Podcasts about democratic governors association

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear — the popular two-term Democrat in a deep-red state and a name increasingly floated for 2028 — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation that opens with Kentucky's famous Fancy Farm Picnic and the increasingly countercultural idea that political disagreement shouldn't make people enemies. Beshear turns pointed on Mitch McConnell, who he says has been absent for six weeks without speaking to him, arguing that McConnell has a fundamental duty to level with the people of Kentucky about his condition.. Beshear notes the governor has no authority to declare a vacancy, calls on John Thune to help put the concerns to rest, and observes pointedly that if the situation were reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical about it — and that the right should arguably be angrier, since it's one fewer vote for the GOP agenda. Beshear reflects at length and with real emotion on the COVID years, which he calls the war of our time with a higher casualty rate than most Americans appreciate, credits Kentucky's expanded Medicaid with keeping the state from running out of hospital beds, and warning that Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky alone. He's sharply critical of Rand Paul for dragging Fauci into character-assassination hearings while staying conspicuously silent on McConnell, and reminds listeners it was Trump who ordered governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci. The conversation turns to Beshear's political philosophy and the road ahead for Democrats. He rejects the "moderate" label in favor of "pragmatic," arguing that the constant battle to label everyone misses how much more complicated reality actually is. Beshear makes the case that Democrats don't win by becoming a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump, that the party needs to be the party of making the economy work again, and that it should champion structural reforms like campaign finance amendments, outlawing gerrymandering, and directly electing the president. He's visibly frustrated with Democrats who blame other Democrats when Republicans are the ones doing the damage — there's no time for "woulda-couldas," he argues, when Trump and the GOP are inflicting this much harm. As a leader in the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear lays out where he sees real opportunity: big resources heading into Georgia, the critical importance of Katie Hobbs winning in Arizona to ensure a fair 2028 election, and the DGA's willingness to spend anywhere it can win. He addresses the data center backlash as fundamentally rooted in anxiety about AI and big tech's failure to talk to the communities it moves into, and stays characteristically coy about his own 2028 ambitions. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Governor Andy Beshear joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Kentucky’s Fancy Farm Picnic & its role in politics 02:30 Picnic brings politicians from both sides of the aisle together 03:00 Having different political beliefs shouldn’t make you an “enemy” 03:30 Not attending the picnic to attend his son's final travel baseball game 05:15 Haven’t spoken to Mitch McConnell, he’s been absent six week 05:45 McConnell has a duty to level with the people of Kentucky 06:30 The governor doesn’t have authority to declare a vacancy 07:00 John Thune should help put the concerns to rest 08:45 The harm is that the senator refuses to level with his constituents 09:15 If situation was reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical 09:45 There’s one less vote for GOP agenda, the right should be more mad 10:45 Social media helps create a misinformation vacuum about McConnell 12:15 Democrats don’t win by being a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump 13:00 If he had to miss a week as governor, he’d feel obligated to inform the public 13:45 Lack of video of McConnell makes the public think he can’t do it 14:30 McConnell tried to beat him three straight times and failed 15:00 McConnell may end up tarnishing his legacy due to unexplained absence 15:45 Rand Paul dragged Fauci into a hearing, but mum on McConnell 16:30 Fauci hearings are just an exercise in character assassination 17:45 This feels like a personal vendetta from Paul against Fauci 18:30 Mike Pence set up a competent experienced team during COVID 19:00 Trump ordered the governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci 19:30 Vaccine was the fastest remedy created in human history 21:15 Made pandemic decisions based on what would save the most lives 21:45 Remember the death toll in Kentucky vividly 22:45 COVID was ultimate test of the parable of the good samaritan 23:30 COVID was the war of our time, with an even higher casualty rate 24:00 Teachers & educators needed to be in the first batch of vaccinations 25:30 Kentucky didn’t run out of hospital beds due to expanded Medicaid 26:00 Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky 27:00 Doesn’t consider himself a “moderate”, but instead he’s “pragmatic” 27:45 Can be both pro-business and pro-worker 28:15 There’s a battle to label everyone, but reality is more complicated 28:45 How big should the Democratic tent be? 29:45 There’s space to do things that both sides agree on 30:15 Why are Democratic activists so mad at the establishment? 31:00 Democrats need to be the party of making the economy work again 31:30 Need amendments for campaign finance & outlawing gerrymandering 32:15 The president should be directly elected 32:45 Dems blame others Dems when Republicans are doing something wrong 33:30 Can’t do “woulda couldas” when Trump & GOP are doing so much damage 35:00 What’s the pitch in Wisconsin gubernatorial if both candidates are outsiders? 35:45 Joe Biden won on the idea of him being the most electable 36:15 Trump’s policies are hitting everyday Americans harder 37:00 Governor’s association plan to put big resources into Georgia 37:30 Believe that Democrats will flip the governor’s mansion in GA 38:00 Katie Hobbs has to win to ensure a fair election in Arizona in ‘28 40:15 Trump inspired Canadian boycotts that have hit the economy hard 41:30 Winner of the Wisconsin primary will come out stronger 42:00 Jocelyn Benson is a great candidate for Michigan 42:45 Amy Acton can win regardless of the senate race 43:15 Correlation between governor and senate races 46:00 Can Dems pull off gubernatorial upsets in Texas or Florida? 46:30 DGA will spend resources wherever they can win 47:45 Focused on winning gubernatorial races, then will ponder run in ‘28 48:30 Important to declare presidential candidacy early? 49:15 Dems primary calendar will produce candidate that can win everywhere 50:15 Do you consider Kentucky a southern state? 51:00 Could Israel splinter the party and make elections unwinnable? 51:45 Will Doug Jones get DGA help? 53:15 Data center backlash comes from concern about AI 54:00 Big tech isn’t talking to the communities where they put data centers 54:30 Tech should be paying for their electricity & fair share of taxes 57:00 We need rational leaders, don’t know where AI/tech is going 58:15 Any effort to get an NBA franchise in Kentucky? 1:00:00 Favorite NBA teamSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd argues Republicans and the White House are frantically trying to manufacture headlines about the past precisely because the actual news of the present is terrible for the GOP, and because the very issues that got Trump elected are the ones he's now ignoring. Democrats are winning heading into the midterms, TChuck says; the only real question is by how much, which is exactly why Republicans are so desperate to feed their base culture-war red meat as a distraction. But the story Chuck argues is being dangerously underplayed is the Iran war, which is no longer a regional conflict at all: close to thirty countries have been directly involved, multiple nations have been hit, and the Iran and Ukraine wars have effectively merged through shared supply chains — Russia has launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukraine, improved and manufactured them, and is now shipping them back to Iran, while Ukrainian air defense teams have been redeployed to the Middle East and the American stockpile of interceptor missiles has been so massively depleted that commanders are rationing them. He calls the war the dumbest mistake a president has made in decades, while rising oil prices help both Iran and Russia.. It's not World War III, he cautions, but it's genuinely hard to see how it ends, and Congress should be singularly focused on it and simply isn't. He then pivots to what he calls a politics of AI that hasn't been invented yet, where the public is way ahead of the politicians: 72% of Americans have used AI in the past three months and like it, but the vast majority don't trust big tech or the AI companies, and the fierce backlash against data centers is really the manifestation of a deeper anger ever since tech companies stopped trying to improve lives and started maximizing engagement. The public isn't rejecting AI, he argues, it's rejecting the technologists, and Trump has planted himself firmly on the side of the tech companies over the public. He closes by lamenting that political energy is being spent on Fauci rather than pandemic preparedness — before quick hits on Todd Achilles getting a one-on-one race in Idaho, Seth Bodnar leading in Montana if the Democrat can be coaxed into dropping out, and the question hanging over Michigan: if Abdul El-Sayed loses, will it have been because of Mamdani's Israel speech? Then, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear — the popular two-term Democrat in a deep-red state and a name increasingly floated for 2028 — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation that opens with Kentucky's famous Fancy Farm Picnic and the increasingly countercultural idea that political disagreement shouldn't make people enemies. Beshear turns pointed on Mitch McConnell, who he says has been absent for six weeks without speaking to him, arguing that McConnell has a fundamental duty to level with the people of Kentucky about his condition.. Beshear notes the governor has no authority to declare a vacancy, calls on John Thune to help put the concerns to rest, and observes pointedly that if the situation were reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical about it — and that the right should arguably be angrier, since it's one fewer vote for the GOP agenda. Beshear reflects at length and with real emotion on the COVID years, which he calls the war of our time with a higher casualty rate than most Americans appreciate, credits Kentucky's expanded Medicaid with keeping the state from running out of hospital beds, and warning that Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky alone. He's sharply critical of Rand Paul for dragging Fauci into character-assassination hearings while staying conspicuously silent on McConnell, and reminds listeners it was Trump who ordered governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci. The conversation turns to Beshear's political philosophy and the road ahead for Democrats. He rejects the "moderate" label in favor of "pragmatic," arguing that the constant battle to label everyone misses how much more complicated reality actually is. Beshear makes the case that Democrats don't win by becoming a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump, that the party needs to be the party of making the economy work again, and that it should champion structural reforms like campaign finance amendments, outlawing gerrymandering, and directly electing the president. He's visibly frustrated with Democrats who blame other Democrats when Republicans are the ones doing the damage — there's no time for "woulda-couldas," he argues, when Trump and the GOP are inflicting this much harm. As a leader in the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear lays out where he sees real opportunity: big resources heading into Georgia, the critical importance of Katie Hobbs winning in Arizona to ensure a fair 2028 election, and the DGA's willingness to spend anywhere it can win. He addresses the data center backlash as fundamentally rooted in anxiety about AI and big tech's failure to talk to the communities it moves into, and stays characteristically coy about his own 2028 ambitions. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 Independents/Independent minded leaders who could reshape the U.S. Senate and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Republicans & WH are trying to manufacture the headlines 03:15 Attacking Fauci, going after Smithsonian, relitigating 2020 election 04:00 These stories are about yesterday, modern headlines are bad for GOP 04:30 The issues that got Trump elected are the issues he’s ignoring 05:30 Dems are winning heading into midterms, question is by how much 07:00 Republicans are desperate to distract their base 07:45 They believe the culture war red meat will turn out their base 08:45 The Iran war is being underplayed 09:45 There have been close to thirty countries directly involved in the war 10:45 Multiple countries have been hit directly during the war 11:30 This is not a regional war 12:00 Multiple countries have been directly involved in kinetic action 13:30 Multiple countries also involved in, or hosted peace talks 15:00 The Ukraine & Iran wars have merged through supply chains 15:45 Nervous that this conflict could go global 16:15 Russia has launched thousands of Iranian made drones at Ukraine 16:45 Russia improved & manufactured drones, now shipping them back to Iran 17:30 Ukraine air defence teams have been sent to the middle east 18:45 American stockpile of air defense missiles has been massively depleted 19:30 Military commanders are having to ration interceptor missiles 20:00 This war was the dumbest mistake a president has made in decades 21:15 Both conflicts are eating from the same plate 21:45 War caused a rise in oil prices, which helped both Iran and Russia 22:15 Beijing hasn’t been a bystander in these conflicts 23:15 Decapitation strikes have been proven not to work 24:00 Everyone is learning the same lessons, including America’s adversaries 24:45 This is not World War 3, but it’s hard to see how this war ends 25:45 Congress should be singularly focused on this war, and it isn’t 27:00 This started as an Iran/Israel dispute, now the world has been dragged in 28:15 The politics of AI hasn’t been invented yet, public is ahead of politicians 29:15 72% of Americans have used AI in the past three months & like using it 29:45 Vast majority of Americans don’t trust big tech or the AI companies 31:00 There’s a disconnect on AI between politicians the American public 31:45 Backlash against data centers is the manifestation of anger at big tech 32:45 Politicians want to manage backlash, not understand what’s behind it 35:00 Seeing political banners against data centers flying over Pensacola beach 37:15 The politicians are trying to play catch up on the politics of AI 37:45 Americans didn’t always distrust big tech 38:45 Tech companies stopped trying to improve lives, now maximize engagement 40:15 Americans feel we’re being optimized, not served by big tech 41:15 Protecting kids from tech is now an issue with massive bipartisan support 42:45 The public isn’t rejecting AI, they’re rejecting the technologists 44:30 Trump sides with the tech companies over the public 45:45 Politicians are captured by, or afraid of big tech cash in politics 48:00 Frustrating that political energy is spent on Fauci, not pandemic preparedness 48:30 Fauci became a vessel for every frustration about COVID 49:00 Fauci had one job, tell the public what the medical risks were 50:30 We had 2,000 Americans dying a day 51:30 We have to remember the conditions under which decisions were made 52:00 Rand Paul released thousands of pages of Fauci’s pandemic era journals 52:30 Pleading the 5th makes people look guiltier than they are 53:15 We learned Fauci loves media attention, but so does Rand Paul 54:15 Relitigating the origins of Covid doesn’t help prepare for the next pandemic 55:15 Rand Paul is undermining his own credibility by attacking Fauci 55:45 Todd Achilles will get a 1 on 1 race in Idaho 56:30 Seth Bodnar leading in Montana in 1 on 1, but Dem resisting dropping out 57:45 If El-Sayed loses in Michigan… was it because of Mamdani’s Israel speech? 1:04:15 Governor Andy Beshear joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:05:30 Kentucky’s Fancy Farm Picnic & its role in politics 1:06:45 Picnic brings politicians from both sides of the aisle together 1:07:15 Having different political beliefs shouldn’t make you an “enemy” 1:07:45 Not attending the picnic to attend his son's final travel baseball game 1:09:30 Haven’t spoken to Mitch McConnell, he’s been absent six week 1:10:00 McConnell has a duty to level with the people of Kentucky 1:10:45 The governor doesn’t have authority to declare a vacancy 1:11:15 John Thune should help put the concerns to rest 1:13:00 The harm is that the senator refuses to level with his constituents 1:13:30 If situation was reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical 1:14:00 There’s one less vote for GOP agenda, the right should be more mad 1:15:00 Social media helps create a misinformation vacuum about McConnell 1:16:30 Democrats don’t win by being a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump 1:17:15 If he had to miss a week as governor, he’d feel obligated to inform the public 1:18:00 Lack of video of McConnell makes the public think he can’t do it 1:18:45 McConnell tried to beat him three straight times and failed 1:19:15 McConnell may end up tarnishing his legacy due to unexplained absence 1:20:00 Rand Paul dragged Fauci into a hearing, but mum on McConnell 1:20:45 Fauci hearings are just an exercise in character assassination 1:22:00 This feels like a personal vendetta from Paul against Fauci 1:22:45 Mike Pence set up a competent experienced team during COVID 1:23:15 Trump ordered the governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci 1:23:45 Vaccine was the fastest remedy created in human history 1:25:30 Made pandemic decisions based on what would save the most lives 1:26:00 Remember the death toll in Kentucky vividly 1:27:00 COVID was ultimate test of the parable of the good samaritan 1:27:45 COVID was the war of our time, with an even higher casualty rate 1:28:15 Teachers & educators needed to be in the first batch of vaccinations 1:29:45 Kentucky didn’t run out of hospital beds due to expanded Medicaid 1:30:15 Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky 1:31:15 Doesn’t consider himself a “moderate”, but instead he’s “pragmatic” 1:32:00 Can be both pro-business and pro-worker 1:32:30 There’s a battle to label everyone, but reality is more complicated 1:33:00 How big should the Democratic tent be? 1:34:00 There’s space to do things that both sides agree on 1:34:30 Why are Democratic activists so mad at the establishment? 1:35:15 Democrats need to be the party of making the economy work again 1:35:45 Need amendments for campaign finance & outlawing gerrymandering 1:36:30 The president should be directly elected 1:37:00 Dems blame others Dems when Republicans are doing something wrong 1:37:45 Can’t do “woulda couldas” when Trump & GOP are doing so much damage 1:39:15 What’s the pitch in Wisconsin gubernatorial if both candidates are outsiders? 1:40:00 Joe Biden won on the idea of him being the most electable 1:40:30 Trump’s policies are hitting everyday Americans harder 1:41:15 Governor’s association plan to put big resources into Georgia 1:41:45 Believe that Democrats will flip the governor’s mansion in GA 1:42:15 Katie Hobbs has to win to ensure a fair election in Arizona in ‘28 1:44:30 Trump inspired Canadian boycotts that have hit the economy hard 1:45:45 Winner of the Wisconsin primary will come out stronger 1:46:15 Jocelyn Benson is a great candidate for Michigan 1:47:00 Amy Acton can win regardless of the senate race 1:47:30 Correlation between governor and senate races 1:50:15 Can Dems pull off gubernatorial upsets in Texas or Florida? 1:50:45 DGA will spend resources wherever they can win 1:52:00 Focused on winning gubernatorial races, then will ponder run in ‘28 1:52:45 Important to declare presidential candidacy early? 1:53:30 Dems primary calendar will produce candidate that can win everywhere 1:54:30 Do you consider Kentucky a southern state? 1:55:15 Could Israel splinter the party and make elections unwinnable? 1:56:00 Will Doug Jones get DGA help? 1:57:30 Data center backlash comes from concern about AI 1:58:15 Big tech isn’t talking to the communities where they put data centers 1:58:45 Tech should be paying for their electricity & fair share of taxes 2:01:15 We need rational leaders, don’t know where AI/tech is going 2:02:30 Any effort to get an NBA franchise in Kentucky? 2:04:15 Favorite NBA team 2:05:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Andy Beshear 2:07:00 ToddCast Top 5 Independents who could shape the senate 2:07:30 #5 Todd Achilles 2:10:00 #4 Dan Osborne 2:12:15 #3 Seth Bodnar 2:13:30 #2 Lisa Murkowski 2:14:30 #1 John Fetterman 2:17:15 Ask Chuck 2:18:15 Correction for answer on the last pod 2:20:30 Why haven’t we heard much about the people who tried to kill Trump? 2:27:45 Can Trump take the Qatari jet that’s had taxpayer $ spent on it? 2:31:00 What motivates those closest to Trump? Do they believe what they’re saying? 2:34:30 Can you explain the history of the term “lobbyist”? 2:39:45 Thoughts on the funding model of the BBC?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It should be no surprise who funded the VA Governor's race. Nipah virus on the loose! TPUSA about to embroiled in controversy? Will Trump go after Iran?

Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including Gov. Andy Beshear's first days as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. Panelists: Sylvia Goodman, Kentucky Public Radio; Mario Anderson, Spectrum News 1; and Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal.

In this episode Bill interviews Ron Brownstein, senior political analyst at CNN and columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. They discuss the results of the November 4 elections in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, and California, and the unmistakable warning signs these results hold for Republicans. Ron highlights the importance of voter attitudes toward the incumbent president, which have increasingly influenced election outcomes. Despite negative views of the Democratic Party, voters' disapproval of Trump played a decisive role in Democratic victories. The conversation also covers the impact of economic dissatisfaction on Trump's approval ratings and the challenges Republicans face in overcoming this negative sentiment. Additionally, they delve into the significance of the recent government shutdown battle and its implications for future elections. Finally, the discussion touches on the generational shift within the Democratic Party and the prospects for Democrats to regain control of the House and Senate in 2026.Today Bill highlights the work of the Democratic Governors Association. There are some great Democratic Governors who might end up as the Democratic Presidential candidate. More information at DemocraticGovernors.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ofirah Yheskel, Director of External Affairs at the Democratic Governors Association, discusses the 2025 election results and what they reveal about the state of the Democratic Party. Ofirah and Colin also discuss how cost of living and the government shutdown impacted this year's races.

While Washington stalls, governors are governing. How Democratic governors became the nation's problem-solvers—and why this year's races could redefine Democratic momentum heading into 2026. In this episode, Ofirah Yheskel of the Democratic Governors Association joins Jen Taylor-Skinner to break down the critical gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey—where Democratic women candidates could flip key seats and make history. They discuss why governors have become the front line in protecting healthcare, reproductive rights, and democracy itself, and how this election could set the tone for Democrats heading into 2026. Episode Chapters (00:00) Democratic Governors and the 2021 Election Democratic governors are stepping up to protect reproductive rights, accessible healthcare, and counteract Trump's policies in critical races. (08:41) Democratic Governors Democratic governors' impact on key issues, contrast with Republican counterparts, upcoming elections, and call to action for involvement with Democratic Governors Association. #GovernorsRace #VirginiaElection #NewJerseyElection #AbortionAccess #EconomicJustice #LeadershipMatters #TheElectorette #ElectorettePodcast #WomenInPolitics #DemocraticGovernors #OfirahYheskel #DGA #JenTaylorSkinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including Gov. Andy Beshear's growing national profile as chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Panelists: Russ Cassady, Appalachian Newspapers; Isaiah Kim-Martinez, WHAS11 in Louisville; and Tessa Duvall, Lexington Herald-Leader.

