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An Honorable Profession — Government & Organizations
An Honorable Profession

Restore your faith in government with An Honorable Profession. Every Thursday, co-hosts Ryan Coonerty and Debbie Cox Bultan sit down with rising state and local Democrats, policy experts, and the nation’s top political minds for empowering and candid conversations about life in public service and government. Together with their guests – which include members of the Biden Administration, state legislators nationwide, and mayors from America’s top cities – Ryan and Debbie discuss the biggest issues facing Americans today and the decisive role that state and local leaders play in catalyzing progressive, pragmatic solutions.

An Honorable Profession is produced by the NewDEAL. For more AHP and NewDEAL content, visit https://newdealleaders.org/ and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewDEALLeaders
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewDEALLeaders
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NewdealleadersOrg

An Honorable Profession is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Copyright: © The NewDEAL 2018

Latest Episodes:

Mike Madrid on The Latino Century Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

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 comprehensive study on voting trends among Latino voters. In today's conversation, Mike, Debbie, and Ryan discuss why both Democrats and Republicans have struggled to reach Latino voters, how issues like the economy and housing are pushing Hispanic voters further right, and why dangerous stereotypes are costing both parties key votes. Mike also addresses how Republicans have changed their tone on American exceptionalism and instead embraced "cowardly" anti-immigration, anti-Latino rhetoric. Tune in to hear what drew Madrid to the Republican party many years ago and what inspired him to push back against Trump and co-found the Lincoln Project in 2019.

Find more information on The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy and pre-order the book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Latino-Century/Mike-Madrid/9781668015261

• [01:04] Welcoming Mike Madrid to this episode of An Honorable Profession.

• [01:52] Discussing some themes of Mike's new book, The Latino Century.

• [06:48] The young nature of the Latino vote and why there's no compelling economic agenda.

• [11:26] What each party gets wrong for Latino voters and who Mike thinks will win.

• [18:01] Mike debunks incorrect perceptions about Latino voters and their political views.

• [23:37] Our guest shares his opinions on what's needed to win the upcoming election.

• [28:44] The evolution of the Republican Party and his work with The Lincoln Project.

• [37:40] How Mike feels about the 2024 election and what we can expect from The Lincoln Project.

Learn more about The Democracy Group at www.democracygroup.org.

Ilana Rubel Breaks Down Idaho's Abortion Ban May 30, 2024

Show notes

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 State. Rubel is a shining example of beating the odds; she was born in Canada to a single mother and lived out of a car throughout her childhood years. Armed with a keen understanding of how policy impacts the most vulnerable communities, Rubel found her way to D.C. to attend Georgetown University and then to Cambridge to receive her J.D. from Harvard Law School. Now, as the Democratic leader in the Idaho House of Representatives, she continues to beat the odds, winning approval for legislation to protect public schools, defend the right to contraceptives, and legalize fentanyl testing strips. During her interview, Rubel breaks down the pending Supreme Court case on Idaho's new law that prevents abortions for women experiencing dire medical conditions, and she describes the economic consequences of the state's abortion ban along with the mass exodus of qualified medical professionals from Idaho. She also provides an analysis of the political landscape of Idaho heading into November and what issues will be key to voters in her community this year.

• [01:04] Idaho Representative Ilana Rubel updates listeners on happenings in her State.

• [04:54] The current lawsuit around the legal implications of Idaho's abortion ban.

• [07:05] How the people of Idaho are reacting to the extremity of this ban.

• [08:40] Systems in Idaho that have led to the lack of public opinion representation in the law.

• [12:41] Impacts that the republican changes have made to business.

• [14:54] Representative Rubel's path to public service rooted in her own experience.

• [17:50] Some of the surprising things she has been able to achieve even as a minority.

• [19:58] How she navigates door-knocking and interfacing with Republican constituents.

• [21:37] Advice for minority Democrats in Republican states.

• [23:54] How she hopes to create change as a leader.

• [26:04] Candidate recruitment in Idaho.

Nina Smith on Appealing to Young People and Black Voters May 23, 2024

Show notes

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 campaigns and discusses what to expect from Republicans over the next six months, as well as what the Democratic Party should do about it, particularly in majority Black districts in the south. The conversation addresses the importance of youth engagement, challenges around misinformation in historically marginalized communities, and the importance of empathic messaging that can overcome ideological differences. Tune in to learn more about what inspires Nina.

[01:04] Nina Smith's background as a political strategist.
[02:57] Her perspective on the position of Democrats leading up to the elections in six months' time.
[05:00] Observations of Republican behavior and how best Democrats can respond.
[06:41] The influence of AI and misinformation on elections and the importance of finding trustworthy sources.
[08:29] Advice for handling the upcoming elections: take it one day at a time.
[10:14] How the Democratic Party can continue to stay relevant, using Georgia as an example.
[17:47] Balancing talking about the future and using the past to prove that the Democratic party can deliver results.
[19:25] How Nina's love for media began and what motivates her today.
[23:45] Her predictions for how reproductive rights will play out in 2024.
[25:40] Advice for listeners looking to become more active in this year's election.

Secretary of State Steve Simon Wants High Turnout and Low Drama this November May 16, 2024

Show notes

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 exciting legislation he's collaborated on this legislative session to both expand ballot access and bolster election security. Secretary Simon also talks about Minnesota's historical accomplishments as early adopters of Election-Day voter registration starting in 1973 and longstanding laws that give eligible voters the option to vote from home. Tune in to learn about Secretary Simon's early interest in current events and how that led him to public service, and his exciting story of meeting the cast of Hamilton.

• [01:04] Introducing Minnesota Secretary of State and New Dealer, Steve Simon.

• [02:21] The cautious optimism he currently feels in respect to the upcoming elections.

• [04:28] Minnesota's consistently high election turnout.

• [08:03] Why 2023 was such an epic year for democracy especially in regard to legislation.

• [10:41] The reasoning behind opening voter registration to 18 year olds.

• [13:21] An insight into the sentiment of young people leading up to this year's election.

• [20:26] Restoring trust in leadership through transparency.

• [25:31] Secretary Simon's view on the partisan issue of voting by mail.

• [27:06] New means to detect the validity of information with the rise of AI.

• [31:16] Advice for those feeling apprehension about the upcoming elections.

• [33:39] The story of Secretary Simon's first glimpse of public service.

• [36:14] Hanging out with the cast of Hamilton.

Mayor Justin Bibb Expertly Leverages Once-In-A-Generation Federal Investments May 09, 2024

Show notes

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 healthy and safe communities. In addition, Bibb shares examples from his experiences as a first-time Mayor to highlight opportunities he has found for Democrats and Republicans to work together in Ohio. Tune in to hear about how Bibb manages a packed schedule and his predictions for the Buckeye State this November.

• [01:04] The story of how Justin Bibb came to be Mayor of Cleveland in 2022.

• [01:39] Maximizing the impact of Biden-era investments in Cleveland.

• [04:00] Two main areas that the city is allocating its recent investments.

• [06:09] How Mayor Bibb plans to leverage technological advancements to benefit Cleveland.

• [08:00] The once-in-a-generation opportunity that investment is affording cities.

• [09:38] Climate resilience in Cleveland and Mayor Bibb's advocacy in this area.

• [11:40] The evolving role of mayors and the movement toward a country of city-states.

• [13:17] Predictions for Ohio's voting and the unique opportunity to work together as Democrats and Republicans.

• [14:20] Expunging low-level marijuana convictions in his first year of office.

• [16:08] How Mayor Bibb uses structure to ensure he honors his priorities.

Representative Megan Srinivas Shares Why Government Needs a Doctor May 02, 2024

Show notes

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 are well-positioned to run for office. Srinivas also explains how she embraces the diverse experiences of Iowans to align her messaging on key policy issues with people's needs. Tune in to learn about her big policy ideas rooted in her unique background and how she balances her medical and legislative duties.

• [01:06] An introduction to Iowa Representative Dr. Megan Srinivas and what motivates her to work in the legislature while practicing medicine.

• [05:30] Her work to improve the Prior Authorization policy in the form of a bipartisan bill. • [07:42] A trip to rural Kenya that transformed how she relates to others.

• [09:17] Formative experiences that sparked Dr. Srivas's interest in global health and policy.

• [13:02] Applying global practices to rural Iowa by adopting a broader interpretation of healthcare.

• [16:42] Reframing key policies in order to create a middle ground with those who disagree.

• [19:38] Iowa's identity as a Purple State and what it takes to connect with Iowans.

