American Potential

One Small Step: How Everyday Americans Are Writing the Next Chapter of Freedom

In this inspiring episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Daniel Bassali, Vice President of Public Affairs for Americans for Prosperity, to discuss the launch of the One Small Step campaign—AFP’s bold, nationwide effort to celebrate America's 250th anniversary by spotlighting the everyday citizens who are shaping the future of freedom.
Bassali explains how One Small Step draws inspiration from iconic figures like Harriet Tubman, Betsy Ross, and Neil Armstrong—people who took action not for fame, but because it mattered. These American pioneers prove that profound change starts with a single courageous act. And today, that legacy lives on in community members testifying at city council meetings, homeschooling moms fighting for education freedom, and students like Caleb Williams who’ve become powerful policy advocates before the age of 21.
Bassali and From explore how AFP serves as a platform to amplify these local voices, empower bottom-up solutions, and fuel a new generation of civic leadership. Whether it’s helping someone write a letter to the editor or organizing grassroots momentum around school choice, every small step adds up to something greater.
This episode is a rallying cry: You don’t need a title or a microphone to make a difference. You just need to take the first step.

From Grocery Store to Capitol Hill: Congressman Jeff Hurd’s Mission to Empower Rural America

In this compelling episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes Congressman Jeff Hurd, a freshman lawmaker representing Colorado’s vast and beautiful Third Congressional District. Congressman Hurd shares his journey from humble beginnings bagging groceries in Grand Junction to earning law degrees, practicing energy law, and now serving in Congress.
Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and father of five, Congressman Hurd discusses how bad energy policy acts as a hidden tax on rural Americans—and why reversing those policies is essential to economic opportunity. He outlines his legislative efforts to return the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Colorado, promote responsible energy development, and fight for rural families who want to stay, work, and raise their children in the communities they love.
The conversation also dives into the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. Congressman Hurd explains how those tax cuts have directly impacted working families and small businesses in his district and why allowing them to expire would be a devastating tax hike on the middle class.
From energy independence to economic freedom, Congressman Hurd brings a clear-eyed focus and a personal commitment to building a better future for rural America. Don’t miss this inspiring and informative episode.

Congressman August Pfluger on Conservative Leadership, Tax Certainty, and Unleashing American Energy

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Congressman August Pfluger—Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, decorated Air Force veteran, and proud seventh-generation Texan—for an in-depth conversation on the path forward for America's economy, energy independence, and national security.
Congressman Pfluger discusses why predictability in the tax code is essential for families, entrepreneurs, and innovators alike. As the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act faces expiration, Pfluger makes the case for why extending—and ideally making permanent—those provisions is not just a matter of policy, but a critical step to preserve America's competitive edge and avoid economic backsliding.
He also shares how the Republican Study Committee, now the largest conservative caucus in Congress with 189 members, is working to restore fiscal discipline, protect family-owned farms from devastating inheritance taxes, and ensure American businesses have the confidence to invest and grow.
The conversation dives into the real-world impact of smart tax policy, using examples like a small business in rural Ohio that was able to give employees a 40% raise thanks to the Trump tax cuts. Congressman Pfluger also breaks down the growing demand for domestic energy production—driven in part by rising electricity needs from data centers and AI—and why energy security is inseparable from national security.
Representing one of the largest and most quintessentially Texan districts in the country, Congressman Pfluger shares what makes his constituents special, why the Permian Basin is a story of American innovation, and what it means to fight for the freedom and opportunity they hold dear.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how principled leadership, clear policy direction, and bold vision can help secure a stronger future for all Americans.

Inside the Tax Cuts That Fueled Jobs, Growth, and Freedom

Behind every piece of major legislation, there’s a story of strategy, sacrifice, and high stakes. In this episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Andy Koenig—former White House advisor and one of the key architects behind the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). From inside the halls of the West Wing to late-night meetings on Capitol Hill, Andy offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the landmark tax reform came together—and why it matters more than ever today.
Far from being just a “corporate tax cut,” the TCJA helped over 25 million small businesses and countless working families keep more of their hard-earned money. Andy breaks down how the law simplified the code, sparked job growth, and put power back in the hands of entrepreneurs—not bureaucrats. But with key provisions set to expire soon, Americans now face the threat of a massive tax hike at the worst possible time.
Andy also shares a lighter moment from the White House: President Trump wanted to name the bill “Cut Cut Cut”—a reminder that clear messaging matters. With inflation surging and government spending out of control, Andy and David make the case for why now is the time to make these tax cuts permanent—and why letting them lapse would be a crushing blow to American potential.
Whether you're a taxpayer, small business owner, or policy nerd, this episode is a must-listen for understanding the stakes behind one of the most consequential economic reforms in a generation.

Earned, Not Given: Two Sisters’ Journey to Fight for School Choice in Montana

Ilena and Meleana Levitt didn’t just talk about school choice—they lived it. When their father became a fully disabled veteran and their family could no longer afford private school, these two Montana sisters made a bold and uncommon decision: they worked nearly full-time jobs as teenagers to pay for the education they believed in. It wasn’t easy—but it was worth it. Now, as young adults, they’re turning their personal story into public advocacy, fighting to expand school choice in Montana so that no student has to sacrifice like they did just to access the education that fits them best.
In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Ilena and Meleana to discuss what classical education taught them, how their family rallied behind them, and why school choice policies—like education savings accounts—are a game-changer for families who just want the freedom to choose what’s best for their kids. Their story is a testament to hard work, personal agency, and the power of policy to open doors for the next generation.
School choice isn’t a theory for these sisters—it’s the reason they’re thriving. This is the kind of potential that gets unlocked when families—not systems—are put first.

