An Honorable Profession

If you want to see change happen in your cities, it's important to get involved, especially at the state and local levels — because this is your chance to actually make something happen that would not have taken place otherwise! On today's episode of An Honorable Profession, we welcome Hawaii Senator Stanley Chang. He was raised in East Honolulu by hardworking immigrants from China, who instilled...

In this week's episode of An Honorable Profession, NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie talks with Florida Representative Fentrice Driskell. They discuss how Florida has become ground zero for the fight for reproductive rights and how Floridian Democrats are holding the line against Governor DeSantis' overreaching. Representative Driskell gives some insight into the issues plaguing Floridians, like the pro...

Today on the show, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Ben Schierer, the mayor of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, about how smaller cities can adapt in order to thrive in a post-COVID world. He also shares his advice on how Democrats can rebuild trust in rural communities, based on his own experience of being elected and re-elected in a county that overwhelmingly supports Donald Trump. Ryan...

On this very special edition of An Honorable Profession, we sit down with NewDEAL Leader Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow. This conversation was recorded in a NewDEAL virtual forum on cultural wedge issues soon after Senator McMorrow's powerful speech responding to a divisive and hateful personal attack by a GOP colleague went viral . Amid an ongoing national culture war, including the impending...

In honor of Earth Month, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan hosts a special episode with Colorado Senator Chris Hansen, a state and national leader on climate policy. He opens the show by talking about what it is like to co-author the annual state budget and how Colorado can leverage this money to ensure transformational change happens in communities throughout the state. Also, hear him discuss the inn...

Today on the show, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Jon Mitchell, the mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts, about how his city is leading the way in offshore wind projects and mitigating the effects of climate change. He also shares his advice for leaders looking to tackle climate change by transitioning to new industries as seamlessly as possible, drawn from his four terms of exper...

Today on the show, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Sydney Batch, Senator from Wake County, North Carolina! She breaks down why she is grateful for North Carolina's response to COVID led by Governor Roy Cooper, why their economic recovery looks promising with companies like Apple and Epic Games relocating, and how this influx of new residents affects the state and her district. She...

  Today on the show, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Malia Cohen, a Chair on the Board of Equalization of California. They talk about what the California State Board of Equalization does, what her role as the chair of this Board entails, and the large purview of the Board. With the amount of money being brought into California annually by the California Board of Equalization, Cal...

Today on the show, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Eric Johnson, the mayor of Dallas, Texas, about how the city achieved a post-pandemic bounce back in jobs as well as a reduction in violent crime, what is left to be done, and why he was drawn to public service. We discuss Eric's non-partisan style of governance, how this has helped him better serve voters, and why nuance is criti...

Host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Beaverton, Oregon Mayor Lacey Beaty about how her military service and reintegration back into civilian life led to her being a full-time mayor. She also discusses how her past experience coaching lacrosse taught her the importance of consistent action.

Host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Mark Keam, Virginia Delegate, about his work to grow Asian-American Pacific Islander Caucus in Virginia. He also reflects on what he has taken away from the recent Virginia Gubernatorial race.

NewDEAL Leader and host Ryan Coonerty talks with Nevada Assemblymember Sandra Jauregui about her work to strengthen gun safety legislation and reduce gun violence, a fight that turned personal after she went through the 2017 Las Vegas massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

NewDEAL Leader and host Ryan Coonerty talks with Kailua, HI Representative Patrick Branco about his work to balance the priorities of native Hawaiians and the influx of new residents, the importance of making tourism sustainable, and how the islands are adapting to climate change.

Host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Delaware's New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer about how he works to make sure programs are running efficiently and benefiting those most in need, and why Delaware is a breeding ground for political leadership.

Host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of the African American Mayors Association, about her work to support and highlight America's Black mayors across the country. She also reflects on her unusual path from working in fashion to being an advance staffer to the Clintons and Obamas.

Host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Brownsville, Texas Mayor Trey Mendez about turning one of the least connected places in the U.S into a growing tech hub on the U.S.-Mexico border.  Listen to hear how he is doing this through relationship building here and across the border. 

Host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Montgomery County Councilmember about his work to restore smart growth in Montgomery County with investments in education, public transit, and clean energy. He also reflects on his time as National Youth Vote Director for the historic Obama for America campaign in 2007.

NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Canton, NC Mayor Zeb Smathers about his town's process of rebuilding from not only the fight with COVID, but also the second "100-year" flood in twenty years.

NewDEAL CEO and host Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff about what goes into being a Majority Leader, how COVID impacted being a part-time legislator, and some of the bills that have resulted in tangible differences for his constituents.

Host Ryan Coonerty talks with Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti about having all eyes on her city as the President's hometown, how she's building Scranton into a place where working families can thrive, and her work to rebuild public trust after the previous mayor's indictment on corruption charges.

Host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple about a foiled plot last year to kidnap and kill him, utilizing lessons from taekwondo in politics and what to do with 24 hours in Wichita, Kansas.

Host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with  Nassau County, NY  Comptroller Jack Schnirman about what a comptroller does, being a culture changer in office, the behind-the-scenes of candidate fundraising, and his decision not to run for re-election right now.

Host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger about navigating a financial crisis, using lessons from the 1918 pandemic to respond to today's challenges, and what the future of Burlington looks like.

Host Ryan Coonerty talks with Philadelphia City Councilmember Derek Green about his journey from a career in banking to introducing a bill for a public bank within Philadelphia. He discusses how Philadephia has responded to the pandemic and some of the city's investments to curb rising violence.

Host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, WA, about living through the pandemic as mayor of the first city in America to identify a COVID case, making intelligent investments throughout the pandemic, and addressing homelessness in her community.