The rage bait candidate

Today, Explained

Vox

News, Daily News, Politics

4.3 • 10.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

James Fishback is racist, antisemitic, economically populist, and the longshot candidate for Florida governor. He might be where the Republicans are heading next. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Image courtesy of Fishback for Florida/fishback2026.com. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Will Summer, Senior Reporter at The Ballwork, who is James Fishback?
0:05.0	Sure, so James Fishback is a candidate, a Republican candidate for governor in Florida.
0:09.2	I'm running for Florida governor so I can make life more affordable for you and your family.
0:13.4	He has very little chance of actually winning, but he's getting a lot of attention
0:17.2	because he seems to have energized Gen Z Republicans in particular.
0:21.2	We just interviewed James Fishback, the America First candidate running for governor of Florida,
0:25.5	who has been taking the internet by storm.
0:27.6	Despite or perhaps because of being really racist.
0:30.6	You've been repeatedly calling and referring to Byron Donalds as DEI Donald on social media.
0:35.6	Referring to Congressman Byron Donalds as a, quote, slave to his donors.
0:39.6	You know, he has a really thin resume.
0:41.4	He, you know, is someone who I think typically couldn't be elected for dog catcher.
0:45.5	But he's kind of catching on.
0:47.3	He's gaining in the polls.
0:48.7	And while he still probably won't win, I think he's offering us a face of sort of one potential future for the Republican Party.
0:55.1	The rage bait candidate on today, explain from Vox.
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1:29.8	Now, are all the traitors present?
	...

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