Crashing The Political Party

In the Season 5 premiere of our special "Hidden in Plain Sight" episodes, AJ sits down with farmer, author, and rural policy expert Brian Reisinger to unpack how the conflict with Iran is quietly reshaping American agriculture. They dig into the ripple effects most people never see: rising diesel and fertilizer costs, the squeeze on crop yields, and why higher grocery prices don’t necessarily mean higher income for farmers. The conversation also explores what government programs can and can’t do, how farmers are adjusting their plans in real time, what everyday consumers can do to support farms while keeping their own costs down, and more!

For this episode, we head down to Mississippi to talk with independent senate candidate Ty Pinkins. Ty and AJ talk about Ty's background, leaving the Democratic Party to run as an Independent, what Ty tells voters about supporting an independent over the major parties, policy priorities for Ty's campaign, how Ty's military service and being a father influence how he'd govern, book recommendations, and food!

In our first Research Note mini-episode, AJ walks through one of his academic publications which tests the theory that alternative candidates would perform better in America under ranked choice voting than the current widely used electoral system. He answers questions about why that might be the case, how he and his coauthors went about studying this, what they found, why even small improvements can matter, and possible future extensions of the work.

AJ is back with another conversation featuring an alternative candidate in the IL-4 race, sitting down with independent Lindsay Church. They get into the decision to run outside the two-party system, military service, perspectives on U.S. involvement in the Middle East, and how being trans shaped the path to candidacy. The conversation also covers key policy priorities, political violence, testifying before Congress, and why IL-4 voters should take a closer look at the campaign. Plus: book recommendations and a mid-interview power outage that they tried their best to act like didn't happen.

This week we're pulling back the curtain a bit and showing you a selection of our Patreon-exclusive show Five Minute Briefing, where Dr. AJ Simmons takes 5 minutes to highlight a news story we weren't able to cover on our regular show. This selection is from the first 3 shows. If you want more Five Minute Briefings and more join us at our Patreon!

AJ and Ed talk about his background, who the party is, policy priorities, why the 4th congressional district is drawing so many alternative candidates, lessons learned in Ed's previous campaigns for office, how being a teacher and union organizer will shape his governing style should he win, what success might look like beyond election results, and book recommendations.

For episode 5 of season 5, AJ is joined by Jack Ternan, chairman of the American Solidarity Party. AJ and Jack talk about who the ASP is, what sets them apart from the Democrats and Republicans, what Christian democracy means, some of the major policy positions of the party, the party's stance on the US and Israel attack on Iran, Jack's goals as chairman, party goals in 2026, how Jack came to be part of the ASP, voter skepticism towards a Christian party, and book recommendations.

In this episode, AJ talks with Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez about his independent campaign for 4th congressional district in Illinois, why he's running as an independent, challenges he's faced going that route, his policy priorities, vying for voter attention in a five way race, what his governing experience in Chicago has taught him, what his children have taught him about governing, books that have influenced him, and more!If you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe!Join on us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cppshowAnd for more updates check out our website: https://www.crashingpod.com/

In episode three of season five, AJ sits down with Rich Whitney, chair of the recently formed Independence Party. They talk about who the party is, what some of their policy priorities are, what it looks like to start a new party, issues around collecting voter signatures, lessons learned from Rich's prior experiences in alternative politics, convincing voters to support a new party, and more!

In this episode, AJ talks with Todd Achilles, a former state representative turned independent candidate for the U.S. senate election there. They talk about Todd's background, why he's running as an independent as opposed to one of the major or alternative parties, his policy priorities, what he hopes to achieve in the senate, and how he might try to work with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done.

In this season five premiere, AJ sits down with Justin Magill, Chairman of the Constitution Party. They talk about who the party is, some of their policy priorities, where they've had electoral success, what some of their goals are for 2026, strategies for growing the party, barriers to alternative party successes, what a chairman does exactly, and, of course, books!If you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe!Join on us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cppshowAnd for more updates check out our website: https://www.crashingpod.com/

In this bonus kick-off episode, Crashing The Political Party shares expectations for our new super-sized season, as well as some exciting things happening on Patreon. To hear the entire conversation join us over at our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/CPPShow/home

In this season four finale, AJ is joined by Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky (RGO), a political philosophy professor and expert on Marxist thought. RGO teaches us the differences between Democratic Socialism and Communism, including some important historical debates that matter.

Continuing our conversation on the challenges facing American agriculture, AJ is joined by farmer Greg Gunthorp. They discuss the challenges facing farmers who raise livestock, regenerative farming, meat processing, how farming consolidation has hurt farmers and consumers, supporting independent farmers, and book recommendations!

In this episode, AJ is joined by Sarah Carden of Farm Action. They talk about why independent farmers are struggling, how these issues hurt consumers, what policy changes are needed, her experiences as a farmer, and more.

This week, AJ talks with Ben Sooy. Ben is a musician, member of A Place for Owls, and founder/president of the musician-support nonprofit Holy Fool. They get into the band’s backstory, the real challenges new artists are facing right now, how Holy Fool hopes to help working musicians survive, the importance of community, why DIY has become the new normal for many bands, and of course… book recommendations.

