Politics with Amy Walter

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A Primary Election During a Pandemic Apr 03, 2020

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The Latest:

BREAKING: Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers issues order delaying Tuesday’s presidential primary election until June because of the coronavirus pandemic; court challenge expected. https://t.co/9l3Ui0tZZ4

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 6, 2020

NOTE: This is an evolving story, our Politics host Amy Walter be keeping up with it and tweeting her analysis throughout the weekend. You can find Amy at @amyewalter or click her Twitter thread below for all of the latest:

Just now: WI Gov. Evers (D) calls for special session to turn the 4/7 primary into all vote-by-mail. According to MKE Journal’s @MollyBeck , GOP legislature has rejected it & “WI polls will be open on Tues. & people will be voting in person.” 1/

— amy walter (@amyewalter) April 3, 2020

On Tuesday, April 7th, Wisconsin will hold its primary election in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. While 15 states have postponed their primaries, officials in Wisconsin have decided to move forward with the race rather than leave local elected positions in limbo.

Patrick Marley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, State Representative Tyler August, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore join Politics with Amy Walter to discuss the decision to host an election during the coronavirus pandemic.

Also, Austin Mayor Steve Adler shares what it's like to govern during a pandemic in a blue city within a red state.

Finally, Chryl Laird, Assistant Professor of Government at Bowdoin College and author of "Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior," shares why Black Americans are such a loyal voting bloc for Democrats.

Check out our ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here. Check out our local leader series here.

How COVID-19 has Changed Small Business Mar 27, 2020

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The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on every aspect of life. Hospitals and healthcare workers are overwhelmed as the number of those infected grows every day. The global economy has been upended and entire industries have come to a halt leaving millions without jobs.

As Americans wait for a coordinated federal response, small business owners are running out of resources to keep their livelihoods afloat and their employees on the payroll. Lenore Estrada is the founder of Three Babes Bakeshop in San Francisco and the Executive Director of SF New Deal. She's had to lay off most of her employees and lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in business. She joined Politics to share how things have changed since the start of the economic downturn.

Congressman Colin Allred of Texas weighs in on the $2 trillion stimulus package out of Washington this week. Among many things, the stimulus package is supposed to provide relief for small businesses struggling to adapt to the loss in traffic.

The Washington Post's Paul Kane covered the 2008 financial crisis in addition to the ongoing one. He joins Amy Walter to analyze the details of the stimulus package and how Democrats are working to ensure there are checks on assistance for large corporations.

First responders are putting their lives on the line throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. James Augustine is the Medical Director of South Fulton, Georgia. He describes how first responders are adjusting to the realities of the pandemic.

Finally, Anita Dunn, senior adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, shares how campaigning has changed as a result of the pandemic.

Politics with Amy Walter: Governing, the Economy, and Coronavirus Mar 20, 2020

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This week, a look at the way coronavirus is reshaping our worldview.

Louisiana was the first state to postpone their primary contest as a result of the ongoing public health pandemic. Several states have since followed its lead. Louisiana's Secretary of State R. Kyle Ardoin joins Politics to explain the reasoning behind the decision to move their primary.

The global economy has slowed considerably as communities attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus. Economist and Howard University professor Andria Smythe describes the tools that policymakers are using to soften the economic blow.

Wendy Parmet, professor of law and the director of Northeastern University's Center for Health Policy and Law in Boston, discusses the power that state and local governments have to deal with a public health crisis.

During times of crisis, people look to the President. A strong show of leadership has the power to calm nerves and reassure audiences that everything will be okay. Professor Barbara Perry is the Presidential Studies Director at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Professor Perry weighs in on what the role of the president has been historically and what lessons can be applied to the ongoing pandemic.

Check out our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here.

The Politics of Coronavirus Mar 13, 2020

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Coronavirus has caused the cancellation of major sporting events, religious services, and other mass gatherings. It's even forced presidential contenders to rethink the way they campaign as people begin self-isolating. This week, Politics with Amy Walter takes a look at how the pandemic is reverberating across politics.

Michigan will have an outsized role come November. This is why Biden's performance in the swing state mattered a great deal during Tuesday's primary where he won every county in the state. Maya King of Politico, Ruby Cramer of BuzzFeed News, and Democratic strategist Joel Payne join us to discuss the primary results and what it means for the future of Bernie Sanders' campaign.

Mayor Michael Taylor of Sterling Heights in Macomb County Michigan has voted for Republicans his whole life, but that changed ahead of his state's primary. Although Macomb County supported President Obama twice, it flipped for Trump in 2016. The county has traditionally been a bellwether in elections: whoever wins this blue-collar county wins the state. Mayor Taylor shares why he can no longer support Trump.

