The Campaign Moment

Ukraine and the anxiety over Trump's budget Feb 28, 2025

Some House Republicans are getting nervous. They’re worried that passing President Donald Trump’s budget proposal could mean cuts to popular programs like Medicaid. They’ve also gotten an earful from voters angry at Elon Musk who are packing congressional town halls.

Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake unpacks the drama with congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor and congressional economics correspondent Jacob Bogage.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Ted Muldoon.

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Trump parrots Putin, GOP DOGE drama, a big new poll Feb 21, 2025

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Post congressional reporter Liz Goodwin and Dan Lamothe, who covers the Pentagon and the U.S. military, about the week’s political news. They dig into Trump’s sharp turn against Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. They also talk about new polling that shows Trump’s sweeping federal policy decisions are largely unpopular. Plus, why GOP lawmakers are quietly begging Trump to spare their districts from Trump and his ally Elon Musk’s splashy government spending cuts.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins with help from Rachel Van Dongen. It was mixed by Justin Gerrish.

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A doomsday scenario for the constitution Feb 14, 2025

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Supreme Court reporter Justin Jouvenal and Democracy reporter Colby Itkowitz about how President Donald Trump is testing the power of the courts — and trying to expand his own authority in the process. They break down the cases facing the executive branch right now, what Trump and his allies are saying about them, and why some experts say Trump’s actions run afoul of the constitution.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and Rachel Van Dongen and mixed by Ted Muldoon.

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Why so few people stand up to Trump Feb 06, 2025

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about President Donald Trump's proposal to “take over” Gaza, displace Palestinians and remake it as the “riviera” of the Middle East. They also dig into Trump's use of tariffs as bargaining chips and the lack of resistance to Trump policies from both parties.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van Dongen and mixed by Sam Bair.

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More Trump chaos and key confirmation fights Jan 31, 2025

Trump’s extraordinary news conference on the plane crash near Reagan National Airport, his administration’s freeze and unfreeze of all federal funds, and the Senate hearings for three more of his controversial Cabinet picks.

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks through another chaotic week of political news with Congress reporter Liz Goodwin and White House economics reporter Jeff Stein. They break down Trump’s baseless claims that DEI could be the cause of the fatal plane crash in the Potomac, why the administration reversed its decision to halt the flow of all federal funds, and whether Trump’s picks for FBI director, director of national intelligence and health and human services secretary have enough support to be confirmed.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van Dongen.

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What Trump’s executive orders and Jan. 6 pardons mean Jan 24, 2025

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with senior White House reporter Isaac Arnsdorf and national political reporter Marianne LeVine about how Trump’s executive actions are already having a tangible impact. They also talk about how Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 rioters was met with a muted response from several prominent Republicans.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van Dongen and mixed by Sam Bair.

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Hegseth and Bondi go to Washington Jan 17, 2025

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter talks with national security reporter Abby Hauslohner and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about the most heated exchanges that Trump’s picks for defense secretary and attorney general, Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, faced during their Senate confirmation hearings. They also talk about what to expect if the historic ceasefire deal goes into effect over the weekend and what to watch for at Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Rennie Svirnovskiy, who also mixed the episode. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van Dongen.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Trump, the unpunished felon Jan 10, 2025

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with The Post’s White House editor, Naftali Bendavid, and national political reporter Maeve Reston about the politics of Trump’s sentencing in the New York hush money case. They also dig into how Trump is trying to pin the Los Angeles wildfires on Democrats and look ahead to next week’s Senate confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.

Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van Dongen and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

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How Mike Johnson won, and the politics of New Orleans Jan 03, 2025

On Friday, Republicans once again selected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to be speaker of the House — but not before there was a little bit of drama.

Earlier this week, President-elect Donald Trump took to social media to link the New Year’s Day vehicular attack in New Orleans to weak border policies, even though the attacker was an American citizen born in Texas. In the hours following, the message became a popular Republican talking point.

