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The Candidate Who Cares So Much She Stopped Caring · Breaking The Meta

• Victoria Broderick: They don't want to to tittoe around the issue. I mean I was just at a a forum recently straw poll if you will and someone came up and said you said the word that I needed to hear and it was because like there's no point in not saying it. Even the more established person, the more the person who had more name Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: recognition, all those things couldn't say it. And I said it. And it's like there's nothing that's going to hurt saying those things. Saying that what's going on in Palestine is a genocide is not radical. Understanding that we have a an ally that is wreaking havoc on an entire civilization of people. It's not radical to say it's a genocide, we need to do better and hold them accountable. That's not radical. We can understand that they're allies and still say, no, you're not gonna do that. Like speak softly, carry a big swi Mike Winson: Yep. Victoria Broderick: stick. Mike Winson: Hello everyone and welcome to Breaking the Meta. We have a special, special episode today. we are hanging out with a friend of the channel. Her name is Victoria Broderick. She's running for hold on, Tennessee's fourth district. Yes. Got it right. I've Victoria Broderick: Yeah. You got it, nailed it. Mike Winson: only I've only interviewed and talked with you like for months. You'd think I wouldn't have forgot that, but here it's fine. so Few things are going on. At the time of this recording, Victoria is three days away from her primary, which is very exciting. but Victoria and I just talk a lot about just everything that's going on. one of the cool perspectives that Victoria has is not only is this her second time running, but she's willing to talk about pretty much anything, which you know, is it's pretty nice. So what we're gonna talk about is pretty much anything. so I I'm not sure how much direction I can give other than this is going to be fun. Victoria Broderick: Yeah. It's gonna we're gonna have fun. It's gonna be fun guys. It'll be c join the chaos. Mike Winson: I'm gonna have fun. one thing that we are gonna talk about though that that we did mention is looking at what it's like to run for office. That's that's kind of my thing. I because it strikes me after having interviewed so many people that it's wild. Now you've had some. really batshit crazy experiences that hopefully no one else running for office has to deal with. That being said, I also think that there is, you know, this is just a problem with our political system as a whole, which is it's just really crazy running for office. Victoria Broderick: Yeah. I mean it's insane. And most people don't know. I think that's the thing that I liked sharing in twenty twenty four and even now, like sharing the back end stuff of like what is expected when you're running for office, because a lot of people have this like they have this glamorous idea that it's gonna look like scandal or the West Wing, you know, the classic the classic thing and campaigns don't look like that. They can, like traditionally, but most modern candidates that you're interviewing like aren't Aren't running like that. We're running completely different races than our predecessors did. And we're having to utilize media that never they never had to think about 10 years ago or even 20 years ago. So what what it's going to look like this election cycle, that I have no idea. However, it's been really fun, like kind of getting a feel for it. Mike Winson: So this this actually brings up a fur a really interesting first question that I had for you. So you and many other people I I know that are running for office are doing it as a pure grassroots campaign. You're running against people not only in the primaries, but if and when you win, you're gonna be running against people in the general election that have a larger coffer available to them. Because Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: in general, they take corporate pack money. They, you know, they'll take they'll take money from from anywhere. If people such as you and all of these other people that are very grassroots can pull off victories in the primaries and in the general elections and, you know, come out and be like, I made fifty thousand dollars. Like, That is considered unheard of for a for a federal seat to to only raise fifty thousand dollars and win. What do you think that could mean for the future of elections if you can make that possible? Victoria Broderick: Well, I mean, one, it creates a path. It shows candidates how to do it. And the greatest part about my campaign, other than the memoir that I'm writing, is the fact that I've created a path for working people, regardless of like I know candidates who were working full time, who found me online and decided to run because of because they saw what I did and saw how I did it. And they built Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: their campaigns out like that. And they made it their own. And that's something that I did very early on with my campaign was I made it my own. I knew that the status quo hadn't done the thing. So what do I do that's changing? And you know, that goes into that that even with a loss in 2024, which I I knew what I was signing up for. I'd run a campaign for five months, which is a short amount of time for a federal candidate. Most federal federal candidates need to run for at least a year. And have name recognition. And that doesn't even guarantee them a win. Look at Gloria Johnson, who ran for Senate here in Tennessee. She had all the name recognition, all the support, all the money, and still wasn't able to pull off a a statewide race. Now that doesn't mean that that's her fault. It's a product of the system. It's a product of the times. It's just a product of running for office when you're having to go Go visit 95 counties. That's a lot of counties to dish and I mean I had 15 originally in my district. So what does it look like running for office in this modern election cycle and what it means for modern candidates and politicians? Well, one, it means I'm not bot. When we pull this Mike Winson: Right. Victoria Broderick: off, which we're going to pull it off because if money won elections, it would have flipped these seats. So what are we offering that normal, like average status quo candidates aren't offering? I've been working in this district on the ground for two and a half years because my work started in 2024 when I ran that first campaign. And what I learned during that first campaign is that I offered something that we hadn't had before. And I could have walked away and said, you know what, I'm a young mom, I've got a two and a four-year-old at home, I'm tired, I still work full time, I didn't get fired from my job because that's another aspect of running for office that people don't recognize. You can lose your livelihood over running for office. Whether you win or lose, you can just lose your job and lose Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: potential income going forward. And instead, I said, there's a need. Our district has been forgotten, not just by our sitting representative, who's a whole potato. We've also been forgotten by the Democratic and the Republican Party. They're only active during election cycles. So what do I do? I'm active in the in-between. I'm constantly out campaigning with Democrats. I'm at No Kings protest where I'm literally walking in my t-shirt, showing my support, creating some sort of buffer between ICE and my my constituents because I recognized the power of that. I re I utilized my platform. I grew my platform, grew my name recognition, started traveling