Nicholas Connell and Bobby Esparza

Nicholas (N) talks about his father’s career in the aerospace industry and how it affected his upbringing. Bobby (B) shares that his father was in the military, but that his family didn’t move around a lot throughout his upbringing in San Antonio, TX.

B shares his views on unity and they both discuss polarization in news media. N shares his view as someone working in the news industry.

N considers his mother to be his biggest influence. B says his father was his biggest influence.

B says his family is a conservative Christian family that is both Hispanic and white and considers how this has shaped his political views. N shares that his political values lean left and anti-authoritarian, despite growing up in a conservative environment.

B and N consider the importance of flexibility in politics.

B shares his work background as an entrepreneur. N shares how he came to work in the news industry, saying he’s been interested in filmmaking since he was a child.

N and B share how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their work and their relationships with their families.

B asks N why he decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine. N shares how his experience with type 1 diabetes shaped his opinion. They consider the implications of bodily autonomy versus responsibility to others.

B recalls how he and his wife lived through the big freeze in Texas.

B and N share what they think is in store for the future of politics.