This is not a drill.

This episode kicks down the door with Southern fire and righteous fury. Hosts Steve, Jeremy, and Nathan celebrate unexpected wins—like a young Black Democrat flipping a deep-red South Carolina seat and Georgia’s youngest lawmaker stepping into the fight for justice. Even the return of North Carolina’s blue ghost fireflies gets its moment as a symbol of hope.

Then comes the main event: Tennessee State Rep Aftyn Behn. She doesn't sugarcoat it—the latest legislative session was a dystopian circus. The GOP supermajority passed cruel, anti-democratic laws while ignoring real problems like infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Behn lays it bare: Tennessee’s government is bought by corporations, indifferent to its people, and obsessed with punishment over progress.

Still, there’s grit in the cracks. Aftyn shares small victories—like stopping a bill that would’ve kicked undocumented kids out of school—and reminds us that organizing, not despair, is the path forward. She urges folks to get local, stay loud, and build the next generation of leaders.

Oh, and yes—Doug the Pug makes an appearance, because even revolution needs a mascot.

Bottom line: This isn’t politics as usual. It’s a call to action from a South that’s still got fight in it.

Find a June 14 protest near you at nokings.org

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Cast Iron Resistance, a new podcast for Southern progressives who refuse to let their region be defined by hate and division. Hosts Steve Wildsmith, Jeremy LaDuke, and Nathan Higdon introduce their mission: reclaiming Southern identity from fear and fanaticism while building real political momentum in red counties across the South.

In this episode, the hosts sit down with Nathan Higdon, Vice Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, who shares his journey from political awakening in 2017 to organizing in Tennessee's most rural counties. Nathan breaks down the practical work of resistance—from making strategic phone calls to legislators to building mutual aid networks that strengthen communities from the ground up.

Key Topics:

• Why organizing starts in small towns, not Washington D.C.
• How to turn everyday anger into effective political action
• The real work of movements: feeding the hungry, connecting neighbors, and building hope
• Why running Democratic candidates everywhere matters, even in deep red counties
• Practical tips for political engagement, including phone scripts and timing strategies

Nathan explains why the path to changing Tennessee runs "right down Main Street in every rural county" and how showing up is literally half the battle. The hosts also tackle the economic anxieties driving political frustration and why building community is essential political work.

Whether you're a lifelong activist or someone just getting started, this episode offers concrete steps for making a difference in your community—because the South isn't going blue overnight, but like cast iron, it gets stronger with every use.