The Ronin Project Podcast

Chicago DNC Recap & Analysis w/ Fmr. Majority Leader Alberto Torrico

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Former CA Assembly Majority Leader and Ronin Project Podcast Host Bill Wong give their hot takes on the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from Aug. 19 to 22, 2024. This episode is 100% certified F-Bomb Free.

Get Ronin Project updates at this link:
https://mailchi.mp/a3a711ffa5ce/ronin-roll-call

Or chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link

https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Subscribe and follow at:
Apple Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music | Spotify

Roshni Nedungadi, Founding Partner & Chief Research Officer, HIT Strategies

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Roshni Nedungadi is a founding partner and chief research officer of HIT Strategies, the leading millennial and minority-owned public opinion research firm in Washington, D.C. Roshni has led expansive, multi-phase research projects exploring how people across the United States feel about gun control, mass incarceration, abortion, and other important issues on behalf of advocacy leaders such as Everytown for Gun Safety, NARAL, and Vera Institute for Justice.

Roshni’s research seeks to find nuance in how Americans, particularly BIPOC individuals and low-propensity voters, conceptualize these issues at a time where division and partisanship run rampant. Roshni’s research on behalf of HIT Strategies ultimately is meant to lift up the voices of marginalized communities in the United States, one of the fastest-growing and oft-ignored voting blocks in American politics.

https://hitstrat.com/

2024 California Primary Election Recap

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Join Ronin Project Podcast host, Bill Wong, for an insightful recap of AAPI races in California's March 5, 2024 Primary Election.

The Ronin Project Podcast's regular interview format will continue next week with pollster Roshni Nedungadi, co-founder of HIT Strategies.

Warren T. Furutani, Author - Activist - Fmr. Elected Official

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Warren T. Furutani has been a community and political activist for over 50 years. In the late 60’s he help start the Asian American and Pacific Islander social justice movement. He started as a student activist and fought for college admissions programs for people of color and women. He worked to establish ethnic studies and helped start Asian American Studies programs at UCLA and Cal State Long Beach.

He was one of the founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage/Committee and worked in the APIA community and other communities of color around a multitude of civil rights and social justice issues.

He was also the first APIA elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education (two terms, eight years), the second APIA to be elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees (three terms, ten years), and served in the State Assembly (three terms), where he chaired the APIA Legislative Caucus for three years.

He retired from the legislature in November, 2012 and has since served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works. Currently, he is a senior fellow at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and recently retired as a senior advisor to Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin De Leon.

Warren is married to Lisa Abe Furutani and they have two sons and two grand children.

https://www.ac-tiv-ist.com/

Madalene Mielke, Pres. & CEO of APAICS

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke is a nationally recognized civil rights leader and a member of USA Today’s Inaugural Leaders of Change. As President & CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and Founder and Principal of Arum Group, LLC, she brings nearly 25 years of experience working in political campaigns and specializes in political/non-profit fundraising and political training.

After returning from the ’96 campaign, Ms. Mielke worked for the Co-Executive Director at the Presidential Inaugural Committee and later to Vice President Gore’s team. Ms. Mielke started fundraising while working at the New Democrat Network PAC and she returned to her roots as the Training Director for the Ron Brown-Paul Tully Institute (BTI), the training arm of the DNC. In 2002 Ms. Mielke started her political consulting firm, specializing in fundraising and political training. Madalene has collaborated with the NAACP National Voter Fund, John Kerry for President, Democratic National Committee Asian American Leadership Council, Mike Honda for Congress, Friends of Hillary, CHC BOLD PAC, Akaka for US Senate, Xavier Becerra for Congress, Mazie Hirono for Congress, Honda for Congress, America’s Opportunity Fund, Asian American Action (AAA) Fund and Young Democrats of America to raise millions of dollars to empower communities of color.

Throughout her career, Madalene has been a featured speaker or trainer at many conferences and trainings including the American Medical Association (AMA), the Center for Asian Pacific American Women, Virginia Leadership Institute, Netroots Nation, Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL), and numerous other organizations and non-profits.

She has spent her entire professional political career working to bring diversity to the political process and nurturing candidates and staff as they move forward in bringing political change. The Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce awarded Ms. Mielke with its National Community Service award for her work in mentoring and promoting Vietnamese American civic participation.