$5 Trillion Wake-Up Call: Congressman Rich McCormick on Fixing America's Broken Healthcare System

In this eye-opening episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Congressman Rich McCormick, an ER physician, U.S. Marine and Navy veteran, and representative of Georgia’s 6th District, to confront one of the greatest threats to America’s future: our broken healthcare system.
McCormick brings real-world medical and military experience to Congress, and in this powerful conversation, he explains why healthcare is not only the largest spending item in the federal budget but also the fastest-rising cost burdening American families and businesses. At over $5 trillion a year, it rivals the world’s largest economies—and it's unsustainable.
He lays out the case for urgent, common-sense reforms:
Eliminate Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) abuse that drives up prescription costs
Achieve site neutrality so hospitals and independent providers are reimbursed fairly
Cut red tape and restore competition by ending outdated Certificate of Need laws
Unleash the power of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and patient-centered transparency
Stop the government’s overreach into your health decisions, exposed during COVID
Congressman McCormick also warns of the broader national consequences if we don’t act now—economic decline, loss of global influence, and the erosion of personal freedom.
If you care about healthcare freedom, responsible spending, and protecting the American Dream, this is a must-listen episode.
📍 Learn more at: AmericanPotential.com

$554 Billion in USDA Waste? The Case for a Unified Welfare System

In this episode of American Potential, host David From continues the Big Ideas for Smaller Government series with AFP Policy Director Jeremiah Mosteller to explore a staggering opportunity for reform: a unified verification system for all federal welfare and assistance programs. By streamlining the maze of 80 uncoordinated programs—many run by the USDA—American taxpayers could save over $554 billion, nearly doubling the running total of identified savings in the series to over $1 trillion.
The conversation sheds light on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture has quietly ballooned into an agency funding not only nutrition and farming but also jails and international climate hubs—spending $20 million to teach fertilizer use in countries like Brazil and Pakistan.
Jeremiah shares domestic and international models—like Project Unity in Texas and Estonia’s revolutionary e-verification system—that prove how centralized systems can improve services, protect privacy, and eliminate waste.
This episode shows how smart policy, not slashed benefits, can lead to massive savings and stronger outcomes for those in need. It's a roadmap for Congress—and a challenge to rethink how government assistance is delivered.
🔗 For more, visit AmericanPotential.com

Building on Her Father’s Sacrifice: Monet Bacs’ Fight for the American Dream

What would you sacrifice for freedom? For Monet Bacs, Strategic Director at the LIBRE Initiative in Arizona, her father's answer was clear—everything. In this moving episode, host David From sits down with Monet to explore the legacy of her father, who fled Guatemala in search of opportunity, safety, and a future he couldn’t find at home.
Arriving in the U.S. as a teenage exchange student who spoke no English, Monet’s father built a life rooted in hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering belief in the American Dream. “I’d rather be homeless in America than live under tyranny,” he once said—and he lived those words, choosing struggle in freedom over comfort in oppression.
Monet also opens up about her grandfather’s horrifying experience in communist Cuba and how her father’s heartbreaking death during COVID, amid a broken healthcare system, ignited her passion for meaningful policy reform. Today, she works through the LIBRE Initiative to empower Hispanic communities with access to economic opportunity, education, and better healthcare—carrying forward the legacy of sacrifice and service passed down by her father.
It’s a powerful story of resilience, purpose, and what it truly means to honor freedom.
🔗 Learn more about the LIBRE Initiative at: https://thelibreinitiative.com

From Holocaust Survivors to Policy Reformer: Henry Kriegel’s Fight to Protect the American Dream

What does it mean to honor the legacy of survival and freedom?
In this powerful episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Henry Kriegel, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity–Montana, to hear the extraordinary story of his parents—Holocaust survivors who came to America with nothing but determination and hope. Their escape from Nazi-occupied Poland, survival through labor camps, and eventual arrival at Ellis Island shaped Henry’s lifelong dedication to defending freedom and opportunity.
From launching pro-freedom campus groups at Columbia University, to briefing President Reagan on endgame strategies in Afghanistan, and now training activists and testifying in the Montana legislature, Henry has spent his life fighting for policies that empower people—not government.
Whether he’s advocating for tax reform, educational freedom, or helping elect leaders like U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy, Henry’s passion is rooted in the belief that liberty is fragile—and must be fiercely defended for future generations.
🎧 Discover more at: americanpotential.com

From Army Veteran to Entrepreneur: How Chris Thomas Is Building Business and Opportunity in Ohio

Chris Thomas didn’t plan on becoming a business owner—but when opportunity knocked, he answered. In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Chris, an Army veteran and the owner of Tri-County Tower, to hear how military service shaped his leadership, and how a campfire conversation with his father-in-law changed the course of his life.
Chris shares the behind-the-scenes story of buying and growing a tower construction business in small-town Ohio, the real impact of tax reform on his ability to expand and hire, and his passion for creating jobs—not just for the sake of profit, but to improve lives, including his own children with autism.
This is a powerful conversation about grit, responsibility, and the freedom to build something meaningful in your own backyard. Whether you’re a veteran, entrepreneur, parent, or policy advocate, Chris’s story will leave you inspired.
🎧 Learn more at: americanpotential.com