEMA money diverted to the border wall• The truth about USAID, DOGE, and the fraud allegations that never produced an arrest• Why farmers and construction foremen in North Florida don't want more ICE funding• How visible pregnancy on the trail became an unexpected bridge to conservative voters• Accountability, town halls, and the bar set by former Rep. Alan Boyd• Foreign policy after Iran, Greenland, and the destruction of American soft power• Committee priorities on day one: Agriculture and AppropriationsAmanda is running without billionaire money. No corporate PAC dollars. She gives her cell phone number to every voter she meets.🔗 Learn more, volunteer, or donate: https://foramg.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ABOUT BREAKING THE METABreaking the Meta is an independent podcast platforming the grassroots candidates mainstream media won't cover. Hard conversations. No talking points. Rights, respect, dignity, and safety for everyone — no exceptions.🔔 Subscribe for more candidate interviews you won't see anywhere else💬 Drop a comment with the candidate you want us to interview next#Florida2ndDistrict #AmandaMarieGreen #USAID #FL02 #BreakingTheMeta

NY-02 Democrat Jess Murphy is running to flip New York's 2nd Congressional District and unseat Andrew Garbarino in 2026. The Democratic primary is June 23.Jess grew up on Long Island, works in housing, and is still working seven days a week to afford her mortgage — the same fight her sister, her friends, and her neighbors are losing. In this episode we get into why she stepped into the race in December, what she's hearing on the doors, and how she plans to beat a three-term incumbent who Donald Trump publicly praised for "doing whatever he says."🏘️ Housing & affordability — $700K starter homes in Suffolk, $850K in Nassau, and a generation that can't stay where they grew up🚨 ICE on Long Island — what it means that Garbarino chairs Homeland Security while detention sites go up in his own district💰 No PAC money, no corporate money, no super PAC — and why that matters for a working-class district🌍 Foreign policy — losing allies, Iran, and Congress finally needing a backbone🏛️ Universal healthcare vs what's actually passable — being honest about the difference🗳️ Day 1 in Congress — what a junior member can really doJess Murphy:🌐 jessmurphyforcongress.com📱 @jessmurphyforcongress (Instagram, TikTok, Threads)#NY02 #LongIsland #Congress2026 #BreakingTheMeta #FlipNY02Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast platforming the candidates mainstream media won't. If you found this useful, subscribe, share with one person, and drop a comment below. That's how candidates without millionaire donors get visibility.

Joe Tache is running for US Senate in Massachusetts as the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) candidate, challenging Democratic incumbent Ed Markey in 2026. In this conversation he calls capitalism a "national emergency" and lays out why he broke from the Democratic Party.A Boston-based organizer from Roxbury and a Northeastern University grad, Joe traces his path from a private equity internship to ten years inside the socialist movement. We get into the Meta super PAC story the New York Times just reported, the Cuba blockade, the "Don Roe Doctrine" in Latin America, Trump-era foreign policy, climate, and what a third-party socialist senator could actually do from day one.Joe also draws a striking parallel to Charles Sumner — the Massachusetts abolitionist senator elected in 1851 — and explains why he sees this campaign as a long-horizon movement, not just a single election.Whether you agree with him or not, these are the conversations mainstream media keeps avoiding. That's why we platform them here.🔗 Learn more / volunteer / donate: tache4ma.com📱 Social: @tache4ma on Instagram, TikTok, and X

Michigan State Senate candidate Rebecca Amidon (SD-32) sits down with Breaking the Meta to talk about why she's running against a MAGA sheriff to represent Benzie, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, and Manistee counties.A college professor, mom, firearm owner, and former Republican-turned-Democrat, Rebecca breaks down what nobody in Lansing wants to talk about: only two hospitals in five counties have labor and delivery wards, less than half of pregnant women in Manistee County receive prenatal care, and Michigan loses $2.9 billion every year to the childcare crisis. She makes the case for universal childcare, the MyCare universal healthcare bill, holding Enbridge accountable for Line 5, and rejecting utility PAC money from DTE and Consumers Energy.This is a real conversation about what it takes to run as an outsider, why "nice and smiley" candidates keep losing, and how a different kind of Democrat earns Republican endorsements without rolling over.

hode Island Senate candidate Connor Burbridge is primarying 30-year incumbent Jack Reed in the 2026 Democratic primary. An Army veteran, elder care worker, and small farm co-op owner, Burbridge is running on universal healthcare, housing affordability, and a six-bill working class agenda — without a single dollar of PAC money.In this conversation, Connor breaks down why he's challenging one of the longest-serving Democrats in the Senate, what's actually happening on the ground in Rhode Island (two hospitals at risk of closing, $450K starter homes, post-industrial communities still reeling from NAFTA), and what he'd do on day one in Washington.We cover:— Why Jack Reed's Bill Clinton-era politics aren't meeting the moment— The Rhode Island healthcare crisis: hospital closures, lost PCPs, and Medicaid cuts— Housing, utilities, and the squeeze on working families— How a three-time Trump-voting dad ended up donating to a progressive Democrat— America's standing in the world after Trump's second term— The six bills Burbridge would file on day one (sovereign wealth fund, universal elder care, climate superfund, no more forever wars)— Why grassroots, no-PAC campaigns are the future of progressive politicsConnor's average donation is $29. No corporate money. No super PACs. Just Rhode Islanders.📍 Learn more & get involved: Burbridge4RI.com

Robert People is a 21-year retired US Army veteran running as a Democrat for Congress in Florida's 15th District (FL-15) — challenging incumbent Laurel Lee in 2026.In this Breaking the Meta interview, Robert breaks down what affordability really means in Florida, why homeowners insurance is forcing residents out of the state, and how a creeping accountability crisis in Congress threatens our standing with allies abroad. He also goes on the record about Epstein-files silence inside his own party — a rare move from a Democratic challenger.We talk about:- What "affordability" means across Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel, and the rest of FL-15- Why Florida's homeowners insurance crisis is becoming a federal infrastructure question- How Robert wants to be held accountable — quarterly town halls, follow-through, and a proposed nonpartisan accountability agency- Why he says removing this administration has to be the first action item- What he's hearing from conservative voters on TikTok and at forums- Why the trust of US allies is now systemic, not partisan- His Day One plan if he wins in November 2026Robert's website: peopleforcongress.comFollow: Robert People for Congress (across all platforms)Florida's 15th covers parts of Hillsborough, Polk, and Pasco Counties. The Democratic primary is August 18, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026.This podcast is about having hard conversations, breaking the status quo, and fighting for the idea that all people — no matter their race, religion, gender, or identity — deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.Subscribe for more interviews with the candidates mainstream media won't platform. Every district deserves a choice.#BreakingTheMeta #FL15 #Congress2026