For our second episode of Season Four, AJ sits down with Sean Park of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs to talk about community owned grocery stores. They discuss the different types of stores, why communities in food deserts are turning to them, why we're seeing the need for them in both rural and urban communities, how Sean got involved in establishing them, the connection between community owned stores and community owned agriculture, and, of course, book recommendations!

In this season four premiere, AJ is joined by labor journalist, historian, and troublemaker Kim Kelly. They talked about how she got into covering the labor movement, the history of Illinois as a labor hotbed, shifting attitudes towards labor and unions, recent wins for the labor movement, Kim's books Fight Like Hell and Fight to Win, and additional book recommendations!If you like what you hear please join us over at our Patreon:patreon.com/cppshowAnd our website:https://www.crashingpod.com/

Today on a special unlocked Patreon “Office Hours” episode, AJ sits down with producer Kylan and Brittany, owner of our partner bookstore, Tropes. They swap favorite book recs from the season, reveal where you can find a handy list of them all, and look back on Season 3, complete with some of Kylan’s burning questions for AJ.Check out the list of all the book recommendations we received this season! https://bookshop.org/lists/cpp-book-recommendations

And now for something completely different. In this Season Three finale, we debut our first-ever “Hidden in Plain Sight” episode. Instead of interviewing a politician, we spotlight a news story you may not be hearing elsewhere.To kick things off, AJ is joined by Basel Musharbash to discuss corporate consolidation. They unpack what a monopoly is, why Basel became an anti-monopoly lawyer, how monopolies impact public safety through something as basic as firetrucks, and how they’re reshaping American agriculture. They also explore potential solutions, and of course get some book recommendations for listeners who want to dig deeper into the issue.

In this episode, AJ sits down with Michael Gainer, an independent candidate for mayor of Buffalo, New York. They dive into Michael’s background and professional experience, his decision to shift from Democrat to independent, and his vision for the city. Michael shares his top policy priorities, why he believes he can win, and the one idea he hopes will carry forward even if he doesn’t. The conversation also explores the role of mentors (and their books that shaped him), and why holding onto joy matters in today’s often dark political climate.

This week, AJ is joined by Mississippi State Rep. Shanda Yates. They talk about her surprise victory over a long time incumbent Republican, her decision to switch from being a Democrat, some of her major policy priorities and wins, how she as an independent is able to get leadership positions, how she navigates being an independent in a heavily partisan environment, her love of Southern gothic literature, and why bubble baths and a glass of wine are a good way to end a stressful day.

AJ is joined by Vic Kaplan, the Libertarian Party’s 2025 candidate for Governor of New Jersey. They discuss his campaign policies and slogan “Freedom and Empathy,” the federal government’s role in immigration, and how alternative party candidates can achieve policy successes even if not electoral success. The conversation also covers lighter topics like Vic's enjoy ment of Taylor Ham, plus Vic’s recommendations, including the Season 3 history episode on Eugene Debs and some books!

In this episode, AJ talks with independent Donna Charles, who is running in the 2025 Virginia Governor election. They talk about her decision to run as an independent, her solutions to issues facing Virginia, what makes her different than the two major party candidates, how voters have reacted to her, elected officials she respects, book recommendations, and, of course, her love of the game Mortal Kombat!

This week, AJ is joined by Maine independent state representative from Bill Pluecker. They talk about Bill's background as a farmer, why he is an independent, some of his policy priorities, how to support independent and resiliant farming (where AJ makes a Lord of the Rings reference), what it's like to campaign (and win) as an independent, being an independent in a closely contested legislature, forever chemicals, and Bill teaches AJ about a giant festival held in Maine every summer!

In this episode, AJ is joined by Dr. Lee Drutman, an expert on electoral reform and American politics. They talk about the "two party doom loop", why it's bad, how American voters actually more resemble a six party system, why we have a two party system, and how changing our electoral system to one with multimember districts and proportional representation may transform America into a multiparty system. If you ever wanted to hear AJ really nerd out with someone, this episode is for you.

In our Season 3 Time Machine episode, AJ is joined by Allison Duerk, direct of the Eugene V Debs Museum to talk about who Debs is, the previous strength of the Socialist Party in America, why support for the party collapsed, what it was like for Debs to run for president from jail, why there has been increased interest in Debs in recent years, and what new research tells us about the importance of Kate Debs to Eugene and the Socialist Party.

In our third episode of the season, AJ talks with the Forward Party's nominee for the VA's House of Delegates District 11 race. They talk about who the Forward Party is, Brandon's decision to run as their candidate, his policy solutions to healthcare, education, election reform, and toxic politics between the two parties. They also talk about the process of getting on the ballot, how he is measuring success, some book recommendations, and what his campaign's mascot would be if it had one.

In this episode, AJ is joined by State Senator Tanya Vyhovsky from Vermont's Progressive Party. They talk about her biography, who the Progressive Party is, what makes the Progressive Party different from the big two, some of their major policies, why the Progressive Party has been so successful in Vermont, what in the world Fusion Voting is, what it's like trying to govern in a diverse political environment, and Senator Vyhovsky teaches AJ what Varenyky is.

