In an in-depth interview on The Breakfast Club aired on September 12, 2024, Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein and her vice-presidential running mate, Dr. Butch Ware, made a compelling case for the Green Party as a true alternative to both the Democratic and Republican parties. Throughout the conversation, they presented detailed arguments on a range of issues, from climate change and healthcare to military spending and U.S. foreign policy, all while challenging the two-party system.
Green Party’s Distinction from Democrats and Republicans
One of the central themes of the interview was how the Green Party stands in contrast to the mainstream parties, with Stein emphasizing that the Green Party does not take “money from billionaires and bankers and APAC and Wall Street and the war machine”. Instead, Stein highlighted that the Green Party is “a people-powered party” that fights for healthcare as a human right and housing for all, issues neglected by the current administration.
The systemic failures of the United States, such as 87 million people lacking healthcare and 44 million burdened with student debt, were contrasted against a military budget that consumes half of Congress’s spending—Stein pointed out that this equates to “$112,000 per household” in the U.S. being directed toward “the endless war machine”. She argued that these resources should instead be redirected toward meeting the urgent needs of the people, particularly communities of color.
Climate Change and the Urgency for a Green New Deal
One of the most powerful arguments made by the Green Party candidates was the urgent need to address the climate crisis. Stein reiterated that the Green Party has been “ahead of the curve” on climate change, calling for a reallocation of military spending towards combating the climate emergency. She noted the severe and immediate consequences of climate change, citing the looming drought in California, which threatens half of the U.S.’s fruits and vegetables due to the imminent collapse of the Colorado River system. In Stein’s view, declaring a climate emergency would unlock half a trillion dollars annually for sustainable infrastructure, job creation, and energy transition.
Reparations and Addressing Racial Injustice
Another major theme was reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans. Dr. Butch Ware made it clear that reparations are long overdue, citing that the cost has been calculated between “$10 and $13 trillion”. He positioned this within a larger critique of how blackness is being weaponized to support systems of oppression. Drawing from historical figures such as Malcolm X and Kwame Ture, Ware asserted that “if we weaponize our blackness in favor of white supremacy, we become apostates from Blackness itself”.
Ware’s eloquent defense of Palestinian liberation was also noteworthy. He fiercely criticized U.S. support for Israel, stating that “Zionism is white supremacy” and that Kamala Harris, through her unwavering support for Israel, is complicit in war crimes.
Electoral System and Challenges from Democrats
Throughout the interview, both Stein and Ware expressed frustration with how the Democratic Party, in particular, has actively worked to thwart Green Party efforts to get on the ballot in key states. Stein accused the Democrats of launching a “concerted attack” by hiring “an army of lawyers” to interfere with the Green Party’s ballot access and public funding, thus blocking the Green Party from being able to compete fairly in certain states . She also noted that while the Electoral College system makes it difficult for third parties to gain traction, the Green Party has been advocating for rank-choice voting to eliminate the fear of “wasting votes”.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Criticism of Endless Wars and Military Spending
Stein was critical of U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. She argued that the conflict could have been avoided had the U.S. not disrupted peace negotiations brokered by Turkey. Stein called the war a “disaster being fought to the last Ukrainian” and claimed that the U.S. and UK blocked efforts for peace in the early stages.
Both Stein and Ware linked this critique of U.S. foreign policy with their broader platform of slashing military spending. The Green Party is committed to cutting the military budget and reallocating those funds to pressing domestic needs. Stein remarked, “We are spending more on our military than the next 10 nations combined,” and pointed out that these funds could be better used for infrastructure, housing, and healthcare.
Pathway to Victory and Expanding Electoral Choices
Despite being historically underrepresented in elections, Stein and Ware both projected optimism about their chances in 2024. Ware drew on polling data to argue that the Green Party is capturing an increasing share of voters, particularly disillusioned Muslims and African-Americans in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia. He noted that the Muslim vote for Joe Biden had dropped from 65% in 2020 to 12% in 2024, with the majority of voters now turning to third-party candidates. Ware confidently asserted, “We are now polling neck and neck with Kamala Harris in the Muslim community”.
While Stein acknowledged the challenges posed by the two-party system, she defended the Green Party’s record as a grassroots movement that has consistently pushed the agenda forward. She pointed to the adoption of progressive policies, such as healthcare and climate action, by mainstream politicians, which were originally championed by the Green Party .
Stein and Ware laid out a clear case for why the Green Party offers the most compelling alternative to the political status quo. Their policy platform—centered on climate change, reparations, healthcare, and demilitarization—resonates with an increasingly disillusioned electorate. By framing both major parties as complicit in the preservation of corporate and military power, the Green Party presents itself as a viable third-party option, with Stein emphasizing that every vote cast for the Green Party is a vote against genocide and endless war.
