HoosLeft Podcast

Scott Aaron Rogers
  • 5.0 (8)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Indiana politics, history, and culture from and unapologetically perspective. Host Scott Aaron Rogers interviews candidates, elected officials, activists, and academics in long-form interviews. And every Sunday morning, Scott welcomes a panel of guests from around the state to HoosLeft This Week - where they dissect the week's top news stories from across Indiana and look at US & international news from a Hoosier perspective. www.progressiveindiana.net

  1. Portraits & Perspectives: Sarah Shydale + HoosLeft

    6H AGO

    Portraits & Perspectives: Sarah Shydale + HoosLeft

    During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Sarah Shydale, candidate for Indiana State House District 97—an Indianapolis district containing Monument Circle west to about halfway to the airport and down south to Garfield Park on the near west and near south sides. As Sarah noted, we were actually sitting in her district during the interview, and unlike rural districts where candidates drive hours between events, she can reach the western frontier from her home in maybe 10 streets. The population density just works differently in Indianapolis. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us put together more special events like this, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. When I asked about her inspiration for running, Sarah pointed to several interconnected motivations. She’s been watching what’s happening in the state capitol with growing frustration and wants to bring her lived experience as both a social worker and a transgender woman to the statehouse. Working for the Family Social Services Administration and DCS, she sees firsthand the struggles families face and wants to make a real difference in people’s lives. We discussed personal struggles, and Sarah shared powerfully about being abused growing up—part of the reason she’s so passionate about social work and wanting kids to have a better life than she did. As a transgender woman, she wants to provide a voice for transgender individuals in her district and across the state, especially in light of terrible legislation like SB 182 circulating through the statehouse. The fact that lawmakers are debating the very existence of transgender people without any transgender legislators in the chamber is, as Sarah put it, insane and unfair. They haven’t done anything to deserve this marginalization, and the bathroom ban is just the start. There’s no non-invasive way to enforce such legislation, and it won’t just affect transgender people—it will affect cisgender people as well, something lawmakers aren’t even thinking about because the entire piece of legislation is built on hate. I brought up the principle of “nothing about us without us”—how historically marginalized communities from the Black community to the Jewish community have fought to be represented in spaces where decisions about their lives are being made. Having a transgender legislator in the statehouse might give some lawmakers pause when they realize they’re legislating against their colleague. When I asked about fictional characters, Sarah chose Wonder Woman without hesitation—fitting for someone who sees herself as fighting for justice and representation. Our conversation turned to interpersonal relationships in the statehouse, and Sarah acknowledged it’s going to be an uphill battle. Some Republican colleagues may not want to listen or engage with her perspective, but she believes in trying to build those relationships where possible while standing firm on her principles and the needs of her constituents. When I asked about legacy, Sarah’s answer was both humble and profound: she wants the world to show she made a measurable impact and wants people’s lives to be better. Even if her name is partially forgotten in the future—because nothing stands the test of time fully—she just wants to make sure she’s left the world a better place than it was when she got here. She couldn’t be happier if people are living better lives, safer at work, with their kids being educated in a respectful manner. As she put it, it’s the fact that even if you won’t be remembered for it, you still know that you did it. I compared it to planting a fruit tree you’ll never eat from, and she agreed completely. This wasn’t a conversation about political ambition or career advancement. It was a discussion with someone who has lived through abuse, works daily with struggling families, and faces legislation targeting her very existence—yet still believes in the power of representation and the possibility of making the world better for the next generation. Sarah Shydale is running because transgender voices deserve to be heard in the room where decisions are made, and because kids deserve better than what she experienced growing up. Check out Sarah’s interviews with Derrick Holder and Brianna Newhart, and all of our interviews with other candidates from this event at progressiveindiana.net. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    12 min
  2. Portraits & Perspectives: Carl Stutsman + HoosLeft

