After a week’s absence, the primaries return next Tuesday. Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections previews the contests in seven states, most notably in California, where the large number of vulnerable Republicans may decide who controls the House in the next Congress.
Until those elections take place, Paul Ryan is determined to remain as speaker … even though he is not seeking re-election this year. But, as Carl Hulse of the New York Times notes, Ryan is under siege from within his own party: not just from the conservative Freedom Caucus, which has long been the case, but also from moderates, who are usually a quiet bunch but who are insisting the speaker bring a vote on immigration overhaul to the floor.
Steve Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington has a new book out, “Presidential Communication and Character,” and talks about how the past four presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump — have adapted to the new ways of communicating with the public.
And we are rerunning an absolutely delightful interview Ken did back in 2015 with a good friend of his, journalist Bob Fuss, who spent 40 years in radio and who wrote a wonderful book chronicling his career. Bob died last week of leukemia at the age of 64.
Also in the program: Eric Greitens resigns as governor of Missouri … and memories of the late political prankster, Dick Tuck.
Music used in this podcast:
Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who
California Saga by The Beach Boys
I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You by the Bee Gees