Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba: Why America's Ports Are The Economy in Motion | 13th & Park

Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba: Why America's Ports Are The Economy in Motion | 13th & Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, joins 13th and Park for a conversation on global trade, supply chain resilience, and how the Port of Long Beach handled 2.3 million container units in the first quarter of 2026. That makes it the busiest container port in the nation, even as geopolitical disruptions push oil prices higher and add costs across the entire transportation network. Hacegaba breaks down the port's landlord business model, the shift in cargo origins from China to Southeast Asia, and why that geographic change is putting new pressure on speed and infrastructure. He outlines the port's 2050 vision to double container throughput to 20 million units, anchored by a $3.3 billion capital investment program and the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, a project he calls a game changer for reducing a four-day container transaction down to 24 hours. The conversation also covers what Congress and the Trump administration can do to support port infrastructure through Surface Transportation Reauthorization, the port's workforce development partnerships with schools and universities, and the role Long Beach will play as a logistics hub during the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Hacegaba closes with the story of how a chance seating mix-up at a chamber of commerce event led to his first job at the port, and the lesson he now shares with students: never underestimate the power of networking and first impressions. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:21 Strait of Hormuz Impact 3:19 How Ports Generate Revenue 4:27 Port of Long Beach is leading the Nation in Containers 4:57 Noel Hacegaba's Message to Washington 6:45 What Congress Can Do 8:08 The $3.3B Infrastructure Plan 9:01 Why Long Beach Leads 9:48 Where the Cargo Comes From 11:41 Noel's Unlikely Career Path 13:35 Workforce and the Future 15:06 The Port of long beach and LA 2028 16:18 Closing Remarks Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Noel Hacegaba LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-noel-hacegaba-60b7894/ #portsoflongbeach #globaltradewar #supplychain #tradePolicy #infrastructureusa #straitofhormuz #americanports #containershippping #economicpolicy #13thandpark #washingtondc #adamgoodman #politicalpodcast #tariffs #la2028 #freighttransportation #useconomy

Congressman Mike Thompson on War, Veterans, and the Fight for Healthcare | 13th and Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Congressman Mike Thompson joins Anthony Williams on 13th and Park for a wide-ranging conversation recorded at Ballard Studios' remote location in Sacramento, California. A Vietnam War veteran who earned a Purple Heart, Thompson reflects on how his military service shaped every chapter of his life, from dropping out of high school to eventually earning a GED, an undergraduate degree, a high school diploma, and a master's degree, and how combat gave him an unshakeable standard for voting to send American troops into harm's way. Thompson shares the story of uncovering Project Shad, a classified military program in which U.S. service members were unknowingly exposed to deadly chemical agents and then denied the healthcare they had earned. He describes working across party lines with then-Representative Jerry Moran to get those veterans recognized and covered, delivering one of the episode's most powerful lines: "If that's a problem, quit making veterans." The conversation turns to the state of healthcare in America today, with Thompson breaking down what families in his district are telling him about the Affordable Care Act, the impact of HR 1, and what cutting a trillion dollars from the healthcare system means for hospitals, clinics, and everyday people regardless of how they receive coverage. He also discusses his role as chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, the reauthorization of anti-doping legislation, and his efforts to secure the Congressional Gold Medal for cycling legend Greg LeMond. Thompson closes with a reflection on what still gives him faith in America, pointing not to institutions or legislation, but to the people themselves, and the importance of keeping them in the loop. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:27 Assembly Fellows and Shared History 3:14 California Governor's Race 3:43 Vietnam Service and the Purple Heart 6:41 Vietnam Veterans Still in Congress 8:07 The Vietnam Wall 8:30 Project Shad and Veterans' Healthcare 11:09 The Affordable Care Act Today 13:22 Congressional Bike Caucus 14:23 Greg LeMond and the Gold Medal 17:27 Representing Wine Country 18:28 Faith in America Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Mike Thompson X: https://x.com/RepMikeThompson Facebook: https://facebook.com/CongressmanMikeThompson Website: https://mikethompson.house.gov #mikethompson #congressmanmikethompson #vietnamveteran #purpleheart #veteranshealthcare #affordablecareact #californiapolitics #uscongress #projectshad #greglemond #bikecaucus #militaryservice #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #anthonywilliams #publicservice

Patrick Kennedy & Collin Gage on Addiction, Mental Health, and Fixing a Broken System | 13th & Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Collin Gage, CEO of ARMR Sciences, join Alison Anway, Ballard Partners Health Policy Chair, for a candid and deeply personal conversation on addiction, mental health, and the fentanyl crisis reshaping American life. Kennedy reflects on his own public struggle with addiction, from being outed by a fellow rehab patient early in his political career in Rhode Island, to a DWI on Capitol Hill that sent him back to treatment. Rather than derailing his career, those experiences ultimately gave him the credibility and conviction to champion the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, landmark legislation that required insurers to cover mental health and addiction treatment on par with physical illness. He also discusses his ongoing work through the Kennedy Forum to build a bipartisan political movement around mental health. Gage shares the personal losses and family experiences that led him to found ARMR Sciences, a biotech platform developing vaccine-based and prophylactic technologies designed to prevent overdose death rather than simply react to it. He describes how the drug supply has become exponentially more dangerous, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids now lacing everything from counterfeit prescription pills to marijuana and vape products. Both guests argue that the fentanyl crisis has escalated beyond public health into a national security threat, with Chinese precursor chemicals fueling what Kennedy calls a strategic asymmetric warfare campaign against the United States. The conversation closes on a message of hope, emphasizing community, family-centered treatment, and the importance of open dialogue as essential tools in addressing an epidemic that touches every corner of American society. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:43 Welcome and Context 2:08 Kennedy on Being Outed and Going Public 4:49 DWI, Rehab, and Passing Parity 7:11 Collin Gage's Personal Story 9:24 What ARMR Sciences Is Building 12:10 How the Drug Supply Has Changed 13:29 Kennedy Forum and Political Strategy 16:51 Fentanyl as a National Security Threat 19:42 Personal Legacy and the Kennedy Family Mission 22:04 RFK Jr., Holistic Recovery, and Culture Change 25:31 Hope for the Next Five Years 27:43 Closing Thoughts Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Patrick Kennedy & Collin Gage X: https://x.com/ARMRsciences X: https://x.com/PJK4brainhealth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-gage/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/armrsciences/ About 13th and Park: 13th and Park is a dynamic media platform produced by Ballard Partners. We bring you insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analysis on key issues shaping industries, policy, and business trends. Our content features thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers exploring topics ranging from policy influence, business innovation, trade regulations, and more. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos, exclusive interviews, and expert insights shaping the future of business, policy, and public affairs. #patrickKennedy #fentanylcrisis #addictionrecovery #mentalhealthparity #opioidepidemic #publichealth #armorsciences #drugpolicy #kennedyforum #mentalhealthadvocacy #syntheticdrugs #nationalsecurity #overdoseprevention #bipartisanpolicy #13thandpark #politicalpodcast

Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Makes His Case for Governor of California | 13th and Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Xavier Becerra, former California Attorney General, HHS Secretary, and 12-term Congressman, joins 13th and Park for a wide-ranging conversation on his campaign to become Governor of California. Running to be the first Latino elected governor in the state's history, Becerra makes the case that his experience confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, negotiating drug prices, and defending California against federal overreach sets him apart in a crowded field. Becerra reflects on the defining moments of his public service career, from taking on the Trump administration as Attorney General to leading the Department of Health and Human Services through the worst pandemic in a century. He shares the personal story behind his decision to enter the governor's race, crediting his wife and his parents as the foundation of everything he wants to fight for as governor. On the campaign trail, Becerra says Californians are asking the same basic questions: Can I afford to fill my gas tank? Can I buy a house? Will healthcare bankrupt my family? He outlines a healthcare vision centered on integrated care, preventive wellness, and treating healthcare as a right, pointing to his track record negotiating up to 79% discounts on prescription drugs for Medicare as proof of what is possible. The conversation also covers the reshuffling of the governor's race following Eric Swalwell's exit, the historic significance of potentially becoming the first Latino governor in 150 years, and what Becerra sees as the deeper contrast between the California his parents built their lives in and the one too many families are struggling to access today. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:28 Welcome and Shared History 2:04 Career Lessons and Public Service 3:25 Running HHS During COVID 5:01 The Decision to Run for Governor 7:55 What Californians Are Worried About 9:14 The Race Reshuffles After Swalwell 12:12 Restoring the California Way of Life 13:11 Growing Up in Sacramento 15:15 Healthcare Vision for California 17:25 Negotiating Drug Prices at HHS 18:38 Historic Significance of the Race 20:25 Closing Thoughts Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Xavier Becerra X: https://x.com/XavierBecerra IG: https://www.instagram.com/becerraforgovernor/ #xavierbecerra #californiagovernor #californiapolitics #governorrace2026 #californiadream #healthcarepolicy #hhs #latinoleadership #californiaaffordability #democraticprimary #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #adampodcast #californiaprimary #costoflivingcalifornia #publicservice #californiaelection About 13th and Park: 13th and Park is a dynamic media platform produced by Ballard Partners. We bring you insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analysis on key issues shaping industries, policy, and business trends. Our content features thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers exploring topics ranging from policy influence, business innovation, trade regulations, and more. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos, exclusive interviews, and expert insights shaping the future of business, policy, and public affairs.

Rep. Chris Deluzio on Youth Sports, Corporate Greed & the American Dream | 13th & Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Congressman Chris Deluzio, a Naval Academy graduate and second-term representative from Pennsylvania's 17th District, joins 13th and Park for a candid conversation on economic power, the cost of living, and what he believes the government owes working families. Drawing on his upbringing in western Pennsylvania, his service during the Iraq War, and his background in election security law, Deluzio outlines a political identity rooted in hard work, patriotism, and skepticism of concentrated power. Deluzio discusses the Monopoly Busters Caucus he helped launch, explaining why he sees corporate consolidation as one of the defining threats to the American dream. From private equity gobbling up youth sports leagues to meatpacking consolidation squeezing farmers, he argues that the lack of economic competition is a nonpartisan problem with very real costs for families across the country. The conversation also covers the pressures facing families in competitive swing districts, the ongoing fight over election integrity, and his concerns about the cost of U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict. Deluzio is direct about the data: Americans his age and younger are statistically more likely to be worse off than their parents, and he believes Washington has to stop tinkering around the edges. Representing one of the most politically competitive districts in the country, Deluzio reflects on what it means to govern for everyone, not just a base, and why he remains optimistic about America's ability to course-correct at a critical moment for its democracy. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:12 Western PA Roots and Values 3:00 Iraq War and Military Service 4:26 Voting Rights and Election Security 5:52 Youth Sports and Rising Costs 8:16 Monopoly Busters Caucus 10:09 The American Dream Under Pressure 11:51 What Constituents Are Saying 13:01 Governing a Swing District 14:15 Mentors and Resolve 15:13 Optimism for America's Future 16:47 Closing Thoughts Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Chris Deluzio X: https://x.com/RepDeluzio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repdeluzio #ChrisDeluzio #pennsylvaniаpolitics #congress #antitrust #monopolybusters #americandream #costofliving #youthsports #veteransinpolitics #swingdistrict #corporatepower #workingfamilies #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #washingtondc #navyvet