Big Back Politics Live! “The Voices They Pretend Not to Hear”

Good morning, good evening, good damn whenever-you’re-listening. This is Big Back Politics Live, and I’m your host, Denise Milsap talking straight, the way your grandmama would’ve wanted and the way your elected officials pray you never do.

To my Black folks, my Hispanic brothers and sisters, and my truckers hauling the backbone of this country across 50 states I see you. Hell!! I feel you. Let’s get into what the hell is happening in our politics, because it sure ain’t boring… and it damn sure ain’t harmless!

Now look every politician in America wants to tell you the economy is doing great.
“Jobs are up!”
“Unemployment is low!”
“Inflation’s cooling!”

But let me ask you something personal:
Does your grocery bill feel like it’s cooling?
Does rent feel like it’s calming its ass down?
Does gas feel like it loves you?

I didn’t think so.

Here are the facts because feelings are real, but math aint mathing, and life aint lifeing like that!!

The U.S. unemployment rate has hovered around 3.7–4.0%, one of the lowest in 50 years.

But real wages after inflation have barely budged for working-class folks.

Food prices, even after stabilizing, are still 25–30% higher than they were in 2019.

And rents? Lord have mercy national rent averages have jumped over 30% in 4 years, and in some cities like Phoenix, Miami, and Houston, closer to 40–50%.

So yeah, the “economy” might look cute in a graph, but the people in it are tired, stretched, and one bad week away from wondering what the hell is going on.

And truckers I know the damn spot rates. I know freight swings harder than ya drunk uncle during the holidays. You cannot tell me this environment is “stable.” It isn’t.

Politicians keep telling us “It’s getting better.”
Well… maybe. On paper.

But here on Big Back Politics, we don’t do paper. We do people.

Alright, let’s talk immigration the political football that never deflates.

Every few years, politicians grab it, punt it across the field, and tell you to blame the folks who don’t even have the power to defend themselves.

Here’s the blunt truth:
Both parties use immigration as a damn campaign prop.

And who ends up feeling the impact?

Black neighborhoods where resources get stretched thin

Hispanic families caught between two languages and two countries

Truck drivers dealing with new regulations, border delays, and freight instability

Everyday Americans who just want security and fairness

Let me hit you with some facts the politicians conveniently whisper about:

Over 60% of undocumented immigrants in this country have lived here 10+ years.

Over 8 million are working paying taxes through ITIN numbers, contributing to Social Security they will never receive.

And immigration has not been linked to increased crime rates. In fact, immigrants statistically commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans.

Now does that mean there’s no border issue? Hell no.
There is one. And it’s a real one.

The system is overrun. Asylum cases take 5–7 years to process. Border towns don’t have the infrastructure. Federal leadership red or blue hasn’t produced a long-term plan in decades.

But be careful when politicians tell you to “pick a side.”
Because they sure as hell don’t.

They argue on TV… then shake hands in private. And you have to remember in politics, there’s no permanate enemies, no permante friends, its only permante interests!!

The folks who pay the price?
Are People like you. People like us.

Let me say this slowly so Washington can hear it:

The Black vote is not an ATM politicians can drive up to every four years.

Swipe your card.
Take your votes.
Disappear.

Black voters especially Black women have carried elections on their backs, and still get told to “wait patiently” for results.

Hell, if patience were money, we’d all be millionaires.

Black turnout is still a strong engine in national elections.

Yet Black households hold one-eighth the wealth of white households.

Black maternal mortality is 2.5x higher than white maternal mortality.

Black-owned businesses receive less than 2% of venture capital funding.

And before you go thinking one side is better than the other let me stop you.
Because this ain’t church service, and I ain’t singing hymns.

Both parties have failed to deliver on long-term, structural change for Black communities.

You can quote me, stitch it on ya damn forehead if you want:

“If your vote is powerful, then your demands should be loud.”

Now for my Hispanic brothers and sisters  especially English-dominant families, first-gen and second-gen:

Politicians court you like you’re the homecoming queen but still treat you like you don’t know how the system works.

But you do.
You’ve been working it, surviving in it, and holding this country up through construction, trucking, healthcare, hospitality, and military service.

The disrespect is unreal.

But here on Big Back Politics we don’t do disrespect.
We do receipts.

Now Let me talk to my truckers real for a second.
Pull over if you need to take a sip of that cold-ass coffee. Y’all deserve this moment.

Because the average American has no damn idea that:

72% of everything they touch, eat, wear, or order online moves by truck.

The trucking industry is over 3.5 million drivers strong.

And truckers don’t get paid for half the things they do waiting at docks, detention, loading, breakdown time.

You’re told to follow every rule:
Hours of service. Weight limits. Fuel taxes. Insurance increases. Endless compliance.

But where’s the respect?
Where’s the voice?
Where’s the representation for the people who literally keep the economy from collapsing?

Politicians talk about truckers like y’all are road ghosts.
But without you, this country would shut down in three damn days. It Happened a few years ago when Trump had it bottlenecked!!!

To every Black trucker, every Hispanic trucker, every woman behind that wheel you deserve a seat at every political table. You deserve policies that don’t treat you like a number.

And to the lawmakers listening yeah, I know some of y’all tune in here pretending you don’t:

Try keeping America running without truck drivers.
Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Listen I know the world feels heavy right now.
Politics feels like a circus with too many clowns and not enough ringleaders. And it is some CLOWNS in it! DO YOU HEAR ME??!!!

But here’s what I believe and I’m saying it straight!

You are not powerless. You are not invisible. You are not forgotten.
You damn sure aren’t stupid.

Black folks…
Hispanic families…
Truckers logging thousands of miles a week…

You matter.
Your voice matters.
Your vote matters.
Your presence matters.

Big Back Politics isn’t here to tell you what side to choose.
I’m here to tell you to choose yourself.
Choose your family.
Choose your future.
Choose what makes sense not what someone on TV screams at you.

I’m Denise Milsap

This is Big Back Politics Live! on the Urban City Podcast Network! Log onto urbancitypodcast.com for our content and download the urban city podcast app!