Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

Let’s Stop Demonizing DEI, and Start Achieving It

At last, someone with some common sense in their head, some basic humanity in their heart, and some fundamental democratic values in their soul – is speaking out. Many someones, actually. Indeed, a coalition of dozens of progressive groups representing millions of Americans is uniting in straightforward populist opposition to the far-out right wing’s loopy assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Bizarrely, Trump’s menagerie of extremist Republican politicos has been waging a furious war against these basic egalitarian ideals, trying to turn DEI into a partisan bugaboo. That’s goofy and ultimately self-defeating, for they are asking voters to reject their lifelong admiration for these positive social goals. Consider the value of D, E, and I: One, diversity. That’s “us,” the marvelous mix of common people, cultures, and beliefs that gives America vitality and resilience. Two, equity. That’s just another word for “fairness,” so why do they want to demonize that? Three, inclusion. Hello – that’s what “democracy” means – we all belong and our voice matters. Yet, the Trumpians are using brute authoritarianism to try ripping these core democratic values out of the fabric of our society. And, pathetically, many major corporate powers, universities, media outlets, and other institutions that ought to stand against these Orwellian dictates, have pusillanimously capitulated, hoping the GOP’s imperious regime will reward them with financial favors. When institutions fail the people, We the People have to rise up. That’s the momentous rallying cry of some 70 nationwide groups of gutsy democracy fighters organized by Color of Change to stand up for the invaluable Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that make America… America! To connect, go to ColorOfChange.org [http://ColorOfChange.org]. Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe [https://jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Despised Billionaires Seek Refuge in Billionaire Bunker

Trust me when I say that a home on Indian Creek Island [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Creek,_Florida] is not for you. First of all, you’re not a billionaire. But even a billion bucks wouldn’t buy your way onto this island in Florida’s Biscayne Bay. It’s the exclusive domain of such multi-multi-billionaires as Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Ivanka Trump… and now Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook and Instagram. Mark, nicknamed “Zuck,” has just paid $170 million for a piece of this very special speck of turf, [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/realestate/mark-zuckerberg-ivana-trump-david-lynch-real-estate.html] including a “cottage” with 9 bedrooms, 11 baths, a gym, a massage room, and a 1,500-gallon aquarium. Also, he built-in his own personal hair salon, plus a library with – get this – a secret passageway. No clue as to whether he reads any books, or just uses the passage to escape. Secondly, you wouldn’t really be happy on Indian Creek Island, because it’s a pretentious fake. This high-value enclave was constructed for low-value hucksters who’ve amassed outrageous fortunes by screwing over masses of workers, competitors, taxpayers, and others. Even the “island” is fake – it’s a man-made landfill built in the Bay so ten very, very rich swells can isolate themselves from us commoners. Also, it’s more of a doomsday compound than a community, with each of the über-rich hunkered down in what’s been dubbed “Billionaire Bunker.” These demigods of gross inequality can buy any piece of paradise, but then they’re so spooked they lock themselves behind $170-million walls, afraid of their own shadows. So, here’s my free advice to Zuck to soothe his plutocratic trepidations: Steal a little less, practice being slightly likable, maybe downsize to only a $70 million mansion… and live more. You’re welcome. Do something! Want to help force billionaires to pay their fair share? Check out Americans for Tax Fairness at americansfortaxfairness.org [https://americansfortaxfairness.org/]. Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe [https://jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Friday Signpost: "You Just Land"—Stories from 40 Years of Grassroots Campaigning

Greetings, Lowdowners—Deanna here! In January, paid subscribers got 45 minutes of unfiltered Hightower at our Happy Hour Q&A [https://jimhightower.substack.com/p/video-happy-hour-what-to-do-in-red]. If you missed it—or if you’re a free subscriber wondering what these gatherings are like—here’s a taste. We asked readers to bring questions, stories, anything. What we got was one of the best evenings we’ve had: Hightower on organizing in red states, the horror of what’s happening with ICE, why the Democrats need big ideas, and—because it’s Hightower—some absolutely wild stories from campaigning across Texas in small planes held together with duct tape and optimism. The clip above is one of my favorite all-time stories: the famous beer run with Melvin Lowry out in West Texas. When you're a broke statewide candidate in Texas, you get where you're going however you can. In Hightower's case, that meant farmers with planes, county roads as landing strips, and pit stops for six-packs. "The secret to the high wire is never look at the high wire. You just land." If you thought the beer run was something, wait until you hear about the plane where Hightower’s passenger seat was a kitchen chair with a seatbelt—and the only way to get airborne was for two guys to hold up the tail and run down the runway. “I am a serious candidate for statewide office in the state of Texas.” One last gem from that night covers while the Populist movement of the late 1800s was so successful: they knew that politics couldn’t be just a bunch of committee meetings. They created fun. Here, Hightower shares an insight that Pete Seeger once told him about how he discovered politics through the Chautauqua movement. These are the kinds of evenings paid subscribers get—stories you won’t hear anywhere else, and a chance to actually ask Hightower what’s on your mind. The full 45-minute video, including Hightower on why organizing together beats just calling your red state Senator, how Democratic leadership is responding to our grassroots pressure, and the vision for getting money out of politics, is is available to paid subscribers here [https://jimhightower.substack.com/p/video-happy-hour-what-to-do-in-red]. If last week’s C-SPAN video was a window into Hightower’s world, this is a seat at the table. More on that next week. Happy Friday, everyone. Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe [https://jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