    1D AGO

    Portraits & Perspectives: Carl Stutsman + HoosLeft

    During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Carl Stutsman, candidate for Indiana State House District 48 in North Elkhart County—basically the whole northern half of the county right up to the state line at the very top of Indiana. Carl made the two-and-a-half-hour drive down from Elkhart, though he’s always happy to visit Indianapolis where he has friends and family and where he can look at the statehouse and imagine how things could be. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us put together more special events like this, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. When I asked about his inspiration for running, Carl’s answer was straightforward about timing: if you’re looking for motivation as a Democrat or progressive person in Indiana to actually have the opportunity to make change, now’s it. This is as close as we’ve gotten in the last 20 years to the general public being motivated enough that there’s a real opportunity to pick up votes, raise campaign funds, and make changes. We discussed personal struggles, and Carl shared a deeply affecting story about growing up in a household with a mom who worked 40-plus hours a week as a physical therapist aid at the hospital for over 30 years, and a father who was a disabled veteran. His dad worked around pest control in the military, which poisoned his kidneys, led to a kidney transplant, and the transplant caused cancer. The family had to work with their local congressional office just to get him the VA care he needed by the time he was dealing with cancer. As a kid, Carl just lived in the environment—everything felt normal. But as an adult, his perspective changed on the sacrifices his father made and the things they went without as a family. Living in a trailer with three kids and only one parent who could work, Carl began to understand not who to blame, but rather who was responsible for creating those circumstances and what systems were failing families like his. When I asked about fictional characters, Carl chose Spock from Star Trek. He appreciates the false narrative that Vulcans don’t have emotions or feelings—when the truth is those feelings and emotions are so intense, but right on the surface is just that duck swimming on water. You can’t see what’s happening underneath. As a reporter and someone people call when they have questions or things happening in their lives, Carl relates to that ability to hold intense feelings while maintaining composure to help others process their experiences. Our conversation turned to interpersonal relationships in the statehouse, and Carl emphasized that you have to have positive interpersonal dynamics—or at the very least, if you can’t maintain positive dynamics, you should maintain workable dynamics. That’s the job: being put in a place with individuals representing various corners of the state and cohesively working together to create something that actually works for people. While some representatives deserve to have someone combative with them—someone who holds their feet to the fire asking why they stand for certain things—Carl approaches it differently. As a journalist at heart, he’s more interested in letting other people see who someone is by the actions they take. He doesn’t need to tell people if someone’s not a good representative or isn’t doing their job—he’ll let that person tell them in their own unique way. When I asked about legacy, Carl wants to be known as authentic and responsible for everything happening in his community—even if things don’t go through him directly, taking responsibility for what’s happening around him. This wasn’t a conversation with someone seeking personal glory. It was a discussion with a journalist who understands both the power of letting actions speak and the urgency of the current political moment. Carl Stutsman is running because the opportunity is here, the motivation is real, and someone needs to bring authentic representation and collaborative problem-solving to a district that deserves better than the status quo. Check out Carl’s interviews with Derrick Holder and Brianna Newhart, and all of our interviews with other candidates from this event at progressiveindiana.net. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    15 min
  3. HoosLeft Live w/ Knox County Democrats

