Politics and Polls

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#7: The Coattail Effect, Gerrymandering & Third-Party Candidates Aug 11, 2016

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Donald Trump has tried to calm tensions with the Republican Party this week by endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator John McCain and Senator Susan Collins. But while these endorsements appear as a move toward unity, it's not clear whether these Republican candidates actually want Trump's endorsement, as evidenced by Collins's refusal to support Trump. If disaffected Republicans like Collins stay home, this could spell trouble for downticket races. What kind of effect will these endorsements - and Trump's campaign in general - have on the House and the Senate? Could Trump have inverse coattails, and drag other candidates down? How does gerrymandering complicate this? And how could third-party candidates like Evan McMullin, who joined the race this week, influence the election? Could McMullin give reluctant Republicans a reason to turn out - and help save downticket candidates in the process? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss this and more in episode seven of Politics & Polls.

#6: Does Election Media Coverage Tell the Right Story? Aug 04, 2016

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The media have played a powerful role in the 2016 presidential election. Some critics argue Donald Trump became a viable candidate thanks to his "free airtime," and that he might not have won the Republican bid without the attention. Others point out blatant sexism in the media given the attention paid to Hillary Clinton's voice and clothing—something reporters didn't do as much with male candidates. And Bernie Sanders' supporters contend "corporate-owned" media are uninterested in scrutinizing his campaign and platform issues. What is the right way to tell the story of the election? What are the roles of polling data and of shoe-leather journalistic coverage? Can they co-exist? Can they help one another? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss this and more in episode six of Politics & Polls.

#5: Courting the Working Class Jul 28, 2016

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Within the grand speeches at this week's Democratic National Convention lies a central message — Clinton and the Democrats, not Trump, can better serve struggling working and middle-class voters who have felt excluded from both parties. When both candidates return full-throttle to the campaign trail, they'll be competing for these voters in key states such as Pennsylvania. How has the Democratic Party's relationship with these voters evolved in the past? What messages should the candidates deliver to sway them, and in what ways? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more in episode five of Politics & Polls.

#4: How the RNC is 'Unconventional' Jul 21, 2016

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It's been an interesting week at the Republication National Convention in Cleveland. Donald Trump's wife Melania was accused of plagiarizing her speech. Ted Cruz was booed offstage after failing to endorse Trump. And Hillary Clinton was called a "criminal" and compared to "Lucifer." Will such dramatic incidents have an impact on voters? And more generally speaking, what role do these conventions play in modern America? Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more in episode four of Politics & Polls.

#3: Is the Election a Referendum? Jul 14, 2016

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People often vote based on who's already in the White House. How have we seen this play out throughout history? And how is President Obama's legacy shaping the current campaign? Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss in episode three of Politics & Polls.

#2: Does the VP pick still matter? Jul 07, 2016

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will soon announce their running mates—but does the vice president pick still matter? While it was once used as a way to bring regional balance to the ticket, it's not clear what the vice president selection means in 2016. Professors Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss this and more in episode two of Politics & Polls.

#1: Goldwater, Brexit, and The Party Decides Jun 30, 2016

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In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson crushed Barry Goldwater in the presidential election. Could we see another landslide like this in 2016? Or does today's political environment make that impossible? Tune in to the first episode of "Politics and Polls" as Professors Julian E. Zelizer and Sam Wang debate this issue and more.

Nancy Duff Campbell: A Path to Service Dec 07, 2015

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Nancy Duff Campbell is the founder and co-president of the National Women's Law Center. In this podcast, she discusses her path to public service.

Sailing the Water's Edge: The Domestic Politics of American Foreign Policy Dec 07, 2015

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When engaging with other countries, the U.S. government has a number of different policy instruments at its disposal, including foreign aid, international trade and the use of military force. But what determines which policies are chosen? A new book released by a Princeton-Harvard team focuses on how domestic U.S. politics – in particular the interactions between the president, Congress, interest groups, bureaucratic institutions and the public – have influenced foreign policy choices since World War II and shows why presidents have more control over some policy instruments than others. Presidential power matters, and it varies systematically across policy instruments. The book, "Sailing the Water's Edge: The Domestic Politics of American Foreign Policy" was written by Helen V. Milner, B.C. Forbes Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and Dustin Tingley, professor of government at Harvard University. In the following podcast, Milner and Tingley provide a preview of their work and explain the inspiration behind their book.

Paul Volcker and the Importance of Public Service Nov 23, 2015

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Paul Volcker has spent most of his professional life in public service. In this WooCast, he discusses the importance of public service, its role in good governance and his advice for students charting career paths in public service. He also talks about the papers he donated to Princeton's Seely G. Mudd Manuscript Library.

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