Our National Conversation

Major social media platforms such as Meta and Google are restricting user content based on their terms of service. Where do we draw the line between the rights of private businesses and the obligation to honor the First Amendment? In this episode, the ONC team discusses contemporary social media culture and how its restrictions affect sensitive conversations on politics and culture. Some of our sp...

Originally uploaded on Oct 13, 2026 When a political controversy hits the music charts, where do we draw the line between a business decision and outright censorship? In this episode, the ONC team dives into the recent fallout surrounding Macklemore and Ed Sheeran to tackle the messy intersection of culture, politics, and the digital public square. We break down both sides of the aisle: The Censor...

Originally uploaded Sep 28, 2026 From family vloggers to viral TikTok accounts, children have become a major part of online content creation. Should there be stronger protections for minors on social media? In this episode, we explore the ethics of parents posting their children online, the risks of digital footprints, and whether current laws do enough to protect kids in the creator economy.

Originally uploaded on Sep 25, 2026 The Lindsay Clancy case remains one of the most debated criminal cases in recent years. In this episode, we break down the case, discuss the differing perspectives, and explore the broader conversations surrounding mental health and criminal responsibility.

Original upload date Apr 11, 2026

Original upload date Apr 06, 2026

"When a political controversy hits the music charts, where do we draw the line between a business decision and outright censorship? In this episode, the ONC team dives into the recent fallout surrounding Macklemore and Ed Sheeran to tackle the messy intersection of culture, politics, and the digital public square. We break down both sides of the aisle: The Censorship Argument: One side argues that...

From family vloggers to viral TikTok accounts, children have become a major part of online content creation. Should there be stronger protections for minors on social media? In this episode, we explore the ethics of parents posting their children online, the risks of digital footprints, and whether current laws do enough to protect kids in the creator economy.

The Lindsay Clancy case remains one of the most debated criminal cases in recent years. In this episode, we break down the case, discuss the differing perspectives, and explore the broader conversations surrounding mental health and criminal responsibility.

In this podcast, host Jeff Hall interviews Brentwood resident and Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Adam Miller.

📅 Published: August 15th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Isabella Carolin, Social Media Intern, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Masie Zasadny, Chief Content Officer, Our National Conversation. How do we come back together? Should Trump supporters feel tricked? Our political climate is reaching a boiling point. Fingers are being pointed at people on both sides of the aisle and social media is filled wit...

📅 Published: August 8th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guests: Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca, Founder of Dreamers Roadmap. Jeff Hall, Former Los Angeles Times VP, Founder and CEO of Our National Conversation. Oscar Ortiz, Video Production Intern, Our National Conversation. Masie Zasadny, Chief Content Officer, Our National Conversation. What sh...

📅 Published: July 31st, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Jeff Hall, Former Los Angeles Times VP, Founder and CEO of Our National Conversation. There are many theories about polarization in America. One theory, which has some significant support behind it, holds that polarization is partially a product of national- and international-scal...

📅 Published: July 17th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Connor Chung, PhD Candidate in Political Science, MA in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Recently, Benjamin Netanyahu followed others in nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. To some, this is laughable; to others, it's well-deserved. In this episode, I...

📅 Published: July 10th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Joseph Arellano, Social Media Intern, Our National Conversation (ONC). An NYC mayoral race has been making headlines over the past week. Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democrat's primary election. It seems that Mamdani's succes...

📅 Published: July 7th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guests: Masie Zasadny, Managing Editor, Our National Conversation (ONC). Jeff Hall, CEO, Our National Conversation (ONC). The Big Beautiful Bill is currently being debated on the House Floor. This bill, roughly 900 pages long, would extend Trump's tax cuts, impose big restrictions on Medi...

📅 Published: June 26th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guests: Joseph Arellano, Social Media Intern, Our National Conversation (ONC). Masie Zasadny, Managing Editor, Our National Conversation (ONC). Last week, the U.S. launched strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. The White House hails the strikes as a huge success that forced Iran to...

📅 Published: June 19th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Jeff Hall, Founder and CEO, Our National Conversation (ONC). Last Saturday, amidst a DC military parade, cities across the United States saw protests against President Trump and what many perceive to be his authoritarian policies and tendencies. Most of the focus went to LA, where...

📅 Published: June 12th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC).  👤 Guests:  Jeff Hall, Founder and CEO, Our National Conversation (ONC). Connor Chung, Director of Policy Content and Strategy, Our National Conversation (ONC).  Last week, we were graced by the first major breakup of Pride Month: Trump and Musk. In this episode, a centrist (Jeff), a conse...

📅 Published: May 29th, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Joseph Arellano, Social Media Intern, Our National Conversation (ONC). Last week, Biden was diagnosed with cancer. Some have raised questions about government transparency, alleging a "cover-up." Others argue that the diagnosis could have legitimately been made after Biden's term....

📅 Published: May 22nd, 2025 🎙️ Host: Sam Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Our National Conversation (ONC). 👤 Guest: Jeff Hall, CEO, Our National Conversation (ONC). Donald Trump has just accepted a major gift from Qatar: a luxury jet that will serve as a temporary replacement for the outdated Air Force One planes. Eventually, this jet will be donated to Trump's presidential library. Does this co...