    1D AGO

    HoosLeft Live w/ Knox County Democrats

    https://progressiveindiana.net https://hoosleft.us Knox County Democrats on Facebook Knox County Young Dems on Facebook Host Scott Aaron Rogers welcomes two generations of Democratic Party leadership from Vincennes and the Wabash River Valley to discuss organizing in rural Indiana. Knox County Democratic Party Chair Marsha Fleming and Knox County Young Democrats founder Austin Ray explore the generational divide within the party, the challenge of growing the electorate versus chasing moderate Republicans, and why young voters feel Democrats have strayed from their working-class roots. The conversation covers local struggles including devastating school voucher schemes siphoning money from rural public schools to Indianapolis private schools, hospital closures creating healthcare deserts, fights over solar farms where NIMBYism conflicts with renewable energy needs, and the irony of a "pro-life" party making it nearly impossible to afford raising families. The guests detail their upcoming Evening with Robert Arnold event on March 28th, designed to energize young progressive voters and showcase the historic number of Democratic candidates running for office this year in deep-red rural Indiana. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. IN THE INTERVIEW 00:00:23 - Show Opening and Tonight’s Agenda • Scott introduces HoosLeft from Bloomington with Marsha Fleming (Knox County Dem Chair) and Austin Ray (Knox County Young Dems Chair) joining from Vincennes • Topics: generational crossroads, Wabash Valley issues, school defunding, hospital closures • Progressive Indiana Network subscription ask ($5/month or $50/year) 00:06:08 - The Generational Divide in the Democratic Party • Marsha describes “donut” problem: young and old engaged, missing middle generation - she was often youngest at 61 • Party gatekeeps when young people show up - Marsha committed to opening doors and letting them lead • Austin’s No Kings protest spiked Young Dems meeting from 4-6 to 22 people • Young voters feel party strayed from FDR working-class roots - Bernie didn’t have party support 00:11:23 - 30 Years of Democratic Shift and Strategy • Reagan era: Democrats said “if you can’t beat them, join them” - took corporate money, left labor • Clinton won but centrism gave us Great Recession; Obama ran progressive, governed centrist - gave us Trump • Only way to win: grow electorate and motivate non-voters, not chase moderate Republicans • Scott’s metaphor: house is rotten, need to rebuild not spray Lysol and fresh paint 00:18:28 - Austin’s Activation and Assault on Public Education • Austin radicalized as passport agent seeing immigrant families get passports for kids out of fear of separation • Turning Point USA grooming kids, funneling to private schools, taking public school money • School vouchers: $14 million diverted from Knox County’s 3 systems in 9 years to Indianapolis/Evansville private schools 00:26:00 - Daycare Crisis and Why Young People Aren’t Having Kids • Austin paying $500/month for preschool as new homeowner (Scott: that’s a bargain, some $500/week) • Scott asks if folks refraining from kids due to costs, schools, late-stage capitalism, fascism • Austin (27): That scares people away for sure - valid reason many his age not having kids 00:29:21 - Hospital Closures and Pro-Life Party Hypocrisy • Johnson/Greene Counties closed labor & delivery, can’t find OBGYNs (don’t want Indiana liability from anti-abortion laws) • Marsha: Princeton Hospital doesn’t birth babies anymore - if restricting rights, should support contraception, Sun Bucks • Pro-life party removing child labor laws, proposed death penalty for abortion - pro-forced birth, not pro-life 00:33:43 - Solar Farms Fight: NIMBYism vs. Renewable Energy • No data centers but big solar panels feud - Austin at planning commission: biggest complaint is people don’t want to look at them • Marsha: Knox County coal mining county - what happened to strip mine reclamation? Really about property rights • NIMBYs want all benefits, no risks - conservatism butts heads with capitalism’s business cycle changing everything 00:41:00 - An Evening with Robert Arnold Event • March 28th, Red Skelton Event Center - Robert Arnold progressive poet/author from Arkansas, big on TikTok, paints pictures with words • https://www.facebook.com/events/793195793638102 • Free, 5:30pm doors, 6:30pm program - parade of candidates for anyone running in Southern/Central Indiana or Eastern Illinois • Historic year: all 25 state Senate seats filled (first time since 1974), 91 of 100 House seats • People excited recognizing Arnold from internet - Scott at No Kings Cincinnati that day 00:50:38 - Down-Ballot Races and Candidate Recruitment • Marsha: 2022 got shellacked, lost every contested township race (went 7-2 to 3-6) • This year six people in six townships - township trustee closest office to people • Social media cesspools make people fear running will hurt business • When don’t give choices, get Republican coroner stealing medications from dead people who wouldn’t resign until guilty plea 00:55:08 - Final Thoughts and How to Connect • Filing deadline passed but can caucus candidates after primary until July 3rd • Marsha and Austin promote Knox County organizations and March 28th event • Scott thanks guests, subscribe progressiveindiana.net, building radically democratic Indiana https://www.facebook.com/hoosleft https://bsky.app/profile/hoosleft.us https://www.youtube.com/@hoosleft https://www.tiktok.com/@hoosleft https://www.instagram.com/hoosleft.us https://www.x.com/hoosleft https://www.threads.net/@hoosleft.us https://mastodon.social/@hoosleft Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    1 hr
  4. Portraits & Perspectives: Lilliana Young + HoosLeft