Two sitting congressmen just resigned. The Epstein files dropped. Four women running for Congress react and a retired Lt. Colonel who spent decades hunting traffickers explains why nothing's happening on Capitol Hill.In this Breaking the Meta panel, Mike Winson is joined by:• Alani Bankhead — running for U.S. Senate, Montana. Retired Lt. Col, special agent, former senior Pentagon bodyguard.• Britt Robinson — running for Congress, Florida-04. Military spouse, working-class background, on the personal cost of the Alice Gap.• Jess Murphy — running for Congress, New York-02. Former Senator Gillibrand staffer; trained over 30,000 women to run for office through Running Start.• Elizabeth Dempsey-Beggs — running for Congress, Virginia (8th, possibly 1st). Army combat-arms veteran, foster parent of four kids under five.This conversation goes places most cable panels won't. Topics include:— Why the Epstein files vote was unanimous and nothing changed— What it actually takes to build a trafficking case (and who keeps blocking them)— The 68–75 million Americans who survived child abuse— The Alice Gap: how families fall through the cracks between stability and aid— Foster care, financial neglect, and why "70% neglect" hides what's really happening— Why "tax the rich" means $20M in NYC and $1M in rural Virginia — and how Democrats lost the working class— What women on Capitol Hill actually see — and why so many older women stay silent— The difference between being willing to die for democracy and being willing to LIVE for itA frank, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about power, accountability, and whether the country is ready for the kind of leaders these four women want to be.⏱ Chapters in the video.🗳 Support the candidates:• Alani Bankhead — alaniformt.com• Jess Murphy — jessmurphyforcongress.com• Britt Robinson — brit4congress.com• Elizabeth Dempsey-Beggs — elizabethforvirginia.com

Tom Begich is the frontrunner for Alaska Governor — and his nephew just cast the deciding vote to gut Alaska's Medicaid. The family feud is real.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Mike Winson sits down with Tom Begich, currently leading the polls in Alaska's 17-candidate open primary for governor. Tom is a former state senate minority leader, the architect of Alaska's bipartisan coalition, and the uncle of the Republican U.S. Congressman whose one-vote margin pushed through the Big Beautiful Bill and the Medicaid cuts now hitting Alaskan families.🔗 Tom's Campaign: https://tombegichforalaska.comWhat we cover:• The Begich vs. Begich family dinner table• Why $16 milk matches $16 diesel in an oil-producing state• How $8-per-barrel oil credits are starving the state budget• 20-40,000 Alaskans about to lose Medicaid coverage• Denali Care: Tom's state-level safety net plan• The whale oil parable — why oil dependency always ends• Indigenous communities, fentanyl, and missing-and-murdered cases• Restorative justice and sleeping on village gym floors• The Reads Act and pre-K education reform• Standing up to federal overreach on land, leases, and the National Guard

A man in his 50s died because he couldn't afford insulin after the price cap was repealed. Bernard Taylor was the paramedic on those calls, and now he's running for Congress in Florida's 21st District.Bernard is a fourth-generation Floridian, a firefighter / paramedic on the Treasure Coast, and a Democrat challenging an incumbent who reportedly told a constituent in Fort Pierce, "I don't come to Fort Pierce." In this conversation we get into what accountability actually looks like, why young Floridians are leaving the state in record numbers, the dirtiest lake in America funneling polluted water through low-income neighborhoods, and a state catastrophic fund proposal that could cut homeowner insurance by up to 60% without raising taxes.This is what a grassroots, no-corporate-PAC, working-class campaign actually sounds like — built from the back of an ambulance, not a donor dinner.▬▬▬ SUPPORT BERNARD'S CAMPAIGN ▬▬▬🌐 Website: https://bernardtaylorforcongress.org💸 Donate (no PAC, no corporate, no foreign money): https://bernardtaylorforcongress.org📣 Volunteer (phone bank or social blitz from anywhere): https://bernardtaylorforcongress.org

A 20-year Air Force combat vet wants to flip Texas's 3rd Congressional District. Evan Hunt is challenging Republican Keith Self — and he thinks he can win.Mike Winson sits down with Evan Hunt, retired Lieutenant Colonel, B-1 bomber Weapon Systems Officer, McKinney dad, to talk about a Republican stronghold that hasn't gone blue since 1968, and why he believes 2026 is the year it flips.In this interview:• The three winning issues in TX-3: healthcare costs, immigration reform, and Greg Abbott's voucher war on Texas public schools• Why MAGA isn't conservative anymore — and how disaffected Republicans are joining the campaign• "Service Before Self": term limits, no PAC money, no congressional stock trading, overturning Citizens United• Day-one priorities: banning out-of-cycle gerrymandering, dismantling ICE, repealing the AUMF, releasing the Epstein files• A combat vet's reaction to the Zelensky Oval Office moment — and what China's 100-year plan means for AmericaThis is a grassroots campaign. No PAC money. No corporate donors. Just a candidate, a message, and a district that's never been more flippable.➤ Learn more about Evan Hunt: https://electevanhunt.com➤ Follow @ElectEvanHunt on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Matt Robinson is running for Iowa House District 72 in the 2026 election, representing Dubuque, Iowa. In this Breaking the Meta interview, the union carpenter and Democratic candidate sits down with Mike Winson to talk minimum wage, Chapter 20 collective bargaining, Iowa's water quality and cancer crisis, school vouchers, and the half-million-dollar money fight already shaping the District 72 race.Matt Robinson is a field carpenter from Dubuque, Iowa, running for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 72 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. He grew up in the district, lives there now, and previously served as chair of the Dubuque County Democrats. His campaign — Build A Better Iowa — is focused on working-class economics, public education, and getting money out of politics.We cover:• Why Matt is running again after his 2022 state senate run• The pain points hitting Iowa House District 72 — affordability, education, water quality• Iowa's cancer crisis and agricultural water pollution• How Chapter 20 stripped collective bargaining from public employees• Why $18/hour minimum wage is the floor, not the ceiling• The $500K race nobody's talking about — and how Americans for Prosperity is buying the seat• What publicly funded elections would actually do• Day-one priorities if Matt wins November 3, 2026Iowa House District 72 covers the north and west side of Dubuque, on the Mississippi River. Democrats outnumber Republicans here, but independents outnumber both — making this one of the most flippable seats in the state after a 16-year Democratic incumbent was ousted in 2024.→ Support Matt's campaign: https://buildabetteriowa.com→ Follow Matt on social: @MattRobinsonForIowa / @RobinsonForIowa

Ruth Fortune is running for US Congress in Connecticut's 1st District (CT-01) — the first Democratic primary challenger to Rep. John Larson in 28 years. In this Breaking the Meta interview, Ruth shares why she's challenging a 28-year incumbent, her path from undocumented immigrant to attorney to congressional candidate, and what real accountability in Washington should look like.Ruth came to the US from Haiti at 12 and lived undocumented for nearly a decade. She waitressed her way through college with no path to a job until the Obama administration's 2010 TPS designation changed her life. Today she's a trust and estate attorney, a mom of three, and the first candidate to enter the CT-01 race because Connecticut hasn't had a Democratic primary for this seat since 1998.We get into:- Affordability, democracy, and ICE — what voters in CT-01 are actually saying- Why she's self-imposing a 5-term limit (and why career incumbency hurts representation)- Her $25/hr federal minimum wage proposal, indexed to inflation- Comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship- Holding ICE agents accountable under state criminal law- America's collapsing standing on the world stage and Trump's foreign policy- Connecticut's restrictive ballot access — and the convention fight aheadRuth needs 15% delegate support at the May convention to make the ballot, or thousands of petition signatures in 42 days. If you live in CT-01, your delegates matter.Learn more / volunteer / donate: ruthfortuneforcongress.com

