“You’re going to get that?” “Yeah, I’ll get the roller. You got the list?” “Apples, apple pie, ginger snaps —” “I think we should get some pecans and —” “Did you have apples?” “I think you got the wrong cart.” “You know, different people can do different things. I mean, you can donate money. You can volunteer. You can phone bank. We make ice cream.” “How are you doing? I’m Ben.” “Henry.” “Henry, good to meet you.” “You’re doing a great job, Dub.” “We’re checking out.” “I’m Ben.” “Jerry.” “Ben.” “Jerry.” This is Ben and Jerry, the people, not the corporation. “Hi, I’m Ben.” “I’m Jerry.” “You know, we may not have the money to go on TV for 30 seconds, but we sure do make some of the best ice cream you ever tasted.” They no longer own the Vermont-based ice cream company they founded in 1978. But their names still carry the same weight. “There are times that we represent the company and then there are times that we do things individually. And usually when we’re doing things individually, the company hears about it.” “Which one do you want to start with?” “Well, the one I’m on at the moment is Ammar Campa-Najjar.” In partnership with the political action committee MoveOn, the two men have solicited suggestions from their fans. They’re making new ice cream flavors for seven progressive Democratic House candidates across the country. “So ‘Ammar Raisin Da Bar.’ This was originally ‘Ammar Raisin the Bar’ But I thought it was a lot cooler, ‘Ammar Raisin Da Bar.’” “I thought you didn’t like raisins in ice cream?” “That’s besides the point. And I did come around. I think I came around.” Ben & Jerry’s, the company, is known for supporting left-leaning causes — “Fix the Voting Rights Act —” but stops short of endorsing political candidates. Ben and Jerry, the people, don’t have the same concern. “Senator Bernie Sanders!” They campaigned as surrogates for Bernie Sanders during his 2016 presidential bid. And Ben created a special flavor then: Bernie’s Yearning. The senator himself tasted it on national television. “So it’s called Bernie’s Yearnings —” “Hm, really good.” This election, they’re doing even more. “They call me sugar ‘cause my cone’s so sweet. They call me sugar when I’m on my feet. Sugar, cone, cone, cone, sugar, cone, cone, sugar, cone, sugar, cone, cone, cone sugar, cone.” With MoveOn, they are recording TV spots for their chosen candidates, and raffling off the homemade pints. “This election is too important to sit out.” “Joltin’ Scholten’s Grand Slam Homer.” “I wanted progressive candidates that had a decent chance of flipping a Republican district. Candidates who came from behind in the primaries and won out over more corporate, centrist kind of Democrats.” “So we got the pecans and the peanuts in here, that represent people from all economic strata. We’re going to add some ‘care-amel,’ which symbolizes Lauren’s commitment to making sure everybody gets health care.” These flavors won’t be sold in stores. It’s a stunt to build momentum for outsider candidates, many of whom are not projected to win. “All right.” “This is pint number one.” “Ben and Jerry were not rated as being successful ice cream guys. You know, I mean, we were huge long shots. And if you’re not going to help long shots succeed, all you’re going to get is the status quo.”