    2D AGO

    Portraits & Perspectives: Lilliana Young + HoosLeft

    During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Lilliana Young, candidate for Indiana State House District 61 in Bloomington. From the opening moments, Lilliana made her frustration clear: she’s exhausted with the status quo and believes Indiana is fundamentally broken. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us put together more special events like this, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. When I asked about her inspiration for running, Lilliana argued that the solution isn’t just voting out Republicans—we also need to put what she calls “everyman type of people” into the legislature. As a lifelong service worker, she stands in stark contrast to most legislators who are business owners or lawyers with money to fall back on. They’re never really affected by what happens in the state, but Lilliana is affected by everything. She genuinely believes she knows better than anybody in the statehouse how to approach problems affecting the majority of Hoosiers. We discussed personal struggles, and Lilliana’s answer cut to the heart of working-class life: no matter what she or her wife do, no matter how many raises they get or extra shifts they pick up, there’s just not enough money. Wages are fundamentally too low. Her very first legislative priority is pushing for a $20 an hour minimum wage—and even that might not be sufficient. Research shows a single person working 40 hours a week needs to make over $22 an hour just to afford an apartment, not even a house. The current $7.25 minimum wage is criminal, and because that floor is so low, businesses get away with paying $10, $11, or $12 an hour and calling it “competitive” when anyone living in Indiana who works for a living knows you need at least $18 an hour to pay your bills. Interestingly, the part-time nature of the Indiana legislature actually works in Lilliana’s favor. The state representative position pays more than anything she’s made in the 10 years she’s lived in Indiana. She’s learned to get by on $15,000-$17,000 a year, so the roughly $30,000 legislative salary would be an improvement. When I asked about fictional characters, Lilliana chose Kira from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—a woman surrounded by people who want to impose a lot of crap on her that she’s very over with before it even starts. Lilliana relates to that more strongly than she can put into words. She’s done putting up with BS, whether it’s nonsense at her day job or online transphobia or any number of other things. Our conversation turned to interpersonal relationships in the statehouse, and Lilliana’s answer was unequivocal: she doesn’t believe Republicans would be her colleagues. It’s one of the big things she puts forward in her campaign rhetoric. She doesn’t believe we’re in a place anymore where we can actually work with Republicans in any reasonable way to benefit the state. She’s watched for 30 years—whether in Texas where she’s originally from or in Indiana—and seen the same pattern of Democratic compromise leading nowhere. When I asked about legacy, Lilliana’s answer was powerful in its simplicity: she wants to be remembered for never letting anything or anyone stop her from doing the right thing. The right thing isn’t always popular—there have been many points in our history where the right thing was unpopular for a long time. But there were people even in those eras who recognized what was right and fought for it anyway, even when it wasn’t popular yet. Lilliana wants to be that person. This wasn’t a conversation about political strategy or coalition building. It was a straightforward discussion with someone who has lived the struggle, understands exactly what working people need, and refuses to pretend that compromise with those blocking progress is a viable path forward. Lilliana Young is running to bring working-class representation and unapologetic advocacy to a statehouse that desperately needs both. Check out Lilliana’s interviews with Derrick Holder and Brianna Newhart, and all of our interviews with other candidates from this event at progressiveindiana.net. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    13 min
  5. Portraits & Perspectives: Ashley Hammac + HoosLeft

