Latest / Breaking The Meta / Tennessee Isn't Red. It's Neglected. | Victoria Broderick

Transcript

Tennessee Isn't Red. It's Neglected. | Victoria Broderick · Breaking The Meta

• Mike Winson: Hello everyone and welcome to Breaking the Meadow. My name is Mike Winson. Today we have a friend of the channel back. She is running for Tennessee's seventh district. Did I get it right? Fourth. Dang it. Dang it. I it's too many numbers. Tennessee's fourth district. her name is Victoria Broderick. I'm so excited to have her back and find out what she's doing because we are a little over three weeks away from the general election. Hello, Victoria. How are you doing? Victoria Broderick: Good. Thanks for having me back, Mike. I'm so excited to be here. Yes, we are three weeks away. It's been a hop, skip, and a jump since we talked last. And I'm really Mike Winson: Yeah, it's Victoria Broderick: excited. it's been a lot. Mike Winson: Yeah. So did we we talked right before your primaries? Victoria Broderick: Like a week and a half before I think it was. It was Mike Winson: Yeah, something like that. It Victoria Broderick: it feels like yesterday and like two years ago. Mike Winson: Two years from now. So obviously you won. Congratulations. Victoria Broderick: Thank you. Mike Winson: like like give us the down low. What have things been like since for for people that don't know, what's it like for someone who spends for as long as you did running for office, wins a primary? What what have you been doing since? Victoria Broderick: I mean, like to give people background, I mean, I was we redistricted in May. You and I talked about this, I believe, like originally Mike Winson: Yep. Yep. Victoria Broderick: when it happened, and then we decided to do a pri like do just before the primary. But those who don't know, Tennessee was redistricted in May of 2026. Like we had already done our initial primary qualify qualifying, but in May they decided the Tennessee State Legislature with the help of Marsha Blackburn and And Governor Bill Lee decided they wanted to redistrict the entire state congressional just the congressional districts. So in a week, I went from having no primary opponents to having four. And it was, Mike Winson: And you still destroyed it. Victoria Broderick: I mean, considering the fact that I was out outraised, my the one of my con primary opponents had raised $750,000. Which is more than Mike Winson: Dang. Victoria Broderick: what my our MAGA opponent, Scott Desjolais had raised. he outspit me 12 and a half to one. and I won Mike Winson: Of course. Victoria Broderick: by almost 10 points. And so we got I got to see the fruition, like the the thought that I'd had in 24 come to fruition because I realized in 2024 when I lost, because I was a first time no name candidate running for five months, you know, working full time, two kids, all the things. That Tennessee has a forgotten and neglected state. And what I learned was what we needed is on the ground. We'd had congressional candidates raise a lot of money prior to that, but they've never really moved the needle. So what what is the what's the change? So I put a theory to a test and have been running a congressional campaign since May of 2024. I never stopped campaigning. I continued the work. And in August of this year, even to my surprise in some ways, I won. I remember getting the message from other people outside of the state watching this election. We were all sitting in a room. You messaged Mike Winson: I pretty sure I'd messaged you too. Victoria Broderick: me. Literally, I feel like like there were at least 10 people who messaged me to be like, you won. And it was, I was stood in the room, like trying not to watch the numbers as my friends were winning their. county commission seats and you know we had two county we had a several county commission seats flip one of which is the youngest democrat to ever hold a county commission seat in the country if i'm not Mike Winson: Mm. Wow. Victoria Broderick: mistaken it's the entire country the democrats like big account shared him out he is a friend I adore him he let me hold a snake's his name is Brendan Doughty and Mike Winson: There you go. Victoria Broderick: I had conquered a fear with him But he I remember when he originally reached out to me and you know we talked about running for office and I said, just let me know how I can support you. And then he decided to run and I endorsed him. As soon as he asked, I I gave him an endorsement and I watched his campaign at a county commission level. We flipped five seats in a county commission race in rural b rural Tennessee. Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: And so now we're here, you know, I won my primary as well. I'm getting to I got to enjoy my friends winning. I got to win, which was a big deal. And then it was like, things are about to be real. And so it's been a lot. We've been rebranding. We've been my camp. I have a full staff now, full team. We've changed up how I interact on social media, changed up some of the branding. Yeah, I saw the laugh and really just taking my congressional campaign to the next level because I want to be and I will be the next representative for this great state of Tennessee in district four. And now we just have to make that happen. Mike Winson: Is there like So there's been a lot of surprises just countrywide when it comes to people that have won that people didn't expect to win. What