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11 episodes with zach friend
What's behind the political and social transformation taking place in the U.S.? According to Mike Madrid, author, veteran political strategist and expert on Latino voting trends, it's digital technology and demographics. His latest book is "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy." As part of the Helen Edison Lecture Series, Madrid covers a wide-range of topics, from the outcome of the 2024 election to the state of America's institutions to who he thinks will offer solutions to keep the idea of America alive for future generations. Madrid is joined by Zach Friend, policy and public affairs communication expert who worked in the Obama White House, to further explore current social and political trends. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 40328]
What's behind the political and social transformation taking place in the U.S.? According to Mike Madrid, author, veteran political strategist and expert on Latino voting trends, it's digital technology and demographics. His latest book is "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy." As part of the Helen Edison Lecture Series, Madrid covers a wide-range of topics, from the outcome of the 2024 election to the state of America's institutions to who he thinks will offer solutions to keep the idea of America alive for future generations. Madrid is joined by Zach Friend, policy and public affairs communication expert who worked in the Obama White House, to further explore current social and political trends. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 40328]
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend at Mountain Connect 2024. They discuss the unique broadband challenges faced by Northern California, including regulatory hurdles, difficult topography, and infrastructure needs. Zach shares insights on how local governments are addressing these issues and the innovative solutions being implemented to improve connectivity for residents.
If you wanted to, you could consume nothing but presidential campaign coverage all day every day. But how much of it would leave you feeling better informed about casting what may be the most important vote of your life? Not better informed about the campaign as a sporting event, with all the expert play-by-play, color commentary, and stats. But better informed about questions that may not have easy, satisfying, or entertaining answers? Better prepared to think, and not just react? On this episode of Dastardly Cleverness, we go hunting for that kind of election coverage, find a little, and try to supply some ourselves. I'm joined by two people I can always count on to leave me better informed. Mike Madrid is a co-founder of the Lincoln Project and one of the country's top political consultants, with special expertise on Latino voting trends. Mike previously served as the press secretary for the California Assembly Republican leader, as the political director for the California Republican Party, and as a senior adviser to both Republicans and Democrats. He's the author of the upcoming book The Latino Century. And Zach Friend has worked for multiple presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives, and has served for multiple terms as an elected official in Santa Cruz County, California. Zach is the author of the book On Message. -- Spencer Critchley
In this episode of Shift AI, Zach Friend Santa Cruz County Supervisor shares his journey from working in the Obama Whitehouse to helping the Biden Administration craft meaningful AI legislation with the local community in mind. He also covers the way that governments are dealing with AI regulation and the social contract that needs to be established with county constituents. Show Description This episode of the Shift AI podcast features an interview between Boaz Ashkenazy and Zach Friend about AI policy and regulation. They discuss Zach's background working in government at both the federal and local level. They also talk about the work Zach has done to develop an AI regulatory framework at the county level in California and discuss issues like innovation vs regulation, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in government work, and concerns around personalization and microtargeting in the upcoming 2024 US election. It's an insightful conversation about how to properly govern emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Highlights: Zach Friend has experience working in government at both the federal level (White House, Congress) and local level (Santa Cruz County Supervisor) He developed one of the first AI regulatory frameworks at the county level in California through a working group with industry The framework focused on transparency, informed consent, and ensuring AI tools aren't used in ways that negatively impact communities Zach discusses using ChatGPT and other AI tools to help with constituent services and operational tasks in county government Personalized microtargeting of political messages is seen as a potential risk for the 2024 US election that needs addressingInnovation and regulation can be balanced by having startups and industry help inform reasonable policy frameworks Experiences working directly for President Obama shaped Zach's views on separating urgent vs important issues The future could bring either abundance through new technologies or risks if we don't get policy and governance right Connect with Zach Friend Twitter LinkedIn Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy Twitter LinkedIn Email: shift@simplyaugmented.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shift-ai/message
There are lots of reasons to be cynical about the crisis in our politics. The trouble is, one of the biggest causes of that crisis is cynicism itself. We should always be skeptical about politics. People aren't angels, as James Madison reminded us. But skepticism involves checking to find out what's really going on, good or bad. Cynicism is just assuming that it's all bad. This is often mistaken for savviness, which lends cool-kids credibility to claims like “all politicians are crooks,” or “there's no difference between the parties,” or “government never works.” Except none of those claims actually stands up to skeptical scrutiny. Political journalists reinforce cynicism when they cover politics, day by day, as a dirty game in which all the players are more or less the same: self-interested schemers. NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen blames it on what he calls “the cult of savvy,” which rewards reporters for the cynicism of their coverage, when what we need from them is skepticism. Skepticism is healthy, and necessary for democracy. You can't say either about cynicism. If we automatically accept cynical beliefs as true, we make them ever more likely to become true. People who work on behalf of hope gradually withdraw from the arena, leaving it to people all too happy to encourage despair. And those are people who do in fact have very bad motivations. In this way cynicism reinforces itself and becomes a political death spiral. Democracy can't run on despair. But authoritarianism depends on it. This is why authoritarians like Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump don't care that you know they're lying — they want you to know they're lying. It serves their interests if you conclude that everyone is a liar, and lose hope. Then your only safe choice is to back the most powerful liar. All this is why I wanted to talk this time about what has become a deeply unfashionable topic: morality in politics. Yes, it does exist, and in a democracy it must exist. And once again I talk with Kevin Lewis and Zach Friend. Kevin has been a communications advisor and spokesman for former President Barack Obama, the White House, the Department of Justice, both Obama campaigns, and Meta. Zach has worked for the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, and several presidential campaigns, including both of Obama's. He's currently an elected Supervisor in Santa Cruz County, California. Both have seen lots of the good and bad in politics, but neither is a cynic. — Spencer
A three-way conversation featuring host Spencer Critchley, Kevin Lewis, and Zach Friend on leadership lessons from the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, as compared with far better examples set by Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, and others. It turns out, to the shock of cynics everywhere, that character matters! Kevin was the post-presidency spokesman for former President Barack Obama. During the Obama administration he served at the White House and at the Department of Justice, where he advised Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. He's also worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and both Obama campaigns. Zach has worked for the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, and both Obama campaigns as well. He's currently serving in local government as an elected Supervisor in Santa Cruz County, California. A video version of this episode is on YouTube.
