Gloves Off

Trump Tried to Arrest Him Twice, Now He's Running for Congress.

With ICE threatening to flood New York City with more federal agents than it's ever seen, this congressional candidate is already two arrests deep and just walked out of federal court not guilty… That's why Tara McGowan sat down with Brad Lander, former NYC Comptroller, Democrat who helped Zohran Mamdani defeat Andrew Cuomo and now the leading challenger to incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman in New York's 10th Congressional District. Fresh off his acquittal for "blocking an elevator" at 26 Federal Plaza — where ICE has been running an illegal detention facility on the 10th floor — Brad joins Tara to talk about what's coming for New York City and why he isn't scared. They get into Tom Homan's threat to deploy the largest ICE surge New York has ever seen in direct retaliation for Governor Hochul's new immigrant protection laws, what Minneapolis taught the country about showing up for your neighbors and why Brad believes the line in the Democratic Party right now isn't progressive versus moderate, it's fighters versus fakers.  Here's what all they get into: * Inside Brad's ICE Arrest — 1:32 * Will ICE Escalate In New York? — 7:29 * Why Run For Congress? — 16:54 * Who's Brad's Top Target? — 20:32 * Where Brad Finds Courage — 22:49 Early voting is open now and the NY-10 primary is June 23rd. Follow Gloves Off wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations with the candidates, organizers and political figures who actually have their gloves off in this fight to save democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How MAGA Money Took Over Democratic Primaries

The Democratic Party has spent a decade trying to stop Donald Trump, so why does it still feel like nobody has a real, working plan? That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy and Democratic candidate for New York's 12th Congressional District. They had an honest conversation about the future of the Democratic Party, corruption in politics, billionaire influence, Israel and Palestine and why so many voters are losing faith in America's institutions. Jack argues that Democrats have become too cautious, too comfortable with failure and too dependent on the same political playbook that helped create the crisis they're now trying to solve. He also calls out the flood of super PAC money pouring into one of the most closely watched congressional primaries in the country.  Here’s what all they get into:  * 1:55 —  Why Jack Schlossberg Decided to Run * 7:53 — Inside the Fight for the Democratic Party's Future * 19:45 — How JFK’s Grandson Defines His Politics * 25:49 — What Jack Schlossberg Would Fight For In Congress First * 28:30 — The Americans Who Motivate Jack With just a couple weeks left before voters head to the polls in Manhattan's closely watched NY-12 race, Tara and Jack get at a much bigger question — what kind of Democratic Party comes next? Subscribe to Gloves Off for more questions and answers with the candidates, organizers and political figures shaping the future of American politics. And check out the live debate COURIER News and Meidas Touch are hosting with all the NY-12 candidates on June 10. They'll go head-to-head on affordability, housing, immigration and more at a time when voters are demanding something different from their leaders. Click the link below to register and watch the debate for free:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ny-12-primary-debate-tickets-1990117186076?aff [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ny-12-primary-debate-tickets-1990117186076?aff] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Big Tech is Spending $10 Million in a Primary to Keep This Candidate Out of Congress

What does it mean for democracy when some of the most powerful companies in the world are trying to shape who gets elected before voters cast their ballots? Tara McGowan wanted to know so she sat down with New York Assemblymember Alex Bores. They unpacked the growing battle between democratic institutions and the tech industry, the role of AI money in politics and whether government can still hold powerful corporations accountable before AI fundamentally reshapes society. With just weeks until Election Day, voters aren't just choosing a representative. They're weighing in on one of the defining political fights of the next decade. Who controls AI? Who controls Congress? And can democracy still hold powerful interests accountable before it's too late? Follow Gloves Off for more questions and answers with the candidates, organizers and political figures shaping the future of American politics. And check out the live debate COURIER News and Meidas Touch are hosting with all the NY-12 candidates on June 10. They'll go head-to-head on affordability, housing, immigration and more at a time when voters are demanding something different from their leaders. Click the link below to register and watch the debate for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ny-12-primary-debate-tickets-1990117186076?aff Make sure to rate our show if you're enjoying what you hear! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Can Democrats Flip Iowa? I Asked Both Senate Candidates.

Donald Trump won Iowa by 13 points in 2024. Democrats haven't won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 2008. But with an open Senate seat, an open governor's race, and growing signs of political volatility, Iowa may once again be an important battleground state. This week on Gloves Off, Tara McGowan sits down with both Democratic candidates running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat: Zach Wahls and Josh Turek. In back-to-back interviews, Tara asks the same questions about corruption, Democratic leadership, campaign finance reform, immigration, healthcare, the cost-of-living crisis, and what it will take to win back voters in a state that has shifted dramatically to the right. Both candidates argue Democrats need to reconnect with working-class voters. Both call for major reforms to the political system. But they disagree on electability, Democratic Party leadership, and who is best positioned to take on Republicans in one of the country's most consequential Senate races. If Democrats are going to win back states like Iowa—and potentially the Senate itself—what kind of candidate can actually get the job done? Watch and decide for yourself. #GlovesOff #Iowa #USSenate #Democrats #Politics #Election2026 #ZachWahls #JoshTurek #ProgressivePolitics #TaraMcGowan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Why Republicans Are Suddenly Nervous About Texas

After Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over John Cornyn, what was already a nasty GOP primary suddenly turned into an all out Republican civil war. And Democrats think the chaos could finally create a real opening in Texas for the first time in decades. That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with Democratic strategist and Way to Win co-founder Tory Gavito for a deep dive on how Texas could decide the future of democracy. Here’s what they get into: * Inside the Paxton–Cornyn Republican civil war — :31 * Why Texas matters nationally — 2:44 * If economic populism can win in Texas — 17:02 * If Texas voters can overcome suppression — 33:33 * How Latino voters are reshaping Texas — 40:13 * Where the Democratic coalition is headed — 46:41 * What gives Tory Gavito courage right now — 52:43 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]