Neil Ruiz, a leading political economist, sat down with us to talk about how he’s revolutionizing how we understand and engage Asian American communities through powerful data storytelling! Influenced by his Filipino roots, Neil shares his groundbreaking work to lead the largest Asian American survey ever conducted through the Pew Researcher. We also discuss insights into how recent demographic trends are changing the mainstream narratives of Asian American communities across the country. This is a must-listen for those who love data to drive community organizing and inclusive political engagement.

About Neil Ruiz

Neil is the head of new research initiatives at Pew Research Center. Neil works closely with the Center’s president to drive new strategies that expand the Center’s scope and capacity to pioneer new research and represent broader audiences.Neil led Pew Research Center’s groundbreaking study of Asian Americans which received the 2023 Inclusive Voices Award from the American Association for Public Opinion Research. This multi-year, multi-lingual study is the largest survey of Asian Americans to date, and it featured over eighty focus groups designed to understand their diverse experiences in the U.S. His research produced over 60 publications and two documentary films, and it ensured the voices of 24 million Asian Americans were included in the public opinion research industry. Neil was recently named into Gold House’s A100 list, honoring the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders in culture and society for 2025. Neil is a leading expert on global migration, U.S. immigration, race and ethnicity in the U.S., and economic development. He is regularly sought out by domestic and international news outlets, governments, and civic leaders for his expertise and guidance. His research has produced numerous publications on these topics during his career at The Brookings Institution, The World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. Earlier in his career, Neil founded and led organizations that helped spur entrepreneurial tech startups in the Philippines. Neil is a political economist with a Ph.D. from MIT, a master’s degree from Oxford University, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.

In this episode, we sit down with nationally recognized political strategist Trip Yang, offering insights into serving as a high-ranking AAPI political operative in a field where representation at the top levels remains limited. Yang discusses the evolving landscape of political engagement in New York City, examining how the community's growing political consciousness is reshaping electoral dynamics - particularly with the election of Zohran Mamdani as the Democratic Nominee for New York City Mayor.

About Trip Yang

Trip Yang is a nationally recognized political strategist and founder of Trip Yang Strategies, widely considered the #1 AAPI-owned political consulting firm in New York. His firm has been at the center of electing dozens of candidates up and down the ballot across all levels of government. Yang has been consistently ranked as a top 100 political consultant by City and State, New York's premier political publication, and has been featured in major outlets including Politico, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. His extensive campaign experience spans three presidential campaigns, managing statewide and NYC campaigns, and working in NYC Government. Before founding his firm, Yang led numerous Independent Expenditure Committees that reached tens of thousands of AAPI voters. Today, he continues to shape New York's political landscape as one of the state's most sought-after political strategists.

What is the unique role of the county sheriff in public safety? In this episode, Sheriff Maxwell Uy, the 62nd—and first Asian American—Sheriff of Montgomery County, Maryland sheds light on one of the county’s oldest yet often misunderstood law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Uy reflects on his 30-year journey through every division of the department, the experience of running for office in 2022, and how the role of Sheriff has evolved over time in Maryland.

About Sheriff Maxwell Uy

Maxwell Uy is the 62nd Sheriff of Montgomery County and the first Asian American to ever hold the position. With three decades of public service experience, Sheriff Uy has been with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office since 1994, rising through the ranks and serving in every division — from Court Services to Civil Enforcement to Family and Administrative Services. He’s previously trained as the Academy Sergeant at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy and proudly served as an Honor Guard Commander, led crisis negotiation and special response teams, and contributed to county-wide initiatives on firearms and crisis intervention. Before his distinguished career in Montgomery County, Sheriff Uy served in the United States Army as part of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” His story is one of service, leadership, and breaking barriers — and it’s one that reflects the growing impact of Asian Americans in law enforcement and local politics.

We’re kicking off the Year of the Snake with former Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley, campaigning for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairmanship. In this episode, the governor shared his vision to rebuild the Democratic Party as chair, ways to improve communication and engagement with targeted diverse communities such as Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, and boosting grassroots efforts, voter registration, and candidate recruitment for non-contested races. 

About Martin O'Malley:

Martin O’Malley has held a career that spans across local government to the national level. Most recently, he served as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration during President Joe Biden’s administration. A former candidate for President in 2016, Governor O’Malley also chaired the Democratic Governors Association from 2011 to 2015. He served two terms as Maryland’s 61st governor, where he focused on innovative governance and a commitment to measurable results. Before that, he made his mark on the City Council and later as mayor for the City of Baltimore.

In this episode, Maryland House Majority Leader, Delegate David Moon reflects on growing up as an Asian American in Montgomery County, working behind the scenes for various causes, and the value of coalition politics in building a stronger Democratic party. His combined experiences as a political operative, grassroots advocate, and blogger have all informed his work as a state delegate, representing District 20. Stream this episode to hear Delegate Moon’s perspective on improving our legislative and democratic process. 

About Delegate David Moon

David Moon is the Majority Leader in the Maryland House of Delegates and currently represents District 20. First elected in 2014, Delegate Moon is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and also chairs the Criminal Law Subcommittee. His past legislative efforts have focused on expanding constitutional rights, promoting criminal justice reform, and defending our diverse communities. Outside of elected office, Delegate Moon works as a grassroots organizer, political consultant and policy attorney. His projects have included work on immigration reform, transit, criminal justice, fair elections, LGBTQ+ rights, civil liberties, youth mobilization and more. Delegate Moon is a Montgomery County native and lives in Takoma Park with his wife Melinda.

What exactly is a DC Shadow Senator and how does that role help remedy the lack of representation for District of Columbia residents at the national level? Our guest, Ankit Jain, who is running for the DC Shadow Senator seat, shares how this role is tied to the district’s lack of statehood. Jain also emphasizes how his background fighting for fair elections and democracy reform is important for many communities of color, including immigrants and Asian Americans.

About Ankit Jain

Ankit Jain is currently the DC Shadow Senator, representing Ward 2 in Washington DC. He is also a voting rights attorney for the organization FairVote. Ankit is the son of Indian immigrants who grew up in Fairfax County, VA. Ankit is a champion leader in D.C.’s fight for statehood, for a stronger democracy, and in getting young people involved in local Democratic politics. He is an active member of the D.C. Democrats Statehood Committee, the leadership team for the Make All Votes Count D.C. committee that is advocating for Ranked Choice Voting in D.C. elections, and the Ward 2 Advisory Neighborhood Commission Redistricting Taskforce. He also founded Young Democrats of Ward 2 to get young people more involved within the Ward 2 Democrats. Ankit also interned with the D.C Public Defender Service as an undergrad.

While attending law school at Columbia University, Ankit was one of the lead organizers of the NYC March for Our Lives for stronger gun laws, which drew over 200,000 attendees. He then became President of March for Our Lives Manhattan. Ankit completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago.

In this special edition of The Blue Dumpling Podcast, we take you inside the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where we chatted with members of the Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Caucus. Hear from a few Asian American elected officials and community leaders about their hopes for the future of AAPI representation and advocacy. We also discuss what it means for the AAPI community at-large to have Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ballot for President.

We're thrilled to have Maryland’s trailblazing Lieutenant Governor, Aruna Miller on this episode of The Blue Dumpling Podcast. As the first woman of color and the first immigrant to hold statewide office in Maryland, she’s broken barriers and is here to share her incredible journey into the world of politics and public service. From her engineering roots to shaping public policy, Aruna reveals how she’s been instrumental in building a government that truly represents the people of Maryland alongside Governor Wes Moore. We also dive into her Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) political engagement efforts and what fuels her optimism for the next generation of AAPI leaders. Don’t miss this powerful conversation with a true pioneer in public service!

About Lt. Governor Aruna Miller

With her Maryland roots, trailblazer Ms. Bel Leong Hong has made her mark through political organizing and fundraising at the national level. As chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Asian Committee’s Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Caucus, she has spearheaded a movement of AAPI political engagement for more than two decades. From ensuring AAPI representation at all levels of government to mobilizing AAPI donors for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot, Bel emphasizes opening doors for future Asian Americans in politics. Stream this episode to hear how Bel has shattered barriers, championed diversity, and elevated the visibility of AAPIs nationwide.

About Our Guest:

Ms. Bel Leong Hong is an advocate, changemaker and trailblazer. Bel’s foray into politics began when she first stumped for John Kerry for President. She eventually made her way up the ranks in Democratic politics, becoming the Chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Caucus. As chair, Bel built a caucus organization that shepherded in a new era of AAPI political growth and engagement for more than two decades. Bel also co-founded the national political action committee, AAPI Victory Fund. She is a powerhouse when it comes to campaigning and fundraising for Presidential, Senatorial, Congressional, and Legislative candidates on the Democratic ticket - especially in Maryland. Outside of politics, she is the CEO and President of Knowledge Advantage, Inc. Before entering politics, she had an astounding career as a federal government public servant, retiring as the highest ranking Asian American civilian in the U.S. Department of Defense. 

The political engagement of Vietnamese Americans is often complex, which is why this episode dives into how to increase their engagement in progressive and Democratic leaning campaigns. Leaders of the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT) sat down with us to explore the interaction between history, culture, language and generational dynamics that shape Vietnamese Americans' involvement in U.S. politics. Our guests also shared how PIVOT is the go-to-source to combat misinformation that is widely circulating within Vietnamese American communities across the nation. Co-Founder and President Dr. Tung Nguyen and Research Lead of PIVOT’s VietFact Check project Nick Nguyen shares their insights to how Vietnamese Americans respond and interact with American politics.

About Our Guests

Dr. Tung Nguyen is the co-founder and president of PIVOT. He fled the Vietnam War as a child refugee. Currently, Dr. Nguyen is a general internist and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. As a community-engaged health equity researcher, Dr. Nguyen has worked with Vietnamese American communities on health promotion projects since 2000. Dr. Nguyen is also the former Chair of President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.