On this episode of “What Makes America Tick?” I sat down with actor, activist, and generational talent Wendell Pierce to discuss the intersection of arts and activism, growing up in the historical black neighborhood of Pontchartrain Park, and his recent performance as Othello at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, D.C.

Election day in Louisiana was drastically altered by the devastating SCOTUS decision in Louisiana v. Callais. But the fight is far from over.

I recently held a town hall with Mayor Helena Moreno, the Orleans legislative delegation, and members of the New Orleans City Council, focused on voting rights and redistricting. On this special episode of “What Makes Americans Tick?,” you can listen to that conversation. 

On this episode of “What Makes America Tick?” I sat down with Alma C. Stewart Allen, President and Founder of Louisiana Health Equity. We discussed how we worked together to create Louisiana’s first-ever Office of Women’s Health and how we’re still working side-by-side to fight for justice and equity in health care.

Mental health challenges affect everyone, but communities of color often face stigma and limited access to care. On this episode of “What Makes America Tick?,” I sat down with Dan Gillison, CEO of NAMI, to discuss access to mental health resources, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and the critical need for culturally competent care—an issue I’m working to address through the Mental Health Workforce Act.

On our Black History Month episode of “What Makes America Tick?”, I sat down with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to talk about what’s at stake for our democracy.We discussed attacks on voting rights as we await a key decision from the Supreme Court in Louisiana V Callais, ICE’s assault on our communities, and how we used a discharge petition to fight for extending ACA tax credits to protect affordable health care.

The American people are facing serious threats to our democracy – from skyrocketing health care costs, to violent actions by ICE, and efforts to undermine voting rights. On this episode of What Makes America Tick?, I sat down with Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, to discuss the challenges facing our communities and how we’re pushing back.

Episode 8 of What Makes America Tick? is a special edition. In September, I hosted a powerful panel, We Survived the Storm – Did We Survive the System?, with Rep. Jim Clyburn, Ltg. Russel Honore, and Norman Robinson. We reflected on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the lessons learned, and how resilience and unity can move our communities forward.

On episode 7 of “What Makes America Tick?” I sat down with my friend, SEIU President April Verrett. We discussed the power of labor unions in supporting workers, breaking cycles of generational poverty, and dismantling structural racism. We also talked about how strengthening our democracy requires protecting diversity, equity, and inclusion in every space.

On Episode 6 of “What Makes America Tick?” I sat down with Dr. Maurice Sholas — a physician executive making a real impact in our community. We discussed the importance of NIH research funding, the dangers of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, the need to prioritize Mental Health, and much more.

College football is back! While we’re cheering for our favorite teams, we also need to protect young athletes. On episode 5 of "What Makes America Tick?", I sat down with Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger to talk about NIL, the SCORE Act, and more.