The Ask Raben

The Republican National Convention just wrapped up in Milwaukee, and our panel of Raben insiders, Jasmine Burton, Elliot Williams, and Jeremy Paris, are here to unpack what they saw. Who was the convention for? How did it land? Who is even going to be running against each other in November? Has Donald Trump finished giving his speech yet? Politics comes at you fast, so take a quick moment to find out where we are and where we go from here with The Ask.

TikTok has been downloaded 4.7 billion times worldwide and over 220 million times in the US alone. But despite its popularity, the US recently enacted a law that gives tik tok 270 days to sell or it will be prohibited in the US. On our most recent episode, Jasmine and Morgan sit down with Elizabeth Booker Houston - a government lawyer by day and massively popular TikTok influencer by night whose videos range from clips of her stand-up comedy routines to interviews with political stars like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Tune in to hear us discuss the misinformation surrounding the law, whether or not tik tok will actually sell, and the implications if it does.

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.