FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2025
Contact: [email protected]
Congressman Cisneros Launches Podcast to Connect with Constituents
Episode 2 Premiering Today
Washington, D.C. – The 2024 presidential election sent shockwaves through the country, leaving many Americans anxious about what comes next. Representative Cisneros has been here before; during his first term in Congress, he helped guide the nation through the political turmoil, deep divisions, and policy upheavals that followed Trump’s first term in office. As the country navigates the constant barrage of new executive orders and government restructuring, Rep. Cisneros is more committed than ever to keeping voters informed, engaged, and hopeful for America’s future.
On March 3, 2025, Rep. Cisneros took the first step in leading Democrats into new media by being featured as a host on the Who Dem? podcast’s first episode with TikTok content creator Max Katz as his cohost. The episode reveals that regardless of the outcome of the election, Rep. Cisneros did “not [start] this podcast because of Donald Trump.” Instead, he mentions that the OX Institute production company approached him with the show proposal months before the November 2024 election.
While the election results caught many Americans by surprise, President Trump’s victory was far less shocking to podcast listeners. Donald Trump leveraged the podcasting world like no other candidate before, appearing on 14 shows and amassing nearly nine million views per appearance. Compared to his Democratic opponent, he made nine more podcast appearances and reached 120 million more viewers. For Rep. Cisneros, the real takeaway was not just Trump’s podcast episode audience size — it was how this shift toward podcast campaigning reshaped the public’s ability to connect with their leaders.
Trump’s long-form podcast conversations—whether on the golf course or in Joe Rogan’s studio—gave voters 17 hours of unfiltered access to the former and current president. The election results show that this access resonated well with the young audience who listen to these podcasts.
Since 2008, Democrats have consistently won over 60% of the youth vote, but in 2024, Trump made historic gains, increasing his share among young male voters by 15%. The message was clear, and Rep. Cisneros understood that for his party to strike back, they must enter the growing podcast landscape.
During the first episode released on March 18, the Representative provides more insight into why he decided to enter the podcast arena, saying, “I have a voice… knowledge and experience on different issues” and “it’s hard to get that voice out there sometimes.” He argues that constituents must hear directly from policymakers and legislators like himself, stating, “we needed to create our own [media].”
The first episode exemplifies this blend of politics and personality. Speaking on the DEI policies that Republicans have centered in their attack on Democrats, Rep. Cisneros explains how these policies help people, including himself, “I’ve always said it, and I’m proud of it ‘I am a product of [DEI]’… the program I got into when I was in the Navy [was] a Navy affirmative action program.” Rep. Cisneros explains that this program gave him a scholarship and the chance to go to college, stating, “That’s the opportunity, that’s diversity, equity, and inclusion,” but “look, I’ve failed and I’ve succeeded at times that was all on me and that was all through my merit… It had nothing to do with diversity.”
Podcasts have given political leaders a platform to share their views, but Who Dem? goes further by blending politics with culture. Covering topics like sports, entertainment, and music, the show offers a rare glimpse beyond the headlines and gives both the Representative’s and his guests a chance to see the person behind the politician. In a time of deep political and cultural divisions, Who Dem? creates a new space for connection and understanding between political leaders in Washington, D.C. and American voters.
Episode 2 of Who Dem? will be available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube (linktr.ee/whodem) on Saturday March 22, 2025.
For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Congressman Cisneros, please contact:
Ben Escobedo
[email protected]
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Gil Cisneros represents California’s 31st Congressional District. The Congressman was elected to represent the San Gabriel Valley in November of 2024. In the House of Representatives he serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Small Business.
Gil Cisneros is the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and the Military’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. A former U.S. Naval Officer, Gil was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2), the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his exemplary service to his country.
Gil is an advocate and co-founder of The Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, an organization committed to improving the level of Hispanic education in the country and the lives of Veterans. Gilbert’s dedication toward philanthropy began when he purchased a winning California Mega Millions lottery ticket in 2010. Gil and Jacki partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the city of Pico Rivera, California to create Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of putting a college degree in every Hispanic household in the city. Gil’s commitment to education led him to be appointed to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative’s advisory board.
California’s 31st Congressional District in Los Angeles County covering the San Gabriel Valley. The district includes all or part of the Cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, San Dimas, South El Monte, and West Covina. 51.2% of the registered voters in CA-31 identify as Latino, and 15.3% are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
Gil Cisneros is a former Navy officer and the use of his military rank, job titles and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.
Paid for by Elect Dems Now PAC (ElectDemsNow.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
