Politics and Polls

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#114: Midterms Reactions with Valerie Jarrett Nov 08, 2018

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Democrats gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 6, while Republicans bolstered their majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats also gained seven new governorships, including in states key to President Donald Trump's victory in 2016 like Michigan, Wisconsin and Kansas. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the election results and voting rights with Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Jarrett believes that wrestling control of the House from the Republicans was a massive accomplishment and asserts that the Democrats did what they set out to do, successfully communicating a message to the electorate that resonated broadly across the country. Jarrett also discusses the strategy she and other women developed to make sure their ideas were heard in the White House.

#113: A Week of Hate Crimes Nov 01, 2018

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he past week has been marked by a series of hate crimes. Pipe bombs were sent to a few political critics of President Donald Trump by a fanatic in Florida; two African Americans were shot by a white nationalist in Kentucky; and a horrific attack at a synagogue in Pittsburgh left 11 people dead. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss how these events could influence next week's midterm elections. They examine how white nationalism is being leveraged to maximize voter turnout and if voter suppression attempts will affect tight gubernatorial and Congressional races. They also discuss voter rights expansion, which has substantial implications for 2020 and beyond.

#112: A Midterms Update Oct 25, 2018

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Uncertainty looms regarding next week's midterm elections. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang consider the dynamics shaping the midterm elections and the potential implications with journalist Barry Yeoman and political scientist Danielle M. Thomsen. Yeoman discusses a judicial race in North Carolina that has significant implications for democracy and voting rights in the state. Thomsen speaks about the likely role that female candidates and women voters will play in November. Thomsen is an assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Irvine, and a visiting scholar at the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics, Princeton University, 2018-19. She is the author of the 2017 book, "Opting Out of Congress: Partisan Polarization and the Decline of Moderate Candidates." Her research focuses on the kinds of candidates who run for Congress, how this has changed over time, and why this matters for partisan trends in Congress. Barry Yeoman is a journalist who "specializes in in-depth reporting that puts a human face on complex issues." In addition to his work in print media, Yeoman has also made forays into documentary radio. His work has won numerous accolades, including an honor by the Columbia Journalism Review, which proclaimed him to be one of "the best unsung investigative journalists working in print in the United States."

#111: How Technology Changed Illicit Trade Oct 18, 2018

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Technological innovations have fundamentally altered the landscape of illicit trade. From war lords to state actors, top-down forces have harnessed technology to expand illicit trade in everything from pesticides to rhino horns. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the current state of the global illicit economy with expert Louise Shelley of George Mason University. Shelley explains the roles of market forces, criminal actors and non-criminal actors in the illicit trade market. Shelley is the Omer and Nancy Hirst Endowed Chair for Civil Intellectuals, a professor in the Schar School of Government at George Mason University and the founder and director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center. She also is the author of a new book, "Dark Commerce: How a New Illicit Economy is Threatening Our Future."

#110: The Aftermath of the Kavanaugh Confirmation Oct 11, 2018

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Following a bitter and contentious confirmation process, Justice Brett Kavanaugh has been sworn in to the Supreme Court. Could his confirmation galvanize Republican support in the upcoming midterm elections? And what effect will it have on the reputation of the Court? Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang dive deep into the aftermath of Justice Kavanugh's confirmation in this episode. They discuss Kavanaugh's career, the increasingly politicized Supreme Court and whether this confirmation process was, indeed, historically divisive.

#109: What's Next for Kavanaugh? Oct 04, 2018

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Questions abound regarding what impact the recently opened FBI investigation will have on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation process. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss Kavanaugh's prior political career, recent testimony and prospects for confirmation with research journalist Marcy Wheeler. Wheeler discusses Kavanaugh's role in both the Ken Starr investigation of President Bill Clinton and the national security legislation of the George W. Bush administration. Wheeler also discusses her unique approach to journalism, which relies predominantly on document analysis rather than human sourcing.

#108: How Money Restricts Access to Political Office Sep 27, 2018

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Working-class citizens have been historically underrepresented in American politics. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the influence of money in politics — both in terms of who rises to elected office and how those elected govern — with political scientist Nicholas Carnes. Carnes asserts that government would be more responsive to what the general public wants if the socioeconomic backgrounds of politicians were more in line with those of the general public. Carnes then explains the cash barriers that exist, which bar working-class Americans from running for office.

#107: The Kavanaugh Saga Sep 20, 2018

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Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual assault. How might this play out? And what effect will it have on the midterm elections? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss this and more in today's episode. (Note: This episode was recorded on Tuesday, Sept. 18.)

#106: How the Conservative News Media Shaped History Sep 13, 2018

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The conservative news media has had a historical role in shaping national politics. In this episode, Julian Zelizer discusses the influence of conservative news media, both then and now, with historian Laurence Jurdem. Jurdem goes into detail about how conservative publications were created as a means to influence policymakers and as an alternative to the liberal news media. These outlets influenced presidents like Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. Jurdem is the author of a new book, "Paving the Way for Reagan: The Influence of Conservative Media on US Foreign Policy 1964-1980." He also is a regular contributor to numerous national publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the National Review.

#105: This Week in Washington Aug 31, 2018

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Between the death of Senator John McCain, recent developments in the Trump-Russia investigation, and Congressional upsets, quite a bit has unfolded in the political sphere. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss all that's happened in this week's episode.

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