Reporters Marianna Sotomayor, Marianne LeVine and Leigh Ann Caldwell join host Aaron Blake to discuss how Johnson eked out a victory in the speaker fight, and why the New Orleans attack became so quickly politicized.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and Rachen Van Dongen and mixed by Sam Bair.

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Biden’s legacy, Trump’s Time interview Dec 13, 2024

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with senior congressional correspondent Paul Kane and White House reporter Matt Viser to talk about what Biden is trying to do with his last few weeks in office. They also talk about Time magazine’s person of the year interview with Trump and what two GOP Senate appointments could mean for Trump’s ability to get his agenda through Congress.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Justin Gerrish.

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Will Biden issue more pardons? Dec 06, 2024

On Capitol Hill, Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, which he denies. So this week, the veteran and former Fox News host spent time with lawmakers, publicly and privately making the case for his leadership of the Defense Department. But some Republican senators are skeptical, and Trump is reportedly lining up other options.

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down the latest Cabinet controversies with White House editor Naftali Bendavid and Washington Post Live anchor Leigh Ann Caldwell. Plus, they discuss the extraordinary breadth of Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter and the possibility that Biden will issue more preemptive pardons to critics of the incoming president.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Justin Gerrish.

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Gaetz out, Oz in, and your lingering election questions Nov 22, 2024

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell, who co-authors the Early Brief politics newsletter for The Post, about why Gaetz’s bid for attorney general lasted just eight days. Aaron breaks down why Trump’s electoral mandate is actually weaker than he claims. Plus, answers to listeners’ and readers’ lingering questions about the 2024 election.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Justin Gerrish.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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The allegations haunting Gaetz and Hegseth Nov 19, 2024

When Trump floated the name of Matt Gaetz for attorney general, some Republicans balked. The former Florida congressman has been investigated by both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee over allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. Trump’s announced choice to lead the Defense Department, Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth, also faces new scrutiny after it was revealed that he paid a woman after she accused him of sexual assault. Hegseth denies the assault allegation.

Host Aaron Blake and national political reporter Michael Scherer break down the various controversies around Gaetz and Hegseth and weigh whether Republicans will ultimately oppose their confirmations.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Will Republicans give Trump the Cabinet he wants? Nov 15, 2024

There’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to head up the Justice Department. Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. Trump has chosen some eyebrow-raising names to staff his Cabinet. But are there any Republicans in the Senate that would choose to block them?

Congress reporter Liz Goodwin joins hosts Aaron Blake and Elahe Izadi to dig into Trump’s Cabinet appointments, their chances in the Senate, and whether Trump could bypass the upper chamber entirely with the use of recess appointments.

Today's episode was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Rena Flores, Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

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What Americans really think of Trump’s promises Nov 12, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has a lengthy to-do list for his second term in the White House. Among other controversial proposals, it includes conducting large-scale deportations of immigrants in the U.S. without legal status, hiking tariffs on imports, firing career civil servants and granting clemency to people convicted of seditious conspiracy over the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

And while Americans elected Trump, they might not like what comes next.

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down, along with producer Laura Benshoff, what the polls tell us about how popular – or unpopular – Trump’s proposals are.

Today’s episode was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks to Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Lucy Perkins.

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Democrats play the blame game Nov 08, 2024

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers, senior political reporter Aaron Blake and White House reporter Cleve Wootson break down the questions many Democrats are asking right now about why Harris lost: Should Biden have dropped out earlier? Did Harris run a bad campaign? Does America hate women?

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

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How Trump did it -- and what's next Nov 06, 2024

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and senior national political correspondent Ashley Parker about how Donald Trump won over a broad swath of voters to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris. Plus, how Democrats are reacting to their election losses and what this defeat means for the party’s future.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Post Reports: Trump's historic win Nov 06, 2024

If you don’t already listen to Post Reports, we’re bringing you our first rundown of the election results, with some initial thoughts from Aaron Blake.

Very early Wednesday morning, former president Donald Trump stepped on stage in south Florida and claimed victory. Sounding surprised about how the election had gone, the former president promised to “fix everything” and praised his supporters, saying this was “the greatest political movement of all time.”

