House Talk with Ali and Liesl

Latest Episodes:

Episode 15: Crowded Democratic Primaries, Blessing or Curse? Mar 04, 2018

Show notes

In today's episode we're joined by Ian Russell, from Beacon Media. Ian spent three cycles at the DCCC and we're talking all about the Democratic primaries from around the country. There are so many Democrats running for the House in 2018. Is this a good thing for them or a bad thing? What is the role of the DCCC in this election cycle? They recently dropped opposition research on their one of their own candidates in Texas! How does this situation mirror their decision to play in House primaries in California under Chairman Steve Israel? Stay tuned for all of this and more in our latest episode!

Episode 14: Rising Poll Numbers for Republicans Feb 16, 2018

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Ali and Liesl talk to Republican pollster Robert Blizzard about Republicans’ improving poll numbers.

Episode 13: Let's Talk About Pennsylvania! Feb 02, 2018

Show notes

Hi House Talkers!

There is a lot going on in Pennsylvania this year. There's a special election in western Pennsylvania that outside groups are spending millions of dollars to win. The state Supreme Court just ruled that the existing congressional maps were illegally gerrymandered and new maps are needed - by February 15th! Add to that two competitive open seats and some of the swingy-est political terrain in the country, and Pennsylvania suddenly looks like a hotbed of House action. And we're still waiting for some Philadelphia political expert to figure out what an Eagles Super Bowl win or loss will mean for voter turnout in the critical Philly suburbs - any takers?

To discuss all these issues and more, McClatchy National Political Correspondent Alex Roarty joined us for a great discussion. Alex began his political journalism career in Pennsylvania and is a real expert on the state's dynamics and House races.

Listen here! And don't forget to subscribe on iTunes and rate the podcast! You may have noticed this episode is coming out just a week after our last one, with Stu Rothenberg. Things are changing so rapidly every day in Pennsylvania we wanted to get it out right away! You can look forward to our next new episode in a few weeks.

Thank you!

Ali & Liesl

Episode 12: Wave Elections with Stuart Rothenberg Jan 25, 2018

Show notes

Hi House Talkers!
If you're following the 2018 midterms (which we know you are), you're hearing a lot of discussion about whether or not this is a "wave" election -- is it like 2006 when the Democrats picked up 30 seats and the majority? Is it like 2010 when the Republicans picked up 63 seats and took the majority back?

Stu Rothenberg, the founder of the Rothenberg Political Report (now known as Inside Elections) and truly one of Washington's sharpest political minds and election handicappers, joins us this week to talk about what a wave is and whether or not we're headed for one this November.

As party strategists, we can tell you that identifying a wave early is really important. It helps inform resource allocation decisions and gives each side insight into which incumbents are likely to lose no matter how hard you fight, and what kinds of sleeper races are worth paying attention to in the final months -- or even weeks -- of the campaign.

Episode 11: 2018 Landscape with Jonathan Martin Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

Ali and Liesl talk to the New York Times’ Jonathan Martin about voters in the suburbs and how they will vote - and why - in the 2018 House elections.

Episode 10: Pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson Helps Us Understand Millennial Voters Dec 21, 2017

Show notes

Episode 10: Pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson Helps Us Understand Millennial Voters

Hi House Talkers!
Happy holidays! In this season where we gather with friends and family, we're bringing you an episode that may shed some light on the voting patterns of the younger people around your holiday table...you know, the ones who voted for Ron Paul or Bernie Sanders (or maybe both!).
Kristen is one of the country's foremost experts on the millennial vote, and in this episode she helps us understand what's going on with the youth vote and why she's worried for the future of the Republican party.

Our guest this week is Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson, co-founder of Echelon Insights and author of The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials are Leading America (And How Republicans Can Keep Up). She's also the co-host, along with Democratic pollster Margie Omero, of her own fantastic podcast, The Pollsters, which you should definitely be listening to!

Listen here! And subscribe and rate us on iTunes!
We'll be back after the New Year with an episode focusing on what we think is the most important battlefield for 2018 House races: the suburbs.
Happy New Year, and may 2018 bring you great happiness and joy!
Thanks for your support!
Ali & Liesl

Episode 9: House Landscape 2018 with Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

Hi House Talkers!
Our guest this week is one of the true House race experts in the country -- and it all began when he was just 11 years old in New Jersey!
Dave Wasserman, the House editor of the Cook Political Report, joins us this week to talk about the 2018 landscape. Dave has a distinguished record of knowing what's happening in House races: in 2006, he correctly predicted that Democrats would pick up 29 seats in 2006.
We get Dave's expert take on how 2018 is shaping up, and how it is (and isn't) like the most recent midterm wave elections 2010 (Republicans gained 63 seats) and 2006 (Democrats ended up picking 30 seats -- 29 on Election Day and one more a few weeks later).

Episode 8: The State of the GOP, with former Chief of Staff to Speaker John Boehner Mike Sommers Nov 10, 2017

Show notes

Following Tuesday's elections, we wanted to take a deep dive into the state of the Republican Party, and we talked to John Boehner's former Chief of Staff, Mike Sommers! There was a great profile of Boehner in POLITICO (https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/10/29/john-boehner-trump-house-republican-party-retirement-profile-feature-215741) that we talked with Mike about, in addition to hearing his thoughts about the current state of Republicans in the House. Our ad of the week is a 2016 spot from Minnesota Democrat Rick Nolan, who is one of the dozen Democrats who carried a Trump district. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=bywwTaJe5Xo)!

Bonus Episode: Virginia and New Jersey Edition Nov 08, 2017

Show notes

We couldn't wait to share our thoughts with you on what last night's election results may mean for the 2018 House races, so we recorded a special bonus episode!
Does Democrats' suburban strength mean they're on their way to winning the House in 2018? Was there any silver lining for Republicans in the numbers last night?

Episode 7: Party Committees' Independent Expenditures, the Real Story on How They Operate Oct 27, 2017

Show notes

Hi House Talkers!
In the last few weeks, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) have announced their hires to run their respective committees' Independent Expenditure campaigns (congrats, Jessica Mackler and Joe King!). We thought it was perfect timing to bring in someone who has been in their shoes to talk about what's often called the "loneliest job in politics."
And that someone is the DCCC's 2016 Independent ExpenditureDirector, Ty Matsdorf! He joins us this week to talk about I.E.s and how they *really* work. Ty is a native of southern Oregon who got his political start with former Montana Senator Max Baucus. Whether you think you know all about how I.E.s work or this is the first time you've ever of them, we promise you'll learn something new in the half hour we spend with Ty!
In our Ad Spotlight, we'll share an ad that aired in northern New Jersey last cycle -- set to the tune of "Dixie." Huh? Yeah, it worked. Check it out.
Ali & Liesl

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