around the country to build relationships with people that I would have never met had I not been running for office. And these Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: are all things that are going to really fundamentally change what we see as politicians going forward. And it shakes the system to its core. And when I say Republicans will be analyzing this for decades, they will. When I pull this off, they're gonna be analyzing it for decades because they're gonna wanna know how a rural working class mom who's fun sized and feral flipped a the one of the reddest districts in Tennessee. Mike Winson: Yeah. you, I know you as well as me are while you are running under the Democratic ticket, and I definitely lean on the progressive side and support many Democrats that are running for office. I I personally at least don't consider myself beholden to the Democratic Party. there's Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: a lot of problems that I have with the Democratic establishment as a whole. I don't know if you heard the news, but I wanted to talk about this because I saw this and and I just got pissed off. And I know how much you love getting pissed off about things in the news. So I figured let's go Victoria Broderick: Yeah. Mike Winson: for it. so it was announced that a hurdle had been gotten past in the Senate to pass a continuing resolution so they don't so there's no threat of a of a government shutdown before the election. And the reason that it got there was because of your friend and mine, Chuck Schumer. Chuck Schumer, when asked about getting this CR through, he goes, For months, Democrats have been clear. We want to fund the government, avoid a shutdown, and pass strong bipartisan appropriation bills that improve people's lives. So my question to to for you, how how how Is passing a CR improving people's lives? Victoria Broderick: I'm over here like this dude. If my mouth doesn't say it, my face will. I mean, if he just stood ten toes down, it would have benefited the Democrats across the board. Because Republicans are in power currently. Also, I mean, this is a function of like years worth of Democrats just kowtowing to status quo ness. And they don't Quite understand that it's not going to work going forward. I would much rather see them all say, you know what? We'll just donate our salaries for a month to working people. And, you know, we'll just figure it out. Like, figure it out. Make the Republicans bow down. At this point, I think that this is just a function of status quotas and people who need to step aside for a younger generation because working people aren't going to be helpful. by anything they're doing currently, except writing strongly worded letters, which are important, but we need fighters in D C. We need people who are gonna stand up to this administration. Mike Winson: Are they important? Are strongly worded letters important? Victoria Broderick: I mean I get all the time at work, so like it makes my boss do some things, but like I mean Mike Winson: Well, is i is that because you have no other option but to give him a strongly worded letter, or because the strongly worded letters actually help? Victoria Broderick: Think I think it's a twofer. Like we have to push forward. I was having this conversation with a friend, a a creator friend earlier today where I've said everything has its purpose and we have to move forward as a team. So if the strongly worded letters are what bridge that gap, we have to be able to push it forward in that way. And so it can't just be the one thing. They have to be doing the other things too. And if we don't play together as a team, it won't push forward in the way we want it to. So like This is that's where the politics is going to change going forward and how we as legislators legislate and bring our voters to the table so that they understand why we're legislating the way they are we are. And there was a senator, I guess, out of South was it South Carolina or North Carolina, he fell out of he fell out of favor based on some of his votes. But he did do that. I do admire the fact that he was talking about his run and the Like pulling back the layers of the onion of what goes on behind the closed doors, which I think his historically is not something that we've wanted, but now as like you know, as people could become more politically active, things get harder, they want that. And I think that's what we're gonna have to do going forward. Mike Winson: You know, it's interesting to me because you talk about the idea of us of us as, you know, progressives or at least the Democratic Party in Congress having to move forward together. And yet there's a part of me that feels like that that's not what the voters want. Like they it's it's this weird dichotomy where we do because we want to get stuff done, but in the same respect. We don't. And we want we want everyone in Congress to feel like they are speaking for us. And that's always been a difficult one for me because you, as a Victoria Broderick: Yeah. Mike Winson: you know, once you win, you will represent seven hundred and fifty thousand people. They will be Republicans, they will be independents, they will be Democrats, they will be Green Party, they will be Libertarians. You're not The cape you're you will are incapable by the very nature of that many people to actually do things that every one of them like. So what what does that look like in a in a functioning democracy? Victoria Broderick: A nightmare. that's the only thing that came to mind. I think I mean it's you're right. I'm gonna say this word correctly this time because someone in my comment section had the audacity to not like the way I pronounce like pronounced it. But it's a Hercule it's a Herculean task. When you're running for office, when you're Hercul Mike Winson: Let me guess you said Herculean and they didn't like it? Victoria Broderick: I think I said Herculan as like I I like I kind of like stumbled over it. It's fine. It's whatever. My comment section's always so kind to me. I love them so much. Mike Winson: y you know, I feel you on that one. Victoria Broderick: So I mean, this is the problem that we have. And like this is a product of when voters are more educated, which is what we are coming to the knowledge like I feel like voters have moved past the basic, I'm just gonna vote every four elections, like every four years and every like election cycle, where they want to understand. And because there's been such this like almost golden veil of like once you're a politician, you're untouchable, you're these things. Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: that you're not a real person, you're not a human past that line, like you're just a politician. I think what we're gonna have to do is create this, hey, this is what I'm doing, this is why I'm doing it. But you also have to get candidates who are speaking to what their districts are feeling. You know, I'm not speaking as being a Democrat, as I'm running on the Democratic ballot because there is no clear path for a third party. And a third party has not won in the state of Tennessee Since Reconstruction. So that just tells you what I'm up against if I decided to not run in the establishment. And that doesn't even change, like add in the chaos that is the Tennessee state legislature, which is another hold my beer for another day. But while we're like moving forward, we have to show that within our party. So it's it's how are we responding? How are how is your candidate speaking about issues? How are they standing? Are they standing 10 toes down or are they wavering? And I think that that's what's going to change how we view this representation. Because I have Republican support, I have independent support, I have Democratic support, I have leftist support. I have people who haven't voted in 10 years, who saw one video of mine who are now voting, not only just voting, they regularly show up to volunteer for. Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Victoria Broderick: So what am I offering that they haven't had as a voter? Because we've got the base, the base is gonna show up to vote, but how do I get those other people to feel like players on the field? And Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: that is something that I think is unique to progressivism, is we're not speaking on anything that the average working person isn't already feeling. We're Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: speaking in a way that makes it so that people are like, well, that's a policy I care about. I care about grocery prices. So why why I need to listen to this Democrat, like this person that's speaking, that they don't say I'm a Democrat, they say this person that's speaking. Or they're Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: just so disenfranchised at this point that I seem logical by comparison, which is totally valid. so I mean, like, this is I don't like Chuck Schumer. All that to say, I don't like Chuck Schumer. Like, I know I'm about to meet Mike Winson: Me neither. Victoria Broderick: him and I'm like. I'm the kind of person that and I think this is the other part to voters is they want someone who's going to fight for them even when they're not in the room. And I'm Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: your girl. Because like if I if anyone's gonna say the thing that everyone is feeling, it's gonna be me. Like I Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: don't like I was watching someone who's watched me through this campaign, and one of the ways she described me and she's a friend, she's become a friend. And someone I deeply care about in my campaign. She was like, Victoria is fearless in a in a way that makes me feel like I can be fearless too. And it was it was a moment where you know, like I don't get a lot of that feedback of like how people view me, which is part of the reason I made the like cute little like pivot to our conversation later in the conversation, because I wanted because It doesn't matter what I say at the end of the day. I'm just a politician. I'm shady, whatever. How you view me, how you've gotten to know me through this, that's what your viewers are going to be more receptive to. And Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: that's something that we as politicians are gonna have to be recognize going forward because standard media is not working anymore. We're gonna be relying on content creators, podcasters to help pursue our push our message forward. Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: And that's gonna be really important. And being personable, being likable, being people that we feel like you can have a drink with, whether it's water, coffee, or something a little bit stronger, because this is Trump's America. Like sometimes you need something a little stronger. Mike Winson: Yeah. After after my live today I did get messaged by one of of my regulars whether or not I was gonna go for something stronger today because it was one of those days in the live. Victoria Broderick: I'm so sad I missed it. Mike Winson: Ha ha ha. Victoria Broderick: I'm training someone at work and I've been focusing on training her and onboarding her. Mike Winson: No, you're good. There'll be plenty more. As we get closer to November, it's gonna get wild. and you know, that's that's actually the interesting thing about all of this, and one of the things that I've noticed from what I'm doing. So one of the things, one of my goals in talking to you or any of the other candidates is you know, I ask specific questions. in specific ways. Like some people are like, those weren't hard. And I'm like, I I understand I'm not going for like you know the the get them kind of questions. But because part of that is because that's what that's what you guys get everywhere else. Like I've actually had people cancel interviews with me because I wouldn't give them the questions up front. And I'm just like, Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: look, my goal is not gotchas, but but Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: I don't want I don't want you to prepare, to be fair. Like I prepared answers feel prepared. And my goal is to give is to give everyone who sees these interviews A real not just an understanding of what you stand for, but trying to figure out what almost how you think when you interact, whether it's with people around you or whether it's Congress, whether you whether it feels like you're hearing them. And it's and that's that's the frustrating part because when I see any of the candidates and they get on more of a national news thing or one of these bigger podcasters, like Pod Save America. By the way, I'm annoyed with Pod Save America right now. Victoria Broderick: Okay. Mike Winson: That's a whole different thing. But Victoria Broderick: Love that. Mike Winson: they don't There's always some sort of agenda with the questions. They're trying, they're trying to get a certain direction. They're trying to get a certain answer. And and that's not what the people need. The people need to know who you are, who you what what you care about, what what are the things that matter to you? It's one, it's it's literally the reason why one of my questions is, you know. It's such a it's such a almost feels like a softball question, but it's like, what do you want to make sure that everybody knows about you over everything else they've heard? And you can tell, you can tell exactly how they think by how they answer that question. Because it's like, like, I'm gonna win. Like if they just say that, it's like you they don't care. Like that's not it. And and that's and that's what I think I mean, that's what's so great about all of you guys is is all of the people that I've interviewed. It's it's a different breed of people. Victoria Broderick: Yeah. And I mean that's the other part of this too. I was it was so interesting. I was on a stage back in I think it was like March or April maybe. Maybe it's February. I don't know. I've slept since then. Anyway, and I'm on a stage with two established politicians. It is a female event, like the idea is uplifting women and women voices in politics. And I remember afterwards, like I didn't feel like I said anything wild. I didn't feel like I'd done anything crazy. But the amount of people who pulled me aside to say, You sound like someone I can listen to. And then one of my person who worked on my campaign said, my God, you did you answered in a political way, but it didn't sound political. And it was just like that Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: moment of realizing I stood out. In a real way against two established candidates, two people who had Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: maybe more name recognition, more money than I have. And I was the one that people were coming up to and remembering and remembering past that. So what am I doing that's different? And it's and being able to answer questions that the average politician, I mean, I'll answer the hodge questions. I fumbled an interview here recently. I fumbled it. It was the second question, it would have been a long day. We only had three minutes. I screwed up. I know that. And I acknowledge that in the comment section. I had no I it was no shame in me to say I fucked up. Like there was just none, there was none there. And I recognize that there's a di that people aren't ready for that too. And I have to be cognizant of that. That they're not ready for someone