When Americans vote, many positions on the ballot don’t even make sense to us. A superintendent? A comptroller? However vague they may sound, these “down-ballot” posts can sway everything from the lunch your kids eat at school to the way the subway system runs. New York State candidate for Comptroller Jonathan Trichter joins “American Enough” to tell us what the hell a comptroller is and why he suited up as a Republican to change the game. BIO: Jonathan Trichter is an investment banker and exper...
Jul 03, 2018•44 min•Ep. 38
The #1 Donald Trump Impersonator in the World, John Di Domenico, on how comedy, satire, and late night TV is dividing, uniting, and trolling America… John Di Domenico is an American, Emmy Nominated, Actor, Writer, Comedian and Impersonator, he performs many different characters and is best known for his award-winning Donald Trump impersonation. Di Domenico has been performing Trump since 2004. When Donald Trump announced his presidential run in June of 2015, Di Domenico’s career took off, he bec...
Jun 26, 2018•50 min•Ep. 37
Fighting Family Separation at the Border… While The White House & Congress must act to rescind a policy of cruelty playing at on America’s border with family separation, a number of legal aid services are seeking donations, volunteers, and language experts throughout the country. Find out who needs what and where with this special list of resources compiled by Slate. ______________________________________________ There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — Former Whi...
Jun 19, 2018•7 min•Ep. 36
Bleeding America’s spirit of inclusivity… Immigrants seeking asylum at the US border are being separated from their children en masse due to new enforcement policies by the Department of Justice. But exactly how many kids can’t be accounted for is being inconsistently reported. The Intercept’s Debbie Nathan joins “American Enough” to clarify what is resulting in a mass separation of families, and how this is bleeding America’s spirit of inclusivity. Bio: Debbie Nathan is an investigative reporte...
Jun 17, 2018•49 min•Ep. 35
Vogue Model, and Instagram celebrity, Richie Shazam Khan joins the pod for a reflection during PRIDE month on how gender non-conformity on the fashion runway has sparked a new brand of queer activism… Richie Shazam is an Artist, Curator and Model born in New York City and currently based between New York and Berlin. Recent and upcoming performances include “Love Me Installation” New Museum, NY NY (2017), “Blind Audition” at Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland (2018), Zucca Project Space, Venice, Italy...
Jun 11, 2018•56 min•Ep. 34
At 4pm on June 4th, 2018 — a Monday — the White House issued a statement from the President, and it said: “The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow. They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem. Hand on heart in honor of the great men and women of our military and people of our country.” To say nothing of the fact that the White House just issued a statement by the Preside...
Jun 05, 2018•10 min•Ep. 33
California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman discusses how the state of California’s primaries will shape the future of the nation and reclaim America’s identity… Polls open @ 7AM (find out where to vote here: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/where-and-how ). GUEST BIO: Eric C. Bauman was elected Chair of the California Democratic Party in May, 2017, having previously served as Vice Chair of the CDP (2009-2017). He previously served as Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the largest lo...
Jun 05, 2018•53 min•Ep. 32
The ACLU‘s Director the Racial Justice Program, Dennis Parker, reflects with host Vikrum Aiyer, on the 64th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the progress we’ve made in racial inclusion, and the setbacks we confront… Guest bio: Dennis Parker ( @DennisDParker ) is director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program, leading its efforts in combating discrimination and addressing other issues with a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Parker oversees work to combat the “School-to-Pri...
Jun 04, 2018•37 min•Ep. 31
Head of the NFL Alumni Association’s New York Chapter, and former NY Jets footballer, Michel Faulkner, debates the NFL’s decision penalizing players who kneel during the national anthem to protest policy brutality and racial inequities… Staking a position that defends the ban, while supporting civic protest, Faulkner and host Vikrum Aiyer also debate the state of America’s right to free expression in an era where everyone from the President to the ACLU and now even sports franchises are shaping ...
May 29, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 30
Whistleblower Brittany Kaiser and information privacy legal expert Cameron Russell join MouthMedia Network CEO Rob Sanchez for a wide-ranging discussion on data privacy… Brittany Kaiser (international law, diplomacy and data-driven campaigning professional and Co-Founder of the Digital Asset Trade Association (DATA), as well as former Business Development Director for Cambridge Analytica) and Cameron Russell (Executive Director, Fordham Center on Law and Information Policy (CLIP), and Adjunct Pr...
Apr 26, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 29
What if the source of this polarization in our country had little to do with where people actually fall on the issues, or what people actually believe in? The Intercept’s Zaid Jilani joins the pod to unpack a new study that identifies how a team-sports mentality in America is wedging more of us against each other, rather than a division on ideas or policies. Mapping the evolution and rise of tribal sports in politics, Jilani highlights how our politics exploit this distinction between team &...
Apr 16, 2018•53 min•Ep. 28
Why Florida teacher Alex Heeren is running for office, and sees hope in the modern student… How does the identity of a public school, its teachers, and it students change after a tragedy like Parkland? All too often it’s easy to reduce the current assessment of our schools as political debates around whether teachers should be armed, whether gun control laws pass, or what the Secretary of Education did or didn’t say. But for Alex Heeren, the future of the identity of public schools extends far b...
Mar 24, 2018•45 min•Ep. 27
The impact of tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum on America’s foreign policy and identity on the world stage… Recently, President Trump enacted high tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the United States. Domestically, immigrants are being scoffed at for looking a certain way and not being “American” enough. Transgender individuals are being called for not being “fit enough” to serve in our military. Sexual assault & neo-nazi behavior is being condoned by the Oval Office. And ...
Mar 19, 2018•35 min•Ep. 26
Who is American Enough under this Administration? The Deputy Director of the ACLU, the actor & co-producer of the Netflix-distributed documentary “Meet the Patels”, and the nation’s youngest & openly gay mayor to be shortlisted as a presidential contender, all join Vikrum Aiyer on the podcast stage at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, to examine the American identity. Guest bios: Ravi Vasant Patel is an American actor, who recently wrote & directed with his sister, an award...
Mar 12, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 25
When a successful entrepreneur steps into the political arena to reclaim American decency… What do Orange County, comedian Chelsea Handler, and Emily’s List all have in common? They are tectonic forces that are powering Rachel Payne ‘s campaign in California’s 48th congressional district. Traditionally a Republican stronghold, Payne — a former philanthropist and entrepreneur — tells us why she is stepping out of private life and leaning into public life to reclaim American decency, stand up for ...
Mar 08, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 24
What happens to faith in career civil servants and institutions when scandals hit public service? It’s easy to lose faith in public officials, political appointees, and inner aides to any President when you see a drip and drab of headlines, gossip, and resignations. On the heels of Trump’s 34th senior departure (in Gary Cohn ), host Vikrum Aiyer reflects on his own missteps as a political appointee, and describes how trust in public service and institutions should not be lost due to the tireless...
Mar 07, 2018•19 min•Ep. 23
How do you represent your community in Washington, when it’s been said that Washington stopped representing the people a long time ago? Sam Jammal , the son of Arab and Latino immigrants, and candidate for Congress in southern California’s 39th congressional district, joins the pod to discuss why running for something can help restore our trust and values in the American Dream. Jammal is a lawyer and candidate for Orange County’s 39th Congressional District. As the son of Latino and Arab America...
Jan 08, 2018•44 min•Ep. 22
Why have so many of us failed to support opportunities for women and girls? Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff and long time civil rights attorney, Tina Tchen , highlights how everything from systemic work place policies, harassment, and backwards health care laws have challenged the identity and progression of American women, and the responsibility all of us (especially men) have in creating. Christina M. “Tina” Tchen is an American lawyer who most recently served as Assistant to the Presid...
Jan 02, 2018•44 min•Ep. 21
Bending the arc of social justice through story telling… When statements of American values and principles get boiled down to bumper stickers, sound bytes, or 140-character quips, the moral clarity of what we stand for can quickly get lost. For film maker and media strategist Frank Chi , video content still remains the preeminent way we can learn about one another, share stories, bring art and design to animate discussion around some of the most vexing challenges of our generation. With work fea...
Dec 20, 2017•57 min•Ep. 20
Fake news: How do journalists do their work, when the very concept of a free press gets attacked for being fake, daily? POLITICO reporter and Playbook co-author, Daniel Lippman, and long time contributor to TIME, Bloomberg, VICE Media and the NYDaily news, Timothy Burger, join the podcast to discuss how the identity of America’s free press is being shaped in an era where the truthiness of sourcing is challenged by the Oval Office. Daniel Lippman is a reporter for POLITICO and a co-author of POLI...
Dec 19, 2017•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 19
What happens when a spy for the CIA & national security advisor doesn’t like their boss — the President of the United States? In the case of Ned Price , he quit. Like many patriots who serve clandestine roles for our nation’s defense, military, and national security apparatus — Ned was trained to quarterback the play a coach called, regardless of party or politics. But within the first few months of this Administration, everything from our National Security Advisor resigning, to the fumbling...
Dec 11, 2017•56 min•Ep. 18
Net neutrality with Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda… Does the Internet need rules? From AOL instant messenger to Sunday night’s with Netflix to Twitter trolls — the world wide web has facilitated everything from global trade and dating to a modern information revolution. For many, it’s even shaped our perception of cultures in the world around us. But if the Internet is part of your identity — membership is about to get a lot more expensive. New “net neutrality” rules governing how to access content...
Dec 07, 2017•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 17
How theater questions political and ideological assumptions, with playwright Dan Hoyle … At a time where SNL, Late Night talkshows, and Broadway shows like Hamilton use comedy and ensemble casts to deliver biting commentary on culture and politics — award winning playwright Dan Hoyle takes a different approach: he likes to get lost in the middle of the country first. Hoyle boards trains, drives aimlessly in a van, and gets on planes to stop off in cities he’s never heard of — and to meet strange...
Dec 04, 2017•40 min•Ep. 16
Sexual misconduct. Self-segregating communities. And a crumbling moral compass. In these moments its easy to point to the other guy, blame them, or even mock them. But Tim Miller — a long time Republican Operative, Pod Save America contributor, and presidential campaign strategist — is taking a stand against his own party’s president, and in support of the values that have often defined the best of America’s spirit. Tim Miller specializes in communications and digital strategy. He served as the ...
Nov 28, 2017•57 min•Ep. 15
How is American Identity shaped, when you grow up here — and succeed here — yet still get asked “where you’re from”? New York Times best-selling author Julie Lythcott-Haims joins American Enough to discuss how skin color, values, and tough truths about our nation have shaped what it means to be a Real American. As the descendant of slave owners and the daughter of a bi-racial marriage, Julie often states that she’s So American It Hurts. In her most recent book, she highlights the racism, the mic...
Nov 02, 2017•50 min•Ep. 14
What’s it like working for President Trump after working for President Obama? Former White House policy advisor Maya Uppaluru speaks to the energy of both white houses, the initiatives that persist despite the new President, and what it’s like to be a working mom in these roles… Maya Uppaluru was a policy advisor in both the President Obama White House and President Trump White House. Maya joined the White House in 2015, in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, launching the Precision Med...
Oct 23, 2017•58 min•Ep. 13
Do The Words A President Uses Really Matter? Former Obama Speech Writer, and CNN Reporter, Aneesh Raman joins American Enough for a discussion on how words can shape the heartbeat of the country and inform the trust American’s have for the White House. From his time covering presidents, to writing for them, to leveraging technology for a new-media revolution, Aneesh opines on the challenges that presidential rhetoric are presenting to everything from childhood education to cultural identity to c...
Oct 15, 2017•43 min•Ep. 12
Former John McCain Presidential Campaign Senior Strategist Steve Schmidt on messages of division… In a discussion about trust in American institutions, Russia meddling, and how we counter messages of division — American Enough is joined by Republican strategist Steve Schmidt , and former senior strategist to the 2008 presidential campaign of Senator John McCain & Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin. He is currently a political analyst for MSNBC, and has appeared frequently on Real Time w...
Oct 10, 2017•36 min•Ep. 11
Unpacking the role of America’s moral authority in shaping democracies around the world with former White House communications & press advisor Kevin Xu… Myanmar has seen a massive shift to democracy in recent years, but is being accused of ethnic cleansing and genocide against an ethnic minority in the region. Just a few years prior, Kevin Xu helped planned President Obama’s trip to Myanmar, in which the US praised the country’s shift to a democracy but Obama also cautioned that violence aga...
Sep 28, 2017•44 min•Ep. 10
Why President Trump’s statements on NFL player protests are not American enough… In the last 24 hours. President Trump has criticized members and players of the National Football League who refuse to stand for the National Anthem all while dumping on NBA Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry as well as NBA star LeBron James. Wouldn’t you love to see one of these owners of the NFL Trump decried when somebody disrespects our flag to get that son of the bitch off the field right now? Tell him he’s...
Sep 25, 2017•15 min•Ep. 9