has been the response in your area since you've won? Like, cause that was a I mean, again, that was a pretty big win. And and we've talked before how rural Tennessee is really struggling. what what is what has been that experience since Since winning. Victoria Broderick: It's been it's been kind of wild because I don't people really didn't expect me to win, especially at a federal level. They I mean they look at these races and they're like written off, neglected. And Tennessee's not a red state. It is a neglected non-voting state. And that is across the board. It is not a part this is not a partisan issue. Both parties have neglected the state of Tennessee. And Tennessee deserves better. So what I've seen since then is literal shock. I think people were really surprised that what I said rung true, that money Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: isn't going to win this election. Money isn't going to flip this seat. And I put a lot of a lot of stake at that. I put a lot of energy and time into this because there's only certain things you can get more of, and time's not one of them. And Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: two and a half years worth of running being working across the district, carrying a decent amount of the rural vote was a big deal to people. And I've had that question in interviews a lot. They're like, how, how is it you carried rural communities? Cause I see a blonde with nice nails, doesn't sound southern, and they're like, how how could she manage this with other people who sound more rural, who sound I have because I don't treat them like conservatives. I don't treat Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: them like vote I I treat them Like swing voters, Mike Winson: Like people. Victoria Broderick: people, and they're they're here, they want to be represented. And yeah, I don't sound southern, but I've lived in the south my entire life. My my foundation is in the south. My family on my mom's side is deep old school Southerners, whereas Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: my dad's an immigrant, so I have am able to bridge a gap in a way. you know, that is different. You know, I have memories of my dad who worked at he immigrated from the UK to the United States, you know, was a business owner. And I remember being five years old and I told this story and I thought it was funny because people they can relate to it. It's I was my dad's secretary had like a receptionist had stepped away and he was like, Hey Victoria, just answer the phones. I was five. And I start answering the phones because like obviously I working class family. I answer the phones and my dad gets a call back later because like it took a message for him or whatever. And he said who the guy was like, Who's your new reception? And she's really, really sweet and really lovely and like just really professional. He's like, My five year old daughter. like that's that's kind of but I mean that's working people working people Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: that's what you do in a family business and you know every ever since then it's working up towards that I used to go to conventions with my father to sell tile and stone I remember doing that as a young child and into my teenage years and so when we moved to Tennessee I I noticed the neglect immediately I noticed the lack of care immediately I noticed what rural voters were experiencing at a at a level. And I was a teenager. And I learned how to push back at a young age and be able to advocate for my community and for my at the time my classmates. And that just went through to university. And then, you know, fast forward moving back to Tennessee, I said I was going to advocate. And I didn't know that advocating meant running for office. But the opportunity presented itself. Mike Winson: Yeah. So as you've been going around, obviously since the last time we talked, a lot has happened in this country. gas has skyrocketed, especially diesel. I'm assuming in your district, being very rural, that the increase in diesel prices have been something that have been on a lot of people's minds. Victoria Broderick: It's the only like it is literally flipping voters left and right. Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: especially because one of the things I've learned in this in this time frame and in this change is that my opponent there's a direct correlation with my opponent and the rise in diesel prices. Not only Mike Winson: Really? Victoria Broderick: so Scott Desgerlet, and we could talk about his. I don't know if we've talked about his history, but before we get into that, we'll talk about. How we can directly relay what he has done and that is negatively impacting. So Scott DeGerlet is not only on three military committees, specifically the Armed Services Committee. He has voted down the resolutions to stop the war in Iran. Mike Winson: Course. Victoria Broderick: Because, and color you unsurprised, he gets the majority of his money from defense contractors. Mike Winson: Of course. Victoria Broderick: He says in a quote that this is some this is the price that we have to pay. It is worth it to rural Tennesseans to pay this. Mind you, I have counties in my district that don't have clean drinking water. I have counties in my district that don't have daycares available to them, that they have to drive out of the county to get a daycare. And these are people who