At Our Table with Jaime Harrison

Trump’s Energy Lies Are Raising Your Gas Prices | At Our Table

U.S. Representative Sean Casten of Illinois talks with us about why energy policy is really a fight over who pays and who profits. Drawing on his background in the energy business before Congress, Rep. Casten argues that high bills are the result of political choices that protect producers over consumers. We dig into blocked clean energy projects, rising gas and electricity costs, and the case for an energy policy that rewards efficiency while lowering household costs and giving more Americans access to the cheapest power. (00:00:00) The Real Cost of Energy Policy: Intro (00:01:31) Casten's Origin Story: From Boy Scout Values to Energy Policy (00:06:25) Special Interests, Competition & Who Energy Policy Actually Serves (00:08:01) Breaking Down the Climate Power Energy Crisis Snapshot (00:11:11) "Energy Dominance" vs. Reality: Bills Up 13% (00:14:35) 365 Projects Canceled, 180K Jobs Lost, $61B in Lost Investment (00:17:18) Red and Purple States Getting Hurt Most (00:21:03) The Energy Bills Relief Act: What It Actually Does for Families (00:24:11) Iran, the Strait of Hormuz & Your Gas Bill (00:26:40) Is There Any Relief in Sight? (00:28:02) Energy as a Midterm Issue in 2026 (00:30:44) The Sit Your Ass Down Award (00:31:50) Parting Words: Don't Give Up On Democracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tough Love: Rahm Emanuel’s Blunt Blueprint for Democrats | At Our Table

Rahm Emanuel joins us to talk about what Democrats have lost and what it would take to look strong and future-focused again. Drawing on a career that spans Congress, the Obama White House, City Hall, and diplomacy, he argues that toughness only matters if it delivers, and that the party has drifted from accountability and working people. At the center of the conversation is a harder question about whether Democrats still know how to connect power to purpose. We also dig into whether the party can build a durable majority around what comes next. (00:00:00) Introduction: Who Is Rahm Emanuel? (00:05:19) The Emanuel Family: Dinner Table Gladiators (00:13:38) From Protesting Nazi Marches to the Clinton War Room (00:20:56) Faith and Jewish Identity in American Politics (00:24:06) Israel, Palestine, and the Path to Peace (00:32:33) Diagnosing a "Weak and Woke" Democratic Party (00:36:10) 2026, 2028, and the Road Ahead (00:41:35) The Agenda: Pre-K to BA, Immigration, Tax Reform, Energy Policy (00:44:08) Addressing Critics (00:48:58) Favorite Jobs, Biggest Regrets, and the Sit Your Ass Down Award Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans Are Stealing Your Rights in Your State Houses | At Our Table

We sit down with Heather Williams to talk about why the fight for Democratic power in 2026 may be won or lost in the states. As president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, she brings a ground-level view of how state legislatures shape the rights that affect our everyday lives. We dig into special-election gains, the battle to break Republican supermajorities, and the danger of treating a strong midterm environment as a substitute for real organizing. Her case is simple: if Democrats want durable power, they have to compete everywhere and build it from the ground up. (00:00:00) Introduction — Meet Heather Williams & the DLCC (00:01:45) What's Driving the Democratic Wave (00:03:42) What Is the DLCC and What Do They Do? (00:05:29) Why State Houses Matter (00:08:14) Is the Party Taking State Legislatures Seriously Enough? (00:11:59) How the DLCC Deploys Resources in an Election Year (00:14:15) Why Your Dollar Goes Further at the State Level (00:16:04) Voting Restrictions, the SAVE Act and Hot Spots to Watch (00:19:38) Florida House District 87 — Fighting in Mar-a-Lago's Backyard (00:21:16) Recruiting Democrats to Run Everywhere (00:24:44) Top Chambers to Flip (00:27:45) Supporting Women and Candidates of Color (00:29:52) What Happens If Democrats Lose Statehouses? (00:32:10) The Sleeping Giant — Why Young People Are the Key (00:34:21) How the DLCC Works With the DNC, DGA and Others (00:37:37) SYAD (00:39:17) Heather's Closing Message for 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Elizabeth Warren | How Democrats Win Back Workers | At Our Table

