Trillbilly Worker's Party Episode 452: Loosey Theory (w/ Special Guest: Josh Poe)
Jul 10, 2026
Josh Poe, a tenant organizer with Kentucky Tenants who runs trainings and builds regional tenant federations. He talks tenant organizing wins and statewide strategy. They cover Mitch McConnell's political legacy and Kentucky power dynamics. Conversation also digs into data centers on farmland and plans to run tenant union-aligned candidates in rural areas.
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How Mitch Exploited Democratic Contradictions
- Mitch McConnell built bipartisan power by exploiting Democratic contradictions, especially around tobacco and coal, reshaping Kentucky politics for decades.
- Josh Poe explains McConnell negotiated tobacco buyouts and positioned himself as the lone protector, converting abandoned farmers into lifelong opponents of Democrats.
Data Centers As A Political Wedge
- Data centers become a strong local organizing issue because homeowners and tenants immediately grasp environmental and land-loss consequences.
- Josh Poe describes Brandenburg organizing that connects anti-data center homeowners with tenant bases to flip nonvoters and Trump voters.
The Bloodhound Ad That Launched Mitch
- Mitch's 1984 victory hinged on a Roger Ailes-produced ad portraying opponent D. Huddleston as absent, flipping the race.
- Tom Sexton recounts the bloodhound commercial as a turning point that launched McConnell's long career.