    3D AGO

    Portraits & Perspectives: Ashley Hammac + HoosLeft

    Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us put together more special events like this, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. During Progressive Indiana Network's Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Ashley Hammac, candidate for Indiana State House District 16. The district stretches from Brookston, Battleground at the southern edge up north 'round DeMotte, including communities like Rensselaer and Monticello—home to Indiana Beach, where many Hoosiers spent summer weekends. Ashley is still getting familiar with all the little municipalities in his district, but he's finding it fun exploring these lovely farming communities. I mentioned my fondness for Monon as a train enthusiast, joking that I'm still a four-year-old boy who loves trains at heart.When I asked about his inspiration for running, Ashley's answer was straightforward: his representative, Kendall Culp, wasn't representing him. He'd call trying to get things done, wouldn't hear back, would have to follow up, and nothing ever happened. There was no concern for explaining why or what could be modified to actually accomplish something. The final straw came with the push for redistricting and the outside forces that interfered with local rule—something Ashley sees as fundamentally un-Republican, un-conservative, and un-American. Our country was founded on local rule, and watching similar behavior with bills like HB 1333 (now dead) that aimed to strip local authority made him realize someone needed to step up.We discussed personal struggles, and Ashley had a perfect example: he currently has a hole in his roof with a tarp over it, trying to get it replaced with a metal roof but having a difficult time finding someone to do the work without tons of money to throw at the problem. But his struggles go deeper than home repairs. As an independent soil science consultant, he's faced professional challenges because he doesn't mind telling the truth—and that'll get you fired. He's taken the lumps but stands behind everything he's done as a scientist. Unlike consultants tied to big companies who push fear tactics to sell more chemical, seed treatment, and fertilizer ("you don't want to leave any money on the table"), Ashley calls out these practices. It gets him in trouble with the power structure, but as I put it, these guys value the sale more than the soil—and that's serious business when we're talking about the soil that grows our food.For a lighter question about fictional characters, Ashley chose Roy Hobbs from "The Natural"—Robert Redford's baseball all-star character who got the girl, faced some setbacks, but found redemption in the end. Something about those good old days resonated with him.We explored interpersonal relationships in the statehouse, and Ashley made clear he values working with people who are willing to listen and engage in thoughtful debate rather than just pushing partisan talking points. He emphasized the need to get back to a Walter Cronkite era of shared truth.When I asked about legacy, Ashley's answer was refreshingly humble: he's not really in it for legacy so much as leaving things better than he found them. He wants his kids to be better off than he is, to see continual progression, and definitely doesn't want to see the fall of the Republic on his watch. If he could make conservation standard policy for crop production and agricultural practices, he'd be happy to die knowing that was accomplished.This wasn't a conversation with someone seeking glory or building a political career. It was a discussion with a soil scientist who understands the land, values truth over sales, and believes local communities should have the power to govern themselves. Ashley Hammac is running because his representative stopped representing—and he thinks the people of District 16 deserve better. Check out Ashley’s interviews with Derrick Holder and Brianna Newhart, and all of our interviews with other candidates from this event at progressiveindiana.net. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    18 min
  6. Portraits & Perspectives: Michael Potter + HoosLeft

    4D AGO

    Portraits & Perspectives: Michael Potter + HoosLeft

    During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Michael Potter, candidate for Indiana State House District 47. The district covers the southern half of Johnson County (just south of Indianapolis) and half of Shelby County—and thanks to gerrymandering, it happens to look like a rubber ducky. Michael has fully embraced this absurdity, appearing at parades in a duck suit with a duck logo that puts the district map front and center. As a geologist who was a mapping geologist through school, he loves that his campaign literally centers the constituents of that uniquely shaped district. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us put together more special events like this, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. When I asked about his motivation for running, Michael pointed to the LEAP District and the IEDC’s commitment of massive amounts of water to corporate interests. As someone who understands that area’s geology, he knew immediately there wasn’t that volume of water available. What drove him to run wasn’t just the bad policy—it was listening to statehouse officials pontificate about things they clearly didn’t understand instead of admitting they relied on experts. Michael never saw politics in the cards for himself, but watching lawmakers spout obvious lies about technical matters he understands professionally was enough to motivate him to step up. We discussed personal struggles, and Michael opened up about the everyday challenges of parenting—specifically navigating the parent politics of PTA, volleyball clubs, basketball teams, and all the social dynamics that come with raising kids. He’s also had to bounce between jobs to find one compatible with running for office. He started at an international billion-dollar company where he couldn’t speak freely about issues like AES strangling Indianapolis residents because his employer had contracts that could have been jeopardized. He’s now landed at a small Massachusetts company where his coworkers are all Democrats who encourage his campaign. When I asked about fictional characters, Michael kept it simple: he’d like to fly, so some kind of flying superhero. Superman maybe, though he joked that being made of steel would help with the landing part. The conversation turned to interpersonal relationships in the statehouse, and Michael’s answer revealed a lot about his approach. He’s always been a team guy—football player, baseball player, coach for both football and semi-pro ultimate Frisbee (the Indianapolis Alleycats). His geology degree was actually aimed at earth science education. Even his environmental work responding to emergencies like train wrecks and pipeline spills requires building teams on the fly and cooperating with competitors when clients demand it. Everything he’s done has been collaborative work. He pushed back on the notion that calling out injustices creates division—doing the injustice creates the division, calling it out is just pointing to what’s already there. When I asked about legacy, Michael shared that people often tell him “we need more people like you” when they learn he’s running. He hopes that means reasonable, level-headed, protective of neighbors and Indiana’s natural resources. He wants to be remembered for being in it for the right reasons: protecting his family, neighbors, the people of House District 47 and Indiana, and the planet. Whether you believe the land was given to us or evolved, he argues there are both religious and scientific reasons to take care of it—something we’re not doing a good job of right now. This wasn’t just a conversation about policy positions. It was about bringing technical expertise, collaborative skills, and genuine care for natural resources to a statehouse that desperately needs all three. Michael Potter is making the case that sometimes the best candidates are the ones who never planned to run—they just couldn’t stand by and watch incompetence go unchallenged. Check out Michael’s interviews with Derrick Holder and Brianna Newhart, and all of our interviews with other candidates from this event at progressiveindiana.net. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    18 min
  7. Portraits & Perspectives: Tabitha Zeigler + HoosLeft

