American Potential

Government shutdowns have become a predictable crisis in Washington, but they don’t save money—they cost taxpayers billions while grinding essential services to a halt. From stalled small business loans and delayed passports to wasted federal dollars and lost productivity, shutdowns hurt everyday Americans and damage our country’s credibility on the world stage.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From talks with Okla...

In this special episode of American Potential, host David From reconnects with former host and now Congressman Jeff Crank. Representing Colorado’s Fifth District, Crank reflects on his first months in Washington—what it feels like to walk the historic halls of Congress, the honor of casting votes on behalf of his constituents, and the responsibility of carrying forward America’s founding ideals. He also shares candid stories, incl...

This episode of American Potential is unlike any other. In the wake of the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk, we pause to reflect on the principles at the heart of America—freedom of speech, open debate, and the responsibility of each generation to safeguard liberty. Charlie’s life and work embodied the courage to speak boldly, to defend foundational rights, and to inspire young people to believe that their voices matter. His loss has ...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Heather Andrews, Regional Director for Americans for Prosperity, to talk about California—America’s most populous state and one of its most challenged. From the Gold Rush that made it the 31st state to today’s $3 trillion economy, California has always been a land of opportunity. But families and businesses are now facing crushing inflation, heavy taxes, and gove...

In this moving episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes Rose Gordon, a Lakota language teacher at Onward Learning in South Dakota. Rose reflects on her childhood growing up under the shadow of government-run boarding schools, where speaking her native language was forbidden and punishable. Despite these efforts to erase her culture, she held on to the words, values, and stories passed down by her family and community...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton to discuss how his state is leading the way on education freedom and fiscal responsibility. Sexton shares why parents, not bureaucrats, should decide how their children are educated and explains how Tennessee’s bold school choice program is empowering families with more options. He also highlights how competition is d...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, to examine how the Department of Justice spends its massive $67 billion budget. From maintaining dozens of little-used SWAT teams across obscure federal agencies to handing out 11,000 grants worth nearly $5 billion a year—many with little accountability—Jeremiah explains how DOJ has grown far beyond i...

Host David From continues the story of Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, a Michigan restaurant owner who refused to close during the pandemic after the state’s first round of executive orders was ruled unconstitutional. Joined by her attorney, Helen Brinkman, Marlena recounts being singled out by state leadership, arrested, fined, and jailed—despite unequal enforcement and conflicting rulings—after she chose to keep serving her community.

B...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, who grew up under the weight of communist rule in Poland before finding freedom and opportunity in America. She shares vivid memories of empty store shelves, ration cards, and the solidarity movement that helped bring down the Iron Curtain—experiences that instilled in her a deep appreciation for liberty.

Marlena eventually built her Amer...

What does it look like when an ordinary American, with no political pedigree, takes one small step to get involved and ends up reshaping his community? In this episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes Jimmie Smith, Brand Development Director at Concerned Veterans for America, to share his remarkable story.

Jimmie’s path began in the woods of Florida, where as a boy he dreamed of serving his country. He left high scho...

As America approaches its 250th birthday, American Potential is launching a new series, 50 Stars, 50 Stories, highlighting the unique history and culture of each state in the Union. In this first installment, host David From is joined by Jesse Mallory, Regional Director in Colorado, and Camelia Peterson, Legislative Liaison in Missouri, for a lively round of state trivia about Colorado, Missouri, and Hawaii—the three states that jo...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Paige Yontz, Advocacy Manager in Iowa, to explore an innovative housing reform that’s reshaping how families care for aging parents, empower young professionals, and protect property rights. Paige was instrumental in leading a diverse coalition—from aging advocates to housing manufacturers and policy champions—that secured the passage of a groundbreaking Iowa law...

In this inspiring episode of American Potential, host David From speaks with Dr. Chaminie Wheeler, a pediatrician who walked away from the traditional hospital system to launch a direct primary care (DPC) practice—putting patients, not paperwork, at the center of healthcare.

Raised in a small village in Sri Lanka, Dr. Wheeler’s passion for helping others began at a young age and followed her to Pennsylvania, where she built CCC Hea...

Most people try to avoid the long lines and frustrations that come with vehicle registration and emissions testing. But Rafael Arroyo saw an opportunity to turn that frustration into a service—and a business. In Las Vegas, he combined emissions testing with vehicle registration services, saving people time and hassle. But the state’s motor vehicle agency didn’t like the competition. They shut him down and made it nearly impossible ...

In this Big Ideas for Smaller Government episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, to expose the wasteful spending and inefficiencies at the General Services Administration (GSA)—the federal agency responsible for managing office buildings, procurement, and travel across the U.S. government.

They revisit the infamous $800,000 Las Vegas conference sca...

In this special episode of American Potential, guest host Daniel Garza sits down with Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz during LIBRE’s Fly-In event to discuss the shifting political landscape among Hispanic Americans, especially in South Texas. As the first Hispanic female Republican to serve a full term from her district, Congresswoman De La Cruz shares her inspiring personal journey from humble beginnings to public service.

She add...

In this compelling episode of *American Potential*, host David From sits down with Kayla Frank and Echo Kopplin, two dedicated physician associates from South Dakota who led the charge to pass a groundbreaking bill removing the requirement for physician oversight in PA practice. They share the years of perseverance, grassroots advocacy, and strategic relationship-building that finally broke down regulatory red tape, enabling PAs to...

In this special edition of American Potential, guest host Daniel Garza sits down with U.S. Senator Rick Scott for an inspiring and candid conversation recorded during LIBRE’s fly-in. Senator Scott shares his personal journey from growing up in public housing to building the largest hospital company in the nation, serving as Florida’s two-term governor, and now representing the state in the U.S. Senate.

They discuss the economic tu...

Most people don’t get excited about federal spending cuts—but maybe they should. In this episode of American Potential, host David From talks with Kurt Couchman, Senior Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity, about the little-known budget tool called “rescissions” and why it matters for every taxpayer.

Kurt explains how the rescission process works, why it was used heavily by presidents like Ronald Reagan, and how recent packag...