Shows

Alabama’s new law that essentially bans all abortions is clearly intended to ignite a challenge of Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court. Could it lead to Roe being overturned? Plus, a preview of the battle for control of the Senate in 2020, and we explore which presidential candidates are likely to make the primary debate stage next month. And we reflect on the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, 65 years later.

With Joe Biden’s candidacy bringing back memories of the Hill-Thomas hearings, former Arizona senator Dennis DeConcini, a Democrat from the 1991 committee recalls that confirmation battle. Marvin Kalb, the former CBS and NBC newsman weighs in on Donald Trump’s attacks on the media. And author Rick Robinson joins us to talk about some famous political embarrassments and screw-ups of the past.

With the Democratic field for 2020 shaping up to be the largest in history, we check in on Iowa to see who is making waves in the Hawkeye State. Plus, we remember the life of Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar by hearing from two of his colleagues: former Sen. Sam Nunn and former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke. And we listen back to Ken’s 2017 interview with the late Sen. Lugar.

Now that the Mueller report is out, what will the Democrats do next? As debate swirls around the possibility of impeachment, we take a look back at the investigation of President Nixon in 1974, and examine the similarities and differences to today. Plus, we discuss the politics of the supposedly-independent Federal Reserve Board, and preview next month’s gubernatorial primary in Kentucky.

President Trump’s feud with Rep. Ilhan Omar is not the first time that Trump has been accused of stoking Islamophobia to stir up his base. We look back at the history of American’s attitudes towards Muslims, and also examine how Rep. Omar has become a lightning rod among Democrats as well. Plus, we discuss how Mayor Pete Buttigieg has become a media phenomenon, and we look back at the ten worst presidential primary campaigns of recent memory.

Will Joe Biden’s history of placing his hands on men and women hold him back from securing the Democratic nomination? Plus, journalist Evan Thomas discusses his new biography of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, entitled “First.” And we reflect on the life of former South Carolina Sen. Fritz Hollings, who died recently at age 97.

Former Maryland Congressman John Delaney was the first Democrat to jump into the presidential race, way back in the summer of 2017. We revisit Ken’s conversation with him from shortly after he began his campaign. Plus, we rebroadcast several other conversations looking at the communication styles of past presidents, the first woman to serve in Congress, and a biography of President James K. Polk.

We don’t know for sure what’s in the Mueller report… we only know Attorney General Barr’s summary of it. We explore how political animosity has exploded in the aftermath of last weekend’s announcements. Plus, we preview Tuesday’s mayoral runoff election in Chicago and remember the Democrats’ VP nomination of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984.

Beto O’Rourke is in for 2020. Could Joe Biden be next to enter the crowded presidential field? Meanwhile, we meet presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, who tells us about the issues that are motivating her run for the White House. And we reflect on the legacy of the late Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh, and the lasting influence he had on the country and the Constitution.

We explore the increasing polarization of both political parties. How can centrist politicians reach across the aisle when more ideological members of their party threaten them with primary challenges? Plus, we discuss the Democrats’ decision to exclude Fox News from hosting any presidential debates, and we go back 15 years to when a state senator named Barack Obama won the Illinois Senate primary.