Ofirah Yheskel is the External Affairs Director and senior spokesperson at the Democratic Governors Association. Prior to joining the DGA in 2023, she served as the Democratic National Committee's Deputy Communications Director. She has worked across presidential and statewide races, acting as a spokesperson for the 2020 DNC War Room, as Director of Media Relations for the successful 2020 Democratic National Convention, and as Deputy Communications director for Beto O'Rourke's presidential campaign. Prior to that, she was a Senior Advisor to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the Wisconsin Press Secretary for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Ofirah joins me for an important conversation about her organization and the critical role governors are playing in the fight against Trump's autocratic overreach. We also discuss the extremely consequential gubernatorial elections coming up this November in New Jersey and Virginia. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

In this episode of The Electorette, I'm joined by Ofirah Yheskel, Director of External Affairs for the Democratic Governors Association, to unpack the growing national influence of Democratic governors—especially in the face of Republican extremism and Trump-aligned policymaking. We discuss two high-stakes gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill are stepping up to defend reproductive rights, protect access to healthcare, and push back against anti-democratic efforts like gerrymandering and Medicaid cuts. Their races aren't just local—they're national bellwethers for what's ahead in the 2026 midterms. From canceled medical debt in Michigan to creative policy leadership in states like Arizona and Illinois, this conversation spotlights how Democratic governors are becoming the last line of defense—and the first line of progress. Whether you live in a battleground state or not, now is the time to pay attention. (00:00) The Role of Democratic Governors Democratic governors protect civil rights, reproductive rights, and healthcare against federal challenges, emphasizing the importance of electing Democratic governors in upcoming races. (08:11) Governor's Races Virginia and New Jersey's pivotal elections feature bipartisan candidates Spanberger and Sherrill, challenging extreme Republican policies on healthcare and reproductive rights. (16:28) Preparing for Critical Governor's Races Democratic governors shape national politics, DGA involvement, battleground states, open seats, supporting candidates, and staying informed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the powerful speech by Illinois Democratic Governor Pritzker and Meiselas interviews Ofirah Yheskel, senior strategist at the Democratic Governors Association. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the Democratic Governors who are fighting back hard against Trump and Meiselas speaks with Ofirah Yheskel from the Democratic Governors Association. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BigTentUSA hosted a "must listen" special discussion on election protection with Joanna Lydgate, President & CEO of States United, Steve Bullock, former Governor and Attorney General of Montana, and Cisco Aguilar, the Nevada Secretary of State and moderated by Samantha Bee. This dynamic group discussed what to expect during an election season that may be long, how state officials are preparing, and reassured us about the coming weeks.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSJOANNA LYDGATE is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting free, fair, and secure elections. Since 2020, States United has provided legal, research, policy, and communications support to state officials who run elections. Before launching States United, Joanna served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Massachusetts. In that role, she coordinated multi-state litigation and worked with a bipartisan team of colleagues from across the country to uphold shared values, protect civil liberties, and defend the rule of law. She also oversaw criminal enforcement, coordinating daily with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Joanna has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, was a law clerk to Judge Norman H. Stahl on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and worked in nonprofit legal services in New York City. She is a graduate of Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.STEVE BULLOCK served as Montana's attorney general from 2009-2013. As attorney general, Bullock defended Montana's hundred-year ban on corporate campaign spending, gaining national prominence for leading the challenge to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.Bullock was elected Montana's 24th Governor, serving from 2013-2021. He worked with a Republican-majority legislature to improve access to health care, kick dark money out of state elections, make record investments in education, protect access to public lands, invest in infrastructure, and strengthen Montana's economy. Bullock brought diverse interests together to address challenging issues, from sage grouse and forest management to the Main Street Montana Project. Nationally, Bullock was elected Chair of the National Governors Association, Western Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association.Since leaving public office, Bullock has been involved with a number of corporate and nonprofit boards and organizations, as well as serving as the court-appointed Independent Monitor over Purdue Pharma.  And he opened his own taphouse.FRANCISCO “CISCO” AGUILAR was elected as Nevada Secretary of State in 2022 and assumed office on January 2, 2023. Prior to being elected, Secretary Aguilar served twelve years as General Counsel for Agassi Graf, the management company for Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. In this role, he was responsible for communications and media, marketing and brand management, strategic partnerships, legal and government affairs. The Secretary also served as Special Counsel to the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Jim Rogers, and as a lawyer for the parent company of the Las Vegas and Reno NBC affiliates, KSNV Channel 3 and KRNV Channel 4, and 15 other NBC affiliates. Secretary Aguilar is the Founding Chairman of Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School. Cristo Rey serves students in one of Las Vegas' most vulnerable neighborhoods, and provides an innovative work-study program designed to prepare them for future careers.MODERATORSAMANTHA BEE received global recognition from the success of her weekly late-night comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which was nominated for 70 awards and ran for seven seasons on TBS. Bee also served as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show Bee from 2003-2015. She is the author of the essay collection I Know I Am, But What Are You? and has been featured in TIME 100: The Most Influential People. She is also the host of Lemonada Media's podcast Choice Words. YOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

How quickly things change. The 2024 campaign was supposed to be a rematch of the 2020 race, but in a matter of a few weeks, the lagging Democrats have ditched U.S. President Joe Biden as the candidate, crowned Harris — and surged in the polls. Now, they're set to meet in Chicago for their national convention, with the aim of keeping their momentum going. Guest host Katie Simpson sits down with a Democratic insider to talk about the role governors will play in the new campaign, before two journalists break down what the convention might hold.Plus — author David R. Samson talks about his book, Our Tribal Future, digging deep into the origins of the “us versus them” mentality, how it pervades our politics today and how humanity may be able to inoculate itself against it.This episode features the voices of: Ofirah Yheskel, director of external affairs, Democratic Governors AssociationAmie Parnes, senior political correspondent, The HillRob Russo, correspondent, The EconomistDavid R. Samson, evolutionary anthropologist, author, Our Tribal Future: How to channel our human instinct into a force for good

We are joined by Colm O'Comartum, the co-founder of public affairs firm 50-State and the former head of the Democratic Governors Association to get his take on the new dynamics of the presidential election and what that means for the top of the ticket as well as Congress, Governors and state legislatures. I think you'll enjoy his perspective. And the courts - whether Supreme, federal, or district - have turned our regulatory environment upside down in the last few months. How should the business community react to the new environment and does it change which branch of government should be our focus? We are joined by Angelo Amador, Senior Vice President, Legal Advocacy & Regulatory Counsel for the National Restaurant Asociation - and the head of the Restaurant Law Center - to help us unwind this new knot and give us his insight on what our regulatory relationship with the federal government may look like going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

