Shadow Politics, January 11, 2026
Shadow Politics with Senator Michael D. Brown and Co-host Liberty Jones
Guest, Dr Oye Owolewa - Washington DC's Shadow Representative
In this episode: Hosts Former Senator Michael D Brown and Liberty Jones interview Dr. Oye Owolewa Washington D.C.'s Shadow Representative on various topics including, experience challenges, police subsidies, economic factors related to and for young people and homeowners, and how to revitalize communities without federal hindrance.
The discussion also touches on team priorities, grassroots accountability, visual responsiveness, and change.
Join us for an interesting discussion in Grassroots Politics in Washington D.C.
Guest, Dr Oye Owolewa
My name is Dr. Oye Owolewa: that’s oh-WOAH-lay-wah. I’m a pharmacist, I’m DC’s only citywide elected officeholder from East of the River, and I’m running to represent you on the DC Council at-large.
I’ll be honest — growing up in Boston, I didn’t see the point of public service. Kids bullied me for my name. I started picking fights. I got suspended from school. My parents, hardworking Nigerian immigrants from Kwara and Osun, wouldn’t tolerate that.
They pushed me to get educated, to become a scientist, and to give back to my community. I graduated as the only Black man in my doctoral program, so when I moved to DC, I started volunteering in classrooms. When I teach kids how to do science experiments — when they put on lab coats and call each other “Doctor” — they realize the potential they’ve got isn’t limited by their skin color, the zip code they live in, or how hard it is for other people to pronounce their name.
A diverse group of people at a graduation ceremony, with one graduate in cap and gown holding a diploma, surrounded by family and friends outdoors.
The image features a landscape with a dark starry night sky and a glowing blue horizon over a calm body of water reflecting the sky.
With a name like mine, I never expected to be in politics, but I take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. As your U.S. Representative, I’ve worked to get drugs off the streets, helped returning citizens get good paying union jobs, and secured access to the Covid vaccine for thousands of Washingtonians (and even vaccinated some patients myself).
I don’t have a vote in Congress, but I don’t sit around. When I notice a problem, I don’t wait for somebody else to fix it — I build the solution.
I’ve seen what people can do when other people notice their problem, and when they get the help that they need. Maybe it’s easy to be noticed when you’re the mayor’s biggest donor. But it’s not easy to be noticed when you’re an immigrant. It’s not easy to be noticed when you’re only used to politicians lying to you once every few years for your vote.
When I’m on the DC Council, you can count on me to notice. And just like I’ve been doing, I’ll keep fixing problems, keep standing up for working families, and keep building the solutions our city needs
Shadow Politics
Shadow Politics is a grass roots talk show giving a voice to the voiceless. For more than 200 years the people of the Nation's Capital have ironically been excluded from the national political conversation. With no voting member of either house of Congress, Washingtonians have lacked the representation they need to be equal and to have their voices heard. Shadow Politics will provide a platform for them, as well as the millions of others nationwide who feel politically disenfranchised and disconnected, to be included in a national dialog.
We need to start a new conversation in America, one that is more inclusive and diverse and one that will lead our great nation forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century. At Shadow Politics, we hope to get this conversation started by bringing Americans together to talk about issues important to them. We look forward to having you be part of the discussion so call in and join the conversation. America is calling and we're listening… Shadow Politics is about America hearing what you have to say. It's your chance to talk to an elected official who has spent more than 30 years in Washington politics. We believe that if we start a dialog and others add their voices, we will create a chorus. Even if those other politicians in Washington don't hear you — Senator Brown will. He's on a mission to listen to what America has to say and use it to start a productive dialog to make our democracy stronger and more inclusive. If we are all part of the solution, we can solve any problem.
