An Honorable Profession
The NewDEAL
Restore your faith in government with An Honorable Profession. Every Thursday, co-hosts Ryan Coonerty and Debbie Cox Bultan sit down with rising state and local Democrats, policy experts, and the nation's top political minds for empowering and candid conversations about life in public service and government. Together with their guests – which include members of the Biden Administration, state legislators nationwide, and mayors from America's top cities – Ryan and Debbie discuss the biggest issues facing Americans today and the decisive role that state and local leaders play in catalyzing progressive, pragmatic solutions.
An Honorable Profession is produced by the NewDEAL. For more AHP and NewDEAL content, visit https://newdealleaders.org/ and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewDEALLeaders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newdealleaders/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-newdeal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewDEALLeaders
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NewdealleadersOrg
An Honorable Profession is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
An Honorable Profession is produced by the NewDEAL. For more AHP and NewDEAL content, visit https://newdealleaders.org/ and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewDEALLeaders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newdealleaders/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-newdeal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewDEALLeaders
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NewdealleadersOrg
An Honorable Profession is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 21, 2022 • 40min
Senator Jeff Bridges on Bringing People Together Around Shared Values
Recorded at NewDEAL's 12th Annual Leaders Conference in Washington, this week's episode features a conversation between host Ryan Coonerty and NewDEAL Leader Colorado Senator Jeff Bridges. They discuss how he is the only state senator with a Master of Divinity, which has given him a unique perspective on campaigns, the role of elected officials, and the future of democracy. Senator Bridges discusses, the importance of engaging meaningfully with the people whose votes you seek to earn, and why bipartisanship is still critical if we want to fight extremism. Tune in to our last episode of 2022 for an engaging conversation that touches on Senator Bridges priorities for the upcoming legislative session and his insights on "winning with the truth," as he so eloquently puts it. See you next year, and happy holidays.
Dec 15, 2022 • 23min
Representative Brandon Lofton on the Past and Future of the Tarheel State
Recorded at NewDEAL's 12th Annual Leaders Conference in Washington, this week's episode features a conversation between host Ryan Coonerty and NewDEAL Leader North Carolina Representative Brandon Lofton. They discuss how he was able to flip a red district and how he has been the target of gerrymandering ever since as he works to improve his state's education system while creating jobs. Representative Lofton also discusses his state's rich history, telling us that the first version of Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered in North Carolina. Representative Lofton discusses how vital it is to focus on government accountability, the value of vigilance in safeguarding the ballot, and how he is working to protect and secure voter rights. Tune in for an inspiring conversation and how Brandon balances his public service, legal practice, and family.
Dec 8, 2022 • 29min
Adrian Fontes Fights For Democracy
Recorded at NewDEAL's 12th Annual Leaders Conference last week in Washington, this week's special episode features Arizona Secretary of State-elect Adrian Fontes -- dubbed by TIME Magazine as one of the "defenders of democracy" during his successful midterm campaign against an ardent election denier. Speaking with host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty, Adrian talks about why he decided to run for Secretary of State during a year when many were hesitant about Democrats' chances of winning, how his election gained national attention, and lessons from his previous job as County Recorder in Maricopa County, where he helped make voting more accessible and transparent. Tune in for an important conversation on the state of our democracy, as well as to hear how campaigning for secretary of state meant doing comedy for Billy Crystal.
Dec 1, 2022 • 28min
Representative Ranjeev Puri Legislates Michigan
In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Canton, MI, Representative Ranjeev Puri about his leadership role as a majority whip tasked with holding together his caucus in a legislature that will be under full Democratic control for the first time in 40 years after this year's historic election. The first Sikh-American elected to the state legislature, Puri discusses how former president Barack Obama inspired him to run for office, and digs into his top policy priorities like the future of transportation and mobility. Tune in to hear more about his work and his inspiring path to public service.
