In this week’s episode, host Ryan Coonerty sits down with Representative Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, the youngest member of the Oklahoma legislature. Instead of pursuing a high-paying job as a mechanical engineer, Alonso-Sandoval decided to run for office during his senior year of college to serve the community where he grew up. Rep. Alonso-Sandoval talks about his motivation for getting into politics, ideas for drawing more young people to elected office, his advocacy for underserved...

In this week’s episode, NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, as the Speaker reflects on her “lady of firsts” track record in the legislature. In 2008, McClinton became the first woman and African American to be elected as House Democratic Caucus Chair, followed by becoming the first woman elected as the House Democratic Leader in the institution’s 244-year history. In 2023, McClinton was elected as the first woman to serve as Speaker...

In this week’s episode, Ryan Coonerty is joined by Clark County, Nevada, Commissioner Michael Naft. During a wide-ranging conversation, Commissioner Naft talks about Nevadans’ role in deciding who the next president will be as well as how some of the world’s most significant cultural and sporting events, like the Super Bowl and Formula 1 races, have come to Clark County, and what it takes to run them successfully. He tells the story of his path to public service, what you likely don’t know...

In this week’s episode, Ryan Coonerty sits down with Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan. They reflect on the horrific mass shooting in the representative's community of Highland Park during a 4th of July Parade in 2022 – a timely topic as he returns from a visit to the White House, as he co-chairs the Illinois House Firearm Safety Reform Working Group. Morgan shares his experience working on this crucial issue and the personal ties that ignited his passion for combating gun violence. In...

Today, we’re sharing NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan’s recent appearance on the Pro Politics podcast – a political podcast that interviews people who work in and around the political industry. Host Zac McCrary and Debbie talk about growing up in a middle-class family in Sacramento, CA, her active role in her church, and her Capitol Hill internship with the late Congressman Vic Facio. They discuss her experience working for the Democratic Leadership Council for 15 years, what led her to her...

This week, NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett. She talks about what it’s like to serve in local government, her Congressional race in 2020, and her motivation to speak out against far-right extremism. Coming from a background in technology and media, Barrett also shares her work to ensure that all county residents have access to high-quality, affordable internet and healthcare. In addition, Debbie and Commissioner Barrett discuss...

This week, we bring you another episode of our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down with Jesse Ferguson. Jesse is a leading Democratic strategist and consultant. With over two decades of experience, he has led national campaigns on issues ranging from health care to clean energy. Today, Jesse discusses recommended strategies for effectively engaging with persuadable voters across a range of topics. He talks with Debbie and Ryan about...

In this week’s episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Newport News, VA’s youngest elected mayor Phillip Jones. They discuss his first State of the City Address, where he proclaimed 2024 as the Year of the Youth, thanks to his initiatives like Night Nets and the Summer Youth Employment Program, as well as investments in expanded childcare throughout his city. Debbie and Mayor Jones also talk about his journey to becoming an “Education Mayor,” his work on climate justice, and what...

This episode continues our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty talk with political consultant and co-founder of the Lincoln Project Mike Madrid. Madrid has long been a leading analyst of Latino voters and has led strategic outreach to Latino communities for various campaigns over the past 30 years. Now, he’s written a forthcoming book, titled The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy, to provide a...

Exciting news! An Honorable Profession has found a new home at The Democracy Group – a network of podcasts united around the goal of helping listeners understand what’s broken in our democracy, and how people are working together to fix it. Learn more at www.democracygroup.org. In today’s episode, Ryan Coonerty sits down with the Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel for an energizing conversation on reproductive rights, governing in a superminority, and the November outlook from the Gem...

This week, we bring you another episode of our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down with Nina Smith. Nina is a political communications strategist with a track record of collaborating with some of our very own NewDEALers, such as Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams, and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. Nina shares the lessons she’s learned from working on these...

In this week’s episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. In 2022, Secretary Simon was named by TIME Magazine as a “Defender of Democracy,” and – as we pass the six-month mark in the lead up to November’s election – he talks about his work to make this election one with high turnout and low drama. Simon reflects on Minnesota’s historically high voter turnout over the years, how young voters are feeling about this election, and some of the...

Recorded on stage at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week’s episode features Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb in conversation with host Ryan Coonerty. They talk about Bibb’s aspirations for improving his city, how he has set his top priorities, and his strategy to improve public safety and revitalize underserved neighborhoods using the influx of federal resources from the Biden Administration. They also talk about Bibb’s plans for building climate resilience and chartering...

Recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week’s episode features infectious disease doctor and Iowa State Representative Megan Srinivas. She and co-host Ryan Coonerty talk about her journey as the child of immigrants in a small Iowa town, to a life changing visit to Kenya, to Harvard, and back to Iowa home to represent disadvantaged communities. They discuss her storytelling strategies to create a middle ground on key issues like abortion and why medical professionals...

Recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week’s special episode features Oregon State Representative and recently elected majority leader Ben Bowman. He recaps Oregon’s uniquely short legislative session, shares what the rest of the country can learn from the state’s approaches to housing and addiction, and highlights the importance of campaign finance reforms. Ryan and Bowman also talk about his professional journey, his early engagement in public service through...

In our latest episode, co-host Ryan Coonety talks with Michigan Senator and Congressional candidate Kristen McDonald Rivet. They discuss Michigan’s Democratic leadership and how the state is adapting to the changing economy, addressing the public’s frustration with out-of-touch leaders, and enduring threats from extremist insurrectionists. Senator McDonald Rivet discusses her caucus’s priority of improving the economy and how, with the newly instated Democratic trifecta in the state, she has...

In today’s special bonus episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Arizona Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar about last week’s state Supreme Court ruling to resurrect an 1864 near-total abortion ban. Commissioner Tovar gives us an on-the-ground report of the ruling and the fallout in Arizona, including the decision led by extremist Republicans in the state legislature to block an appeal of the draconian law. They also talk about a recent poll conducted by NewDEAL showing...

In this week’s episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with South Carolina Representative Marvin Pendarvis. They talk about the dynamics of South Carolina’s two-year legislative session, Pendarvis’s economic agenda, and how he actively engages with his constituents while working in a superminority. Pendarvis emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the Democratic party showcases their successes that are improving the lives of Americans across the country, and shares an insightful conversation he...

In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Phoenix, AZ, Mayor Kate Gallego about how personal obstacles have motivated her public service and why NewDEALers from across the country will descend on Phoenix this month. They discuss her early career in economic development, how the 2008 recession inspired her to focus on bolstering manufacturing jobs, breakthroughs in the city’s efforts on housing and climate change, and how she is leveraging historic investment...

This week, we bring you another episode of our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down with Karen Finney. Karen is a CNN political commentator, consultant, and thought leader, renowned for her dynamic career that intersects politics, media, and cultural change. Her, Debbie, and Ryan discuss this year’s presidential campaign, America’s fractured media landscape, the role that reproductive rights will play in key races across the country,...

Today, we’re sharing NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan’s recent appearance on the Moderate Party Podcast – a political podcast focusing on the perspective of moderates, centrists, and Independents. Host Hillari Lombard and Debbie talk about the Biden-Harris Administration’s impressive track record, what it means to be a moderate, why the topic of community is important to the Democratic party, and the media's coverage of this year's election. In addition, they explore specific policy debates...

This week, we bring you another episode of our Road to November 2024 election series, as co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down with Simon Rosenberg, a political commentator and strategist, who famously, and correctly, rejected the prediction of a red wave in 2022. He has now founded the widely read and highly informative Hopium Chronicles newsletter, where he advises readers to worry less and do more. He, Debbie, and Ryan discuss last week’s State of the Union Address, what’s...

In this week’s episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Maine Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier. They talk about how Cloutier’s experiences caring for her mother influenced her to pass paid family leave in the Pine Tree State, the issue of housing affordability in her community, and how she balances her day job with family life and her role in public office. She also reflects on the recent mass shooting in Lewiston, how she’s found solace and support by sharing her...

This week’s episode kicks off our Road to November 2024 election series. In this regular series, co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty will be joined by some of the nation’s top political minds to discuss key issues and trends impacting this year’s elections. For today’s conversation, Ryan and Debbie speak with Sam Youngman, a Los Angeles-based political consultant, former campaign reporter, White House correspondent, and co-writer for Today’s Big Stuff – a political newsletter he...

In this week’s episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Mayor Johnson was drawn to public service at a very young age while participating in a YMCA pre-college and service program for low-income youth in Milwaukee public schools. Now, he’s making history as the city’s first elected Black mayor, bringing his diverse perspective and his experiences as a lifelong Milwaukeean to his decision-making and leadership. Since taking office in 2021,...