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As Iowa's Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate takes a dramatic turn with J.D. Scholten dropping out and endorsing Josh Turek, we sit down with the State Representative, Paralympic gold medalist, the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa legislature, and now U.S. Senate candidate running against Joni Ernst in a race that could decide the balance of power in Washington, D.C.
Turek talks about winning his first race by just six votes, why accessible healthcare must be treated as a human right, and how common-sense populism can bridge divides in a deeply polarized state. Along the way, he reflects on overcoming personal health challenges, carrying on the legacy of Senator Tom Harkin, and building a politics rooted in empathy and hope.
We Discuss:
* What it took to overcome adversity and become Iowa’s first permanently disabled legislator.
* Why healthcare reform is central to his campaign and vision for Iowa.
* Defining “common sense populism” in a way that resonates across party lines.
* How every vote matters — and what a six-vote margin taught him about democracy.
* Carrying forward the spirit of prairie populism to represent everyday Iowans.
Josh’s info:
* Campaign: Turek for Iowa (https://turek4iowa.com/)
* Bluesky: Josh Turek (https://bsky.app/profile/joshturek4iowa.bsky.social)
* Twitter/X: @Turek4Iowa (https://x.com/Turek4Iowa)
* Instagram: joshturek4iowa (https://www.instagram.com/joshturek4iowa)
Get full access to Dispatch: Revolution at dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe (https://dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
18 Aug 2025
The Irony of the Tradwife Trend. And the Tech Arms Race in Voter Outreach
Our first Bonus Notes episode, where we pick up on some topics that didn’t make the first cut.
We discuss the tradwife trend and the tech-divide in voter outreach.
Listen| Watch the full first episode here: Are We Living in an Authoritarian Economy? (https://dispatchrevolution.substack.com/p/jessica-ka-burbank-podcast-are-we-living-in-an-authoritarian)
Get full access to Dispatch: Revolution at dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe (https://dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
8 Aug 2025
Prairie Populism and J.D. Scholten: Pitching a New Vision for Iowa
In this episode of Dispatch Revolution, Stacey Walker sits down with J.D. Scholten — state senator, former professional baseball player, and now U.S. Senate candidate taking on Joni Ernst in 2026. Scholten talks about running and winning in red districts, why leading with values matters more than labels, and how anti-monopoly policies and universal healthcare could reshape Iowa’s future. Along the way, he shares stories from the campaign trail, lessons from his grandmother, and why he still takes the mound for his Sioux City Explorers.
J.D.'s info:
Campaign: Scholten for Iowa (https://www.scholtenforiowa.com/)
BlueSky: jdscholten.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/jdscholten.bsky.social)
X Account: @ScholtenforIowa (https://x.com/scholtenforiowa)
Instagram: JDScholten (https://www.instagram.com/jdscholten/?hl=en)
We Discuss:
How to connect with constituents in red districts by leading with values over labels.
Prioritizing universal healthcare as a working-class issue.
Championing anti-monopoly policies to combat corporate greed.
Motivating disaffected voters by focusing on the concerns of working-class Americans, particularly the B's and the S's.
Drawing inspiration from the Prairie Populist movement to address Iowa’s economic and agricultural challenges.
Get full access to Dispatch: Revolution at dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe (https://dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
13 Jun 2025
'All voters are friends or future friends'
Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls discusses the state of politics in the Midwest, the importance of kitchen table values, and how Democrats can win back voters across demographics in this interview.
29 May 2025
Are we living in an authoritarian economy?
Progressive influencer Jessica Burbank analyzes the current authoritarian economy and how to effectively reach people through digital media, offering insights into modern activism in this interview.
2 May 2025
How some Democratic consultants are standing in the way of victory. And... is Texas winnable?
Guest: Chuck Rocha. Author of Tio Bernie (https://www.tioberniebook.com/). Former staffer for the Sanders presidential campaign. Check out his latest project: Campeones PAC (https://www.campeonespac.com/). We discuss: the problem with Democratic consultants right now, how to build a movement centered on working people, Latino outreach.
Get full access to Dispatch: Revolution at dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe (https://dispatchrevolution.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
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Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
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