Nov 23, 2022 • 40min
Debbie Cox Bultan on how Moderates Won the Midterms
In this week's episode, we feature NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan's appearance on a recent episode of the Moderate Party Podcast - a political podcast for moderates, centrists, and independents hosted by Hillari Lombard. They talk about moderate victories in the 2022 midterms, why they happened, and how to replicate those successes. They also discuss why voters think both parties are extreme and the keys for Democrats to broaden their coalition. Tune in to hear the lessons both parties should learn moving forward and how the election exceeded all the expectations Democrats had given the historical precedent.
Nov 17, 2022 • 33min
State's Attorney Dave Aronberg Gives Us a Florida Postmortem
In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with State Attorney Dave Aronberg from West Palm Beach, FL. In a wide-ranging interview about major policy challenges, Florida politics, and the future of the Democratic and Republican parties, Aronberg discusses his work to address the opioid crisis and some of the high-profile cases that have crossed his desk, his prediction for whether or not Donald Trump will be indicted, and much more. You'll hear his candid assessment of what happened in Florida during the 2022 midterms, and whether we can still consider Florida a swing state. Aronberg emphasizes the power of meeting voters where they are and addressing their specific concerns. He also shares his thoughts on the upcoming battle between two major Florida-based politicos -- Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis -- and what he believes Trump's final hope may be. Listen for more from Dave Aronberg, including which TV show will tell you all about what it's like to be a state's attorney.
Nov 11, 2022 • 52min
Post-Election Analysis: An Honorable Profession with Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty
In the wake of the midterms, An Honorable Profession co-hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty joined forces to discuss what we saw in this week's elections and some main takeaways, including how mainstream Democrats beat back Republican extremism. They were joined by several special guests: former Michigan House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman, who discussed Democrats' great night in his state, NewDEAL Leader Kentucky Representative Nima Kulkarni on the successful effort to reject enshrining an abortion ban in their state constitution and Heather Williams, Executive Director of the DLCC, who shared the great success stories for Democrats in state legislatures across the country and why it matters. Listen to the episode, and hear more about what we learned from the 2022 midterms.
Nov 3, 2022 • 30min
Ellen Kurz on Increasing Voter Participation and Securing Democracy
In the third episode of our special Freedoms At Stake 2022 Election Series, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with President and Founder of iVote Ellen Kurz. They discuss the critical role secretaries of state play in our democracy and why iVote's work to elect pro-voting secretaries of state is so important. Ellen also talks about how disinformation is affecting these races across the nation and the potential consequences if an election denier is appointed to oversee future elections. These down-ballot races have never been more important, and Ellen highlights the battleground states iVote is prioritizing this election cycle. Listen for more on how pro-voting measures like automatic voter registration and same day voting can increase participation in our democratic process.
Oct 27, 2022 • 39min
Ryan Enos on the Phenomenon of Partisan Segregation
In the second episode of our special 2022 election series, host Ryan Coonerty welcomes Harvard Professor of Government Ryan Enos, author of the groundbreaking book The Space Between Us, to the show. They discuss his research on the phenomenon of partisan segregation in our communities and why this trend seems to be accelerating. When we live apart, Enos argues, the ability to make coherent policies that can make a lasting impact is greatly reduced, contributing to the sense of partisan division that has defined our politics in recent years. They also discuss the far-reaching impact of partisan segregation on our collective geography, psychology, social lives, and, perhaps most importantly, elected representation. Tune in to hear more of Ryan's thoughts about what we should be looking out for as we move towards this year's midterm elections.
Oct 20, 2022 • 24min
Jessica Post on the Foundation for Democratic Power in the Midterm Elections
In the first episode of our 2022 election series, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Jessica Post, President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). They discuss the importance of state legislative elections in 2022 and how focusing on these races helps to build and maintain the power and influence of the Democratic Party from the bottom up. With so much at stake in 2022, from election oversight to laws around reproductive freedom, Jessica talks about how undervalued state legislatures are and helps us visualize where there are potential pickup opportunities and where Democrats need to defend slim majorities. Tune in to hear more from Jessica, including how she first got involved in public service.