NC House District 75 candidate Jen Wiles sits down with Breaking the Meta to talk schools, Medicaid expansion, and taking on a 12-year incumbent.Jen Wiles is a healthcare worker and working mom running for North Carolina House District 75 — covering Walkertown, Kernersville, and Walltown/South Winston in Forsyth County. Her opponent has held the seat since 2013 and currently chairs Appropriations, the committee that writes NC's budget.In this 2026 candidate interview we cover:• Why Forsyth County Schools ended up $43 million in the red — and the real story behind the headlines• North Carolina ranking 50th out of 50 states in public education funding, and 43rd in teacher pay• The stalled NC state budget, and why teachers and state employees still haven't seen raises• The March 31, 2026 deadline to stand up NC Medicaid expansion under new federal work requirements• How ACA subsidies ending will hit rural Walkertown and the rest of District 75• Why Jen refused NC Democratic Party help on her website and messaging• Her kids-only meet and greet — where students get to ask the hard questions• The "trillion dollar propaganda machine," and what it takes to think past itJen's district is a gerrymandered mix of three very different North Carolina communities sharing one representative. She's running on economic justice, a living wage, expanded Medicaid, and public education funding.Learn more, volunteer, or donate: https://JenWilesNCHouse.com🎙 Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast giving every district a voice — the grassroots candidates mainstream media overlooks. We interview candidates across all 50 states so voters can hear them in their own words.👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@breakingthemeta-podcast👉 Share this with someone voting in North Carolina in 2026#NCHouseDistrict75 #NCPolitics #JenWiles #BreakingTheMeta #NC2026

Steve Merrill is running for Congress in Utah's 3rd District — a district bigger than 19 states — on a platform of uniting working communities and restoring real accountability. No corporate PACs. No curated tele-town halls. Just a database programmer, a husband, and a dad who decided politics wasn't going to ignore him.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, host Mike Winson sits down with Steve Merrill, Democratic candidate for Utah's 3rd Congressional District, to talk about what it actually takes to represent 60% of a state — and why the people in it have been ignored for too long.Steve covers:Why Utah's redistricting changed the map — and why CD-3 now stretches across farmers, ranchers, mining towns, the Navajo Nation, and national parksHow tariffs gutted coal, oil, and iron mining communities ("It doesn't matter how much stuff costs — they lost their job")Rural hospitals shutting down, leaving residents 4 hours from emergency careWhat real accountability looks like — and why tele-town halls with eight curated questions don't countThe moment in 2016 that pulled him into politics (his stepson, the day after the election)Why he wants the U.S. to join the International Criminal CourtEnding the AUMF, clawing back Congressional war powers, and putting guardrails on executive ordersCitizens United, APAC, Elon Musk's $250M, and the case for publicly funded campaignsWhat he'd do on day one in Congress — starting with SNAP and MedicaidIf you've been looking for candidates who aren't taking corporate PAC money, who want to be held accountable, and who are running to fix problems we've been screaming about for decades — this is the series.Support Steve:🌐 votethe4merrill.com🌐 voteforme.us📱 Socials: @vote4merrillSupport the show:👍 Like, subscribe, and share — it's the cheapest way to help candidates without millions of dollars get seen.🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with grassroots candidates the mainstream won't coverAbout Breaking the Meta:Breaking the Meta is about having hard conversations when necessary, fighting to break the status quo, and the idea that all people — no matter your race, religion, gender, or identity — deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.#SteveMerrill #UtahPolitics #Congress2026 #BreakingTheMeta

Marine Corps veteran Keenen Colbert is running for Texas State Senate District 2 — and he's taking on one of the most extreme Republicans in the state legislature, incumbent Sen. Bob Hall. In this interview, Keenen lays out why he entered the race when no one else would, what accountability actually looks like, and why he refuses to take PAC money or ask anyone for their vote.Texas primary voting is already underway. If you live in SD-2 — Kaufman, Navarro, Van Zandt, Collin, Ellis, or eastern Dallas County — this one matters now, not in November.We talk about:• Why an 8-year Marine Mustang decided to run for office• What "no one is above the law" means at the state level• Rural Texas water rights vs. out-of-state data centers• The broadband gap pushing rural Texans out of the digital economy• Why the American Dream keeps getting pushed out of reach• How Colbert talks to Republicans — and why they keep applauding• His critique of his own party's messaging problem• Christian nationalism vs. actual Christianity• Why he says politics cares about you whether you care back or not🗳️ LEARN MORE & SUPPORT KEENEN:Website: https://keenenforSD2.com📺 SUBSCRIBE for more grassroots candidate interviews the mainstream press ignores#BreakingTheMeta is an independent podcast built on one idea: platforming the candidates mainstream media won't. No PAC money. No gatekeepers. Just real conversations with the people running to fix this.If this show is useful to you, the best thing you can do is share it. That's how grassroots candidates get visibility they can't buy.

Joseph Perez-Caputo is running for Congress in Connecticut's 4th District — and his pitch is the one politicians never make: "Don't trust me. Make me earn it."A 33-year-old Sicilian-Boricua law student living paycheck-to-paycheck, Joseph moved back in with his mom to run this campaign. No PAC money. No industry plant polish. Just a punk-metal revolutionary who calls his father's death from lack of healthcare "social murder" — and wants Congress to do something about it.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, we dig into:→ Why affordability is crushing Connecticut's 4th and what he'd actually do about it→ His Day One plan: 20 bills, 20 articles of impeachment, and a forensic Epstein task force→ The "total career politician cap" — 10-12 years across ALL offices, then you're done→ How to actually talk to conservative voters (spoiler: start with the pain)→ Why he compares the current administration to Homelander, not Superman→ A foreign policy built on humanitarian aid and restitution for 150 years of imperialism→ Why he'd rather you doubt him than worship himJoseph is part of Citizens Impeachment, a coalition of nearly 100 progressive candidates running to break the status quo. If you're tired of career politicians and industry plants, this conversation is for you.

Case Norton is a husband, father of two, and 20-year below-the-line film industry union worker running for U.S. House in Georgia's 7th Congressional District. Only 2% of Congress identifies as working class — Case wants to change that.In this conversation, Case lays out why he's challenging incumbent Rich McCormick, who hasn't held a town hall since February 2025. He breaks down the cost-of-living crisis hitting GA-7, his Day One plan to file or co-sign articles of impeachment against Donald Trump as a member of the Citizens Impeachment coalition, and why he refuses to be an establishment Democrat in the mold of Schumer or Jeffries.Georgia's primary is May 19, 2026. Early voting runs April 27 through May 15. If you live in GA-7, your vote in the primary decides who gets on the November ballot.🗳️ Learn more, volunteer, or donate: https://case4congress.comSubscribe for more interviews with grassroots candidates the mainstream media ignores.#CaseNorton #GA7 #Georgia7 #BreakingTheMeta #2026Midterms #WorkingClass #RichMcCormick #CitizensImpeachment #DemocraticPrimary #FlipTheHouse---Breaking the Meta is about having hard conversations, fighting to break the status quo, and the idea that all people — no matter your race, religion, gender, or identity — deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.

Oklahoma US Senate candidate Jasmine Thomas's official TikTok was restricted for being "political" — while the White House account keeps posting. Here's what happened, why it matters, and what you can do.Democratic candidate Jasmine Thomas (D-OK) joins Breaking the Meta to break down how TikTok — now owned by Oracle — restricted her official campaign account, flagged her content as a "political account" violating guidelines that didn't exist when she joined the platform, and warned her that one more political post would be her final strike. She's not alone. A candidate in Kansas reached the same wall the same week.We dig into:- What TikTok actually told her, and what guardrails they imposed after reinstating the account- Why Oracle's acquisition of TikTok creates a conflict of interest for candidates challenging the current administration- How social platform censorship becomes an election interference issue in a midterm cycle- The double standard between flagged grassroots candidates and official White House / administration accounts- What viewers can do right now — follow candidates across platforms (Threads, Instagram, Substack), spread name recognition, donate small-dollar recurring, and hold platforms publicly accountable- Jasmine's Q1 fundraising breakdown — $19,000 in small-dollar donations and why recurring contributions help campaigns actually budget- The establishment endorsement problem — progressive organizations declining to endorse progressive candidates in primaries- A wider conversation on representation, the rise of women in government (Mayor Mary Sheffield in Detroit, Gov. Abigail Spanberger in Virginia), and breaking the status quoThis is a call-to-action episode. Watch it through, share it, and get the word out — because what's happening to Jasmine is a preview of what's coming for every independent and progressive voice on these platforms.🎙️ SUPPORT JASMINE THOMAS (D-OK)Website: https://www.JasmineForOK.com🎙️ BREAKING THE METANew interview drops daily.Primary-month playlists available — find candidates on your ballot.Subscribe, like, comment, and share — the algorithm needs it and so do these candidates.