In their maiden episode as co-hosts, Jim O'Brien and Maggie Mick interview friend of the show, Steven Palmer, and first-time guest Paul DioGuardi. Two Partners at Forbes Tate. In addition to learning about Paul's impressive career including time with the Democratic Governors Association as well as the Obama Administration and his work on the Affordable Care Act, we dove into a discussion on upcoming primaries and a forecast for the 2024 gubernatorial races, current characteristics of gubernatorial candidates, and the debate on the viability of state trifectas in the coming years and election cycles.   Links to Steven's past TPL appearances:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-life/id1401504350?i=1000603590856 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-life/id1401504350?i=1000496060064

The Democratic Governors Association has elected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as its new chair. And in Rochester, educators have begun implementing required changes that focus on how reading is taught in the state. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

In this episode, we sit down with Wendi Wallace, a renowned political coach who helps donors, candidates, and advocates build strategic relationships. Join us as we gain valuable insights into the current state of US politics, the role of social media in engaging young voters, and the interconnectedness of global politics. ABOUT THE GUEST Wendi Wallace is a political powerhouse who has spent the last two decades helping progressive candidates and organizations win. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Executive Director for the Democratic Governors Association. Wendi played a leading role in helping to elect the largest number of Democratic Governors since 2010, working with governors and their teams, and acting as a point of contact for the White House, other party committees, and outside groups - including labor unions. Prior to her work at the DGA, Wendi worked with Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) where she began as the Federal PAC manager and finished as the Political Outreach Director. During her time at PPFAF, Wendi successfully spearheaded the endorsement process for federal-level candidates and oversaw the organization's first-ever presidential endorsement in a primary. Connect with the guest here: https://www.technicolorpolitical.com/... ABOUT THE HOST Khudania Ajay, a writer, podcast host, and independent journalist, brings global Masters of Money and Business to his audience through The KAJ Masterclass LIVE. With over 20 years of experience in renowned organizations like CNBC (India), Reuters, and Press Trust of India (PTI), Ajay now helps his audience succeed through his LIVE Masterclasses. Connect with Ajay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaykhuda... For event speaking or hosting inquiries: kajmasterclass@gmail.com ABOUT THE KAJ MASTERCLASS LIVE Join senior journalist Khudania Ajay on The KAJ Masterclass LIVE podcast, where you can learn and profit from the insights and experiences of global business leaders almost daily. This podcast is designed to assist ambitious professionals, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and students in learning from successful brand builders. Watch:    / @kajmasterclass   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3yr7nrD Other platforms: https://pod.link/thekajstudio Newsletter: https://khudania.substack.com/ Apply to be a guest on the show: kajmasterclass@gmail.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Website: https://thekajmasterclass.live/ LinkedIn Page: https://bit.ly/3y2yKrM Twitter: https://twitter.com/kajmasterclass Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kajmasterclass …………………………………. SUPPORT MY CHANNEL BY SHOPPING MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS Discover my curated selection of favorite products/services here. By purchasing through the provided links, you support my channel at no extra cost. I earn a small commission from each sale, helping me create high-quality content for my followers. Thank you for your support! News, Magazines & Podcasting: https://the-economist.sjv.io/nL4VB6 (Read the Economist, be the most informed person in the room) https://www.joinpodmatch.com/kaj (Connect with tops hosts & guests for podcasting success) Apparel & Clothing: https://www.ethnicsland.com/ (Shop authentic handloom sarees - 15% off now!) For brand collaboration inquiries: kajmasterclass@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kajmasterclass/message

Noam Lee joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career and running the Democratic Governors Association, where they work to elect Democratic Governors around the country.

Marshall Cohen is the Political Director of the Democratic Governors Association. Over 7 years at the DGA, he's been involved in 50+ races - and before that was an accomplished operative who - in 2016 - managed (and won) the most expensive congressional primary in history. In this conversation, Marshall talks his path to working in politics, his best practices for running and winning races and goes deep on this cycle's top governor's races...how Democrats pulled off upsets in several states, the messaging and strategic decisions that mattered, and lessons learned heading into the 2024 cycle. IN THIS EPISODEMarshall's path to working in politics…How his New Jersey roots inform his political outlook…Marshall manages the winner in a 2016 House primary that was the most expensive congressional race in history at the time…Marshall breaks down the four factors it takes to be an effective campaign manager…How Marshall starts at the DGA & his theories of what makes governors' races different…Marshall talks how he and the DGA have been successful winning in “red” states…Marshall talks the Virginia '21 Governors race…how Youngkin won and why that didn't signal a trend for '22…Marshall rebuts the suggestion the DGA “meddled” in GOP primaries to elevate election-deniers…Marshall & Zac talk the 2022 Nevada Governor's race…The “biggest surprise” for Marshall from the 2022 cycle…Marshall goes deep on several 2022 races, including Arizon, Kansas, and Wisconsin...Marshall talks Democratic difficulties breaking through in FL, GA, and TX…Marshall on lessons learned in 2022 that can be applied to the 2024 cycle…The media spending strategies that worked for the DGA in 2022…Marshall on the various “it factors” held by governors…AND American University, Lou Barletta, Andy Beshear, Matt Bevin, Sam Brownback, James Carville, Liz Cheney, Chris Christie, Roy Cooper, core competencies, Dan Cox, Shelbi Dantic, dead ducks, Ron DeSantis, the Dobbs decision, Doug Ducey, John Bel Edwards, Tony Evers, footsie, GW, Maura Healey, Katie Hobbs, Larry Hogan, Bobby Jindal, Doug Jones, Laura Kelly, Tina Kotek, Kari Lake, Joe Lombardo, Doug Mastriano, Kathleen Matthews, Pat McCrory, Tim Michels, Janet Mills, Wes Moore, Phil Murphy, north stars,  Beto O'Rourke, Panasonic, Corey Platt, political fiefdoms, Jamie Raskin, Derek Schmitt, self-realizations, Steve Sisolak, train conductors, David Trone, Donald Trump, Scott Walker, Tim Walz, The West Wing, Gretchen Whitmer, wine tasting, the Yuma County GOP & more!

We're recapping the results of the 2022 midterm elections with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, the head of the Democratic Governors Association. Cooper believes Democratic governors defied expectations this cycle, thanks in part to campaigning on the Biden administration record. Does the governor think Biden should run for re-election in 2024? "I expect him to...if he makes that decision, I'm for him 100%"Plus: Cooper on Beto O'Rourke's loss in Texas and Ron DeSantis' decisive gubernatorial victory in Florida.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One day after Election Day, control of the House is still too close to call. Vaughn Hillyard reports from Arizona. Carlos Curbelo, Symone Sanders-Townsend, Heidi Heitkamp and Pat McCrory join the roundtable. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association, discusses the lessons Democrats learned on election night. 

