About Us
The New Pragmatic is an online publication covering centrist and moderate politics. We're based in California and believe in good schools, safe streets, and making money. We champion normalcy and oppose crazy.
Who We Are
Jay Cheng is a San Francisco-based, Democratic political strategist and operative dedicated to helping centrist campaigns, candidates, and causes win. He previously served as the founding Executive Director of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, where he built one of the city’s most influential political organizations focused on electing centrist, pragmatic, results-oriented leaders. During his tenure, Jay played a central role in organizing the successful recall of the San Francisco Board of Education and led the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. He helped elect District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, secured a centrist majority on the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, and elected student-focused and public safety–oriented majorities on both the Board of Education and Board of Supervisors.
Amanda Blackwood is a Sacramento-based Republican, broadcaster, and award-winning executive with experience in finance, real estate, civic leadership, political campaigns, and communications. She is a weekly contributor and fill-in host on KFBK AM 1530 / FM 93.1, where she covers California politics, business, and kitchen table issues, and a featured political commentator on KFI Los Angeles and KOGO San Diego. As founder of Blackwood Strategies, she is an embedded strategist and operating partner to the leadership of a global S&P 500 company. From 2018 to 2023, she was President and CEO of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, where she delivered $100 million in economic relief to the region's small business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. On The New Pragmatic, she explains how government and business work in plain language, and she always checks the receipts.
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