    5D AGO

    Portraits & Perspectives: Tabitha Zeigler + HoosLeft

    During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Tabitha Zeigler, candidate for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District. The 8th is one of Indiana’s largest and most diverse districts, stretching from Fountain County in the north all the way down to Vanderburgh County at the southern tip of the state, encompassing cities like Evansville, Terre Haute, Vincennes, and Tell City. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us put together more special events like this, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. When I asked what inspired her to run for Congress, Tabitha’s answer was direct: “I was tired of it.” She’s watching what she describes as a war on autism—from Trump to RFK Jr. and others who seem to be targeting the autism community. As someone who is autistic herself and the mother of three children with autism, including one who is non-speaking and uses an AAC device, Tabitha believes we need someone with lived experience representing people with disabilities in Congress. Her observation struck me as particularly insightful: disability advocates end up advocating for everybody. We discussed the broader pattern of how marginalized communities are targeted, and Tabitha immediately brought up the trans community—a cause she’s been a strong advocate for, with friends in that community. She noted how fascists always pick off smaller minorities first, then move up from there. It’s a pattern we’ve seen throughout history, and she recognized it the moment they started targeting trans people. Our conversation turned to personal struggles, and Tabitha shared what it’s like being a mother of three children with disabilities. She’s the mom constantly filling out paperwork under the stove light, navigating WIC and SNAP, switching jobs, serving as primary caregiver, sometimes as a single mom. Her experience navigating these systems—systems created by lawmakers who often don’t understand what it actually takes to access the benefits they’ve designed—is exactly the kind of perspective Congress needs. When I asked about fictional characters, Tabitha chose the Lord of the Rings trilogy, specifically identifying with the elves. She sees herself and other advocates as warrior types—not trying to leave anyone behind, driven by a deep vein of social justice. We talked about how the autism community often produces advocates like Greta Thunberg who refuse to sugarcoat things and take on injustice head-on, decorum be damned. As Tabitha put it, “We just need to start telling the truth, and apparently the truth is hard.” I asked about interpersonal relationships in Washington, and Tabitha made clear she comes from a farming community where you sink or swim together. She expects to align with people who have strong personalities because she doesn’t have time for those who won’t stand up for what’s right. While she’s open to working with Republicans when they’re genuine about shared goals, she won’t shy away from her principles or what she has to say. When I asked about legacy, Tabitha hopes people will say she always did what she thought was right, always stood with the little guy, and was unapologetically truthful. That word—unapologetically—captures her approach perfectly. If you want to know who Tabitha Zeigler really is, she encourages you to listen to her podcast, “Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America,” where she doesn’t sugarcoat anything and talks about real life stuff affecting Hoosiers and Americans. This is someone who brings authentic lived experience to the fight for disability rights, social justice, and truthful representation in Congress. Check out Tabitha’s interviews with Derrick Holder and Brianna Newhart, and all of our interviews with other candidates from this event at progressiveindiana.net. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    10 min
  8. HoosLeft This Week March 8, 2026

