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Candidate Confessional – Defeated Politicians Tell All — News & Politics
Candidate Confessional – Defeated Politicians Tell All

Everyone loses. But some losses sting worse than others. This is a podcast about tough defeats. Hosts Sam Stein and Jason Cherkis talk to candidates who came up short in their bid for president, governor, senator and other elected office; those defined by YouTube moments and others who fell by painfully close margins. Looking back, these candidates give the listener an unvarnished, often-emotional picture of what life is really like on the campaign trail.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

How A Tea Party Darling Was Undone By Hubris, Drugs, and Washington D.C. (But Mainly Drugs) Jul 26, 2017

Show notes

Trey Radel had a promising congressional career ahead of him -- before it all came crashing down one night after he attempted to purchase cocaine from an undercover agent. In that moment, he became a cautionary tale and a pariah within his party. Now removed from office, he reflects on the missteps made and has some pointed pieces of advice for future "rising stars."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How A Conservative Writer Became A Target For The Alt-Right Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

David French never thought he'd run for office, let alone the White House. But in the spring of 2016, as the Never Trump movement was growing desperate for a candidate, his name was floated by conservative stalwart Bill Kristol. French, a writer for the National Review, took the idea seriously. But he soon discovered all the horribles that come when you're thrust into the ring.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What It’s Like to Campaign Against Donald Trump And Vladimir Putin At The Same Time Jul 12, 2017

Show notes

When Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primary, most Democrats cheered their good fortune. Not the Clinton campaign. They worried about an unconventional opponent who had already humiliated one establishment favorite (Jeb Bush). Little did they know just how insane the campaign would be.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How One Senator Found His Calling In The Wake Of Tragedy Jul 05, 2017

Show notes

Chris Murphy never thought much about gun control when he was serving in the House. In fact, he often parroted the NRA's talking points out of political expediency. But shortly after he won election to the senate in 2012, 20 first graders were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary school. The tragedy took place in Murphy's old district and it fundamentally transformed him and his career. But it didn't change gun laws.

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The Incredible Inside Story Of How Bernie Sanders Raised $218 Million Online Jun 28, 2017

Show notes

When Bernie Sanders launched his presidential campaign, he needed someone to do his online fundraising. He chose the team at Revolution Messaging (or rather, they chose him), and together, they turned a candidacy that no one expected to go all that far into the biggest grassroots money machine in U.S. political history. On this first episode of Season Two of Candidate Confessional, the folks at Revolution Messaging speak out for the first time about how it all happened. We talk to Tim Tagaris, Robin Curran, and Michael Whitney about their road to online fundraising superstardom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming Soon: Candidate Confessional Season 2 Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

Sam Stein and Jason Cherkis will go back to look at some of the biggest stories from campaigns past - the scandals, the policy battles, the failures and everything in-between. Each week, Stein and Cherkis sit down with some of the biggest names in politics. Highlights from this season will include Hillary Clinton's Communications Director Jen Palmieri, National Review Writer and near-presidential candidate David French, former Congressman Barney Frank, and Rielle Hunter, the videographer who had an affair with John Edwards during his presidential campaign. This is a one-of-a-kind podcast about tough defeats and the unvarnished, often-emotional and human side of our nation’s rough and tumble political system. Last season, “Candidate Confessional” was a finalist for both the 2017 Webby Awards and Digiday Publishing Awards and reached the top five political podcasts on iTunes. This season, Sam and Jason are upping the ante with new storylines. There will be episodes dedicated not just to campaigns but to major legislative pushes that ultimately failed and to famous figures who found themselves at the epicenter of scandal. You’ll hear from the Senators who tried to stop the march to war in Iraq and the key congressional aides behind the first failed 2008 bailout vote; the Senator who made gun control a cause after national tragedy and the videographer who found herself on the cover of the National Enquirer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: The Rise And Fall Of James Comey May 11, 2017

Show notes

Candidate Confessional season 2 approaches! In the meantime, host Sam Stein sits down with Huffpost's senior justice reporter Ryan Reilly and former Department of Justice spokesperson Matthew Miller to discuss recently-fired FBI director James Comey: his career, and how it came to this. Enjoy.

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BONUS: Huffpost's All-Star Trumpcare Panel May 05, 2017

Show notes

Candidate Confessional Season 2 is on the way! But in the meantime, we assembled a panel of Huffpost healthcare reporters to chew on yesterday's legislative bombshell: the House's passage of an Obamacare repeal/replace bill. Sam is joined by Huffpost reporters Jeff Young, Jonathan Cohn, and Matt Fuller to talk about what all this means.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Man Who Tried To Help Al Gore Win The White House Jun 06, 2016

Show notes

The 2000 presidential election was 16 years ago. But for Ron Klain, a lawyer for Vice President Al Gore, the loss still hurts. Klain sits down with Huffington Post's Sam Stein and Jason Cherkis to explain the intricate process of the Florida ballot recount.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Johnson On His Run For President May 29, 2016

Show notes

Gary Johnson was the governor of New Mexico before he decided to embark on a presidential run in 2012. Johnson talks to Huffington Post's Sam Stein and Jason Cherkis about his presidential bid as a libertarian, and why he separated himself from his republican counterparts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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