This morning on Post Reports, we’re walking you through what happened overnight. Later today we’ll be back with another episode diving deeper into the results, and what the second Trump presidency might look like.

This morning’s show was produced and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Peter Bresnan and Elana Gordon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski with help from Maggie Penman and Monica Campbell. Thank you to Aaron Blake, Dan Balz and Mo Rodman.

Post Reports: Mapping how Harris or Trump might win Nov 05, 2024

It’s Election Day; today, what voting sounds like across the country — and a primer on what we could expect tonight as the results start to come in, and which down-ballot races to pay attention to. Aaron Blake, host of The Campaign Moment, makes an appearance on the “Post Reports” podcast.

After an unprecedented campaign season, Election Day in America is finally here. Today, host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter and host of “The Campaign Moment” podcast Aaron Blake about what to pay attention to as results start to come in this evening, including downballot races and potential scenarios for each candidate's path to victory.

Plus: Election anxiety is real! Here’s how to manage stress throughout the day.

Curious how the electoral college works? Try This. Nov 04, 2024

Remembering all the complex details of how the electoral college works is not exactly easy. And just when you’ve mastered how it all adds up, you probably won’t need to think about it again for another four years — hardly a formula for cementing something in your brain.

Aaron Blake, host of The Campaign Moment, makes an appearance on the first episode of The Washington Post’s “Try This” podcast’s three-part series on the electoral college. He explains how the system works, the complicated way electoral votes are assigned and awarded, and what happens between Election Day and Inauguration Day. Aaron is joined by Amy Gardner and “Try This” host Cristina Quinn to make the whole thing so accessible that your high school civics teacher would be proud.

Here are some resources if you’d like to dive deeper into the electoral college:

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Burned ballots, early voting and final takeaways Nov 01, 2024

The election is just four days away. Tens of millions of Americans have already voted. What do the final polls tell us ahead of the election?

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Amy Gardner, who covers early voting for The Post, about what early voting data can and can’t tell us right now about the election results. They also talk about whether looking at polls this weekend is helpful, and what to make of burned ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington.

Today’s show was produced by Eliza Dennis. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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The fallout from Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally Oct 29, 2024

Election Day is one week away. As the Harris and Trump campaigns make their final pitch to voters, could racist comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally on Sunday push Latino voters toward Harris?

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with national political columnist Philip Bump about why the Trump campaign and other GOP candidates are distancing themselves from Hinchcliffe’s comments, whether Bad Bunny’s Harris endorsement could move the needle, and what the Harris campaign is doing to capitalize on the moment.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to Philip’s newsletter, How To Read This Chart, here.

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The Elon Musk effect Oct 25, 2024

Over the past few months, Elon Musk has heavily invested in the Trump campaign. Musk is hosting rallies in swing states, giving out million-dollar checks to registered voters in those states and organizing canvassers. Billionaires donating to presidential campaigns is nothing new, but Musk is putting much more than money into the race.

Elahe Izadi speaks with technology reporter Trisha Thadani and national political reporter Michael Scherer about Musk’s political influence.

Today’s show was produced by Eliza Dennis and Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair.

The Campaign Moment newsletter is here.

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Record early voting, and good signs for the GOP Oct 22, 2024

Democrats tend to vote early in droves, but early returns this year show signs that GOP voters are hearing their party’s message to cast votes however they can. As of Monday afternoon, nearly 1.5 million Georgia voters had cast their ballots. In North Carolina, the number is over 1 million. And in Nevada, more Republicans are voting early than Democrats.

Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake chats with Amy Gardner, national reporter covering voting, about what these returns tell us about enthusiasm this cycle and why it's significant that Republicans are turning to early voting despite years of false messaging from former president Donald Trump that this method is subject to fraud.