Democratic-affiliated organizations have spent millions on political ad contracts to boost pro-Donald Trump candidates in the contest. History shows such tactics can have success. In 2010, the Democratic Governors Association nicknamed several GOP gubernatorial candidates, including Republican nominee Dan Maes "And Christine O'Donnell Republicans" to try to persuade voters to reject their electability. Maes ultimately lost his general election to the then-Denver mayor -- and now Senator -- John Hickenlooper.Support the show

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks about CNN's Jake Tapper losing control of his panel after Scott Jennings points out that the Democratic Governors Association's risky strategy of funding MAGA Republicans is blowing up in their faces; Dr. Fauci regretting that he did not push for more severe COVID restrictions; how “The View's” Whoopi Goldberg treated Donald Trump when he contracted COVID compared to how she's treating Joe Biden; Charlamagne Tha God's criticism of Liz Cheney; Elon Musk and Tesla being investigated for systemic racism; and Meet the Press' Chuck Todd grilling Janet Yellen over her attempts to redefine an economic recession as whatever the National Bureau of Economic Research says it is. Ramp - Simplify your business finances across expenses, payments, and accounting with Ramp! Sign up now and get $250 when you join Ramp. Go to: https://www.ramp.com/RUBIN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grace Van Cleave is a small business owner, a community advocate, and a recent candidate for Iowa Senate. Grace ran on a platform to “Give Choice a Voice”, focusing much of her platform on protecting reproductive rights. Although her candidacy ended in defeat, Grace reframed the race to a discussion of abortion rights, a rarity for a first time and candidate, and is now described as “poised to lead the urgent Iowa fight over reproductive rights.” Grace and I talk about why she decided to run for office, how she started her own styling business, and what we need to do next to protect our reproductive rights. Connect with Grace: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracevancleave/ FB https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063795384562 Twitter: www.twitter.com/gracevancleave Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-van-cleave-22a4024/ Website: www.amazinggracestyling.com www.graceforiowa.com Guest Bio: Grace Van Cleave is a small business owner, a community advocate, and a recent candidate for Iowa Senate District 17. Knowing cases restricting abortion rights were being heard before the US Supreme Court and the Iowa Supreme court, Grace ran on a platform to “Give Choice a Voice”, focusing much of her platform on protecting reproductive rights in the face of Roe v. Wade being overturned. While powerful Democrats at the state and national level advised her to not speak about abortion on the campaign trail, she broke Iowa fundraising records, having out-raised her opponent by more than 2-1, and earned endorsements from Run for Something, Our Revolution Iowa, Iowa Unity Coalition, former Lt. Governor Patty Judge, and various other Democratic activists and former elected officials. Although her candidacy ended in defeat, Grace reframed the race to a discussion of abortion rights, a rarity for a first time and candidate, and is now described as “poised to lead the urgent Iowa fight over reproductive rights.” After graduating with a degree in Political Science from Kenyon College, Grace dedicated her early professional life to helping elect Democrats in Iowa and across the country. She has worked for organizations such as EMILY's List, America Votes, the Democratic Governors Association and served as a Finance staffer for USDA Secretary and Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. After her political career, Grace at the time became the youngest executive leader at Stella & Dot and founded her own personal styling company, Amazing Grace Styling, which specializes in styling women entrepreneurs around the world. She resides in Des Moines with her partner John and their two redheaded rescue dachshunds, Maggie and Molly.

Both parties are pointing fingers on the issue of crime as election year messaging ramps up. Republicans have continued to criticize criminal justice legislation Democrats approved last year. Meanwhile, the Democratic Governors Association issued an attack ad against GOP gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin, targeting some of the clients he represented as a defense attorney. And statehouse Democrats have also unveiled a new anti-crime package in the final days of the spring legislative session.

Jim Geraghty is joined by Chad Benson for today's Three Martini Lunch. The first martini is a good one: The Democratic Governors Association is thinking of sitting out the Florida's governors race in 2022 because they think Ron DeSantis is unstoppable.For the next round, Jim and Chad work through a bad martini: 14,000 green card holders are still stuck in Afghanistan.For last call, and the final martini of the week, the guys order up a crazy martini: The New York Times Charles Blow is befuddled by the fact that the southern states have low rates of new COVID-19 infections... about a month or two after the Delta variant swept through that region and headed north.Please visit our great sponsors!Gabihttps://gabi.com/martinStart saving today!

Jim Geraghty is joined by Chad Benson for today’s Three Martini Lunch. The first martini is a good one: The Democratic Governors Association is thinking of sitting out the Florida’s governors race in 2022 because they think Ron DeSantis is unstoppable. For the next round, Jim and Chad work through a bad martini: 14,000 green […]

On episode 11 of The Conference Call, Damian is joined by a long-time friend and ally, Colm O'Comartun, Principal at 50-State and former Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association. Join us for a conversation about Colm's Irish roots, the road to American politics, and the Maryland Gubernatorial roadmap. Afterward, the guys discuss the goals of state politics, where they intersect with national interests, and the value of localizing national conversations.The Maryland State of Reform conference is coming up on May 13th. Details and registration can be found here: https://stateofreform.com/all-conferences/Music by Dillion O'Brian

Marijuana Opportunity Today with Adam Goers, VP of Corporate Affairs at Columbia Care. Our next guest is here representing one of the nation's largest fully-integrated, multi-state, medical cannabis companies. This includes pharmacies, dispensaries, home delivery, cultivation, and manufacturing facilities. Columbia Care operates one of the largest portfolios (16 U.S. states + the EU) of highly regulated, licensed medical cannabis product development, research, manufacturing, and dispensing operations in the United States. The company produces industry-leading pharmaceutical quality products and has research and clinical partnerships with top academic and medical institutions including Columbia University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Adam was a long-time Senior Advisor to then-Governor O’Malley of Maryland as well as a Senior Advisor to the Democratic Governors Association. Amongst others, he worked for then-Governor Tim Kaine, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Congresswoman Tubbs Jones. We talk about his interactions with policymakers and their understanding of the cannabis industry. The U.S. House of Representatives is planning a floor vote in September on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act that would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. The new legislation would also require federal courts to expunge prior cannabis-related convictions and establish funds for small businesses in the marijuana industry to flourish.