Santa Cruz County Supervisor was our guest…
Zach Friend, former Obama campaign spokesman and advisor to the White House, Senate and Congress joins Mike Madrid to discuss the polls, the midterms, abortion, guns - and what it all means for November Download the Callin app for iOS and Android to listen to this podcast live, call in, and more! Also available at callin.com
Zach Friend is an author and a public policy and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Democratic National Committee. He’s been featured on and quoted by CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Fox News, and many others. In this episode, Zach and host Spencer Critchley talk about not just what’s happening now, but what it all means for where politics is going.
Today Rene has two fascinating conversations: First with County Supervisor Zach Friend about the most frequent questions he’s asked, and what he wants people to know about our county’s experience with the virus crisis. Then TLCer Guy Routley shares a very personal story of how COVID-19 has impacted his close family and friends. Plus Rene asks Laurie about the contact tracing course she took through Johns Hopkins University.
Our episode this time is a live recording of a terrific panel discussion featuring some very smart people from across the ideological spectrum who have national experience in politics and media. Amanda Renteria, Mike Madrid, Debbie Mesloh, Dan Schnur, Kristin Olsen, and Zach Friend joined host Spencer Critchley at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California to go way beyond the usual talking points and offer deep insights into where we are — and how we go forward. More at dastardlycleverness.com.
Can we look at the top priorities for the new Congress without talking about likability, who curses more, or a dancing video? Yes we can. On Dastardly Cleverness: Politics Edition it's not about the horse race, or the latest outrage, but how to make politics do what it’s supposed to do: make our lives better, not just more entertaining — or depressing. In this episode host Spencer Critchley brings brings back a previous guest and introduces a new one. Dastardly Cleverness veteran Zach Friend is an alumnus of the John Kerry and Barack Obama campaigns, the Democratic National Committee, and Congressional staff, and is currently an elected Supervisor in Santa Cruz County, California. New guest Paul Shone is a Boston-based Democratic political consultant. He's had senior roles on presidential campaigns in nearly every cycle since 1976.
How did the world's leading democracy get in so much trouble? To talk about that — and what we should do about it — "Saving Democracy" brought together a bipartisan panel with experience in Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns, the federal government, Congress, national media, the California Assembly, and more. Joining host Spencer Critchley were former Democratic Congressman Sam Farr, former Barack Obama and Kamala Harris adviser Debbie Mesloh, USC / UC Berkeley Professor and former top Republican consultant Dan Schnur, former California Assembly GOP Leader Kristin Olsen, and local elected official and national Democratic politics veteran Zach Friend. They met in an auditorium in Aptos, California on June 29, 2018. This episode presents their fascinating discussion. Find more on the episode page at dastardlycleverness.com/saving-democracy.
Dan Schnur is a professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communications and the University of California – Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies. He worked on four presidential and three gubernatorial campaigns as one of California’s leading Republican political strategists. Zach Friend is a public policy and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). He’s currently on the Board of Supervisors in Santa Cruz County, California. Find the full show notes and links at http://www.dastardlycleverness.com/can-we-make-government-work
The third and final part of "Hope for Democracy:" great questions from the audience. On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. This is Part Two of a three-part series on this event. Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more. Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr. Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County. Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.
More from "Hope for Democracy:" the conversation resumes with former Congressman Sam Farr describing the anger and misinformation surrounding health care reform, all the panelists addressing whether public servants really want to serve the public, and more. On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. This is Part Two of a three-part series on this event. Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more. Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr. Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County. Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.
Government institutions, the free press, the judiciary, the integrity of the election itself — all face doubt and even attack, from both foreign and domestic sources. What’s the way forward? On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more. Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr. Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County. Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.
Zach Friend discusses how to improve communications in the boardroom or office. It’s often communications that counts most. Aaron Hollobaugh for Hostway. talks about developing and leading marketing and communications efforts in high tech and cloud computing-focused companies. Greg Jones, CEO of BookKeeping Express and how companies can reduced the risk of fraud in domestic and international commerce. Read the article at www.2sbdigest.com/Internal-theft-fraud-still-rising. Ben Bressington of iGAMIFY’s points out the ways social media has changed the world, not to mention the gamers of the world. Scott Hafetz talks about Obamacare and more.
33voices interviews Zach Friend, author of On Message.
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