to say, Hey, I didn't do welly well. That was really bad of me. And it might seem like I'm pandering. And so just being okay with that, being like, okay, politicians have a long road to walk. It's okay. It's not about me. It's about how I respond to these situations. The work can't stop just because I've screwed up, just because I've heard the thing that might be hard. And I think that that's how we're gonna change it. And I do appreciate conversations when the questions are a little bit different because like I've heard the same 15 questions a million times. And that I honestly at this point, like if someone's like in it for a gotcha question, I don't know what that is because I'm just gonna continue answering the way I feel is necessary. And if it works out, great. Love that for me. If not, it's gonna be like that one. Mike Winson: Yeah. You know, I I was thinking about if there what's the thing that frustrates me most about Congress that I would want to make sure that everyone that I interview knew. And I wish I thought of it when I first started doing all of them. the thing that bugs me the most is when the House of Representatives is doing debating. When Senate is doing debating, when there are hearings going on, that the only people are that are in there are the ones that are about to talk or that are talking. It pisses me off to have a debate in the Senate and the only they they just wander in to do their to do their vote at the end. And it's like, what the hell are we doing here? Like So if like if I had a thing, it would be like be in there, be present. Because that that there's nothing that makes me feel like a representative does not care about what's going on, than when I know that they only walked in to say their piece, did their their five or 10 minutes, whatever they get, and then they left after. Victoria Broderick: And that's I mean, I feel like that's a feeling that a lot of people have. And it's something unique in my campaign that I've done differently is I do debate lives. That's how you first saw me, right? Like that's I Mike Winson: Yeah. Yep. Victoria Broderick: think we've talked about that offline is you saw me doing debate lives. And that was never there was no intention in that other than I was actually tr like training myself on like, what are the arguments? What are the things? And it was a good way for me to practice. practice interacting with people online, practice being called all every name under the sun because I'm gonna get called those regardless. So like Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: might as well build the skin up now and make it so that it doesn't hurt so much. Because like I only have two feelings left and I don't want you to hurt either one of them. So here we are doing the thing. And but like it's the wherewithal of sitting in a a live for five hours and maybe I've talked to ten people. Maybe I've only talked to two people But those two conversations could be really beneficial for people. And it's it gets out there. I'm not having that conversation to have the conversation of the person who's watched like I'm talking to. I'm having that conversation with people who are listening, who are saying, who is this person outside of their campaign? Who's this person outside of the, you know, election cycle? And it's beneficial to have that, like have that experience because it's only made me more on like able to answer questions in a way that hasn't hasn't been seen before. I mean it's the comment that people say all the time to me. They're like, you are so good off script. And I was I'm actually better off script because I've been practicing for months. And you all just weren't prepared for that. And it's been made me more a more formidable opponent to people who thought nothing of me because they see blonde hair and green eyes and they think, well she's got nothing between her head. like much like they treat, you know, El Woods in Legally Blonde and it's like, cool, underestimate me. I love that for you. And then they find out I have a mouth body. Love Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: that. Mike Winson: Which you do. Every once in a while I get a random text from you and like, You wanna hear what I told someone in a live today? Victoria Broderick: I will never forget telling you what I said in that live and watching you break down on your live. Mike Winson: my gosh, I was dying. That was hilarious. Victoria Broderick: Look, I have a few moments to be proud of myself. I'll tell you one that I've said this weekend to one of my opponents, but we have to do that offline. Mike Winson: Okay, okay, sounds good. what I know that this has been a stressful experience. I know you're doing it because you saw a need and and you you care about this country. What is something that you are excited about and looking forward to being a congresswoman and serving in this role for at least two years? Victoria Broderick: I think the thing Mike Winson: Or is there anything? Victoria Broderick: honestly, I'm excited to see the work pay off. I'm Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: excited to see what representation I know that it's going to be a huge undertaking for me. I'm learning a completely new job because the campaigning is only part of the job. Realistically, it's a job interview that we're doing forever along we're campaigning for. And I know that there's a lot going on in the background. And luckily, I do have that experience. Contrary to popular belief, even though I've never been an elected official, I've done positions that run in the exact same format that you all don't recognize is what our democratic process looks like and our process in Congress. So I'm really excited to see that work come forward. I'm also really excited to show people what is possible with a representative and give our elected representatives like AOC and Bernie. Some weight behind them because I do think that they are waiting for us to show up, not only because they need the support, but because they know that we can come in and be our authentic selves because we already won on it. AO and people love AOC. They Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: love Bernie and it's because we say the thing that people want to hear. We speak in the way that they understand. We're not speaking from some political whatever. We're speaking from it's politics, but this is how it affects your life. And I think that that's really exciting. It's a really exciting thing to do. It's also like a huge feat for myself as like the child of an immigrant. You know, it's a huge thing undertaking for me because when I started off on this, I had no idea this was where I was going. I had no idea that I was gonna go to I was gonna go to Congress. I had no idea that I would meet these incredible people from all over the country who I've become friends with and I've learned about and I've gotten to know through this time frame that I would have never met some of you all if I hadn't have decided on a weekend call that I was gonna run for office. So like it's incredibly it's incredibly humbling and exciting all at the same time. And I'm really excited to see what that leads to because I mean we deserve better representation. At the end of the day, this isn't about me. It's it's going to be my job to be be better, but it's also gonna make my life better for my children. And you know, that's that's a big thing to t undertake and I'm truly and grateful and I can't wait for the memoir to come out because you all know all the things that I've been doing dealing with on the back and which people don't realize what goes into a campaign. Mike Winson: Yeah. what's the thing that concerns you the most? Victoria Broderick: voter apathy that no matter how