Madalene is a proud graduate of Tulane University, Newcomb College. She serves as a mentor through a variety of collegiate mentoring programs including the Newcomb College Institute Women to Women Mentoring Program and Georgetown University’s Politics Mentorship Program.

https://www.apaics.org

Boo Yuen, Co-Founder & EVP Adwell Group

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Boo Yuen, co-founder and executive vice president of the Adwell Group, is an expert ad maker and strategist.

Boo credits comedy as his entry into campaigns. While in school, Boo wrote for his college satire magazine, where he got his first unusual experience with campaigns, helping to run two different satirical candidates for student government president, one of whom won the election.

Boo started his transition from humorous to serious campaigns as an intern for one of the country’s leading democratic media firms. Over the course of four cycles at the firm, Boo rose from coffee delivery extraordinaire to award winning ad-maker and strategist.

On the creative side, Boo has written, directed, or produced over 400 TV, radio, digital, and print ads for political campaigns, non-profits, and corporate clients. Regardless of a project’s budget, Boo has and will do anything and everything to execute some of the industry’s most ambitious creative. As a producer, he’s wrangled birds, sourced 1960’s era film stock, and even gotten his hair cut to secure a shoot location.

While Boo is known for developing eye-catching creative, his work as an ad maker and strategist is not just for show; it translates to wins. Boo is an expert at incorporating local details into persuasive communications that help win elections. Some of Boo’s work highlights include helping re-elect Rep. Andy Kim, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Jennifer Wexton, and over a dozen wins with the DCCC IE and HMP IE.

In addition to helping elect candidates to office, Boo has also worked with companies and issue advocacy groups to craft successful ad campaigns. This work has included producing the corporate values video that kicked off a national brand campaign for a multinational beverage company and an ad campaign supporting the LA Clippers move to Inglewood.

In 2022, Boo was honored as a winner of the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) 40 under 40 award. He is a graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in Government.

https://www.adwell.com/about

Betsy Lin, Founder of beelinning strategies

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Betsy Lin is a national strategist working at the intersection of politics, advocacy and campaigns. As the founder of beelinning strategies, Betsy leverages her over two decades of experience across the Senate, federal campaigns, and multi-million dollar organizations to help her clients craft strategic plans and drive high-impact results.

Betsy served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Mazie Hirono after running her historic race to be the first woman to represent the state of Hawaii and first Asian American and first immigrant woman to serve in the role of United States Senator. Betsy herself was the only Asian American female chief to serve during her seven years in the Senate, positioning the Senator throughout her term as a leader on comprehensive immigration reform, women’s rights, and as a conscientious voice on US military engagement in the foreign policy space. Betsy spent the first five years traveling between Washington DC and the state, helping the Senator enact her campaign promises and building out her profile with press and constituents across all 8 islands. In Washington DC, Betsy managed the high stakes relationships with other Members of Congress, DC and Hawaii based stakeholders and built out one of the top three diverse offices in the US Senate.

https://beelinningstrategies.com

Betsy's podcast, Confessions of A Bad Asian, available on Apple and Spotify:

Get Ronin Project updates at this link:
https://mailchi.mp/a3a711ffa5ce/ronin-roll-call

Or chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link

https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Subscribe and follow at:
Apple Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music | Spotify

Manjusha Kulkarni, Exec. Dir. AAPI Equity Alliance

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Manjusha Kulkarni is the Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance, which serves and represents the 1.6 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County.

In March 2020, Manju co-founded Stop AAPI Hate, the nation’s leading aggregator of COVID-19-related hate incidents against AAPIs.

Alongside fellow Stop AAPI Hate co-founders Cynthia Choi and Russell Jeung, Manju has been recognized as an honoree of the prestigious TIME100 Most Influential People and Bloomberg 50 lists, and as a recipient of the 2021 Webby Social Movement of the Year award.

More recently, she was awarded a spot on the 2022 Forbes 50 Over 50 list for her leadership in advancing the Stop AAPI Hate movement.

Manju’s work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR and CNN, as well as in numerous local and ethnic media outlets. As part of her advocacy work on behalf of AAPI communities, Manju has shared her expertise with countless individuals and entities including the Aspen Institute, the World Bank and the United Nations.

Manju serves on the Board of Directors of LA Voice and is a member of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and the California Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board.

Professor Sara Sadhwani, Pomona College

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Sara Sadhwani is an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College, specializing in American politics and race and ethnic politics, and a commissioner on the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission. She is also serving as a visiting scholar at Stanford University’s Bill Lane Center for the American West.

Her research examines voting behavior, elections, voting rights, public opinion, public policy, and interest groups, with an emphasis on the representation of racial, ethnic and immigrant communities.

She has been published in the Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Political Research Quarterly, Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, Politics, Groups and Identities, and Perspectives on Politics.

She earned her doctorate in political science from the University of Southern California and was the recipient of the Haynes-Lindley Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship from the John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation.

She holds appointments as a senior researcher at AAPI Data, a member of the executive council for the Western Political Science Association, and a faculty fellow at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.

James Santa Maria, Founder of the Santa Maria Group

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

James Santa Maria brings more than 20 years of government, political, and public affairs experience to The Santa Maria Group.

James specializes in local government, focusing on the City and County of Los Angeles as well as other municipalities and public agencies throughout Southern California.

James founded the Santa Maria Group following a ten-year career in Los Angeles City government as chief of staff to two former City Council Members. He also served as a Deputy to Mayor Richard Riordan.

James also worked collaboratively on several key public- private partnerships with many developers that have brought commercial, industrial and mixed-use projects throughout Los Angeles.

James has delivered on government procurement and contracting opportunities with the City and County agencies including Public Works, LA Unified School District, LA Department of Water and Power, LA and Long Beach Ports, and the Los Angeles World Airport.

James also was the senior advisor on a wide range of issues from local district-focused community relations to issues of citywide importance such as the creation of the Housing Trust Fund, business tax reform, public safety and the City of Los Angeles’ $5 billion annual budget.

Dr. Jasmeet Bains, CA State Assemblymember

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dr. Jasmeet Bains was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the Central Valley’s 35th Assembly District.

Assemblymember Bains worked as a family doctor providing primary healthcare to families throughout the Valley.

Dr. Bains also serves as a volunteer with Global Family, an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking and child abuse, on the San Joaquin Valley Air District’s Environmental Justice Advisory group, working to improve our Valley’s air and water quality and on the Taft College Foundation, fighting to expand access to higher education.

Dr. Bains is the daughter of immigrant parents from India. After graduating from medical school, she returned home and completed her residency at Clinica Sierra Vista in Kern County, choosing to work in underserved healthcare settings to increase access to healthcare.

Dr. Richard Pan, Sr. Policy Advisor AAPI Data

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dr. Richard Pan is a pediatrician and currently the senior policy advisor to AAPI Data.

He is a former UC Davis faculty and a former State Senator and State Assemblymember representing the Sacramento region. He is the first Asian American to represent the City of Sacramento in the California legislature, where the Transcontinental Railroad began over 150 years ago.

Dr. Pan is Immediate Past-Chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (AAPILC) and was Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs and Co-Chair of the Senate Select Committee on the 2020 U.S. Census.

As AAPILC Chair, Dr. Pan led passage of the $165 million API Equity Budget in 2021.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Dr. Pan was a UC Davis professor and Director of the Pediatric Residency Program.

Learn more at: https://aapidata.com/

Gina Pak, CEO Tech For Campaigns

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Gina is CEO of Tech for Campaigns. She joined TFC in 2022, leading TFC’s voter turnout initiative. She advises early stage mission-driven start-ups on strategic growth and prior to TFC was a founding member of Blueland, where she was CMO. Gina received her MBA from Harvard Business School and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from Stanford University.

Learn more about Tech For Campaigns at this link:
https://www.techforcampaigns.org/

Jeane Phan Wong, Writers Guild of America Strike Captain

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Jeane Phan Wong is a feature writer that is also a strike captain for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and co-chair of the WGA Women's Committee. A child of Vietnam War immigrants, Jeane is Vietnamese-Chinese. She was raised Buddhist in the San Gabriel Valley with stints in Orange County and once in a Mormon town in Nevada. She developed a sweet tooth as a child working at her parents’ bakery. She grew up on a steady diet of Asian folklore, Sailor Moon, and weekly comic books. After interning in politics, getting certified as a First Responder, and a stint working at an oncology lab, she was on a pre-law public healthcare path. But this work convinced her to live by her favorite Han Solo line "Never tell me the odds" and dive into her real passion: Hollywood where she worked her way up as an assistant on six shows. Her genre-agnostic work skews Sahara dry wit meets a flawed character study and epic worlds. She also can’t resist a good love triangle. Jeane is a cat mom to Gabby Soprano, becoming a breakfast burrito sommelier, and trying to achieve the “glass skin” and matchy fashion looks of her favorite Kpop.

Make a donation today to support the Entertainment Community Fund.

Learn more about the WGA at https://www.wga.org/

Henry Lo, Monterey Park City Councilmember

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Henry Lo is a member of the Monterey Park City Council.

Henry's history of public service spans over 20 years. From 2003 to 2020, he served on the Garvey Elementary School District Board of Education.

As a board member, he co-founded the Garvey Education Foundation, which has raised community support for the schools in the district since its founding in 2007.

As a proponent of creating collaborative relationships between public agencies, Henry's leadership helped to develop an academic partnership between the Garvey Elementary School District and East Los Angeles College.

Between 2016 and 2020, Henry was an appointed member of the City of Monterey Park Economic Development Advisory Commission in which he and his fellow commissioners provided input on how to improve the city's economic climate.

Since 1999, Henry has been an advocate for our communities to the State of California; he served as staff for several of the San Gabriel Valley's state legislators, including State Senator Dr. Gloria Romero and State Assemblymember Mike Eng, and as the Senior Field Representative of State Assemblymember Ed Chau.

Henry is the son of working-class immigrants who came to California seeking the American Dream. He grew up as a latchkey kid while both his parents worked and was the first in his family to attend college.

Henry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Colby College and a Master in Public Administration degree from California State University, Northridge.

Dr. Arvind Venkat, House Representative PA General Assembly

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Dr. Venkat is an emergency physician and was elected last cycle and serves as State House Representative for the 30th Legislative District in the state of Pennsylvania.

He is the first Indian American to be elected to the state House and the first physician to serve in the General Assembly in nearly 60 years.

His district includes part of Hampton Township, and all of McCandless, Franklin Park, Ohio Township, Emsworth, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, and Kilbuck.

Representative Venkat is a fighter for accessible and affordable healthcare, investing in our first responders, protecting reproductive rights, curbing gun violence, expanding access to the ballot box for all voters, and getting more people back into the workforce.

Representative Venkat is a member of the House Health, Insurance, Professional Licensure committees. He is also the Vice Chair of the Asian Pacific American Caucus and a member of the Emerging Technologies Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus.

His parents immigrated to the United States, and it was their hard work and commitment to service that inspired him to become a physician.

Representative Venkat completed his undergraduate and graduate education at Harvard University, his medical education at Yale University, and his emergency medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati/University Hospital.

He served as a member of the Board of the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority and is a former president of the state emergency physicians organization.

To donate or learn more, visit Dr. Venkat's websites:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/venkatforpa?refcode=website
www.VenkatforPA.com

Alberto Torrico, Fmr. CA Assembly Majority Leader

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Alberto Torrico was elected to the California State Assembly in 2004. He served for six years, including two years as Majority Leader.

During his three terms in Sacramento, Alberto served as Chair of the Public Employee Retirement and Social Security Committee, charged with oversight of the pension funds, CALPERS and CALSTRS.

He also chaired the powerful Governmental Organization Committee.

Prior to his legislative tenure, Alberto served as a council member for three years in the East Bay community of Newark.

He is now a successful lobbyist and mentor to staff and advocates.

On this episode we talk about mentorship, leadership, and diversity pipeline... liberally sprinkled with words that start with "F".

Maria Oyama Leininger, Founder of Overton Political Solutions

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Maria Oyama Leininger, Founder of Overton Political Solutions, talks about diversity, helping progressive campaigns win, the no asshole rule, the Overton Window, and 38 cent donations.

Overton Political Solutions is one of the only political consulting and public affairs firms in the nation that is Asian woman owned and led, giving clients unique insight into two powerful and growing political demographics.

Maria Oyama Leininger previously served as the Regional Political Director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. At the DLCC, Maria oversaw the committee’s work in 10 states to win, expand, and protect Democratic majorities.

Her extensive electoral experience includes serving as Washington State Director for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign and Political Director for three U.S. Representatives: Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier, and Adam Smith.

She also served as Voter Protection Director at the Washington State Democratic Party, as a political consultant for clients across the country and at every level, and as District Director for Congresswoman Kim Schrier.

Contact Maria at Maria@OvertonPolitical.com or visit the Overton Political Solutions website at https://www.overtonpolitical.com/

Better to Win - Hardball Lessons in Leadership, Influence, & The Craft of Politics

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Bill Wong talks about the book, Better to Win, he recently wrote on Asian Americans and politics that will be widely available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on April 8, 2023 on Season 2, Episode 4.

Better To Win offers readers a unique, proven perspective on the craft and power of politics. It examines the mindset and machinery involved in the use of power and the sacrifices necessary to affect meaningful change for those who don’t (yet) have a voice in the halls of power.

This book is not about climbing the political career ladder or pandering to people in positions of power. Bill Wong, a renowned strategist to a bevy of iconic California politicians, provides candid and occasionally Machiavellian advice to those who aspire not only to fight for justice, but to win those fights.

Better To Win shares impactful skills and strategies for change agents and powerful stories of Asian Americans who played and continue to play an important role at the table where decisions are made.

Better To Win in e-book is currently available at a discount on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Better-Win-Hardball-Leadership-Influence-ebook/dp/B0BZGW3VLG

Kim Bernice Nguyen, Candidate for Congress

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0700

Kim Bernice Nguyen was elected to the Garden Grove City Council on November 8, 2016. She is the first Garden Grove City Council Member of Latino descent. She’s half Latino and half Vietnamese. In a recent LA Times article, she is described as:

“Erudite and enthusiastic, Nguyen is fluent in Spanish and is bettering her Vietnamese. She enjoys quesabirria tacos at La Super Birria in Santa Ana as well as a bowl of pho from Pho 79 in Garden Grove.

It’s all part of her biracial upbringing, an identity she brands as “Vietxican,” because “Mexicanese” wouldn’t be as precise.

Councilwoman Nguyen has called Garden Grove home since the age of ten. In 2013, she graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a degree in politics and a minor in legal studies. She is the first in her family to graduate high school and receive a college degree. She currently works as a Senior Compliance Analyst for a health plan. Prior to that, she worked for state Senator Lou Correa. In October 2020, Governor Newsom appointed Council Member Nguyen to the California Film Commission.

Support Kim at this LINK:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/votekimnguyen

Bethany Khan, Dir. Comms/Dig.Strat. Culinary Union Local 226

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Today’s guest is Bethany Khan, the Spokeswoman and Director of Communications & Digital Strategy at the Culinary Union Local 226 in Nevada. As spokeswoman for Nevada’s largest union and immigrant organization, Bethany is proud to use her digital and strategic communication skills to support working families in Nevada. The Culinary Union, Nevada's largest union and immigrant organization, has improved the lives of over 800,000 Nevada hospitality workers and their families with middle-class union wages and good benefits. In 88 years, the Culinary Union has become an essential economic institution and a strong political force in the Battle Born State. In the past 11 years, Bethany's communications and digital strategy has played a major role in the Culinary Union’s organizing, legislative, policy, and electoral campaigns.

Learn more about Culinary Union Local 226 at this link:
https://culinaryunion226.org/

The History of Black and Asian Solidarity
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/02/983925014/the-history-of-solidarity-between-asian-and-black-americans

The Storied History of Black and Asian Solidarity
https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/19/opinions/black-asian-american-solidarity-jones/index.html

Alex Lee, CA State Assemblymember

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Assemblymember Lee was elected in 2020 and became the youngest Asian American legislator ever elected and first openly bisexual state legislator in California history. In this episode he talks about running for office, fighting for affordable housing, and inspiring young activists and voters.

Learn more about Assemblymember Lee at his government website:
https://a24.asmdc.org/

Or his campaign website:
https://www.votealexlee.com/media

Bryan Ha, California Faculty Association Director of Government Relations

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Bryan Ha, California Faculty Association Director of Government Relations, talks about AAPIs in the House of Labor, his mentor Dean Murakami, and fighting for the rights and fair pay for CSU faculty and campus employees.

Learn more about CFA at https://www.calfac.org/

Jill Tokuda, Candidate for Hawai'i Congressional Dist. 2

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Former Hawai'i State Senate Ways & Means Committee Chair Jill Tokuda gives insight on how she effectively fought off a last minute multi-million dollar dark money attack during the Democratic Primary Election for Hawai'i Congressional District 2 that was vacated by Rep. Kai Kahele and once held by the legendary Rep. Patsy T. Mink who was the first woman of color elected to the US Congress and author of the landmark legislation establishing Title IX.

Donate to Jill at this link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tokudaforhawaiiwebsite

Learn more and the Patsy T. Mink PAC and contribute to its efforts at this link
https://www.patsytminkpac.org/donate-and-support/

Nadia Nisha Belkin, Exec. Dir. Asian American Power Network

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Nadia Nisha Belkin talks about the unprecedented $10 million effort to organize and mobilize progressive Asian American voters in seven key states this election cycle and building the ecosystem that will support broad, deep, and sustainable Asian American political power and representation.

Learn more about Nadia's work and support AAPN at this link
https://www.aapowernetwork.org/
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/asian-american-power-network-1

Carol Kim, San Diego Building & Construction Trades Business Manager

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0700

San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO Business Manager talks about being #unionstrong and how women of color are leading the way in the American labor movement.

Learn more about Carol and the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO at this link:
https://www.sdbuildingtrades.com/

Support Kent Lee for City Council at this link
https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/KentLee2022

Support Ditas Yamane for National City City Council at this link
https://ditasyamane.com/

Support Mae Case for Southwestern College District 4 at this link
https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/maecase

Support Dr. Judy Patacsil, a candidate for Palomar College’s District 1 at this link
https://www.vote4judypalomartrustee.com/

Support Kartick Raju for Palomar College's District 4 at this link
https://www.rajuforpalomar.com/

Political Fundraising, feat. Jack Yao, Founder of SC Strategies

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0700

We all know money talks and bullsh*t walks...especially in political campaigns. Jack Yao, founder of SC Strategies, talks about the tragedy of the commons in campaign finance, race and gender bias challenges in Asian American fundraising, and how campaigns can overcome it to win.

Learn more about Jack and SC Strategies at this link https://www.sc-strategies.com/

Support Kim Bernice Nguyen for OC Supervisor at this link
https://secure.numero.ai/contribute/Kim-Nguyen-for-Supervisor

Support Jill Tokuda for Congress at this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tokudaforhawaiiwebsite

Support Jay Chen for Congress at this link https://chenforcongress.com/

Support Dr. Asif Mahmood at this link https://drasifmahmood.com/

Support Kenneth Mejia for Los Angeles Controller at this link https://mejiaforcontroller.com/donate

Digital Strategy feat. Mark Torres, Sr. Dir. DSPolitical

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0700

DSPolitical's Senior Director and Head of Office, Mark Torres, talks about the dynamic digital campaign strategy and tactics, reaching AAPI voters, and his journey in politics.

Learn more about DSPolitical at this link
https://www.dspolitical.com/

Support Attorney General Bonta at this link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/rob-bonta-for-ca-attorney-general-2022-1?refcode=website&amount=25

Support Kim Bernice Nguyen for OC Supervisor at this link
https://secure.numero.ai/contribute/Kim-Nguyen-for-Supervisor

Support Bee Nguyen for GA SOS at this link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bee4sos

Support Dr. Michelle Au for GA State House Rep. at this link
https://secure.ngpvan.com/EZGPNH1k4EChVGDzLeyhgg2

Michigan State Senator Stephanie Chang

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Senator Stephanie Chang talks about flipping the Michigan State Senate blue and tripling the number of AAPIs state senators this November. She also talks about politically outmaneuvering the Michigan Senate Republican Caucus, community organizing in Detroit, building multi-ethnic coalitions, and paving the path for the next generation of AAPI political leaders.

Here is a donate link that splits donations between her leadership PAC and MI Senate candidates Padma Kuppa and Sam Singh to triple the number of AAPI Democrats in the MI Senate! — Donate via ActBlue

Or donate to each candidate directly at

Padma Kuppa For Senate District 9 (electpadmakuppa.com)

Sam Singh – For Michigan State Senate (votesamsingh.com)

Also, you can support Aisha Farooqi who is Pakistani American running to flip a seat in the Michigan House: Aisha Farooqi for State Representative (farooqifor57.com)

Learn more about the Boggs Education Center at
https://www.boggsschool.org/

Linh Nguyen, Senior Advisor Run AAPI

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Run AAPI's Senior Advisor, Linh Nguyen, talks about her journey as a sought after trailblazing, barn storming, bare knuckle operative in national American politics and a new and unconventional effort to engage, inspire, and mobilize young AAPI voters this cycle.

