Reminder: The Crash Course Book Club will meet online with H.W. Brands on Thursday July 10th at 7PM EST. A link will be provided in a future post. If you haven’t yet, pick up your copy of America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War and get your questions ready.
Washington, D.C. is the seat of American power—but when it comes to representation in Congress, its own residents are left in the shadows.
In this episode of Crash Discourse, I sat down with Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa, one of the most unique and passionate political figures you've never heard of. Elected by DC voters but not seated in Congress, Owolewa carries a title without a vote—and a singular legislative mission: fight for DC statehood and full representation.
🎙️ Episode Highlights:
✅ What exactly is a “Shadow Representative”?
✅ Why DC still doesn’t have a voting member in Congress
✅ The emotional toll of advocating without power
✅ How lack of representation affects DC residents every day—from criminal justice to taxation
✅ The long, slow road to statehood—and where the fight stands now
Owolewa offers a rare window into the constitutional quirks and political power struggles that keep nearly 700,000 American citizens disenfranchised in their own capital. Check it.
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