American Potential

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It’s Halloween on American Potential, and some of the scariest things aren’t ghosts or goblins—they’re policies coming out of state capitals.

Host David From sits down with Ariana Assenmacher, Political Director for the California Young Republicans, to discuss Proposition 40, a proposed wealth tax targeting billionaires and some of their assets in California.

Ariana breaks down how the proposal would work, why its retroactive nature is raising concerns, and what could happen if entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners decide California is no longer worth the cost. They also discuss the potential impact on jobs, investment, innovation, and state revenue—and why other ballot measures are attempting to counter the proposal.

The conversation also looks at why Ariana and other young Californians are choosing to stay and fight for their state. California has long been a center of entrepreneurship and innovation, and Ariana explains why policies that discourage people from building and investing could have consequences far beyond the billionaires being targeted.

This Halloween, the scary question is what happens when a tax aimed at a few of California’s wealthiest residents ends up affecting everyone else.

Join our community. Text "freedom" to (202) 918-5348

It’s Halloween on American Potential, and the scariest thing facing Illinois families might not be ghosts, haunted houses, or monsters—it might be their property tax bill.

Host David From sits down with Americans for Prosperity Illinois Deputy State Director Brian Costin to unpack Illinois’ already frightening property taxes and a Mega Projects bill that could make the situation even scarier for homeowners and businesses.

Brian explains how the proposal could give major developments significant property tax advantages while potentially shifting more of the burden onto surrounding taxpayers. He also discusses why AFP Illinois is sounding the alarm ahead of the state’s veto session and what could happen if lawmakers revive the proposal.

The conversation also looks at the bigger problem facing Illinois and Brian’s plan to put stronger caps on property taxes, give families more certainty, and make the state more competitive with its neighbors.

This Halloween episode proves that sometimes the scariest stories coming out of Illinois don’t need ghosts or monsters—they just need a property tax bill.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Rimantas Jurevicius, who grew up in Lithuania under Soviet control and now lives in Wisconsin, to share his firsthand experience of life under communism.

Rimantas describes growing up in a system where private property was taken away, basic goods were often difficult to find, government-run stores had empty shelves, and Communist Party connections could determine everything from career opportunities to access to better products and healthcare. He also shares his family’s painful history, including his mother being forcibly sent to Siberia as a child under Stalin.

A talented track athlete, Rimantas became a Soviet Union champion and served in the Soviet military before eventually coming to the United States in 1992 with just $130 in his pocket. He shares how an American company gave him an opportunity despite not speaking English—and how, 32 years later, he retired after eventually running that same company.

Today, Rimantas is sharing his story with Americans to explain the realities of the system he experienced and why he believes freedom and opportunity are at the heart of the American Dream.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with attorney Aaron Rice of American Dream Legal to discuss a major legal fight over healthcare competition and patient choice in Mississippi.

Aaron shares the story of Butch, an experienced physical therapist who wanted to open a home health agency after seeing the growing need for in-home care during COVID. But he discovered that Mississippi had maintained a moratorium for 45 years that prevented anyone from opening a new home health agency.

Aaron explains how certificate of need laws allow existing healthcare providers to weigh in on whether new competitors should be allowed into the market and how those restrictions can limit choices for patients. Despite Mississippi’s home health patient population growing dramatically, the number of agencies available to serve them actually declined.

Butch fought back in court and won a major victory when a federal judge struck down the 45-year moratorium. Now, Aaron and his team are taking the fight further, challenging Mississippi’s broader certificate of need law and arguing that healthcare entrepreneurs should not need permission from their competitors to serve patients.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Iowa State Representative and artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen to share the story behind the Freedom Rock and how one painting grew into a mission to honor veterans across America.

Inspired by Saving Private Ryan, Bubba painted his first patriotic mural on a graffiti-covered rock in Iowa in 1999. What started as a simple way to thank veterans became an annual tradition and eventually expanded to Freedom Rocks in all 99 Iowa counties. He is now working toward bringing one to every state in the country.

Bubba shares some of the powerful stories he has encountered along the way, including veterans and Gold Star families who found comfort in his artwork. He also explains how the Freedom Rock became a living memorial, with the ashes of more than 180 Vietnam veterans and other service members incorporated into the paintings.

The conversation also explores Bubba’s own One Small Step—from picking up a paintbrush to eventually running for the Iowa legislature—and how he uses both art and public service to preserve the stories of those who sacrificed for America.