#LaurenJewett #Scalise #LA01Lauren Jewett is a 17-year special education teacher running to unseat House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in Louisiana's 1st Congressional District. In this Breaking the Meta interview, she makes the case that working-class people — not career politicians — should be writing laws that affect working-class lives.We get into what accountability actually looks like from a sitting representative, the cost-of-living crisis crushing Southeast Louisiana, why flood insurance and coastal erosion are no longer "Democrat vs. Republican" issues, and how Katrina reshaped New Orleans public education in ways most people outside Louisiana still don't understand.Lauren also breaks down her first priorities on day one in Congress: codifying reproductive rights, protecting healthcare as a human right, and securing the funding that keeps vulnerable coastal states like Louisiana, Texas, and Florida from being washed away.Scalise has been in elected office for 28 years. Lauren has been teaching kids with disabilities for 17. This is what it looks like when a real person steps up to challenge an entrenched power broker.📺 BREAKING THE METABreaking the Meta platforms grassroots and independent candidates the mainstream press refuses to cover. No PAC money. No partisan talking points. Just real conversations with real people running to change who gets to hold power.▶️ Subscribe for more candidate interviews🎙️ Hosted by Mike Winson📧 Booking & press inquiries: breakingthemetapodcast @gmail.com 

Candace "Candy" Greer is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 64 — a seat that had no opposition on the ballot. She's talking minimum wage, bodily autonomy, education funding, and what it means to be a progressive in deep-red rural Indiana.🗳️ CANDACE GREER — Indiana House District 64📘 Facebook: Candace Candy Greer for House 64🎵 TikTok: @notthatcandaceBreaking the Meta platforms grassroots and independent candidates that the mainstream media ignores. We believe every district deserves a choice and every voter deserves a voice — regardless of party.🔔 Subscribe for more candidate interviews, civic conversations, and political coverage that breaks the two-party mold.#IndianaHD64 #CandaceGreer #BreakingTheMeta #IndianaPolitics #GrassrootsCandidate #StateHouseRace #Minimum Wage #BodilyAutonomy #PublicEducation #VoterEngagement #RuralAmerica #Indiana2026 #IndependentPolitics #ProgressiveIndiana #civicengagement

Autism advocate mom of three kids with autism, Tabitha Zeigler is running for Congress in Indiana's 8th district and she's done waiting for someone else to do it.Indiana just capped ABA therapy at a 3-year lifetime maximum. RFK is spreading misinformation about autism. And her current rep answered none of her questions at his virtual town hall. So Tabitha jumped in.In this interview, she talks about driving 3 hours round trip just to get her kids to a specialist, what universal healthcare actually looks like (she's lived in France, Ireland, and South Africa), why rural Indiana voters are more open than you'd think, and what she'd do on day one in Congress.CONNECT WITH TABITHA ZEGLU:Website: tabithazieglerforcongress.comEmail: [email protected]───────────────────────────────Breaking the Meta platforms grassroots candidates the corporate media ignores. Hard conversations. No corporate PAC money. All people deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.Like, subscribe, and share to help these candidates get the visibility they need.#AutismAdvocacy #Indiana2026 #BreakingTheMeta

He was apprehended, tortured, and had drugs planted in his vehicle by state police. Instead of going quiet — he's running for U.S. Senate in Alabama. 🎙️Mike sits down with Dakarai Larriett, independent Democratic candidate for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat, to talk about the wrongful arrest that changed everything, the Motorist Bill of Rights he's authored, and what he'd fight for in Washington on day one.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE:→ Dakarai's background: corporate supply chain, MBA, 20 years of public service→ What Alabamians are saying on the trail: education, healthcare, economic opportunity→ How ACA subsidy cuts & SNAP changes are hitting Alabama right now→ Accountability in government — what it should actually look like→ Why even conservative voters in Alabama are starting to rethink their choices→ The Epstein files and who needs to answer questions→ Identity politics vs. voting on qualifications→ America's damaged foreign alliances — can they be repaired?→ His first moves if elected to the Senate in January→ The Motorist Bill of Rights: dashcam transparency, body cam access & police accountability→ Taking money OUT of politics — and what elections should actually look like💡 "I want to take the money out of our political process. That is the root of so many challenges."Learn more & get involved: dakarailarriett.comBreaking the Meta is an independent podcast platforming grassroots candidates and challenging the two-party status quo. All people regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.📢 Share this if you know anyone in Alabama — visibility matters.#Alabama #USSenate #DakaraiLarriett #BreakingTheMeta #GrassrootsCandidate #MoturistBillOfRights #PoliceAccountability #2026Elections #IndependentPolitics #alabamapolitics

Oregon's 4th Congressional District is massive — coastal towns, college cities, farmland, forests — and it's being left behind. Dr. Melissa Bird is a social worker, a descendant of the Shivwits Band of Southern Paiutes, and the kind of regular person Congress was designed for.In this episode she breaks down how SNAP cuts quietly devastated school lunch programs, why a hospital on the Oregon coast is on the verge of closing, and what it actually takes to run for Congress without corporate money.🔔 Subscribe for more independent candidate interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@breakingthemeta-podcast📌 WHAT WE COVER:— Housing crisis and ICE concerns across a complex rural district— How SNAP cuts ripple into school meals and disability services— Citizens United and real accountability without corporate donors— America's standing on the world stage after the Iran war— Writing legislation from a dining room table — and what it takes to pass it— What Dr. Bird would do on Day 1 if elected🗳️ Learn more & support Dr. Melissa Bird:Website: https://melissabirdforcongress.comSocial: @MelissaBirdForCongress🎙️ Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast interviewing grassroots candidates the mainstream media ignores.New episodes weekly. Like, subscribe, and share — especially if you know voters in her district.#Oregon #Congress #GrassrootsCandidate #OR04 #MelissaBird #IndependentPolitics #BreakingTheMeta

What does it actually take to run for Congress without corporate PAC money and win? Jen Johannsen left dentistry to help 80+ grassroots candidates across the country build real campaigns on almost nothing. In this episode, she breaks down the insider barriers blocking authentic candidates: signature-gathering nightmares in Connecticut, the funding catch-22 that keeps people-first politicians off the ballot, and the volunteer strategies that are actually moving the needle.We also get into why state-level races might matter more than federal ones right now, how a 24-year-old got 43% of the vote with $9,000 and zero name recognition, and what a Massachusetts high school teacher is doing every Saturday that big campaigns can't replicate with any amount of money.If you want to know how grassroots democracy actually works — and what you can do to help — this conversation is it.🔗 Follow Jen on Instagram: @jenjohhannsen🔔 Subscribe to Breaking the Meta for interviews with independent candidates mainstream media ignores.

She works on the front lines of a broken system and now she wants to fix it from the inside.Kirsten Root is a licensed social worker running for Indiana State Senate District 21, covering Westfield, Kokomo, and Tipton County. In this conversation, she talks about why the people quietly switching parties won't say it out loud, why SCA 1 hurt working families while corporations saved thousands, and what it actually means to be pro-life in a state with maternal health deserts.She's also pro-Second Amendment, grew up in rural La Porte County, and has no interest in telling you what you want to hear.🗳 Topics covered:• Why rural Hoosiers are quietly dropping party loyalty (4:19)• SCA 1: who it really benefited — and who got left behind (8:16)• Maternal health deserts and the EMS crisis in Kokomo (11:31)• What accountability actually looks like from an elected official (2:58)• Medicaid fraud myths vs. the real data (5:32)📌 Learn more & support Kirsten:Website: rootforindiana.org---Breaking the Meta gives a platform to grassroots and independent candidates that mainstream media ignores. If you believe voters deserve more than a two-party script, hit subscribe.#IndianaPolitics #StateSenate #GrassrootsPolitics #BreakingTheMeta #KirstenRoot

Chelsey Hockett won her TX-05 Democratic primary but Texas runoff rules mean the fight isn't over. She's back on Breaking the Meta ahead of her May 26 runoff to talk strategy, policy, and what's really at stake in East Texas.In this episode: the surprise primary results, 54,000 voter turnout in a district that usually sees 17,000, how redistricting created chaos at the polls, and what she plans to do if she gets to Congress. We also get into the US-Iran conflict, Texas water and energy infrastructure, AI data centers threatening the power grid, term limits, internet regulation, and the intra-party drama that erupted after the primary.Support Breaking The Meta!https://instagram.com/breakingthemetapodhttps://tiktok.com/@breakingthemetapodcasthttps://www.patreon.com/c/BreakingTheMetaPodcast🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a candidate interview.👇 Watch the first Chelsey Hockett interview: https://youtu.be/y8tgmZbkQ2g🌐 Learn more or support Chelsey: http://www.chelseyahockettforcongress.com

42% of American cancer patients go broke within 2 years. Matt Fulmer is running for Congress in SC-01 to fix that — and he's a bartender.Matt is running in the South Carolina coastal district currently held by Nancy Mace, who is expected to vacate the seat to run for governor. He's making an unapologetic working-class case for Medicare for All, a federal land value tax to address the housing crisis, ranked choice voting, and getting corporate money out of politics entirely.Follow Matt Fulmer: https://www.fulmerforcongress.com/Support Breaking The Meta!https://instagram.com/breakingthemetapodhttps://tiktok.com/@breakingthemetapodcasthttps://www.patreon.com/c/BreakingTheMetaPodcast

Jessica Salas is running for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District — a massive district stretching from East Portland all the way to Hood River County and Mount Hood. She's not a career politician. She's a working-class woman from Southern California who spent 12 years in the beer industry, launched an international beer collaboration called Hasta La Raíz to fund immigrant rights nonprofits, and decided to run for Congress when she realized only 2% of Congress actually represents people like her.In this episode, Jessica breaks down the biggest issues facing OR-03 — housing affordability, homelessness, forgotten farming communities, and rising costs — and shares her bold ideas for accountability, including local constituent advisory councils in every city across her district.She's not taking any corporate money, PAC money, or AIPAC money. She's 100% grassroots.Support and Follow Everywhere!https://instagram.com/breakingthemetapodhttps://tiktok.com/@breakingthemetapodcasthttps://www.patreon.com/c/BreakingTheMetaPodcastWe also get into:→ Abolishing ICE and rebuilding immigration from the ground up→ Her foreign policy platform and what Trump's tariff chaos means long-term→ How she connects with conservatives in a very blue district→ What she'd do on Day 1 in Congress (hint: articles of impeachment)→ Her "ACAB" policy — America Can't Afford BillionairesIf you're in Oregon, share this. If you know someone in Oregon, share this. Name recognition is everything for candidates who refuse corporate money.📌 Learn more & support Jessica: http://www.jsalfororegon.com---Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast dedicated to amplifying grassroots and independent political candidates that mainstream media ignores. New episodes every week.#BreakingTheMeta #JessicaSalas #Oregon #OR03 #GrassrootsPolitics #WorkingClass #IndependentPolitics #Congress2026

Georgia's 10th Congressional District has a shot at flipping — and Lexy Doherty is the candidate running to make it happen. In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Lexy breaks down the affordability crisis hitting rural Georgia, the federal government's plan to build a 10,000-person ICE detention facility in a small town of 5,000, and why she believes raising the minimum wage is the fastest thing Congress could do to change working people's lives.Lexy also digs into campaign finance reform, the congressional stock trading scandal, term limits, bipartisan coalition-building, and what it actually looks like to hold Congress accountable from the inside. This is an independent, no-corporate-PAC-money campaign, the kind Breaking the Meta was built to platform.https://instagram.com/breakingthemetapodhttps://tiktok.com/@breakingthemetapodcast🔗 Support Lexy: https://lexidoherty.com📌 Topics covered:— Running in a gerrymandered, rural Georgia district— ICE detention warehouse: 1M sq ft, 10,000 people, town of 5,000— Living wage & the MIT Living Wage Calculator— Small business owners vs. minimum wage reality— Congressional accountability: stock trading ban, lobbyist revolving door, Citizens United— Bipartisan work without purity tests— Term limits & why incumbents resist them— Foreign policy, democracy, and global authoritarianism— How to flip a MAGA-held congressional seat in 2026If you're in Georgia's 10th — or just want to see more independents and grassroots candidates take on the two-party machine this one's for you.

Breaking the Meta sits down with Jewel Kelly, a 10-year Air Force veteran, real estate professional, and mental health advocate running for Missouri State House District 106.Jewel shares a deeply personal story — from growing up as the eldest of 18 siblings in poverty, to losing his bonus daughter to suicide in 2018, to founding the Fighting Chance mental health foundation. Now he's channeling that experience into a campaign focused on affordability, healthcare access, housing, and government accountability.In this episode:- Why Jewel decided to run and what his district is saying- The impact of ACA subsidy losses and hospital closures in Missouri- His framework for building bipartisan common ground- What "leave no one behind" means in civilian politics- Truth in pricing as a Day 1 legislative priority- His vision for mental health access and reducing stigmaIf you're tired of career politicians who serve corporations instead of constituents, this is the kind of candidate Breaking the Meta exists to amplify.Learn more about Jewel Kelly: https://jewelkelly.comFacebook: Jewel Kelly for Missouri---Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast giving a platform to grassroots candidates that mainstream media ignores. No corporate money. No gatekeepers. Just real conversations.

Army veteran and nuclear medicine technologist Maura Keller joins Breaking the Meta to talk about her run for Georgia's 3rd Congressional District and why she says she can't be bought.Maura spent 26 years in the military, rising from enlisted military policewoman to Lieutenant Colonel, then spent over a decade as an independent contractor for the Department of Defense before becoming a nuclear medicine technologist at the VA. She's running because the problems she kept bringing to leadership kept going nowhere.In this episode we get into:→ The OB-GYN desert crisis in rural Georgia — 6 of her 15 counties have zero OB-GYNs→ Rural hospital closures and what that means for everyday Georgians→ Affordability: housing, groceries, and what it means to live paycheck to paycheck→ What accountability actually looks like from inside government→ Whether veterans in office can break partisan gridlock→ The John Lewis Voting Rights Act and Equal Rights Amendment→ The story of when she reported illegal military activity as a young lieutenant — and what it cost herNo PAC money. No lobbyist money. Just a retired Lt. Col. who says wrong is wrong.🌐 Learn more & donate: maurakeller.com📌 Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast platforming grassroots candidates that mainstream media ignores. If you believe money should be out of politics and people deserve real representation, this is your show.🔔 Subscribe | 👍 Like | 📤 Share — especially if you know someone in Georgia's 3rd District.