Catch up on other big campaign stories mentioned in the episode here, here and here.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Allison Michaels and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

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Trump’s bizarre campaign, Harris’s tense interview Oct 18, 2024

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with national political reporter Marianne LeVine about the peculiar moments that she’s observed on the campaign trail this week with former president Donald Trump. From a music listening session on stage, to some eyebrow-raising interviews with both candidates, “The Campaign Moment” crew digs into the Trump and Harris campaigns’ final sprints before Election Day.

Today’s show was produced by Eliza Dennis. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy. It was mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Democrats’ struggles with Black men Oct 16, 2024

A majority of Black voters support Democratic candidates, but the percentage has shrunk in recent years, with the steepest decline among Black men. So, the Harris campaign has launched a round of targeted interviews, deployed prominent Black surrogates and released policy papers aimed specifically at winning back these voters.

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with White House reporter Cleve R. Wootson Jr. about what’s driving some Black men away from the Democratic Party and whether Harris’s last-minute appeals are likely to work.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Will Democrats flip the House? Oct 11, 2024

Democrats want to retake control of the House of Representatives. Vice President Kamala Harris goes on a media blitz. And elected officials wade through destruction and misinformation after another hurricane made landfall this week.

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor about whether Democrats will succeed in flipping the House and which voters Harris wanted to reach with her flurry of interviews on podcasts and TV this week. They also dig into the political aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

Today’s show was produced by Eliza Dennis. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Bracelets, drones, ads. How Harris is spending campaign cash Oct 08, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign is outraising former president Donald Trump’s by wide margins. And if you go to one of her rallies, you can tell.

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with national political reporter Maeve Reston about how the Harris campaign is spending cash on the campaign trail and on the airwaves in key battleground states. They also look at the risks the Trump campaign might face due to its heavy reliance on outside political groups to bolster ad spending and expand the GOP’s ground game.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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How campaigns deal with news out of their control Oct 04, 2024

The devastation of Hurricane Helene, the escalating tensions in the Middle East and other recent events are casting a shadow over the campaign trail.

Recommended reading:

The top two states to watch in the 2024 election Sep 04, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Marianne LeVine, a national political reporter for The Post, about the state of the electoral map for Harris and Trump. They also dig into the potential strategy behind the Trump campaign’s spending push in Pennsylvania and Georgia, and whether Democrats have a chance of winning their white whale – North Carolina.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Harris’s big interview and Trump’s cemetery controversy Aug 30, 2024

“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about Harris and Walz’s interview on CNN, new polling that shows continued Democratic enthusiasm, and an altercation between the Trump campaign and an employee at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sean Carter.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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The RFK Jr. effect Aug 27, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with politics producer Laura Benshoff about how much Trump stands to gain from RFK Jr.’s endorsement and what kind of impact other third-party and independent candidates like Cornel West, Chase Oliver and Jill Stein might have on the presidential race.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Jenna Johnson and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Harris’s speech and the standout moments from the DNC Aug 23, 2024

Elahe Izadi, co-host of “Post Reports,” and senior political reporter Aaron Blake sit down with White House reporter Cleve Wootson at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to talk about the highlights from Harris’s speech. Harris focused on her middle-class upbringing and how she would protect abortion access and reproductive rights, and she cast herself as a candidate who would bring normalcy and competency to the White House.

They also revisit the most memorable speeches of the four-day convention and look ahead to what the next two months might look like for Harris.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Coach Walz’s ‘freedom’ game plan Aug 22, 2024

There’s a new rallying cry for the Democratic Party: “Freedom.” On Wednesday, the third night of the Democratic National Convention, speakers from Oprah Winfrey to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro made the case for why Democrats should be considered the party of patriotism.

And then there was Tim Walz. The Minnesota governor formally accepted the nomination for vice president and in his speech made several nods to his previous jobs, focusing especially on his time as a high school football coach. But beyond his biography, he also sought to draw distinctions between how Republicans talk about the idea of freedom and the ways Democrats do, for example on the subject of reproductive rights.

On today’s episode, Aaron Blake and Elahe Izadi break down this latest spin on the Democratic Party’s message – and how Walz fared as its newest messenger.

Today’s episode was produced by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy.

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Nancy Pelosi's not sorry Aug 21, 2024

Senior political reporter and co-host of “The Campaign Moment” Aaron Blake talks with Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter for The Post who has covered Pelosi for years. They walk through the strings Pelosi reportedly pulled to get Biden to withdraw, earning her the nickname “The Godmother” – after the mafia movie “The Godfather” – from some Democratic delegates at the convention. They also run down her appearances around the convention and why some Biden allies may seek revenge.

Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick with help from Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. It was mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Biden’s swan song Aug 20, 2024

Biden received a warm welcome at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday evening when he walked on stage to address his party. Thousands of Democratic delegates packed in the arena chanted “Thank you, Joe!” and pumped signs saying “We love Joe” as he gave his speech.

“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Matt Viser about Biden’s historic address and what the first night of the convention tells us about the current strength of the Democratic Party.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Ariel Plotnick.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Harris's policy agenda, and Dems’ down-ballot dreams Aug 16, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake and congressional reporter Liz Goodwin talk with “Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers about the economic policies that Harris’s campaign unveiled Friday, and whether Democrats could win a trifecta in November and make those proposals reality.

They also look ahead to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, where President Joe Biden will address delegates after withdrawing from the race last month.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Harris's expanding path to victory Aug 13, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with Lenny Bronner, a data scientist who works on election models at The Post. They talk about new polling numbers in battleground states and how Harris has put Trump on defense in states like Nevada and Arizona.

Today’s show was produced by Trinity Webster-Bass and Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Rennie Svirnoskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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The new electoral map, Walz's record and an expensive primary loss Aug 09, 2024

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter covering the House of Representatives, to talk about House Democrats’ enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris’s VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – a former member of Congress himself. They also discuss takeaways from the primary loss of Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Walz’s military and governance record, and former president Donald Trump’s campaign event slowdown.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Allison Michaels, Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass.

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Why Kamala Harris is betting on Tim Walz Aug 06, 2024

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's Campaign Moment newsletter. They talk about why Vice President Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, his strengths and weaknesses, and how he compares with the GOP’s vice president pick, JD Vance.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Trump’s ‘is she Black?’ attack and Harris’s VP front-runners Aug 02, 2024

In an interview with panelists at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, former president Donald Trump questioned Vice President Harris’s racial identity, saying she only recently started calling herself Black. Also, the leader of Project 2025, the controversial right-wing policy group, is stepping down. And the Harris campaign has hit some major fundraising goals and is expected to announce her running mate any day now.

Plus, read The Post’s exclusive investigation into a secret probe into whether Trump took money from Egypt here.

Co-host Martine Powers talks with reporters Issac Arnsdorf, who covers Trump, and Tyler Pager, who covers the White House, about what to make of it all.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. Thanks also to Ali Bianco.

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Did Trump make a mistake with Vance? Jul 31, 2024

It’s only been two weeks since JD Vance became Donald Trump’s running mate, and he’s already getting a lot of attention. But maybe not for the reasons Republicans wanted.

Past comments from the Ohio senator about “childless cat ladies” and parents having more voting power in elections have unleashed a flurry of criticism from Democrats. Vance’s comments also fueled a new line of attack from opponents who are deriding him as “weird.”

Co-host and senior political reporter Aaron Blake speaks with “Campaign Moment” podcast producer Laura Benshoff about all things Vance, and what his unusual unpopularity could mean for the Trump campaign.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Ali Bianco.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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What connects Vice President Harris to young voters Jul 26, 2024

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Maeve Reston, a national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential race. They talk about how Vice President Harris may tackle the Israel-Gaza conflict, new polling on the Harris-Trump matchup, and how Gen Z influencers and memes may engage young voters and buoy Harris’s campaign.

