Politics and Polls

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#17: Art & Politics Featuring Robert Schenkkan Oct 25, 2016

Show notes

Who knew that the discharge petition—signed by members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill from committee to the floor—could be good material for a Tony Award-winning play and HBO feature film? In this episode, Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Robert Schenkkan whose play "All the Way" about Lyndon B. Johnson has been brought from the stage to the screen. "All the Way" is a play and film depicting LBJ's efforts to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and his re-election victory against Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. Schenkkan is an American screenwriter, actor and playwright. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1992 for his play "The Kentucky Cycle" and his play "All the Way" earned the 2014 Tony Award for Best Play. He has three Emmy nominations and one Writers Guild of America Award. The conversation explores how artists encourage us to think about politics beyond the scope of the media or academia and, in unique ways, teach Americans how politics work. Through plays such as "All the Way," Zelizer and Wang discuss with Schenkkan how the arts have opened up conversations about politics and play an important role in an era when many Americans seem distrustful.

#16: Voter 'Fraud' and 'Rigged' Elections Oct 20, 2016

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Donald Trump has made it clear that if he loses on Nov. 8, it is because the election was "rigged." He has warned that there might be widespread voter fraud that will favor Democrats. But does this threat have any basis in reality? Or is the real threat new voter identification laws that have the potential to disenfranchise significant portions of the population? And why, after a century of working to expand the right to vote, have we seen the restrictions put into place? Professor Julian Zelizer discusses these questions with special guest Ari Berman, senior contributing writer for The Nation magazine. A fellow at The Nation Institute, Berman is author of "Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America," a book published in August 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

#15: Down Ticket: House & Senate Races Oct 13, 2016

Show notes

While it may be hard to look away from the steel cage match between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, it's time to start looking "down ticket," as these congressional races could be one of the biggest stories in the 2016 election. What happens in the House and Senate races will ultimately shape and influence the next presidency. And many questions remain: What will the Trump effect be on congressional races? What impact will this have in the Senate? Is there any possibility that the House, currently with a large Republican majority, could swing to the Democrats? And will the Freedom Caucus expand or contract in size, and what challenges will this pose House Speaker Paul Ryan? These questions and more are answered in episode 15 of Politics & Polls with special guest David Wasserman, house editor of The Cook Political Report. A political analyst, Wasserman is responsible for handicapping and analyzing U.S. House Races for The Cook Political Report, a widely regarded nonpartisan, independent newsletter. Wasserman has served as an analyst for the NBC News Election Night Decision Desk in 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2008, and has appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, CNN and NPR.

#14: The Fight to Vote Oct 06, 2016

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Despite this year's tense presidential debates, fierce political battles and polarized atmosphere, it still comes down to one simple act: marking your ballot. While it takes mere seconds, voting remains at the heart of our democracy. But voting wasn't always so easy. The issue of voting rights in America has been long debated and has changed dramatically since the country was founded. From then until now, Americans have fought for the right to vote, while many tried to stop them. In episode 14, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Michael Waldman, author of "The Fight to Vote," a book chronicling the long struggle to win voting rights for all citizens. Waldman is president of the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan public policy and law institute focused on issues related to democracy and justice. From 1995 to 1999, he served as the director of speechwriting for President Bill Clinton. He is the author of numerous books and publications including "The Second Amendment," which traces the ongoing argument on gun rights from the Bill of Rights to present day.

#13: The Alt-Right Sep 29, 2016

Show notes

A previously unknown subculture has emerged onto the political scene thanks to the 2016 presidential election. The alternative right, known as the "alt-right," is a diverse group of people who identify as right-wing and are unified in opposition against mainstream American conservatism. The movement — which has gained attention through their support of Donald Trump's campaign — has been associated with white nationalism, white supremacism and right-wing populism and other fringe groups. But who exactly comprises the alt-right? Where did the group first originate? Is this a new phenomenon? And have we seen glimpses of such a movement throughout history? In episode 13, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Rick Perlstein, author of The New York Times bestseller "Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America" about the origins and implications of the alt-right and its connections to the Republican Party.

#12: All About Debates Sep 22, 2016

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The presidential election is at a crossroads as the race is beginning to tighten between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Now, we're entering a season of debates, with the first one kicking off Monday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m. from Hofstra University in New York. Some predict this first debate could be the most-viewed in our history. But how might these debates influence voters? What impact will the debates have when the polls suggest that the race has really tightened in many of the battleground states? Will they have the capacity to remake the race? And, more broadly, what role have debates played throughout history? Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss this and more in episode 12 of Politics & Polls.

#11: Gender & Politics Sep 15, 2016

Show notes

Hillary Clinton was sidelined by walking pneumonia this week, lighting up the internet with speculations and rumors about her health. These stories about the first female presidential candidate shine a spotlight on one of the biggest issues in the campaign: the role of gender in politics. Since Clinton was named nominee of the Democratic Party, commentators have been taking a hard look at the way gender impacts the political process. Yet, when it comes to gender, it is rarely a clear-cut or easy discussion. Working to disentangle the role of gender in politics is award-winning journalist Rebecca Traister, the best-selling author of "All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation." In this episode of Politics & Polls, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Traister, a writer-at-large for New York Magazine who has written extensively about gender and politics. Traister's latest book, "All the Single Ladies," draws upon historical research and interviews with nearly 100 women to examine the intricate truths of single women's sexual, economical and emotional lives. In episode 11, Traister dives deep into how gender has influenced the campaign and describes the powerful role of single female voters.

#10: Race & Party Politics Sep 08, 2016

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In one of the most powerful transformations in the history of American politics, African Americans shifted loyalties to the Democratic Party while Republicans became the party of racial conservatism. How and why did this happen? Did certain moments in history cause this bipartisan 'racial realignment?' How has this realignment led to the political polarization of 2016? In episode 10 of Politics and Polls, professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Eric Schickler, a political scientist at University of California, Berkeley, about his new book, "Racial Realignment: The Transformation of American Liberalism, 1932-1965" (Princeton University Press). Schickler challenges the conventional argument that this realignment occurred in the 1960s, dating the change to several decades earlier following the aftermath of the New Deal. Drawing upon rich data sources and original historic research, Schickler shows that top party leaders were among the last to move, and their choices were dictated by changes that had occurred beneath them — not unlike this year's presidential race.

#9: Top Three Moments in the Campaign Aug 25, 2016

Show notes

Game-changing events often occur during presidential campaigns. These moments — which can transform party dynamics, voters and even the candidates themselves — oftentimes influence the outcome of the election. But what about the 2016 presidential campaign? Have we seen moments like these? And, if we have, are they even worth looking back upon? In episode nine of "Politics & Polls," professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang close out the summer by sharing their top three moments from the 2016 presidential election thus far. Note: The next episode of "Politics & Polls" will air Thursday, Sept. 7.

#8: All About Polls Aug 18, 2016

Show notes

From straw polls of the 19th century to modern polling of today, polls have played a significant role in the American political landscape. But what is a poll? With dozens of new polls coming out every week, how can we make sense of the data onslaught? Is there a way to reduce the confusion? And what role can polls play in 2016, an election year fraught with drama and uncertainty? In episode eight of "Politics & Polls," professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang talk all about polls: what they are, whether to trust them and some simple tricks to reduce confusion in a dense media environment.

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