208. Vote Blue no Matter Who? Running as a Socialist in 2026 w/ Greg Levy
Summary
Greg Stoker, a veteran and candidate for the U.S. Senate in Ohio with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, joins the Colonial Outcasts podcast to discuss his anti-imperialist platform. The conversation covers his background in the Navy, the "poverty draft" that recruits working-class youth, and the need to demobilize the military to fund domestic needs. Stoker shares his positive reception from Ohio voters and critiques the two-party system, arguing that socialism offers a viable path to address systemic inequality and the ongoing crisis of legitimacy in American institutions.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Ro for GLP-1 weight loss medication
Introduction of guest Greg Stoker and context
Campaign platform: Demilitarization and budget cuts
Personal journey: From survival to political organizing
Military background and the decision to run for office
Activism in Palestine and coalition building
Addressing veteran status and left-wing criticism
Navy service: Deployments and witnessing war
Critique of US foreign policy and imperial reach
The 'poverty draft' and military recruitment economics
Reception of socialist message in Ohio
Systemic collapse and the impact on all communities
Organizing strategy: Reaching working-class audiences
Countering anti-socialist propaganda and red scares
Navigating cognitive dissonance in political discourse
Material abundance vs. manufactured scarcity
The war on Black America and police state
Intersectionality and personal experiences with police
Critique of culture wars and liberal politics
Strategy for engaging family and conservative allies
The POW analogy for political resistance
Workplace stories and the role of electoral politics
Building independent working-class power
Conclusion and call to action for the campaign
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