We sit down with Senator Elizabeth Warren to talk about what it will take for Democrats to win back working-class America. She shares how her upbringing on the edge of the middle class shaped her fight against corporate power and economic inequality and why courage—not just good intentions—is the missing ingredient in politics today. We dig into housing, wages, and Trump-era policies, and we explore what real change could look like in 2026 if leaders are willing to stand up and deliver. Along the way, she makes the case that real progress depends on taking on building an economy that works for everyone. (00:00:00) Introduction & Lighting Round (00:03:21) The Courage to Fight (00:05:10) From the Ragged Edge: Personal Story & Its Impact (00:10:32) Can We Fix Wealth Inequality? (00:13:51) Are Contentious Primaries Good for the Democratic Party? (00:17:02) Addressing America's Affordable Housing Crisis (00:22:22) Reflections on the Shared Fight (00:24:08) SYAD (00:26:45) Closing: "I Believe In Us" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leader Hakeem Jeffries: "This is INSANE" | How Trump's GOP Is Destroying America | At Our Table

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins us to talk about what leadership looks like in a moment of chaos. After a brand new segment where we ask him a series of rapid fire questions, we get into how Brooklyn shaped him, why House Democrats are governing from the minority with unusual force, and how he is keeping a diverse caucus united without demanding unanimity. We also talk about what it will take to win back the House and his vision for a Democratic majority. Along the way, he breaks down the strategy behind recent Democratic wins and how the party plans to connect more deeply with everyday Americans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Team Headquarters: The Digital Playbook Democrats Need for 2026 | At Our Table

We’re joined by Lauren Kapp and Parker Butler, two of the digital strategists who helped lead Kamala Harris’s online operation during the 2024 campaign. They share how Kamala HQ grew into one of the largest progressive accounts on the internet and what it was like running a digital war room in the middle of a presidential race. We also discuss how they’re now helping turn that massive following into a permanent digital platform focused on covering politics, holding the Trump administration accountable, and rethinking how Democrats build power between elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A'Shanti Gholar | She's Helped Train 7,000 Women to Run for Office — What She Learned | At Our Table

We talk with A’shanti Gholar, president and CEO of Emerge, about what changes when government actually reflects the people it serves. We explore how Emerge trains Democratic women to run, why Black women and other leaders of the new American majority remain underinvested, and why community plays such a big role in representation. She also digs into voter suppression and the stakes of representation as well as what it takes to keep building a democracy where more women see themselves as ready to lead. We come away with a clearer path to building real pathways into public service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester | “Democracy Is a Team Sport” — Inside the Fight for 2026 | At Our Table

We sit down with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware for a conversation about history and heart. She talks about what it means to serve as one of the first two Black women ever to serve together in the Senate, how grief shaped her sense of purpose, and why democracy is a team sport. Senator Blunt Rochester also opens up about why making housing more affordable and expanding access to health care are urgent priorities at this moment. She also reminds us that none of it matters without a foundation of love and a clear focus on the prize in front of us. SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW: Newsletter: jaimeharrison.substack.com Instagram: @AtOurTableShow | @HarrisonJaime Twitter/X: @AtOurTableShow | @HarrisonJaime Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/AOTapple Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/AOTspot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cory Booker on Power, Courage, and the Future of America

We sit down with Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey for a conversation that covers the personal, the political, and everything in between. We trade marriage proposal stories and talk about the importance of mental health—especially for Black men—and why community is a lifeline. We connect it to policy: Medicaid and mental health access, childcare, senior care, and the Child Tax Credit. Then we get into power—voting, Senate gridlock, Supreme Court term limits, campaign finance, fair taxes—and what Democrats must stand for. And we close with a “Sit Your Ass Down” pick for leaders who abuse power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colin Allred: Don’t Ask for Our Votes and Disrespect Our Candidates

Former U.S. Representative Colin Allred of Texas pulls up a chair for a candid talk about what shaped him and what’s next. We trace his path from being raised by a single mom in Dallas to the NFL, civil rights law, and Congress. He reflects on brokering the donation of a hospital to the VA as proof that leadership isn’t just about votes and legislation. We also unpack what he learned from his 2024 Senate race and why he pivoted to a new House district. We close by calling out “electability” attacks and the elite commentary Texas doesn’t need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices