The Ask

Viewed as the voice of the future, people aged 18-25 can make or break an election. And although young people have shown up to the polls in record numbers the past few elections, it remains to be seen whether they will continue to show up for polls, especially during an election year that feels like major deja vu with the presidential candidates. On our newest episode, Jasmine and guest host Brad Bauman sit down with Robyn Swirling, the chief of staff for Alliance for Youth Action, to discuss what issues young people care about, the impact of their vote, and the likelihood that they will show up to the polls for this upcoming election.

Philanthropic funding can often lead to some of the most impactful ventures of today’s society - like John Rockefeller creating the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund which has greatly improved the lives of so many Americans. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. On our episode this week, Daniel Forkkio, the CEO of Represent Justice, and Gara LaMarche, former President and CEO of Atlantic Philanthropies, sit down with Jasmine Burton to discuss the changing landscape of philanthropy, it’s impact on social justice, and how more philanthropic organizations can spark real change.  

The Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United changed the political landscape by solidifying a campaign system that requires candidates to fundraise tens of millions of dollars from major donors to survive an election season. Though money is one of the most powerful resources in a campaign, people ultimately hold the power. Tiffany Muller, founder and president of End Citizens United, talks with host Jeremy Paris about the American voters and their ability to create and leverage power during one of the most pivotal moments in the history of our democracy.

Whatever your preconceived ideas are of a mayor, they usually all lead back to that person being the “guardian of the city.” Rarely do we think of mayors having access to a national network designed to work together to solve issues that occur in everyone’s cities - but in fact, they’re the ones on the frontlines doing that important work. On our newest episode, Jeremy and Jasmine sit down with Nan Whaley, former mayor of Dayton, Ohio, and current director of membership for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, to discuss the power of the mayors and the essential role they play in local and national politics.

The internet has changed every aspect of our lives - from how we shop, to how we work, and even how we get our news. With more people turning to social media for information, independent journalism has opened up a new avenue for anyone and everyone to become a news source.  On our newest episode, Jasmine and Elliot sit down with Judd Legum, founder of “Popular Information” and “ThinkProgress,” to discuss how traditional news has changed, the implications of this on our democracy, and how traditional and non-traditional journalism can step into the line of defense.

Every time abortion has been on a state referendum anywhere, it's won. And for the upcoming 2024 election, Democrats have made it clear that they are running on abortion again. The question is – is abortion still a winner this fall or is it losing its political force? On this episode, Jasmine Burton sits down with Katie Paris, the founder of Red, Wine, and Blue, to discuss the state of abortion, its impact on the upcoming election, and how to get people to successfully organize around issues they care about.

From starting the latest fashion trends to becoming the newest memes, it is undeniable that NBA players have an insurmountable impact on today's culture. This influence extends far beyond the court because in addition to being influencers, NBA players are also advocates. On this episode, Jasmine Burton and Jeremy Paris chat with James Cadogan, the executive director of the NBA Social Justice Coalition, to discuss the power of athletes, their influence on social justice reform, and how leagues, coaches, and players can work together to make large-scale change.

Welcome to our new podcast, The Ask, where we focus on turning questions into action. On our first episode, Jasmine and Yochi sit down with TikTok superstar V Spehar, a former caterer whose news-focused posts reach nearly 3 million people, about why huge numbers of young Americans are turning to TikTok for their news, why conservatives trust a self-described "purple haired lesbian" more than the mainstream media, and why progressives should do everything they can to prevent the government from banning TikTok.