don't have extra money to be. Paying extra in diesel. It is a rural agricultural district. Our district, the only reason our district has not felt the effects of this war and tariffs, etc., is because a lot of our district supplies Huntsville, Alabama, because we're so close to the state line, which is a military area and has a lot of in that industry there. So this man, this elected representative. Is able to skirt by on the fact that he's just getting paid from them. Like they they have a vested interest in the war continuing and he Mike Winson: Of course I do. Victoria Broderick: doesn't care. And you know, s what I've learned about him and what I've experienced even just this week is the only place that you can get an appointment, like get like go into his office without an appointment is in DC. In the district, you have to request an appointment. And his biggest office is on private property, which I was asked Mike Winson: Of course. Victoria Broderick: to leave the other day because we were there recording. You can't even go to the floor of his office without an appointment. I don't know if his staff is there. Do you? This is neglect. This is lazy politics. This is. If this was a any other employee, they'd been fired years ago. And he's a fifteen year incumbent. Mike Winson: Yeah. Well, hopefully, this year's been an interesting year for incumbents. Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: both on the Democratic and the Republican side. that is probably the only good thing so far that I can say. not enough incumbents have have been taken out, but more incumbents than I can remember have been taken out. And that's a that's at least a that's at least a step. And hopefully you'll you'll Help with that. Victoria Broderick: I mean he's campaigning for the first time in like thirteen years. He's been in district. Mike Winson: Which is funny because I remember when we first talked, you said that they wouldn't let him speak because every time he spoke, he loses voters. Victoria Broderick: Yes, that's true. And he he still doesn't because he got cussed out by a reporter. So like I was in his office in DC in July and I mentioned to his chief chief of staff, like I started listing counties. Ironically, he started showing up in those counties. But one of the ones that he went to, he refused to answer from reporters. And you could hear a reporter cussing at him. In it and I'm just like, and he's running ads. Well, why are you scared? Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: Because they wanted, they didn't want me to win. They didn't want me. They didn't want me to be the opponent. That is the message that was loud and clear in July. And I didn't really realize it then. But it doesn't change the fact of like, why does it take a short five, two and a half, and the half does count, woman to get you to do your job? And that is a job is a loose term because he is not he's still not doing it. Mike Winson: I mean, let's be fair. as as much as I think the Democrats are better than the Republicans, and unfortunately that's a pretty low bar at this point. they s none of them have actually been doing their job. Whether it's their fault or not, it's it's Mike Johnson's fault, obviously, in the grand scheme of things, but they're not doing their job at all. I think they've only worked what seventy something days this year, or something ridiculously small like that. Victoria Broderick: Well, and it's less than like students go to school. Like it I when someone said I had to only work 180 days, I was like, I'm sorry, what? What? I'm at working I still work full time. Like what what? I will look, guys, like bare minimum, as someone who's worked my entire like since I was 16 years old, I've worked since I was a kid. Like I can do a lot in 180 days. Just just let me let me Mike Winson: Yeah. Yep. Victoria Broderick: Get me in, coach. Let's go. Let's go. And like, I don't think that's what people realize of like how important voting is. Because if voting didn't matter, they Mike Winson: Hmm. Yep. Victoria Broderick: wouldn't be trying so hard to take it away. If voting didn't matter, Trump wouldn't be coming for his second visit in two weeks to a red state like Tennessee. Mike Winson: Yeah. speaking of the gerrymandering, so obviously you got new areas in your district once the gerrymandering happened. How has that been getting people in areas that you haven't been campaigning in for the last, you know, since May of twenty twenty four, and all of a sudden having to go to these new areas that maybe knew completely different people for a pretty long time? Victoria Broderick: That that part's been ho the hardest of people just not knowing I exist. and that's been hard because the portions that we lost, so district four as a whole stayed majority the same. We lost about seven counties and gained I want to say it's like two, because I had 15 counties to begin with, so I'm right around the 11 mark. Mike Winson: Okay. Victoria Broderick: so it's a little bit less, but the parts that I gained were Parts of Davidson County, which is Nat the Metro Nashville area. Mike Winson: Okay. Victoria Broderick: I lost a bit of one of the biggest strongholds, like Rutherford County is the next biggest county and this biggest voting block. So I and then I gained a couple of rural counties. Now, Davidson has been the hardest because even with a strong social media presence, even with the ads running, it's