The Blue Dumpling Podcast

Neil Ruiz, a leading political economist, sat down with us to talk about how he’s revolutionizing how we understand and engage Asian American communities through powerful data storytelling! Influenced by his Filipino roots, Neil shares his groundbreaking work to lead the largest Asian American survey ever conducted through the Pew Researcher. We also discuss insights into how recent demographic tr...

In this episode, we sit down with nationally recognized political strategist Trip Yang, offering insights into serving as a high-ranking AAPI political operative in a field where representation at the top levels remains limited. Yang discusses the evolving landscape of political engagement in New York City, examining how the community's growing political consciousness is reshaping electoral dynami...

What is the unique role of the county sheriff in public safety? In this episode, Sheriff Maxwell Uy, the 62nd—and first Asian American—Sheriff of Montgomery County, Maryland sheds light on one of the county’s oldest yet often misunderstood law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Uy reflects on his 30-year journey through every division of the department, the experience of running for office in 2022, and...

We’re kicking off the Year of the Snake with former Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley, campaigning for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairmanship. In this episode, the governor shared his vision to rebuild the Democratic Party as chair, ways to improve communication and engagement with targeted diverse communities such as Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, and boosting grassroots...

In this episode, Maryland House Majority Leader, Delegate David Moon reflects on growing up as an Asian American in Montgomery County, working behind the scenes for various causes, and the value of coalition politics in building a stronger Democratic party. His combined experiences as a political operative, grassroots advocate, and blogger have all informed his work as a state delegate, representi...

What exactly is a DC Shadow Senator and how does that role help remedy the lack of representation for District of Columbia residents at the national level? Our guest, Ankit Jain, who is running for the DC Shadow Senator seat, shares how this role is tied to the district’s lack of statehood. Jain also emphasizes how his background fighting for fair elections and democracy reform is important for ma...

In this special edition of The Blue Dumpling Podcast, we take you inside the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where we chatted with members of the Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Caucus. Hear from a few Asian American elected officials and community leaders about their hopes for the future of AAPI representation and advocacy. We also discuss what it means for the AAPI community a...

We're thrilled to have Maryland’s trailblazing Lieutenant Governor, Aruna Miller on this episode of The Blue Dumpling Podcast. As the first woman of color and the first immigrant to hold statewide office in Maryland, she’s broken barriers and is here to share her incredible journey into the world of politics and public service. From her engineering roots to shaping public policy, Aruna reveals how...

With her Maryland roots, trailblazer Ms. Bel Leong Hong has made her mark through political organizing and fundraising at the national level. As chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Asian Committee’s Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Caucus, she has spearheaded a movement of AAPI political engagement for more than two decades. From ensuring AAPI representation at all levels of...

The political engagement of Vietnamese Americans is often complex, which is why this episode dives into how to increase their engagement in progressive and Democratic leaning campaigns. Leaders of the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT) sat down with us to explore the interaction between history, culture, language and generational dynamics that shape Vietnamese Americans' involvem...

The Blue Dumpling Podcast was thrilled to have Dr. Janelle Wong, Senior Researcher of AAPI Data. Dr. Wong delves into the major data trends shaping policy issues and voting behavior within the Asian American community. She shares the intensive survey process to collect data that is inclusive of the diverse, multilingual Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community across the nation. This...

This episode features Maryland Delegate Lily Qi, who hails from District 15. Delegate Qi, walks us through her journey of how building an AAPI cultural community niche can successfully inform legislation,  increase the democratic participation of Asian Americans, and build a winning strategy for a down-ballot race. Additionally, she shares how her immigrant background influenced her work as a legi...

Our inaugural podcast features Devang Shah, Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party AAPI Diversity Leadership Council. During our conversation, we covered several important issues relating to AAPI civic and political life, from increasing political engagement and participation of AAPI communities in swing states to fighting against the Monolithic Myth. Join us for the first conversation of many!  A...