EP:7 - [GUEST] Nick Cruse : From Car Salesman to Revolutionary Voice

What happens when a car salesman with a sharp eye for exploitation becomes one of America’s most uncompromising independent journalists?

Nick Cruse, founder of the Revolutionary Blackout Network, takes us on his extraordinary journey from Kansas City car lots to becoming a fierce and unapologetic voice in independent media.

Cruse recounts the pivotal moment that set everything in motion: a viral article he wrote criticizing neoliberalism’s devastating impact on Black communities—an article that caught the attention of Dr. Cornel West. Disillusioned by the broken promises of Barack Obama—who bailed out Wall Street while Black homeowners lost everything—Cruse shifted toward radical politics and a deep commitment to building alternatives beyond the two-party system.

This conversation pulls no punches. Cruse offers a scathing critique of what he calls the “Black misleadership class,” especially members of the Congressional Black Caucus who, in his view, have become enablers of U.S. militarism while ignoring the needs of their communities. “Emanuel Cleaver is my congressperson,” Cruse explains. “He never does town halls. He’s a ghost—just there to give the military-industrial complex the vote it needs.”

Cruse doesn’t waste time chasing reforms in a corrupted system. Instead, he champions mutual aid networks as the true foundation for revolutionary change. “Mutual aid is about building a structure of resistance so you can stand outside the system,” he says, drawing inspiration from historical movements—from Lenin’s newspapers to the Black Panthers’ pamphlets—as blueprints for self-sustaining activism.

What sets Cruse apart is his steadfast dedication to principle over profit. He’s turned down opportunities to join mainstream media or enter politics, choosing instead to build his own platform and speak uncomfortable truths without bending to partisan pressures. His story is a powerful reminder that integrity still matters—especially when it comes at a personal cost.

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation on media, politics, and the urgent need to build something better beyond a broken system. Subscribe and share to support bold voices that challenge the status quo and dare to imagine a different future.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Nick Cruse
2:13 Nick's Journey Into Independent Media
7:09 Disillusionment with Obama and Electoral Politics
15:18 Black Congressional Caucus and Political Representation
22:34 Building Revolutionary Mutual Aid Systems
30:40 AIPAC Influence and Anti-War Movement
38:40 Grassroots Politics Beyond Party Lines
51:42 Independent Media Business Model
56:08 Choosing Integrity Over Establishment Media


Our theme music, Adventures In Jazz, was used with permission. Composed and performed by Bob Mamet.