Get Your Politics Into My Games | Sacred Symbols+, Episode 484

Please welcome developer, academic, and US Senate candidate Chris Volpe to Sacred Symbols+. Chris is a darkhorse for the Democratic nomination in Ohio in the 2026 race, and I (Colin) invited him to the show to discuss the intersection of video games and politics, but not in a partisan or ideological fashion. (So, if you're afraid we're going to get into foreign policy, immigration, or other hot-button topics, fear not.) Rather, we focus our conversation around one simple question, and then span-out from there: How come no one in Washington DC has any semblance of understanding of video games and the industry that creates them, nor the massive culture that surrounds them? Mr. Volpe aims to fix these problems. With an entrepreneurial background, he may be one of the best-equipped people to figure out how the US government can better support and shepherd its vibrant gaming corporations, how tax breaks, state investment, and tariffs help or hurt, and why some countries -- like Canada, France, and so on -- do all of this so much better than we do. How come we're still waiting for The Gamer Politician? Maybe Chris Volpe is that man. Again, our wide-ranging conversation should be accessible to everyone of all political persuasions, and it's unlikely you'll hear much of anything that will offend you, regardless of your sensitivities. So press play with confidence!