Alani Bankhead is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, counterintelligence agent, and supervisory special agent who spent her career hunting terrorists, spies, and child sex traffickers across every continent. Now she's running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate in Montana. She's running because she's seen what broken government looks like from the inside.In this conversation, Alani breaks down why accountability is the foundation of everything, from the 2008 housing crisis to the Epstein files to the Iran conflict. She talks about what Montanans are actually asking for (housing and healthcare, full stop), why their current senator stopped showing up, and how she'd fight to claw back hundreds of billions from Pentagon waste without raising taxes.She also gets real about Schumer, the filibuster, rebuilding trust with U.S. allies, and what it means to be a mouthpiece for the federal employees who can't legally speak out right now.This is one of the most substantive, credential-packed conversations we've had on this show. Don't miss it.——🔗 Learn more & support Alani:Website: https://alani4mt.comSocial: @Alani4MT (all platforms)Podcast: Montana Matters Podcast

Jackson Franklin is an Army combat medic, National Guardsman, and paramedic running in Indiana's 5th Congressional District and taking on incumbent Victoria Spartz in one of 2026's most closely watched grassroots races.Jackson has seen firsthand what he calls the "wealth care system", a for-profit structure that puts corporate middlemen between patients and doctors. He's calling for Medicare for All, an end to Citizens United, term limits, and a complete ban on congressional stock trading. On the campaign trail, he's hearing concerns about the war in Iran, ICE raids, education funding, data centers, and rising energy costs. He's engaging both disillusioned Democrats and disaffected Republicans who feel lied to by Trump.As a current National Guardsman with friends deployed overseas, Jackson brings a veteran's perspective to foreign policy, opposing the Iran conflict, cutting military aid to Israel, rejoining the Iran nuclear agreement, and getting the U.S. back into compliance with international treaties. He's also one of the leading voices in his area calling to abolish ICE, comparing its current role to a private enforcement army targeting minority communities.Jackson's campaign is 100% grassroots, no corporate PAC money, no APAC money. His platform covers more than 20 policy positions, from universal broadband and pre-K to ranked choice voting and ballot referendums.Learn more and support the campaign:🌐 JacksonFranklinforCongress.com📱 @JacksonFranklinforCongress on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter/X & Bluesky---Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast interviewing grassroots and progressive candidates that mainstream media overlooks. New episodes every day.

Dax Alexander grew up on a dairy farm in Martins Mill, TX. One of the reddest corners of one of the reddest states in America. No name recognition, no PAC money, no political dynasty behind him. Just a software developer, a group of Young Democrat friends, and a decision that if no one else was going to run, he would.In Texas's 1st Congressional District, recently in a runoff after pulling 22% of the primary vote. Dax is making the case that East Texas has been failed by its representation for too long. In this conversation, we go deep on what that actually means: the food pantries quietly losing federal funding, the rural counties without a single hospital, the broadband dead zones trapping workers from remote opportunities, and the AI data centers being sold as "job creation" while draining water from communities that already have Flint-level quality concerns.We also talk about why the 2026 moment feels different, why voters who've never listened to a Democrat before are suddenly curious, why Trump's broken promises on prices and wars are cracking the surface in deep-red territory, and why Dax thinks the biggest untapped voting bloc in Texas isn't red or blue, it's the people who stopped voting altogether.If you're in TX-01: the runoff is May 26th. Go vote.—🔗 Learn more & get involved: daxforcongress.com📱 Facebook & Instagram: @DaxForCongress—Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast covering grassroots and progressive candidates that mainstream media overlooks — because democracy only works when people have a real choice.

Victoria Martz is a criminal defense attorney and public defender running for Indiana State House District 55 a rural stretch of southeastern Indiana where the nearest Walmart requires a 20-minute drive and the nearest labor unit is now 30 to 45 minutes away.She's running as a grassroots Democrat in deeply conservative territory, and she's finding common ground with Republican voters on the issues that actually matter: fiscal accountability, worker rights, and a state government that seems far more interested in helipads and Escalades than in the people footing the bill.In this episode, Victoria breaks down:— The real impact of Indiana's Right to Work law on unionized workers in her district— Why ACA subsidy cuts are forcing rural residents to drop insurance entirely — and what happens when the local hospital closes— Her plan to raise the minimum wage while protecting small businesses through targeted subsidies— Why Indiana is hemorrhaging cannabis tax revenue to every state on its border — and why that needs to end— How she's connecting with conservative voters on fiscal accountability and workers' rights— What she'd do on Day 1 if elected to the State House in NovemberThis is exactly the kind of race Breaking the Meta exists to cover — a grassroots candidate, a winnable district, and a system that's counting on voters not paying attention.📣 Support Victoria's campaign:🌐 votevictoriamartz.org📱 Instagram & TikTok: @martz4indiana📘 Facebook: Victoria Martz for District 55

ICE took Justin Douglas's neighbors — Bhutanese Nepali refugees who survived ethnic cleansing and spent two decades in camps before America welcomed them in. That moment pushed this Pennsylvania County Commissioner to run for Congress in PA's 10th District.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Justin Douglas (candidate for Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District) sits down for a full interview covering: why ICE's current operations amount to secret police tactics, what accountability in Congress actually looks like, how the war in Iran started without a single vote from Congress, and why a $23 average donation campaign can beat a PAC-funded machine.🔗 FIND JUSTIN DOUGLASWebsite: JustinDouglas.usTikTok / Instagram / Facebook: @JustinDouglasPABreaking the Meta is an independent podcast built on hard conversations, breaking the status quo, and defending the dignity and rights of all people — no matter your race, religion, gender, or identity.New episodes every week. Subscribe so you don't miss them.#Pennsylvania #Congress2026 #JustinDouglas #PA10 #BreakingTheMeta #ICE #IranWar #CongressionalRace #ProgressivePolitics #GrassrootsCampaign

After the 2024 elections, Esther Kim-Varet did something almost nobody does: she Googled how to run for Congress, convinced her husband, pulled her kids out of school, and moved her family into a Republican district in Orange County to flip it.Now she's one of the top three Democratic fundraising challengers in the country — in what may be the only congressional race in America where two incumbents are running for the same seat. One of them hasn't held a town hall since 1997.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Mike Winson sits down with Esther to talk about:– Why she left a comfortable life to run for CA's 40th congressional district– The bizarre Prop 50 redistricting that merged two Republican seats– How TSA workers at John Wayne Airport are quietly relying on food banks right now– Why the arts & humanities are America's most undervalued asset in the age of AI– Her take on accountability, career politicians, and why Democrats need better storytellers– What she'd actually DO on day one in Congress (small business, education, housing loopholes)– "Bitches in the Middle" — her case for why being a centrist is actually the most radical position right nowThis is not a polished political interview. This is a real conversation with an everyday person who got fed up and decided to do something about it.🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss upcoming candidate interviews and hard conversations.──────────────────────────────👤 ABOUT ESTHER KIM-VARETRunning for California's 40th Congressional District (2026 Midterms)📲 Instagram / All platforms: @EstherForCongress🌐 Website: estherForCongress.com──────────────────────────────🎙️ BREAKING THE METAHard conversations. Breaking the status quo. Fighting for the dignity and rights of all people — regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity.

