https://progressiveindiana.net
Knox County Democrats on Facebook
Knox County Young Dems on Facebook
Host Scott Aaron Rogers welcomes two generations of Democratic Party leadership from Vincennes and the Wabash River Valley to discuss organizing in rural Indiana. Knox County Democratic Party Chair Marsha Fleming and Knox County Young Democrats founder Austin Ray explore the generational divide within the party, the challenge of growing the electorate versus chasing moderate Republicans, and why young voters feel Democrats have strayed from their working-class roots. The conversation covers local struggles including devastating school voucher schemes siphoning money from rural public schools to Indianapolis private schools, hospital closures creating healthcare deserts, fights over solar farms where NIMBYism conflicts with renewable energy needs, and the irony of a "pro-life" party making it nearly impossible to afford raising families. The guests detail their upcoming Evening with Robert Arnold event on March 28th, designed to energize young progressive voters and showcase the historic number of Democratic candidates running for office this year in deep-red rural Indiana.
IN THE INTERVIEW
00:00:23 - Show Opening and Tonight’s Agenda
• Scott introduces HoosLeft from Bloomington with Marsha Fleming (Knox County Dem Chair) and Austin Ray (Knox County Young Dems Chair) joining from Vincennes
• Topics: generational crossroads, Wabash Valley issues, school defunding, hospital closures
• Progressive Indiana Network subscription ask ($5/month or $50/year)
00:06:08 - The Generational Divide in the Democratic Party
• Marsha describes “donut” problem: young and old engaged, missing middle generation - she was often youngest at 61
• Party gatekeeps when young people show up - Marsha committed to opening doors and letting them lead
• Austin’s No Kings protest spiked Young Dems meeting from 4-6 to 22 people
• Young voters feel party strayed from FDR working-class roots - Bernie didn’t have party support
00:11:23 - 30 Years of Democratic Shift and Strategy
• Reagan era: Democrats said “if you can’t beat them, join them” - took corporate money, left labor
• Clinton won but centrism gave us Great Recession; Obama ran progressive, governed centrist - gave us Trump
• Only way to win: grow electorate and motivate non-voters, not chase moderate Republicans
• Scott’s metaphor: house is rotten, need to rebuild not spray Lysol and fresh paint
00:18:28 - Austin’s Activation and Assault on Public Education
• Austin radicalized as passport agent seeing immigrant families get passports for kids out of fear of separation
• Turning Point USA grooming kids, funneling to private schools, taking public school money
• School vouchers: $14 million diverted from Knox County’s 3 systems in 9 years to Indianapolis/Evansville private schools
00:26:00 - Daycare Crisis and Why Young People Aren’t Having Kids
• Austin paying $500/month for preschool as new homeowner (Scott: that’s a bargain, some $500/week)
• Scott asks if folks refraining from kids due to costs, schools, late-stage capitalism, fascism
• Austin (27): That scares people away for sure - valid reason many his age not having kids
00:29:21 - Hospital Closures and Pro-Life Party Hypocrisy
• Johnson/Greene Counties closed labor & delivery, can’t find OBGYNs (don’t want Indiana liability from anti-abortion laws)
• Marsha: Princeton Hospital doesn’t birth babies anymore - if restricting rights, should support contraception, Sun Bucks
• Pro-life party removing child labor laws, proposed death penalty for abortion - pro-forced birth, not pro-life
00:33:43 - Solar Farms Fight: NIMBYism vs. Renewable Energy
• No data centers but big solar panels feud - Austin at planning commission: biggest complaint is people don’t want to look at them
• Marsha: Knox County coal mining county - what happened to strip mine reclamation? Really about property rights
• NIMBYs want all benefits, no risks - conservatism butts heads with capitalism’s business cycle changing everything
00:41:00 - An Evening with Robert Arnold Event
• March 28th, Red Skelton Event Center - Robert Arnold progressive poet/author from Arkansas, big on TikTok, paints pictures with words
• https://www.facebook.com/events/793195793638102
• Free, 5:30pm doors, 6:30pm program - parade of candidates for anyone running in Southern/Central Indiana or Eastern Illinois
• Historic year: all 25 state Senate seats filled (first time since 1974), 91 of 100 House seats
• People excited recognizing Arnold from internet - Scott at No Kings Cincinnati that day
00:50:38 - Down-Ballot Races and Candidate Recruitment
• Marsha: 2022 got shellacked, lost every contested township race (went 7-2 to 3-6)
• This year six people in six townships - township trustee closest office to people
• Social media cesspools make people fear running will hurt business
• When don’t give choices, get Republican coroner stealing medications from dead people who wouldn’t resign until guilty plea
00:55:08 - Final Thoughts and How to Connect
• Filing deadline passed but can caucus candidates after primary until July 3rd
• Marsha and Austin promote Knox County organizations and March 28th event
• Scott thanks guests, subscribe progressiveindiana.net, building radically democratic Indiana
https://www.facebook.com/hoosleft
https://bsky.app/profile/hoosleft.us
https://www.youtube.com/@hoosleft
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoosleft
https://www.instagram.com/hoosleft.us
