An Honorable Profession

Filmed at the 14th Annual NewDEAL Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., host Ryan Coonerty talks with Phoenix, AZ, City Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington. She shares her approach to leadership and her commitment to creating opportunities for more people in her community. The conversation delves into her journey from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the Valley of the Sun and how this ultimately led...

Filmed at the 14th Annual NewDEAL Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., host Ryan Coonerty talks with Williamsport, PA, Mayor Derek Slaughter. Mayor Slaughter reflects on  his unexpected journey from high school teacher and basketball coach to public servant. He discusses his focus on revitalizing his city, highlights efforts to boost economic development, enhance public safety, and invest in yo...

Filmed at the 14th Annual NewDEAL Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., host Ryan Coonerty talks with Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson. Growing up in one of the country's most underserved zip codes, Nicholson is using her experiences to improve  the communities she holds dear. She begins the conversation explaining how she found her way to elected office after...

Happy Thanksgiving! While our team is out of the office this week, we want to take this opportunity to revisit our September 2024 conversation focused on the Abundance Movement. In this episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the CEO and Founder of the Inclusive Abundance Initiative, Derek Kaufman. Derek is a thought leader and policy strategist dedicated to advancing equity and sustain...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Lanae Erickson, Third Way's Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics. Her team released a poll at this week's NewDEAL conference -- one of the first surveys after the election. Lanae shares some key takeaways, including issues that mattered most to voters – the economy, immigration, and safety – and why voters t...

As the nation continues to unpack last week's election results, Debbie Cox Bultan sits down with Ruy Teixeira, a leading political analyst, demographer, and commentator. Teixeira, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and co-editor of The Liberal Patriot newsletter on Substack, is known for his books The Emerging Democratic Majority, and his latest publication Where Have All the Dem...

The An Honorable Profession team planned for a Harris-Walz victory, a contested election, and a narrow Trump victory, but we did not plan on the results from Tuesday's election. In this week's episode, co-host Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty sit down for a post-election conversation, as they discuss the questions we need to ask, including where the party needs to go, where our leaders need to...

With one day until Election Day, we're bringing you one final bonus episode. This is a very special bonus episode because it features two great conversations with NewDEAL Leaders Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell and Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine! Leader Driskell gives us a look at Florida's high profile senate race, key ballot measures on abortion rights and legal cannabis use,...

In this week's episode, the NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with former Manchester, NH, Mayor and Democratic nominee for Governor Joyce Craig. Joyce talks about what it has been like on the campaign trail and the issues that matter most to voters, including affordable housing and reproductive freedom. She also reflects on her accomplishments as Mayor, her self-care routine while campaigning,...

Today's bonus episode continues our limited series of interviews with host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan as we look closely at swing states in the presidential race, as well as states with key state legislative races, ballot initiatives, and more. Today, we head to Georgia to talk with State Senator Elena Parent. Senator Parent talks about the enthusiasm growing in for the Harris-Walz ticket a...

In today's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Oregon State Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Secretary of State Tobias Read. Read, who joined NewDEAL as a state representative in 2011, has become a national leader on championing solutions to make college, retirement, and everyday life more affordable. He talks about his decision to run for Secretary of State with the office's fo...

Today's bonus episode continues our limited series of interviews with host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan as we explore what's happening across the country heading into the 2024 Elections. Debbie talks with NewDEALer and Chair of the Chester County, Pennsylvania, Board of Commissioners Josh Maxwell. Josh gives us an on-the-ground update from the country's most pivotal swing state and talks abou...

In today's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) President, Heather Williams. Heather explains how the DLCC works to elect more Democrats to the House and Senate and win legislative majorities. She walks us through the DLCC's strategy of targeting key states and legislature chambers, the opportunities she is most excited about this...

Today's bonus episode continues our limited series of interviews with host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan as we look closely at swing states in the presidential race, as well as states with key state legislative races, ballot initiatives, and more. Debbie talks with longtime NewDEAL Leader and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, who is running for Governor of Delaware. He gives us an update...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Colorado Representative Meghan Lukens, a former high school government teacher who went from encouraging her students to be civically engaged to running for office herself. She shares her story of entering politics, what it has meant to represent her hometown, and how she has found success addressing some of the state's biggest issu...

Today's bonus episode continues our limited series of interviews with host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan as we explore what's happening across the country heading into the 2024 Elections. Debbie catches up with NewDEALer and Lincoln, NE, City Councilmember Tom Beckius to learn why Nebraska is making headlines this year despite not being a typically eye-catching state when it comes to elections...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Pittsburgh, PA, City Controller Rachael Heisler. Heisler explains the role of the controller, which consists of three core functions: accounting, accounts payable, and auditing. She also discussed her role in making sure that tax dollars are used responsibly and effectively and that they are spent in accordance with legislation that was passed...

Today's bonus episode kicks off a limited series including interviews with host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan to explore what's happening across the country heading into the 2024 Elections. Debbie will be checking in with NewDEALers in swing states about the state of the presidential election, as well traveling to other states to ask about key state legislative races, ballot initiatives, and m...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Michigan Senate Assistant Majority Leader Darrin Camilleri, who shares how his upbringing as the son of an immigrant and his early experiences as a teacher shaped his view on policy and public service. He discusses what it takes to make a successful career change into elected office, how he was the only Democrat to flip a seat in 2016, and the...

In this week's episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the CEO and Founder of the Inclusive Abundance Initiative, Derek Kaufman. Derek is a thought leader and policy strategist dedicated to advancing equity and sustainability through innovative business practices. The Inclusive Abundance Initiative aims to create inclusive economic systems that foster abundance for all, pushing back aga...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, co-chair of the NewDEAL Forum AI Task Force. As one of the few state legislators in the country with a computer science background, Bores explains how artificial intelligence can change our elections, economy, and everyday lives. He also shares his thoughts on how the government should adjust to the rapid de...

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Connecticut Representative Kate Farrar. She talks about her continued efforts to move significant legislation to expand access to quality childcare, support local journalism to strengthen democracy, improve biking and pedestrian infrastructure in her community, and support refugees and immigrants who are moving to Connecticut and engaging in t...

In this week's episode, producer Rachel Walsh joins co-hosts Ryan Coonery and Debbie Cox Bultan to recap the past few months of this exciting election cycle. They discuss last week's Democratic National Convention, highlighting key themes and standout moments from speakers, including many NewDEAL leaders and alumni. They also reflect on our Road to November 2024 Messaging series, which featured in...

In this special DNC mini-sode host Debbie Cox Bultan talks with former Florida Senator Loranne Ausley, WelcomePAC Co-Founder Lauren Harper Pope, and Delaware State Senator and Congressional candidate Sarah McBride. They each reflect on the Convention, talk about their favorite speakers, and share what they're looking forward to on the last night of the DNC.

In this week's episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Georgia Representative Tanya Miller. Rep. Miller is a prosecutor and civil rights attorney who has consistently worked to ensure justice and defend constitutional rights. She gives us an on-the-ground report about the fight for democracy and the energy presidential candidate Kamala Harris brings to the campaign in Georgia. Miller explains why...