William Compton is running for Congress in Kentucky's 2nd District in 2026, a rural Kentucky Democrat who exposed government corruption and got his own mayor federally indicted.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Mike Winson sits down with William to talk about healthcare costs destroying rural families, veterans calling America a "laughing stock," why soybean farmers are getting crushed by tariffs, and what he'd do on day one if elected to Congress.William isn't a career politician. He's 32 years old, grew up on a farm in Warren County, taught orchestra at the same high school he attended, and got into politics after his city's mayor started stealing taxpayer money. He gathered the evidence himself. He got him federally indicted. And now he wants to take that same accountability to Washington.🔗 Support William Compton:Website: https://www.williamcompton.comAll socials: @ComptonForKY24📺 Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast built around hard conversations, challenging the status quo, and advocating for the dignity and rights of all people — regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity.🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with candidates and voices outside the mainstream.#Kentucky #Congress #WilliamCompton #BreakingTheMeta #KY02 #PoliticalInterview #RuralAmerica #Healthcare #2026Election

Victoria Broderick is a working-class mom, tech support worker, TikTok creator, and two-time congressional candidate running to flip Tennessee's 4th Congressional District — a rural, heavily Republican district that's been represented by the same 16-year incumbent who reportedly told people in closed-door sessions that speaking to his constituents costs him votes.In this episode we get into what it actually looks like to live in a district where a maternity ward just closed and the next hospital is 35–60 minutes away, where whiskey distilleries are laying off workers because of global tariffs and international boycotts, where 45% of children depend on Medicaid — and what happens when Washington stops caring about any of it.We also talk about why Republican voters keep describing her as "moderate," what she'd do on Day 1 in Congress, why she thinks the path to flipping the House runs through the South, and what "voting is public transportation" actually means.Victoria is a grassroots, small-dollar candidate — 95% of her $120K raised came from everyday donors. Every single donor gets a handwritten thank-you card.🗳️ Support her campaign: Victoria4Tennessee.com | Victoria4Tennessee.org

A teacher, HR professional, and children's advocate walks into a town hall — and walks out a candidate for the Indiana State Senate. That's essentially the story of Cindi Clayton, who is running for Indiana State Senate District 49 (Evansville/Vanderburgh County) in 2026.After decades of staying quiet politically, Cindi was pushed to her breaking point when her current opponent — Senator Jim Toms — responded to concerns about a bill allowing genital inspections of female athletes by saying, "It's not like we're going to have the janitor do it." That moment lit a fire, and no one else would run. So she did.In this conversation, Mike and Cindi get into:Why she decided to challenge an incumbent who ran unopposed for 8 yearsIndiana's utility monopoly crisis — how families in Evansville are paying $500–600/month just to keep their heat onChronic defunding of Indiana's public schools under a Republican supermajorityWhat accountability actually looks like vs. what politicians say it looks likeHow MAGA politics have reversed Indiana's historically small-government traditionAmerica's changing place on the world stage — and why local leadership still mattersWhy voters should think of elections like a job interview, not a football gameCindi brings 25 years of HR experience in the government sector, a decade of leadership with a Children's Advocacy Center, and 30 years of community roots in Evansville. She's not taking corporate money. She's running because someone had to.🔗 Learn more & support Cindi: cindiforsenate.com📲 Follow Cindi on socials: @CindiForSenate

Former CIA Officer Runs for Congress to Restore American Institutions | Adam Dunigan VA-8Adam Dunigan spent 17 years in federal service — five years in the Marine Corps and then a career as a CIA case officer. He watched American institutions deteriorate from overseas assignments, cashed out his retirement, outed himself as an intelligence officer, and walked away from everything to run for Virginia's 8th Congressional District.In this conversation, Adam breaks down:Why so many veterans are running for office right nowWhat his constituents in Arlington are actually asking for (hint: it's consequences)The real human cost of the federal hiring freeze and USAID abolishmentWhat accountability in Congress actually looks like — with metricsHow he's getting a hearing from Republican voters as a progressive DemocratWhy he believes this is a "black and white" moment in American historyThis is the kind of conversation Breaking the Meta was built for — unfiltered, direct, and focused on the people actually doing something about what's happening in this country.🌐 Learn more or volunteer: adam4congress.com📸 Instagram: @adamdunaganva8🎙️ Breaking the Meta is an independent podcast dedicated to hard conversations, challenging the status quo, and the belief that all people — regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity — deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss upcoming interviews with progressive candidates running across the country.👍 Like, share, and comment — it's the only way independent media grows.

Nate Stout spent his career at Callaway Golf and Johnson Outdoors traveling America and coming home to Indiana — until he started noticing the institutions that built him were eroding. Public education defunded. Utility bills quietly padded with hidden fees. A 700-acre rezoning request with no public hearing and no clear answer about what's even being built. And a state representative who took two and a half months to return a single phone call.So Nate decided to run.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, we sit down with Nate Stout — candidate for Indiana House of Representatives District 38 — to talk about what accountability actually looks like, why Indiana's Republican supermajority hasn't been as fiscally conservative as advertised, the real cost of battery plant expansion on everyday Hoosiers, and why a self-described gun-owning, deer-hunting Democrat might be exactly what rural Indiana needs right now.🔗 Learn more & support Nate: hoosiers2electnatestout.com

What does it look like to run for Congress with ZERO corporate donations — and mean it?Christopher Ajluni is running as an independent in Arizona's Congressional District 1, and he's doing something almost unheard of: refusing all campaign contributions and staying under the FEC's $5,000 reporting threshold to prove he answers to no one but his constituents.In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Christopher breaks down:→ Why he calls legalized corruption the root of every problem in Washington→ His vision for campaign finance reform, universal healthcare & Palestine policy→ What accountability actually looks like from a candidate who can't be bought→ The growing "open source candidate" movement across the country→ Why the independent voter surge in Arizona could change everything in 2026→ His personal story — from autopsy technician to financial advisor to congressional candidateChristopher's background is unlike anyone you've seen run for office: Lebanese-Syrian-Palestinian heritage, survived the 2006 Lebanon bombing, spent a decade doing autopsies, 15 years in financial services. He brings a ground-level view of what everyday Americans are actually facing.If you're exhausted by bought politicians on both sides, this conversation is for you.🔗 Learn more & volunteer: christopherajluni.com

James Martin is a fourth-generation Treasure Coast native, Coast Guard veteran, and former national security staffer in the Vice President's office, and he's running to represent Florida's 21st Congressional District in the U.S. House.In this conversation, James shares his path from growing up in Hobe Sound to commanding Coast Guard cutters in the Caribbean and Middle East, to working inside the Biden-Harris White House on national security and foreign policy. We talk about what brought him home, why he decided to challenge incumbent Brian Mast, and what voters across this district, one of the most diverse in South Florida, are actually asking for.Topics covered:The affordability crisis and what Congress can actually doTariffs, the CFPB, and consumer protections under threatEnding Congressional insider trading and getting money out of politicsAmerica's damaged standing on the world stage — and how long it takes to rebuildThe Indian River Lagoon clean water crisisWhat real accountability looks like for an elected officialTalking to Republican voters in a red district as a DemocratLearn more or support the campaign: jamesmartinforflorida.comBreaking the Meta is committed to hard conversations, breaking the status quo, and the belief that all people — regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity — deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety.🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with grassroots candidates and changemakers.👍 If this conversation was worth your time, a like and share goes a long way.#JamesMartin #Florida21 #BreakingTheMeta #FlordiaCongresss2026 #TreasureCoast #Veterans #IndianRiverLagoon #GrassrootsPolitics #FloridaPolitics #Congress2026

