Behind the Headlines Podcast · WKNO/The Daily Memphian

1620: State Rep. Pearson said he can work across the aisle without moderating his political views

·32 min·2 clips

Pearson says he would not have voted to end the shutdown because ACA premiums could rise 253%.

Eric Barnes opens the interview by introducing State House Representative and candidate for the U.S. House Justin J. Pearson. Bill Dries joins Barnes for the discussion. The episode sets Pearson up as the challenger for the seat Steve Cohen has held since 2006. Barnes notes that Cohen was on the program the week before. The show also says it has reached out to Republican House member David Kustoff, who represents parts of Memphis and West Tennessee. Pearson is asked for a short explanation of why he entered the race. He says Memphis needs someone pushing for more, even under a Republican administration. The conversation then turns to the shape of the Democratic Party. Barnes points to the range running from Zoran Mamdani in New York to Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. Pearson says affordability is the issue that connects those different examples. He argues that people who are not wealthy know how hard things are right now. He contrasts that with the perspective of people who live as multimillionaires. Pearson says corporations are bending the rules to create more wealth and power for themselves. He adds that small businesses and people without money are still trying to get by. The discussion keeps coming back to economic pressure and access. Pearson says Democrats need a tent large enough to hold many kinds of voters and candidates. He says that tent has to welcome people from New York to Virginia to San Francisco. He argues that affordability and economic opportunity are the main campaign issues. The tone stays local, with the questions anchored in Memphis rather than in national spin. The interview closes with Pearson thanking the hosts and the program pointing listeners to prior shows and podcasts.

As heard by us

A Memphis-focused House race interview that centers affordability and economic power.

Justin J. Pearson's U.S. House bid comes through as a Memphis-first pitch for more advocacy, even under a Republican administration. Eric Barnes and Bill Dries keep the focus local, and Pearson is clearest when he talks about affordability, corporate power, and why he wants the…

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Why you'd press play

Hear Pearson make the case for his U.S. House run in a Memphis-centered interview.

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