Marijuana Opportunity Today with Adam Goers, VP of Corporate Affairs at Columbia Care. Our next guest is here representing one of the nation's largest fully-integrated, multi-state, medical cannabis companies. This includes pharmacies, dispensaries, home delivery, cultivation, and manufacturing facilities. Columbia Care operates one of the largest portfolios (16 U.S. states + the EU) of highly regulated, licensed medical cannabis product development, research, manufacturing, and dispensing operations in the United States. The company produces industry-leading pharmaceutical quality products and has research and clinical partnerships with top academic and medical institutions including Columbia University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Adam was a long-time Senior Advisor to then-Governor O’Malley of Maryland as well as a Senior Advisor to the Democratic Governors Association. Amongst others, he worked for then-Governor Tim Kaine, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Congresswoman Tubbs Jones. We talk about his interactions with policymakers and their understanding of the cannabis industry. The U.S. House of Representatives is planning a floor vote in September on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act that would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. The new legislation would also require federal courts to expunge prior cannabis-related convictions and establish funds for small businesses in the marijuana industry to flourish.

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop TODAY'S HEADLINES: U.S. coronavirus cases passed 3 million on Tuesday, a grim milestone that we flew past a breakneck speed, as Florida’s ICU’s start to hit capacity all at once and the president uses his time to officially withdraw the country from the World Health Organization and push to reopen schools. Meanwhile, a new report by the Intercept shows that oxycodone death-dealer Purdue made political contributions even after it went bankrupt, showing that there are no depths too low for the Sackler family of murderers. And lastly, Tucker Carlson launched a wave of aggressive, racist attacks against Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Ilhan Omar, who dared to suggest that the U.S. supports a quote “system of oppression.” THESE ARE THE STORIES YOU NEED TO KNOW: The coronavirus hit a grim new milestone on Tuesday: 3 million cases in the United States alone. According to CNN, the country averaged almost 50,000 new cases per day last week, more than double the rate of a month ago. Texas alone reported more than 10,000 cases on Tuesday. Trump’s head of the coronavirus task force, Dr. Deborah Birx, noted that the Administration hadn’t expected the massive community spread among young people, who had generally been pretty diligent about social distancing. Put this all together, and we’ve got a horrifying summer ahead. The Trump administration, meanwhile, is following through on its flailing attempts to pass the buck to the WHO, formally announcing on Tuesday that the U.S. will leave the international organization. It’s still a mostly empty threat: the U.S. won’t back out until April of 2021, so if Trump loses in November, Biden or whoever ends up in the Oval could just keep us in. But Trump’s not content to just sabotage U.S. participation in international organizations -- he’s actively making the crisis worse at home. The new benchmark the Trump admin wants is for schools to reopen in the fall, which is a step that many schools do not want to do. Yesterday we talked about the completely absurd student visa rule, which the New York Times reports could be part of Trump’s plan to exert pressure on schools to offer in-person classes. In other words, he’s holding schools’ students hostage in deportation purgatory to try to force them to reopen in a pandemic. Just so we’re clear about what’s going on here. Bankrupt Purdue Bankrolls Politicians Purdue Pharma, the drug company owned for years by the Sackler family, is one of the most evil corporations in the world. That much is not really up for debate at this point: for decades, Purdue almost singlehandedly created the modern U.S. opioid crisis by aggressively marketing their deadly narcotic oxycodone to any patient who had so much as a toothache. Last September, Purdue filed for bankruptcy, the product of a mountain of lawsuits filed by cities seeking some sort of justice for the addiction epidemic it unleashed on their streets. But the Sacklers pulled a fast one on the plaintiffs, making off with over 10 billion in company funds. According to a new report by the Intercept, the drug giant still had enough left over to make political donations. The Intercept reports that Purdue gave $50,000 to both the Democratic Governors Association and the Republican Governors Association in December of 2019, months after filing for bankruptcy, and right on time to sway politicians as states debate whether or not to put more taxes on opioids. To date, only 5 states have implemented a tax on opioids. The 50 grand to Dems and Republicans might not seem like much, but remember that Purdue was donating much larger sums to parties involved in these decisions before it got sued into oblivion. The company itself may be bankrupt, but the Sacklers are doing just fine, and their billions will surely keep growing, fed by the blood of the American working class. Tucker Carlson Does Racism Again Tucker Carlson is at it again. And by “it,” we mean racism and general bigotry. Imagine that! The latest controversy swept up both Rep. Ilhan Omar, a favorite target of the ruling racists in the country, as well as Sen. Tammy Duckworth. It all culminated in an unforgettable Tucker moment in which he put up photos of Omar and Duckworth side by side with a full-screen chyron stating quote “We have to fight to preserve our nation and heritage.” Endquote. That’s only ten words, but it’s pretty close to white nationalist America’s favorite 14-word slogan. It started on Monday night, when Carlson mocked Duckworth for saying that we needed to have a national conversation over the removal of racist Confederate monuments. Carlson acknowledged Duckworth’s military service, but then called her a quote “deeply silly,” “unimpressive person,” and suggested that she hates America. Duckworth, who lost both of her legs in Iraq, shot back on Twitter, asking Carlson to quote “walk a mile in my legs.” Carlson wasn’t cowed, and dragged Ilhan Omar into the already-stupid hating American controversy on Tuesday night, after the congresswoman said in a press conference that America had a quote “system of oppression.” All of this led to the unforgettable chyron during Tucker’s show on Tuesday night. There’s some context to this: Duckworth is reportedly on the long or maybe short list for Biden’s VP slot, and Omar is one of the racist Conservative press’s favorite targets. Linking the two of them is probably advantageous to everyone, like Tucker, who wants to see Trump get a second term. Let’s uh... make sure that doesn’t happen, especially to see the look on Carlson’s face. AND NOW FOR SOME QUICKER QUICKIES: July 8, 2020 - AM Quickie HOSTS - Sam Seder & Lucie Steiner WRITER - Jack Crosbie PRODUCER - Dorsey Shaw EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Brendan Finn

Guests: Stephen Vaughn, Former USTR General Council, Kip Eideberg, Senior Vice President at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Wendi Wallace, Deputy Executive Director at the Democratic Governors Association, Jennifer Nassour, Republican Strategist, Former Chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party and Founder for Conservative Women for a Better Future.

Guests: Stephen Vaughn, Former USTR General Council, Kip Eideberg, Senior Vice President at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Wendi Wallace, Deputy Executive Director at the Democratic Governors Association, Jennifer Nassour, Republican Strategist, Former Chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party and Founder for Conservative Women for a Better Future.

Audra Grassia is a veteran technical process manager who has extensive experience using data and analytics at private, political, and non-profit organizations. She previously served as the Deputy Political Director for the Democratic Governors Association, as a Client Engagement Manager at Civis Analytics, and on the Analytics team for the Hillary for America campaign in 2016. She spoke with Alec MacMillen (MSCAPP ’20) about how the big data revolution has affected political campaign strategy. Podcast Production Credits:Alec MacMillen (MSCAPP ’20), for producing, engineering, interviewing, and editing

Audra Grassia is a veteran technical process manager who has extensive experience using data and analytics at private, political, and non-profit organizations. She previously served as the Deputy Political Director for the Democratic Governors Association, as a Client Engagement Manager at Civis Analytics, and on the Analytics team for the Hillary for America campaign in 2016. She spoke with Alec MacMillen (MSCAPP ’20) about how the big data revolution has affected political campaign strategy. Podcast Production Credits:Alec MacMillen (MSCAPP ’20), for producing, engineering, interviewing, and editing

Noam Lee, the Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association, joins Adrienne and Doug to discuss the election runoff in the Louisiana Governor's race.

