What It Takes

What It Takes with Sarah McCammon is a new podcast from Unmoderated News, that examines the personal stories that shape a new generation of leaders and the political and policy battles they fight to make change. Through intimate conversations with elected officials, political commentators, advocates, and community leaders, "What It Takes" unpacks the origin stories behind today's combative centrists. Together, we explore how they fight successfully in unfriendly territory, win hearts and minds, and overcome elite interests to make life better for all Americans. Instead of soundbites and talking points, the show digs deeper to uncover the values and experiences that shape how these leaders navigate politics in turbulent times with stories about what it takes to fight for wins and results.

What It Takes is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 19 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts What It Takes, a news show with 19 episodes published.

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  Episode #20

  Quinton Lucas Wants Democrats at the Chiefs Game

  Sep 24, 202644 min

  For stretches of his childhood, Quinton Lucas was homeless. He crashed at motels, with relatives, and even at the nursing home where his great-aunt lived. Now he's the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. He was elected in 2019, the youngest mayor of Kansas City in more than a century. Four years later, he was reelected with more than 80% of the vote. Sarah McCammon, who grew up in Kansas City, spoke with Mayor Lucas there in person about growing up poor on the city's east side, why he goes on conservative talk radio every week, what free buses taught him, and why Democrats should celebrate the American story.    IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 — Cold open 01:19 — Motel rooms, a private-school scholarship, and code-switching 05:12 — The housing trust fund and his doubts about rent control 11:46 — State control of the police and stadium deals with Republicans 16:49 — Conservative talk radio, purity tests, and Wesley Bell vs. Cori Bush 27:11 — Free buses and falling crime 32:41 — The World Cup and patriotism 37:02 — Gun ordinances and what's next CREDITS  Unmoderated is a production of Unmoderated News. Our team is Sarah McCammon, Kate deGruyter, Emily Becker, Janae Morris, David Fanto, Alex Kapelman, Kaitlyn Perez, Amea Thompson, Madison Meyer, Harrison Chinchar, Nathan Harnick, Jack Spilles, Alan Haburchak, and Gemma Waters. Music by Ṭaus al Chalabi. #KansasCity #QuintonLucas #Democrats   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #19

  Jessica Tarlov Wins Arguments Without Losing Friends

  Sep 17, 202648 min

  Jessica Tarlov is, for lack of a better term, a prominent moderate. She's one of the most recognizable Democrats on Fox News, arguing daily with people who don't agree with her, and she co-hosts the podcast “Raging Moderates” with Scott Galloway. In her new book, I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends, she draws on those daily fights to share what she's learned about arguing well—with colleagues, with critics, and with her own family.  Sarah McCammon spoke with Tarlov about the family dinner table that taught her to argue while still staying connected, her belief in fighting for health care as a human right, and what she thinks it will take for moderate Democrats to out-organize the party's left flank. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Cold Open 01:03 — Making the Case For the Moderate Lane 12:58 — Learning to Argue Without Losing Friends 25:13 — Why Facts Don't Change Minds 31:09 — Chipping Away At Jesse Watters 33:18 — Where She's Actually Changed Her Mind 36:26 — The Pitch Democrats Need On Immigration 43:17 — Inside the Fight With the DSA Unmoderated is a production of Unmoderated News. Our team is Sarah McCammon, Kate deGruyter, Emily Becker, Janae Morris, David Fanto, Alex Kapelman, Kaitlyn Perez, Amea Thompson, Madison Meyer, Harrison Chinchar, Nathan Harnick, Jack Spilles, Alan Haburchak, and Gemma Waters. Music by Ṭaus al Chalabi.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #18