Today’s episode was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass and Drew Harwell.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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7 options for a Kamala Harris VP pick Jul 24, 2024

Vice President Harris remains on a fast track to the 2024 Democratic nomination – a virtual vote could make it official as early as next week. That means she will need to pick her running mate very soon. We started to talk through some possible VP picks on Tuesday and now return to the studio to hear how Aaron Blake’s reporting and analysis have led him to zero in on seven options. He and Elahe Izadi dig further into what potential candidates would – and wouldn’t – bring to a Democratic ticket with Harris at the top.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Harris hits the ground running. The GOP pivots. Jul 23, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Colby Itkowitz, who covers voting and elections on the democracy team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi. They talk about how Harris polls against Trump, what it means for her to take over a campaign that was designed for President Biden, and how the GOP is reacting to her campaign.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Post Reports: President Biden steps aside Jul 21, 2024

On Sunday afternoon, President Biden released a statement announcing that he would stand down from seeking reelection in the 2024 presidential race. The statement came after weeks of mounting pressure from members of his party, many of whom expressed concern over his health and speculated whether he would be able to beat former president Donald Trump.

We're sharing this special edition of Post Reports today. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with White House reporter Tyler Pager about this monumental decision by the president and whether it puts Democrats in a better position to beat Trump.

The show was produced by Ariel Plotnick and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter.

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Trump's convention, Biden's crisis Jul 19, 2024

Democrats flipped the typical convention script this week, dominating the news during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump at a rally Saturday, the GOP aimed to send a message of unity to the party faithful. In his acceptance speech, Trump initially seemed somber, telling the crowd, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.” They chanted back, “Yes, you are.” But he quickly regained his normal campaign posture, hammering Democrats over immigration and the economy. Meanwhile, new reporting from The Post shows that Biden is hearing concerns about his fitness to lead the ticket from senior Democratic figures like former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and former president Barack Obama.

Martine Powers and Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and writer of The Campaign Moment newsletter, speak with Dan Balz, the chief correspondent covering national politics, the presidency and Congress at The Post.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Charla Freeland. It was edited by Reena Flores and Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sam Bair.

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The calls are coming from inside the House Jul 18, 2024

This week was supposed to be all about the GOP as delegates rally in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. However, Democratic infighting has taken center stage.

While an effort is brewing to secure President Biden’s spot on the ticket weeks before the Democrats’ convention, congressional leaders within his own party have told Biden his candidacy could imperil down-ballot Democrats.

Meanwhile, the president seems committed to pushing forward despite ominous polling. Can Biden’s endorsement of liberal ideas garner support from within the party and woo voters? Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks through all of this with senior congressional correspondent and columnist Paul Kane.

Today’s show was produced by Charla Freeland and Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

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Dark rhetoric is back at the Republican National Convention Jul 17, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake is hopping on the mic solo before getting ready for Wednesday night’s speeches to run through the themes emerging midway through the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Speeches have been turning more ominous and he expects that will continue.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

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On the GOP stage: MTG, Amber Rose and a union leader Jul 16, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake sits down with The Campaign Moment producer Laura Benshoff for a special play-by-play episode of the most important moments of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee so far and what’s next for the GOP. They break down the moment when Donald Trump walked out onto the convention floor in his first major appearance since the assassination attempt. They also talk through the divisive rhetoric heard in several of the speeches Monday night and discuss the Republican Party’s efforts to reach new voters.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Charla Freeland. It was mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass.

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VP pick Vance, Secret Service scrutiny and more from Milwaukee Jul 15, 2024

This week, amid calls for political unity and growing questions over presidential security, Trump faces one of the most consequential weeks in his campaign yet – the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will officially accept the Republican nomination for president.

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers speaks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and political investigations and enterprise reporter Josh Dawsey from the convention. They explore the weight of the ongoing investigation into the attempted assassination, its larger implications and what to expect from the convention this week. Also, they discuss the dropped charges in a legal challenge regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents, and the announcement of Trump’s running mate: Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Charla Freeland, and mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Ali Bianco.

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Dems are in turmoil. So why has Trump been so quiet? Jul 13, 2024

This week, Biden vowed in his high-stakes press conference on Thursday night to remain in the race, but it’s unclear if his message satisfied voters.