Noam Lee, the executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, breaks down the results of the governors races in Kentucky and Mississippi, looks at the upcoming election in Louisiana, shares the 2020 races he's most focused on, and addresses some candidates who may be controversial.

Gina Raimondo, governor of Rhode Island and Chair of the Democratic Governors Association, joins David to talk about how her father’s early job loss moved her to enter public service, what Democrats running in 2020 can learn from the governors who ran successfully in 2018, and how her role as governor has changed in the age of Trump.

Rhode Island Gov. and head of the Democratic Governors Association, Gina Raimondo lays out the high stakes in statewide elections in 2019 and 2020 re: Gerrymandering, healthcare and reproductive rights.

On this episode of The Open Mind, we're delighted to welcome Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association who will assume the chairmanship in 2020. New Jersey became the latest state to raise incrementally it's hourly minimum wage to $15 after the Governor signed into law a measure phasing into action that higher rate over five years. “For far too long, too many of our fellow citizens have been struggling to survive on wages that have not kept up with the cost of living,” Governor Murphy said. He's touting and upbeat, optimistic, always pro growth, progressive agenda, advocating fair taxation, criminal justice reform, and clean energy, environmental stewardship. 

Today's podcast was originally recorded on July 2, 2018 and features a discussion with James Hines, Senior Vice-President of Advocacy & In-House for the Texas Association of Business (TAB). TAB is Texas's largest business association, representing over 2, 800 businesses, from major corporations to small start-ups. Combined those businesses employ over 2.5 million Texans and drive the economic engine of the state. The association influences policy development and drives legislative decisions in Texas and Washington, D.C. advocating for members' bottom line. One example was it's instrumental charge against the "bathroom bill" during the 85th legislative session in 2017. James, hired in June of 2018, is TAB's lead lobbyist at the Texas Capitol. He and A.J. discussed the development of TAB's policy positions, current priorities including Austin's paid sick leave ordinance (TAB is the lead co-plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city), his path to a career in lobbying and more. Most recently James was the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Copart, a provider of online vehicle auction and remarketing services in the US, Canada, and the UK. There he was responsible for managing government and regulatory affairs efforts in all 50 states and Congress. He was also responsible for governmental affairs with national organizations such as the Republican Governors Association, Democratic Governors Association, and National Association of Attorneys General. James is a native of Giddings, TX. Enjoy (and leave a comment)!

Governor Chet Culver is currently Founder of the Chet Culver Group, a renewable energy and infrastructure consultancy that works with individuals and public and private sector entities to provide strategic consulting, cut through red tape and promote cutting-edge ideas that will move the country forward. Under Governor Culver’s leadership as Iowa’s 40th Governor (2007-2011), Iowa was recognized as one of the “Best Run States in America.” Culver successfully managed a $6 billion dollar annual budget, improved the state’s bond rating to AAA, and worked to secure $5 billion dollars in federal and state funds to help Iowa recover from the worst natural disaster in state history.Governor Culver has served the National Governors Association as Chairman of both the Governors Wind Energy Coalition and Governors Biofuels Coalition. He has also elected as the Federal Liaison to the U.S. Congress by the Democratic Governors Association, and served as a member of the Democratic Governors Executive Committee.As Governor of Iowa, Governor Culver’s signature accomplishments were the creation of the Iowa Office of Energy Independence and the establish of the Iowa Power Fund. Since it’s creation, the Iowa Power Fund has invested more than $65,000,000 in 40 Iowa renewable energy research and development and early-stage commercialization projects. Iowa’s focus on all forms of renewable energy, including wind energy, biomass, algae-based fuel and feed stock, dry distilled grains, and energy efficiency innovations has made Iowa the renewable energy capital of the U.S. Under Governor Culver’s leadership and these efforts, Iowa now produces nearly 20 percent of all of its energy needs from renewable sources. The state’s investment in its energy future has leveraged more than $575,000,000 in additional investments in these projects. Power fund dollars are now helping secure American’s energy future, transforming Iowa’s alternative fuels economy into an integrated corn to ethanol and cellulose to ethanol biorefinery network. Further, these contributions will help develop more cost-competitive forms of solar energy to spur economic development and create jobs across the United States.In 1998, Chet was elected as Iowa’s 29th Secretary of State and the youngest Secretary of State in the nation, and he was re-elected in 2002. Governor Culver is past Chairman of the Governors Wind Energy Coalition and Governors Biofuels Coalition.Chet and his wife, Mari, live with their two young children, Clare Honour and John William, in West Des Moines.

Hormats says ebola is a foreign policy challenge. Teixeira says 2016 looks good for Democrats, as do next month’s gubernatorial elections, says Danny Kanner.   Ebola fear is gripping the nation, and veteran diplomat Robert Hormats says the disease is just one of a number of new foreign policy challenges for the United States. Demographer and political analyst Ruy Teixeira says there’s a chance Democrats can retain the Senate, and that 2016 looks even better. And Bill Press interviews Danny Kanner of the the Democratic Governors Association about the election outlook in the statehouses.   Robert Hormats Longtime diplomat Robert Hormats assesses the foreign policy challenges facing America … and he says ebola is one of them. http://www.hormats.com   Ruy Teixeira Political analyst Ruy Teixeira predicts Republicans will keep the House, the Democrats MIGHT retain the Senate but that 2016 looks good for the White House and Senate. http://americanprogress.org/about/staff/teixeira-ruy/bio/   Danny Kanner Bill Press and his guest, Danny Kanner, spokesman for the Democratic Governors Association.   Jim Hightower   Walmart scheme steals from taxpayer and its own workers.  

The rise of a theocratic America … the decline of the American economy … and a preview of the 2014 gubernatorial races. Sean Faircloth is a former state legislator and now an advocate for separation of church and state. He says that the intrusion of religion into government can have deadly consequences. Economist George Tyler tells us what went wrong with the American economy. One short answer, he says, is “stock options.” And Bill Press interviews Danny Kanner of the Democratic Governors Association about how the Virginia race could be a bellwether for Democratic gains next year. Sean Faircloth Washington, Adams and Jefferson could not be elected president today because they didn’t profess a belief in God, says secularist Sean Faircloth. And, says the former state legislator, religion intrusion into policy can cause the death of children. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWIrK-Fv6M8 George Tyler What caused the Great Recession? Former World Bank economist George Tyler has a few answers for us, but mainly he says it was the development of stock options for management – making the goal a spike in quarterly profits. http://www.georgertyler.com/ Danny Kanner Bill Press and his guest, Danny Kanner of the Democratic Governors Association. https://twitter.com/DannyKanner Jim Hightower The Ignoble Prize For Agriculture.