American Potential

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In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Army veteran Haley Dunkin to share her journey from military service and a life-changing injury to entrepreneurship and advocating for fellow veterans.

Haley joined the Army right out of high school and deployed to Afghanistan shortly after getting married. An injury during her deployment eventually ended the military career she had planned, leaving her to figure out what came next. She shares the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, becoming a small business owner, and eventually confronting health problems connected to her service.

Those experiences led Haley back to the veteran community, where she discovered how many others were struggling to navigate healthcare, find resources, and rediscover their own sense of purpose after leaving the military.

Today, Haley works to connect veterans with resources and advocate for reforms that could give them greater access to the healthcare they need. She also shares her own ongoing struggle to receive treatment for a traumatic brain injury and why she believes veterans shouldn't have to fight the system to receive the care they've earned.

For Haley, the journey has come full circle: after losing the purpose she found in the Army, she found a new one helping other veterans.

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It’s Halloween on American Potential, and some of the scariest things aren’t ghosts or goblins—they’re policies coming out of state capitals.

Host David From sits down with Ariana Assenmacher, Political Director for the California Young Republicans, to discuss Proposition 40, a proposed wealth tax targeting billionaires and some of their assets in California.

Ariana breaks down how the proposal would work, why its retroactive nature is raising concerns, and what could happen if entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners decide California is no longer worth the cost. They also discuss the potential impact on jobs, investment, innovation, and state revenue—and why other ballot measures are attempting to counter the proposal.

The conversation also looks at why Ariana and other young Californians are choosing to stay and fight for their state. California has long been a center of entrepreneurship and innovation, and Ariana explains why policies that discourage people from building and investing could have consequences far beyond the billionaires being targeted.

This Halloween, the scary question is what happens when a tax aimed at a few of California’s wealthiest residents ends up affecting everyone else.

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It’s Halloween on American Potential, and the scariest thing facing Illinois families might not be ghosts, haunted houses, or monsters—it might be their property tax bill.

Host David From sits down with Americans for Prosperity Illinois Deputy State Director Brian Costin to unpack Illinois’ already frightening property taxes and a Mega Projects bill that could make the situation even scarier for homeowners and businesses.

Brian explains how the proposal could give major developments significant property tax advantages while potentially shifting more of the burden onto surrounding taxpayers. He also discusses why AFP Illinois is sounding the alarm ahead of the state’s veto session and what could happen if lawmakers revive the proposal.

The conversation also looks at the bigger problem facing Illinois and Brian’s plan to put stronger caps on property taxes, give families more certainty, and make the state more competitive with its neighbors.

This Halloween episode proves that sometimes the scariest stories coming out of Illinois don’t need ghosts or monsters—they just need a property tax bill.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Rimantas Jurevicius, who grew up in Lithuania under Soviet control and now lives in Wisconsin, to share his firsthand experience of life under communism.

Rimantas describes growing up in a system where private property was taken away, basic goods were often difficult to find, government-run stores had empty shelves, and Communist Party connections could determine everything from career opportunities to access to better products and healthcare. He also shares his family’s painful history, including his mother being forcibly sent to Siberia as a child under Stalin.

A talented track athlete, Rimantas became a Soviet Union champion and served in the Soviet military before eventually coming to the United States in 1992 with just $130 in his pocket. He shares how an American company gave him an opportunity despite not speaking English—and how, 32 years later, he retired after eventually running that same company.

Today, Rimantas is sharing his story with Americans to explain the realities of the system he experienced and why he believes freedom and opportunity are at the heart of the American Dream.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with attorney Aaron Rice of American Dream Legal to discuss a major legal fight over healthcare competition and patient choice in Mississippi.

Aaron shares the story of Butch, an experienced physical therapist who wanted to open a home health agency after seeing the growing need for in-home care during COVID. But he discovered that Mississippi had maintained a moratorium for 45 years that prevented anyone from opening a new home health agency.

Aaron explains how certificate of need laws allow existing healthcare providers to weigh in on whether new competitors should be allowed into the market and how those restrictions can limit choices for patients. Despite Mississippi’s home health patient population growing dramatically, the number of agencies available to serve them actually declined.