His speech followed new polling this week that suggests that more than half of Democrats want Biden to drop out of the race. It also found that the overall race hasn’t changed much, and that Trump and Biden are locked in a dead heat.

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about how Democratic voters and politicians feel about Biden, and why Trump has been so quiet during a tumultuous moment in his opponent’s campaign. They also dig into what to expect at next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

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Biden’s defiant turn Jul 08, 2024

As calls ring out for President Biden to step aside, the campaign hunkers down.

The president went on a media blitz over the weekend to quell the unrest among Democrats, appearing in a rare television interview with ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday. By Monday morning, Biden had sent a letter to congressional Democrats defiantly declaring his intentions to stay in the race and had called into MSNBC’s Morning Joe to sound off on “elites” in the party.

But with nine House Democrats now publicly and privately calling for Biden to step down, are the president’s efforts actually working?

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake sits down with White House reporter Matt Viser to game out the campaign’s political calculations. What are the forces weighing on Biden’s decision-making? And if Biden backs down, is Vice President Harris really the heir apparent?

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy. It was mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

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A chaotic 96 hours inside Biden world Jul 02, 2024

The Campaign Moment is The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.

We’re bringing you an episode early in the week to share details from inside President Biden’s campaign as the Democratic Party reckons with the fallout from his stumbling performance at the first presidential debate. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's “The Campaign Moment” newsletter, and Tyler Pager, a White House reporter who’s been traveling with Biden around the country, sit down with co-host Martine Powers. They reveal the behind-the-scenes details of Biden’s preparation before the debate, his Friday campaign rally to reinvigorate the president’s image, and his team’s willingness to engage in discussions about replacing him ahead of the Democratic convention.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Additional production by Ali Bianco. It was edited by Allison Michaels and Mary Jo Murphy.

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Biden’s stumbles, Trump’s falsehoods and other debate takeaways Jun 28, 2024

Welcome to this special debate edition of The Campaign Moment.

We’re in your feed first thing today after Post Reports co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake went into the studio shortly after the debate ended. Aaron says it’s one of the most significant moments of the campaign so far. He and Martine talk through Biden and Trump’s performances, which had Biden noticeably stumbling at times and Trump basing many answers around falsehoods that were left unchallenged by the CNN moderators. Aaron explains the tough questions in front of Democrats now and what this could mean for a buoyed Trump campaign.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

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How to spot a deep fake this election season Jun 21, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.

Host Elahe Izadi chats with reporters Amy Gardner and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, who are on the Democracy team at The Post. They discuss the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the ongoing political and legal fallout from those attempts. They also talk about the recent charges filed against fake electors in Arizona, including notable names like Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn, and why some election officials are making deep fakes of themselves to educate voters.

Today’s show was produced by Ted Muldoon and Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Griff Witte.

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The voters who will decide 2024 aren't paying attention Jun 14, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.

In a district that overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2020, Ohio voters almost elected a Democratic congressman this week. But are such special election results representative? Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Toluse Olorunnipa, White House bureau chief for The Post, sit down with host Elahe Izadi. They also discuss Hunter Biden’s conviction on felony gun charges, how family matters impact presidential campaigns, and polling that shows voters are checked out when it comes to major campaign stories.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

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8 names in the Trump VP reality show Jun 12, 2024

In an election year where so much feels familiar, Donald Trump's choice for running mate is one of the biggest remaining wild cards.

Sources familiar with the process confirmed late last week that so far eight people have made the shortlist and are answering questions from the campaign about their qualifications. They are Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.); as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum; Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.); and Ben Carson, Trump’s former secretary of housing and urban development.

The list includes both familiar and dark-horse candidates. National political reporter Marianne Levine talks with “Post Reports” host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, about the twists and turns in a decision that will ultimately fall to one person: Donald Trump.

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Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Ted Muldoon. It was mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

Is Trump's conviction a red line? We listen to undecided voters. Jun 07, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.

