The resistance was loud in 2016, but where is it now? In this episode of The Southern Comfort Podcast, Kevin and Rich examine whether the political energy sparked by Trump’s first presidency has truly lasted—or if it fizzled out when it mattered most. From the lessons of Doug Jones’ shocking Senate win in Alabama to the struggles of Black candidates like Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and why the Democratic Party still isn’t learning its lessons. Plus, why Georgia should be treated like a battleground and the future of Kamala Harris after 2024. And of course, the Mamba Mentality Award goes to those who fought against the odds and still changed history.

Topics

📍 04:39 – "How Trump Accidentally Helped My Love Life"
Rich explains how Trump's presidency set off a chain reaction that led him to meet his wife.

📍 08:47 – "Fried Fish and the Formula for Winning in the South"
How old-school community organizing, church halls, and fish fries helped Doug Jones pull off an impossible win.

📍 17:56 – "Could Ben Jealous and Andrew Gillum Have Won?"
The guys analyze whether strategy, timing, or just bad luck kept these groundbreaking Black candidates from victory.

📍 25:36 – "The Kamala Factor: Why Black Women Felt Betrayed"
The Democratic Party has an engagement problem—and Black women might be done showing up just because they’re expected to.

📍 31:31 – "Can Florida Be Saved? Or Is It a Lost Cause?"
What it will actually take to rebuild the Democratic infrastructure in Florida (hint: it’s more than just hoping for better candidates).

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 Vice President Kamala Harris – For stepping into the fight with no time to prepare and handling an impossible situation with grace and tenacity.

🐍 The Tuskegee Airmen & WWII Service Women Pilots – For their courage, discipline, and excellence—despite an America that tried to erase their contributions.

What happens when you’ve poured everything into a campaign, only to watch it all fall apart? In this episode of The Southern Comfort Podcast, Kevin and Rich take a brutally honest look at the 2016 election, the strategic missteps that cost Hillary Clinton the presidency, and why Black voters (especially Black men) still feel politically homeless. From Obama-era campaign lessons to the future of the Democratic Party, they unpack what went wrong—and what needs to change before 2024. Plus, the Mamba Mentality Award goes to a political powerhouse who’s taken more hits than most and keeps showing up.

Topics

📍 03:42 – "They Don't Know What the Hell They're Talking About"
Obama’s surprising take on high-powered political rooms—and why HBCUs prepare you to own the table.

📍 06:54 – "Iowa Is a Scam (And Always Was)"
The guys debate whether the Corn State ever really mattered—and why South Carolina is finally getting its due.

📍 22:25 – "The South Was Winnable. So Why Did They Ignore It?"
The night Bill Clinton himself pulled Rich aside to vent about the campaign’s biggest mistake.

📍 27:52 – "Black Voters: Taken for Granted or Just Left Behind?"
How campaigns misread Black political engagement—and why economic survival trumps everything, even racism.

📍 35:45 – "Losing to Trump Twice Hits Different"
Kevin reflects on working three anti-Trump campaigns, and why both times the Democrats lost, a woman was on the ballot.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 Hillary Rodham Clinton (HRC) – For resilience, consistency, and getting back up no matter how many times she’s knocked down. Love her or hate her, she never stopped fighting.

🐍 Honorable Mention: President Obama’s Shade – Because realizing that half the people in power have no idea what they’re doing is the real political awakening.

Southern politics just got a front-row seat! In this debut episode of The Southern Comfort Podcast, veteran campaign operatives Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel break down the intersection of power, policy, and culture—all through a Southern lens. From war stories on the campaign trail to the unspoken realities of Black political operatives, they discuss what really happens behind the scenes. Plus, who’s got the Mamba Mentality in politics today? Let’s just say, some leaders are stepping up while others are stuck in the past.

Topics

📍 02:09 – "How We Met: Clinton, Campaigns & Chaos"
The untold story of how a bar meeting turned into a decade-long political partnership.

📍 05:07 – "Black Operatives, Same Old Story?"
Why Black campaign staffers always get the same extra assignment: “And also…Black people.”

📍 13:47 – "Atlanta vs. Birmingham: The Tale of Two Cities"
How one decision from Delta Airlines shaped the economic future of the South.

📍 27:14 – "Where Are the Bold Black Mayors?"
Randall Woodfin and Brandon Scott are leading with Maynard Jackson-level swagger—so why isn’t the DNC paying attention?

📍 40:25 – "Why the South Stays Slept On in Politics"
Campaigns throw millions at the Midwest, but the South holds the real power. Here's why they keep getting it wrong.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 Right Reverend Mary Ann Edgar Budde – For standing firm and speaking truth to power—even to a sitting U.S. president.

🐍 President Jimmy Carter (Honorable Mention) – Because like Kobe, he didn’t care who he pissed off—he just got the job done.