The Real Majority

The middle isn’t moderation — it’s a mindset for getting things done. In this episode of The Real Majority, I sit down with Shannon Watson, founder of Majority in the Middle, to talk about why bipartisanship isn’t a dirty word, how small changes in political structures can lower the temperature, and why most Americans just want their government to work. From rethinking the caucus system to mixing up committee seating, we explore practical ways to move past partisan gridlock and deliver real results.

Populism is reshaping both political parties—but why do extreme candidates keep winning while the middle gets ignored? In the debut episode of The Real Majority, I sit down with Michael Brodkorb to break down how outrage is rewarded, why voters aren’t punishing bad behavior anymore, and whether either party can reclaim its brand. We talk MAGA, AOC, Zoran Mamdani, the media’s obsession with conflict, and whether there’s still room in politics for boring, effective leadership. This is the political conversation most Americans have been waiting for.

This episode of Meeting in the Middle is a moment of pause—a space to grieve, to reflect, and to ask how we’ve let cruelty take root in our politics. In the aftermath of the tragic shooting of Minnesota leaders Melissa and Mark Hortman, and the near loss of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, the conversation turns inward. It’s not a debate. It’s a reckoning. With quiet urgency, this episode wrestles with what we’ve become, how anger has replaced empathy, and what it would mean to choose compassion anyway. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s the only way forward.

In this no-holds-barred episode of Meeting in the Middle, Julius Hernandez sits down with Maryland-based political advocate and civic educator Candidly Tiff to unpack one of the most complicated and emotionally charged topics in recent Democratic politics: Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, the wave of commentary around his cognitive health, and the fracture it has exposed within the Democratic Party.Together, they tackle everything from the online cruelty following Biden’s diagnosis to the media’s role in shaping narratives about age, fitness, and truth in leadership. They also debate whether Biden’s inner circle failed him—and the country—by pushing forward despite growing concerns, and what accountability should look like now that the campaign torch has been passed.And in a sobering second half, they shift the lens toward 2028, exploring how the Republican Party is experimenting with a more populist economic message, what that means for working-class voters, and why Democrats need to refocus on rebuilding trust with the public—or risk losing even more ground.This episode isn’t just about Biden. It’s about what kind of politics we want going forward—and whether Democrats have the courage to course-correct before it’s too late.

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany, an online political force, and sharp Democratic strategist, to break down the internal fights, the generational divides, and the path forward for the Democratic Party. From Chuck Schumer’s strategic blunders to the David Hogg controversy, we dig deep into the fractures that are costing us public trust—and what we can do about it. We talk primary politics, online activism, and why messaging matters more than ever in an era where Trumpism keeps rising. If you’ve been frustrated with the party, this conversation pulls no punches—but also offers real hope for what comes next.

In this episode of Meeting in the Middle, host Julius Hernandez sits down with Republican strategist Michael Brodkorb and MNGOP Executive Director Anna Mathews to unpack President Trump’s escalating defiance of the courts—starting with his threat to withhold $2 billion in federal funding from Harvard. The conversation dives into the constitutional implications of Trump’s actions, the role of federal funding in higher education, and the broader impact of immigration stunts that ignore court rulings. With the 2026 elections looming, this episode explores what happens when executive power collides with legal limits—and how it reshapes the political battleground.

In this week’s episode of Meeting in the Middle, Julius Hernandez is joined by his longtime friend and political communications strategist Dan Green to talk about the looming leadership gap in the Democratic Party—and who might be best positioned to fill it in 2028. From governors like Tim Walz and Andy Beshear to potential dark horses like AOC or even Mark Cuban, they debate the electability, appeal, and policy chops of their starting five presidential picks (plus their sleeper contenders). It's a candid, insider-style conversation about the future of the Democratic bench—and the qualities that the next nominee must have to meet this political moment.

There’s a growing storm of anger in American politics — from both the left and the right — and it’s not just toxic. It’s exhausting. In this episode of Meeting in the Middle, host Julius Hernandez takes a step back from the noise to examine how grievance politics has taken hold of our discourse, what it’s doing to our democracy, and what a better path forward might look like. Drawing inspiration from Senator Cory Booker’s “politics of love,” this episode offers not just a critique of outrage culture, but a plea for something more hopeful, more human, and more sustainable. Because if anger is all we have left, we’ll burn out before we ever build anything real.

In this episode, Julius Hernandez dives deep into the escalating problem of voter ignorance and the dangerous rise of misinformation in American politics. Joined by Dr. Aaron McKain, an expert in digital ethics and media literacy, they discuss how the erosion of civic knowledge is undermining democracy. From the impact of social media algorithms that prioritize outrage over truth, to the broader consequences of a poorly informed electorate, they explore why this crisis affects all sides of the political spectrum. But there's hope. Together, they outline practical solutions—reinvesting in civic education, promoting media literacy, and encouraging fact-based journalism—necessary to combat these issues and restore accountability in our political system.This episode is a call to action for all of us to step up, get informed, and engage in the process before it’s too late. If you care about the future of democracy, this conversation is for you.

Democrats keep losing key elections, and the data proves why—moving further left is a losing strategy. In this episode of Meeting in the Middle, I break down the Democratic Party’s identity crisis, the massive voter shifts that hurt us in 2024, and why embracing progressive purity tests is a recipe for disaster.We’ll dive into polling that shows Democrats' approval has plummeted to 29%, how immigrants, young men, and Black voters are shifting toward Trump, and why the "fired-up base" narrative is a myth. Plus, we’ll discuss David Shor’s post-election data, which reveals that voters want a pissed-off moderate, not a left-wing ideologue.If Democrats don’t fix this, we’re looking at brutal losses in 2026 and 2028. Let’s talk about how we turn this around.

Congress is once again locked in a chaotic budget fight, and this time, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this Special Session of Meeting in the Middle, I break down what a Continuing Resolution (CR) actually is, why Republicans are using it as a political weapon, and how Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats are struggling to respond. We’ll dive into the details of the GOP’s proposed budget cuts, the Democratic infighting over passing this CR, and the real consequences of a government shutdown—including the 800,000 federal workers who could go without pay and billions lost in economic damage. If you want to understand what’s really happening in Washington without the spin, this episode is for you. Subscribe, share, and let’s hold our leaders accountable!

In this episode of Meeting in the Middle, I sit down with Michael Brodkorb, a former Deputy Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party and a communications consultant, who made headlines by supporting Kamala Harris in 2024. We dive into his journey in Republican politics, what led him to break with the party’s direction under Trump, and why he became a leading voice for Republicans for Harris. We also discuss the growing ideological purity tests in both parties, Gavin Newsom’s recent comments that have rattled Democrats, and how we move forward in an era of extreme partisanship. Join us for an unfiltered, honest conversation about what it means to challenge your own party in today’s political climate.

In the first episode of Meeting in the Middle, I break down the current state of American politics and why both parties are failing us. Extremism has taken hold, and our leadership—on both sides—is out of touch. I talk about my journey in politics, why I believe in challenging my own views, and why Democrats need to reconnect with their base without moving further left. From Trump’s State of the Union to the political divisions tearing this country apart, this episode is about cutting through the noise and finding a path forward that actually works.