hard for people to come in contact with you. Because most voters need seven to nine touches, which I really hate that state statement just as a whole. It's just I don't like it. But that's Mike Winson: Yeah. No. Victoria Broderick: texting, that's seeing you on social media, like an ad, that's door knocking, that's a phone call, a text message. Like there's a list of things and most voters need that consistent touch in order to know who you are and vote for you. Now we have the added advantage right now that has been given to us that Republicans aren't doing well. Tennessee has been held by Republicans for 20 years. they I went from seeing none of them come to a forum to seeing them all come to a forum. Mike Winson: That's wild. Victoria Broderick: state candidates, just state I mean, even state candidates. I've never seen state Republicans who've been in office come to forums with their opponents. And I was just at a forum a couple of weeks ago where four of them showed up. And Mike Winson: Wow. Victoria Broderick: like, and some of the Democrats didn't show up to that specific one because they were like, it's not worth it. They're not going to show up. But here they are. The Republicans are there and they're getting pushback. And like, even the Republicans in the room, because it was a friendly Republican room. It was less, it was less friendly to Democrats, they weren't having it. They weren't having the answers. They weren't really liking the answers. And, Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: you know, it was the it was a really interesting situation. So redistricting, I don't know what it is what it has done as a whole to the state, but from what we're seeing on the ground, it's not gonna play out in their way. Does that mean that this is a in the bag? No. I don't want voters to think, we've got it. I want them to still go to the polls and vote Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: because Even though Tennessee now we now have two congressional districts that are on the national watch, which is district nine and district seven. District seven was in the special election. That is the one that aften Bain closed that margin. It was an open open seat. And Matt Van Epps is in some hairy waters, but his opponent, Darden Copeland, is on him like white on rice. And we have district. nine, which is Justin J. Pearson's district. Mike Winson: Yep. Victoria Broderick: and he is now there and he is working really hard crossing the entire state. He took not five of my counties went into his district, including the county that I live in. So I got to introduce him, I got to pass the torch, I got to tell him I voted for him and explain why it's so important that we support each other, as well as like watch his work and get to know him on a like a more personal level as a as a constituent and as a colleague, a future colleague. So we're seeing this, and there's another district, you know, there's other districts in the state where we have a s a fantastic slate of candidates. I mean, I have never in my life seen such a great group of candidates. We have them across the board. We have Christy Burke who's out in district one, Michelle or Michilla, Michelle. Michella. Bartlett that's in District Two. If I butchered that, I am so sorry. We have Anna that's down in district three. I just adore her. she did a tattoo Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: thing that stands out to me. She did a tattoo fundraiser and I was just like, I need that idea. You Mike Winson: Nice. Victoria Broderick: know, I'm in district four and I've been run I'm one of the few candidates that's been running for two two and a half years. And I we have other candidates across the state that are running. that, you know, again. They're speaking to each individual district because every district, every state is going to be a little bit different. And we have an opportunity here in Tennessee to flip seats because Tennessee is not a red state, isn't on voting state. And when you give them something to vote for, a candidate who speaks to their needs, speaks to what they want, and then you put incompetent people in office, it's guys, all you gotta do is vote. Show up, do the thing, donate, do the I need your vote, I need your money too. But like if you vote. that that brings the change. You know, if you're not in my state, donate or get out and vote in your state, because we need as many congressional seats flipped as we possibly can, because that only makes everyone's job easier when we flip these seats. Mike Winson: Yeah. So you when we've when we talked, obviously we talked about your policies when you at at that moment. So with everything that's gone on, has have any of your policy priorities changed? Has anything been added? I I assume but knowing you, none of them have been removed, but have has has the priorities kind of adjusted based on You know, what's happened since the last times we talked. Victoria Broderick: Yeah, I mean, it, you know, I I'm part of the courage candidate and peach convict remove. That is a big part of my platform. but what I realized really early, like after the primary, and I also did the a thousand miles to Memphis. I finished that Mike Winson: Yes. Victoria Broderick: tour out in Tennessee. I had started it out because it started in my district, but then I finished it out. And what I realized is yes, that's really important. But I also what happens day two? What