Podcast Hosts Reveal Sherrod Brown's 1971 Letter Opposing Release of Vietnam War POWs

Sherrod Brown's 1971 Letter Opposing Release of Vietnam War Prisoners Raises Questions About Ohio Senate Candidate's Long-Standing Political Views

The hosts of the Ruthless podcast revealed that Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown is against the release of American prisoners

The hosts of the "Ruthless" podcast revealed a letter to the editor written by Democratic Ohio Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, in which he opposed the release of American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

The hosts of the Cruel Podcast released a remarkable letter to the editor from Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown opposing the release of American prisoners of war (POWs) during the Vietnam War.

"When you think of this disease that has infected the Democratic Party, you think of [Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdullah] El-Sayed," podcast host Michael Duncan said. "You think of [New York Democratic Congresswoman Darialisa Avila] Chevalier, who said he was fundamentally opposed to Western civilization. But Sherrod Brown has been on this his entire career."

In the summer of 1971, Brown wrote a letter to the editor that was published in the News-Journal. The veteran politician, who first ran for office more than fifty years ago, asked what would stop the United States from bombing Hanoi and Haiphong if North Vietnam released our prisoners of war.

Chep Brown's writing made headlines in 2015 when BuzzFeed reported that the teenager wrote that the Nixon administration was turning the country into a "fascist police state."

One of the hosts of the podcast Comfortably Smug, a fan of President Richard Nixon, stated that it was emotional to see the footage of President Richard Nixon meeting with the POWs.

Today's left is dangerously wrong about communism. Just listen to the survivors

"There is incredible footage, I invite everyone to see when President Nixon brought these POWs home," Smaug said. "You hear the stories of what it meant to those families to get their loved ones back who were tortured. You have this guy who is currently running for Senate in this day and age who writes, he hopes American POWs don't come back from torture. How is he on the ballot?"

With a 53-47 Republican advantage over Democrats in the Senate, Democrats see Ohio as their best chance to return to the House.

While critics may dismiss the discovery of the writings as outdated or another example of political rhetoric during the campaign season, podcast host John Ashbrook noted how it shows where Brown's sympathies lie.

"If you live in Ohio, or you're a political junkie like us, you've heard over and over again, 'Oh, Sherrod Brown is a crazy lefty,'" said John Ashbrook of Cincinnati. It's kind of rejected. He's a lefty, and no one ever fills those gaps. Well, I think this piece that he wrote in the 70s kind of explains why a lot of people kind of sympathize with communists.

Brown previously served three terms in the United States Senate representing Ohio from 2007 to 2025.

The "Ruthless" podcast has covered midterms extensively this past year. The hosts interviewed candidates from 19 states as part of the brutal midterm interview series.

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