The People's Cabinet – Details, episodes & analysis

Feeling overwhelmed by all that’s happening in our country?

Confused about what information is real?

Trying to figure out what to do?

You’re not alone.

My name is Dan Koh, and welcome to The People’s Cabinet, a podcast that directly explains the top issues facing our country today and talks about what we stand for, not just what we’re against.

I’ve worked in the White House, Boston City Hall, and the Huffington Post, and I’m here to ask the tough questions needed to understand how government works and how we can make it better.

Every episode will feature leading voices to present a positive vision of what we should be doing and how you can get involved.

We’ll give you real, substantive information to spark conversations with the people we need to persuade to win again.

Because the world doesn’t change when we tune out.

It changes when we show up, speak up, and take action.

Are you ready? Let’s Go.

With tariffs dominating our lives, The People’s Cabinet drops a special pre-launch episode featuring former Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein.

In less than 20 minutes, Jared explains:

• What tariffs actually are 
• What a “reciprocal tariff” means
• Why Trump’s trade policy could backfire
• How we build a thoughtful trade policy that helps Americans 
• How Democrats can engage disaffected and MAGA-aligned voters without losing the plot

We hope you enjoy this BONUS PREVIEW of The People's Cabinet, and stay tuned for our official launch on 4/15!

With more than 3.5 billion views and millions of followers, Brian Tyler Cohen is one of the most influential democratic voices online. But how did he build that kind of reach — and what can Democrats learn from it?

In this episode, we cover:

• How he built his digital platform from scratch

• What Democrats get wrong in their media strategy

• How the left can build a powerful digital movement

• What you can do to break through the noise

If you care about politics and the future of media, this is a must-listen.

Tariffs. Trade wars. Global supply chains. Sound confusing? You’re not alone — and former Cabinet member U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is here to break it all down. In this episode one of President Biden's main trade architects explains:

• Who typically oversees trade for the United States

• What trade policy is

• What tariffs are

• What Trump is doing with both

• What we should be doing instead

• How we move forward as a country -- and as a world

This is the trade episode for people who didn't think they needed it -- but are now learning the hard way that they do.

Ben, Brett and Jordan Meiselas have built Meidas Touch into the fastest-growing independent news network in the world, with over 450 million monthly views and a podcast whose listenership exceeds The Joe Rogan Experience.  How can we learn from their rise, and how can the left catch up – and even exceed – the right in this space?

Ben joins us to cover: 

• What independent media is, and how it has grown

• How to be unapologetically pro-democracy

• Whether Vice President Harris should have gone on Joe Rogan

• Why Democrats need to be “loud and proud” about their values

If you want a media future where the left leads—not follows—this episode is for you.

Washington feels broken, with lots of gridlock and few ideas. But there are some who are trying to change that.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss was dubbed "The Democrat Who is Thinking Differently" by The New York Times.

In this refreshingly practical episode, we dig into real ideas that could make life better, fast, including:

• Curbing social media’s influence on children

• Fixing our broken healthcare system

• Solving the housing crisis

• Reforming elections

• Reviving local democracy

If you’ve lost faith in Congress, this one might just bring you back.

Foreign policy can feel distant and complicated — but it shapes everything from our economy to our safety. Senator Chris Coons joins us to explain what’s actually going on in the world, and why it matters more than ever.

We cover:

• What foreign aid really is — and why it’s worth it

• What NATO literally stands for, what it does, and why it’s vital

• The latest on Ukraine and why support still matters

• What’s at stake with China, Taiwan, and the Pacific

• What’s the truth behind all the talk about Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal

• How this is affecting our place in the world

• What we should be doing instead, and what people can do in their communities

Clear, compelling, and deeply relevant — this is your foreign affairs explainer.

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.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share The People’s Cabinet wherever you get your podcasts.

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.