The Fly

This week on the pod, we're happy to welcome Tom Steyer! He's a former hedge fund manager who then turned to political action by founding NextGen America, a nonprofit group that combats climate change, promotes social justice and enlarges participation in democracy. He's also been at the forefront of a movement to impeach President Trump, called Need2Impeach. Be sure to tune in to a great episode!

On the pod this week is Ann Richard! She's worked with many government agencies and nonprofits, including the Office of Management and Budget, State Department, Peace Corps, and International Rescue Committee. Most recently, Ann was the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration from 2012-2017 in the Obama Administration. It's a fascinating conversation you don't want to miss! (Plus we have a guest co-host, Margaret Hodson!)

This week we're so excited to welcome Kevin McLaughlin to the pod! He is the Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for the 2020 cycle. Kevin had previously worked at the NRSC during the 2014 and 2016 election cycles, helping Republicans grow and hold their Senate Majority. This is a fantastic episode so be sure to tune in!

This week we're happy to have Ashley Allison on the pod! She's an alum of the Obama White House and his 2012 re-election campaign. She worked as a field organizer in the swing state of Ohio in 2012, and at the White House she was the Deputy Director and Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Public Engagement. There she managed a team that worked with the LGBTQ, Muslim, faith, African-American, disability, and entertainment communities, as well as focusing on criminal justice and policing reform. Tune in for a wonderful episode!

This week we're excited to welcome GU Politics' Fellow, Paulette Aniskoff! She started off in Obama World as his Get out the Vote Director in Iowa in 2008 and then went to work for him in the White House as Priority Placement Director, did a stint at FEMA, and then went back to the White House as Director of the Office of Public Engagement. We chat with her about her time with Obama and what she's doing now at Citizen 44. Check out this pod and if you want to hear more from Paulette, go to her discussion group!

We're back from spring break and so excited to welcome Mo Elleithee to the pod this week! He is the Executive Director of GU Politics and was the Communications Director at the Democratic National Committee. We chatted with him about his time in Virginia politics, Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign, and his time at the DNC. Tune in!

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This week on the pod we are excited to have Dan Sena! As the Executive Director of the DCCC for the 2018 election cycle, Dan was the architect for the Dems taking back the House. We also delve into his start in politics working in New Mexico where he managed Sen. Tom Udall's reelection campaign. Check out this fascinating episode!

Today on the pod, we have GU Politics Fellow Antonia Ferrier! We talk about her time on the Hill, from House leadership to the Senate - most notably in Sen. McConnell's office - as well as her thoughts on the current status of the GOP. She has built a decade plus reputation as “one of the top Republican message gurus” so you don't want to miss this episode!

Our next guest is Jennie Fay, staff member at GU Politics and former Director of Personnel in the Obama White House. Alec and Hayley talk to her about her background in politics and what it was like to manage people in the Obama White House.

We are excited to have Donna Brazile, Yolanda Caraway, Leah Daughtry, and Minyon Moore, the authors of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics" for our second episode of the season! All four of these women have had extensive experience being at the center of Democratic national politics from the time of Jesse Jackson’s unsuccessful run for the presidency in 1984 to the Bill Clinton White House to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s historic 2016 nomination. Tune in!