Steve Malone was 18 years old when the building he was in was bombed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Today, he has a warning for any society where political division and hatred are being allowed to grow: “We know where it ends because we lived through that.”

In this special episode of Politics and Potables, recorded in Belfast, I sit down with Steve Malone of Experience Belfast to talk about what it was actually like to grow up during the Troubles, and what Northern Ireland’s experience might teach Americans today.

Subscribe to Politics and Potables for more conversations about politics, leadership, ideas—and, occasionally, a good drink, like Steve's recipe for an Irish Hot Toddy.

2 Oz Irish Whiskey
1/2 Oz Hot water
1/4 Oz Lemon juice
1 sugar cube
Pinch of cloves

Heat the whiskey until warm, but do not boil; pour into a tumbler
Muddle cloves and sugar cube into the hot water and lemon juice
Pour water, lemon juice, cloves and sugar into the tumbler with whiskey and stir 20 times
Garnish with a lemon wedge

#PoliticsAndPotables #NorthernIreland #Belfast #TheTroubles #PoliticalDivision

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Everett Jackson is the Republican nominee for CD30, which was vacated by Jasmine Crockett, and is the first GOP guest on Politics & Potables. Everett challenged me to make a Shirley Temple, which can be made as a mocktail or high-octane cocktail.

The Shirley Temple:

Half glass of 7-up; mix with club soda to adjust sweetness to taste
Float half-shot of grenadine
Optionally, orange juice to taste
Add maraschino cherry

To change from a mocktail to a cocktail, float a shot of rum instead of grenadine.

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Nick Pappas, candidate for Denton County Judge, ran into problems with political tech—so he started building alternatives.

🗳️ Texas Voters helps people decide.
📣 BlueSwell helps people participate.

Learn more and find the apps at Pappas Productions:
https://pappasproductions.com/

Kiwi Lime Fizz

- 2 Kiwis
- 2 oz gin (non-alcoholic for a mocktail)
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Dash orange bitters
- 1 mint leaf

Muddle kiwi, simple syrup, lime juice and bitters into a slush
Add gin and ice
Shake until chilled, and strain into a glass with a large ice cube
Add a splash of club soda
Clap a mint leaf to bring out the oils, drop into the glass

Enjoy!

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Chris Servin is the newly elected SDEC Hispanic Caucus Chair and is a Field Organizer for Texas Together. Over a Sidecar, we discuss the challenges of organizing in Texas, and branding issues faced by the Democratic Party and how to overcome them.

Today's cocktail recipe - The Sidecar

2 oz Cognac
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass rimmed with lemon juice and sugar

Burn a lemon peel and twist into the glass

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Dr. Kenneth Morgan-Aguilera is an author and Democratic candidate for Ft. Worth Mayor who also ran in the CD 12 primary. Our conversation over an Apple Martini covered his books, elections, what needs to change in Ft. Worth, and overcoming life challenges

Today's cocktail recipe - The Apple Martini

2 oz Tito's Vodka
1 oz De Kuyper Pucker Sour Apple Liqueur
0.5 oz simple syrup (use 0.75 if you want sweeter)
0.75 oz lemon juice

Shake with ice until chilled
Strain into a cold martini glass

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Today's cocktail recipe - The Yuzu Cucumber Spritz

.75 oz yuzu juice
.5 oz agave nectar
dash grapefruit bitters
1 slice English cucumber
1 oz gin (non-alcoholic for a mocktail - I used Clean G for this drink and suggest Hendrick's if you want to make the alcoholic version)

muddle cucumber slice with agave nectar and grapefruit bitters into a slush

add yuzu juice and gin and shake with ice (don't overshake as it will dilute the taste of the yuzu)

pour into a glass with ice cubes (I like a short glass)

top with club soda and stir twice from bottom to top

garnish with a cucumber slice and enjoy

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Steve Shook is the Democratic nominee for Texas Congressional District 26 with a background in healthcare. Our conversation over an Old Fashioned covered a range of topics, and focused in healthcare — what's broken, who's responsible, and how to increase Washington's political will to actually fix it.

Today's cocktail recipe - The Old Fashioned

2.5 oz whiskey
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters
1 sugar cube
1 Maraschino cherry
Splash club soda
Orange peel

add Maraschino cherry, bitters and sugar cube to a splash of club soda and muddle

add whiskey (I used Clyde Mays Alabama style, you can use bourbon or rye for your own taste)

stir 30 times and pour over glass with rocks

Burn orange peel to express oils and rim glass

Smoke with cherry wood and enjoy

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