Boiling Point Cincinnati

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Dave Baker, Business Manager for Ironworkers Local 44, to reflect on his journey in the labor movement and the real value of union membership. From wages to benefits, job security to training opportunities, Baker explains why being in a union offers far more than just a paycheck.

In hour two, Clayton and Mark are joined by State Representative Karen Brownlee of Ohio’s 28th House District. Brownle...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Bryan Hambley, Democratic candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, for a wide-ranging conversation on the power and responsibility of the office. They break down what the Secretary of State actually does and how Hambley would expand access to the ballot box and strengthen election integrity for voters of all political backgrounds.

In hour two, Mark and Clayton turn their attention to the growing fi...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Alex Gainer, a former U.S. diplomat and employee of United States Agency for International Development. The two walk through the timeline surrounding the dismantling of the agency and examine why the loss of USAID significantly weakens American diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and global development efforts.

In hour two, Clayton and Mark take a critical look at the controversial SAVE Act currently mo...

In hour one, Michelle takes a closer look at a growing local effort to reshape Cincinnati Public Schools through the group School Board Partners. She examines the group’s goals and political strategy, and discusses why many educators and community members believe their push toward privatization could have serious consequences for CPS students, teachers, and public education in Cincinnati.

In hour two, Clayton and Mark sit down with ...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Jim Cole, Political Director for the Northern Kentucky AFL-CIO, for a candid conversation about how politics and government decisions shape the labor movement—for better and for worse. They discuss legislation, elections, and the real-world impact public policy has on union strength, worker protections, and organizing efforts across the country.

In hour two, Mark breaks down the key issues and ca...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Don Hoffragge, President of APWU Local 164, as well as Marquita "Ms. Nickie" Wilson, APWU Local 164's legislative representative. The trio discuss the challenges currently facing the United States Postal Service. They explore workforce pressures, policy threats, and why the future of the postal system remains deeply connected to public service, labor protections, and reliable mail...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Cyan Perez, volunteer with the Working Families Party, for a conversation about the organization’s history, mission, and political strategy. They explore how the party operates, what it hopes to accomplish, and how grassroots organizers can influence elections and public policy from the ground up.

In hour two, Mark speaks with Julie Sellers, President of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, abo...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Ellen Vera, co-director of Co-op Cincy, a nonprofit that supports a growing network of worker-owned cooperatives across Greater Cincinnati. They break down how co-ops actually function, why democratic ownership matters, and how worker-led businesses can build wealth locally instead of shipping profits out of the community.

In hour two, Clayton and Mark welcome Caleb Price, candidate for Ohio’s 30...

In hour one, Michelle takes a deep dive into President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” agenda—examining the origins of landmark programs like Medicare, Medicaid, federal education funding, and anti-poverty initiatives. She explores how those policies reshaped the country and makes the case for why many of those social safety net programs remain essential for supporting everyday Americans today.

In hour two, Clayton and Mark sit ...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Samantha Searls, Program Director at Ignite Peace, to explore the organization’s history and mission. They discuss the long tradition of nonviolent action in the face of injustice and why disciplined, community-based resistance remains one of the most powerful tools for social change.

In hour two, Mark and Clayton turn to international politics and economic fallout, examining Donald Trump’s renew...

In hour one, Michelle takes a hard look at the current struggles facing the Democratic Party and the choices it must make as the midterms approach. She discusses the direction the party needs to move to reconnect with voters and highlights the Cincy Precinct Project, encouraging everyday people to get involved in local politics by stepping up as Precinct Executives and building power from the ground up.

In hour two, Mark and Clayton...

In hour one, Mark sits down with Jimmy Hayden, former Executive Secretary of the Greater Cincinnati Building Trades. Jimmy reflects on a lifetime in the labor movement as a union ironworker, sharing stories from the job site and lessons from decades of organizing. The conversation also takes a critical look at Cincinnati’s continued lack of project labor agreements and what that means for workers, wages, and local accountability.

In...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Christy Pember, a founding member of the Indivisible group Coffee, Compassion, Action. The two discuss what it means to organize as part of the political resistance during the Trump administration’s second term—covering grassroots mobilization, sustaining momentum, and the emotional toll and urgency of this political moment.

In hour two, Clayton investigates viral claims of “Somali day care fraud...

In hour one, Michelle unveils the annual Worst Grinches of the Year list—calling out the politicians, power players, and institutions across our city, state, and nation who have been especially harmful to working-class people and labor unions over the past year.

In hour two, Clayton sits down with Cincinnati City Councilmember Evan Nolan for a wide-ranging conversation on development, the housing affordability crisis, project labor ...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Dave Baker, Business Manager for Ironworkers Local 44. Dave shares stories from his years in the labor movement, offering an inside look at the skilled, demanding, and often dangerous work ironworkers perform to keep our cities standing. Together, they explore the culture of the trade, the challenges facing the industry, and why strong unions remain essential for protecting workers.

In hour two, ...

In hour one, Michelle reflects on key insights from AFT President Randi Weingarten’s new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education & the Future of Democracy. She unpacks Weingarten’s arguments about the central role educators play in defending democracy, the rising threats facing public schools, and why the fight for a fully funded, inclusive, and equitable public education system has never been more urgent.

In hour two...

In hour one, Michelle highlights the progressive victories she’s thankful for in an increasingly chaotic political climate. She spotlights recent wins for working-class people happening in states across the country—proof that meaningful progress is still being made, even in tough times.

In hour two, Clayton sits down with Collin Docterman, chair of the Scioto County Democratic Party and candidate for Ohio’s 90th State House District...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Tim Donoghue, president of the Northern Kentucky Labor Council. Tim reflects on his decades of organizing, his path into labor leadership, and the evolving challenges facing unions across Kentucky. Together, they unpack the fights ahead for working families and what it takes to build durable worker power in a politically difficult climate.

In hour two, Mark speaks with Jamie Rea, longtime politic...

In hour one, Michelle sits down with Will Minehart, Southwest Representative for the Ohio AFL-CIO, for a deep dive into life inside the labor movement. They discuss how unions shape economic stability, protect workers’ rights, and continue to serve as one of the most powerful tools for improving the lives of everyday Ohioans.

In hour two, Mark and Clayton interview Dr. Amy Acton, candidate for Ohio Governor. Together, they explore D...