A Senate campaign usually comes with slogans and talking points, but we wanted something more revealing: how a former senator thinks when the cameras are off. Senator John Sununu joins us to trace the through line from New Hampshire’s retail politics to the biggest questions facing Washington and the US Senate. Along the way, he takes us back to Robie’s Country Store, presidential campaign nights in the snow, and the small moments that shape a public life more than any press release ever will. 

We also get personal about leadership and family. John talks about growing up as one of eight kids, what he learned from a mother who served on the Salem school board while raising a huge family, and how that kind of household teaches you to speak up, sharpen your arguments, and still listen. He shares what his own kids teach him now, including surprisingly practical campaign advice about digital media and how to reach people where they actually are online. 

Then we move from stories to substance. John explains why he believes an engineering and small business background matters for modern policy, from broadband and telecommunications to AI and data centers. He revisits bipartisan work from his time in Washington, including his push to rein in surveillance powers tied to the Patriot Act and a successful automotive safety effort written with Hillary Clinton that helped speed the adoption of backup cameras and other standards. Finally, he lays out three day-one ideas meant to restore accountability: term limits, members of Congress paying full price for their health care, and no pay during government shutdowns. 

If you care about New Hampshire politics, the US Senate race, civil liberties, or what functional problem-solving could look like again, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves politics without the spin, and leave us a review with the one reform you want to see first.

Anything But Politics is a groundbreaking new podcast that is redefining how we view political figures by focusing on everything about them—except their political careers. Co-hosted by former journalist and media expert Tiffany Eddy and seasoned lobbyist and ex-politico Tom Prasol, this video podcast dives into the personal lives, passions, and pivotal experiences of notable figures, offering a refreshing and intimate look at who they are beyond the public eye.