    5D AGO

    HoosLeft This Week March 8, 2026

    US/World News Iran * Expanding War * Trump’s war with Iran is expanding. Will others join the fight? (The Hill) * US Gulf allies including Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have come under attack by Iranian drone & missile strikes. * Kuwait shoots down US jets in friendly-fire incident, US CENTCOM says (Reuters) * NATO shot down a missile that entered Türkiye’s airspace. * Azerbaijan threatened retaliation after Iranian drones struck near the Nakhchivan airport, though Tehran denied responsibility. (Axios) * US Sub Sinks Iranian Frigate, First Torpedo Kill Since WWII (Military.com) * Ship had been participating in multinational exercises with Indian Navy off the coast of Sri Lanka (including American personnel) * Experts raise concerns over ‘war of attrition’ with missile stockpiles (ABC) * Hegseth says US has enough munitions to continue Iran war ‘as long as we need to’ (ABC) * Iran may be seeking to deplete expensive and time-dependent missiles and interceptors with swarms of cheap drones. * Unprepared for Iranian drones, U.S. and partners seek Ukraine’s help (WaPo) * Ukraine now has four years of experience combating Iranian-made Shahed drones, used by Russia in their war – “drones that are manufactured on a mass scale by Iran and Russia, evade radar by flying at slow speeds low to the ground and can be launched by the hundreds without need for conspicuous staging platforms” * The only lethal strike on US forces so far came in a drone attack on Kuwait. * Iran receiving intelligence support from Russia, officials say (PBS) * Russia is reportedly sharing real-time satellite data detailing the location and movement of US troops and equipment – the first time they’ve provided such information to Iran. * Trump says he must be involved in picking Iran’s next leader (Axios) * Even as the Islamic Republic is expected to name Khamanei’s son Mojtaba as the new Supreme Leader imminently… * “President Trump told Axios in an interview Thursday that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next leader — just as he was in Venezuela.” * Trump has privately shown serious interest in U.S. ground troops in Iran (NBC) * Have not focused on a large-scale ground invasion, but a small contingent of special forces * Trump said in an interview with NY Post, “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.” * Idea is to replicate the situation in post-Maduro Venezuela and secure nuclear material * CIA working to arm Kurdish forces to spark uprising in Iran (CNN) * Administration has been in discussions with Iranian opposition and Kurdish leaders about providing support * Plan would be for armed Kurds to occupy IRGC, letting Iranian civilians to rise up without getting crushed; or to sow chaos and stretch regime’s resources * US has long history with Kurds in Iraq and Syria * Israel’s Role * Hezbollah said to have launched drone that struck UK RAF airbase in Cyprus (Guardian) * Israel warns Lebanon of ‘heavy price’ as bombardment pounds Beirut suburbs (CNBC) * Israeli strikes have killed more than 200 and displaced 300K people. * Graham Brags About How He Manipulated Trump Into War (Daily Beast) * Graham made several trips to Israel over the last several weeks, speaking with their intelligence community and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying “they’ll tell me things our own government won’t tell me.” * Along with a former Bush speechwriter and a retired general turned Fox News contributor, Graham was perhaps the most prominent voice in Trump’s ear pushing for conflict. * Rubio’s war remarks blow open MAGA’s Israel divide (Axios) * Remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Israel walked the US into this war, that they planned on striking first, and the US went along to prevent retaliatory attacks against American assets in the region. * “America First” MAGA influencers Matt Walsh, Mike Cernovich, Megyn Kelly, Erik Prince, and Steve Bannon all expressed doubts about the necessity of the conflict. * U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus (Jonathan Larsen) * According to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the organization has been “inundated” with messages by concerned members of the armed services complaining of commanding officers injecting apocalyptic Christian theology into their statements to troops. * One commander is claimed to have said that President Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.” * How the Iran war is underpinned by ‘end times’ religious fervour in Washington and Tehran (Independent) * SecDef Pete Hegseth is an ardent Christian fundamentalist, who wrote a book called “American Crusade,” and sports a Jerusalem cross tattoo. * US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee supports the “Greater Israel” project (CounterPunch) * Iran’s regime believes the Islamic Republic is necessary to bring about the revelation of the Mahdi (messiah). * Where’s Congress? * Senate Republicans vote down legislation to halt Iran war in Congress’ first vote on the conflict (AP) * On Wednesday, Senate voted against war powers resolution 47-53 with Rand Paul (R-KY) joining Democrats in voting for the measure while John Fetterman (D-PA) joined Republicans in opposing the measure. * Would have demanded congressional approval before any further attacks * House rejects Iran war powers measure (Axios) * On Thursday, the House ALSO rejected a war powers resolution 212-219. * Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davison (R-OH) voted with Democrats in support. * Jared Golden (D-ME), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Greg Landsman (D-OH), and Juan Vargas (D-CA) joined Republicans in opposition * Centrist Dems push softer Iran war powers measure (Axios) * Alternative resolution would give administration 30 days to end hostilities, with Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) joining the aforementioned four dems in introducing this half-measure * ‘We’re in it’: Democrats won’t rule out giving Trump more money for Middle East war (Politico) * Pentagon could send a supplemental funding request for as much as $50B to Congress as soon as this week * “Good luck. What Democrat is going to vote to fund an illegal war?” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Wednesday. * Well, these Democrats, potentially: Jack Reed (RI), Gary Peters (MI), Tim Kaine (VA) and Elissa Slotkin (MI) aren’t ruling out supporting more spending, with Slotking saying “I mean, we’re in it.” * The Homefront * Poll: A majority of Americans opposes U.S. military action in Iran (NPR) * The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll has 56% of Americans in opposition to the war, with 44% in support. * 86% of Dems and 61% of independents oppose * 84% of Republicans support * 36% approve of Trump’s handling of Iran * 55% think Iran represents little or no threat to US * White men w/o college degrees are most likely to support the war * U.S. crude oil sees largest weekly price jump on record (NBC) * US crude jumped 12% Friday alone; up 35% this week; 60% for the year * Gas prices up 14% this week (The Hill) * US stocks slide as stagflation talk emerges (USA Today) * Dow posts worst week in almost a year; into negative territory for 2026 * Economy lost 92,000 jobs in February; unemployment rose Latin America * US launches military operations in Ecuador (Politico) * Joint operations undertaken against drug gangs “designated terrorist organizations” by the US * President Daniel Noboa is a Trump ally * Cuba hit by widespread blackout; Ecuador expels Havana’s ambassador, staff (Al Jazeera) * Ecuador, under pressure from Washington, expelled Cuba’s ambassador from Quito * Power outage has struck most of Cuba Wednesday, leaving two thirds of the country – including Havana – without power * Existing electricity crisis has been exacerbated since US toppled Maduro in Venezuela, whose regime had supplied half of the island’s fuel * Washington has since imposed an oil embargo on Cuba, though it has been eased some in recent days * Trump vows to ‘take care of Cuba,’ praises Venezuela cooperation at summit (NPR) * Trump launched something called the Shield of the Americas Summit at his Doral golf course in South Florida, vowing to “take care of Cuba” * Trump says Cuba negotiating deal with him and Rubio (Reuters) * As Trump says Cuba ‘is going to fall,’ his administration explores criminal charges (NBC) * Just as US officials charged Maduro and his wife with drug conspiracy charges, the Trump administration is also working to manufacture criminal cases against members of Cuba’s ruling party * U.S., Venezuela agree to establish diplomatic relations (AP) * Relations had been cut off since 2019 * This follows a series of visits by Trump cabinet secretaries looking to secure access to Venezuela’s natural resources * Trump officials broker massive U.S.-Venezuela gold deal (Axios) * Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a plan to “reform” the country’s mining laws after meeting with US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum Wednesday * The state-owned mining company Minerven signed a deal to sell up to 1000 kilograms of gold to a US commodities trader Elections * Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas held the first primaries of the 2026 election season * Arkansas Democrats just flipped a Republican seat (The Downballot) * In Arkansas, Democrat Alex Holladay won a special election to replace Republican Carlton Wing in the state’s 70th House District, defeating businessman Bo Renshaw by a 57-43% margin * Wing, who had defeated Holladay by two points in 2024, was appointed head of Arkansas PBS last September * Democrats have flipped 9 seats in state legislative special elections (27 if you include 2025’s VA and NJ legislative races) under Trump while Republicans are at zero (NBC) * Democrats are running 13

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About

Indiana politics, history, and culture from and unapologetically perspective. Host Scott Aaron Rogers interviews candidates, elected officials, activists, and academics in long-form interviews. And every Sunday morning, Scott welcomes a panel of guests from around the state to HoosLeft This Week - where they dissect the week's top news stories from across Indiana and look at US & international news from a Hoosier perspective. www.progressiveindiana.net

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Aaron Rogers
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    181
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Progressive Indiana Network
  • Show Website
    HoosLeft Podcast

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