This is technically the August 10 episode. Paying subscribers get early access. Upgrade your subscription here.
What a pleasure to talk with Evan Barker, author of Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative. Evan has been on lots of podcasts in the last week or so, but not yet this one. Until now!
Once a Bernie Sanders supporter and successful Democratic fundraiser, Evan spent years working on progressive campaigns before becoming disillusioned with the party she once believed could transform American politics.
In this conversation, we talk about some of the secret tricks of political fundraising, the thrills and horrors of campaign culture, and the machinery of modern Democratic politics. Evan describes the donor ecosystem, the rise of identity politics within the party, and the internal dynamics she believes pushed progressives away from their original economic agenda. She also recounts attending the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which she says included a non-binary Muslim prayer room, a vasectomy van, and an abortion bus. This was real — not an episode of Portlandia.
Evan, along with journalist Alex Gutentag, will be a guest speaker at our Unspeakeasy women’s weekend retreat in San Francisco, September 26-27. Spots are almost full, so get in now. Info and registration here.
Guest Bio:
Evan Barker is the author of Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative. A first-generation college graduate, Barker earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in 2015 and worked in Democratic politics for many years, primarily as a fundraiser for progressive politicians and organizations. A columnist, Substack writer, and podcast host, Evan lives in Northern California.
Housekeeping
🎬 I just released some short videos talking about The Unspeakeasy and what our retreats are like. X/Twitter seems to be throttling them, so please click on over to nudge the algorithm, or check them out on YouTube.
🎏 New format (slightly new, anyway): For the next several months at least, the “official” podcast will publish every other week. (This is one of those.) On the weeks in between, I will do a Substack livestream — exact date and time TBD. The livestream itself is open to all, but the recording will be posted for paying subscribers only. So it’s never been a better time to upgrade your subscription! My most recent livestream was July 21 with Paul Garcia Ryan. Recording here.
📜 For the first time ever—and for a limited time on a limited basis—I’m offering full-length manuscript consultation. Info here.
🚋 We’re going to San Francisco! Our women’s living room weekend retreat in San Fran, Sept 26-27 features guest speakers Alex Gutentag and Evan Barker. Info here.
🍁 Spots for our Unspeakeasy coed retreat-a-polooza Oct 19-21, featuring Lisa Marchiano, John McWhorter, and PJ Adzima, are going fast. Grab one while you still can. Info here.
🏍️ I am hosting Zoom hangouts for Founding Members on the last Sunday of every month at 8pm ET. Our next meeting is Sunday, August 30. If you’re a Founding Member, you will get an email with the link. If you’re not yet a Founding Member, you can upgrade your subscription here.
🎁 Make a one-time donation to the podcast. Everything helps and is deeply appreciated. 🙏
📺 Visit The Unspeakeasy on YouTube.
