Season Two Finale: 1968 Third Party Presidential Campaign George Wallace and the Rise of Partisan Po
To mark the end of Season Two, Dr. AJ Simmons fires up the Time Machine once again, this time landing in the chaotic presidential election of 1968. His focus is the third party presidential campaign of Alabama Governor George Wallace.Joining AJ is Dr. Aram Goudsouzian, Bizot Family Professor of History at the University of Memphis and author of The Men and the Moment: The Election of 1968 and the Rise of Partisan Politics in America. Together, they explore why Wallace is often called the “Most Influential Loser” in American politics and how his campaign shaped the political landscape we live in today.
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43:36
Working Families Party with Josh Michtom & Shontá Browdy
This week, Dr. AJ Simmons sits down with City Councilmember Josh Michtom and School Board Member Shontá Browdy, elected officials in Hartford, Connecticut, and members of the Working Families Party. They discuss what the party stands for, breaking through in a city dominated by a major party, campaigning as third-party candidates, building coalitions, and staying true to their values in office.
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45:50
Jim Walden - Independent Candidate For Mayor of New York City
This week on Crashing the Political Party, we're joined by Jim Walden, an independent candidate for mayor of New York City. We dive into his vision for the city, what it means to run outside the two-party system, and how he plans to build a governing coalition in a deeply Democratic stronghold. Walden also shares his take on the biggest challenges facing New York, and how he thinks real change can happen.
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29:09
Socialist Party USA with Greg Pason & Pat Noble
It’s International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, and AJ is diving into the politics of the Socialist Party USA. In this episode, he sits down with Greg Pason, National Secretary of the SPUSA, and Pat Noble, a local elected SPUSA official, to explore the the party, their platform, why local elections matter for third parties, and what governing outside the two major parties looks like.
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46:39
Dustin Pieper - American Solidarity Party City Councilmember
In this episode, host Dr. AJ Simmons is joined by Dustin Pieper, a city councilmember in Batavia, Illinois and a member of the American Solidarity Party (ASP). They talk about what drew Dustin to the ASP, how the party’s "whole life" philosophy shapes his approach to local policymaking, and what it’s like to campaign and win outside the two major parties. Dustin also shares his insights on building unusual coalitions, navigating a nonpartisan council, and whether third-party candidates can gain real traction with voters.
Alright, here’s the deal—our political system is a complete mess. You’ve got these two big parties, pointing fingers, getting nothing done but cable news appearances, and we’re all stuck in the middle paying the price by their inaction. Crashing the Political Party is for people who are fed up and want to hear from the voices of outsiders—third parties, independents, and disruptors pushing for real change. If you’re tired of the same old politics and ready for fresh ideas, join us to crash the political party together.
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