  Yadira Ramos-Herbert Says Real is Better Than Polished

  Sep 10, 202649 min

  Yadira Ramos-Herbert grew up in Queens, the granddaughter of immigrants. She started her career as an attorney in New York City, then spent a decade in leadership at Columbia University Law School. She was working with students there when the campus was rocked by protests over the war in Gaza, after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Soon afterward, she became the first woman and the first person of color ever to lead the city of New Rochelle, New York. Today, Ramos-Herbert presides over one of the most closely watched affordable housing efforts in America while leading a deeply diverse city through a divided political moment.  Sarah McCammon spoke with Mayor Ramos-Herbert about her family’s immigration story, the backlash she sometimes faces for speaking Spanish on the job, and how she held her city together after October 7. In This Episode 00:00 — Cold open 01:43 — Grandparents, the American dream, and why she speaks Spanish on the job 13:28 — From a broken park to Mayor of New Rochelle 19:59 — Insecurities, fundraising, and being a Latina candidate 24:44 — October 7, the Columbia protests, and a mayoral race under scrutiny 31:31 — Misinformation, trust, and “Coffee with the Mayor” 34:23 — The Mamdani 9/11 controversy 37:20 — New Rochelle's housing boom and rent control 45:11 — Advice for 2028  Episode Credits Unmoderated is a production of Unmoderated News. Our team is Sarah McCammon, Kate deGruyter, Emily Becker, Janae Morris, David Fanto, Alex Kapelman, Kaitlyn Perez, Amea Thompson, Madison Meyer, Harrison Chinchar, Nathan Harnick, Jack Spilles, Alan Haburchak, and Gemma Waters. Music by Ṭaus al Chalabi. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #17

  Frank Sharry Says Democrats Could Still Win on Immigration

  Sep 3, 202647 min

  Third Way Senior Fellow Frank Sharry has been at the center of nearly every major push for immigration reform for decades — and watched almost all of them fall apart. Now he wants Democrats to reckon with where they went wrong on immigration, and how the party can reclaim the middle in the midterms and beyond. Sarah McCammon spoke with Sharry about how Democrats lost credibility on the border, the “both-and” answer he thinks can win back swing voters, and how four decades working with refugees shaped his view of the issue.   IN THIS EPISODE:  00:00 — Cold open  1:33 – Both parties captured by the loudest factions 4:33 — Biden's border fix came too late 8:34 — Secure the border, reform enforcement at home 19:18 — The "both-and-" answer costs and the Atlantic op-ed that cost Sharry old friends  30:57 — Order and generosity, "two sides of the same coin" 39:20 — Sharry's origin story 43:44 — The math behind Trump's demonization of immigrants We have some exciting news to share: the podcast will soon have a new look and a new name. We’re officially becoming Unmoderated. You’ll notice new colors, new fonts, and a fresh look but the content you know isn’t changing.  Sarah McCammon will still be sitting down with leaders, advocates, and changemakers to unpack the personal stories that shaped them and the battles they’re taking on today. We'll see you next week for the start of a new chapter.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #16

  Jake Auchincloss Wants to Save Democrats from Permanent Minority

  Aug 27, 202642 min

  Most kids hang posters of their favorite bands on their walls. Jake Auchincloss decorated his room with pictures of the Founding Fathers. His grandfather, the son of Jewish refugees, snuck into a Marine recruiting station as a teenager during World War II, over his mother’s objections. Representative Auchincloss joined the Marines to carry on that legacy. He commanded infantry in Afghanistan, then came home and ran for office. Now he is pushing the Democratic Party toward the center—and back to winning.  Sarah McCammon spoke with Representative Auchincloss about how Afghanistan shaped his view of American power, why he calls social media a failed society, and the governing vision he thinks can redefine the center around the middle class. IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 — Cold Open and Introduction 1:01 — Admiration for the Founding Fathers 5:42 — Afghanistan and American power 10:23 — Redefining the center around the middle class 19:07 — Patriotic, productive populism 21:57 — Chatbots and developing brains 28:41 — Antisemitism in both parties 36:03 — The Israel aid vote and AIPAC 38:40 — A governing vision for the middle class Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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