Politics and Polls

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#210: All About State Courts - Packing, Expansion & More (Marin Levy) Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

The unique circumstances of this year's elections created quite a stir among state courts regarding mail-in ballots, with some requiring intervention by the Supreme Court. In these politically charged times, what is the role of the courts?

Sam Wang interviews Marin Levy in this week's episode about state court packing, state court expansions, and more. She's a professor of law at Duke University, and her interests include judicial administration, civil procedure, remedies, and federal courts.

This episode was recorded prior to Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

#209: A Week After Election 2020 Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

The results are in: Joe Biden has won the presidency. However, President Donald Trump has yet to concede and is filing lawsuits in a number of states where he thinks voter fraud occurred.

It was good news for Republicans in the other races, though: The party gained seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and in state legislatures. Now, both parties await a double-runoff election in Georgia to determine which party will ultimately control the Senate.

Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang reflect on all that's unfolded in this week's post-election episode.

#209: A Week After Election 2020 Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

The results are in: Joe Biden has won the presidency. However, President Donald Trump has yet to concede and is filing lawsuits in a number of states where he thinks voter fraud occurred.

Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang reflect on all that's unfolded in this week's post-election episode.

#208: Election Day 2020 Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

On Election Day 2020, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss which states they're keeping a close eye on and how things might shake out for this monumental presidential election. They harken back to the episode they recorded right before the 2016 election … and how much has changed since. This is an episode you don't want to miss. Also, get out and vote!

#207: The Fox News Analyst Who Will Call the 2020 Election (Arnon Mishkin) Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Election day is less than a week away, and early mail-in and absentee ballots account for more than 70 million votes to date. Given the unique circumstances of this year's election, will the returns that day reflect the final outcome? How will the media accurately cover this historic election day? At the heart of every news network is the decision desk, a team of experts that analyzes and projects election winners. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Arnon Mishkin, the Fox News analyst who leads the team that will call the election for the network. Mishkin is director of the Fox News decision desk. Formerly a partner of The Boston Consulting Group and Mitchell Madison Group, he currently leads Mishkin Associates, advising clients on issues of core strategy, marketing, and targeting.

#206: What Happens Next? Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

As the election inches closer, polling data seems favorable to the Democrats, especially in a number of Senate races. Yet some say the Democrats are being too optimistic and overly confident, mirroring some of the sentiments from 2016.

In this episode of Politics & Polls, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss what will happen next — and the problems that are different from 2020. They go into the uncertainty not just on Election Day, but after — even in the new Congress.

#205: How the Right Rules (Jacob Hacker) Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

The Republican Party seems to be divided: Is it the old guard, advocating for small government and tax cuts? Or has it moved into more of an America-first, isolationist space under the leadership of President Donald Trump?

In this episode, Jacob Hacker of Yale University joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss how the current combination of plutocratic economic priorities and right-wing populist appeals threatens the pillars of American democracy. This is the subject of Hacker's latest book with Paul Pierson of the University of California at Berkeley: "Let Them Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality."

Hacker is the Stanley B. Resor Professor at Yale University and director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies. He is known for his research and writings regarding health policy, especially his development of the so-called public option.

#204: America's Political Epidemic (Abdul El-Sayed) Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

After a Rose Garden ceremony last week, President Donald Trump, members of his staff, and several Republican senators have all tested positive for Covid-19. The news has sparked a fiery debate about how the administration is addressing the pandemic.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who was the youngest city health official in America at age 30 - leading the Detroit Health Department, joins this week's episode to discuss what he calls America's "epidemic of insecurity."

El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, public health expert, and progressive activist. He ran for governor of Michigan in 2018. He is the author of "Healing Politics: A Doctor's Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic," which combines personal stories with history and science to show how inequality has created what he calls a political epidemic in the country.

#203: The Next Generation of Journalism (Jaden Jefferson) Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

Some criticize the way the media covers political issues, spurring conversations about how journalism can be improved, especially within the next generation of reporters. One 12-year-old — Jaden Jefferson — is already on his way to contributing to the news world through his local reporting efforts in Toledo, Ohio. Jefferson, who joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode, has already interviewed a number of prominent figures including Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He's been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and others. You can find his stories on his YouTube channel at Jaden Reports.

#202: Restoring American Democracy Featuring David Frum Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

Regardless of who wins the 2020 presidential election, American politics will be forever impacted by Trump's presidency.

In this episode, author David Frum discusses how America can rebuild — the subject of his new book, "Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy" — with Julian Zelizer.

Frum is a senior editor The Atlantic. He virtually visited the School as a Leadership Through Mentorship guest; this episode was a live recording.

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