• [22:35] Predictions for 2024 and the messaging necessary to move the needle.

• [24:45] Advice for healthcare practitioners who might want to run for office.

• [26:01] How being a medical professional has helped Dr. Srinivas to build relationships.

• [29:23] The dearth of mental health support and facilities in Iowa and what needs to change.

• [31:46] Why there is an education crisis in Iowa and how this could be solved.

• [33:22] How Dr. Srinivas chooses to focus her energy in order to enact change.

Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman on Fostering Alliances Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

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 student government, and how he aims to foster bipartisan relationships in his new role. Tune in to hear his advice for other young, LGBTQ+ leaders who are interested in getting involved in public service but are afraid their voices won't be heard.

• [01:51] Ben Bowman highlights the recent Oregon Legislature short session and his appointment as majority leader.

• [03:18] The key housing issues that were discussed and possible changes on the horizon.

• [05:35] Assessing the Oregon housing market and in particular, affordability.

• [06:51] How Oregon aims to curb its addiction crisis, and a brief look at California's plans.

• [13:11] Our guest walks us through his state's campaign finance reforms.

• [15:03] Ben's professional journey and why he joined public service at such a young age.

• [19:15] His advice to minorities who want to get into public service but are too afraid to do so.

• [21:11] How he views his new role as majority leader, and how he plans to get the job done.

• [24:13] The bipartisan relationships he'd like to foster as majority leader.

• [26:14] Oregon in 2034, as projected by Ben.

Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet on Reclaiming Patriotism Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

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 successfully championed the Working Family Tax Credit. In addition, she explains that, although Democrats have earned impressive successes, there are still political divides across Michigan with the public showing signs of frustration. McDonald Rivet talks about her journey in and out of public service positions and offers critical insights on building coalitions centered around a singular cause. Tune in to learn why she believes leading with hope is essential for the future of our country.

IN THIS EPISODE

[01:05] An introduction to Michigan State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet.

[02:02] Senator McDonald Rivet offers an overview of the current political climate in Michigan, which she refers to as 'The Blue Wall' of the midwest.

[03:37] Legislative changes and the economic focus behind the senator's 'Michigan Dream.'

[08:55] How policies championed by Michigan Democrats are translating to political sentiment on the ground.

[11:55] Reclaiming the concept of patriotism with a sense of hope.

[15:00] How working on Head Start programs with impacted families has changed her approach to policymaking and governing.

[16:00] Senator McDonald Rivet's move into elected office after working behind the scenes.

[18:13] Why building a coalition starts with one person.

[23:20] What McDonald Rivet thinks is often behind the decision to vote for Trump in Michigan communities.

[25:20] Her decision to run for Congress and how she hopes to lead if elected.

Special Episode: AZ Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar on the State's Near-Total Abortion Ban Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

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 that a strong majority of Arizonans believe that the government should protect reproductive rights and, by a large margin, believe that Democrats, more than Republicans, are working to protect the basic freedoms that are important to them. Tovar tells us what the ruling means for Arizona's election this November, including a potential ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and the fate of two Arizona Supreme Court justices who are on the ballot. Tune in to hear Tovar talk about the work happening on the ballot measure and find more information on our polling at www.newdealleaders.org.

Representative Marvin Pendarvis Empowers South Carolina Communities Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

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 had at his local barbershop about the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration. He also reflects on his path to public service, including a previous run for city council and how he narrowly lost before running for the state legislature and winning. In addition, the conversation digs into the political landscape of South Carolina in the wake of the Trump-Haley showdown, strategies for economic empowerment based on his mother's experience raising five kids as a single mom, and the challenges of bringing people together in a bipartisan way in today's political environment. Tune in to learn more about Representative Pendarvis's powerful story and the urgency of making an impact.

• [01:04] An overview of the story behind South Carolina Representative Marvin Pendarvis's meaningful work and the current political landscape he is situated in.

• [04:28] His efforts to elevate his constituents' voices and his goals for this legislative session.

• [08:58] Bringing folks together in a bipartisan environment to drive an agenda of support.

• [10:58] The messaging problem that exists in the Democratic Party and how it could be solved.

• [15:49] How politics is playing out on the ground during early battles currently taking place.

• [19:34] Representative Pendarvis' path to public office.

• [25:50] The benefit of jumping into public service as a young person.

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