Butch fought back in court and won a major victory when a federal judge struck down the 45-year moratorium. Now, Aaron and his team are taking the fight further, challenging Mississippi’s broader certificate of need law and arguing that healthcare entrepreneurs should not need permission from their competitors to serve patients.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Iowa State Representative and artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen to share the story behind the Freedom Rock and how one painting grew into a mission to honor veterans across America.

Inspired by Saving Private Ryan, Bubba painted his first patriotic mural on a graffiti-covered rock in Iowa in 1999. What started as a simple way to thank veterans became an annual tradition and eventually expanded to Freedom Rocks in all 99 Iowa counties. He is now working toward bringing one to every state in the country.

Bubba shares some of the powerful stories he has encountered along the way, including veterans and Gold Star families who found comfort in his artwork. He also explains how the Freedom Rock became a living memorial, with the ashes of more than 180 Vietnam veterans and other service members incorporated into the paintings.

The conversation also explores Bubba’s own One Small Step—from picking up a paintbrush to eventually running for the Iowa legislature—and how he uses both art and public service to preserve the stories of those who sacrificed for America.

Gable reflects on his journey from growing up in Iowa to becoming an Olympic gold medalist, including his remarkable 1972 Olympic run where he did not surrender a single point. He shares how one of the most painful losses of his college career ultimately made him a better wrestler and helped shape the coaching philosophy that would lead the University of Iowa to wrestling dominance.

The conversation explores the dangers of becoming comfortable with success, why winning requires constant discipline, and how setbacks can expose the areas where you need to improve. Gable also shares stories from competing against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, his decision to remain in Iowa despite lucrative opportunities elsewhere, and what receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom meant to him.

Through wrestling, coaching, marriage, family, and more than five decades of competition and leadership, Gable shares lessons about perseverance, accountability, and the importance of having people in your life who push you toward excellence.

Scott takes listeners behind the scenes of his debates on CNN, explaining why listening is one of the most important skills in winning an argument and what he has learned debating some of the most prominent voices on the left. He also discusses the rise of socialism, why he believes its growing appeal among younger Americans should be taken seriously, and how supporters of free markets can make a stronger case for opportunity and individual freedom. transcript (33)

Drawing from his book A Revolution of Common Sense, Scott connects today’s political debates to lessons from America’s founding, including the dangers of a government that becomes too large and too distant from the people it serves. He and David also discuss small businesses, the skilled trades, and why creating opportunity means trusting people to build, work, innovate, and pursue their own version of the American Dream.

And for anyone expecting a political debate around the Thanksgiving table, Scott shares a few tips from his experience debating politics on national television.

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Congresswoman Miller-Meeks shares why concerns about government control of healthcare first motivated her to run for office and how her 24 years of military service shaped her commitment to protecting individual liberty. She also discusses the Working Families Tax Cut, efforts to improve veterans’ healthcare and benefits, lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs, and the need to rein in federal spending.

Drawing on her experiences serving overseas, she explains why seeing life in other countries gave her an even deeper appreciation for America’s constitutional liberties, rule of law, and the opportunity to succeed, fail, and try again.

The conversation also explores what Washington can learn from Iowa voters: show up, listen, ask tough questions, and remember that public service should ultimately be about serving the American people.

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In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Wyoming ranchers Tyler Lindholm and James Halverson to talk about rising beef prices, the challenges facing American ranchers, and how government regulations affect what consumers ultimately pay at the grocery store.

Tyler, a fifth-generation rancher, and James, a first-generation rancher, explain how beef gets from the pasture to your plate and why a highly concentrated processing industry and federal regulations make it difficult for ranchers to sell directly to consumers. They also discuss tariffs, beef imports, labeling, and why American ranchers can face more restrictions selling across state lines than foreign producers face selling beef in the United States. 

They share reforms they believe could open the market to more competition, including allowing state-inspected beef to be sold across state lines and giving states more flexibility over local processing. The conversation also explores why America's cattle herd has fallen to historically low levels and what it could take to increase supply and bring beef prices down.

And beyond policy, Tyler and James share why, despite the long hours and hard work, they're proud to be ranchers and continue the Western way of life.