Season 3 Premiere! AJ kicks things off with George Foreman IV, entrepreneur, educator, minister, son of the legendary heavyweight champion, and now independent candidate for Texas’s 18th congressional district. They dive into everything from growing up as a Foreman, to why he’s stepping into politics, his top three policy priorities, and how he plans to stand out in a crowded race. George also shares how he’d approach working in Congress, some of his favorite books, and perhaps most importantly, whether he ever flipped the Monopoly board as a kid.

To mark the end of Season Two, Dr. AJ Simmons fires up the Time Machine once again, this time landing in the chaotic presidential election of 1968. His focus is the third party presidential campaign of Alabama Governor George Wallace.Joining AJ is Dr. Aram Goudsouzian, Bizot Family Professor of History at the University of Memphis and author of The Men and the Moment: The Election of 1968 and the Rise of Partisan Politics in America. Together, they explore why Wallace is often called the “Most Influential Loser” in American politics and how his campaign shaped the political landscape we live in today.

This week, Dr. AJ Simmons sits down with City Councilmember Josh Michtom and School Board Member Shontá Browdy, elected officials in Hartford, Connecticut, and members of the Working Families Party. They discuss what the party stands for, breaking through in a city dominated by a major party, campaigning as third-party candidates, building coalitions, and staying true to their values in office.

This week on Crashing the Political Party, we're joined by Jim Walden, an independent candidate for mayor of New York City. We dive into his vision for the city, what it means to run outside the two-party system, and how he plans to build a governing coalition in a deeply Democratic stronghold. Walden also shares his take on the biggest challenges facing New York, and how he thinks real change can happen.

It’s International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, and AJ is diving into the politics of the Socialist Party USA. In this episode, he sits down with Greg Pason, National Secretary of the SPUSA, and Pat Noble, a local elected SPUSA official, to explore the the party, their platform, why local elections matter for third parties, and what governing outside the two major parties looks like.

In this episode, host Dr. AJ Simmons is joined by Dustin Pieper, a city councilmember in Batavia, Illinois and a member of the American Solidarity Party (ASP). They talk about what drew Dustin to the ASP, how the party’s "whole life" philosophy shapes his approach to local policymaking, and what it’s like to campaign and win outside the two major parties. Dustin also shares his insights on building unusual coalitions, navigating a nonpartisan council, and whether third-party candidates can gain real traction with voters.

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Henderson, an Independent member of the Washington, DC City Council. We dive into the unique structure of DC’s government and how it creates space for candidates outside the two major parties. Christina shares her thoughts on ranked choice voting, her policy priorities, what it was like to run in a race with 23 opponents, and more!

Hey there, bud! This week Crashing the Political Party goes Canadian! We’re joined by Dr. Richard Johnston, Professor emeritus of political science at the University of British Columbia, to discuss Canada’s multiparty democracy, upcoming election and why (and how) it got moved up several months, comparisons to America, and what Kiefer Sutherland has to do with Canadian politics.

In this unlocked Patreon-exclusive episode Dr. AJ Simmons answers political questions and discusses season 1 and what's to come in season 2. If you'd like to join our Patreon and ask your own questions for Office Hours head over to https://www.patreon.com/c/CPPShow

Kickstarting Season Two, we sit down with Dr. Linda Moore, an independent candidate for Mayor of Quincy, Illinois. Tune in as we discuss her policy priorities, campaign journey, and what it means to run for office as an independent in today’s polarized landscape!

In our season 1 finale, Dr. AJ Simmons sits down with co-founder of the Green Party Howie Hawkins to discuss third party and independent politics. From the founding of the Green Party up to the present, join us as we wrap up our very first season! Like and subscribe to get ready for season 2

Buckle up as we fire up the Time Machine with historian Dr. Keith Orejel to explore one of the most fascinating U.S. presidential elections in history: the 1948 election! With not one but two major third-party campaigns shaking things up, this race was anything but ordinary. There’s so much to unpack that this is our first supersized episode, so don’t miss it!

Do you love liberty? If so, we have a real Valentine’s Day gift for you with our 4th episode! We interviewed Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party. We talked the platform of the LP, what makes them different than the two main parties, ballot access, campaigning, and more!

Episode 3 is here! We chat with Dr. Laura Ebke of @LiberalParty_ about building a new political party, the Liberal Party USA’s platform, and how she ran for president unintentionally. Don’t miss it! 

In episode two of Crashing The Political Party Dr. AJ Simmons interviews Joseph Kishore of The Socialist Equality Party.If you'd like to hear a longer version of this conversation join us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cppshow

In the inaugural episode of Crashing The Political Party Dr. AJ Simmons interviews Peter Sonski of The American Solidarity Party.If you'd like to hear a longer version of this conversation join us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cppshow

Welcome to Crashing The Political Party! Host Dr. AJ Simmons gives an introduction to who he is and what the plans for the show are. Follow along and crash the political party with us!