On this week’s episode of Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with former actor Hill Harper to discuss his progressive campaign for an open senate seat in Michigan’s Democratic primary, in the face of the Democratic establishment and the influence of big money. Last November, Hill received a phone call from a wealthy donor who offered him $20 million dollars to drop out of his senate race and instead mount a primary challenge against Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian-American member of Congress. Hill turned down that offer, saying he won’t be “bossed, bullied, or bought.” Contrasting Hill is his biggest opponent in Michigan’s Democratic primary, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.). If the Democratic Party created their perfect candidate in a lab, it would be Elissa Slotkin: A former CIA analyst, Department of Defense official, and a donor-friendly, establishment-defending, status quo-maintaining Democrat. If Hill wants a shot at winning that Michigan senate seat, he’ll first have to defeat Elissa in the primary.In today’s interview, Hill explains why he decided to run and what sets him apart from Democrats like Elissa Slotkin. They also discuss that controversial phone call Hill received, highlighting the dire need for elected leaders who actually represent their constituents, rather than their wealthy donors. A transcript of this episode is available here.Links:HillHarper.comBONUS: On Monday's bonus episode of Lever Time Premium, exclusively for The Lever’s supporting subscribers, we’ll be sharing David Sirota’s conversation with media strategist Jason Kint about Facebook’s parent company Meta, which is currently suing the Federal Trade Commission to prevent regulators from reinforcing a 2020 privacy settlement regarding the company’s monetization of user data from children. If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber.If you’d like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar