American Enough
MouthMedia Network
America's identity is evolving in real time. Immigrants are being scoffed at for looking a certain way and not being "American" enough. Transgender individuals are being determined not "fit enough" to serve in our military. Sexual assault and neo-nazi behavior is being condoned by the Oval Office. The First Amendment is being ridiculed. And, America's moral authority is eroding internationally, begging the question of who is "enough" of an American ally.
Former Obama White House senior advisor and Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Commerce, Vikrum Aiyer, is joined by journalists, comedians, politicians, activists, and listeners, to unpack...
This Is Life with Lisa Ling - Stories of American Identity
This is Life with Lisa Ling is an investigative docuseries on CNN. Lisa Ling, award-winning journalist and author, immerses herself in extraordinary, unusual, and sometimes dangerous communities across America . What she has learned over several seasons as an executive producer and host has profoundly changes her as a person, as a mother, and perhaps even as an American. Lisa sits with MouthMedia Network co-founder Marc Raco for a special interview, in which she reveals how the stories
How to Rebuild Trust in American Leadership
From the NFL to Media Executives to elected office, the trust & faith we have in the very organizations that define American culture is has dwindled. But Dr. Jerry Toomer, a 30 year veteran of behavioral psychology, joins the pod to discuss how a few core principles can be applied to catalyze change in our communities, and build a new generation of American leadership that doesn’t always require a board room or a podium.
Dr. Jerry Toomer serves as an Executive Partner and Adjunct P
If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying: Gaming College Admissions with a 14-Year Veteran of the Game
While wealth has been used to hack college admissions for generations, the FBI indictment in Operation Varsity Blues underscores vast inequities in higher education. Eric Rath, a 14 year veteran of college counseling & SAT prep, joins the pod to diagnose what’s gone wrong with the admissions process, and steps we need to take to break the caste system of education.
Eric Rath is founder of Rath Education Group, a test prep and tutoring firm. Before starting his own firm, Eric’s 1
Fewer Veterans Are Running for Public Office. Meet the Team Changing That: New Politics
Emily Cherniack & Micah Scharf of New Politics join the pod to discuss why recruiting service members for a second tour of duty — representing their country, after spending years fighting for it — is more important now than ever.
Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director
Emily Cherniack is steeped in the traditions of servant leadership. From her service in AmeriCorps and employment with City Year AmeriCorps, to being part of the founding team of Be the Change — where she le
Is an “America First” Strategy Disrupting Alliances Abroad? We Asked a Parliamentarian from Europe.
Dr. Ricardo Leite, a Member of Parliament from Portugal, joins the pod to discuss how multilateral relations between traditional allies is shifting in real time; and what those evolutions mean for countries to tackle shared interests (like public health goals) together. Recorded at the Concordia Summit 2018.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Opportunity Zones – Can a Tax Break Save the US-Mexico Border?
Should Amazon Have Invested In Opportunity Zones? And, what do Napster, Cory Booker, and VP Pence have in common?
Even though Amazon was pilloried for seeking tax “incentives” from New York, “opportunity zones” offer investors new tax breaks to revitalize traditionally distressed zones. Eddie Cullen, founder of the Border Freedom Fund, joins the pod to describe how these “zones” can create new hopes in overlooked American communities, including the US-Mexican border.See omnystudio.com/l
Changing of the Guard: How Millennials are Grabbing Seats of Power
Why Millennials in America are becoming the face of community organizing, new technologies, and the nation…
Founder & Executive Director of the Association of Young Americans (AYA), Ben Brown, joins the pod to discuss why young people in America are increasingly becoming the face of community organizing, new technologies, and the nation. Ben argues how representing their voice in politics will be vital to the growth and competitiveness of the country in the 21st century.
Ben Brown
Why Women Still March
Showing up at The Women’s March in San Francisco, CA – January, 2019
While 2019’s Women’s March was criticized for size, affiliation, accusations of bigotry and beyond — women and girls and allies of all backgrounds still showed up in cities across the nation. Join American Enough for live dispatches with leaders, organizers and skeptics of this year’s March explaining why it was important for so many to show up.
The opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect those of
Is 2019 the Year America Finally Enacts Paid Family Leave Policies?
Why working families in the United States struggle to spend time with newborns & raise their families…
Executive Director of the nation’s leading paid family leave advocacy organization PL+US, Katie Bethell, joins the pod to discuss why working families in the United States struggle to spend time with newborns & raise their families (when the rest of the industrialized world invests in robust parental leave protections) and why hope may be on the horizon in 2019.
Katie Bethell
(Golden Globes Special): Is Hollywood Shifting from Commercial Impact to Social Impact?
The transforming of creative content in Hollywood…
In an era where entertainment increasingly mirrors the despair contained within our daily news cycle, one studio in Hollywood is doubling down on creative content that seeks to unite Americans with hope & inclusivity. Co-Founder of Wayfarer entertainment, Farhoud Meybodi, joins the pod to discuss how their brand of TV, Film, and Web-driven content can both speak to the issues of our time, while using art to galvanize change.
BIO
Co-
Why are Paychecks Shrinking, if the Economy is Booming?
Why Most Americans Can’t Afford a $400 Bill
Rachel Schneider (Author of the Financial Diaries, and Entrepreneur in Resident at the Aspen Institute’s FSP) followed 235 American families to understand why so many American’s still feel financial duress even while our economy grows at a rapid rate. She joins to the pod to detail how experimenting with new policies, like short term cash infusions, can address wage stagnation in the country.
Rachel Schneider is the Omidyar Network Entrepre
How New York Trains Workers For a World of A.I. – with Karen Bhatia
With all the promise & fret of automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics —
Karen Bhatia, Vice President of New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, joins the pod to discuss how to leverage private dollars & public curricula to train workers for the jobs of tomorrow, today.
Bio:
Karen Bhatia is an innovative strategist and vision-led leader at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. Over 13 years of experience helping businesses start and scale. Inte
How the City of L.A. Resists Anti-Immigration Policies in the Era of Trump
Dealing with changing Federal policy in immigration affairs departments in major US cities…
Dr. Linda Lopez, Chief of Immigrant Affairs to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, joins the pod to discuss how Cities can still connect immigrants to the promise of the American dream at the local level, even while the Administration attempts to water that dream down at the national level. Recorded on location at the 2018 Concordia Summit in New York.
Linda currently serves in a senior leadership role with
#GivingTuesday & Lyft: Are Tech Companies Leading the Way on Social Impact?
Lyft’s Head of Social Impact, Mike Masserman, joins the pod to talk about how a tech company can still invest in social good — even in an era of heightened government scrutiny across some of the world’s largest technology corporations.
Mike Masserman is currently the Head of Global Policy & Social Impact at Lyft, where he works on initiatives related to civic engagement, autonomous vehicles, opening global markets, and smart cities. Michael was previously the Senior Director for Fe
The Unsung Heroes of The West Wing
Presidential speechwriters, Pentagon advisors, and the staff who help confirm Supreme Court justices don’t often grace the front pages of newspapers or tabloids. But in their book The West Wingers, 18 former White House staff detail how their own personal stories helped shape the work of the nation. Editor Gautam Raghavan, and contributing writers Aneesh Raman & Stephanie Valencia, join host Vikrum Aiyer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Automation and the Future of Work in America
New forms of work, through apps like Uber, and new forms of automation — are sparking both new opportunities and considerable angst among American workers.
CEO & Co-Founder of The Workers Lab, Dr. Carmen Rojas, joins the pod to discuss how to build a 21st century set of organizing principles around preparing and protecting workers, while balancing the innovations that are fueling this century’s growth.
Dr. Carmen Rojas is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Workers Lab, an innovation lab
What’s the Matter with Florida? Comparing the 2000 and 2018 Election Recounts
Bush v. Gore Florida recount attorney, and veteran campaign operative, Todd Elmer joins the pod to describe what the chaos inside an election recount looks like, while reflecting on the opportunity America has to protect the voices of voters in Georgia, Arizona, and Florida.
Todd Elmer has built a 20 year career at the intersection of politics, law, communications, and artificial intelligence policy. Most recently, he served as part of the DNC’s national Deployment Project, which sent
Banning Gender: How America is Attempting to Rewrite Definitions of Sex
The first openly transgender staffer to The White House, Raffi Freedman–Gurspan, outlines how Americans can stand up to a White House plan to rewrite definitions of sex in this country, and undercut protections for millions of non-gender conforming citizens.
Raffi Freedman-Gurspan is the Director of External Relations at the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), where she oversees public education and field organizing operations. She was both a Senior Associate Director for P
5 Issues to Watch as a result of Tuesday’s elections
As the nation turned out to the ballot box in record numbers for the November midterm elections…
…the world watched in awe as Americans were pitted against each other with threats of migrant caravans and the loss of healthcare.
But what does the make-up of the new Congress (and the promise of newly minted elected officials) actually mean for Immigration? Privacy? Infrastructure? Or American civility?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What the City of Chicago is Doing to Re-Claim the American Dream
Chicago, immigrants, and American identity…
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has stood up to anyone who tries to point at a finger at an immigrant in Chicago and imply that they’re not welcome in this country. Seemi Choudry, the Director of the Office of New Americans, is the muscle behind that backbone and has built new sources to help anyone afraid of losing their American identity, keep it, and reimagine the promise of this country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How the Republican Party Courts College Campuses
Ahead of the November 6th elections, executive director of the College Republican National Committee (CRNC) Ted Dooley joins Vikrum Aiyer. on location at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York City, to discuss how the GOP engages college campuses across the country to be an “R” in the age of Trump.
Ted Dooley is the Executive Director of the College Republican National Committee. Prior to that, he served as the organization’s National Co-Chairman, Regional Vice-Chairman, and was a th
What Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder Means for Free Expression in the United States
Politico’s Daniel Lippman and seasoned investigative journalist Tim Burger join the pod to discuss what the gruesome death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi and The White House reaction means for a free & open media at home, and around the world.
Daniel Lippman is a reporter for POLITICO and a co-author of POLITICO’s Playbook, the most indispensable morning newsletter for the biggest influencers in politics. He graduated from The Hotchkiss School in 2008 and from The Georg
What the hell is blockchain? – with Sam Cassat, Chief Strategy Officer of Consensys
How blockchain could transform the world…
As revolutions in technology continue to change the way we interact with the world, perhaps no one tool promises to change the way we move assets around the world other than Blockchain. The mystique of blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies continue to be investigated by skeptics by are being leveraged by believers to change everything from the way we bank, to the way we vote, to the way we build governments. Sam Cassat, the Chief Strategy
Keeping the American Promise – with Todd Schulte of FWD.US
Has our broken immigration and criminal justice systems locked too many people out from the American dream?
Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential, joins Vikrum Aiyer at the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City.
In this episode:
The Trump administration’s political rhetoric vs. policy
The objective of drastically fewer
Does the Gain of a Supreme Court Justice Mean A Loss for the Court?
Brett Kavanaugh is now Associate Justice Kavanaugh.
What does this controversial addition to the Supreme Court of the United States mean for the identity of the court, the country, and consent?
Host Vikrum Aiyer offers some perspective, and heads to the streets and subways of the San Francisco Bay Area for public reaction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why build prisons when you can build people? – With Stanley Richards of The Fortune Society
How do we train and upscale workers for the 21st Century? And how can an entire pipeline of 7 million formerly incarcerated workers, seeking to be productive in society, “skill-up”. contribute, and fill roles competitively in the labor market, connect with willing and welcoming company?
Stanley Richards, Executive Vice President at The Fortune Society, a non-profit organization based in New York City, NY with a mission to support successful reentry from prison and promote alternatives t
Does America Care About Science? – with Kumar Garg
Kumar Garg on whether America can maintain its leading edge in scientific discovery if it routinely bucks the very investments & truths that have been core to American discovery…
For nineteen months, The White House has not appointed a science advisor, has dismissed third party research outlining shifts in our climate, and has even entered into nuclear arms negotiations with North Korea without a physicists in the room. Former White House science advisor Kumar Garg joins the podcast
Run for Something – with Congressional Candidate Lauren Baer
Mom, Wife, and former foreign policy advisor to the Secretary of State jumps into a race for Congress…
Lauren Baer joins the pod to reflect on what it means to be a candidate for office at a time where political divisions are at an all time high, and trust for Congress is at a new low.
Lauren Baer was raised in Florida’s 18th Congressional District and calls Palm Beach Gardens home. An attorney and foreign policy expert, Lauren served as an official in the Obama Administration from 201
Stopping Sexual Misconduct in Silicon Valley – with the co-founders of #MOVINGFORWARD
A year of momentum for movements like #MovingForward…
If 2017 was the year of revelations that roiled the entertainment, news, and tech industry by way of sexual misconduct & workplace harassment coming to light, 2018 has been a year of momentum for movements like #MovingForward. But the technology community, especially with its inherent power imbalance between startup founders and wealthy financiers, has faced a set of unique problems that plague how young innovative companies get
Why Isn’t America Standing Up for Breastfeeding?
For as long as there have been babies, there have been debates over how to feed them…
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Trump administration opposed an international resolution to encourage breastfeeding, stunning maternal health advocates and drawing swift criticism… including from Lucy Sullivan, the Executive Director of 1,000 Days, a non profit focused on maternal health advocacy across the globe. Lucy joins the pod to discuss how corporate interests are reshaping America’s
Democrats running as Republicans – with Jonathan Trichter
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
Trump Impersonating Trump
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
Here’s How You Can Help Fight Family Separation at the Border
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.
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There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — F
Are Children Missing at the Border? – with Debbie Nathan of The Intercept
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 investigativ
Do Fashion Models Need a Gender Identity?
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
Why it Matters: The White House Disinvited The Philadelphia Eagles
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 t
SPECIAL ELECTION DAY COVERAGE: California’s Democratic Primary – with Eric Bauman
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
Are America’s Schools Still Segregated? – with Dennis Parker of the ACLU
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
Kneeling with the NFL – with Michel Faulkner, NFL Alumni Association NY Chapter President
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
Data privacy, consumer rights, and governance in the wake of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica
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 A
How Sports, Not Politics, Drive Divisions in America – with Zaid Jilani
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 t
020 – Florida and the Identity of American Public Schools, Beyond Guns – with Alex Heeren
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 exte
019 – America’s Trade Policy and National Security – with Nomi Goheer
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 Off
018 – The American Identity – Live from SXSW
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,
017 – The Rise of Women Does Not Need to Be at the Expense of Men – with Rachel Payne
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
016 – Public Service and Scandals
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
015 – American Dream Feel Out of Reach? Lace Up and Run for Office – with Sam Jammal (Congressional Candidate for California’s 39th District)
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
014 – Challenging Identity and Progression of Women – with Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s Former Chief of Staff
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 th
013 – The American Immigrant Experience – with Smithsonian Filmmaker Frank Chi
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. W
012 – The Jihad on Fake News – with Reporters Timothy Burger and Daniel Lippman
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-autho
011 – The Risk to America’s Security Strength – with Ned Price
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
010 – The Identity of the Internet – with Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda
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 acc
009 – The Real Americans – with Playwright Dan Hoyle
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 me
008 – Sexual Misconduct and a Crumbling Moral Compass – with Tim Miller
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 serve
007 – Real Americans, Skin Color, and Tough Truths – with Julie Lythcott-Haims
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
006 – Working for Both Trump & Obama – with Maya Uppaluru
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 P
005 – How Words & Tech Shape a Presidency & Identity – Aneesh Raman
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 iden
004 – Messages of Division – with Steve Schmidt
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 Re
003 – America’s Moral Authority in Shaping Global Democracy – with Kevin Xu
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 vio
September 24, 2017 – Trump Bullies the NFL
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
002 – What America’s Health System Should Look Like – with Emma Sandoe
What Should America’s Health System Look Like?
Vikrum speaks with Emma Sandoe (profile), who previously worked for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services serving as the Medicaid spokesperson and working on HealthCare.gov communications as well as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Center. She also worked in the Department of Health and Human Services Budget Office as the Affordable Care Act coordinator and at the Center for American Progress.
The Capitol Hill he
001 – Town Hall – September 9, 2017
Host Vikrum Aiyer addresses call-in questions and comments from listeners in a town hall style conversation on everything from FEMA, equality, positivity in politics, cultural variety, whether we are regressing as countrymen, and what it means to be an American.
Call in with your question or comment for future town hall episodes to 844-484-5786.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 10, 2017 – North Korea & Former Pentagon Speechwriter Kevin Sammy
Who defines how forceful American rhetoric has to be when we talked to our adversaries or allies around the world?
Today we spoke with former Pentagon Speechwriter to the Secretary of Defense, Kevin Sammy (bio), about how a shift in the words we use with North Korea can redefine our foreign policy doctrine; and can beg the question of how far our allies need to go to remain American Enough to our President. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 9, 2017 – Trump’s RAISE Act: How do Immigrants effectively become integrated as American enough?
Trump’s RAISE Act and how immigrants can be American enough…
When an immigrant is told they’re not American enough to come to this country, stay in this country, or thrive in this country — how does the promise etched into the Statue of Liberty hold true? Our President RAISEd this very question last week, by endorsing a set of immigration proposals that try to measure the likelihood of an individual succeeding or not in this grand American experiment. So what are his metrics?
See omn
July 27, 2017 – On Banning Transgender People in the US Military – with Gautam Raghavan
Gautam Raghavan, LGBT Advisor to President Barack Obama, speaks on President Trump’s planned ban of transgenders in the US military…
Vikrum Aiyer interviews Gautam Raghavan, former LGBT Advisor to President Barack Obama, and Pentagon White House Liaison who helped oversee the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and worked on implementing the rule enabling transgender service members to openly serve our country. Raghavan discusses the thinking behind President Trump’s TransBan, and shares his
July 25, 2017 – On Trump, Boy Scouts, Health Care, America Leadership
President Trump and the Boy Scouts, the Health Care vote, and American leadership…
As he travels, Vikrum Aiyer makes time to reflect on President Trump’s polarizing speech to the Boy Scouts, the story-in-the-making vote on Health Care, and considerations for effective leadership in the United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 15, 2017 – On the Shooting at the GOP Baseball Practice
Why President Trump’s response to the shooting at the GOP baseball practice mattered as an example of how unity must be beyond the moment of tragedy…
While en route to a meeting, Vikrum Aiyer comments on how division fuels conflict, how Americans stand well shoulder to shoulder in times of tragedy but must do great in the moments in between those difficult events, and how we must be better together.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — Former White House Senior Economic Policy Advisor (Obama Administration) and Former Chief of Staff of the United States Patent and Trademark Office — has something to say about it all and about what it takes these days to be American enough.
This summer, MouthMedia™ Network will launch “American Enough™ with Vikrum Aiyer”, a weekly, town hall-style podcast d