National Guard member Demi Palecek is running for Illinois State Representative District 13. Learn why this working-class veteran is defying orders, speaking out against ICE, and fighting for affordable housing, reproductive rights, and gun violence prevention in Chicago. Interview covers her military service, activism, grassroots campaign, and vision for Illinois.In this powerful interview, Demi shares:- Why she's defying military orders to protect immigrant communities- Her plan to fight Illinois's housing crisis with real rent control- The Rifle Act - holding neighboring states accountable for gun violence- Protecting reproductive rights as surrounding states ban abortion- Running a 100% grassroots campaign - ZERO corporate PAC money- Her experience with military sexual assault and fighting for trans soldiers- Being activated during January 6th- Organizing mutual aid for seniors living on $30-52/monthWhy This Matters:Demi represents what we SAY we want in politics - a working-class candidate who bartends to make ends meet, refuses corporate money, and literally puts her body on the line fighting ICE at Broadview. While her opponent takes $300K+ from Mark Zuckerberg, DraftKings, and housing lobbyists, Demi is endorsed by David Hogg's Leaders We Deserve PAC.District 13 includes: Wrigleyville, Uptown, Andersonville, Ravenswood, Edgewater, Lincoln Square🔗 Support Demi: DemiForIllinois.comFollow: @DemiForIllinois (Instagram) PRIMARIES COMING SOON - SHARE THIS VIDEO!#illinois #ChicagoPolitics #GrassrootsCampaign #NationalGuard #WorkingClass #AffordableHousingNow #ReproductiveRights #GunReform #NoCorporateMoney #ProgressivePolitics #district13

Join Breaking The Meta for an in-depth conversation with Jordan Herrera, Democratic candidate for Missouri's 4th Congressional District. Jordan is a 16-year Air Force veteran, attorney, and advocate running to bring real change to rural and urban communities across Missouri.In this interview, Jordan shares his powerful personal story—from surviving domestic violence as a child to serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, overcoming combat PTSD and military sexual trauma, earning his law degree, and now fighting for economic justice and accountability in Congress.TOPICS DISCUSSED:• Missouri's 4th District & gerrymandering impact• Rural hospital closures & healthcare crisis• Housing affordability & homelessness solutions• Military experience & veteran advocacy• Medicare for All & childcare as healthcare• Immigration reform & nation-building approach• Foreign policy & Ukraine/Taiwan concerns• Accountability in Congress & ICE reform• Economic stability for working families💡 JORDAN'S PLATFORM:Economic stability through housing, healthcare, education, and food security on ONE job. No corporate PAC money—a grassroots campaign powered by real people.🌐 Learn More: JordanJHarrera.comFollow Jordan on all social platforms (links on website)ABOUT BREAKING THE META:We have hard conversations about breaking the status quo. We believe all people deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety—no matter their race, religion, gender, or identity.👍 SUPPORT THIS WORK:Like, subscribe, and share to help grassroots candidates like Jordan gain the visibility they need to win. Your engagement directly helps campaigns that refuse corporate money.📢 Share this video in Missouri's 4th District and beyond!#JordanHerrera #Missouri4th #MO04 #CongressionalRace2026 #VeteransForCongress #GrassrootsPolitics #MedicareForAll #HousingCrisis #RuralHealthcare #PoliticalInterview #BreakingTheMeta #Election2026 #MissouriPolitics #VoteBlue #progressivepoliticsexplained

Jonathan Bonner is running for Georgia State House District 68, and in this interview we discuss the future of Georgia politics, grassroots campaigns, veterans’ issues, healthcare affordability, and community leadership. In this episode of Breaking the Meta, Jonathan Bonner shares why he decided to run for office and how he plans to represent South Atlanta communities including Fayetteville, Tyrone, Peachtree City, Union City, Fairburn, and South Fulton.Jonathan Bonner has built his campaign around grassroots leadership and community service, including feeding more than 2,000 families and providing thousands of dollars in school supplies to local students. In this conversation we talk about the real challenges facing Georgia voters today, from affordable healthcare and veteran services to accountability in government and bridging the political divide between Democrats and Republicans.We also explore how grassroots candidates are changing politics, why local elections matter, and how community-driven leadership can reshape the future of the Georgia State Legislature.Topics covered in this interview include:• Georgia State House District 68 election• Grassroots political campaigns• Veterans and caregiver support• Affordable healthcare in Georgia• Political accountability and transparency• Bridging political divides in local communities• The future of Georgia politicsIf you enjoy political interviews, grassroots campaign discussions, and conversations about the future of American democracy, make sure to like, subscribe, and share this video to support independent political media.Learn more about Jonathan Bonner - Website: https://bonner4house.comAbout the ShowBreaking the Meta features conversations with candidates, activists, and leaders working to build stronger communities and bring accountability back to politics.Our goal is simple: highlight voices working for real change and help voters learn about candidates before they step into the voting booth.

What happens when someone decides to challenge one of the most powerful figures in Washington?In this episode of Breaking the Meta, we sit down with Matt Gromlich, a lifelong educator and candidate running for Congress in Louisiana’s 4th District, currently represented by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Gromlich shares why he decided to step into the race, what voters in northwest Louisiana are struggling with, and why he believes every seat in America should be contested.We talk about affordability, job loss, healthcare access, education funding, and how misinformation is shaping American politics. Matt also explains his approach to accountability in government, why universal school lunches would be his first policy priority, and how grassroots campaigns can challenge the political status quo.This conversation is about more than one race. It’s about representation, community, and whether people in overlooked districts still believe change is possible.If you care about the future of American politics, grassroots campaigns, and honest conversations across party lines, this is an interview you don’t want to miss.Subscribe for more interviews with candidates, activists, and thinkers who are trying to reshape the political landscape.

In this episode of Breaking the Meta, we sit down with Stephanie Steiner, a retired women's health nurse and mother of seven who is running for Congress in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. Stephanie shares her story, from becoming a young mother at 15 to building a career in healthcare and now stepping into politics to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families.We discuss the biggest issues facing Iowa today: collapsing rural healthcare systems, rising cancer rates, struggling farmers, corporate consolidation in agriculture, and the economic pressures hitting working families across the district. Stephanie also explains why she believes Washington needs more everyday people and fewer career politicians.This conversation also dives into the broader political climate, including trade wars, tariffs impacting farmers, accountability in Congress, and the growing divide in American politics.If you care about rural America, healthcare access, and grassroots candidates trying to change Washington, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.Watch the full interview and let us know what you think in the comments.Stephanie Steiner’s campaign: https://SteinerForIowa.com

In this episode of Breaking the Meta, host Mike Winson sits down with Andrew Rice, a scientist turned congressional candidate running in Connecticut’s 3rd District. Andrew explains why he decided to challenge a long-time incumbent, what issues voters in the district are talking about, and why he believes the Democratic Party needs a stronger working-class agenda.The conversation covers major issues including universal healthcare, housing affordability, ICE, infrastructure, corporate influence in politics, and political accountability. Rice shares his background in science, his views on campaign finance reform, and why he believes voters must stay engaged beyond Election Day. hammer-truths-studio_interview-…They also discuss the broader political climate in the United States, the role of grassroots candidates, and what Andrew would prioritize if elected to Congress.If you care about the future of American politics, grassroots campaigns, and holding leaders accountable, this conversation is worth watching.Subscribe for more interviews with candidates, activists, and voices pushing for change.Learn more about Andrew Rice:https://www.riceforct.com