much work I've done, no matter what, they're gonna see the opportunity to get the status quo and they're gonna think that the status quo is gonna to win the election and it's not gonna do that. And then you know there's gonna be there's gonna be that remorse that comes from it. And it's also, you know, like that's a really hard thing of like candidates put a lot on the line to be run for office and to give better and so many voters say they want better and then they don't actually want better. They vote for the status quo because they fall into those traps of the system saying, well they're not viable. They're not electable. Why would you vote for that? They're not those things. And if we want better representation, we gotta fight for it. If we want, you know, our ancestors literally threw tea in a harbor, which I can't believe you would throw tea in a harbor. But like here we are to for better. Mike Winson: As as a as a mass hole myself, I it doesn't surprise me that someone in Massachusetts would do that, actually. We're coffee Victoria Broderick: I mean the dog. Mike Winson: people, so you know. Victoria Broderick: I like coffee too. I mean I I just I'm over here like why don't you waste Mike Winson: Ha ha Victoria Broderick: some perfectly good tea? so anyway Mike Winson: Fair. yeah. the thing that always comes to my mind when when we talk about when when I hear people validly getting apathetic and feeling like de especially when you're dealing with people they'll want to keep the status quo is it always reminds me of the letters from the Birmingham jail Birmingham jail from Martin Luther King Jr. And I just sit there and I think these these pastors were telling him to just, you know, slow it down. We need to we need to chill it out. We need to let the law work. We need to we need to do it like And and again, I understand the frustration. I mean, you know, I'm I'm I've interviewed now probably close to 200 candidates. And Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: you know, every time I see a primary and I see only 15 to 20, I've been I've been doing political work on like TikTok and YouTube and things like that for almost four years now, in some way, shape, or form. And when I still see that only fifteen to twenty five percent of people vote in the primaries, I'm like, What the hell am I doing this for? But then I have to remind myself. if people don't keep talking, it's never going to actually change. If I don't if someone like me doesn't keep doing it, even when we're frustrated out of our mind and we feel like there's no point, then in the end, the people that we say are the worst have won. And I don't like letting the worst win. Victoria Broderick: Exactly. And I mean that's gonna be the change that we see. You know, I've hit every speed bump and barrier in this campaign. Everything and something people some people know about, some people don't know about. They don't know about the back end stuff. They don't know what's going on. And all I can say is like people are like, Well, why do you keep going? When they ask me, and I'm like, Because nobody's else is gonna step up to the mantle. Nobody else is going to say I'm the hero, I'm the white knight, whatever. And I'm not even those things. I just a mom who saw a need and said, you know what? I'm a lot of things, but a Bubit's not one of them. And I just don't let it stop me. And you know, in 24, it was a completely different rodeo for me because I knew what I was up against. I had no name recognition. I was not a well known figure in the district. I hadn't I didn't have the connections in the establishment, but I got 28% of the vote. And that's a huge feat considering we knew that the baseline for the vote was not that much. It was a little bit less than that. And the most work with the money and the name recognition was only 33 to 35%. So what did I offer in five months that had never been had before? What did I do that was different? And I mean that is why I say my campaign is literally going to be paving the way for working people because it's a a allow me to do something that's not been done before. And you know, that's no small task. And when people are like, why do you keep going? Because there's no white knight riding in to save us. And even if you don't like it, sometimes people don't like the hero. Some pe times the hero is not someone that they like or feel any feelings for or whatever. And that's not a reason. not to continue the work. It shouldn't put me off of the work. It shouldn't be a reason. If I need your validation, then I'm not doing this for the right reasons. And that's something that I think about often. My goal was always to move the needle. So regardless of what happens, the needle's going to get moved in a real way. Mike Winson: Yeah. all right. So for the last chunk of this episode, when we were talking about what we were gonna do, Victoria said, I wanna do something that does not usually happen on a on a podcast, on a political podcast, where the politician or the the soon to be politician is going to add the ask ask the podcaster some questions. So I I I have a general idea, I think, of what I'm gonna be, but we'll find out. You know, it's here we here we go. So I get welcome to Breaking the Meadow Victoria Broderick: What is hey? What's on the share's on the input? Mike Winson: with Victoria Broderick. Whatever you whatever Victoria Broderick: Yeah. Do you want me to do in order or out of order? Do you want me to shake it up for Mike Winson: whatever floats your boat. Victoria Broderick: I'll do them in order because I did the same thing to another creator. That's how I got this idea of like how to make content. And I did it to but I also did a whiskey tasting and I taught her how to drink whiskey prior Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: to this. But I'm not doing that on here, obviously. So that's for next time. That's for after I win. So the first one the first one for you, Mike, is what's one thing that stands out about my campaign or me. Mike Winson: I mean, I think the easiest thing is is that you you literally say what you think about anyone and everyone. you you don't you don't hold back, which again isn't a bad thing. it'll it makes probably for some great content. But yeah, you know, I and I think it's great. I mean, and I think there's the more obvious one, and I think it's not just you, it's everyone. I think that that I've interviewed especially is there's a because you you know you did it because you found a need, there's a level of care about you for the people of your district that that most districts, especially those at least that are that are led by either establishment Democrats or Republicans have not had the joy of experiencing. So but what the the thing about you that that I mean, again, that I've noticed that I think is is great is you are willing to to to just speak it like it is. And I think that's something we need and we need more of. So Victoria Broderick: Fearlessness. What's up? No, Mike Winson: That's right. That's right. Victoria Broderick: and I and I think that that's something that we haven't had. Like, you know, to like elaborate why I'm authentically myself is I got a lot of pushback in the beginning of being authentically myself. And I don't know how to be not that those things. And in a in a way, I found more comfort in myself that way because a lot of politicians try to run and be moderate. I mean, we saw it with Kamala Harris. Like, she is a great example of someone who was forced or forced herself to run moderate when she shouldn't have. She should have just taken the gloves off and swung. They were gonna say the thing anyways, they were gonna be nasty anyways, might as well swing a little bit. Mike Winson: Yep. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: And like this is the problem: is like can't candidates will no longer have the luxury of not being themselves because voters have a BS meter, and if I'm not authentically who I am. that that reads people read the room. And in fact, like I found that more people accept me for who I am than they get mad that I'm more like authentically myself. If they don't even if they don't like it, they respect it. Mike Winson: Well, and I think that goes into the whole second part of my thing where you actually care. And I think that's the part that they like. Like they're willing to take your bullshit because they know you actually care about them, even though you're giving them some some shit. Victoria Broderick: I mean, look at Trump, they all accepted that. Like, and he's not he's not a good person at the end of the day. I'm not Mike Winson: No. Victoria Broderick: saying I'm a good person. I'm just saying that I care. Like you said, I care about what's going on. And this isn't for some like financial gain or life gain for me, because I'm literally giving up time, friends, all the things to do it. And you know, I would say maybe would have said ten years ago that I didn't feel worth it, but now it's like I'm I'm comfortable with that. the loneliness that comes from it because I'd rather see better for everyone than see it for myself. And whether that sounds pandering or whatever, it's how genuinely how I feel, but I don't want people to just believe my words. I want them to see my work. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Ready. Bring it on. Victoria Broderick: Ready for question two. All right. What's something you have learned about my running for or like running for office from me? Mike Winson: I mean, the easy answer is that it sucks. but not in the way of I mean, I I always knew politics as a whole sucked. But, you know, my ability to talk with with you and so many other people. I mean, yeah, there's there's some even scarier parts. And I in no way am going to say that I like some of these Republican people. But it's hard for me not to sit here and go, I kind of understand why they react to the way they do sometimes, because I've interacted with people like you and heard the shit you guys have to deal with on a regular basis. And I it also makes me understand exact it it almost makes me. want like want to do my job more because i know like no one in their right minds would want to do what you guys are going through And it's like, how can me as a as a an American, as a voter, as someone who wants who wants people like you to run for office and make the change that I keep talking about on my podcast? What what I I ski I can s there's It almost f it's like I have to do it because it is literally. Because I don't want to do what you're doing. I don't want to deal with that shit. I want to sit here Victoria Broderick: yeah. Mike Winson: and and you know, travel to DC and talk with you guys and sit in my desk here and talk with you guys. That's what I want to do. I don't want to have to deal with running for office and all the other stuff. So it's like, and that's the part that I think it's like that's the part I try and get to people is look. We can complain about everything out there, right? And you know, a lot of it's valid complaints. We know what's wrong. No question. What we need to do is be willing to take that step that's either uncomfortable or annoying or or just something we don't want to do. Because, like, You guys don't want to do it. And you're literally giving up your entire like life for the next however many years you decide to run for office to do this. And it's like, and I'm gonna get annoyed that I have to sit here and watch some videos and share some videos and and and support some people and like it. That's the part that I don't know how to get to other people, but that's the part I'm trying to get people to understand. It's like these people are doing something that you would never dream of doing. You don't want to do, you don't want to have anything to do with. They're making you guys are making the sacrifice that they are unwilling to make. So do the work that's necessary to make it possible for them to win. Watch the videos, share the videos, comment on the videos, whether it's my videos or your videos or any of their videos, like Victoria Broderick: Yeah. Mike Winson: do the work. So what did I learn? This is a crappy, this is a crappy thing. And it makes me respect every single one of you that are willing to do it, especially the you people that aren't aren't career politicians. And you're just like, you saw a need, you did it. Victoria Broderick: And I think that that I think that it's like validating like to hear it. But like I also try to tell like the question I ask other candidates behind the scenes when the cameras are turned off is that you ever feel like you're applying for a job that you don't want. And the question, like that question, when we're not there's no cameras rolling, the amount of times I've heard yes from the right candidate. Now the wrong candidate will be like, I want this job, I want to do it, I'm the right. person for this job, the candidate that says, yeah, I don't feel like I should be doing like I I'm applying for a job I don't want. That's when I know that they're they're in it for the right reasons because like the work is not easy. Like this is and I mean that's not a complaint. Like nobody wants to hear me complain at the end of it. You guys don't want to hear any complaints I have. And I got some pipe and hot tea for all the complaints that I have. But like doesn't change the Better representation starts with us. And if I wanna change po like politics, I've gotta be okay with the nitty-gritty and the grossness and the the fact that everyone's gonna be like, She's a shady politician. Yeah, I am shady, but I've got tattoos. That's the most shady thing about me. Like, I don't know what to tell you. It is it is hard. It is hard in a way that I never I I can never explain to anyone how hard it is. But the thing that I've done in my campaign is instead of making it harder for other pop like candidates, I make it easier for them because I recognize that that work it will pay off in the long run. And it has paid off this election cycle. I work a lot with down ballot candidates. I work a lot with candidates that who are new to it, even my opponents to some extent in my primary. you know, I've been very, very helpful with and I think that's shocking to them. In a lot of ways because they don't expect it. And it's like I I match energy and if you don't if you're not coming at this with the like idea that you want to harm people or that you want to hurt someone or that this is only you're only in it for the like golden star that you're gonna get at the end of the like Mike Winson: Mm. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: shit rainbow, like then I'm gonna help you because like I recognize how hard it is and I didn't have anyone when I did this. I didn't know anyone when I started out, I didn't have any support. And even with the supposed support I was supposed to have this year, it's not showed up for me. But that doesn't mean I can't show up for my my candidates. And it means the world to them. Every down ballot candidate, I mean one of them, I went to her birthday party. Like it was a long day of campaigning and someone said they were going and I was like, I'm gonna go too. And I showed up and she cried. And like that meant the world to me. Not because Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: like I was doing it for some like thing, because I genuinely like her. I genuinely liked her platform. I wish she had won. Like I wanted her to win. She came within 40 votes. She was the first person to ever ask for an endorsement from me. Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: I never had that. So just showing up for in a small way was like, this Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: is this, I'm just showing up for this person that I really like. But it meant the world to her. And it means the world to every single one of them that I do that. And I want to provide something that I didn't have. And I think that that's the difference and what what's going to make the difference going forward. going into politics is like we've got to put the like people back in politics, the community back in politics, which we've been sorely lacking for years. That's why when I when people are upset in the comment section, they think that I'm just pandering. That's valid because a lot of politicians are just pandering. I'm not here To like gaslight you and make you think that we are something we are not. I am not the end all be all to candidates. I will mess up. I will not be perfect. However, my job is to be better. And I can't do that if I'm not willing to be accountable and humble. And yeah, the job's the job's hard, but the tea is gonna be piping hot in the memoir. That's Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: what gets me through this right now. I'm three days I'm three days away guys from having an answer at this point and I'm so impatient. Mike Winson: And that's just answer number one. There's still answer number two after. Victoria Broderick: Exactly. Like the I didn't have a primary in 2024 because nobody wanted to do this. Literally, they weren't gonna have someone on the ballot. And now I have four primary opponents. And I I'm a force to be reckoned with. They've all made that comment to me. They never they never expected me to be what I am. And that's because I speak to something that we haven't seen in this district and I'm comfortable and the work is paying for itself. So I'm hoping to see that at the ballot box. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: Alright, last question. Mike Winson: All right. Victoria Broderick: All right. What's one thing you think voters should know about me in your opinion? Mike Winson: Gosh, only one? Victoria Broderick: I mean, it could be multiple. I can't even answer the like I Mike Winson: I understand that. Victoria Broderick: can't even answer the question when someone asked me yesterday, like two days ago. They were like, What's your favorite movie? And I was like, I have three, I can't answer this question. They're Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: like and I've been forced to answer that question and it's really hard because my top three are my top three for a reason. Like I cannot fit pick which one, which Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: we can get into later. Mike Winson: And I think if there was something that I thought people should know about you based on all of my interviews with you, all of our conversations, it's that <unk> You care so much. that you don't care if that sounds right. If that if that doesn't if that Victoria Broderick: That's that I love that. It sounds exactly that's not I love that there's a word for this. Mike Winson: Like you you care so you care so much that it has caused you to again go back into to say whatever needs to be said, to do whatever needs to be done, and not care about what people think about you. You only care about doing what is necessary and doing and trying to do what you said you want to do. And you know, if you if if you this is for again for the people listening, if you think you're having a fun time watching people like Jasmine Crockett or AOC or all these other fiery women in these committee meetings during during these things, if you if you're having fun watching them, they're gonna have fun watching you too. Victoria Broderick: Yeah, I do say the thing. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. I though my one worry I would say is that you are you are gonna deal I don't think you're gonna do I think it I think you'll probably get better as it goes on, but I think in the beginning, you're gonna get you're gonna get a lot of whining about decorum and your language and all the other stuff that you do in the beginning. And and I don't think you should stop. Because I think the whole decorum language crap is is an antiquated old problem that like peop things sometimes shit is just shit. You need to be able to say it. Sometimes you y like that is the only word that can describe what is going on at the moment. And people need to get past their whole pearl clutching on it. But So that's what I would say. I would say you care so much that you don't care. Victoria Broderick: Yeah, I think that's a great way to describe who where I am at in this in this like thing. It's like I I just had this all like this conversation where they were worried about an endorsement that I'm potentially going to get and we have to go through an interview process and people don't really recognize like endorsements take time. And I don't know that they're all necessary, but I think this one will be very, very vital this election cycle. And they're sitting there, like worried about how we're gonna respond as candidates. And I'm like, the moment someone says the thing, I will record live that I'm doing this. Because it is to me, it's like if they're gonna say it, I'm gonna own it. Like if they're gonna say it's like the joke, like I make so many jokes of like when they say this, I'm gonna say this. Because like they're gonna say it anyways. They said it to Kamala, they said it to Hillary. They said it any woman, they've said it about AOC. Every woman that is an elected like official gets these comments. So why not do the thing? Every Democrat gets these comments. Why not prove them wrong? And you know, if if it lost me votes, I wouldn't have gotten as far in 2024. And I was running the exact almost the exact same campaign that I'm running now. you know, it's a little bit more oomph. because I've been doing it longer and I am more comfortable in my sit settings and I am listening to voters in my district who want to hear you swing. They don't want to to tittoe around the issue. I mean I was just at a a forum recently straw poll if you will and someone came up and said you said the word that I needed to hear and it was because like there's no point in not saying it. Even the more established person, the more the person who had more name Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: recognition, all those things couldn't say it. And I said it. And it's like there's nothing that's going to hurt saying those things. Saying that what's going on in Palestine is a genocide is not radical. Understanding that we have a an ally that is wreaking havoc on an entire civilization of people. It's not radical to say it's a genocide, we need to do better and hold them accountable. That's not radical. We can understand that they're allies and still say, no, you're not gonna do that. Like speak softly, carry a big swi Mike Winson: Yep. Victoria Broderick: stick. Like I don't I almost said switch, but I meant stick. guys, it's a long it's a long time. But like this we have to do the thing. Like, Mike Winson: It's Yeah. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: if people if if moderates won elections, if people who said the polite thing we're gonna win these things, then they would have already done it. And I'm not saying that I can't say it eloquently, but if I me if work if push comes to show, I'll take my earrings out and I'll show them eyelashes off. Like I am not above it. because I match energy. And that's what I think we've forgotten is that sometimes conversations and discussions are uncomfortable and you can be okay in the discomfort. We can have uncomfortable conversations and still be respectful. We can also have uncomfortable conversations where I take a swing at you because you're saying a horrible, awful thing and supporting horrible, awful things. Two things can be true. I can still be a good person and take a swing at you. Mike Winson: Yeah. I think it's an interesting I I think that's the the the one thing that I also like about you and so many others that are running is like I hate this whole decorum thing. I mean I I agree with showing respect in certain in situations, but also it's been taken to such an extreme that there is no in in this I in In this desire for decorum, there's a loss of realness of everyone in Congress. Like sometimes You've got it like, yeah, we don't want real punches being thrown. We don't want what used to happen back in the day where literally like people are trying to literally kill people. Yeah. Started beating on some. Yeah. I mean, we we Victoria Broderick: Didn't someone use their cane at one point and like knock the I'm just saying. Mike Winson: you know, there are definitely days, but I'm not saying we should go back to that, but also like. Like this whole when there have debates, like these are the things that bug me. Like when there are debates, the fact that the debate that's happening, you have to talk to the president of the, you know, the speaker or the president, what if it's in the Senate or the House. And it's like, why? This is a debate between the two sides about something that's going on. Why do we have to pretend like we're not talking to the person that's standing over there debating with you? Just let them talk to each other for God's sakes. Victoria Broderick: I'm gonna do it. Because like you're right. Like we can have a respectful discourse. Like we can have these conversations. That is the art of debate. Debate is not an argument. Not our all arguments turn into screaming and yelling. Like I think that we've forgotten what debates actually are because people get so uncomfortable when a voice is raised. And sometimes it's unnecessary, but sometimes it's necessary to raise your voice and match the energy. And there's nothing like with the decorum aspect of this, I think that there's this idea that pushing back is disrespectful. And that's not the thing, like that's not the case. Because like I want you to push back if I'm in the wrong. I want you to question what I am saying if I'm in the wrong. And if I'm in the wrong and I'm not listening with my ears, I need to. Like, then I'm not I'm not hearing you. I'm just there to fight and there to have a thing. If it's a s a civil discussion, if we're having a discussion about humanity and policy, I should be willing and open to have the conversation and find a path forward. What we've done here is cowtail to political figures that just want to railroad and steamroll through their their legislation. And what they're not ready for is someone who's Fun-sized and feral to come in and say, mm-mm. No, no. No, I'm gonna say the thing. I'm gonna say the cuss word. I am completely capable of saying an entire sentence eloquently and professionally, and say it in a way that makes it seem like a sweet southern whatever. I also like the word fuck. Like there, there is not a it isn't, Mike Winson: Sometimes you just gotta say fuck. Victoria Broderick: yeah, and it's like This is that thing of, you know, how do we find a path forward of a legislator who looks like me, sounds like me, talks like me, can sound as professional, as southernly eloquent as I w feel like I should be, while also saying, No, fuck that. We're not doing that today. And I think that there's a there is a unique position that I can put myself in where I can do both because sometimes people have no idea that I say cuss words, which would blow y'all's it would blow everyone's mind how often I say them offline. but I've also learned that people don't all they get hung up on the word and I don't want you to get hung up on the word. So like if I can go without saying it, I'll find a way. But if you're not going to listen, I'm gonna say the word because we're not playing games today. I'm a mom at the end of the day and we don't put up with that. Mm-mm Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: no no. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. well, as usual, this has been an amazing conversation. There's a reason that we that I love having these conversations offline. Like for those of you listening, we will just talk about this stuff offline just as much as we talk about Victoria Broderick: For a while. Mike Winson: this online. So thank you for coming on here and hanging out and just and and And talking because that's I think that's what we need more than anything is, you know, we just sometimes you just need to talk. There doesn't need to be an agenda. Victoria Broderick: Yeah. And we need to be accessible. And Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: you know, guys, like I'm in a primary right now. Like we're three days out. So I need your support. I need you to show up to vote on Thursday. Because if you want better representation, I'm a working mom. I still work full time. You know, two tiny humans, three fur babies. I foster with a local humane society, which I haven't done right now because life is just too chaotic for that. But like I enjoy being a part of my community and I've been doing this now for two and a half years and building on what I have and I might lose it to donor class money. And that's that's more upsetting to me than the fact that like voter apathy exists, is that you all have opportunity for change and it's on the ballot. But if you don't show up, then you're just gonna get the same old, same old and I'm not saying that any of my primary opponents wouldn't do the job well, but if you want fighters in D C, if you want working class people in DC, if you want people that will stand ten toes down, even when it's hard, I'm your girl. And yeah. Mike Winson: so if you are in Tennessee, make sure you get out Thursday, August 6th. Get out and vote. and if you aren't in Tennessee and you see this because this should come out Tuesday, share this with people because, again, for all of us that are a part of this, it is more important than ever that we do our part and For for all of these candidates, it is watching and sharing and con and and commenting and doing the things that help give them the name recognition and visibility that they need to be able to win, to be able to do what we keep telling them that we want them to do. Without our help, they cannot do it. Without our help, it will continue to be the same old, same old. So if you like the same old, same old, which I don't think most people do, that's what I'm hearing at least. then do do this easy stuff. This really is the easy stuff. Yes, we want you to do more. I want you to volunteer. We want you to get out and vote. We want you to talk to the people nearby. But if for some reason you can't do that, watch, share, like, do all of those things. Not just my content, Victoria's content, other podcasters' content. There, there's a lot of people that are trying to make it this possible, and they need They n we need your help. Because I can't force you guys to watch it and share it. I can't. So again, Victoria, thanks for coming on here and hanging out with us. for Victoria Broderick: Thank you. Mike Winson: everyone else, again, make sure you get out and vote. Make sure you like, subscribe, and do all the things down below. For anyone that might be new to this podcast, just so you know, 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. And everyone, we'll see you next time on Breaking the Meta. Bye, guys.