This week, we hear directly from some undecided voters about how Donald Trump’s criminal conviction lands with them. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Isaac Arnsdorf, who covers Trump and the MAGA movement for The Post, sit down with co-host Martine Powers. They also discuss Stephen K. Bannon’s upcoming stint in prison, as well as President Biden’s executive order curtailing asylum and its implications for the campaign.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Mary Jo Murphy.

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Trump’s guilty verdict tests American democracy May 31, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.

This week is a special episode dedicated to the questions raised by having a presidential candidate and former U.S. president who is now a felon. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Ashley Parker, his colleague on the politics team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi.

They talk about the politics of Donald Trump’s guilty verdict, how Republicans and Democrats are reacting to it, and the politicization of the rule of law.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Mary Jo Murphy.

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Biden may not have coattails, but other Dems do; Alito's flags and more May 24, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, is out sick this week, so national political reporter Michael Scherer and White House reporter Tyler Pager join Martine Powers this week.

They talk about how the Biden campaign may need more popular Democratic candidates down ballot to boost turnout in key battleground states, Donald Trump’s claims that President Biden was prepared to “take me out” when the Department of Justice raided Mar-a-Lago in 2022, and the controversy swirling around political-flag-flying at Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.’s homes.

Today’s show was produced by Ted Muldoon and Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

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“Leaner” may not be meaner for Trump’s ground strategy, debating debates and more May 17, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national political reporter Michael Scherer join Martine Powers this week. There is a lot to dig into about the debates agreed to this week by President Biden and former president Donald Trump. Also on the must-chat list: the latest from the hush money trial in New York, new reporting by Michael and Post colleagues on the Trump campaign’s “leaner” ground strategy and the implications of some of the latest polling.

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Mary Jo Murphy.

Trump in court and off the campaign trail, Biden's Israel balancing act and more May 10, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and “Post Reports” host Elahe Izadi sit down with national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf this week. They talk about how Stormy Daniels’s testimony this week could affect former president Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial and voters’ perception of him, new questions around the latest move by the judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents case, why the House pushed back against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s efforts to remove Speaker Mike Johnson, and the political effect of President Biden’s threat to Israel that he’ll stop the shipment of U.S. weapons if the country goes forward with a plan to invade the city of Rafah in Gaza.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

Why would Kristi Noem write about killing a dog? And more … May 03, 2024

Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and “Post Reports” host Martine Powers sit down with White House reporter Cleve Wootson this week. They talk about how President Biden responded this week to the campus protests over the war in Gaza and what that could mean for his support, whether voters are paying attention yet to former president Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York related to a hush money payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, and what a story South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem reveals in her new book about killing a dog could mean for her prospects to be Trump’s running mate.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Mary Jo Murphy.

Campus outrage and the GOP’s reckoning with Marjorie Taylor Greene Apr 26, 2024

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi and national politics reporter Colby Itkowitz sit down to talk about Tuesday’s congressional primaries, the latest presidential polling, and the potential effect on the presidential campaign from the protests on college campuses.

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Renita Jablonski and Allison Michaels.

The danger for Trump in his hush money trial Apr 24, 2024

When it comes to the four criminal trials of Donald Trump, the Manhattan case has often been described as “the runt of the litter.” That’s because the particular charges against Trump aren’t as weighty, in that they don’t deal with a vast effort to undermine democracy or jeopardizing national security like the other charges against the former president.

But as the trial has gotten underway, we’ve been reintroduced to the cast of characters in the case. And I think it's possible that the details of the Manhattan case could remind people what they disliked about Trump during his presidency. The complex legal issues aside, it’s by far the most scandalous and salacious case, involving a porn star and secret hush money payments.

Senior National Investigations Editor Rosalind Helderman talks with The Campaign Moment co-host Aaron Blake about what we’ve seen in the first days of the hush money trial and how it might impact Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

A race that could flip the Senate, and Biden on Israel Apr 19, 2024

Elahe Izadi talks with Aaron Blake and Liz Goodwin about Week 1 of Trump’s first criminal trial, how Israel is dividing Democrats in Congress, and whether GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson’s strategy to approve aid to Ukraine could cost him his job.

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