The People's Cabinet

In this episode of The People’s Cabinet, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joins Dan Koh to talk about how we stand up to Trump — and what real leadership looks like in dangerous times.

From rising threats to economic solutions, Governor Pritzker shares how he’s balanced budgets, raised wages, and delivered real results for working families — all while defending democracy, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ rights.

They cover:

– The rise of political violence 

– Why people must speak up — and show up

– How affordability, education, and civil rights shape a winning message

– The path to reclaim power and rebuild trust

Former Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Chief of Staff Sheila Nix join The People's Cabinet to break down Donald Trump’s and Linda McMahon’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education — and what that means for students, teachers, schools, and families nationwide.

They explain how eliminating the Department of Education could:

- Slash funding for special education programs

- Defund rural schools, especially in high-poverty communities

- End civil rights enforcement in classrooms

- Jeopardize college affordability — including Pell Grants, student loans, and access to student debt relief and loan forgiveness programs

If you’ve ever wondered how closing the Department of Education could affect your child’s school, your town, or your rights, this episode gives you the tools to understand — and explain — what’s at stake.

🎧 Subscribe to The People’s Cabinet for weekly conversations that cut through the noise, unpack the policies shaping our future, and show how to take action.

Trump’s executive orders. Medicaid cuts. Political fear as strategy. Neera Tanden breaks it all down — and explains how Democrats can fight back.

In this episode of The People’s Cabinet, Dan Koh interviews Neera Tanden, President & CEO of the Center for American Progress and former White House Domestic Policy Advisor, for a deep dive into:

- How executive orders work — and how Trump is misusing them

- Why courts are blocking his actions with temporary restraining orders

- The real-world stakes of Medicaid cuts for families and state budgets

Tanden, a key architect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), explains:

- 90% of Medicaid recipients are working or in training

- Children are the largest group who would lose health coverage

- Medicaid cuts could increase death rates and gut state budgets

The episode ends on a hopeful note — with a call to organize, reject fear, and build a positive, opportunity-focused Democratic message that speaks to working families and immigrant communities.

Sen. Ruben Gallego joins Dan Koh to talk about how Democrats should approach the border — and how that message can help win back the voters they’ve been losing.

From immigration and deportation to working-class men, veterans, and messaging in swing states, Senator Gallego shares what’s broken — and what actually works. Drawing on his experience outperforming the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket in Arizona by 8 points, he lays out a path forward rooted in empathy, clarity, and political strategy.

Subscribe to The People’s Cabinet for new episodes every Tuesday — and let us know who you want to see sworn in next.

Former Labor Secretary, DNC Chair, and Assistant U.S. Attorney General Tom Perez joins Dan Koh to break down how Democrats can win in 2026, reform the DOJ, and rebuild trust with working people.

You’ll hear:

• How Democrats can flip key seats and build a lasting majority
• What really happens inside the DOJ — and how to restore public trust
• Why putting workers first isn’t just good policy — it’s essential politics
• How to lead with values in a moment of deep political cynicism

If you’re looking for clarity, strategy, and hope heading into the next election cycle, this episode delivers.

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Can America stay competitive without funding science and technology? Former White House Chief Science & Technology Advisor Dr. Arati Prabhakar joins Dan Koh to explain what’s at stake — from breakthroughs in AI and drug development to national security and America’s innovation edge.

🔍 Topics Covered:
• AI and medicine
• Drug development and Alzheimer’s research
• The role of federal science agencies:
 — DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
 — ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health)
 — NIH (National Institutes of Health)
 — NSF (National Science Foundation)
• How public-private partnerships fuel innovation
• U.S. vs. China in science and tech leadership
• What Biden got right — and what Trump is undoing

🎧 This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of AI, biotech, life-saving cures, and America’s innovation edge in a fast-changing world.

Trump’s tariffs could tip us into recession. Attacks on the Fed and universities are escalating. Larry Summers explains what’s at stake.

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers joins The People’s Cabinet with a stark warning: Trump’s China tariffs are a “self-inflicted supply shock” that could plunge the U.S. economy into recession.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Summers breaks down:

• Why Trump’s tariffs and China trade war could destabilize the U.S. economy

• The growing threat to Fed independence and politicization of the Federal Reserve

• What the bond market, stock market, and Jerome Powell are signaling about market volatility, a potential Fed rate cut, and US inflation

• His take on Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s takeover of the Treasury Department and its payment systems

• How far loyalty to Trump goes—from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks

• What’s really behind the Trump administration’s attacks on Harvard, DEI, and rising antisemitism

• Why rising antisemitism on campus is about more than just universities—and what it means for democracy in America

• How economic policy is being weaponized—and what it means for the future of leadership and legitimacy in the U.S.

If you care about the economy, the Fed, or the future of democracy—this is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe and follow @PeopleCabinet for more bold conversations on Trump news, trade war fallout, and the institutions shaping our future.

Cleveland Mayor and Democratic Mayors Association President Justin Bibb joins The People’s Cabinet to share what’s actually working—from cutting crime to fixing housing and homelessness.

Cleveland’s mayor shares practical, real-world solutions to critical urban issues like homelessness, permitting reform, and public safety—and explains why Democratic leaders need to focus on results, not rhetoric.

We cover:
– Holding police accountable—and his take on “Defund the Police”
– Chronic homelessness
– Housing affordability
– Permitting reform and the Abundance Agenda
– Transportation
– Governing a blue city in a red state

This is a grounded, hopeful conversation about solutions that are already working—and how to scale them.

Marty Walsh joins The People’s Cabinet to talk addiction, recovery, and how we can win back the working-class voters we’ve lost.

The former U.S. Labor Secretary and Boston Mayor—now Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association—shares his story of hitting rock bottom and rebuilding his life, and explains why showing up with humility is key to rebuilding trust.

We cover:
– Alcoholism, recovery, and staying sober
– Why politicians need to get yelled at
– What DC can learn from local leaders
– What’s missing in Democratic messaging

This is a conversation about personal and political recovery—and how to lead with honesty when it matters most.

Jon Finer — President Biden’s former Deputy National Security Advisor — joins The People’s Cabinet for an unfiltered conversation about what the Biden administration got right, what could have gone differently, and how President Trump may be putting U.S. security at risk. From Russia’s war in Ukraine to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Finer shares lessons learned — and urgent warnings for the future.

Together, they cover:

•The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan — and what was at stake

•How the world responded to October 7 — and where we go from here

•How Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war differs — and why it matters

•How the U.S. should be thinking about outpacing China

•The foreign policy implications of Trump’s plans with El Salvador

•Why turning our backs on allies makes America weaker — and less safe

This is an honest and forthright conversation on foreign policy — and a wake-up call for what’s at stake.