happens to voters? What what do we do past that? How do I fix it day after? So it's been a lot of like education. I've got a binder full of policy that my team is working on, that I'm learning policy because I now have that full team where I can really just get into the weeds of it. As well Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: as just listening to voters and addressing that. My po everything's still the same. Safety, affordability, freedom, and equity. All those things matter. You know, Medicare for all is a huge It's a huge talking point right now. And I want to make it come to fruition. I don't want to just say it. So it's going through the policy and figuring out how do I make this happen? How do I bring every player to the table? My colleagues, the insurance companies, employers, and I say we're gonna sit down, we're gonna this conversation because it's a little bit more complicated than people realize. But that's my job to figure it out. That's not your job. Your job is to vote for candidates. It's my job to push the ball down the field. And that requires all of us have doing our part and doing our bit. So it's been a little bit of a focus change. it's messaging changes to like make sure that I am speaking to everyone. I'm been it's beneficial to my campaign that I've been running so long because I've talked about it in a coalition building idea. I've got lots of Republican support, I've got lots of independent support. Across the state. And that's just from the two years of doing the work on the ground, meeting with vote voters, talking with voters. And so that's beneficial. It kind of gives me a leg up in a way that just running for a primary doesn't. that said, it also means that I have a bigger task to take on because I have to message and k solidify the base while also pulling in all these other voters. And so far the messaging is working, talking about. Affordability. It doesn't matter if you're in Davidson County or Marion County or Bledsoe County. Affordability is on the ballot in 2026 and every voter is feeling that. Whether they live in an urban area or in a rural area, they know the costs are going up. Mike Winson: When we first talked, the first time we talked, one of the things that we spent a decent amount of time on was the idea of accountability or the lack thereof. a couple days earlier than the recording of this episode, we had a a president in Nebraska talk about how it wasn't that wasn't wasn't wasn't that big of a deal if if if Iran bombed San Diego and Los Angeles. And there no surprise to anybody, there's a lot of people on his side that are trying to say it was misconstrued and all this other stuff. How we both are on the same page when it comes to a president needs to be held to a different level of accountability. I think the part that I think frustrates a lot of people is how how do we actually like how do we see that going forward? Because for the last year and what are we at eight, nine months, something like that, there's been no accountability, no matter what has come out of the mouth of man. So Is that is that something that it's that's coming forth from people in your district? Or is that just is that I think I'm I guess the question is is is that coming from people in your district, but also for everyone that's listening, how how do we move forward on something like that? How do you hope to change that when you win? Victoria Broderick: I mean, I'm already hearing about this in my district. granted, I will say this, and I said it in 2024. This would always is always gonna look more like Hunger Games than it it would ever look like Handmade Steel. He's saying these things because he wants to keep the the media turning. He wants to keep you distracted. He wants to keep you afraid. He wants because it makes it makes him not accountable. And we have to We have to hold him accountable. And the only way to do that is to flip the house and to put people in power who are going to push back, who are going to say, you know, no. When I'm having conversations with Republicans, Republicans who've gotten awards from my opponent, Republicans who've voted a Republican their entire life, and they're like, I will never vote Republican again because Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: of what this man has done to the party. And that's not just one. That is something I'm hearing. in my district in rural tennessee where Republicans Republicans are taking my signs because they Mike Winson: Wow. Victoria Broderick: hear my messaging. They I literally just had this conversation this past weekend. I had three conversations and they were all very close to the same of you could tell that they were done that they were sick Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: of the lies. They were sick of everything. And this is prior to that coming out. I can't imagine what that that voter Who took my sign is saying right now, but you know what? She took my sign. She's one Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: of the few that will. What about the Republicans who aren't taking my sign, who are gonna go in that ballot box, who are gonna say no, I'm done. She's not alone. That's the thing. And I think people they discredit the South because we're considered conservative, we're considered red. And it's not. Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: It's not. Look at North Carolina. North Carolina, Trump's almost abandoned it. He is trying to Mike Winson: Well yeah. Victoria Broderick: solidify votes in Tennessee, and I don't think it's going to work. I don't think it is going to work. Mike Winson: The most re most recent I know in North Carolina they now give Roy Cooper a ninety-five percent chance to win. Like they're just they're just they've practically given up. my bigger question in North Carolina is the house and house and the and the, you know, state senate seats, and hopefully we can get out of supermajorities and all that stuff so we can and they're doing the same thing. There was the whole announcement about, you know, getting rid of federal taxes on gas to try and encourage people to go. North Carolina just for a month and a half got rid of of a tax on gas, but what no one realizes is that the tax on the is the tax goes to the gas stations. It doesn't actually they don't actually have to trickle it down to us at all if they don't want to. And it's only a month and a half. the end of November it it goes right back up. So it's it's crazy. Victoria Broderick: It Tennessee's doing some similar. I mean, we have Marcia Blackburn who's running for governor against Jerry Green. Yeah. Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: but a state's state senators are dropping like flies to not even support her because she's so not favorable. Mike Winson: Mm. Yeah. Victoria Broderick: And we're watching this happen in Tennessee. You know, my opponent is campaigning for the first time in 13 years. This man, it doesn't exist to the majority of the district. And yet here he is campaigning. You know, we have Trump who's now making his second visit. He went to the Tennessee Vols game in Knoxville and now he's coming to Clarksville, Tennessee to what I can only he's holding a rally. Like this is he's scared. He's scared. What if Mike Winson: Who cares about running the country when he can just do rallies everywhere, right? Victoria Broderick: Yeah, you know, come to Tennessee. Come, you know, come on. Come cut. And I don't, I don't think people realize. I heard this said by one of the elected officials in Nashville, Tennessee, and it rings true. The path to DC, the path to the White House is the South. The South is not conservative. The South is diverse. And what Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: we are seeing now in states like Tennessee is And North Carolina, we're seeing that power come to fruition. We're Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: seeing voters come out of the woodworks who haven't, and we're seeing candidates who are coming out swinging, who aren't who aren't playing games, myself included. I'm not playing games. This is not an easy road. However, we need competence. Working class people understand what every single person is experiencing in DC. Because the parties have forgotten us. Just because I'm running as a Democrat doesn't mean that I don't have my own feelings, doesn't mean that I that I don't have my own criticism. However, in a two-party system, I got two methods of public transportation. I'm hopping on the bus, but like we talked offline, I'm not willing to say, No, we're not gonna have that. That's not gonna work for me. Because We deserve better representation. I don't get donor class money. I won a con primary being outspent twelve and half to one. What does that say? Things are changing, but the only way to put it push it through the line is you voting. Mike Winson: Yeah. It's really interesting you talking about the the Republicans that you're interacting with that are saying that they're never they've been Republican forever and now they're not voting Republican because as someone who obviously is online a lot, but does lives a lot. It just it that picture is not working its way through to anywhere. And you know, there's always a part of me that knew it, but then there's also that part of me in the back of my head that goes, I thought this was the case in 2024. So there's always gonna be a part of me that's a little nervous, but I'm definitely hearing it a lot more. There's obviously a lot more frustration and and all that stuff going on in rural ten rural everywhere, not just rural Tennessee, is is struggling hard. And once the Medicare, Medicaid, Medica, Medicaid cuts happen after Victoria Broderick: I think it's been a cade. Yeah. Mike Winson: after the after the midterms, it's gonna get even worse in rural areas. Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. I mean, we have what, I think it was like sixteen rural hospitals still at risk of being closed in Tennessee. You know, this I mean, this is happening across the country. And I think like we are seen it online too. Like maybe we're not seen it online in the same way, but what I've realized, like I drive all over this district. Like the furthest I have to drive from my house is like two and a half hours, I think it is. And every single Trump sign has come down. Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: That I used to see. You know which houses that they are, but there's not a lot of Marsha Blackburn signs. There's not a lot Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: of, there's not a lot of them because I Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: think that people are they're starting to realize Tennessee Mike Winson: Yeah. Victoria Broderick: is a supermajority red state. We have had a Republican-held seat or Republican state for 20 years. We are uniquely where we have a supermajority in our state house. We have all but one of our federal seats is held by Republicans up until the redistricting. And a Republican governor. That says so much about what people are experiencing that they're pulling these signs down, that they're not talking about it in a way. And I think there's more of that than we realize. And it's how do we as candidates open the door for those disenfranchised voters? And disenfranchised is a big word. How do we open the door for people who've been lied to? How do we open the door for them and make them feel like there's room for them? And I just spoke at the three-star dinner. So all the Democratic candidates at for the Tennessee state or the Tennessee congressional districts got to speak at the three-star dinner. And I decided after the walk, I was writing my speech last minute. I wrote it in front of the hotel where Martin Luther King was shot. I I literally Mike Winson: wow. Victoria Broderick: sat there and I wrote I I was telling my campaign manager was like where's your speech? And I was like, I was just gonna wing it. And he was like, No, you're not. And I was like, Well, Mike Winson: What? Victoria Broderick: I just I was like, I was just gonna wing it. I was in front of the, you know, I was just gonna do it. And then I'm stood in front of the Lorraine Hotel. We've just finished the Thousand Miles to Memphis March. For those who don't know, it was a huge deal. it was very cathartic, like learning and educating and finishing it out with amazing people. But I stood there in front of the hotel and I was like, what do I want to say? And as I got this inspiration to write my speech, and I started, I started the speech out and we did a couple of versions of it, but it was about unity. And it was telling Democrats that we have to be the ones to be the leaders in the room. We have to be the ones who are setting the standard. We have to be the ones who are saying, No, you can't do that. This is what we're gonna do. And I I walked on stage, my little self, number four in the lineup, and gave my speech. I sung on the stage for the first time. I we had sung across the stage as or across the bridge as we were walking into Memphis, and I got Mike Winson: Mm. Victoria Broderick: to teach women a song that I'd heard marching in Nashville. And the lines are people are gonna rise like the water. no kid, no kings, no thrones, no crowns. I hear the voices of my great-granddaughters march for saying, March for me, march for me now. And I sung it on stage and I talked about how we need to uplift. We need to bring this forward. You know, this isn't a right versus left fight. And it was very moving. There was a lot of light. I don't really remember like what was going on. And you could barely hear claps. But it the message was there. I got phone calls from chairs who've heard me speak. For now, two years, who were like, This is this candidate. What is what my god, Victoria. And they're like, We're gonna come throwing hands, we're gonna do the thing before you. And it spoke to something that everyone is feeling right now. The Democratic Party needs leadership. This is a top-down problem. And we need people who will be leaders, who understand what's at stake and are willing to fight for it. And that's what we're seeing right now. We're seeing that a across the state, across the country. And the only way to make that come to fruition is to vote. I need you to vote, guys. I need you to get out, take ten friends with you, get them to vote all the way down ballot. It matters. It matters so much because your local elections matter. Right now your state and federal elections matter more than ever. If you want accountability, if you want your fear freedoms protected, if you want this war to end, if you want Your gas prices to be reasonable, your grocery price, you have to vote. Everything is political. Mike Winson: Yep. Yeah. That is that is very true. Well, I mean I I've known you now for Victoria Broderick: Is it it's not been a year yet? It's been like seven months. It feels Mike Winson: Seven months? No. Yeah, seven, eight months. It feels like we've known each other longer, but it's seven, eight months. I'm I I from the moment that I first talked to you, I got very excited as to what you you are a perfect example of the kind of person that I said needed to be in Washington, DC, that I've been saying for four years since I started, you know, doing political content online. I've said many, many, many, many, many times that I don't I don't care whether you got an R. Or a D next to your name. I don't care whether you consider yourself a leftist or a progressive or a liberal or a moderate or a conservative or a MAGA. I don't care whether you're a Christian or a Muslim or a Buddhist or an atheist or an agnostic. I don't care. Because in the end, anyone can call themselves whatever the hell they want. I care that you're a human. I care that that you align. with my fundamentals. And that that's really what that's really what this needs to be. And I've said this, I think I've said this with you. If we can align again on fundamentals, if we can agree on the things that are important, like people deserve to be able to eat food and have a place to live and and be healthy. and and be able to to to go places like just the base like some things that seem pretty basic if we can agree on those and if we can agree on what's bad like