Politics and Polls

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#27: Rebuilding the Democratic Party Jan 19, 2017

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The Democratic Party may be in a "crisis," many argue, and not only because of a Donald Trump presidency but also due to continued Republican control of Congress. Given these challenges, will the Democrats be able to rebuild their strength? In episode #27 of Politics & Polls, professsors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview leading political scientist Theda Skocpol about her recent article in Vox: "A Guide to Rebuilding the Democratic Party from the Ground Up." In the piece, Skocpol outlines how the Democratic Party can be rebuilt from the ground up, beginning at the state and local levels. Skocpol's work covers an unusually broad spectrum of topics including comparative politics and American politics. In particular, her research focuses on U.S. social policy and civic engagement in American democracy, including changes since the 1960s. She has recently launched new projects on the transformations of U.S. federal policies in the Obama era. Her books and articles have been widely cited in political science literature and have won numerous awards.

#26: "Indivisible" Featuring Ezra Levin & Angel Padilla Jan 12, 2017

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Since the election, Democrats have struggled with how to respond to a Donald Trump presidency. But one group is starting to get some traction - the authors of an online guide that is going viral: "Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda." Originally posted as a Google document, the guide was co-written by former Congressional staffers Ezra Levin and Angel Padilla, who both received their Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School, Leah Greenberg, and others. At the heart of the publication are two ideas: presidential power is not unlimited, and Congress responds to pressure when applied the right way. Levin and Padilla use their real-world experience with the Tea Party as a model for how citizens can keep the pressure on Congress and get results. In episode #26 of Politics & Polls, Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the Indivisible guide in depth with Levin and Padilla. Levin is D.C.-based domestic poverty policy wonk. He's served as associate director of government affairs at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, deputy policy director for Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and at AmeriCorps VISTA in the Homeless Services Division of the San Jose Department of Housing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College and a Master in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Padilla works for an immigrant rights nonprofit on federal health care advocacy. Padilla previously worked as an immigration policy consultant at National Council of La Raza. From 2009 until 2011, he worked for Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), advising on issues related to health care and the Affordable Care Act, among others. Padilla also has interned with the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House. He is a graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

#25: What Does the Declaration of Independence Really Tell Us Today? Dec 22, 2016

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Should the government play a major or minor role in the lives of American citizens? This core question resurfaces during each election and continues to divide the political parties. It turns out that this argument is not new. In his newest book, Yale historian Steve Pincus challenges those who argue that the Declaration of Independence should be used for political guidance today, saying it's in favor of limited government. Pincus shows that the Declaration of Independence actually gives the government more power, primarily to promote and protect citizens' welfare. What was the original intent of the founding fathers? And is the document still applicable today? In episode #25, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Pincus, who examines these issues in his new book: "Heart of the Declaration: The Founders' Case for an Activist Government." Pincus, Bradford Durfee Professor of History at Yale University, studies Atlantic history, the history of Britain, the British empire, global history and early American history. He also is the author of "Protestantism and Patriotism: Ideologies and the Making of English Foreign Policy, 1650-1668," "England's Glorious Revolution 1688-89" and "1688: The First Modern Revolution."

#24: Draining the Swamp? Dec 15, 2016

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Polarization was a strong undercurrent to the 2016 presidential election, powerfully affecting the electorate and politics. Looking toward President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet appointments, those same divisions remain clear. As Trump builds his team, the nation is beginning to see the outlines of a Trump administration - one that fits well with congressional Republicans. In their first live recording of Politics & Polls, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss Trump's recent appointments, the state of polarization today and how the polls got it wrong.

#23: Democrats in Trump's America Dec 08, 2016

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Since Donald Trump's election, there has been considerable debate about what the Democratic party should do next. While some Democrats argue for an openness to cooperation, others insist there isn't room for compromise given Trump's views on race and individual rights. In this episode of Politics & Polls, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview one of the most powerful voices in this debate: Jamelle Bouie. In his writing, Bouie — who serves as Slate's chief political correspondent — has tackled a host of issues from white nationalism to minority voters to Trump's vision of Black America. His work has appeared either online or in print at The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Nation and other publications. He also serves as a political analyst for CBS News.

#22: Trump & the Supreme Court Dec 01, 2016

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The vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court has returned to the spotlight, with President-elect Donald Trump promising supporters that he will nominate a conservative justice, and Democrats fuming from Senate Republicans' refusal to hold a vote on Obama nominee Merrick Garland. In this episode of Politics & Polls, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Linda Greenhouse about how a Trump presidency may affect the U.S. Supreme Court. Greenhouse is the Knight Distinguished Journalist in Residence and Joseph Goldstein Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School. She covered the Supreme Court for The New York Times between 1978 and 2008 and writes a biweekly column on law. She's the author of several books, including, most recently, "The Burger Court and the Rise of the Judicial Right."

#21: Asymmetric Politics Nov 17, 2016

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Political polarization is the worst it's been since the Civil War, some experts argue. How did we get here? How have America's ideologies shifted so much in the past four decades? What forces underlie the growing divide between Republicans and Democrats? And how has social media and varying sources of information widened the gap? In episode 21, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss party polarization with Matt Grossmann and David Hopkins, co-authors of the new book, "Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats." Published by Oxford University Press, the book provides a new understanding of contemporary polarization. Grossmann and Hopkins show how Republicans are more ideological, gaining public support by pledging their loyalty to broad values, while Democrats are more interested in special interest groups, appealing to voters' group identities and interests through the endorsement of certain policies. The result: two parties that think differently, argue past one another, rely on completely different sources of information and pursue divergent governmental goals.

#20: What Just Happened? Nov 10, 2016

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In a stunning upset, Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States. Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang react to the results in episode #20, their first post-election recording. Among a host of issues, they discuss why the polls might've been off and what a Trump presidency means the nation and the history of democracy.

#19: Looking Ahead to Election Day Nov 03, 2016

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In their last episode before the election, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang look ahead to election day 2016. Among other issues, they discuss what the results will do to the GOP, which states Wang in particular will be watching on election night (hint: it's not what you'd think), how the Senate races might turn out and if this particular election may shape political discourse in 2020 and beyond.

#18: The Religious Right Oct 27, 2016

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Since the 1970s, the religious right has been an important part of the Republican coalition. This group, comprised mostly of right-wing Christians, are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies. Throughout this presidential campaign, both candidates, especially Donald Trump, have tested the religious right. Trump's personal wrongdoings, in particular, have ruffled feathers, which some say are causing splits within the religious right. In this episode, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss this sect with their colleague Kevin M. Kruse, a professor of history at Princeton University. Kruse studies the political, social, and urban/suburban history of 20th-century America, with particular interest in the making of modern conservatism. Kruse is the author of "White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism" and, most recently, "One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America," a study of the rise of American religious nationalism in the mid-twentieth century.

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