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It’s the first podcast of the new year, and who better to have on the program than NPR’s Ron Elving, who helps explain the surreal nature of 2017 and what we might possibly expect for 2018. Two big Senate stories this week, starting with Tina Smith, the lt. gov. of Minnesota, who has been sworn …
Read moreEpisode #211: Out With The Old, In With The Familiar?
As 2017 comes to a close, we are once again presenting a program celebrating and honoring some of the more distinguished politicians and political journalists who left us this year. Political analyst Stu Rothenberg and USA Today’s Jill Lawrence join Ken for a look back at the careers of the late former Senators Pete Domenici of …
The shock of the Senate result in Alabama has yet to wear off. NPR’s Mara Liasson talks about Doug Jones’ upset victory and what it means for President Trump, Steve Bannon, Democratic morale and the 2018 midterm elections. Robert Merry has a new biography out on William McKinley, the nation’s 25th president. Often under-valued by …
The resignation of John Conyers and, apparently, Al Franken — coming at the same time the president of the United States is rooting for a Roy Moore victory in Alabama — is just one indication of how the two parties see the issue of sexual harassment in Congress. Carl Hulse of the New York Times …
Read moreEpisode #208: Who’s Naughty, Who’s Nice on Capitol Hill
The never-ending list of sexual harassment allegations now comes to Capitol Hill, where Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) is under pressure to resign, though he insists he has no intention of doing so. Even Nancy Pelosi, who gave an awkward defense of Conyers over the weekend, is now said to be a behind-the-scenes effort to force …
Thanksgiving is an opportunity to step back from the daily grind of the political cycle, away from the recriminations and finger pointing, and enjoy some time off with family and loved ones. So this week, we’re reaching back into the archives to revisit some of our favorite interviews from this past year. Former Pennsylvania Rep. …
Read moreEpisode #206: Giving Thanks to Great Political Memories
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is one of many Beltway Republicans who have called for the withdrawal of Roy Moore from the Alabama Senate race. But Bill Stewart of the University of Alabama notes that Moore, under fire for sexual misconduct and harassment charges from decades ago by women who were in their teens, is …
Democrats would rather be united in their opposition to Donald Trump than have to revisit the painful reminders of what happened to them in 2016. And a new book by party strategist Donna Brazile, that regurgitates the tensions at the DNC between the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders forces, has added to that tension. On …
Tuesday is election day, and voters in two states — New Jersey and Virginia — will be electing new governors. In the Garden State, Brigid Harrison of Montclair State Univ. notes that, with the job approval numbers for term-limited Chris Christie abysmal, Democrat Phil Murphy is the heavy favorite. In the Old Dominion, reports Mark …
President Trump pledges to have a good working relationship with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell at the same time his former chief strategist works for the defeat of Republican incumbents. Republican strategist Vin Weber discusses the role of Steve Bannon in the 2018 midterms and how Trump has changed the party. Ron Chernow talks about …
Read moreEpisode #202: It’s My Party (And I’ll Cry If I Want To)