rapists are bad you know pedophiles are bad Victoria Broderick: Yes. They're bat. Mike Winson: felons are bad like Victoria Broderick: Yes. Mike Winson: if we can agree on what's good and what's bad we should be able to have conversations and and and And move forward. And that's that's why I I appreciate you. It's why I appreciate what you do because and what you're doing, because I think you have the capability of bringing something to that seat that we that I wish everyone who I know had that mentality also won and was able to do. Because that's in the end what the people As much as I say it's on us as the voters to do the work, people learn Victoria Broderick: It's only candidates. Mike Winson: well and peep people learn by example. And what we have learned is what is what our leaders have taught us over the years on how we should act with each other. And that's exactly what we're doing. You watch a you watch a a Senate committee hearing or a house committee hearing. What does it look like? It looks exactly like those dumb debate lives that we that we have experienced for years now. So I look forward to seeing what you and all the other amazing people that I that that knock on wood will definitely be winning and getting into office and are going to be able to do to. To start the process, because unfortunately, this is not going to be a quick change. This is going to Victoria Broderick: No. Mike Winson: be a lot of work and Victoria Broderick: Put the hope there, just like the hope there. Guys, it's it's eas it's harder to flip it. It's easier to keep it. It's easier to play defense than it is to play offense. Always. So like if you're needing the hope, help us flip it. Keeping it is so much easier. Play the long game. And like understand, like, and this is a call in to Democrats. You do not have to throw in margin throw marginalized communities under the car or under the bus. To get votes. I am a, I am a like an example of what is possible, standing 10 toes down. And I've never and will never throw a marginalized community over under the bus to get a vote. That is not my campaign. If that is, and I said it in a room full of Republicans, I was like, if a candidate is telling you to blame the trans community for your high grass gas prices, they're lazy. They are. Terrible politicians. Anyone who is saying that to get a vote, no business voting for them because they're not gonna be the politician who's accountable in office. Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Victoria Broderick: I don't trans rights are human rights. ICE needs to be abolished. These are not radical ideologies. I might say it a little bit differently when it comes to ice. I just list out the policy and say how we fix it. It doesn't change the fact that we can in fact stand ten toes down. and win these seats. We don't have to harm communities in order to flip it because we're here because of that. And the change is possible and hope is possible. And it is gonna be a long road. But it is possible if we work together. Mike Winson: Victoria, always love having you on here. I love talking with you. Victoria Broderick: Thank you. Mike Winson: I know we could probably talk for another hour. We may be talking Victoria Broderick: Yes, we got Mike Winson: for another hour once we end this interview. You never know. Victoria Broderick: Probably. Mike Winson: for anyone that wants to, especially anyone in Tennessee that wants to learn more about you or support you, where can they find you? Victoria Broderick: You all can find me at VictoriaThenumber4Tennessee.org. You can go there to donate. Go there to see my new merch. I have a new merch there. You can learn about my policy. get to follow along, see where you can plug into the campaign and help us. Guys, voting is your superpower. Get out and do it. And if you're not in the state of Tennessee, share my information out. Talk about my policy, talk about my campaign because it's a team effort. We have to bring change and that starts with you and active ins is a muscle. You never know where it's gonna take you until you start working it. So pick one thing today and go to my website and check it out. Mike Winson: Yep. And and for everyone listening, by the time this comes out, early voting will have started in a lot of states. So Victoria Broderick: Mm-hmm. October fourteenth here in Tennessee. Mike Winson: Do not wait until November third. I I know that there's a I I know that there's a lot of people that have this this it they just feel it feels good like you go in on November third and you vote. No. The second you Victoria Broderick: Don't wait. Mike Winson: have time, get out there and vote. This is not this, you know, when we when we save, when we get rid of the crazy, then Then maybe we can go back to to doing things in a more symbolic sense. But no, just get out and vote. again, Victoria, thank you so much for being here. This I always love talking with you. for everyone that listened this far, Victoria Broderick: You thank you for having me. Mike Winson: thank you so much. Hit all those buttons down below. It helps make it possible for me to keep doing what I'm doing, which is talk amazing people like Victoria here. And for those of you that may be new to breaking the meta, 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. Thanks again, Victoria. And everyone, we'll see you next time Victoria Broderick: Thank you. Mike Winson: on Breaking the Meta. Bye, guys.