WARNING: This episode is an UNCENSORED banger with great insights, honest conversation, and some obligatory shit talking about the soul crushing business of politics.

You can support Linh's work by following or donating to RUN AAPI at these links:

Support Bee Nguyen for GA SOS at this link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bee4sos

Support Dr. Michelle Au for GA State House Rep. at this link
https://secure.ngpvan.com/EZGPNH1k4EChVGDzLeyhgg2

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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Rob Bonta, CA State Attorney General

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The first Filipino American elected to the California State Assembly and appointed to serve as the state's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, talks about his journey into politics, the legacy of the Filipino civil rights leaders that paved the path he has walked, and the challenges ahead to hold onto his position in this year's election.

Support Attorney General Bonta at this link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/rob-bonta-for-ca-attorney-general-2022-1?refcode=website&amount=25

Support Jay Chen for Congress at this link https://chenforcongress.com/
Support Dr. Asif Mahmood at this link https://drasifmahmood.com/
Support CA Treasurer Fiona Ma at this link https://www.fionama.com/
Support Sheng Thao for Mayor of Oakland at this link https://www.shengforoakland.com/
Support Diedre Nguyen for State Assembly at this link https://diedrenguyen.com/

Download the report on AAPI misinformation campaigns at this link
https://www.asianamdisinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AsianAmDisinformation_LandscapeReport2022.pdf

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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Ohio State Senator Tina Maharath

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Ohio State Senator Tina Maharath talks about her upset win in 2018 resulting in flipping a Republican held legislative seat, the challenge of running for office as a daughter of refugees and a young single mother, and the need for more Asian American representation in government.

Support Tina's re-election by making a donation at this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tmaharath

Learn more about Tina by watching this VOA Change Maker profile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aae0VpVzU9Y

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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Ron Wong, Exec. Producer of the Race Epidemic Documentary

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Award winning campaign and public affairs consultant Ron Wong talks about his new documentary, The Race Epidemic, that explores racism in the realm of Asian Americans in politics. We also talk about building the Asian American political pipeline and campaign infrastructure necessary to preserve and grow our representation in the halls of American political power.

Learn more about Ron Wong and Imprenta Communications at this link https://icgworldwide.com/

Learn more about the Race Epidemic documentary and the Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation at these links

https://apalf.org/the-race/

https://apalf.org/about/leadership/

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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Cheryl Hori, Founding Partner Pacific Campaign House

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Cheryl Hori, Founding Partner of Pacific Campaign House, talks about her groundbreaking DCCC ad for Asian American voters, building a pipeline of political operatives, and making culturally competent creative political content for Asian Americans.

Over the last two cycles, Cheryl has pioneered digital data-driven initiatives to increase AAPI, LatinX, and African American cultural competency for Democrats. Cheryl has trained hundreds of political activists, community leaders, and candidates in 15 states across the country. And in 2020, Cheryl was named one of the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics & Public Affairs top 40 under 40 Political Strategists.

Cheryl is also a regular speaker at political and non-profit conferences as well as a frequent contributing writer to Campaigns and Elections, the preeminent “how-to” journal of politics, focused on the tools, tactics, and techniques of the political consulting profession.

In 2016, Cheryl was the Deputy Digital Director for Priorities USA Action, the pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC. At Priorities USA, with a budget of $42 million spread across 4,800 pieces of digital creative, Cheryl managed creative teams in the largest political digital program in electoral history.

Learn more about Cheryl and Pacific Campaign House at this link https://www.pacificcampaignhouse.com/

Check out Cheryl's DCCC ad to Asian American voters at this link https://youtu.be/7Q20nRC4aM8

Support Jay Chen for Congress at this link https://chenforcongress.com/

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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Maria Oyama Leininger & Lala Wu on AAPIs and the States' Fight To Protect Abortion

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Maria Oyama Leininger & Lala Wu discuss AAPI representation in politics the role AAPI voters will play in the state level races that will determine the future of legal access to safe abortions.

Maria Oyama Leininger is the Regional Political Director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Maria oversees the committee’s work in 10 states to win, expand, and protect Democratic majorities. Her extensive electoral experience includes serving as Washington State Director for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign and Political Director for three U.S. Representatives: Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier, and Adam Smith. She also served as Voter Protection Director at the Washington State Democratic Party, as a political consultant for clients across the country and at every level, and as District Director for Congresswoman Kim Schrier.

Lala Wu is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of Sister District. She has successfully led the expansion of the organization's volunteer infrastructure to 50,000 members and over 150 chapters in 31 states. Since its founding in 2016, Sister District has raised over $3.6m in small dollar donations directly to candidates and reached out to over 3.1m voters through doors, calls, texts, and postcards on behalf of over 100 state legislative candidates in key swing districts. Lala also leads strategic partnerships with local and national organizations such as the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, EMILY’s List, Human Rights Campaign, and Vote Save America.

Learn more about DLCC at this link https://dlcc.org/

Learn more about Sister District at this link https://sisterdistrict.com/

Support Bee Nguyen for GA SOS at this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bee4sos

Support Dr. Michelle Au for GA State House Rep. at this link https://secure.ngpvan.com/EZGPNH1k4EChVGDzLeyhgg2

Support Dr. Arvind Venkat for PA State House Rep. at this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/venkatforpa

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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Roshni Nedungadi, Co-Founder of HIT Strategies

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Public opinion research pollster and co-founder of HIT Strategies, Roshni Nedungadi, talks about Asian American voter opinions on the SCOTUS decision to repeal access to legal abortions, cultural and generational competencies in public opinion research, and some of the hot races with Asian American candidates on the ballot in November.

Learn more about Roshni and HIT Strategies at this link https://hitstrat.com/
Follow Roshni on Twitter at this link https://twitter.com/RoshniNedungadi

Read more about Roshni's findings an Asian Americans and abortion access at these links:

https://www.newsweek.com/protecting-roe-v-wade-can-issue-that-saves-democrats-midterm-losses-opinion-1699940

https://asamnews.com/2022/06/24/asian-american-and-other-women-of-color-adversely-impacted-by-overturning-of-roe-v-wade/

Support Bee Nguyen for GA SOS at this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bee4sos
Support Jay Chen for Congress at this link https://chenforcongress.com/
Support Dr. Asif Mahmood at this link https://drasifmahmood.com/

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

Thanks for listening, see you next week!

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PPAC Pres. & CEO Jodi Hicks

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 01:00:00 -0700

President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Jodi Hicks, talks about legal access to safe abortions, the California ballot measure (Prop. 1) that voters will vote on in November to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, and what it's like to be an Asian American woman leading a legendary advocacy and healthcare provider organization.

Learn more about PPAC at this link
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-affiliates-california
Follow Jodi Hicks on Twitter at this link https://twitter.com/jodihicks
Follow PPAC on Twitter at this link https://twitter.com/PPActionCA
Join the effort to pass Proposition One at this link https://www.protectabortionca.com/

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

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U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The first Chinese American woman elected to the United States Congress and chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Judy Chu, talks about leading the national fight to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) to guarantee access to safe and legal abortions, bills authored by CAPAC members recently signed by Pres. Biden, critical races to win this cycle, and Asian American political empowerment.

Sign the petition in support the WHPA at this link https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/demand-the-senate-pass-the-womens-health-protection-act?source=direct_link&
Learn more about Congresswoman Chu at this link https://chu.house.gov/ or follow her at https://twitter.com/JudyChuCampaign and https://twitter.com/RepJudyChu
Learn more about CAPAC at this link https://capac-chu.house.gov/
Learn more about NARAL at this link https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/fight-back-for-our-freedom/

Support Rep. Judy Chu at this link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jc-website
Support Rep. Andy Kim at this link https://www.andykim.com/
Support Jay Chen for Congress at this link https://chenforcongress.com/
Support Dr. Asif Mahmood at this link https://drasifmahmood.com/

Join the Ronin Nation and get breaking news, tips and tools to politically empower yourself, and inspirational content about bad Asians getting into good trouble at this link or cut and paste this URL into your search bar https://tinyurl.com/ronins4ever

Chip in $10, $20, or $50 to the Ronin Project PAC to help elect pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-clean energy, and pro-diversity Asian American candidates for local, state, and federal offices at this link https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RoninProjectPAC

Thanks for listening, see you next week!

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The Ronin Project Trailer

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the RONIN PROJECT PODCAST - a weekly podcast hosted by veteran political strategist Bill Wong about Bad Asians getting into good trouble. This no-nonsense podcast is for Asian Americans who want to know more about how politics is played, political professionals that want to know more about Asian Americans and how they vote, and troublemakers who want to make the world a better place.