In the midst of election season, Jessica Huseman of ProPublica's Electionland project analyzes what about the election process has changed since 2016 and how that will affect turnout.

Plus, Reid Wilson, national correspondent at The Hill and author of "Epidemic: Ebola and the Global Scramble to Prevent the Next Killer Outbreak," joins Politics to discuss the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Check out our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus outbreak here.

Super Tuesday and Beyond Mar 06, 2020

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Joe Biden, the one-time frontrunner turned underdog is now the frontrunner again. While Bernie Sanders, the one-time underdog turned frontrunner, is once again in the fight for his political survival.

We hear from various constituencies across the Democratic spectrum about how they're feeling now that the race has narrowed. Our voices include Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, Domingo Garcia, national president of LULAC, Lanae Erickson, senior vice president at Third Way, and Aracely Jimenez, deputy communications director of Sunrise Movement.

While the attention has been on the fight happening on the Democratic side, President Trump certainly hasn't been sitting on the sidelines. Politico's Alex Isenstadt discusses Trump's reelection strategy. Also on the show, a look at the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus outbreak with Yasmeen Abutaleb, a health policy reporter at The Washington Post.

Plus, a conversation with Joshua Geltzer of Georgetown's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection about the lost words of the 14th Amendment and what they could mean for voting rights in this country.

EXTRA: Biden Wins South Carolina Mar 01, 2020

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For the last few weeks, Joe Biden has been counting on South Carolina to save his campaign. And, last night, Palmetto state voters did just that.

Biden took almost 50 percent of the vote in the state, besting 2nd place finisher Bernie Sanders by almost 30 points. His win was built on the strength of support among African American voters, he took almost two-thirds of the black vote. But can Biden’s momentum from South Carolina translate into wins in the 14 states that hold elections on Tuesday?

Amy Walter talks with Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist, Dave Weigel, national reporter covering politics for The Washington Post, and Jamie Lovegrove, political reporter at The Post and Courier.

The Final Early State Feb 28, 2020

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On Saturday, primary voters in South Carolina will decide which nominee has earned their votes. While Vice President Joe Biden is polling ahead of his rivals in the state, his lackluster performance in Iowa and New Hampshire has called into question his electability. Just a few days later, national attention will shift toward the 14 states casting ballots on Super Tuesday. Darren Sands of BuzzFeed News, Clare Malone of FiveThirtyEight, and Meg Kinnard of AP join Politics to discuss.

Voters in Texas will choose their candidate on Super Tuesday. Abby Livingston of The Texas Tribune weighs in on how some Democrats are feeling about the likelihood of Bernie Sanders as the nominee.

Plus, Ellen Nakashima of The Washington Post provides analysis regarding reports of Russian interference in the 2020 election process. Finally, a look at the impact of coronavirus on global markets with Reuters' Heather Timmons.

Nevada Goes for Bernie Feb 23, 2020

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The Nevada caucuses were held on Saturday. Senator Bernie Sanders easily claimed victory, proving he can build a broad coalition of voters.

Host Amy Walter discusses the results of the Silver State with Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist; Tara Golshan, 2020 reporter at HuffPost Politics; and Zach Montellaro, campaign reporter for Politico.

Extra: Nevada Goes for Bernie Feb 23, 2020

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The Nevada caucuses were held on Saturday. Senator Bernie Sanders easily claimed victory, proving he can build a broad coalition of voters.

The Nevada Caucus and Beyond Feb 21, 2020

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Democratic strategist Joel Payne, Maya King from Politico, and Jon Ralston from The Nevada Independent join Politics with Amy Walter to discuss Saturday's caucus in Nevada and how candidates fared this week.

On Wednesday, Michael Bloomberg joined his rivals in Nevada for his first debate as a presidential candidate. The former mayor has positioned himself as a moderate businessman alternative to President Donald Trump. While he's spent millions on highly-produced advertisements, his debate performance has caused some to question whether the appeal from his ads translates into a candidate that could beat President Trump. Rosie Gray from BuzzFeed News shares some insights from the campaign trail.

On Super Tuesday, California's 415 Democratic delegates will be up for grabs. But as of writing, more than one million voters have already submitted their ballots. Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc. shares how campaigns are trying to sway voters ahead of March 3rd.

Also, a look at the role Latino voters will play in the Democratic primary and beyond. We hear from Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Mark Hugo Lopez from the Pew Research Center, and Dr. Stephen Nuño-Perez from Latino Decisions.

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