AI Data Center Hucksters Wouldn’t Bribe Our Legislators… Would They?

Bribery of a lawmaker used to be a straightforward retail transaction between the special interest briber and a specific bribee. But the Silicon Valley billionaires now invading rural America with hundreds of their exploitative AI data centers are out to buy state lawmakers in bulk. Instead of slipping cash-filled envelopes to individual politicos, tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI, are putting up hundreds of millions of dollars in this spring’s midterm elections to pay for the campaigns of candidates who pledge to back their intrusive, water-sucking, energy-wasting, AI schemes. For example, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has two super-PACs doling out $65 million to state and local politicians [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/technology/meta-65-million-election-ai.html] who will oppose any regulation of sprawling data centers he wants to impose on rural Texas and Illinois. Why such a barrage of corporate money in local legislative races? Because the countryside is aflame with fury that arrogant, avaricious AI profiteers think they’re entitled to walk over local communities – so these locals are demanding that their legislators regulate or even ban AI data centers [https://datacenterwatch.substack.com/]. Unable (or unwilling) to win political support honestly, the corporate giants intend to overpower the democratic will of the people by effectively bribing submissive legislators with campaign cash – or by funding opponents for lawmakers who refuse to be bought. Of course, bribers and bribees alike will piously pretend that the corporate ruse of buying government policy by buying legislative seats is technically not a bribe. But hello – rigging the system so billionaire donors can crush local democracy is not a “technicality.” If it looks, smells, and has the impact of a bribe… it is one. Do something! * To follow fights around the country and learn more about AI data centers, subscriber to Data Center Watch Briefing [https://open.substack.com/pub/datacenterwatch]: datacenterwatch.substack.com [https://datacenterwatch.substack.com/] * MediaJustice has developed a toolkit [https://mediajustice.org/resource/the-cost-of-data-centers/] to understand and fight data centers, and were key in forcing a major setback to a planned data center in West Texas. [https://mediajustice.org/news/grassroots-opposition-forces-setback/] Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe [https://jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Why Should Chuck Schumer Choose Maine’s US Senator?

The Democratic Party establishment is rolling out its arsenal of big funders and political consultants, trying to defeat… Democrats. Huh? Yes, led by Sen. Chuck “Don’t-Rock-the-Corporate-Boat” Schumer, the party’s Washington hierarchy has been working to eliminate upstart Democratic contenders who are unabashedly progressive and popular! These candidates are generating new grassroots energy and hope for the party by bluntly challenging Washington’s meek, business-as-usual politics that Schumer embodies. Pundits say Democrats need to find candidates who can appeal to workers. Well, here’s one who is full-blooded working class: Graham Platner. A 41-year old military combat veteran, Platner is a plain-spoken oyster farmer who’s running right at “the oligarchy – the billionaires who pay for it and the politicians who sell us out.” Platner’s fiery populist spirit has sparked statewide grassroots support, volunteers, funding, and enthusiasm that Maine Democrats have not had in years. But, uninvited, here came Chuck [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/unions-chuck-schumer-democratic-leaders-maine-senate-primary-rcna260797] – lugging his ponderous wet blanket of high-dollar corporate politics to the state. Trying to stop a real democrat from being the party’s nominee, Schumer recruited Maine’s lame-duck, milquetoast governor to run against Platner, knowing she would not challenge the corporate order. He raised truckloads of corporate cash for her, hoping to suffocate the oysterman’s populist uprising. But by assaulting Platner with a barrage of out-of-state of corporate money, Schumer and his hand-picked candidate are actually assaulting the “little-d,” working-class democrats who’ve rallied to the maverick. Attacking your own constituents is an odd strategy, and sure enough, it doesn’t seem to be selling in Maine – a recent poll of likely Democratic voters shows Platner with a 38-point lead [https://wgme.com/news/local/unh-poll-shows-platner-leading-mills-by-38-points-in-maine-democratic-senate-primary] over Schumer’s choice to be Maine’s senator. Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe [https://jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]